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TITLE: 10 Stupid Things We Do: Fail to Tell the Truth
TEXT: Ephesians 4:22-25
PROPOSITION: Christians must speak the truth.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Types
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. The Day America Told the Truth - Lying seems to be a way of life for many people. We lie at the drop of a hat. The book The Day America Told the Truth says that 91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses.

  2. This one hits us all.

  3. Two commands deal with the tongue – Taking God’s name in vain – How we speak of God – Bearing False Witness – How we speak about each other.

Scriptures speak about bearing false witness – lying

  1. Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight.

  2. Psalm 120:2 – Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.

  3. Psalm 141:3 – Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.

  4. Proverbs 6:16-19 God hates a lying tongue

  5. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord

  6. Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished

  7. Matthew 12:34-37 – good things come from a good heart

  8. Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, put away lying, Let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor

  9. Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.

Can I stop?

  1. Consider the damage to others

    1. Send a man to his death

    2. Israel – 10 spies

    3. Peter – Matthew 26:74

    4. Victim – Proverbs 22:1

  2. Liar himself

    1. Defiles his body

    2. Shows his heart

    3. Shows his spiritual condition

 

Types of Lies

  1. Boldfaced lie – Colossians 3:9

  2. False advertising – Flattery – Padded Resume – Psalm 55:21

  3. Unjust criticism – insinuation

  4. Hypocrisy

  5. Gossip – Leviticus 19:16

  6. Silence

  7. Lie to God – Acts 5:4

  8. Half-truth

  9. False oaths

  10. Excuses

How to avoid:

  1. Aware of the source – Satan – John 8:44

  2. Imitate

    1. God – Titus 1:2

    2. Christ – John 14:6

  3. Love the truth

  4. Speak the truth

  5. Consider the blessings

 

The Real Dangers

  1. Harms relationships

  2. Cannot be trusted

  3. Destroy reputation of others

  4. Eternal life – Revelation 21:8

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