1 00:00:00,980 --> 00:00:04,220 Good morning everyone. Good to be here this morning. 2 00:00:05,820 --> 00:00:07,160 Chris asked me to speak the 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,080 other day and I told him I'd do my best. So 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:15,380 here it goes. John chapter 18 verses 37 and 5 00:00:15,380 --> 00:00:17,540 38. That's the text for this morning. 6 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:20,680 It's about truth. Over 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,180 2000 years ago, Pilate and Christ had a conversation. 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:24,500 We're going to read that 9 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:30,940 conversation. John 18 37 38. Jesus 10 00:00:30,940 --> 00:00:34,900 before Pilate therefore said to him, are you a king 11 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:37,880 then? Jesus answered, you're not going 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,760 to say that I am a king. This 13 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,040 cause I was born of is cause I have come into the 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,400 world. That I should bear witness to 15 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,420 the truth. Everyone who is true of the truth, 16 00:00:48,660 --> 00:00:52,160 here's my voice. Pilate said to him, what is 17 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:55,340 truth? What is truth? A 18 00:00:55,340 --> 00:00:58,480 question to be asked today in many places is what is 19 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,060 truth? The truth can be used in so 20 00:01:02,060 --> 00:01:06,960 many ways. People take the truth. It 21 00:01:06,967 --> 00:01:09,200 sacrifices truth for peace. It 22 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,200 sacrifices truth for war. It 23 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,600 sacrifices the truth to make them look good. It 24 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,360 sacrifices the truth to make you look bad. It 25 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,520 sacrifices the truth to make money. It 26 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,040 sacrifices the truth to cost you money. It 27 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:28,040 sacrifices the truth to save themselves. Sometimes 28 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,460 it seems like some people just can't stand the truth. 29 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:32,260 They try to evade it, do 30 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:35,560 everything they can. They run from it, minimize its 31 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,280 importance, even explain it away. How 32 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,940 sad that is, but that's the way it is sometimes. 33 00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:45,140 Now in Christ and early 34 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:47,160 Christian, we are just to tell the truth, period. 35 00:01:48,300 --> 00:01:49,640 That's what we're supposed to do. 36 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,980 An example, think about this. 37 00:01:55,060 --> 00:01:56,240 A woman stand before a judge 38 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,560 in a jury. She places her hand on the 39 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,520 Bible and now they're in the air. She 40 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,140 used to make a pledge before the judge and 41 00:02:03,140 --> 00:02:06,140 everyone in the court. Next to me is this. God 42 00:02:06,140 --> 00:02:07,940 is your guide. She'll tell the truth, the whole 43 00:02:07,940 --> 00:02:10,160 truth, nothing but the truth. The 44 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,400 pledge you take when you go to justify. She's 45 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,560 a witness. She's not to expand and dilute 46 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,380 the truth. Her job is to tell the truth. 47 00:02:19,220 --> 00:02:20,820 You've lied, you're interpret, the 48 00:02:20,820 --> 00:02:25,940 judge is to resolve. The judge will be applying the 49 00:02:25,940 --> 00:02:28,120 law. But the witness, what's the 50 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,720 witness to do? To speak the truth. She 51 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,300 does more or less, she may take the outcome on where 52 00:02:34,300 --> 00:02:37,900 the other. Be truthful as she can. Let 53 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:39,720 her tell the truth and maybe justice will have a 54 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:44,260 chance. Because Christians are witnesses 55 00:02:44,260 --> 00:02:47,660 too. You also make a pledge. Like 56 00:02:47,660 --> 00:02:49,660 a witness in court, we're called to tell the truth. 57 00:02:50,580 --> 00:02:52,560 John 17 to 7, the Bible says, 58 00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:59,120 thy word is truth. We're called to do that. The 59 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:00,540 watching world is a jury. We're 60 00:03:00,540 --> 00:03:03,920 the main witnesses. We're basically a subpoena by 61 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:06,880 Christ himself. In Acts chapter 8 and 1, 62 00:03:07,260 --> 00:03:12,220 Christ told the apostles that the 1 and 8, Acts 63 00:03:12,220 --> 00:03:15,040 chapter 1 and 8, they're called to be witnesses of 64 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,260 Jesus. You're a witness me. The 65 00:03:18,260 --> 00:03:20,980 word witness is very clear there. Like 66 00:03:20,980 --> 00:03:23,620 a witness in court, we're called to testify, to tell 67 00:03:23,620 --> 00:03:27,760 what we have heard, what we have seen, and tell 68 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,480 what we know. We're not the whitewash or twist 69 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,940 of truth. You always remember the Great 70 00:03:33,940 --> 00:03:36,700 Commission says, in Matthew chapter 28, 19 and 20, 71 00:03:37,380 --> 00:03:39,640 Guree therefore and teach all nations, baptize them 72 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,380 in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy 73 00:03:41,380 --> 00:03:43,900 Ghost. Teach them to observe all things, 74 00:03:44,060 --> 00:03:46,320 whatever I have commanded you and lo, I'm with you 75 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,960 always, the end of the world. Teach 76 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:54,880 them all things that I have commanded you. The 77 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,740 witness in court eventually steps down to the witness 78 00:03:56,740 --> 00:03:59,640 chair and takes her seat, breathes a sigh of relief, 79 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:03,640 but that's over. The Christian does not. The 80 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,960 Christian remains. We're a witness for the duration. 81 00:04:07,940 --> 00:04:08,800 But we're tuned. You 82 00:04:08,808 --> 00:04:10,800 went to war. Many of the members told they're 83 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,680 there for the duration. It's 84 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,700 the end. That's the same with those 85 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:18,860 Christians. As he claimed to Christ, we're 86 00:04:18,860 --> 00:04:21,220 always on trial. The court seems is always in 87 00:04:21,220 --> 00:04:24,800 session. That way, deceptions, lies, 88 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,640 coverups and division should never be an option in our 89 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:35,640 lives as Christians. Honesty. 90 00:04:36,420 --> 00:04:38,840 You know, daytime has something very strange, 91 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:40,400 isn't it? It shouldn't be, but it is. 92 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:47,740 Honesty. And as they had chapter 93 00:04:47,740 --> 00:04:53,580 53, verse 9, the Bible says this, being of Christ, 94 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,880 they made this grave with the wicked, with the rich 95 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:03,700 and his death, because he had done no violence. It 96 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:06,600 was he needed a seat in his mouth. The 97 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:11,360 word deceit means no untrue words, no lies to deceive 98 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,580 people. The English version has it, he 99 00:05:15,580 --> 00:05:21,920 never lied. He did nothing wrong, he never 100 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,980 lied. Jesus was honest, bootily so 101 00:05:24,980 --> 00:05:27,500 sometimes, especially with the Pharisees, called them 102 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:30,460 hypocrites. The leaders of the religious 103 00:05:30,460 --> 00:05:33,400 war that time, Jesus was very, very blunt to those 104 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,440 people because they needed it. Trying 105 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,640 to give them a wake -up call. His 106 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,060 every word was accurate. You 107 00:05:40,068 --> 00:05:43,060 know, altering accounts, he didn't stretch the truth. 108 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:45,420 He said, be told the truth. 109 00:05:45,820 --> 00:05:47,100 This says no deceit was found 110 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:51,480 in his mouth. He had many times made people 111 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,320 like us face the truth in our lives. He 112 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,100 didn't just teach the truth, he made us face the 113 00:05:57,100 --> 00:05:59,920 truth. It's hard to do that sometimes. 114 00:06:01,860 --> 00:06:03,900 Matthew chapter 19, verse 16 to 115 00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:07,040 22, the example of a young man, he made face the 116 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,480 truth. Very, very difficult. A 117 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,260 good person, a good young man. Matthew 118 00:06:13,260 --> 00:06:16,520 chapter 19, verse 16 to 22, the Bible says this, 119 00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:19,220 and then behold, came one and said to him, good 120 00:06:19,220 --> 00:06:21,560 teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may 121 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,760 inherit eternal life? So he said to him, why do 122 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,420 you call me good? No one is good but one that 123 00:06:28,420 --> 00:06:30,760 is God. If you want to enter them to 124 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,500 life, keep the commandments. Jesus 125 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:37,600 said to him, he said to him, which ones? Jesus 126 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,860 said, you shall do not murder, you shall not 127 00:06:39,860 --> 00:06:42,980 commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not 128 00:06:42,980 --> 00:06:45,900 bear false witness. On your father and your 129 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:49,960 mother, and you shall love your neighbors yourself. The 130 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,040 young man said to him, all these things that I kept 131 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,720 from my youth up, what so do I lack? Jesus 132 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,380 said to him, if you want to be perfect, go, sell 133 00:06:58,380 --> 00:07:00,860 what you have and give to the poor, you'll come and 134 00:07:00,860 --> 00:07:03,380 have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me. 135 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:05,280 Well, the young man heard that 136 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:07,600 saying, he went away sorrowful, he had great 137 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:12,580 possessions, had been truthful with himself, a 138 00:07:12,580 --> 00:07:18,420 good quality person. Jesus was no sugar coating, kind 139 00:07:18,420 --> 00:07:21,800 but firm, a good man needed to face the truth 140 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,440 to straighten out his life. Sadly, 141 00:07:24,540 --> 00:07:27,380 we don't have any evidence that he ever did, but it's 142 00:07:27,380 --> 00:07:30,720 a good example we think about our lives. I 143 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,620 thought about something that people Jesus spent his time 144 00:07:32,620 --> 00:07:34,860 with, I thought about calling the Jason home, 145 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,660 they're big time fishermen, they go to tournaments and 146 00:07:36,660 --> 00:07:38,300 things. Y 'all know the fishermen's 147 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:39,800 stories, you know, the one this long, the one that 148 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,380 got away? Jesus spent a lot of his time 149 00:07:42,380 --> 00:07:44,480 with some fishermen, Peter, James, John and Andrew. 150 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,220 People from the world, Jews he 151 00:07:48,220 --> 00:07:51,120 called in to be his followers and to teach them 152 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,300 to tell the truth all the time. Probably 153 00:07:54,300 --> 00:07:59,760 difficult for them, as it was for us. There's 154 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:01,640 been times in my life when I wish there was a truth 155 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,200 meter that I had when I could put on people. The 156 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,560 shop used to joke about that sometimes. Folks, 157 00:08:06,700 --> 00:08:09,640 I know who it would fail the test real quick. It 158 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:10,940 would have been long for all the bells and whistles 159 00:08:10,940 --> 00:08:13,260 to go off. And there is no such thing, we 160 00:08:13,260 --> 00:08:15,040 used to joke about that. Sometimes 161 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,100 we're just outright lying all the time, you just 162 00:08:17,100 --> 00:08:18,140 knew it. When they come to you talking 163 00:08:18,140 --> 00:08:20,560 to you, you knew it. All done but, you all done but 164 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,680 guys. They all done but and they did 165 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,140 be, you know, the comical sometimes, you need an 166 00:08:25,140 --> 00:08:26,820 audience to hear some of the stories they would have 167 00:08:26,820 --> 00:08:31,100 to tell. We knew they were lying. They 168 00:08:31,100 --> 00:08:34,700 knew they were lying. It's sad. Not 169 00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:37,020 a day in time, it's sad this has to be even taught 170 00:08:37,020 --> 00:08:39,820 on to be honest. Look at the corporate world. 171 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:42,360 Think about that. The 172 00:08:42,368 --> 00:08:44,880 political world, we won't touch that one. Think 173 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,420 about that. What about religious world? 174 00:08:49,220 --> 00:08:50,280 That's the sad, that's almost 175 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,240 embarrassing. The religious world, the 176 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:59,440 honesty, all the scandals, and lustation issues to 177 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:00,800 have in the religious world, all these different 178 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,140 face, have all these things going on. Big 179 00:09:04,140 --> 00:09:07,780 of honesty, people getting caught doing these things. 180 00:09:08,820 --> 00:09:09,960 Even more it's tough to know 181 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,660 who and what to believe. True 182 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:15,020 stretching lies seem to be the norm, not the accepted 183 00:09:15,020 --> 00:09:18,700 many times. People ask me when I was raising 184 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:20,960 my children, one of the hardest parts about raising 185 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,220 children. The hardest part for me 186 00:09:23,220 --> 00:09:25,820 personally is watching them lose their innocence. Look 187 00:09:25,820 --> 00:09:27,320 at guys like Charlie walking around here, you 188 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,460 see them, they're great kids, you see them. You're 189 00:09:30,460 --> 00:09:32,900 going to raise them, teach them to tell the truth, 190 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,380 teach them to write, treat people right, respect honor, 191 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,220 you teach them all these things you're supposed to 192 00:09:38,220 --> 00:09:41,160 do, sit them out of the world that does none of 193 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,600 those things. They'll lose their innocence, they 194 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,880 have to survive in the world, but you lose their 195 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,280 innocence to do that. I'm watching my granddaughter 196 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,160 Macy lose her innocence right now, it's so hard 197 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,500 because I have a tender spot for some parts of 198 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:55,260 her. And she's losing innocence 199 00:09:55,260 --> 00:09:57,680 little by little, that's difficult because the 200 00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:00,240 world's not kind, the world's full of deceit, 201 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,340 full of lies, we send our good kids out into that. 202 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,100 So we need to teach that as 203 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:07,560 Christians, teach that it's still in the lies they 204 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:10,260 have that when they go out in the world that's already 205 00:10:10,260 --> 00:10:15,920 in their form, it's part of their makeup. Being 206 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,080 honest though, what about all of those that's in the 207 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,780 church, the Christians at the time, are we different, 208 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,340 are we set apart like we should be for thinking as 209 00:10:24,340 --> 00:10:27,000 Christians we should be, we're set apart, we're 210 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,860 doing pretty good with these things. Is 211 00:10:29,860 --> 00:10:35,320 we never tell any lies? We all did sometimes as kids, 212 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,680 I guess story about my sister in a few minutes, 213 00:10:38,620 --> 00:10:41,220 well we had a lot of times when we lied, who 214 00:10:41,220 --> 00:10:45,260 did it, she did it, he did it, those things. Terry 215 00:10:45,260 --> 00:10:51,099 had a lot of siblings, same thing. No 216 00:10:51,099 --> 00:10:53,440 lies at all in our lives, no lies in our marriage, 217 00:10:54,540 --> 00:10:57,620 no lies in our jobs, no lies in our family 218 00:10:57,620 --> 00:11:01,100 relationships to anyone and then all. Not 219 00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:04,100 even a few little white lies, be honest about this 220 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:07,340 one, it's a personal thing, don't lie in this one, 221 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:13,140 think about it. Christ says, as strict honor code, 222 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:19,980 from Genesis to Revelation, in Psalms 101 and 7, the 223 00:11:19,980 --> 00:11:23,340 Bible says this, he who works deceit shall not 224 00:11:23,340 --> 00:11:26,720 dwell within my house, he who tells lies shall not 225 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:30,820 continue in my presence. In Psalms 12 and Proverbs 12 226 00:11:30,820 --> 00:11:37,420 and 22, the Bible says this, lying lips are an 227 00:11:37,420 --> 00:11:39,800 abomination to the Lord, but those who deal 228 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,600 truthfully are his delight. In 229 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,020 Proverbs 6, starting in verse 16, noticing this 230 00:11:47,020 --> 00:11:49,020 list of two of those things concerning lying, 231 00:11:50,020 --> 00:11:53,100 these six things the Lord hates, he has seven are an 232 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:57,140 abomination to him, a proud look, a lying tongue, hands 233 00:11:57,140 --> 00:11:59,860 that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked 234 00:11:59,860 --> 00:12:02,780 plans, feet that are swift and running to evil, a 235 00:12:02,780 --> 00:12:05,800 false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows 236 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,180 discord and mumbred. It goes all the way to 237 00:12:10,180 --> 00:12:17,460 Revelation. Revelation 21, verse 8, the Bible 238 00:12:17,460 --> 00:12:21,180 says, but the cowardly, unbelievable, unbelieving, 239 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,460 abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, 240 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,860 idolaters, and all liars should have their part in 241 00:12:28,860 --> 00:12:32,600 the lake with burnt with fire and brimstone. Also 242 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,420 in Revelations 22 and 15, the Bible says, but outside 243 00:12:36,420 --> 00:12:39,240 are dogs and sorcerers, and sexually immoral and 244 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,700 murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and 245 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:48,640 practices a lie. It's interesting, lying in the 246 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,439 same class as all those others since according to 247 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,820 verses, sexual sins, worshiping idols, committing 248 00:12:53,820 --> 00:12:57,820 adultery, people getting drunk, robbing folks, lies, 249 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:01,180 the same category as those, yes, telling a lie, it's 250 00:13:01,180 --> 00:13:02,900 the same category as those according to the Scriptures. 251 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,220 Why is lying all that bad? Why 252 00:13:10,220 --> 00:13:12,780 does little fibbing strip heavenly anger as much as 253 00:13:12,780 --> 00:13:16,560 adultery and assault? We'll get to an example about 254 00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:19,840 that in just a few minutes. Well 255 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:21,920 with a hard line in this, why such a tough stance is 256 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,800 this, in Hebrews 6 and 18, dishonesty is contrary to 257 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,620 the nature of God. According 258 00:13:28,620 --> 00:13:31,160 to Hebrews 6 and 18, it's not possible for God to 259 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,960 lie. The Bible says about two 260 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,240 innumerable things, which was impossible for God to 261 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:40,040 lie, he might have a strong consolation. It's 262 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,420 not he's chosen not to lie, he can't lie. He 263 00:13:43,420 --> 00:13:46,300 has to tell the truth. Titus 264 00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:49,460 1 and 2 says, in hope of eternal life, life which 265 00:13:49,460 --> 00:13:52,780 God that cannot lie promised before the world 266 00:13:52,780 --> 00:13:57,660 began. That's scary, but it's reassuring. 267 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:00,540 God makes a promise, he keeps 268 00:14:00,540 --> 00:14:05,460 it, our heavenly home for us, but we fail, he has a 269 00:14:05,460 --> 00:14:08,480 promise for that too. He makes it covenant, he keeps 270 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,000 it, he makes a statement, he means it, he proclaims 271 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,100 the truth, we can believe it, and we can teach it 272 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:18,380 also. What he says is true is even 273 00:14:18,380 --> 00:14:22,160 if we are not, in 2 Timothy 2 and 13 the Bible 274 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,340 says, if we are faithless, he remains faithful, he 275 00:14:26,340 --> 00:14:31,680 cannot deny himself. As he's reassuring to us, in 276 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,760 the world we live in, we can go to a place where 277 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:42,440 the truth is always told. Satan, 278 00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:44,980 on the other hand, finds almost impossible to tell 279 00:14:44,980 --> 00:14:47,040 the truth. According to Jesus, he's the father 280 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:52,080 of all lies. John chapter 8 verse 44, the 281 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:56,880 Bible says this, you are of your father the devil 282 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,640 and the desires of your father you want to do. 283 00:15:00,540 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaking of Satan, he was a 284 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,180 murderer from the beginning, he does not stand in the 285 00:15:05,180 --> 00:15:07,740 truth because there is no truth in him. He 286 00:15:07,740 --> 00:15:11,040 speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for 287 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:16,480 he is a liar and a father of it. The 288 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,740 father of lies. The Satan lies have been with 289 00:15:20,740 --> 00:15:26,960 us since the beginning. The seat was the first tool in 290 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,920 the devil's bag in the Garden of Eden. Satan 291 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,400 didn't discourage Eve, he didn't seduce her, he'd 292 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:38,240 sneak up on her. Nothing happens. Genesis 293 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,560 3 verses 1 through 5, the Bible says this, now the 294 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,600 serpent was more cunning than any beast of the 295 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,060 field, which the Lord God had made. He 296 00:15:47,060 --> 00:15:50,060 said to the woman, as God indeed said, you shall eat 297 00:15:50,060 --> 00:15:52,600 of every tree of the garden. A 298 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,220 woman said to the serpent, we may eat of the fruit 299 00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:57,820 of the tree of the garden, but the fruit of the tree, 300 00:15:57,980 --> 00:16:00,240 which is in the midst of the garden, God has said 301 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,580 you shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest 302 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:05,980 you die. The serpent said to the woman, 303 00:16:06,340 --> 00:16:09,240 you will not surely die, for God knows that in the 304 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,480 day you eat it, eat of it, your eyes will be 305 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,440 opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and 306 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,760 evil. You know what verse 6 says, 307 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,840 with when woman saw the tree was good for food, 308 00:16:19,980 --> 00:16:21,860 there was pleasure in the eyes, the tree to be 309 00:16:21,860 --> 00:16:23,800 desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit, 310 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,200 ate, felt to get her husband with her, and he 311 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,080 ate. Who's a lie that led Eve to 312 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:33,320 sin? Never say lion's a big deal, the 313 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,460 sly is not a big deal, she fell for it, she poked 314 00:16:37,460 --> 00:16:42,100 the fruit. The next paragraph, the husband 315 00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:44,560 follows suit, and the joy of eating became a distant 316 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,560 memory for them, and just something we can study 317 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,840 about. Man was man, was made in the 318 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,220 image of God at that time, and he wasn't acting like 319 00:16:53,220 --> 00:16:56,940 it, his honesty and deceit entered their minds, and 320 00:16:56,940 --> 00:16:59,320 thought about it before, Satan made him think about 321 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,740 it. They didn't physically hurt 322 00:17:02,740 --> 00:17:05,079 anybody, and our day and time, this was meaningless, 323 00:17:06,220 --> 00:17:11,599 something that simple, but have a cost so high, this 324 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:15,240 seems no big deal. The big deal is man is the 325 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,780 image of God, when he lied, that image vanished. 326 00:17:20,339 --> 00:17:21,599 That happened, the lie brought 327 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:25,260 that about. Denny Webster says this, there's 328 00:17:25,260 --> 00:17:27,900 nothing so powerful as the truth, and often nothing is 329 00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:31,040 strange. The devil seemed to be very 330 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,900 successful. Here's a few examples, I forgot 331 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:37,760 an example of a book psychology today, I don't 332 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:41,560 prescribe you this, I just have notes from it. More 333 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,540 than half say the tax return, just a good time 334 00:17:43,540 --> 00:17:46,000 of year to say this, audited, you probably owe 335 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:47,580 the government money, because they cheat on their 336 00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:51,540 taxes, they lied. But one of three people 337 00:17:51,540 --> 00:17:53,820 lamented deceiving your best friend in the last year, 338 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:57,440 they've done it. 96 % of them feel guilty about it, 339 00:17:57,620 --> 00:17:59,600 but they did it, just thinking you buy with 340 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,940 something, and now hurt your feelings maybe. You 341 00:18:02,940 --> 00:18:04,460 only have to predict that if you scratch down the 342 00:18:04,460 --> 00:18:06,260 corner parking lot, they drive away without leaving 343 00:18:06,260 --> 00:18:09,740 a note. Although 89 % said it'd be wrong in 344 00:18:09,740 --> 00:18:14,420 the morning. Think about that, put yourself in 345 00:18:14,420 --> 00:18:21,280 these positions. What is the big lie? What 346 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,960 is the little lie? What's the difference? To 347 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:27,700 do a little lie, it will lead to a bigger one, 348 00:18:28,700 --> 00:18:31,720 it'll happen. To question why does God 349 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,640 demand such honesty? Why does the man be so honest? 350 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,300 If we read in the Bible the 351 00:18:37,300 --> 00:18:39,600 question should be this, why do we tolerate such 352 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,940 dishonesty? Why do we do that? Sometimes 353 00:18:42,940 --> 00:18:45,860 we have to, out in the world, outside these doors, 354 00:18:46,540 --> 00:18:48,580 we tolerate it, it doesn't have to influence me in 355 00:18:48,580 --> 00:18:52,020 our lives, live in a world that has it, we don't have 356 00:18:52,020 --> 00:18:54,940 to tolerate in our own lives. Maybe 357 00:18:54,940 --> 00:18:57,840 Jeremiah was right, Jeremiah 17 and 9, the Bible says, 358 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:00,580 the heart is deceitful above all things and 359 00:19:00,580 --> 00:19:05,960 desperately wicked, who can know it? If 360 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,780 we have dishonest human lives, how do we explain 361 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:12,300 it to our children, our spouses, our fellow 362 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:21,180 Christians? Why do people lie mostly? Cover 363 00:19:21,180 --> 00:19:23,460 their weaknesses and their sins, make us look good or 364 00:19:23,460 --> 00:19:26,260 strong? The lies are about us, they're 365 00:19:26,260 --> 00:19:29,920 about our images. A good example is in Acts 366 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:35,240 chapter 5, verses 1 through 11, of lies and 367 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,860 consequences. Again, this should not be a big 368 00:19:38,860 --> 00:19:43,300 thing, but it really was. We'll 369 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:45,600 find out why. Acts chapter 5 verses 1 through 370 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,280 11, the certain man, the Amen, and I asked for his 371 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:52,400 wife's soul to possession, that he kept back part of 372 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,960 the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and 373 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,520 brought a certain part, let it be, Palsus' feet. But 374 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,780 Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart 375 00:20:02,780 --> 00:20:05,120 to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the 376 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:07,860 price of the land for yourself? What 377 00:20:07,860 --> 00:20:09,920 remained was it not your own? After 378 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,960 it's soul, was it not in your own control? Why 379 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:14,860 do you conceive this thing in your heart? Have 380 00:20:14,860 --> 00:20:18,060 you not lied to, you have not lied to men, but to 381 00:20:18,060 --> 00:20:21,160 God? The Ananias hearing these words 382 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,700 fell down and breathed his last. So 383 00:20:23,700 --> 00:20:25,380 if here came upon all those who heard these 384 00:20:25,380 --> 00:20:29,000 things, on the amen arose, throughout them I carried 385 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,520 him out and buried him, he died. It 386 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,780 was about three hours later when his wife came in, not 387 00:20:34,780 --> 00:20:36,660 knowing what had happened. If 388 00:20:36,660 --> 00:20:39,140 Peter answered her, tell me whether you sow the land 389 00:20:39,140 --> 00:20:41,880 for so much. She said, yes, for so much. 390 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,120 Then Peter said to her, how is 391 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:46,260 it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit 392 00:20:46,260 --> 00:20:48,560 of the Lord? Look the feet of those who have 393 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,800 buried your husband at the door and they will carry 394 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,720 you out. Immediately she fell down at his feet 395 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,480 and breathed her last. The woman came and found her 396 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,080 dead, carrying her out and buried her by her husband. 397 00:21:01,260 --> 00:21:02,700 So great fear came upon all 398 00:21:02,700 --> 00:21:04,860 the church and upon all who heard these things. 399 00:21:06,659 --> 00:21:07,960 Just keep in mind some of the 400 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,120 proceeds, lying a little bit about it. They 401 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:14,080 lost their lives, they died. In 402 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,420 verse 11 says, but great fear came upon the church 403 00:21:16,420 --> 00:21:18,400 and all those people. Why do you think such great 404 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:24,300 fear came upon them? Maybe some of them had not been 405 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:26,940 truthful. Maybe they thought they were 406 00:21:26,940 --> 00:21:29,940 next. They did some white lies. Maybe 407 00:21:29,940 --> 00:21:32,220 they just seemed a little bit. And 408 00:21:32,220 --> 00:21:34,320 these two gone, maybe I'm next. Maybe 409 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,460 me and Paula next. Who knows who's next with this? 410 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:38,460 Got the exam in the cells. 411 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,300 Good example. So 412 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:44,060 one of them afraid, you're in the crowd, where would 413 00:21:44,060 --> 00:21:47,040 you feel? Where would you be? Would 414 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:50,180 you think you were next? It's 415 00:21:50,180 --> 00:21:52,160 just somewhat has changed. It's 416 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,620 just an example has changed. Not 417 00:21:54,620 --> 00:21:58,260 God, not the book. Maybe our behavior, we think 418 00:21:58,260 --> 00:22:00,460 about that. We don't just lie to people. 419 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:03,040 God's present. He 420 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,920 knows it. We could go on many other 421 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,360 reasons, folks lie, sacrifice your truth for 422 00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:10,960 peace. I could go on and on and 423 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:12,760 on. It's 11 .15, I can't do that. 424 00:22:14,060 --> 00:22:15,400 But basically this, many did 425 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,280 not like the truth. It's hard to take sometimes. You 426 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,060 shall know the truth, the truth to make you squirm 427 00:22:21,060 --> 00:22:24,580 is not what John 8 and 32 says, but that's what it 428 00:22:24,580 --> 00:22:28,300 does sometimes. The truth is very difficult 429 00:22:28,300 --> 00:22:35,980 sometimes to take. And for not liking the truth, 430 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,660 many of us can relate to this story. Humor 431 00:22:38,660 --> 00:22:40,380 is a little story, but it makes a point. We 432 00:22:40,380 --> 00:22:43,580 get to the end of it in a few minutes. Fellers, 433 00:22:43,580 --> 00:22:46,180 he had to call his wife, just he's about to fly 434 00:22:46,180 --> 00:22:51,180 home from Europe. She said, how is my cat? He 435 00:22:51,180 --> 00:22:55,420 said, dead. Oh honey, don't be so honest. 436 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:57,120 Why can you break news to me 437 00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:00,160 more slowly? You've ruined my trip. He 438 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:01,600 said, what do you mean? You 439 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,060 could have told me that he was on the roof. Then 440 00:23:04,060 --> 00:23:05,700 when I called you from Paris, you could have told 441 00:23:05,700 --> 00:23:07,780 me he was acting sluggish. Then 442 00:23:07,780 --> 00:23:09,300 when I called you from London, you could have said 443 00:23:09,300 --> 00:23:11,880 he was sick. Then when I called you from New 444 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,860 York, you could have said he was at the vet. Then 445 00:23:14,860 --> 00:23:16,300 when I arrived home, you could have told me he was 446 00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:19,000 dead. So husband wasn't used to such 447 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,140 big deals about this. He's going to learn. He 448 00:23:21,140 --> 00:23:24,180 said, okay, you do better next time. By 449 00:23:24,180 --> 00:23:26,660 the way, how's my mom? If you're on a silence, he 450 00:23:26,660 --> 00:23:30,440 said, well, she's on the roof. Truth 451 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:34,260 is hard sometimes. Both ends. Get 452 00:23:34,268 --> 00:23:36,960 the truth. It's hard to tell it sometimes 453 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,120 in the right way. It's very, very difficult to do 454 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:45,700 this. I dislike that the truth 455 00:23:45,700 --> 00:23:48,000 started when we were young. I 456 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:49,740 remember my mom walking in the room, my mom walking 457 00:23:49,740 --> 00:23:50,740 in the room. My hands were in the head of 458 00:23:50,740 --> 00:23:52,640 my sister and said, okay, what's your mom? Who 459 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,360 did it? It'd be one of these. Did 460 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,780 you hit your sister? Well, depends what you mean by 461 00:23:58,780 --> 00:24:00,220 hit. I can't contact with her, but 462 00:24:00,220 --> 00:24:02,700 you know, who did it first? They 463 00:24:02,700 --> 00:24:05,140 did. You know, there's consequences. 464 00:24:05,820 --> 00:24:06,980 Mom, music got the truth out of 465 00:24:06,980 --> 00:24:07,960 us. She did. We 466 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:09,800 know if dad didn't get involved. We 467 00:24:09,808 --> 00:24:11,420 didn't want that. Music and mom got the truth out 468 00:24:11,420 --> 00:24:15,100 of us before dad got involved. But 469 00:24:15,100 --> 00:24:18,220 we do, we're young. We learn then honestly has 470 00:24:18,220 --> 00:24:21,140 consequences. Because then we learn to start 471 00:24:21,140 --> 00:24:23,940 covering up. He hit me first, the blame 472 00:24:23,940 --> 00:24:26,840 game, the Garden of Eden. We 473 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:29,220 learn early the truth is not fun. We 474 00:24:29,220 --> 00:24:32,180 don't like it sometimes. Sort 475 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:36,280 of anti -sophia. But it's like fear to everyone 476 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:44,140 around the truth. I'm afraid. I 477 00:24:44,140 --> 00:24:46,640 heard people joke over the years, speaking of these 478 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,600 things. I've had it said too that I'm 479 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,800 sure God doesn't strike people dead for lying 480 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:54,820 nowadays. I'm not so sure he doesn't. 481 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:57,800 Maybe in different ways. The 482 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,460 Bible says Romans 6 and 33, the wages of sin is 483 00:25:00,460 --> 00:25:05,220 death. Gift of God is eternal. Seemed 484 00:25:05,220 --> 00:25:08,000 to me the wages of sin or deceit is still death. Not 485 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,680 the death of the body. Maybe 486 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,200 the death of something else. A 487 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:18,020 marriage. Vault says it termites in the 488 00:25:18,020 --> 00:25:20,400 trunk of the family tree. Think 489 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,480 of all those who can think of you examples. The 490 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,340 marriages of families who suffered from lies and 491 00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:27,440 deceit. Cheating spouse telling lie after 492 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,600 lie. Turning on to the death of a 493 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,160 conscience. Which doesn't bother them anymore 494 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:35,240 to tell lies. They've done it so many times. 495 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:38,420 Trying to second lie is always 496 00:25:38,420 --> 00:25:40,820 that each student needs to do another one. Students 497 00:25:40,820 --> 00:25:42,740 have a way of having a life. It 498 00:25:42,740 --> 00:25:44,800 becomes a normal, not a wrong. Like 499 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,220 those all done by guys that they shot. It's 500 00:25:47,220 --> 00:25:53,380 a normal thing. Part of their life. Coming 501 00:25:53,380 --> 00:25:55,420 to the death of a career. There's 502 00:25:55,420 --> 00:25:57,080 that student who got kicked out of class for cheating. 503 00:25:57,659 --> 00:25:59,200 An employee who got fired for 504 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,280 sitting or in bezel match. Think 505 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,740 about that. You can kill a career or you 506 00:26:05,740 --> 00:26:09,380 can kill an education. Long term consequences. Getting 507 00:26:09,380 --> 00:26:11,020 busted. We call them as a kid. You 508 00:26:11,028 --> 00:26:14,140 got busted. Total lie and you got busted. 509 00:26:15,500 --> 00:26:16,460 Going to the death of a faith. 510 00:26:17,540 --> 00:26:18,940 Language of faith and language of 511 00:26:18,940 --> 00:26:21,440 falsehood have two different vocabularies. Learn 512 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,320 the Bible. They don't sink. So 513 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:27,260 in the water. Turns like confession repentance. 514 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:29,900 Hard to pronounce. Hard 515 00:26:29,900 --> 00:26:31,940 to put in the lives of those people. Confession 516 00:26:31,940 --> 00:26:37,280 repentance for what? The callous. We 517 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:39,280 could go on with many others. Death 518 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,720 of intimacy. Intimacy. The death of trust. The 519 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:47,520 death of peace. Credibility. Self respect. There's 520 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:52,200 many other ones. The sometimes worst casualty of 521 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,620 death is our influence and our impact on other people. 522 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,780 Our witness. We 523 00:26:57,780 --> 00:27:02,840 have in our life. Our lives we live outside these 524 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,480 doors. Think about that. A 525 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,420 court will listen testimony of a perjured witness. 526 00:27:07,820 --> 00:27:10,520 Neither will the world. Why 527 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,220 would your coworkers believe you about the church in 528 00:27:12,220 --> 00:27:13,700 Christ? They can't believe you about 529 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:17,420 other things. You can't believe what you say 530 00:27:17,420 --> 00:27:19,080 at work. Why would they want to come to 531 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,520 church with you? Or they want to become a 532 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,820 Christian? Like we can't how we convert 533 00:27:24,820 --> 00:27:28,900 family when they cannot trust us. Why 534 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:31,280 are our neighbors going to church with us? We 535 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:35,700 have been honest with them. Think 536 00:27:35,700 --> 00:27:44,700 about those things. There's a little story a long time 537 00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:46,420 ago. A man conned his way into an 538 00:27:46,420 --> 00:27:49,320 orchestra of the emperor of China. He 539 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,000 wanted to be famous. He conned his way in. He 540 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,460 could even play a note. He was there. Now 541 00:27:56,460 --> 00:27:58,300 with the group project performed he'd hold his 542 00:27:58,300 --> 00:28:00,660 flute against his lips pretending to play but not 543 00:28:00,660 --> 00:28:03,520 making a sound. Pulling everybody. He 544 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:05,420 can eat how they're made. He 545 00:28:05,420 --> 00:28:06,520 received a modest salary. He 546 00:28:06,528 --> 00:28:08,920 enjoyed a comfortable living. But 547 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:10,900 one day the emperor requested a solo from each 548 00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:12,300 musician. He wanted to hear him for 549 00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:15,620 himself. See how good they were. This 550 00:28:15,620 --> 00:28:17,980 guy got nervous. There was not enough time to 551 00:28:17,980 --> 00:28:22,060 learn the instrument. He pretended he'd pretend to 552 00:28:22,060 --> 00:28:23,740 be sick. But the physicians and the 553 00:28:23,740 --> 00:28:25,420 emperors, they weren't fooled. They 554 00:28:25,420 --> 00:28:28,460 knew he wasn't sick. The day of his solo 555 00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:32,640 performance, he took poison, killed himself. The 556 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,980 explanation of a suicide did defraud his way in our 557 00:28:34,980 --> 00:28:37,420 English language. He refused to face the music. 558 00:28:39,060 --> 00:28:41,140 That's what he did. He 559 00:28:41,140 --> 00:28:45,700 couldn't face the music. The 560 00:28:45,700 --> 00:28:47,300 curfew to see is simply this. To 561 00:28:47,308 --> 00:28:50,320 face the music. Tell the truth. Is 562 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,540 it costly? Yes. But not telling the truth 563 00:28:52,540 --> 00:28:55,820 down the road is more costly in many many ways. 564 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:57,920 In this life and the life 565 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:02,120 that comes after us. The lives of Anis and Sapphires 566 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,760 held their deaths. The seatfulness of David, 567 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:08,820 Bathsheba, let the death of their baby. Poor 568 00:29:08,820 --> 00:29:12,320 Uriah. You know that story. Some 569 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:13,840 have buried a marriage. Some 570 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,180 have buried family. Some have buried parts of 571 00:29:16,180 --> 00:29:19,240 conscience. Even parts of their faith. All 572 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:20,920 because honesty doesn't seem to be that important 573 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:25,340 anymore to people. Basically out in the world. Let 574 00:29:25,340 --> 00:29:29,620 us not infiltrate the church, please. The 575 00:29:29,620 --> 00:29:32,320 ripple of today's lie is tomorrow's wake and next 576 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:36,640 year's flood. There's a time when it's okay to 577 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:40,940 soften the truth. To be more encouraging to 578 00:29:40,940 --> 00:29:42,980 someone. Remember the cat and the roost 579 00:29:42,980 --> 00:29:45,940 story? There's times. My 580 00:29:45,940 --> 00:29:47,820 daughter, LaMagan, was killed in that car wreck. 581 00:29:47,980 --> 00:29:49,300 I was shot from my toolbox. 582 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:51,360 I got the phone call. I 583 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,340 had to go home and tell my wife and my son. 584 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:56,380 There's people about her. The 585 00:29:56,380 --> 00:29:57,780 gentlest way to do that. There 586 00:29:57,780 --> 00:29:59,920 is no really right way. There's 587 00:29:59,920 --> 00:30:01,120 wrong way to do it. There's 588 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,200 really no right way to do it. When 589 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,680 you have a pet died and you've got a kid over 590 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:07,240 here. To explain to your kid their 591 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,740 dog died. There's times when you have to be 592 00:30:09,740 --> 00:30:12,960 compassionate. You maybe just soften your 593 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,120 approach. You still tell the truth. We 594 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,580 shouldn't be brutal like Christ was with the 595 00:30:17,580 --> 00:30:19,900 Pharisees, religious leaders. Jesus 596 00:30:19,900 --> 00:30:21,360 wasn't always brutal with the truth. He 597 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,000 was subtle sometimes. But he was there. He 598 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,280 told it. He got his point across. This 599 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:32,120 is who we are. Whether it's a gentle way or a 600 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:35,560 brutal way, we all should know how we're supposed to 601 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:41,520 tell the truth. Remember Jesus told the truth? It 602 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:42,640 really, really cost him. Think 603 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,420 about that. What did it cost Jesus to tell 604 00:30:45,420 --> 00:30:48,600 the truth? It cost him his life. What 605 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,460 kind of world was he living in? What 606 00:30:50,460 --> 00:30:52,740 were his trial they called false witnesses? People 607 00:30:52,740 --> 00:30:55,780 to lie about him? They're deceiving him. Say 608 00:30:55,780 --> 00:30:57,440 he was Caesar's king. Probably 609 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,360 being a king. Caesar king. Compare 610 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,220 him to Caesar. All these things. All 611 00:31:01,220 --> 00:31:03,000 the seats for the tricks they're all trying to throw 612 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:04,540 around. Getting Christ crucified. All 613 00:31:04,540 --> 00:31:06,920 the Jews. All these rotten things are 614 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:10,160 doing. All the Bible says not to do. 615 00:31:11,020 --> 00:31:12,440 He's the religious leaders of 616 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:13,940 the world at that time trying to do these things. 617 00:31:16,060 --> 00:31:17,320 You know in the trial for the 618 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:19,120 crucifixion Christ could have lied. He 619 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,000 could use the seat. He could have maneuvered. 620 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,300 Everybody else was. You 621 00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:26,520 know he could have blamed it on Peter. Peter 622 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,760 wasn't far away. With eye contact. We 623 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:31,700 know that for sure. Because Christ looked at him. I 624 00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:33,820 have a lesson on that gaze and that look. Call 625 00:31:33,820 --> 00:31:38,780 it the look. Think about that. Christ 626 00:31:38,780 --> 00:31:41,280 knew he was there. It'd be easy to tell a small 627 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,720 tale. Save us on the hide. Peter 628 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:45,320 was when they cut off Malcolm's ear when they 629 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,640 came to get him. It was a good ammunition. If 630 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:50,040 he just could have put this up he could have told 631 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:52,460 a good story. He could have got out of it. 632 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:53,840 Peter may have wanted to be 633 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,520 crucified with them. He might have got out of it. 634 00:31:55,940 --> 00:31:56,900 He could have tried all kinds 635 00:31:56,900 --> 00:32:00,020 of things. But he didn't. He 636 00:32:00,020 --> 00:32:01,780 didn't have any distress. No 637 00:32:01,780 --> 00:32:05,180 deceit was found in his mouth. I 638 00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:06,300 put myself in that position. It 639 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:08,120 would be tough. I couldn't say I could do 640 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:09,700 that. I would try. I 641 00:32:09,700 --> 00:32:12,640 would do my best. I could say that. I'd 642 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:18,100 do my best. It'd be tough. To 643 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:20,420 examine yourself today. Ask yourselves some tough 644 00:32:20,420 --> 00:32:23,880 questions. Am I being completely honest 645 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,460 with my spouse and my kids? Am 646 00:32:27,460 --> 00:32:30,640 I relationships all truthful and honorable? Let 647 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:32,500 my work and my school environment. What 648 00:32:32,500 --> 00:32:35,020 about that? Am I honest with my dealings? 649 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:36,140 Am I a trustworthy student? 650 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:41,020 We're all going to face Lord one 651 00:32:41,020 --> 00:32:43,180 day in judgment. He'll be presenting us the truth. 652 00:32:44,300 --> 00:32:45,900 Everything secret we made known the 653 00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:48,040 Bible says. The truth of our lives will be 654 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:51,980 present before God. This is not a living a lie. 655 00:32:53,340 --> 00:32:59,300 Matthew chapter seven. From 656 00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:04,380 21 through 23. And now everyone says to me, 657 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,680 Lord, Lord, you enter into kingdom of heaven. Be 658 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:09,680 he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Maybe 659 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,560 you'll say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, having a 660 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:13,380 prophesied in your name. Counts 661 00:33:13,380 --> 00:33:14,260 out demons in your name. But 662 00:33:14,260 --> 00:33:16,780 then many wonders in your name. Then 663 00:33:16,780 --> 00:33:18,400 we'll declare them. I never knew you. You 664 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:20,740 apart from me. You who product lawlessness. 665 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:23,000 King James, George, use word 666 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:26,560 iniquity. You apart from me. These 667 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:29,300 people had the truth. They rejected it. They've 668 00:33:29,300 --> 00:33:32,460 been living a lie. And they're going to pay the 669 00:33:32,460 --> 00:33:35,000 price for it. Let's not be in that house of 670 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,860 people. Let's not do that. If 671 00:33:37,860 --> 00:33:39,380 you had to face the music this morning, what would 672 00:33:39,380 --> 00:33:42,080 your life be? You closing one to read two, 673 00:33:42,100 --> 00:33:49,480 two songs. And I'll be done. So 674 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,520 I'm 51 through three in the King James version says 675 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:55,080 this, Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who 676 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:57,620 shall dwell on that holy hill? He 677 00:33:57,620 --> 00:34:00,120 that walketh up brightly and worketh righteousness, 678 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:03,380 and speaketh the truth in his heart. He 679 00:34:03,380 --> 00:34:06,140 that backbideth not with his tongue, nor doth he 680 00:34:06,140 --> 00:34:08,639 who doeth his neighbor, nor takeeth approach against his 681 00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:12,440 neighbor. That kind of person. So 682 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,500 I'm 19, 11 through 14. This 683 00:34:14,507 --> 00:34:19,000 is the NIV. By them as your servant 684 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,699 warned, and keeping them, there is a great reward. 685 00:34:22,659 --> 00:34:23,940 Who can discern his errors? 686 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,120 Forgive my hidden faults. Keep 687 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,880 your servant also from his willful sins. Lying 688 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:33,260 is that category, isn't it? Willful 689 00:34:33,260 --> 00:34:35,560 sins. That they may not rule over me. 690 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:37,639 Then will I be blameless, 691 00:34:38,020 --> 00:34:40,780 innocent of great transgression. In 692 00:34:40,780 --> 00:34:43,580 closing it says, May the words of my mouth and the 693 00:34:43,580 --> 00:34:46,739 meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O 694 00:34:46,739 --> 00:34:50,920 Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Let's 695 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:53,600 be honest with ourselves this morning. The 696 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,260 invitation song is saying. The 697 00:34:57,260 --> 00:35:02,180 kind of people we need to be. Christians. 698 00:35:03,420 --> 00:35:05,020 It would be a good thing this morning, but it would 699 00:35:05,020 --> 00:35:06,880 be a good thing for you to change a little bit of 700 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,140 your life. Clean it up a little bit. Save 701 00:35:09,140 --> 00:35:12,000 more truths. Make some things right. Be 702 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,200 true from here on in. Probably 703 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:15,960 a good thing. Jesus 4 .17 says, There are 704 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,000 people who know what they're good and do what 705 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,560 they're not. Him is a sin. These 706 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:23,160 things are important and they're very serious. Face 707 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:24,680 this day and time when we live in a world where 708 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,140 there's so many lies being told at every corner of 709 00:35:27,140 --> 00:35:28,920 the world. It's hard to get the truth out 710 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:32,840 of anyone. Months ourselves, our families, our 711 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,000 church members, our world we live in. Let 712 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:37,580 there be some truth that we go by. Let 713 00:35:37,580 --> 00:35:38,800 there be part of our lives. There 714 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:41,040 should be part of our lives. We 715 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:45,320 shouldn't let the world run its way in. If 716 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,900 you remember the church, God bless you. I'm 717 00:35:47,900 --> 00:35:50,160 glad you are. If you strayed away, you've 718 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:51,980 done some things wrong. You think you're not right. 719 00:35:53,100 --> 00:35:54,220 You've fallen away from some of 720 00:35:54,220 --> 00:35:55,540 these things. You want to make things right? 721 00:35:55,660 --> 00:35:56,520 So you can restore yourself 722 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:57,640 this morning. Come forward and have the 723 00:35:57,640 --> 00:35:59,940 brother pray for you. Make some prayer for the 724 00:35:59,940 --> 00:36:00,760 righteous. It's going to be out of much. 725 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:03,000 I pray I'll be the righteous 726 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,080 person to do that. If not, I'll call someone else 727 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:08,740 to pray for you. You do not remember the church. 728 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:09,580 You need to think about this 729 00:36:09,580 --> 00:36:12,160 time. Because there's no difference. 730 00:36:12,420 --> 00:36:13,320 You're in the, you're christening 731 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:15,660 or not. One of the two. If 732 00:36:15,660 --> 00:36:17,220 you become a Christian this time, you get started a 733 00:36:17,220 --> 00:36:19,260 life, a life of truth. Living 734 00:36:19,260 --> 00:36:22,220 the truth, speaking the truth, teaching the truth 735 00:36:22,220 --> 00:36:25,160 about Jesus to others. Be the example you should be. 736 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:26,760 So church may grow a number 737 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,540 of spirits it should. But if you're asking for it 738 00:36:29,540 --> 00:36:32,180 this time, always stand while we sing. We 739 00:36:32,180 --> 00:36:34,720 thank you for listening to our podcast put on by the 740 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:39,300 Church of Christ at 2215 Plans Road in Bakersfield. 741 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:41,040 If you would like any 742 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:44,020 additional information or you would like to receive 743 00:36:44,020 --> 00:36:47,620 a free Bible correspondence course by mail, please 744 00:36:47,620 --> 00:36:52,620 email us at info at churchofchristbakersfield .com. 745 00:36:53,300 --> 00:36:54,920 Our service times are Sundays 746 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:58,580 at 10 30 a .m. and 5 p .m. and 747 00:36:58,580 --> 00:37:01,560 Wednesdays at 7 30 p .m. Please 748 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:04,640 make plans to join us. We would love for you to be 749 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:05,380 our honored guest.