Communication: Lying is a Sin!
20 August 2017 PM – Proverbs 6:17 – Comm17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: “The book The Day American Told the Truth says that 91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses.” Daily Bread, August 28, 1992 That was 25 years ago. Do you suppose the problem of lying has improved since then?
Another article states, “Based on studies performed in the past, it is estimated that 60% of adults can not have a ten-minute conversation without lying at least once. Within those ten minutes, an average of three lies were told.” http://brandongaille.com/24-nose-growing-statistics-on-lying/
Psychology Today reports, “When parents lie to their children they are hurting them deeply. When a child knows the truth and when his parents contradict this knowledge, the child ends up doubting himself.” www.psychologytoday.com/blog/savvy-parenting/201406/when-parents-lie
Transition: This evening we are going to examine what God says about lying. We will learn that all lying is sin and that we must not lie.
1. What Does God Say About Lying?
a. God Hates Lying
1) (Proverbs 6:16-17) “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”
2) (Proverbs 12:22) “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
3) (Proverbs 30:6) “Add thou not unto his [God’s] words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
4) These verses make it clear that God hates lying. It does not matter if it is a little lie to your child or a BIG lie to an adult, lying is a sin.
5) We see God’s hatred for lying demonstrated in His reaction to the lies told by Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:1-10) “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.”
6) We also see God’s hatred for lying as liars are among those sent to the Lake of Fire. (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.” A true Christian who tells a lie will not go to the Lake of Fire, but it is a place for unsaved liars.
b. Lies hurt others
1) (Proverbs 6:19) “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
2) (Proverbs 12:17) “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.”
3) (Proverbs 25:18) “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul [club], and a sword, and a sharp arrow.” Lies hurt!
4) (Proverbs 26:28) “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”
5) Telling lies may seem harmless, but when the truth is learned they shatter trust and cause much pain. Plus, you become an untrustworthy person to others.
c. God Says that Liars are Fools & Wicked
1) (Proverbs 10:18) “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.”
2) (Proverbs 11:18) “The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.”
3) (Proverbs 17:7) “Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.”
4) Telling lies is the foolish thing to do.
d. Lies Don’t Last
1) (Proverbs 12:19) “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
2) (Proverbs 21:6) “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.”
3) The truth will eventually come to the surface and the lies will be exposed.
e. Liars Cannot be Trusted
1) (Proverbs 14:5) “A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.”
2) (Proverbs 14:25) “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.”
3) (Proverbs 19:22) “The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”
4) In Bible days, poor people were looked down upon. Yet God tells us that it is better to be a poor man than to be a liar.
f. Liars will be Punished
1) (Proverbs 13:5) “A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.”
2) (Proverbs 19:5) “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.”
3) (Proverbs 19:9) “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”
4) (Proverbs 21:28) “A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.”
5) Even if our lies are never detected in this life, we will one day stand before our Lord God who knows all things. (Psalms 44:21) “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”
2. What Should be Our Attitude Toward Lying?
a. We should desire to obey God and not lie.
1) After his sin, David prayed, (Psalms 51:6) “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts…”
2) (Ephesians 4:25) “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
3) (Colossians 3:9) “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”
4) Lying is part of our sinful nature. If we have truly put off the old man as we are supposed to do on a daily basis, lying will not be part of our life.
b. We should pray for victory over all lying.
1) (Proverbs 30:8) “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:”
2) (Psalms 19:14) “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
3) Determine with God’s help to always tell the truth.
Conclusion: Lying is a sin! If you have a habit of lying to your children, to your parents, to your spouse, to your neighbours, to your friends, to people at work or at the shops, you need to confess your sin and seek God’s cleansing. Then you need to change your ways. God wants us to tell the truth!
Song: Cleanse Me – 166