Understanding Our Times and Knowing

What to Do1 Chron 12.32

“And the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do…”

Cf. Lk 12.54-56

How Shall We Now Live?

Issues Of Distinction 1 Pet 4.1-6

Speaking Truth

“Lies and Not Truth Prevail in the Land”

Jer 9.1-6; Isa 59.12-15

• The Day American Told the Truth, by James Patterson and Peter Kim, 1991:

• 91% lie routinely about “trivial” matters

• 36% lie about “important” matters

• 86% lie regularly to parents

• 75% percent to friends

• 73% percent to siblings

• 69% percent to spouses.

“Lies and Not Truth Prevail in the Land”

Jer 9.1-6; Isa 59.12-15

• A 1997 Money magazine survey:• 24% keep quiet about undercharged bill (up from15% in ’87)

• 24% keep cash if found wallet w/ $1000 cash (up from 4%)

• Nearly one-third would cheat on income taxes

• Ca. 500,000 counterfeit diplomas or credentials.

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

• Adultery, stealing, cheating on tests

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

• E.g. When afraid to speak up or confront:

“Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an

enemy.”

Prov 27:5-6

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

• E.g. When afraid to speak up or confront:

“He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit”

Prov 12:17

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

• E.g. When afraid to speak up or confront:

“Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth”?

Gal 4.16

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

“deceitful are the kisses of an enemy”

Prov 27.5

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

“There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself. Their

throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue.”

Psa 5:9

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

•Self-deception – Jas 1.22,26; 1 Jn 1.8; Ps 51.6

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude

themselves.”

Jas 1:22

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

•Self-deception – Jas 1.22,26; 1 Jn 1.8; Ps 51.6

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own

heart, this man’s religion is worthless”

Jas 1:27

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

•Self-deception – Jas 1.22,26; 1 Jn 1.8; Ps 51.6

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me

know wisdom.”

Psa 51:6

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

•Self-deception – Jas 1.22,26; 1 Jn 1.8; Ps 51.6•Stretching the truth -- Acts 23.26-27

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

•Self-deception – Jas 1.22,26; 1 Jn 1.8; Ps 51.6•Stretching the truth -- Acts 23.26-27

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

•Failing to keep a promise – Eccl 5.2,4-6 ; Mt 5.33-37; 23.16-22

“When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools.

Pay what you vow! 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the

messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice

and destroy the work of your hands?”

Eccl 5:4-6

•Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

•Half-truths – Gen 12.10-13

• “Little White Lies” – Contrast Ps 51.6

• Silence – Prov 27.5-6; 12.17; Gal 4.16

• Flattery – Prov 27.5; Ps 5.9

•Self-deception – Jas 1.22,26; 1 Jn 1.8; Ps 51.6•Stretching the truth -- Acts 23.26-27

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”

•Failing to keep a promise – Eccl 5.2,4-6 ; Mt 5.33-37; 23.16-22

“Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave”

•Lying leads to further lies – 2 Tim 3.13

“But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse,

deceiving and being deceived”

2 Tim 3:13

“Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave”

•Lying leads to further lies – 2 Tim 3.13

•Lying destroys trust and ruins relationships – Jer 9.4-5; cf. Eph 4.15,25

“but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the

head, even Christ…. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you

WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.”

Eph 4:15,25

“Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave”

•Lying leads to further lies – 2 Tim 3.13

•Lying destroys trust and ruins relationships – Jer 9.4-5; cf. Eph 4.15,25

•Lying always come back to haunt you – Prov 19.5

“A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies

will not escape.”

Prov 19:5

“Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave”

•Lying leads to further lies – 2 Tim 3.13

•Lying destroys trust and ruins relationships – Jer 9.4-5; cf. Eph 4.15,25

•Lying always come back to haunt you – Prov 19.5

–Destroys your conscience, self-respect and health

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the

fever heat of summer.”

Psa 32:3-4

“Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave”

•Lying leads to further lies – 2 Tim 3.13

•Lying destroys trust and ruins relationships – Jer 9.4-5; cf. Eph 4.15,25

•Lying always come back to haunt you – Prov 19.5

•A society not founded on truth will fall

“Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by

righteousness.”

Prov 20:28

“Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave”

•Lying leads to further lies – 2 Tim 3.13

•Lying destroys trust and ruins relationships – Jer 9.4-5; cf. Eph 4.15,25

•Lying always come back to haunt you – Prov 19.5

•A society not founded on truth will fall

“If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be

established forever.”

Prov 29:14

God hates lies

“There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty

eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false

witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

Prov 6:16-19

God hates lies

“Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.”

Prov 12:22

God hates lies

•Lying is against the very nature of the “God of truth”

– Dishonors His name – Mt 5.33-37; 23.16-22

•Lies are of the devil, the “father of lies”– Jn 8.44; Acts 5.3

"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from

the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks

a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 8:44