The Lying Tongue [let Me Be Honest] Series

The Lying Tongue

Exodus 20:16

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LyingTongue.html

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.