True Lies – Who’s your Daddy?
A clergyman was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age.
The group surrounded a dog. Concerned lest the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked "What are you doing with that dog?"
One of the boys replied, "This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we’ve decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog."
Of course, the reverend was taken aback. "You boys shouldn’t be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning, "Don’t you boys know it’s a sin to lie," and ending with, "Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie."
There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he’d gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, "All right, give him the dog."
“A lie is an abomination unto the Lord, and a very present help in trouble.”
Stats about lies…83% of stats are lies…
Definition of LIE
Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression. It’s the perversion of the truth. Gossip
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”
That’s the way the Devil likes it…
John 8:44 (New International Version)
44You 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.
Who is the father of all lies…Who’s your daddy?
The 1st Lie that he wants you to believe is…
1. You will never measure up.
• You’re not good enough
• You’ll never damaged goods
• Your past is too messed up for God
A guy had been feeling down for so long that he finally decided to seek the aid of a psychiatrist. Suddenly, he looked up with an expression of delight and said, "Um, I think your problem is low self-esteem. It is very common among losers."
Romans 5:8 (Amplified Bible)
8But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
He died for us no matter what we have done, who we were, where we’ve been…
Unlike other religions:
• Budda ,Mohomad, The Mormons version
• The Jehovah’s witness, The Catholics
They completely omit this fact about God’s love towards us.
All those other faith’s tell you how you don’t measure up, how you are not good enough, and that you have to keep working for your salvation.
Ephesians 2:8 (King James Version)
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Some people have been turned off by church or left church because they have seen non-Christians live a better life than Church going, bible reading, tongue talking Christians. What’s the difference?
As sad as it may be, there is a huge difference.
Example – Washington - Oregon
Different people are at different stages in their Christian walk.
How do we know if we are in the right state?
Romans 8:16 (The Message)
16God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
2. I don’t need to measure up.
This says, “You are good enough.”
George Barna reports some amazing facts. Most Americans, including profession Christians, believe that people are inherently good and that there primary purpose is to enjoy life as much as possible.
a). 38% believe that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons.
b). 44% believed that all people will experience the same outcome after death, regardless of their religious beliefs.
c). 55% believed that if a person is generally good or does enough good things for others during their life, they will earn a place in heaven.
• Friendly fire
• Government organization
• Head butt
• Legally drunk
• Temporary tax increase
• Microsoft Works
We are born with a bent towards sin.
Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Romans 6:23 (King James Version)
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But others say, well I go to church, I prayed that prayer…no matter what I am going to heaven.
What they are saying is “They aren’t going to lose their salvation.”
But you can certainly pick up stakes and move out!
Can we walk away from God and his grace and give up our salvation? – Yes!
Free moral agents!
Colossians 1:23 (New International Version)
23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.
Hebrews 12:14-15 (CEV)
14Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don’t, you will never see the Lord.
Hebrews 10:26-27 (CEV)
26For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins [no further offering to which to look forward].
27They are God’s enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire.
Revelation 3:15-16 (New International Version)
15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Faith without works is dead. Love the Lord…
Romans 8:1-3 (New International Version)
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d]
The Man that died in the train.
“If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” ~Mark Twain
