When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (NIV)

John wrote these verses as part of recounting the conversations that took place between Jesus and His disciples during the Last Supper. Jesus encouraged them that though He would soon leave them for a short while, the Father was sending an advocate, a counselor, to help them recognize truth from deception. Today, this “Spirit of Truth” is commonly known as the Holy Spirit.

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Like the disciples, we too need help discerning truth from deception. Unfortunately, the cost of being deceived is high. The author of lies and deceit roams like a lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Fortunately, the same Spirit of Truth that the Father gave to the disciples, He also gives to us. It's through the Holy Spirit that He proclaims His truth to you.

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So, why would our Father allow deception in the first place? Paradoxically, it's because He loves us. He is so loving that He relinquishes His sovereignty over us to allow us a choice – the choice to be led by the Holy Spirit or the choice to deny the Holy Spirit. In that way, all of us that choose Him will be gathered to Him for eternity. So unfortunately, deceptions exist in our fallen world, and thus, we must learn to distinguish deceptions from truth. You might think it obvious, but would you recognize truth?

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The best deceptions contain an element of truth. That's what makes them so hard to discern. Remember how Satan twisted the truth to defy God in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3)? Additionally, truth can have different meanings depending on our individual experiences. Here’s a very simplified example. If I held up a red apple and proclaimed that this apple is red, would that be true to a color-blind person? How about to a blind person? How might they see red? Truth is in the eye of the proclaimer. My truth may not be your truth and vice versa.

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So where do we turn? We need a common core, a base from which all truths are derived. Where does one find absolute truth?

From the Truth.

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Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6), and His Father sent His advocate, the Holy Spirit, to counsel us with His truth. See how beautiful this is? Our triune God, the Creator of everything, created truth and the means to discern it.

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So, when it comes time to discern the truth, how can you best do so?

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First, pray. Prayer is simply talking with God. Ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him for discernment. Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Prayer is a powerful tool and highly prized by our powerful Father (Jer. 29:12).

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Second, reference the Bible. In it you have insight into the mind of God (Ps. 119:105). Learn what God loves, abhors, and plans. Rest assured, if your discernment is based on Scripture, it is founded in truth (2 Tim. 3:16).

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Third, know that truth will glorify God. God is love (1 John 4:8), and love rejoices in the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). God teaches us to love Him (Deut. 6:5) and each other (John 13:34) and to live in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Thus, truth will glorify God through acts of love and fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

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Fourth, seek affirmation (Prov. 15:22). You’ve heard that “two is better than one?” I list this fourth because it’s a good test of items one through three.  If you and another believer both agree on the issue, it's a good sign that you are not being deceived. If you don’t agree, it may be time for a re-think or at least have clear and indisputable affirmation from the first three. Even a non-believer can provide affirmation. Be aware though, that with their world view, it could be their affirmation is actually the opposite of truth.

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Finally, go with your gut, or however the Holy Spirit talks to you, as it's probably the Holy Spirit nudging you one way or the other. And don't worry about being wrong. Our Father knows your heart and is so full of mercy (Ps. 103:8); He continually saves us from ourselves.

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So, seek the Truth. Invite God into your everyday life. Then, go forth in confidence, for truly, the Creator of the universe is walking the path with you (Deut. 31:8).

Lord, save me from this wilderness! Awaken your Holy Spirit within me. Talk to me. Teach me your ways. Guide my feet, my eyes, my ears. Keep me on your path, my focus on You, hearing only your voice. Do not let me be deceived. Bring me safely home with you to live for ever and ever. Come Lord Jesus, come.