Lies Women Believe Part 3: How to Deal With The Lies?

(Eve's links: Women's Role in Society. CWLC Women' Conference Ormoc, 7 March 2020)

How we should respond when faced with these lies?

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. "

1 Timothy 4:1-12

Paul was clearly stating to Timothy that the Spirit clearly says that in later times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. These false teachings are not just pertaining to the false preachers, but rather it also includes the teachings outside the church. What social media teaches, what society teaches that women have to be strong, independent women and what they believe that is acceptable. Like It’s my body, it’s my own right! I have the right to decide for my body. These teachings will come from hypocritical liars. It’s not just about what we eat, or the laws. It is how we live our lives in accordance to what the Scripture teaches. And we should know the truth! Everything God created is good! 

1. Immerse yourself in Scriptures

"If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed."

We can go back to the lies and look back at the scriptures. Joshua reminded the Israelites, 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.Joshua 1:8

We need to live our lives immersed in the Scriptures. Our identity is in Christ! The core of our lives should be the Word of God. 

So when we look back on all these lies, we can always compare it to the Scriptures.

Lies About God: God is not Real

When you feel that God is not real, look at Job, He cried out despite his suffering knowing that He will see God.

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
    with my own eyes—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns within me!
 Job 19:25-26

And even the unbeliever knew God. King Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes towards heavens and praised the God most high, honored and glorified him who lives forever. (Daniel 4:34)

The creation even declares of God's hand in making them. (Psalm 19:1, Job 12:7-10, Psalm 104:24-25). There are so many verses in the Bible that speaks of the Creator and the creation. God reveals Himself to us through what He has created that begets us to ask, "Who would have thought of creating such wonderful things?"

How about God is not good?  But everything God created was good, how can someone who is not good create something that is not good? We can go back to Genesis in creation. 

Lies About God: God does not love me. (Di ako love ni Lord). 

I hear this a lot from our youth, "Ang daya ni Lord, di niya ako love." (God is unfair, he does not love me) God does not love me because he placed me in this situation. We go back to the Scriptures, in John 3:16 a very well loved verse, it says: For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, so whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. What love is that He who gave up his life for us?

And in 1 John 4:8, it states, "Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love!". We can even talk of Romans 8:38-39, Paul wrote:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

There are so many verses that talks of God's love for us. To the point we would think, is God's love so crazy can I believe that it is real? Yes! God loves us so so much that instead of us paying for the penalty of sin, Christ came to pay for the price so that we might have a relationship with our Creator.

Lies About God: God is not a good Father. God is a vengeful/cruel God. God should fix my problems because I believe in Him.

1 Timothy 4:4 states that "Everything God created is good."If we believe that God is not good, How can a Creator who is not good create something good? It does not make any sense. And we can look at Luke11:11-13, What father would give a snake to a son who ask for a fish, or a scorpion when he asks for an egg. God is a good good father that he provides for our needs and knows it even before we ask him. We have to remember that God called us to be his children. The problem is that most of us expect things from our Father never realizing that we never have that Father-child relationship with him.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, Jesus was teaching how to ask from the Father. Give us this day for our daily bread and lead us not into temptations. God's design was not for him to be our personal genie but to be reliant on him. Is he going to be our problem solver? We call him Holy and pray for His will be done on earth. It does not mean that He will solve our problems but His will should always prevail. We live in a fallen world that our perception of who God is is so distorted that we expect much of Him where as we should learn to submit to His will. That is the truth. Our perception is not real but God's truth is the truth. 

God is not vengeful and cruel, he is just. He is a holy God who does not permit sin. When we assume that God is so cruel that he punishes everyone, we have to pause and think as to why? The prophet Isaiah realized upon facing a holy God said, "I am a man of unclean lips!" We are sinners, each and every one of us. That when we face a Holy God, we should die. But God is just that He sent His Son to pay for the price of sin.

Our view of God being so unjust stems from our situations, what's happening in the world, why are there so much suffering and so on. We always have to go back to the original design. We were created for God's purpose, for His glory and Him alone. When man veered away from that purpose (Adam and Eve committing sin) it affected everyone down the lie. To say we live in a world that far from the design of God. A fallen world. Sufferings, crisis, unjust governments or societies, these are just some consequences we experiences because it is a sinful world. 

Lies about Sin

"No one is going to get hurt, no one is going to know."  

"This is my truth, this is what I believe in."  

"I was born this way, no one can change me."

We go through our lives thinking that "Oh, it's our human nature to sin", or "I'm not a sinner, I'm actually good. There are worst sinners than me." Scripture teaches us that we are all sinners.

Our sins are not a small matter to God. Rather our sins impact our relationship with HIm. The wages of sin is death. It's not going to be that "No one is going to get hurt or no one is going to know." God knows. When we commit sin, we're hurting ourselves, the people who are involved and also hurting our relationship with God. 

A lady politician once said, "Perception is real, but truth is not." There is something absolutely wrong in that statement. Truth is reality and truths should have foundation. Our perception is faulty because our moral standards are corrupt. (Matthew 15:11-20; Mark 7) Our truths should not be based on our moral standards of what we believe is true. The standard is God's law. Jesus Christ came here on earth and lived that moral standard. Our lives should be modeled after him. Is it possible? Paul instructed the congregation to "Imitate me as I mimitate Christ." Our morals and truths have foundation and the example has been set. 

In the end, we will all face judgement. Whether you think you commit sin or not. What will matter is whether you have placed your faith, cling on to the promised grace given ny God. Our righteouness will not come out of our own works but will only come through the work of Jesus Christ. 

(LIES ABOUT OURSELVES, LIES ABOUT OUR LIVES, LIVES ABOUT MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS TO BE CONTINUED IN ANOTHER BLOG.)

2. Work towards Godliness.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 

What do we call ourselves, Christians? Are we showing Christlikeness towards one another? "Christian ka ba? Eh napaka tsimosa mo. Christian ka? Eh ang toxic toxic mo. Ay yan nanaman reklamo galore. Tama ako, dapat ako masundan." Women do we even follow submission to our husbands? Are we allowing them to lead? How about submitting to the church? Do we bicker, complain, “Eh kasi hindi pumayag si Pastor so sayo ako pumunta” and fight among other women? Do we show godliness and Christ-like love towards our children, our community? How do we show the society who we represent? Paul was saying to Timothy, "This is a trust worthy saying that deserves full acceptance!"

Are we willing to be corrected? To be accountable? Or do we go on living the life where you are the leading lady in the whole world (ako ang bida ng buong mundo). We need to put godliness because it has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Our problem is that we put on the belief that when we are Christians, we are always right or better than others. Godliness does not equal to haughtiness. When we follow Christ, our desire should be to deny ourselves than putting on a show of being a "good Christian". We cannot act piety but jabber on incessantly with complains (walang tigil ang bunganga). Where is the Christ-likeness in that? Paul even had to instruct the church in Corinth because women have been constantly bickering with one another. Be silent! Do things in humility. This statement was not written to degrade women but to remind who they are and should be in Christ. Find wisdom in Proverbs 31:30, 

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain. But a woman who FEARS THE LORD is worthy to be praised." 

3. Put your hope in God. 

That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Do you struggle? Put your hope in God. Keep your eyes on Jesus. I’ve struggled with this mostly especially when one problems comes on top of one another. My husband keeps on reminding me, pray, tell it to God. Hope in him. There is always Hope. I will not be here today if it was not for the hope in Christ. He is the living God. We cannot rely on ourselves to battle these lies. 

When the lies get into my head, I have to struggle with it. Doubts arise and hope seems so far away. We struggle with the uncertainty in life. All the "what ifs" and "maybes" intensifies. We over think, over analyze, we dwell on possibilities and endless worries. We need to work through this life knowing that in the end we shall see God. The book of Psalms reminds us of a Father who we should rely on. Our Help, our Fortress, our Refuge. If we cannot put our hooe in God, where else can we put it that will not fail?

And finally

4. Command, teach and set an example.

Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity especially of those who believe.

When I was invited to speak here, I asked Ate Ai-Ai, who are the women coming to the event? What age group do we have? Only to find out that majority would be older than me. I am 35 years old! What do I know compared to the women who had more years that I do?  

But this I believe, I am here under God and also under my husband’s authority to teach. To command, teach and set an example. Whatever life that I live I have to remind myself that I have to live what I teach. Be an example to others. My life is not my own. 

I am a Pastry Chef, and have worked in different parts of the world. Middle East, Caribbean, The United States. And here in the Philippines. I command a very good salary. But I knew God called me to be a Pastor’s wife. Upon marrying Gab, it was fine, my salary helps support the ministry and helps pay whatever needs we have. But God saw it fit to remove me from my career. 15 years of working in the industry gone in an instant. I struggled. What do I tell my family? That I am a failure? All those hard work in 15 years. Lies started to come in. I refuse to seek counsel with the Lord. I refuse to speak with Him. I know He has plans but I was not ready to listen. Was I angry with him? Yes! My reality was not what I have planned. There are days when I would cry and hide from the world. There are days when I don’t want to continue. My problems kept on piling up, how do we pay for the house the bills,the ministry? My husband don’t get salary and I don’t have one either. I know that He is there, I have seen how he provided for me and my husband but the lies keep on coming. The solution I have in my head was to kill myself and get over it. It's easier. One less thing to worry about.

But there’s one thing I am forgetting and I am being reminded of it constantly. 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

Remember what I have said about what delight means? To have extreme Satisfaction. My problems is looking into all my problems and my dissatisfaction in this world. Our delight should be in the law of the Lord. What are those laws? You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, soul and strength. And we should love our neighbors as ourselves.

The lies we believe today that erode our dependence on God and discredit our belief in the good news of his Son Jesus are not blatant. They are subtle. They make promises. They seem plausible. In Colossians 2: 4, the apostle Paul warns Christians this way: “I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable” (Wilson, Jared C., The Gospel According to Satan. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition)

The problem with the lies we’re told is that we forget to find satisfaction in the one true God. Eve started entertaining those doubts forgetting we have a Creator who made us in His image. Our heart issues begin with these lies is because we do not find extreme satisfaction towards loving God. King David was remind us in that Psalm that we are blessed when we find extreme satisfaction in God.

Delight in the Lord, find extreme satisfaction in loving Him. And may we, women be the ones to lead other and set example to the role God has originally designed for society.

Lies Women Believe Part 1: How Do Lies Work?

Lies Women Believe Part 2: What Are The Lies We Believe?

Sources:

Wolgemuth, Nancy DeMoss. Lies Women Believe/Lies Women Believe Study Guide- 2 book set. Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Wilson, Jared C.. The Gospel According to Satan. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.