Truth is precious and priceless...it is your treasure. Handing truth over to just anyone is more than unwise...it is foolish. Well, it could be God's truths that He has shared with you...you know, as you go about your day, or inside your prayer closet...those mysteries and that hearty meat of the word that is only for the mature! Oh...or a nugget of truth that falls from the sky and hits you squarely in the middle of your noggin! (Well, it feels like it anyway!:)
Then you walk around for a few hours thinking, "Wow, God has really shared something with ME! AND I actually was able to hear it this time! Then I was reading scripture, and a WHOLE chapter about jumped off the page...and I knew it was a message for me!! Hurray!!"
Or while you are visiting a friend they say something, and maybe just casually...yet, you know it is for you!
God can tell you anything, anywhere, by any means!
In this chapter in Acts 11, notice the many ways God shares His truth with people: http://nlt.scripturetext.com/acts/11.htm
Truth is the most precious thing in the world...which is why God at times would block some people from knowing it! I think of it as a vase that you inherited. What would you do with it? You never even knew the relative...or the person that passed it to you. But you were told it was a priceless antique...so before you make room for it in your life and handle it which such value so it can be passed to your children, would you go and have it appraised to make sure it is the real thing?
Then, how would you handle it? Give it to your young children to play with? Put water in it with a bouquet of daisies...then place it in the middle of your kitchen table? Or safely put it up on the top shelf in your locking china cabinet for all to see? Handling it with the care it deserves still means it can be a blessing for anyone who visits...that is, anyone who values exceptional pieces such as that!
**********
The truth of the gospel and the Person of Christ are the most wonderful of truths...and one that not all would comprehend. Think about it! Why would God send a King? Wouldn't it be to sit on a throne and rule...and pronounce death on wretched wrong doers?? BUT sending a Ruler to DIE on a CROSS FOR wretched wrong doers?? Yeah, right!!
Luke 18: 31Jesus took the twelve
apostles aside and said to them, "We're going to Jerusalem. Everything that the
prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32He will be handed over
to foreigners. They will make fun of him, insult him, spit on him, 33whip
him, and kill him. But on the third day he will come back to life." 34But
they didn't understand any of this. What he said was a mystery to them, and they
didn't know what he meant.
The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, testified
beforehand his sufferings, and the glory that should follow, (1Pe 1:11). The
disciples' prejudices were so strong, that they would not understand these
things literally. They were so intent upon the prophecies which spake of
Christ's glory, that they overlooked those which spake of his sufferings...human thinking, self-focus, and a
desire of worldly objects, close our understandings. http://mhc.biblecommenter.com/luke/18.htm
***********
Luke 8:10 He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
**********
However, those in Berea, were treating truth as valuable...which is why they made sure that it was the real thing they were taking for themselves!
Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those
in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the
Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Once, as a young Christian, when I was with a group of others from church...we went downtown Mpls to do street witnessing. One person we came upon was a man that literally had a large cockroach crawling in and out of his shirt. We, of course were taken back by it, but we persisted. The man had a lot of demonic influence and not loudly, but nevertheless did heckle us and our message...so, needless to say, we were kind, but we didn't stay very long. This, we felt, was not because we were afraid of him...but because he was not ready at all to handle even a portion of the truth. Moreover, we didn't want the enemy to keep us there, which would keep us from those who would be open and ready.
********
Your own story...your truth. Be careful, as you would with any truth!
Quite a while ago I got a chance to hear Jan Frank, who had written quite extensively about incest and sexual abuse. When she was growing up she was regularly molested by family members. Then as an adult when she was able to get enough healing under her belt, she decided to confront some of them. Well, as you can imagine, they totally rejected her accusations and became angry whenever she brought it up.
She knew that she never wanted to live apart from the truth again, as it was too important...and she didn't want to live as tho it never happened either, yet she also didn't want to be confronted with how her family handled it! So what she shared about this is that she learned that even tho she did not usually talk about it with her family, or even with others, however, she said that 'whatever she does, no matter where she goes, she will always carry at least a measure of truth with her.' I like this!
Matthew 7: 6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you".
Give not that which is holy - Το αγιον, the holy or sacred thing; i.e. any thing, especially, of the sacrificial kind, which had been consecrated to God. The members of this sentence should be transposed thus: - http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/7.htm
On the other hand, God does not want you to be so apprehensive that you don't share it, as it can do wondrous things! Furthermore, we need to keep in mind that God entrusted you with it, so you would use it...to further His Kingdom! Matthew 25: 14-29 -- http://nasb.scripturetext.com/matthew/25.htm
This is the story of Shirley Anne...this is her truth. I am sharing it with her permission. It is lengthy, and does contain content that may be too sensitive or difficult for some people to take-in: http://minkyweasel.com/d-my-journey/
Those of us that are very open-hearted may need to be careful IF we share certain truths...as there are some things that the other would treat as trivial. Not because they are a stranger to you...however, they would be a stranger to how much they know what is in your soul...as compared to you and God. Therefore, as the following verse states:
Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not
share these with a stranger.
The heart knoweth his own bitterness - מרת נפשו morrath naphsho, "The
bitterness of its soul." The stranger does not
understand them: indeed they may be even foolishness to him...so there are some things we ought not share with anyone but God. http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/proverbs/14.htm
Blessings to you....
This is a 3 part series, so it is a little bit long...but be encouraged, you can always come back at your leasure and finish it. Blessings!!
Wanting to stop murder and other actions that directly cause harm to others should be dealt with...and any good citizen would want some kind of involvement in trying to make this happen, along with creating a more peaceful society. However, God says that we are all sinners...and likewise. we are all equally free and responsible to make our own decisions between ourselves and God...which should give us perspective and make us humble.
But, many times zeal takes over, mixed with immaturity and lack of understanding -- which can be a dangerous combo because then these zealots often times begin to think their job is to police everyone else's lives. So, if this is not already happening by a Pastor or within a church body, then it usually will create some kind of a following without.
Romans 10:1Brothers, my heart’s
desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I
can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not
based on knowledge. 3Since they did not
know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own,
they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4Christ is the end of
the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Proverbs 19:2
Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one
who acts hastily sins.
If you think about it every single sin has a ripple effect. However, the majority of sin is deliberately aimed at affecting another person - gossip, rape, murder, hate, abuse, adultery, slander, incest, pedophilia, and etc. But, as it says in the following verse, sexual sin is aimed at oneself. (meaning; within consenting adults).
However, much of Christian society today give little attention to all these sins that are profoundly affecting others, and then in comparison are zealous in going after the sexual sins that mainly affects the persons engaged in them. - namely, homosexuality.
1 Cor. 6:18
Run from sexual immorality! "Every sin a person can commit is outside the body." On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
Then this zeal often goes further and begins to create meddlers. Kind of like a 'Christian Police' of sorts...altho they may use titles that come from the OT and say that they are called by God to take that position. Once I said something in a comment made on a site such as this...a comment that they did not agree with, so their public response was that I was on 'thin ice' with God and that they did their job of telling me the truth so their hands are clean! Then their woeful exclamation at the end was how hard it is to be what they are!
1 Peter 4:15 None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.
Meddler- A busybody in other men's matters (ἀλλοτριοεπίσκοπος)
Only used once in the New Testament. Literally, the overseer of another's matters. One who usurps authority in matters not within his province - a meddler. It is placed in the same verse with very destructive sins. Compare Luke 12:13, Luke 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. It may refer to the officious interference of Christians in the affairs of their Gentile neighbors, through excess of zeal to conform them to what they considered to be the Christian standard. They felt like they had the authority to basically go behind the closed doors of certain sinners and point out their behaviors.
The OT law was very much like the police, as it's nose was everywhere, policing every move people made. However, it could only police behaviors...and did so without mercy. Yes, it's job was only punitive and to oversee the sinner, but without ever giving the hope of being able to live up to it! It was just like carrying around a curse!
Gal. 3:10
But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law."
But now because of Christ's death and resurrection, we have the Holy Spirit that goes where the law could never go...right to the heart and the motives...then convicts, and very differently, and very personally! Why differently? Well, simply, how can we even compare a list of rules that can only be impersonal, with God's Spirit which is more than personal...and offers hope for a solid and lasting redemption no matter the sin! Now, this IS good news!
Yes, the gospel is simply the good news that Jesus came to seek and to save all sinners, and gave His life as solid proof...instead of seeking out reasons to condemn any of us!
Along with meddling, another overlooked sin is manipulation...because it can be the most subtle. This has
become such a common practice that it has become socially acceptable, and most
people do not even realize it's happening. No one can accept Christ for me, for instance...NO, I must choose.
However, manipulation goes about as though it can override this...as it differs from
persuasion in that it tries to override a person’s God given right to choose. Manipulation causes someone to do something that they
would not do under normal circumstances...therefore it is rebelling against God because it attempts to usurp not only a person's will, but also God's authority over that person(s).
When guilt, fear, embarrassment, sympathy, and etc. are used to get people to do
what they would not otherwise do, it is manipulation.
"They made me feel guilty so I did what the other person wanted."
Even when someone
deliberately uses another person’s compassionate heart as a means to manipulate
them into complying with their will, it is manipulation...which in itself is also rebellious just like the sin of witchcraft, because it attempts to override God just like overt rebellion would.
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and presumption
is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he
has also rejected you from being king.”
Even fear can be used to manipulate. This happens all too often in churches
when ministers intentionally instill fear of hell or the tribulation into their
congregation in order to manipulate them into reciting the sinners prayer, following church doctrine or
attending church more regularly. Of course, hell and the tribulation are
terrible things but the truth of these things should never be presented as the means to manipulate people.
“Beloved let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not knows not God, for God is love. Beloved LET us love one another.” 1 John 4:7-8
We are a vessel and we are implanted with His Spirit when we accepted Christ. Then in due time we begin to see the evidence that He is there. If the Holy Spirit was a mere idea, or rule, then the only evidence would be if the person decided to have a shift in their behavior due to their idea or rule.
But it is different when He changes us…because He permeates us...and we become more like Him...then we begin bearing fruit because that is what the Holy Spirit does. In time His love begins showing it's face...or the person never had the Spirit of God in the first place…not really. Because, again, that Spirit IS alive within us and His whole reason for being inside us is to empower change and then bearing all kinds of wonderful fruit in every area of our lives.
Galatians 5: 16So I say, live by
the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 22But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong
to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25Since we live by
the Spirit, let us keep in step with (imitate) the Spirit. 26Let us not become
conceited, provoking and envying each other.
I know that there are folks who go forward at alter-calls because they see everyone else is doing it…or because the emotions are high. Then they mouth the words…but the seed falls on either shallow, or thorny ground…or out in the open where the birds gobble it up right away. (Matt.13)
I know of many people who intellectually accept the fact or idea of Christ…or even follow Christ as a good man or prophet. But the Spirit of God has never really entered their lives. 2 Tim. 3:5 “They have a form of Godliness, but deny the power that will make them Godly.”
It comes down to this….that at some point in our Christian life it is important to, “Examine yourselves to make sure you are in the faith. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is in you, it means you have failed the test.” 2 Cor. 13:5
Immaturity can cause a person to act unlike they have the Holy Spirit...because even though the Holy Spirit enters and empowers, we do not at all become 'Stepford Wives' (or men:) when we are converted. We still have every ability to disobey the still small voice within us. So if we are choosing to keep our eyes on things not of God, then unfortunately our behavior will follow. Therefore if the Holy Spirit is inside, the disobedience cannot go on for very long before God must discipline or the person must accept Christ if they realize they really hadn't accepted Him before.
However, when we do decide to let the Holy Spirit be in control, we must take that step of obedience and "fix our eyes on Jesus", then thankfully our behavior will follow and then the Holy Spirit empowers us to live there in His light. So, to imitate, as the following scripture states, we must have our eyes 'fixed' on who we are trying to imitate...correct? So, what actions and characteristics come from God and which ones do not? Eph. 5:1-14 -
1Imitate God,
therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2Live a life filled
with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered
himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3Let there be no
sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among
God’s people. 4Obscene stories,
foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be
thankfulness to God. 5You can be sure that
no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of
God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this
world.
6Don’t be fooled by
those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who
disobey him. 7Don’t participate in
the things these people do. 8For once you were
full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of
light! 9For this light
within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10Carefully
determine what pleases the Lord. 11Take no part in
the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, let your light expose them. 12It is shameful
even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13But their evil
intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14for the light
makes everything visible.
Part II to follow soon...

Jesus rarely showed anger, so when He did, those were the times we had better take heed and ask ourselves, why?! The one segment of the population that He showed the majority of His anger towards were the Pharisees and the like.
I submit that there was one prevailing reason why He chose these guys to pour the majority of His wrath on...spiritual abuse!!
The Pharisees took their knowledge and used it to crush people by enthusiastically pointing out their sins and getting them to see the weight and darkness of their deeds, because of not having the humility that comes from seeing their own utter sinfulness.
This intimidating attitude in turn caused them to forcefully "be in people's face" about those giant sins, and then as a result, any redemption that would be offered would seem quite small and ineffectual in comparison. So essentially, they, who looked and talked as though they represented God, completely misrepresented Him.
So, what the Pharisees actually did was to make people focus on their sin, instead of what is MUCH greater, the Redeemer that came to forgive all sin!
Most of the following verses are self-evident as to why the Pharisees were the obvious villains that they were...however, why is it apparent that so much of what Jesus said to them was recorded for us to read? To me, I see what was said to the Pharisees, was also meant for us as a warning, of what the gospel clearly is and what it isn't...to those who say they are presenting the gospel and to those who have been hurt by the Pharisees that are present today.
If you notice in verse 11...Jesus, after reminding the Pharisees of all the things they do to try to be great in God's Kingdom, He then tells them in just a few words what it truly takes! Becoming a servant of all.
Then in 13 Jesus tells them that their behavior turns people away from coming to God, and then when they do happen to make a convert in verse 15 that person becomes even worse than they are.
From there as we read down...then in verse 24 where it says that they 'strain gnats"....this was a wonderful metaphor of what it is to major on the very minor things, instead of majoring on the things that should be majored on.
The law spoke specifically about what they were not to eat, as in Deut. 14: "19All flying insects that swarm are unclean to you; do not eat them. 20But any winged creature that is clean you may eat." So, the Pharisees would sip their wine through their teeth so as to keep the gnats from being swallowed. This is what Jesus was referring to, that they were very careful about not swallowing gnats, but they absolutely ignored the important things that were so apparent!
Then as we read through to verses 29-36 God is telling them how they say they revere the Prophets, yet the ones God is sending today to speak the truth, they are fighting against....and they will not be the only ones that are accountable for this harm, but also those that allow this to happen.
Then He ends with His ultimate and contrasting desire....that we all be gathered together, and realize His mercy and tenderness, as His dear children.
Matthew 23: 1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2"The scribes and the Pharisees teach with Moses' authority. 3So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don't follow their example, because they don't practice what they preach. 4They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5"They do everything to attract people's attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.
6They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues. 7They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi. 8But don't make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers.
9And don't call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Don't make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11The person who is greatest among you will be a servant of all. 12Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.
13"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don't enter it yourselves, and you don't permit others to enter when they try.
15"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.
16"How horrible it will be for you, you blind guides! You say, 'To swear an oath by the temple doesn't mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gold in the temple means a person must keep his oath.' 17You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the temple that made the gold holy? 18Again you say, 'To swear an oath by the altar doesn't mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gift on the altar means a person must keep his oath.'
19You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20To swear an oath by the altar is to swear by it and by everything on it. 21To swear an oath by the temple is to swear by it and by the one who lives there. 22And to swear an oath by heaven is to swear by God's throne and the one who sits on it.
23"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give [God] one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses' Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others. 24You blind guides! You strain gnats, but you swallow camels.
25"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires. 26You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cups and dishes so that the outside may also be clean.
27"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people's bones and every kind of impurity. 28So on the outside you look as though you have God's approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of those who had God's approval. 30Then you say, 'If we had lived at the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped to murder the prophets.' 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32Go ahead, finish what your ancestors started! 33"You snakes! You poisonous snakes! How can you escape being condemned to hell?
34I'm sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers of the Scriptures. You will kill and crucify some of them. Others you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. 35As a result, you will be held accountable for all the innocent blood of those murdered on earth, from the murder of righteous Abel to that of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36I can guarantee this truth: The people living now will be held accountable for all these things.
37"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing! 38Your house will be abandoned, deserted. 39I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"
A Pastor I had a number of years ago once said, that if each and every human being truly realized the darkness of the sin that came into the world at the fall, of which we each are an equal part of, it would literally crush us. Conversely if we actually realized the profound love that God had that prompted Him to carry out His plan of redemption, we would not be able to contain it to where we would jump up and then run down the street screaming!
We must engage the mind and heart of Christ to get things done for the Kingdom...and make Him our pilot, not co-pilot. Repent of putting our opinions and attitudes ahead of God's. Let Christ's love lead...as He commanded. Become a servant of all. Eph. 4:15
Are people our real enemies? No.
John 3 :16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes...
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now the works of the flesh are evident:...enmity, strife...fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions...and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ...
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Matthew 5: 39-48
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 39But
I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants
to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If
someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who
asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43“You have heard that
it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But
I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you, 45that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If
you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? 47And if you greet
only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do
that? 48Be perfect,
therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
*******
Who is our real enemy? As you see in the following verses, our real enemy is in the spiritual realm, not the physical. So trying to fight the devil's works with tangible weapons just gets us involved in the works of the flesh (Gal.5:19)...so, we become a partner in the 'dance' the true enemy is trying to start.
He is all about destruction and the best thing he can do is to start a fire under our carnal nature, lie to us and get us involved in operating in the flesh and devouring one another...and keep us far from our primary task, which is to produce good fruit...to carry-out the new commandment, so as to draw people to Christ.
As we can also see, the fight is comprised of both offensive and defensive battle...and it is God, as we spend one on one time with Him, who will teach us to do this spiritual warfare. Our enemy loves to see our carnal nature show itself, and hates peace, faith, truth and of course the name of Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
Ephesians 6: 10-20
10A final word: Be
strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on all of
God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the
devil. 12For we are not fighting
against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the
unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits
in the heavenly places.
13Therefore, put on
every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time
of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14Stand your ground,
putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15For shoes, put on
the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16In addition to all
of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the
devil.
17Put on salvation
as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God 18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 19And pray for me,
too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious
plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20I
am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that
I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should
John 4: 24
God is a Spirit: and they that
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.