Are you a Truthful Person?

INTRODUCTION

Are you known to be a truly honest person? Do people question the genuineness of what you say? Do you tell the truth even when it costs you something?

Many Christians do not think lying is a big sin. We would not consider seeing a bad movie or committing a murder but many of us lie every second sentence we speak. Telling lies has come easy for us; it has become a part of our lifestyle. Someone said this, “Men lie the most, but women tell the biggest lies.”

Today I want to speak to you about how to be a truthful person. Today I want to talk to you about the origin of lies, the types of lie people speak, and how to overcome speaking lies.

The Lord included lie as one of the 10 commandments given to Moses and I feel God takes this sin very seriously.

Exodus 20:16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Message Bible says: No lies about your neighbor.

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Revelation 22:15 (KJV) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Lying is very easy but speaking the truth is very tough. Mark Twain said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world, while the truth is still lacing up her boots.” Is there anyone who does not lie here? I want to tell you today that the Lord hates lying lips.

Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

Proverbs 6:16-17 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood.

God hates liars. If you have the habit of telling lies God hates you my dear child of God. Even if you are telling a lie for a good reason God hates it.

THE ORIGIN OF LYING

I want you to understand where lying started.
Read John 8:44 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.

Jesus told the Pharisees and Jesus if they do not accept Him they did not accept the father either. The Pharisees insisted their father is Father God. Jesus is telling them if they did not love Jesus their father is the devil and the devil is the father of lies. Lie originates from the heart of Satan. Almost every time we see Satan in the Bible he is lying; therefore, when we lie we become Satan’s children.

THE LIE OF SATAN

1. The first time we see Satan is in the Book of Genesis. Here Satan is lying about God to man.

Genesis 2:15-17 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

1. V1 ‘Did God really say?’ The devil lied about the truthfulness of God.
   b. V2-4 ‘You will not surely die.’ The devil lied about the righteousness of God. He said God will not judge your sin.
   c. V5 The devil lied about the goodness of God.

Here the devil is lying about God to man. Satan is telling man God is not good enough.

2. The next time Satan appears in the Bible is in the Book of Job.

Job 1:6-11 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

Here, Satan is lying about man to God. Satan said to God the only reason Job is obeying you is because you are good to him. Here, Satan is telling God is too good.

3. Crucifixion/Trial of Jesus.

Luke 22:3-4 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

Here Satan entered Judas and the chief priests and rulers to falsely testify (lie) against Jesus to crucify Him.

4. Revelation.

1 John 2:22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.

In Revelation, Satan tells he is Christ (a big lie) that brings the end of the world.

• In Genesis, Satan lied about God to man.
• In Job, Satan lied about a man to God.
• At crucifixion, Satan used a lie to crucify Jesus.
• In Revelation, Satan claims he is Christ.

From the beginning to the end Satan is a liar. Therefore, when we lie we align ourselves with Satan which brings destruction in our lives.

Listen what Jesus said:
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

As God’s people we are supposed to speak the truth which brings freedom and life. Satan’s children speak lie which brings destruction and death.

SIX TYPES OF LIE PEOPLE SPEAK

We all lie in different ways on a regular basis and we hardly think about it. I am going to help you identify 6 different types of lies we speak.

1. Slander

Psalm 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence.
Leviticus 19:16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.

Slander is lying with the intention to do harm to another person’s reputation. The damage slander does is very high. If you steal something you can give it back or pay it back but if you slander or spoil someone’s reputation you can never get it back. It destroys the person.

2. Tale bearing

This person loves to tell things and stories about others. They never care if the facts are right or wrong. This is also called gossip or carrying rumors.

1 Timothy 5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

The next time you enjoy someone’s gossip remember anyone who gossips to you will gossip about you tomorrow. Please do not allow your ears to become someone’s dustbin. Now, some people get to know all the news that is happening around them. That is because they are sending a signal ‘I’m willing to listen to any garbage you want to drop off.’

Child of God it is time we come out of gossip. You must understand the accuracy of our gossip may not be right. By the time a message passes through two mouths the accuracy of the story is questionable. We often end up conveying the wrong message in gossip.

3. Lying by insinuation

Insinuation means ‘a hint.’ You do not say it thoroughly but you suggest it. Remember, your suggestion is a confirmation to the other person’s doubt. Never suggest anything to anyone unless you are sure of it. Satan did the same about Job. Job 1:9-11. He suggested to God he was too good to Job. Suggesting something about someone is insinuation which is equivalent to lying.

4. Flattery

Psalm 55:21 His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Flattery is insincere praise. Talking something to someone’s face that you would never talk behind their back.

5. Half-Truths

Not telling the whole story. Half-truths are a lie. Mother asked the young boy “where did you go today?” The boy said, “I went to my friend’s house.” But listen he never said where he went from his friend’s house. It is a half-story. Did the boy speak the truth? Yes, but in the sight of God, it is a sin or a lie as the whole story has not been told. That is why in court you swear not to just tell the truth, but ‘the whole truth.’

6. Exaggeration

Blowing things out of proportion. Preachers are very good at this. If a headache is healed they often say a tumor in the head was healed. Parents exaggerate the performance of their children to other parents. Child of God exaggeration is a sin.

HOW TO OVERCOME LYING?

1. Love the truth

2 Thessalonians 2:10 They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

2. Learn/think about the truth

Philippians 4:8-10 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

3. Live the truth

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

CONCLUSION

Lying is sinful but speaking the truth is godly. Lying is the spirit of Satan, and truthfulness is the spirit of God. Let us be people of truth and honesty. Let us ask God to forgive our lying lips. Let us come out of every type of slander, gossip, insinuation, half-truths, and exaggeration, and learn to be truthful in our talk and ways. Ask God to cleanse our lips and forgive our sins today. May God give us the grace to be truthful people. Amen.