White Lies And Laughter

2024.06.09. Sermon Notes. White Lies and Laughter.

HIDDEN TRUTH and “He Laughs or Laughter”

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: THE SIN OF DECEPTION IS CONTAGIOUS, AND IT AFFECTS ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN ITS PATH AND CONSUMED BY IT.

Scriptures: Exodus 20:2-17, Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 5:27-28, Genesis 20:1-18, Genesis 21:22-34, Galatians 4:21-30, Genesis 21:1-21

I remember as a child, riding a bus tour in Amish Country in Lancaster PA. The bus driver, tour guide was telling us stories about the Amish and the community surrounding it. He was quite the joker. Making funny remarks and having the whole group laughing. But I remember him making some comments that were so fantastical, they were hard to believe, and he would let that thought simmer in our minds, before holding his hand above his head, with this forefinger and thumb making the letter “L”, at which time, he confessed he had made a “white lie”. A half truth. Many times during that tour, he held his hand above his head. For a moment, we were all deceived, and then he set the record straight.

We’ve all lied. And the LAW tells us that bearing false witness, deviating from the truth, and just plain lying, is a sin.

JESUS was asked what the greatest commandment was of the LAW.

Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV)

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

When we read the 10 commandments, we see that the first 4, are directly related to how JESUS defined the greatest commandment, these first 4 are about loving GOD. Then the last 6 commandments, follow JESUS’ comment of the second greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Taking into consideration the WORDS of CHRIST, we realize that to keep the 10 commandments, by loving GOD and loving others covers all 10.

But JESUS took it a step further and said that if we do these things in our minds, we’ve committed those sins in our hearts.

Matthew 5:27-28 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Therefore, we must BRING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE to the obedience of CHRIST JESUS.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

WHITE LIES AND HALF TRUTHS ARE ALL LIES.

Genesis 20:1-18

1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And

Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

SHE IS MY SISTER. A HALF TRUTH THAT LEADS TO DECEPTION. AND THAT DECEPTION LEADS TO A CURSE UPON THOSE WHO WERE DECEIVED. VS 17-18

DECEPTION WAS BY STATING SARAH WAS HIS SISTER AND NOT HIS WIFE.

HIDING TRUTH FALLS INTO THE SAME CATEGORY AS DECEPTION.

DECEPTION LEADS OTHERS TO STRAY AND BRINGS GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON THEM.

SARAH WAS IN FACT ABRAHAM’S SISTER BY THE SAME FATHER, BUT THROUGH A DIFFERENT MOTHER. Vs 12

ABIMELECH TOOK SARAH FROM ABRAHAM. SARAH WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, AND WHILE HE DIDN’T ACT UPON HIS THOUGHTS FOR SARAH, ABIMELECH’S THOUGHTS BROUGHT ON HIS OWN SIN.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?*

*REMEMBER ABRAHAM’S PRAYER OVER SODOM? LORD, WILL YOU SLAY THE RIGHTEOUS WITH THE WICKED?

5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

6 And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”*