EPISODE 0019 | Stop Lying
THESE NOTES ACCOMPANY EPISODE 0019
In a world where dishonesty seems rampant, the 9th Commandment stands out with a clear message: do not lie or bear false witness. Lying undermines our integrity and damages relationships. In today's episode, Pastor Stephen explores the importance of truthfulness and what living with integrity truly means.
Why Shouldn’t You Lie?
1. Lying Rejects the truth.
Romans 1:18-20 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
2. Lying Destroys the Individual.
Romans 1:21 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
3. Lying Hurts Others.
Romans 1:24 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
4. Lying Separates Us From God.
Romans 1:28 28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Choose To Be Honest With:
1. God First. (His standard, not yours)
2. Yourself Next. (Weight yourself accurately)
3. Others Third. (Say what needs to be said)
Signs of Dishonesty:
1. I’m Always Right. (Integrity weights all the facts, two sides to every story)
2. You Must Choose My Side. (Accept me, reject them)
3. It’s Never My Fault. (they are 100% wrong, I am a victim)
How To Have Honesty In Relationships:
1. Do not accept someone else’s offense. (seeds, pluck them up)
2. Take action to resolve issues same day. (never put it off and accept the middle, they put you there. Meet the problem where it meets you.)
3. Be Loyal to people, especially other Christians. (You are not Switzerland. You are a shepherd at Vintage Church, act like it)
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
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