Creekside Church, Sunday, July 9, 2023
Honesty Matters
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community."
Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV
Have You Ever Told a Lie?
Is it dishonest to:
EXAGGERATE
Tell A PARTIAL TRUTH
WITHHOLD Information
Say WHATEVER You Want As Long As It DOESN’T HURT ANYONE
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
Proverbs 12:22 NIV
Lying Is The Primary Strategy Of SATAN
Jesus Taught:
"When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
John 8:44B NIV
Genesis 3 The FALL:
"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."
Genesis 3:7 NIV
A Lack Of Honesty Breaks Our Relationship With God
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira:
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ... What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died
Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?.....At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. …..Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Phrase “KEPT BACK” -- Greek Word “NOSPHIZO”
Joshua 7 The Story of Achan:
Achan “KEPT BACK” Plunder and the Israelites lost the battle. Achan was put to death.
Ananias and Sapphira “Kept Back” and lied about it. They came to the same end as Achan.
God HATES Lying
HONESTY MATTERS
3 Questions To Consider
Am I Lying To MYSELF?
2 Samuel 12:1-10 Nathan Confronts David:
"You are the man! ….. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?"
2 Samuel 12:7,9 NIV
We Need People In Our Lives To CHALLENGE The Stories We TELL Ourselves.
Do You Have A Nathan In Your Life To Tell You The Truth No Matter How Painful?
Am I Lying To OTHERS?
Why do I Lie?
EMBARRASSED
EXAGGERATE to impress
Worried It’s Going To HURT US
Worried It’s Going To HURT OTHERS
"If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything." Mark Twain
Genesis 30:25-33 Jacob and Laban:
"And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen."
Genesis 30:33 NIV
My HONESTY Will TESTIFY To My FUTURE.
Are you living an honest life or is there someone you are lying to? Are you lying to people about your struggles? Addictions? How well you are really doing?
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Do you have people in life you can call on?
Why? So that they can help bring the lies out in the open and to have others we can be honest with.
Am I Lying to GOD?
As Peter said: “You have not lied just to human beings, but to God.” Acts 5:4b NIV
God is:
Omniscient All knowing
Omnipresent Present everywhere
Omnipotent All powerful
What happens when we hold back the truth from God?
Trust is Broken
The worst thing that can happen when we are living in lies and dishonesty is that our relationship with God will suffer and grow cold.
HONESTY MATTERS:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NIV
There is good news: that before we were born, God knew we will be dishonest and lie and sin.
But God made a way for us to live in truth through Jesus Christ. We can leave behind the things God hates. We can be forgiven and live in Truth.
3 Question to reflect on:
Am I Lying To MYSELF?
Am I Lying To OTHERS?
Am I Lying To GOD?
Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV
Have You Ever Told a Lie?
Is it dishonest to:
EXAGGERATE
Tell A PARTIAL TRUTH
WITHHOLD Information
Say WHATEVER You Want As Long As It DOESN’T HURT ANYONE
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
Proverbs 12:22 NIV
Lying Is The Primary Strategy Of SATAN
Jesus Taught:
"When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
John 8:44B NIV
Genesis 3 The FALL:
"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."
Genesis 3:7 NIV
A Lack Of Honesty Breaks Our Relationship With God
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira:
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ... What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died
Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?.....At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. …..Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Phrase “KEPT BACK” -- Greek Word “NOSPHIZO”
Joshua 7 The Story of Achan:
Achan “KEPT BACK” Plunder and the Israelites lost the battle. Achan was put to death.
Ananias and Sapphira “Kept Back” and lied about it. They came to the same end as Achan.
God HATES Lying
HONESTY MATTERS
3 Questions To Consider
Am I Lying To MYSELF?
2 Samuel 12:1-10 Nathan Confronts David:
"You are the man! ….. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?"
2 Samuel 12:7,9 NIV
We Need People In Our Lives To CHALLENGE The Stories We TELL Ourselves.
Do You Have A Nathan In Your Life To Tell You The Truth No Matter How Painful?
Am I Lying To OTHERS?
Why do I Lie?
EMBARRASSED
EXAGGERATE to impress
Worried It’s Going To HURT US
Worried It’s Going To HURT OTHERS
"If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything." Mark Twain
Genesis 30:25-33 Jacob and Laban:
"And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen."
Genesis 30:33 NIV
My HONESTY Will TESTIFY To My FUTURE.
Are you living an honest life or is there someone you are lying to? Are you lying to people about your struggles? Addictions? How well you are really doing?
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Do you have people in life you can call on?
Why? So that they can help bring the lies out in the open and to have others we can be honest with.
Am I Lying to GOD?
As Peter said: “You have not lied just to human beings, but to God.” Acts 5:4b NIV
God is:
Omniscient All knowing
Omnipresent Present everywhere
Omnipotent All powerful
What happens when we hold back the truth from God?
Trust is Broken
The worst thing that can happen when we are living in lies and dishonesty is that our relationship with God will suffer and grow cold.
HONESTY MATTERS:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NIV
There is good news: that before we were born, God knew we will be dishonest and lie and sin.
But God made a way for us to live in truth through Jesus Christ. We can leave behind the things God hates. We can be forgiven and live in Truth.
3 Question to reflect on:
Am I Lying To MYSELF?
Am I Lying To OTHERS?
Am I Lying To GOD?