To Tell The Truth Part 1

Reason for us. Jesus phone number for some tolling award law use.

Okay, but it's not okay with God.

Believers need to tell the truth if they want to win the race of life lying violates prime directive number nine in the Bible and losing that lying tongue is where were headed on today's broadcast from the Moody Church in Chicago. This is going to win with Dr. Erwin Blitzer was clear. Teaching helps us make it across the finish line after Luzerne and court witnesses pledge to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth sounds like a good idea for all of life. Dave, you're right, God expects us to tell the truth because he himself is a truth teller. We're talking about a truth telling God.

Let me ask you a question. Does holiness really matter will ask Ananias and Sophia write your remember they were struck down by God for telling a lie. As a result of that God was saying in the early century of the church.

I demand holiness.

I demand truthfulness. I'd written a book entitled why holiness matters. The 10 Commandments Jesus and you and by the way, this is one of the last times that we are making this book available. Here's what you do for a gift of any amount you go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for the book why holiness matters. And now let us listen carefully as once again we understand the words of God from Sinai. I think it was Diogenes made himself very unwelcome in Africa by going through the city in the middle of the day with a lantern shown in the faces of people looking for an honest man. People probably thought he was a little bit loony in the 20th century, we would say that perhaps his dipstick didn't touch the oil but maybe he had a point, because basically you and I are dishonest. We are born with a bent toward deception. All of us are in order to protect our reputation or to get money or for one reason or another, usually to make ourselves look good.

We break the command.

Thou shalt not bear false witness. I never yet met a person who has told me that he hasn't told a lie. I can imagine somebody might do that today and if they do, I'll simply say that's one more to write down in their ledger right never forget when I was about 10. Those of you who are in that age bracket. Listen carefully.

I was brought up on a farm and my father came to me one day it was my responsibility to feed the chickens that 5 o'clock every afternoon I walked into the garage. He asked me whether or not I had fed the chickens, it was somewhat after five.

All I knew I had not done it with any degree of regularity and so I lied. I said yes. I had my father believed me he believed me. 10 or 15 minutes later I I left the garage and I went and I got that bucket full of wheat and I went and fed the chickens. I remember how good it felt. Usually we talk about guilt associated with sin well I don't remember guilt. I just knew it felt so good because I had lied.

I had gotten away with it. The chickens were fed. Nobody had incurred any harm as a result of it. And I remembered to this day thinking myself all summer.

I'm gonna do things this way if I'm asked him to make myself look good. I'm going to lie and then I'm going to do it later so about a week later I was asked again.

Did you feed the chicken.

I said yes.

Well of course I didn't leave immediately to go do what I have forgotten to do that would look too obvious. I waited about 10 or 15 minutes and then I went and I did it. Guess what I was seen feeding the chickens. Now if you 10-year-olds are still with me. You have to understand I belong to another generation. When my parents found things like that out. They applied the Board of Education to the seat of learning. That was another generation. You understand, because the Bible says thou shalt not bear false witness, and God is a God of truth and he is interested in us being people of truth when that commandment was given. Thou shalt not bear false witness. It actually referred to perjury, that is to say, a false witness at a court of law. But I want you to turn with me today to the Essex chapter of Proverbs Proverbs chapter 6 is very interesting. There are two different kinds of lying that are spoken about that which would take place in a court of law, and that which takes place in normal conversation.

And God says he hates both Proverbs chapter 6 verse 16. There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to him. Here they are haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, fate that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among his brothers. Did you notice that lying is mentioned twice.

Verse 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue.

Verse 19 a false witness who utters lies. Verse 19 is talking about going to court and you have bear false witness in the presence of someone and verse 17 is talking about the person who lies in casual conversation. God says I hate lying. I hate lie like to do today is to give you three ways that we can break that commandment thou shalt not bear Paul's witness three different ways that we could do it. First of all, we can break the commandment by what we say by what we say here, I'm thinking of course about the actual lies. We're in a situation where ally looks good or would make us look good.

And so we go ahead and do it like that proverbial's boy said that a lie is an abomination unto the Lord, but a very present help in time of trouble.

So, we're in difficulty and what do we do we lie were filling out an application for a job and we tell a lie to make ourselves look good.

God sees it. God hates it back in the good old days when I was teaching at 10 Moody Bible Institute, and I would teach ethics students always used asked me this question, they say, is it ever right to lie and they give this illustration.

Suppose that you were a person who was hiding missionaries and the Communists was always communist. I don't know why the Communists come to the door and that they point a gun at you and they say tell us where the missionaries are now the question is, would you lie in so you don't know or would you tell the truth. Would you say what you do is you go up the stairs and just to the left is wasn't there. Two of them are in their and then you go to the other side and that we have some hiding in another Dan my response. You know, used to be.

I don't know, first of all what I would do if I would have a gun pointed in my head at my head. I have never yet had that happen, and I realize that, statistically, that was supposed to happen last July but anyway I do know this, that if I were to tell a lie. I believe that I would have sinned, even if I lied under those conditions, because whenever you tell a lie you are actually indicating a lack of faith you say. But wouldn't it be better to lie than to have missionaries dead. Don't you realize that even if I were to tell the truth and those missionaries were killed by the Communists. I would not be responsible for the death of those missionaries. The communist we don't believe that God would be thrown off base.

If somebody happened to tell the truth. Can you just imagine God in heaven wringing his hands and saying all good night. I intended that those missionaries live another 10 years and now look at what Luther did. He told the truth what are we going to do.

Of course God can keep people alive as long as he wants, even if we tell the truth. God hates lying one of the ways that we can break this commandment is by what we say and here I'm talking about lying.

I'm talking about exaggeration or somebody says you know my wife is never on time.

That's probably not true.

Think back many years ago when you were going to take her shopping and you promised her a new dress or a wife who says my husband never picks up his clothes, watch it watch it.

Think back to perhaps the early 60s when you received an unexpected knock on the door and early Saturday morning and he picked up his clothes so don't say he never, never picks up as close that's exaggeration and of course under this I could pick people who brag people who tooth their own horn, don't you don't you wish that sometimes when you met people like that you have the courage to tell them remind them of the fact that it's not the whistle that pulls the train.

I think we've all had those temptations, exaggeration, distortion, where we say something by innuendo. The other was a man on a ship, a mate who didn't get drunk very often. But one day he did and the captain wrote in the logbook of the made to God drunk today makes it take that out And said no wrote it down so the next day the mate was keeping the logbook and he decided to write in it.

The captain is sober today.

Well is telling the truth, but you do get the implication and then slander slander.

That's when you deeming the reputation of other people by what you say whether you are telling a falsehood because of the lack of investigation in the matter, or whether you are even telling the truth was, and you can tell the truth and be guilty of slander if you're telling the truth to people who are not part of the problem nor part of the solution and what you are doing it for is to simply deeming the reputation of some believer in their eyes. That is slander. Now I want you to turn with me to first Timothy chapter 3, first Timothy chapter 3 very interesting sidelight as to what God says about slander first Timothy chapter 3.

Notice what it says regarding the wives of deacons, deacons, take note, share this passage with your wives.

If it applies.

First Timothy chapter 3 it says women probably the wives of the deacons, though it may also refer to deaconesses, women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips. That's a pretty good translation.

But you know what the Greek says not Diablo loss. That's what it says not devils word for devil that is used 40 times in the New Testament it says women should not be slander verse and that's the meaning of the word Diablo loss and so what he saying is, is don't be slandering because it when you slander somebody you are doing Satan's work.

He is a slanderer and that's the meaning of the word devil. So you see it's not just speaking the truth about someone even speaking the truth can be slander if you are causing their reputation to be tainted in the minds of those to whom you speak. And God says he hates it all.

He hates it the devil's work.

You know it's wonderful to know that if you have been the victim of slander and I suppose all of us have been at times there is a verse in Psalm 31 that's is this regarding the believing person. It's as thou dost hide them in the secret place of thy presence from the conspiracies of man, thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of Tom in a great God guards those who are victimized by the strife of tongue rumors that will not subside. Rumors let's Psalm 31 verse 20.

So one of the ways that we can break the commandment is by what we say. Secondly, we can break that commandment about, shall not bear false witness by what we do. We talk about doing the truth. For example, cheating is a form actually of misrepresentation and bearing false witness, and I feel sorry for people who have cheated in their past to have never made it right to because back in their minds. There is always that knowledge that somehow they have done something wrong and in moments of revival, when the Holy Spirit of God really begins to do his work. They begin to realize that they've got to go back and make things right is why at schools, even such as Moody Bible Institute. Sometimes there students who cheat two years later. Write letters saying I cheated when I was there and I want to make that right. That's an indication of the work of the Spirit of God who wants us to be totally honest and make things right. As far as we possibly can. I remember one day in seminary we had to go to the board and write Greek verbs down and parse them and we were given drills we go to the board and then we'd stand next to each other and we do it and I was next to a guy who is just a Greek is and that sometimes I wasn't a Greek quiz and I remember on one occasion. Looking out of the corner of my eye and seeing what he had written and I wrote down the very same words and the teacher commended me for being so accurate.

And then I remember after that chapel service. About two days later I was under such conviction.

Have you ever been in a meeting where you just can't wait for it to get over you safe preached that sermon get it over with. Sing the song because I didn't do something. Donna spoken to me. I was in such agony I could hardly believe it, just the weight of guilt upon my shoulders and heart and I went to the professor and I explained to him what happened and that we took care of it and what a load it is off. A person showed just writing a term paper where you have plagiarized, you know, a plagiarism is when you steal from one author.

If you steal from many, of course, then it's called research but just just writing a term paper where you've plagiarized, and to know that you handed it into the University and that there is something wrong with that.

That is dishonesty. You can also lie by what you do.

Let's take for an example, the misrepresentation that took place in X chapter 5 the story of Ananias and Samira, we read this in our devotions at home last night with the children and my children were really quite taken aback by the fact that the text doesn't say that they lied what happened is in chapter 4 verse 36 of Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth owned a tract of land sold and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet. Chapter 5 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphire who also sold the property. They did the same thing. They kept back part of the price somebody says will wasn't that all right.

Maybe they had financial need. Of course it was all right. Peter says in verse three.

Rather, verse four.

While it remained unsold did not remain your own after it was sold, was it not under your control you can do anything you want with it. You could've kept all the money.

What did Ananias and Sophia read do that was wrong. The answer is they took money and they laid it at the apostles feet, pretending that they were giving all that they had received from the land just like Barnabas had done. That's what was so simple. If they did given a part of it and said now this is only a part of it because we need money. Peter said you have that right. He says it was yours. Even after you sold it remained your own.

But the problem is you put the best face on it you wanted to give the impression that you were spiritually wanted to give the impression that you were generous and Sapphire, a you wanted to be elected to the woman society so everyone would think that you were godly and because of that pretense. God says it's game over your dead say why doesn't God do that today. I think God was giving an object lesson to the church what he was doing at the beginning of the church was to say that I hate pretense.

I hate High Park receipt. I hate lying. And because these people agreed in their heart to lie through pretense. I will use them as an object lesson and so Ananias dies Safari dies both of them are wiped out and Peter says to them, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Remember John chapter 8 says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies.

His technique is the lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies.

You know that sometimes wicked spirits actually speak through the mouths of people, especially when they are being dealt with. If a person is demonized because of some reason, perhaps dabbling in the Colton one of the things that you know about wicked spirits is the only time you can believe them is when they have just told you that they have just been lying liars.

It is almost impossible for a demon to tell the truth, he would rather say something very evasive and general rather than telling the truth. He hates truths and you know my friend, this is Pastor Luther and what the demons really hate is to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, they hate that truth I have in my hands a letter from someone who says your teaching has and still does help me greatly throughout all these years.

During the most painful times as well as the good times and then the person goes on to say how much they thanked God for our ministry. Now I need to tell you that the reason that we receive reports like this is because of many of you who are listening to us and your supporters of this ministry.

If your investment in people's lives. Would you consider becoming an endurance partner endurance partners are those who stand with us regularly with their prayers and their gifts as a result of your investments.

As I've already emphasized running to win is now in 20 different countries. More than 20 thanks in advance for your generosity. Now here's what you do if you're interested in becoming an endurance partner.

Of course you need information, go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com. Click on the endurance partner button or if you prefer, call us, ask questions, go to 1-888-218-9337. As a matter fact you can go to your phone right now. Let me give you that number again 1-888-218-9337 endurance partners are those who joined the running to win ministry. I like to think of it as the running to win family. It's time again for you to ask Pastor Luther a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Sometimes the language we use in evangelism is hard to find anywhere in the Bible. This is bothering why ML who asks. I've heard many preachers say ask Jesus into your heart or asked Jesus into your life. Is this biblical if so where is this found in the Bible. If it's not found in the Bible. What should we say instead. Well, good question. There because no it's not found in the Bible.

And sometimes when we tell people to accept Jesus into their heart. If you're talking to children. I think that's unwise because children sometimes take it literally fact, I remember little child asking will of Jesus comes into my heart. Doesn't he get blood on him. Furthermore, the Bible doesn't talk about asking Jesus into our life and the reason that the Bible doesn't is because that's not really the essence of salvation. Now it's true that people have prayed prayers like that and they been saved so I don't want to be too critical, but the best way to explain the gospel.

It seems to me is to explain what Jesus Christ did on the cross and the resurrection and then speak about a transfer of trust. If you look at the gospel of John. For example, the word that is used over and over and over again is believe in, to believe in Jesus so I like to speak of a transfer of trust then you can talk about Jesus bearing our sin. Jesus being punished for us taking the judgment that belong to us himself doing it and I think that's a better way to get at the heart of the gospel. Now you can use the word received because it does say that in the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 12 as many as received him, and we can use that kind of language, but the way in which you describe it, you're right, it's not found in the Bible and might not be the best way to explain the terms of the gospel.

Thank you Lionell for that very perceptive question. Thank you Dr. Luther for answering it. If you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther for call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 among seven things God hates the writer of Proverbs list lying twice. That's top billing for assume we all commit to win in the race of life requires telling the truth. Next time I'm running to win.

Dr. Luther takes us again. Nine of the 10 Commandments will find out why lying is so prevalent and so destructive and will see that it's possible to violate the command to tell the truth, not just by what we say, but also by what we do. Running to win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race to win is sponsored by the Moody Church