LITTLE “WHITE” LIES: REAL BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE PROBLEMS
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Dr. Glenn A. Jent, Pastor
INTRODUCTION
A white lie is not mean or vicious in intention. It is more of a lie to protect someone from the painful truth. Satan would have us to believe many little “white” lies. The one I want us to consider today is that real believers do not have problems. He knows that, if he can get us to believe this lie, we will live defeated, frustrated, useless lives. I wonder how many believers have thrown up their arms in despair and given up the battle because they fell for this dark lie of Satan. Let us examine this lie more closely and what it makes people believe.
I. REAL BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS.
1. They believe that a prayer for forgiveness leads to a life of happiness.
2. They believe that a prayer of faith leads to a life of healthiness.
Satan wants us to believe that, if we become ill, we have a spiritual problem. If we really trusted God and have faith, we could be forgiven and be healed of all of our physical ailments. However, Jacob had his limp from wrestling with an angel, Paul had his thorn in the flesh, and Timothy had a stomach problem. No one would accuse them of not being real believers.
II. REAL BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.
1. They believe a person always has a positive attitude toward everyone.
2. They believe a person always has a positive attitude toward everything.
Satan wants us to believe that if we have an emotional or mental problem, we have a spiritual problem. If we just trusted God enough and prayed with faith, we could have all of our psychological problems healed. However, Moses had a speech problem, probably stuttering, which is considered to be a result of an emotional crisis in the past. No one would accuse him of not being a real believer.
III. REAL BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
1. They believe that a person always has good relationships with family.
2. They believe that a person always has good relationships with friends.
Satan wants us to believe that, if we have relational problems with our family or friends, we have a spiritual problem. If we just trusted God enough and prayed with faith, all interpersonal problems would end. However, the Bible is clear that Moses had leadership problems all through the exodus. Paul says that there shall be family problems in the last days. It is also clear that the early church had interpersonal problems that led to the appointing of the first deacons (see Acts 6). No one would accuse Moses or the early church of not being real believers.
IV. REAL BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS.
1. They believe a person should always enjoy the presence of God.
2. They believe a person should always experience the power of God.
Satan wants us to believe that, if we have spiritual problems, we are not real believers. He wants us to doubt our relationship with God, to lose the joy of God’s presence and power forever. However, Elijah came down from his mountaintop confrontation with the prophets of Baal only to flee from Queen Jezebel the next day. Peter had power over demons and sickness, yet he was afraid of the Judaizers who followed the apostles. No one would say that these persons were not real believers just because they had weak moments. Real believer don’t always do God’s will.
CONCLUSION
The truth is that this little “white” lie is a lie out of the dark heart of Satan. Everyone has problems, including believers. Being a believer does not eliminate your problems, but it does give us a traveling Companion and a Guide to encourage and enable us to endure and overcome the problems of life. Without Jesus Christ, you face these problems alone.
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