The Third Time, Is That the Truth?

Warriors Arise: October 2, 2020

John 21:12-14 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Why do you think John feels the need to make this statement, "This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead"? Many times we restate what we know because we sense people are not believing us or they do not want the truth. Keep in mind, the Pharisees and Roman soldiers are telling everyone that the disciples stole the body of Jesus. It is so difficult for the truth to be received when people want to believe the lie.

I wonder if people really want the truth.

What kind of people do not want the truth?

Why do we believe it is okay to believe some of the truth but not the entire truth?

Why do we make exceptions for those who give false information?

Jesus was lied about by the Pharisees. Even though everything pointed to Jesus being who He said He was, they still would not believe. According to Scripture, the Pharisees were afraid of loosing their own power or place of authority, their status and position. If they acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God then the power and authority they once held would be given to Jesus Their status and position would be altered according to the truth of who Jesus was. Why wouldn't they believe when the evidence is so clear?

Again I ask: What kind of people do not want the truth?

Why do we believe it is okay to believe some of the truth but not the entire truth?

Why do we make exceptions for those who give false information?

After defeating the devil, when Christ returned from the grave, the stone blew off or was ripped off by angels, and Jesus walked out. The Roman soldiers had no idea what to do. Who would believe them? The three women were on their way to anoint Jesus' body while the Roman soldiers were fleeing the scene.

Matthew 28:11-15 (NKJV) Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Even with the facts, some Jews today do not believe in Jesus as the Christ. They choose to believe a lie rather than the facts. It wasn't this one instance it was when Jesus healed, they chose not to believe the testimony of their friends. When Jesus fed the 5,000 with two fish and 5 loaves, they chose not to believe. When Jesus delivered the demoniac, they asked Jesus to leave, choosing to deny the power of God being demonstrated through the love of His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus healed Jarius' daughter or when Tabitha came back to life, they chose not to believe. They laughed at Him when He said she was sleeping; because they all knew she was dead, but when she sat up and her mother was instructed to feed her what did they do? Still they did not believe what they knew to be true. Tabitha and Jairus' daughter were dead and then they arose. They were witnesses to the miracles of God being demonstrated through Jesus and still they would not believe.

God has done miracles in your life and all around you. Do you believe? Do you only trust God when He answers every prayer request you have? We discussed this in an earlier Warriors Arise. He is God. He is not a genie. He decides what is best not you or I. He listens and hears our prayers. He answers according to what is best. The one thing you hold against Him isn't valid if you know God. God is good, even when He doesn't answer every prayer request the way we want it. God is faithful, even when we turn our back on the truth. God is love, even when we whine about what He hasn't done. God is peace, even when the storms rage around us. God is patient, even when we want to throw our temper tantrum, insisting everything must go our way. God is kind, even when we do not want to repent. God is.

My mind is boggled by so many who deny the truth:

What kind of people do not want the truth?

Why do we believe it is okay to believe some of the truth but not the entire truth?

Why do we make exceptions for those who give false information?

Father, I must check myself. Are there areas in my life I want my own way? Are their issues where I do not want to face the truth? Are there situations when I make excuses for lies? I want to be a person of integrity. I want my yes to be yes and my no to be no according to Your Word. I do not want to have my own doctrine of beliefs. I want what I to believe to be the truth. I want to know Your Word. I want to know Your ways. I want to be a person who walks in the truth, speaks the truth, and endorses the truth. I do not want to be led astray by liars and those who spin the web of deceit. I want to be a student of the truth. I ask for You to come and move across America with the truth of Your Word. I pray the veils of darkness will be removed. I pray for the lies to be made known and for people to see the lies for what they are. I pray people in America will choose to know the truth. I pray people in America will choose to be educated on the facts. I pray for people in America to stand up for the lives of the unborn. I pray for people in America to put aside their right to make a choice and see the choice they are making. I pray for people in America to place themselves before You and follow as You lead in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.