• Exodus 20:3-17 (NIV)
[3] You shall have no other gods before me.
[4] You shall not make for yourself an idol. . .
[7] You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. . .
[8] Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. . .
[12] Honor your father and your mother. . .
[13] You shall not murder.
[14] You shall not commit adultery.
[15] You shall not steal.
[16] You shall not give false testimony . . .
[17] You shall not covet.
INTRODUCTION:
Our entire society is founded upon our ability to be honest with each other, and yet how easily the truth can be manipulated to our own advantage. Starting with young children to grandparents, the car salesman to the plumber, the lawyer and politician, the pastor and the person in the pew, no matter who it may be we can all twist the truth to our own advantage. And a twisted truth is no truth at all! It’s time for the truths to be held up as an absolute standard again. We need THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
ILLUSTRATION: We are a nation of liars. In a national survey 91 percent of Americans admitted to lying regularly. Thirty-six percent of all Americans confessed to telling serious lies which hurt others, are totally self-serving or break the law. [ James Peterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1991), pp. 45-46]
How many people lie?
Over 10,000,000 taxpayers "lie on their tax forms" according to the IRS.
6,640,000 job applicants or "80% of all resumes are misleading.
ILLUSTRATION: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ran a help-wanted ad for electricians with expertise at using Sontag connectors. They received170 responses, even though there is no such thing as a Sontag connector. The Authority ran the ad to find out how many applicants falsify resumes." – Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 1.
304,864 doctors, or "70% of all doctors lie on their bills to health insurance providers.
489,530 attorneys lie for the benefit of their clients, not to arrive at truth.
67,050,000 workers or 50% American workers lie to their employers.
95% of participating college students surveyed were willing to tell at least one lie to a potential employer to win a job, and 41% had already done so.
100% of dating couples surveyed lied to each other in at least 1/3 of their conversations.
(The numbers above are based partially on information at the 2000 Census web site and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.census.gov/population/www/index.html and http://www.bls.gov/home.htm)
• Exodus 20:16 NIV
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
This morning we are going to focus on the 9th commandment—THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. We are going to do so by taking a careful look at what Jesus said in John 8:42-47.
• John 8:42-47 NIV
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
I want you to think this morning about this question: “What is your native language—the language of your heart?” Most of us might be quick to insert English. But I’m not talking about English, German, Spanish, or any other national dialect. Is your native language TRUTH or LIES? Whose family are you a member of? Are you a child of God or a child of the devil? God’s family speaks the truth. Satan’s family speaks lies.
I. The truth about lies. What kind of lies do we tell?
1. The BLATANT or OBVIOUS LIE alters the truth to say something that is not true.
a) No amount of lying will ever change the truth. Even if you believe the lie it does not change the truth.
ILLUSTRATION: President Abraham Lincoln was trying to make a point, but the individual he was talking with was unconvinced and stubborn. So Lincoln tried another tactic. He said, “Well, let’s see now. How many legs does a cow have?” The disgusted reply came back “Four, of course.” Lincoln agreed, “That’s right. Now, suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?” The opponent replied confidently, “Why, five, of course.” Lincoln came back, “Now that’s where you’re wrong. Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg!” –James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 483.
b) When we lie all that changes is our relationship with the people we lie to and/or the people we lie about. Lies are like fault lines in the earth’s crust; sooner or later the earth starts shaking bringing death and destruction. Lies weaken our relationships with others and lead to their ultimate destruction.
2. The lies of LIBEL and SLANDER to defame others.
a) The law draw a distinction between these as one is written and the other is spoken, but regardless of how the lie is told it is the overflow of one’s heart to try to hurt someone else or destroy their reputation.
b) Sometimes we twist the truth to protect our own image and make others look inferior or not as good as we are. At other times we invent stories about family or friends (or should I say our enemies?).
c) These are exactly the kinds of lies God wants us not to tell! That’s why God required that truth would be established upon the testimony of two witnesses.
3. The lie of EXAGGERATION.
a) Stretching the truth is not like stretching a rubber band. When you play with a rubber band you can change its shape or wrap it around things to hold them together, but the rubber band remains unchanged—it will return to its natural shape once you let go. However, you cannot really stretch the truth; it is an impossibility because the moment you try to enlarge the truth, the truth remains unchanged and all you have done is create a false reality that will be broken by the truth.
b) Exaggeration is like the boy who cried wolf. After awhile it is difficult for people to accept anything you say at face value; everything is questioned.
4. The lies of SILENCE or INUENDO.
a) It is possible to lie and not say a word! If we withhold the truth our silence supports the lies and further harms those lied about.
b) Saying things like, “If you only knew what I knew about so and so, but I promised I wouldn’t tell . . .” We are creating the opportunity for rumor and suspicion.
II. The truth about the truth.
1. Truth is REVEALED not REASONED.
a) Truth is not something you have to try to figure out for yourself. Truth is not a mystery.
b) Truth is revealed by God because ALL TRUTH IS GOD’S TRUTH. Because God has revealed truth, it can be known and discovered.
2. Truth is ABSOLUTE not RELATIVE.
a) Because truth is revealed it will not change. Truth is absolute. For example: two plus two equals four – H2O always makes water.
b) Because truth is absolute, what is true for you is also true for me. If anything is the genuinely true then true it is.
c) We live in a day of the relativism when people are offended if you try to force your truth upon them, but if your truth is in fact true then theirs remains a lie regardless of how sincerely they may believe it.
3. Truth is OBJECTIVE not SUBJECTIVE.
a) Put simply this means truth stands alone! Truth is not subjective. It is not based on prejudiced nor is truth a matter of personal opinion.
b) Truth is a objective. It is unbiased, impartial, and impersonal. Truth is actual and sure. Truth exists outside of our own personal reality or and remains true even if we deny the truth. Therefore truth is external and unchangeable.
4. Truth is AUTHORITATIVE not ADAPTIVE.
a) Truth can’t be bribed or bought. Truth will not bend. Truth cannot be broken. All you can do is pretend the truth does not exist.
b) Truth is a standard. Truth is a measure like a ruler used to judge our lives. THE VERDICT is established by THE TRUTH.
• James 1:22 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
c) Because the truth is Revealed, Absolute, Objective and Authoritative – BE ESTABLISHED IN THE TRUTH.
• 2 Peter 1:12 MsgB
Because the stakes are so high, even though you’re up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I’m not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it.
d) If we do not remain established in the truth then we easily fall prey to Satan’s language of lies.
III. Satan’s language of lies. Jesus uncovered Satan’s lies.
• John 8:44 NIV
You belong to your father, the devil . . . not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1. Satan’s language of lies is always the same. We find Satan’s pattern of deception in Genesis 3.
a) Satan questions God’s word. Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden? The lie creates DOUBT.
b) Satan contradicts God’s word. You will not surely die. The lie is a DENIAL of the truth.
c) Satan misinterprets God’s word. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing good and evil. The lie leads to DECEPTION.
2. Satan still speaks in lies.
a) Jesus calls Satan the father of lives. Lying is Satan’s and native language.
b) In John 10:10, Jesus call Satan’s a thief who seeks to kill and destroy. It is Jesus who has come to give us life, even abundant life. Yet Satan comes to people and offers them the good life.
c) Satan has nothing to give you! He will offer you the world on a silver platter and then taken away from you. Satan will even promise you heaven if that’s what you want—the devil will convince you that all roads lead to heaven because a loving God could never send anyone to hell. He will claim to give you the truth. But all of Satan’s promises are nothing but lies.
• 2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV
Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
IV. God’s language of truth.
1. Jesus made bold claims to speak the truth as the son of God.
• John 8:42-44 NIV
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth,
a) Notice what Jesus said. I HAVE COME FROM GOD! Jesus made it clear—God the Father sent Jesus.
b) Because the Father sent Jesus, Jesus allude s to the reality that JESUS SPEAKS FOR GOD. Jesus asked why is my language not clear to you? While Jesus is not does not specifically say He speaks for the Father here, Jesus is the truth and speaks the truth.
• John 12:50 NIV
. . . whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
c) This is why Jesus tells the Jews, “IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ME, IT’S BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL.”
2. Jesus speaks the language of God. It is Jesus telling the truth?
a) Either Jesus is telling the truth, He is deliberately lying to us or Jesus believes what he says is true but is badly mistaken.
b) Jesus is either Lord, liar or lunatic.
3. We can know today with absolute certainty that Jesus has told the truth.
a) The resurrection validates that Jesus has told us the truth. If Jesus had lied, or if he were a lunatic and believed a lie that he wouldn’t remained dead after his crucifixion. But God validated every word Jesus spoke by bringing him back from the dead.
b) The lives of Jesus’ disciples validate that Jesus told the truth. All but one of the disciples were martyred for their faith in Christ john was persecuted, believed to have been boiled an oil, and ultimately exiled to the aisle of patents because of his faith in the resurrection. No one is willing to die for a lie.
c) The Holy Spirit validates that Jesus has told the truth. When we put our faith in Jesus today the Holy Spirit confirms within our hearts that we are children of God.
d) Changed lives today again prove that Jesus is alive and has told us the truth. The greatest miracle is the miracle of salvation. The testimony of changed lives is living proof today that what Jesus has said is true!
V. Whose child are you? What language do you speak—the language of lies or the language of truth?
1. You are either a child of God or a child of Satan. According to Jesus we can tell by the language you speak. You’ll either speak the truth or you will speak lies.
• John 8:45-47 NIV
45 . . . because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
a) Children of the devil will seek to carry out their fathers desire. They will lie cheat and steal, and yes they will even kill just like their father the devil.
b) Children of God will live their lives differently. They are to live their lives like Jesus. In the same wage eases spoke the truth we too must be truthful.
• 1 John 3:8-10 NIV
8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
c) Why do God’s children live differently? Why do they speak a different language? Because God’s spirit lives in them!
2. God has a growing family! You can be a child of God today.
a) Can you understand the language of truth today? God invites each of us to come to Himself through Jesus.
b) Are you God’s child? Then let the Holy Spirit hope you today to speak the language of truth.
