Has there ever been an instance in your life where you thought lying would be more beneficial than telling the truth? 

- But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” 

Colossians 3:8-10 

- a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, 19 a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.

Proverbs 6:18-19

- The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. 

Proverbs 12:6

- Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. 

Proverbs 12:19

Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight. 

Proverbs 12:22

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” 

Exodus 20:16

Lie: 

a statement of what is known to be false with intent to deceive someone

NO ONE MAKES YOU LIE ABOUT SOMETHING, 

YOU DO IT YOURSELF!

Would you rather be known as:

A person who tells the truth and endures the suffering and remains in integrity.  

OR

A person who avoids suffering and is eventually known as a liar and ends up isolated.

Justify:

the act of providing a valid reason, explanation, or evidence to demonstrate that an action, belief, or decision is right, reasonable, or necessary.

“It is highly likely that the vast majority of people in human history have never faced a situation in which lying was the right thing to do.”

Gotquestions.org - The Bible nowhere states that there are instances where lying is the right thing to do. At the same time, the Bible does not declare that there is no possible instance in which lying is an acceptable option.

“ Be a Truth-er”  

Misery - a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body.

Loss - the state or feeling of grief when deprived of someone or something of value.

Judgment - a misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment.

“If a person always speaks the truth he need not worry about remembering what he has said because the truth will always be the same. On the other hand, those who tell lies have to have exceptionally good memories.”

Lies manifest Misery

27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

Mark 14:27-31

There are many Christians, who believe that, indeed, it is possible for a person to reach a state of moral perfection in this life. That view is called perfectionism, and people develop a theology whereby there’s a special work of the Holy Spirit that gives them victory over all sin or all intentional sin that renders them morally perfect in this world. 

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat.Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah

Psalm32:1-5

Lies lead to loss

“DEPRIVED OF SOMETHING WE KNOW AS GOOD, VALUABLE, & MEANINGFUL” 

Genesis 3:4 You will not certainly die

Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves and to really dig inwardly and think about the lies we’ve told and what we’ve lost because of them? 

Lies conceive Condemnation

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.

ACTS 5:1-6

Acts 4:33-34 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them…

I DONT WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW I’M LESS THAN.

I DONT WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I DONT MEASURE UP.

I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I ___________

Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight. 

Proverbs 12:22

CHALLENGE STRAIGHT FROM THE BIBLE

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5 Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For many dreams bring futility; so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

May we commit our mouths to truth - 

Nothing More, Nothing Less, so Help us God.