Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. >> Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Come on. We want Jesus to be the name, right? >> The name that is exalted. The name that is glorified in heaven and on earth. >> Good morning, Champion Center.
So glad you’re here today in the house of God. >> I welcome everybody Yakimal. Welcome everybody in Belleview. Welcome everybody in Dupont. Welcome everybody online and right here in Tacoma. We welcome you. Come on, let’s give our church a great big hand today. Praise God. Amen. All right. Thank you to the worship team.
Thank you to everybody who makes us Sunday happen. We do this so that Jesus will be the name >> that is lifted and exalted and is raised high above all else. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Here’s what I want you to do. Just turn around. Let somebody know I’m glad you’re here today. Give them a high five. Glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re here.
Church is better with you here. Amen. You may be seated. How about we say this as you’re seated? Just say with me, “My heart’s open. >> My heart’s open. >> My mind’s ready. >> My mind’s ready. >> Make me better, God.” >> Make me better, God. >> By your word. >> By your word. >> Today. >> Today. >> I receive it. >> I receive it.
>> I believe it. >> And I won’t be the same again. >> I won’t be the same. >> In Jesus name. >> In Jesus name. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. Okay. We started a series last week and it is out of our book True North, which I’ll talk about in just a in a in just a minute. But the the uh the title of the message is being a champion of truth.
Being a champion of truth. You know, people champion a lot of things. Um people champion different kinds of, you know, things that they stand for and love in life. And uh we’re talking today about being champions of truth. Jesus said this in John chapter 8. Let’s start there today. He said, “If you abide in my word, if you abide, everybody say abide in my word.
” >> Abide in my word. >> What’s that mean? It means hang out in the word. Uh read the word. Talk about the word. Meditate on the word. He says if you do that you are truly my disciples and then the benefit the blessing is you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. >> I always like to remind people it’s not just that the truth sets you free.
Like truth can be all around you. You can be hearing truth. It’s if you know the truth. >> Everybody say know the truth. >> Like you got to know when we know the truth the truth sets us free. What does it set us free from? Stuff we’re talking about today. Sets us free from deception and lies of the enemy.
Things that otherwise would get into our hearts, into our mind. Let’s read another verse. It goes like this. 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5. It says, “We destroy arguments.” >> I want you to just This is the Apostle Paul. And I want you to I want you to wrap your head around the idea that he’s he’s being really aggressive here.
like he’s talking battle talk >> and he’s not saying we destroy buildings or we destroy armies or he’s saying we destroy arguments >> and every opinion every lofty arrogant opinion raised against the knowledge of God >> so any opinion that comes up against and tries to challenge what we know is true in God’s word He’s saying like we go against that like we destroy it.
We we go to the doorway in our mind. We open up the door and we say get out. >> You’re not welcome here. >> No mind monsters here. >> We we we do that against arguments, opinions, everything against the knowledge of God. And we take every thought captive. We re it in and we pull it in to the knowledge and we remind oursel the knowledge of God’s word.
So he’s telling us here be champions of truth. >> No, don’t let whatever whatever come into your mind into your heart. Let’s protect oursel. He’s saying, “Let’s protect oursel from and our children from opinions and arguments, deceptive ideas of the world, negativity that would weigh us down, get in us, get on us.
” So, that’s what we’re talking about today. And this this series, there’s three things that I talked about last week that I want to go over. It’s just going to be the foundation of of this series that I I want you to actually memorize these three things because this is this is how to be a champion.
Just get these three things down. The first one is stop being okay with lies. >> Say say that out loud. Say, I’m not okay >> I’m not okay >> with lies. >> Say it again. I’m not okay >> not okay >> with lies. >> with lies. >> He’s talking about here. Don’t be I’m talking about don’t be okay with the lies in your head.
Don’t be okay with those fears, those internal lies of negativity that cause you to some of you right now you’re discouraged >> and you’re you’re feeling weighed down and you’re feeling like you’re feeling hopeless in your life. And what I’m encouraging be a champion of truth by starting with this like I’m not okay with life.
I’m not okay with my mind right now in in low places. I I’m not okay with entertaining thoughts of doubt and fear and unbelief. So, that’s that’s what we’re talking about. Don’t be okay with life. Don’t be don’t don’t be okay with the the generational lies, >> the family lies, >> the beliefs that were passed down. You heard your mom say this.
You heard your dad talk that way. They had their beliefs and sometimes it’s beliefs about God >> that you heard through the generation before you. It’s could be beliefs about church. You know that some of you right now have you’re surrounded by negativity toward church and people just flippantly say things about church >> and they tear down the people at the church and they say sarcastic mean things about the leaders of churches >> and the pastors and you know the pastor just he he just he he just wants money.
that’s all he wants. Like he just you’re just in it for the money. Like some of you are raised around that kind of talk. And when people have said that, I’m I’m getting off my notes here, but I just tell you, when people say that about about us, I’m like, where were you 40 years ago when my wife and I started being pastors? >> And we drove a car, a big car we bought for 800 bucks.
And we, it was nicknamed Tank. It barely ran. And we lived in an 800 square foot apartment with another family. Like where were all the critics? They say the pastor this, the pastor that. That’s all they care about. See, you’re going to grow up around and people grew up around there’s lies like to tear down God’s church.
>> This is not man’s idea. The church is God’s idea. >> So, so what I’m encouraging you with this is I’m not okay with lies. >> Like I’m not okay with that. And I’m not okay with things that get swn into my heart, into my mind. Lies that destroy a life, lies that destroy a marriage, >> a career, >> a society, a nation, >> we get really casual about deception in lives today.
It’s so much of it, misinformation, and we just like we live with it every day. I just want you to understand that lies are not just bad information. Lies are spiritual weapons. >> That’s right. >> Did you get that? Write that down. Like lies are not just bad information. Lies are a weapon of the enemy >> against you, against me, coming against our families.
Lies are spiritual weapons. that the enemy uses. I’ll talk a little bit more about that in just a minute. I want to I want to get into this though and I want you to I want you to because I know some of you you’re asking the question right now. Okay, okay, okay. But how do we recognize lies? >> Like pastor, I get it.
I get it. But how do I know a lie when I hear one? >> And I’m going to answer that. That’s the second thing we’re talking about. We’re not okay with lies. And secondly, we’re learning to think biblically. >> Learning to think biblically. We’re we’re we’re meditating on God’s word. We’re putting God’s word into our heart. >> We’re abiding in the word.
>> We are being transformed. Romans 12:2 says, “By the renewing of our mind, >> we’re getting the garbage out, we’re bringing the good news and the truth in >> so that when we hear something that doesn’t line up with God’s word, we reject it. >> We rebuke it. >> And we stand our ground in truth.” >> Amen.
Are you with me? >> So again, this is a foundation we’re building in week number two here. We’re going back not okay with lies. We’re thinking biblically. And thirdly, the last one is we’re speaking the truth. >> So we we don’t repeat things that are not true. We don’t we don’t entertain things. We speak the truth.
In fact, sometimes when lies come, we just confess the truth. like we declare the word of God >> and we speak the you know the the the lie comes in that that you know you’re you’re going to be defeated you’re going to look look this isn’t going right that isn’t going right you’re going to go under and we we quote something out of God’s word like no weapon formed against me will prosper I love that one I say it all the time no weapon formed against me I want to announce to the enemy this is God’s word >> and and and so we speak the truth we
teach the truth we declare the truth we confess the truth and we use our words to establish God’s truth and we celebrate the truth and we say we say you know uh that God God is true God God is my source God is the strength of my life he makes my feet like hind’s feet the psalmist said so that I walk in high places we’re champions of truth >> today I want to reference those three same principles and guiding I’ll call call them guiding principles and I want to expand on them today as as I challenge you to be a champion of truth.
So, one more time, don’t be okay with lies. >> Learn to think biblically and speak the truth. >> The the book True North that we just released, it’s available to all of our locations. The there’s an icon on the front and this is the North Star Polaris. the it’s a it’s what it looks like actually.
It’s not like the prongs all and you can see it on the screen behind me as well. But the Northstar Polaris is a consistent, dependable true north. >> Okay? It doesn’t matter where you are in the world. Just think with me for a minute. This is pretty profound. what country you’re in or the culture you’re a part of. When you turn and face Polaris in the sky, you’re facing north.
>> So if you stretch your arms, you’re facing the star. Facing the star. And you and you stretch your arms out. Your right hand is due east. Your left is west. >> If you do an about face and turn around, you are now facing south. >> In other words, by knowing what north is, >> you can also know what’s not north.
That’s right. >> You know what north is? You go, “No, this is west.” >> Somebody try to say, “Well, that’s north.” No, it’s not. That’s north. >> That’s right. >> Somebody tried to say, “Well, that that’s north.” No, no, north is not over here. >> Somebody says something like, “Well, that’s my truth. >> My truth that, you know, my truth is, well, that’s not truth.
” >> That’s right. >> Truth is this. Yeah. Yeah. >> And just like Polaris, the Bible can be trusted. >> That’s right. >> Amen. >> Let that sink in for a minute. >> It’s as reliable as the North Star. >> No matter what the weather is, no matter Are you getting this? Like everybody say, “North is north.” >> North is north.
>> Say it again. North is north. >> North is north. So, in the same way that the North Star has been used since ancient times as a trusted guide for travelers, travelers in the wilderness, explorers who were exploring land that and mountains and regions that no man ever walked in before. They knew what north was >> by looking at Polaris.
boats on ocean waters. It was reliable. And in the same way, like today, true north is what establishes our satellites, >> our GPS systems. >> Every day when you set up your GPS to go somewhere, you know what? It is guided by true north. >> Polaris is at the it’s at the foundation of that sophisticated system >> that has the brains and ability to identify north is this and then walk it back and take you take every boat that’s traveling in the world.
Take every airplane that is flying in the sky. >> What is it all based on? The north star Polaris. >> Everybody say north is north. >> North is north. >> Nobody argues with that, right? Like north is north. Like that’s done. Nobody’s like, “Well, I don’t feel like that’s I don’t feel like that’s not north. I’m not going on.
” We wouldn’t want to be in an airplane, right? Where the pilot is like, “Ah, today we’re going to go on our own. I know my way. You wouldn’t get off that airplane. >> Why? Because it’s a reliable, unchanging, fixed >> north. >> And the Bible, what I’m saying to you is that the Bible, and I’m going to talk about it for a minute, can be trusted as the most reliable, proven source of truth in all of history.
>> Amen. Come on, clap your hands today. Clap your hands. The Bible has been examined. The Bible has been attacked. The Bible has been doubted. The Bible has been translated. The Bible has been smuggled. The Bible has been burned. >> The Bible has been banned. The Bible has been mocked. >> The Bible has been doubted.
>> The Bible has been scrutinized. >> And it still stands. >> I said it still stands. >> I said it still stands. The Bible is historically accurate. >> People, smart people have set out to disprove the accuracy of of scripture >> and they can’t do it. >> And I read some stats in fact of how many highlevel people started out with that intent and ended up being converted >> to believe the Bible.
True >> because it’s that accurate. >> It’s mindboggling. It’s historically accurate. It’s geographically accurate. >> Archaeology supports. >> Its stories and its miracles. >> The Bible is God’s word for our life. >> Anybody thankful for the word? The Bible, you open it up. Come on. You, you read and you can, you know, it’s true.
>> It gives you direction. It gives you its instruction cometh from the creator himself. >> Same one who put Polaris in the sky and said, “This is going to be north and everything’s going to rotate around it.” And and and anybody who like like tries to oppose it, they’re not going to be able to. Like it’s fixed.
It’s right there. >> It stands. It’s true. >> That same creator, he created and gave us his wisdom. >> Amen. >> His guidance, >> right? >> His instruction. >> So, let let’s say it like this. Everybody say, “North is north.” >> North is north. >> And truth is truth. >> Truth is truth. >> One more time. North is north. >> North is north.
>> And truth is truth. >> Truth is truth. How many of you know the enemy doesn’t like me teaching you like this and talking to you like this? >> Come on. How many of you know the enemy hates the word of God? >> How many of you know like when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness? Story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness like the enemy tried to come along and tell him like to do certain things like cast yourself off the temple and different things.
You know, if you think if you’re who you say and what did Jesus do? He just spoke the word, >> right? He just spoke the word right back at the at at Satan. He’s declared he declared truth. And that’s how we overcome the enemy in our life. >> And Satan hates God’s word. I can tell you right now, he hates the word of God. >> He hates us knowing what we know that God’s word is true.
So, let me tell you some of the topics in in True North book. Uh, I’ll just give you a few of them. There’s a lot more than this, but in this book written by I have four other pastors, colleagues of mine that joined us in this teaching. And I really, these guys are people I respect. And of course, my daughter is on here with me as well, Pastor Jody.
And they’re all like people I highly respect. And we dug into this work and into this process of creating this book. And I want to tell you some of the content because I think you’re going to want it. You’re going to want to have it. You’re going to want to share it. You’re going to want to do you’re going to you’re going to want to maybe do even small group studies.
You’re going to want to take parts of it at least and share it with your children. You’re going to want to get this truth because we’re facing a lot of lies today. So, here’s what we talk about. Some of the things we talk about in the book is the truth about our identity. But let me back up and tell you the things I just said in the beginning of the book about the Bible, that’s all that’s all here.
Like when I talk about the power of the word and the truth historically, archaeology, all that, that’s all here. And then we get into some topics that are helpful for everybody who wants to be a champion of truth today. We we we talk about the truth about our identity, meaning truth about our gender, truth about sexuality. Amen. >> We talk about how justice is an attribute of God.
>> We serve a just God, >> but how the world hijacks it. >> And uses the word justice >> for something that is not real justice. >> We talk about the truth about critical theory. Critical theory. Some people know critical race theory, which is just part of the big tree. critical theory. We have graphics in here.
We talk about it. Some of you are like, “I don’t even know what that is.” Well, it’s taught in universities. It’s taught in schools. And that lies grow from this concept. If you’re wondering right now, how do people get so twisted? One of the ways is they believe things like critical theory. It gets in their mind.
It gets in their heart. >> It’s taught in our schools, especially university. We talk about the truth about racism. Um the the idea that there’s no such truth as your truth. We talk about compassion gone wrong. >> Like compassion is one of those things that is of God, right? >> But we call it out here.
I I call it the Trojan horse of compassion. The deception of of how it’s used in a dark way. Compassion is is the head word for a lot of things going on in our cities that are destructive, not right, not according to the word of God. We talk about God and government, >> things like, you know, separation of church and state.
>> Is that right? Is it true? It’s all here. >> And and so everybody say, “North is north.” >> North is north. >> Truth is truth. >> Truth is truth. Let me finish today’s message last few minutes. I want to finish it with the the look at how lies how lies get into our life. And I hope you’ll write some of this down.
It is in the book as well. But I’m going to talk about how lies gain access. Okay? And I want to start with a graphic that we have that I want to just simply show you the graphic. See the incoming lies over on the left side. Lie begins when it’s the power of a lie in your life begins when it’s believed. Lies do not have to destroy everything immediately.
A lie just needs to be believed. That’s how it starts. And then the framework begins. as we call it. Once Elijah’s believed, it begins to form a framework in your life of deception. Conclusions are shaped, the third part of the process. And once a framework is formed, it begins shaping conclusions. And then lastly, choices are made.
And once conclusions are shaped, choices follow. And you can see incoming lies lead to a deceived life. >> Oh, I want you to get this church. I want you to understand like it’s not just bad information. It’s not just bad information. Conclusions are shaped and choices follow. >> And if you can write fast enough, I’m going to give you four things to know about lies.
I want to get through this content today. Okay. Is this help anybody? Is this helping you today? Like is this this helping you? Okay. Number one, lies come disguised. Just remember when lies come to your life, they don’t announce themselves as lies. The devil doesn’t have sirens blazing. I’m bringing you a lie. No, it doesn’t happen that way.
And Jesus said the devil is a liar. He’s the father of lies. And 2 Corinthians chap 11 describes Satan as an angel of light. He masquerades into our life with lies that are promoted as truth. And they’re the weapon of Satan used to steal, kill, and destroy. Everybody say, “I’m in a battle.” >> Come on, say, “I’m in a fight.” >> Come on. I’m in a battle.
>> I’m in a battle. >> And lies come disguised. Number two, lies question God’s authority. >> When God’s authority starts to be questioned, like now you know, whoa, whoa, whoa. This is the this is the path to lies. You remember back in the garden and in in Genesis chapter 3, you might remember the serpent asked a question like this to to Eve.
He said, “Did God really say? Did God really say? What’s he doing? He’s sowing and suggest suggesting the idea that that what they thought was truth is not truth. Did God really questions the authority of God? So here’s how it plays out in our lives today. Did God really say that marriage is between a man and a woman? Right. >> Did God really say like there’s only two sexes, male and female? We we found there’s 92 of them or whatever.
Like think about what I’m saying. Questions God’s authority. >> Everybody say a lie. >> A lie. >> Everybody say it’s a battle. >> It’s a battle. >> Number three, lies suppress the truth. Lies suppress the truth. Scripture says that the wicked suppress the truth. And we we see this fingers get pointed everybody. People just know this.
People who suppress the truth have an agenda and they won’t allow for open deliberation. When a person starts shouting you down and you’re just wanting to reason and talk something through and they’re just shouting you down. What? Why are they doing that? What? because the truth is something they’re not ready to welcome and hear.
Like they’re mad about it. They have an agenda. They just want to let you know what they think and they just want to get that’s the way the world’s operating right now. So when truth is suppressed, that’s a that’s a warning. Like no, wait, wait. What are they trying to hide? What’s the agenda? What’s going on here? Why is this so confusing? Our court system is for the purpose of locating truth, right? And what does it do? It allows for opportunity to be questioned.
Like it it allows the opportunity to be questioned. It allows for testimonies. It allows deliberation. Why? We’re trying to get to the truth. >> And the only reason to fear deliberation or honest scrutiny is if something can’t survive it. >> Right. Right. Come on. And number four, lies form people through culture.
These are these are four ways you can detect the lies are happening. They form people through culture. I got to explain that one. As Christians, we’re we’re living living in a culture that increasingly does not think biblically. Would you agree with that? >> And Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God.
And the kingdom of God is God’s way of doing things. Like that’s what Jesus he came to bring the truth. He says the truth will set you free. He didn’t come to please the Sanhedrin. He he didn’t come to please all the people of his day, their sect, the mindset, all of that. And so if you follow the teachings of the kingdom, just know this.
Your beliefs about life, marriage, family, sexuality, parenting, justice will be different from the secular worldview. Right? >> It’ll be different or even from other religious worldviews that are not built on God’s word. >> And what we want to remind you, those are four ways that we can recognize how lies are coming into our life. I hope you get this.
I hope you I hope I hope you get the book, but I hope you just meditate on this and think about this because God’s way is the best way. It is the best way. >> Psalm chapter 1, the psalmist says, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly or stands in the way of the sinner, >> or is seated in the seat of the scornful.
His delight is in the law of the Lord. And in his law, he meditates. In his in his word, he meditates day and night. And what’s the outcome of that? He will be like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth fruit in its season. And nothing, come on, nothing will harm him. And everything he does will prosper. That’s the promise.
That’s the promise. So, let’s be people who champion the truth. >> Come on, champion center. Let’s be people who think biblically, >> people who challenge the lies. >> Challenge the lies. Let’s challenge lies. Like this week, >> let’s cast down imagination, thoughts, ideas, words. Let’s get a lifestyle going, a habit going of calling it out. That’s a lie.
That’s a lie. That ain’t true. just go for it until you really get it in your in your mind and in your mouth like those are not of God. That does not line up with God’s truth. And let’s choose to be people, people of the truth, who stand on truth and speak truth. Can you shout, “Amen?” >> Amen. >> Come on, shout it out. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen. So Jesus be the name. >> I want to pray with you today. Let’s just pray this. Let let me just pray this over you. Uh take a moment like where you are because I know a lot of you have dealt with challenges in your life. You’re dealing with them right now. Father, I pray in Jesus name that you help us.
I hope this word God today, I pray this word will expose the lies of the enemy. I pray God that there’s a freedom coming to the hearers right now and to your people right now that freedom is coming into our life and that we are realizing no that is not true. I got to set that aside. I got to lay that down. I got to quit thinking that way.
I can’t get wrapped up in that anymore. That’s going to destroy my life. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And I got to I got to redirect my attention, my thoughts toward God’s way, toward God’s word. Right now, I pray against voices of the enemy in Jesus name. I pray against voices of the enemy that are here in our church family.
Voices of discouragement, voices of defeat, voices of accusation that are in people’s minds, accusing other people, accusing God’s people. Like God, help us today in the name of Jesus. I just declare the freedom of of of God’s word come over us and wash our minds and cleanse us today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Thank you, Lord.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. And now I want to pray with every person who’s here today who you don’t know God. You’re not walking with God. Maybe you were at one point in your life, but you’re not today. I I want to call you home. I want to call you back to God today. I want to call moms and dads back to him as a source.
like, you know, tomorrow night we’re going to we’re going to gather with on parent night and we’re going to give in instruction and support and help to parents. We’re fighting a battle today for the our children. We’re fighting a battle for our families and our homes. And I just know some of you today like you, I wanna I want to just call you to God.
First thing would be a real commitment of your life. Dad, a real commitment of of your life, sir. A a real redirecting of your your beliefs toward him. Put your trust in him as a couple today. I don’t know who I’m talking to. I just I want to call you to God. I want to call you to a moment of prayer and turning your life over to him.
We call it salvation, a new beginning. And I’m going to ask everybody in the house, pray this prayer. If you want that today, in fact, just raise your hand high in the air, wherever you are, whatever location, and say, “It’s my moment.” Come on. This is my day for a new beginning. I’m going to lead you in this prayer. Keep your hand held high.
We’re all going to say it together. Say this with me. Lord Jesus, >> Jesus, >> welcome to my world. >> Come into my life. >> Forgive me of all my sin. and make me a new person. >> I receive you today >> as the leader >> as the Lord >> of my life and I boldly declare that I won’t be the same again in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Welcome. Welcome.
Welcome. Welcome. Welcome to the family of God today.