The Truth About Lying: Embracing Honesty in Faith
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to MCC and to those joining us online. Today, we continue our series "Smart Mouth," focusing on the power of our words, specifically the topic of lying. We began by reading from James 3, which emphasizes the destructive power of the tongue. James describes the tongue as a small part of the body that can set the whole course of one's life on fire, highlighting the importance of controlling our speech.
We then turned to Proverbs 12:22, which states, "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." This verse underscores God's strong aversion to lying and His delight in truthfulness. We also looked at Colossians 3:9, where Paul instructs us to put off our old selves and speak truthfully to one another, emphasizing that lying is part of our old nature before we accepted Christ.
We explored three main questions: how we lie, why we lie, and what happens when we lie. We lie to others, to God, and to ourselves. Statistics show that lying is prevalent in our daily interactions, often to make ourselves look better or to avoid hurting others' feelings. However, the real reason we lie is that we believe the lie that a lie would be better than the truth. This belief is rooted in false notions that lying will bring us security, more of what we want, or better relationships.
When we lie, we speak the devil's language, as Jesus explains in John 8:44. The devil is the father of lies, and when we lie, we align ourselves with his deceitful nature. Over time, we become more comfortable with lying, eventually living a lie. This leads to a life of deception, where we are not only deceiving others but also ourselves.
In conclusion, we must recognize the seriousness of lying and the spiritual and relational damage it causes. Today is the day to come clean, confess our lies, and commit to living in truth. If you feel convicted, take this moment to pray and ask God for forgiveness and strength to walk in truth.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of the Tongue: James 3 teaches us that the tongue, though small, has the power to set the course of our lives on fire. This underscores the importance of controlling our speech and being mindful of the words we use. Our words can either build up or destroy, and we must choose to speak life and truth. [03:11]
2. God's View on Lying: Proverbs 12:22 makes it clear that God detests lying lips but delights in those who are trustworthy. This strong language indicates that lying is not a trivial matter to God; it is repulsive and nauseating to Him. Therefore, we must strive to be people of integrity who speak the truth. [06:26]
3. The Real Reason We Lie: We often lie because we believe the lie that a lie would be better than the truth. This belief is rooted in false notions that lying will bring us security, more of what we want, or better relationships. However, the truth is that lying undermines our integrity and leads to insecurity and broken relationships. [19:03]
4. Speaking the Devil's Language: Jesus teaches in John 8:44 that when we lie, we speak the devil's language. The devil is the father of lies, and his lies are always intended to draw us away from Jesus, who is the truth. Therefore, when we lie, we align ourselves with the devil's deceitful nature. [24:08]
5. Living a Lie: Over time, if we continue to lie, we become more comfortable with it and eventually live a lie. This leads to a life of deception, where we are not only deceiving others but also ourselves. We must recognize the seriousness of lying and commit to living in truth, confessing our lies and seeking God's forgiveness. [28:39]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[03:11] - Reading from James 3
[04:45] - Defining Lying
[06:26] - God's View on Lying
[08:05] - Paul's Instructions in Colossians
[09:32] - How We Lie
[10:57] - Statistics on Lying
[12:30] - Lying to God
[14:10] - Lying to Ourselves
[15:50] - Why We Lie
[17:25] - Make Life Easier Lies
[19:03] - The Real Reason We Lie
[20:55] - False Beliefs About Lying
[22:31] - Physiological Effects of Lying
[24:08] - Speaking the Devil's Language
[27:07] - Growing Comfortable with Lying
[28:39] - Living a Lie
[32:06] - Call to Confession
[33:38] - Ensuring Genuine Faith
[35:23] - Prayer for Salvation
[38:03] - Confession for Healing
[41:11] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. James 3:5-10: "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."
2. Proverbs 12:22: "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
3. John 8:44: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. 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."
### Observation Questions
1. According to James 3:5-10, what are some of the destructive powers of the tongue? How does James describe the tongue's impact on one's life? [03:11]
2. What does Proverbs 12:22 say about God's view on lying and truthfulness? How does this verse describe God's reaction to lying lips versus trustworthy people? [06:26]
3. In John 8:44, how does Jesus describe the devil's relationship with lying? What does it mean when Jesus says the devil "speaks his native language" when he lies? [24:08]
4. What are the three main questions the sermon addresses about lying? How do these questions help us understand the nature and consequences of lying? [08:05]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James emphasize the uncontrollable nature of the tongue in James 3:5-10? How does this relate to the overall message of the sermon about the power of our words? [03:11]
2. How does understanding God's detestation of lying in Proverbs 12:22 influence our daily interactions and integrity? What does it mean to be a person who delights God by being trustworthy? [06:26]
3. What are the implications of aligning ourselves with the devil's deceitful nature when we lie, as described in John 8:44? How does this alignment affect our spiritual and relational lives? [24:08]
4. The sermon mentions that lying can lead to living a lie. How does this progression happen, and what are the dangers of becoming comfortable with lying? [28:39]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you were tempted to lie. How did you handle it, and what could you have done differently to align with the truth? [17:25]
2. Proverbs 12:22 states that God delights in those who are trustworthy. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with honesty. What steps can you take this week to be more truthful in that area? [06:26]
3. The sermon discusses the false belief that lying will bring us security or better relationships. Have you ever experienced the opposite, where lying led to insecurity or broken relationships? Share your experience and what you learned from it. [19:03]
4. Jesus says in John 8:44 that when we lie, we speak the devil's language. How does this perspective change your view on "small" or "harmless" lies? What practical steps can you take to avoid speaking the devil's language? [24:08]
5. The sermon calls for confession and commitment to living in truth. Is there a specific lie you need to confess to God or someone else? How can you seek forgiveness and make amends this week? [32:06]
6. Think about the physiological and spiritual effects of lying mentioned in the sermon. How do these effects motivate you to pursue a life of truthfulness? What changes can you make to ensure you are living in alignment with God's truth? [22:31]
7. The sermon encourages us to recognize the seriousness of lying and its consequences. How can you create an environment in your home, workplace, or community that promotes honesty and integrity? What role can you play in fostering this culture? [28:39]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of the Tongue
The tongue, though small, has the power to set the course of our lives on fire. James 3 emphasizes the importance of controlling our speech and being mindful of the words we use. Our words can either build up or destroy, and we must choose to speak life and truth. The tongue's power is not to be underestimated; it can influence our relationships, our self-perception, and even our spiritual journey. By recognizing the potential for both good and harm in our words, we can strive to use our speech in ways that honor God and uplift others. [03:11]
James 3:5-6 (ESV): "So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell."
Reflection: Think about a recent conversation where your words had a significant impact. How can you be more intentional in using your words to build up rather than tear down?
Day 2: God's View on Lying
Proverbs 12:22 makes it clear that God detests lying lips but delights in those who are trustworthy. This strong language indicates that lying is not a trivial matter to God; it is repulsive and nauseating to Him. Therefore, we must strive to be people of integrity who speak the truth. Lying undermines our relationship with God and others, creating a barrier to genuine connection and trust. By committing to honesty, we align ourselves with God's character and foster healthier, more authentic relationships. [06:26]
Proverbs 12:22 (ESV): "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you were tempted to lie. What motivated you to consider lying, and how can you remind yourself of God's view on lying in similar situations?
Day 3: The Real Reason We Lie
We often lie because we believe the lie that a lie would be better than the truth. This belief is rooted in false notions that lying will bring us security, more of what we want, or better relationships. However, the truth is that lying undermines our integrity and leads to insecurity and broken relationships. By understanding the real reasons behind our lies, we can address the underlying issues and choose to live in truth. Recognizing that honesty is ultimately more beneficial helps us to resist the temptation to lie. [19:03]
Ephesians 4:25 (ESV): "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."
Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you are tempted to lie. What false beliefs are driving this temptation, and how can you replace them with the truth?
Day 4: Speaking the Devil's Language
Jesus teaches in John 8:44 that when we lie, we speak the devil's language. The devil is the father of lies, and his lies are always intended to draw us away from Jesus, who is the truth. Therefore, when we lie, we align ourselves with the devil's deceitful nature. Understanding the spiritual implications of lying helps us to see it as more than just a moral failing; it is a spiritual battle. By choosing truth, we align ourselves with Jesus and resist the devil's influence in our lives. [24:08]
John 8:44 (ESV): "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Reflection: Consider a recent lie you told. How does recognizing it as speaking the devil's language change your perspective on the seriousness of lying?
Day 5: Living a Lie
Over time, if we continue to lie, we become more comfortable with it and eventually live a lie. This leads to a life of deception, where we are not only deceiving others but also ourselves. We must recognize the seriousness of lying and commit to living in truth, confessing our lies and seeking God's forgiveness. Living in truth brings freedom and authenticity, allowing us to experience deeper relationships and a closer walk with God. [28:39]
Psalm 32:2 (ESV): "Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you may be living a lie. What steps can you take today to confess this and begin living in truth?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Lying. It's something that seems so natural to us, but God has some ideas and some thoughts about it. Let's identify what lying is. In fact, if you'll open your Bibles to Proverbs chapter, chapter 12, we'll be reading there in just a moment, Proverbs chapter 12. But before we do that, I want to define lying. Now, if you're a note taker, it's great because that's how we retain much, much more. I've got a lot of notes for you today. And so I encourage you to take some notes. Let's define lying." [04:45] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Lord detests lying lips. Let's read that again. The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. Pretty clear. He detests lying lips. That word literally is like one of the strongest, worst words in Hebrew, the Hebrew language, to mean something that is repulsive or even nauseating. The writer chose this word very carefully. He's saying it sickens God. It nauseates God when we lie." [06:26] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The reason I lie is because I believe the lie that a lie in this instance would be better than the truth. Which is to say, I believe my self-conceived lie would be better than honoring God with the truth in this moment. Why would we believe that? Why would we believe that lie that it's better for us to do that? Well, I think there's three kind of underlying reasons. And they're really false reasons that we tend to believe a lie would be better than the truth." [18:25] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The bottom line of all of this is that when we lie, we think we're somehow adding something to our life. When in reality, the lie is sucking life away from us, undermining who we really are. And we're losing out on the things that really matter the most in our lives." [21:20] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we lie, we speak the devil's language. Not my words, Jesus's words. When we lie, we speak the devil's language. And you know, from the beginning, the devil has been a liar. If you think all the way back to Genesis chapter three, he started off, the first things he did with human beings was lie to them. Did God really say that you shouldn't eat? In the day you eat, you will not surely die. He just added one little three letter word to, what God said. You'll not die. He's been a liar from the very beginning." [24:08] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Paul says, this is what we're to do. Colossians chapter three, verse nine. Here's what Paul writes. Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge, in the image of its creator. Paul is saying lying is the old way we used to be. It's part of our old practices. It's the old self before Jesus changed us, before we accepted him as our savior. That was, yeah, maybe the normal course of our lives, but no more. Paul says, put that away, put on the new self and speak truthfully to one another." [08:05] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We lie to ourselves and we can believe it if we're not careful. The psalmist rightly prayed, in Psalm 119, I love the way he says it. He says, God, help me to not believe my own lies, to not deceive myself. But we do lie to ourselves sometimes. Those are some ways that we lie. That's how we lie. The next question I want to answer is why? Why do we lie?" [14:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You cannot build a secure life of integrity on a foundation of lies. You will never be secure if you lie. There's a second kind of false reason that we sometimes believe a lie would be better than the truth. And that is this, that lying will get me more of what I want. Man, if I tell the lie, then I'm going to have a little more respect from these people. Maybe I'll feel a little better about myself. Maybe I'll get the accolades. I'll get the attaboys that I really want to get. The truth of the matter is this. Listen, if I lie, I will have less of what matters most. Self-respect, integrity, the knowledge that I'm trustworthy." [19:03] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We grow increasingly comfortable with lying. You might say we become fluent in the devil's language. Physiologically, that happens. Scientists have shown that the more we lie, the amygdala works, is less and less effective at sending out those hormones. In fact, it secretes less and less hormones the more lies you tell. So there's less conflict. There's less reaction in the body. You become accustomed to lying and your body doesn't even react. The same thing happens for us. When we double down on lies, we start lying to cover lies. It becomes easier and easier to lie, not just about little things, our bowling score or our golf score or our weight." [27:07] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We claim to be one thing, but in reality, we're something very different. In our moments of clarity, we might think, if they knew what I was doing last night, they'd kick me out of here. If she knew the things I was planning last week for the future, she'd be very disappointed. We start living a lie. Now, listen, this isn't all of us, but I know that it is absolutely some of us that are hearing this word today, watching it online, here in the room." [28:39] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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