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The Lying Tongue
Exodus 20:16
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I’ve never once heard an entire message on lying. I have heard a few that contained some lies, however. I’ve also had some people lie while I’m preaching...usually on their side or back!
Many Christians do not look on lying as the grievous sin that it is. I’m going to be HONEST with you: There are people here who wouldn’t consider attending a dirty movie, but they will lie at the drop of a hat. Some don’t mind misleading others...in the name of good business.
Ill.-- A store manager heard his clerk tell a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week.” Then the manager drew the clerk aside. “Never,” he snarled, “Never, never, never say we’re out of anything- say we’ve got it on order and it’s coming. Now, what was it she wanted anyway?” The clerk said, “Rain!”
I’ve known Christian women who were fanatical about dressing modestly, and yet they think nothing to manipulate a situation using untruths. Spouses lie to one another in the name of keeping the peace, parents lie to their own children and vice versa, employers and employees just the same. Advertisers lie to sell products. Politicians lie in order to spin things their way. [add another to the list, John Edwards, who confesses lying and tells a few more lies in the process of his confession!]
But the Lord included this as one of the 10 commandments, and I believe He takes this sin very seriously.
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have
their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.
Here’s a list of grievous sins...
Revelation 22:15
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers,
and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Mark Twain said a lie can travel halfway around the world while truth is still lacing up her boots. It’s natural to lie, and there’s something about our nature that enjoys it...that both lies and loves lying. We like reading tabloids, or hearing gossip.
Lying is easy, but the truth is hard oftentimes.
Are you known to be a truly honest person, or do people have to question you and wonder about your genuineness? Do you have a reputation as a liar, or do people know what you say is true? Is your word as good as your signature? Do you do what you say you will do? Do you tell the truth even when it will cost you something?
We say that honesty pays off, but actually oftentimes it costs. But doing right is its own reward.
Ever known a compulsive liar? They enjoy holding something over you. Even when it serves no purpose. Even when they aren’t in trouble, or it doesn’t get them out of a jam!
The Bible has a lot to say about lying:
Prov. 6 lists lying as one of the 7 things the Lord hates.
Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly
are his delight.
The poet said, “You can fool the public and be a secret fraud, you can try to hide your lying, but you can’t fool God!”
3 Truths about Lying:
1. The Origin of lying.
Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees in this passage...
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his
own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
So we’re a lot like Satan when we lie. Almost every time we see the devil in Scripture he’s lying...
The first time we see Satan in the Bible he lies about God to man.
Lying about God to man:
· About the truthfulness of God—“Hath God said?” Questioning God’s Word is skating on thin ice. Yet many question God’s Word all the time today. We are not to stand in judgment w/ whether it makes sense or is PC or not. The Word is to stand in judgment of us, not the other way around.
· About the righteousness of God—“Ye shall not surely die”. In other words, God won’t judge you if you sin.
· About the goodness of God—“God is trying to keep back from you good things!” [paraphrase]
The next time Satan appears in the Bible is in the book of Job. This time he’s in the courts of heaven and he’s lying about man to God.
Lying about man to God:
“The only reason Job obeys you is because you’re so good to him.” What a liar. To Adam and Eve he says that God isn’t good enough, and now he’s saying that God is too good!
We see Satan again at the crucifixion. This time he lies to man, knowing that man will then lie about Jesus.
He put it in the hearts of many to bear false witness against Jesus in the kangaroo court they put together.
In Genesis he uses a lie to corrupt a godly man.
In Job he uses a lie to criticize a good man.
In the NT he uses a lie to crucify the God Man.
In Revelation he embodies the antichrist, who tells a lie so big and believable that it brings about the end of the world.
So, from beginning to end, Satan is a liar! And when we lie we align ourselves w/ everything that brings death, destruction, doom and damnation to this world. Sin is what leads to death, but that sin was brought about by a lie!
Don’t take lying lightly. There’s no such thing as a little white lie. God is truth, and anything less that truth is wrong...is sin!
The origin of lying...
2. The Operation of lying.
Lying has many faces. Lying has many children in its family.
Here’s 6 ways people often lie w/out even thinking about it:
· Slander
Psalms 101:5
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off:
This is lying w/ the intention of doing harm to another’s reputation.
Some sins are worse than others in terms of damage done. If I steal from you I can return the item. But if I spread lies about you I may not be able to ever undo the far reaching effects.
Ill.—man spread lies about his pastor, was convicted, repented, and asked him how he could make it right. The pastor told him to get some feather pillows and rip them open, and place one feather on every porch in their community. It seemed strange, but he did what he was told. He went back to the preacher and said he was done. He said, no, you’re not. Go back and pick them all up now. “But I can’t. The wind has taken them who knows where!” The pastor said, “So it is with the words you have spoken about me.”
When we slander someone’s reputation we do irreparable damage. And we’ll answer to God for it!
· Talebearing—this person loves to tell things. The share ‘news’. But they don’t care if their facts are correct or not. This is gossip. Rumors. Don’t spread it. Try to stop others from doing it. Don’t repeat gossip [listen close the first time!]. Seriously, Christians should make it part of their job description: “Removal of malignant rumors.”
1 Timothy 5:13
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to
house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things
which they ought not.
Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people:
Next time you’re enjoying listening to someone gossip, remember this fact: Anyone who will gossip TO you, will gossip ABOUT you!
Don’t allow your ears to become someone’s personal trash cans. Every church seems to have 4 or 5 people who are always in the know...they have the inside scoop. They come to the preacher and say, “Brother Pastor, I thought you should know that people are saying...” I always try to stop and ask, who are ‘people’...I don’t accept anonymous criticism. Put a face on this or it stops here. Often it’s just a cowardly way of saying what that person wants to say, putting it off on someone else.
Now why is it that it’s always the same handful of people who always hear these things? It’s because they send off a signal that says, “I’m willing to listen to any garbage you want to drop off.”
But the Bible says for us to direct people to the source. If you have a problem w/ someone, go to them, and only to them.
I’ve heard some things. Wanna hear what I’ve heard? I’ve eavesdropped before, back when I was a kid in church, and I’ve heard people talking after church, and they must’ve been hungry and ready to go to lunch, because they were obviously having ‘roast preacher.’ Used to be when you said you wanted to have the preacher for dinner you meant you were having fried chicken.
I love GBC, and I want it to stand for years to come. But honestly, I’m not nearly as worried about forces from without harming this church, I’m more worried about forces within!
· Lying by insinuation—you don’t actually say it, just suggest it. What if I told you, “Today was a good Sunday...Bro. Mike was sober today!” Is it true? Yes! But I’ve suggested something else.
· Flattery—insincere praise...saying something to someone’s face that you would never say behind their back. Salesmen are often bad about this. Kids are too. My daughter has already learned how to compliment my physique when she wants something.
Psalms 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was
in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn
swords.
When someone starts buttering you up, remember that they are probably about to have you for lunch!
· Half truths—not telling the whole story. A parent asks their teen where they are going. “To Andy’s house.” That’s true, but they leave out where they’re going from there. You break the spirit of the law when you do this. This is why in court you swear to not just tell the truth, but ‘the whole truth.’ Half the truth equals a whole lie.
· Exaggeration—none are as guilty as preachers. One pastor was brought before the deacons for exaggerating so much. They confronted him. He said they were right. “I’ve cried a barrel of tears over it. And I promise, I’ve tried to quit a million times!”
· Excuses—they are just dressed up lies.
The origin is Satan, the operation of lying...it comes in many forms...
3. Overcoming Lying.
Every negative command could be reworded positively. For instance. Thou shalt not commit adultery could be rephrased, Thou shalt be sexually pure. We could say today, Thou shalt tell the truth. And truth is the very character and nature of our God. Jesus said I am the truth. He called the Holy Spirit the spirit of truth. The truth sets us free!
How to overcome lying:
· Love the truth. This is a heart change. David spoke of ‘truth in the inward parts.’ You see, a person is not a liar because they tell lies...they tell lies because they are a liar. We need an inward change.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved.
· Learn the truth.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things.
Saturate your mind w/ good things, like the Word of God. The truth sets you free. It’s how Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness, with the truth of Scripture!
· Live the truth.
Ephesians 4:25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour:
Be accountable to others. Be open to others stopping you when you gossip or slander. Immediate confess, immediately correct, and immediately commit yourself to the truth.
Right now Satan wants to sell you a lie...don’t fall for it like Adam and Eve. He’ll tell you there’s not a God, no heaven, no hell, or just no hurry. But today you’ve heard the truth which will set you free. Don’t lie to God...admit your sins and be saved!
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