Set Free Sermon Series: Set Free From Lying

Lying. We know it's wrong but it is a sin we rely upon heavily. It keeps us out of awkward situations. Sometimes we even view it as a kindness, sparing people's fragile emotions with a "little white lie." However, God views lying very differently. He sees it as a dangerous sin that compromises our Christian witness and misrepresents Him. God cannot lie. He is all about truth, and as His children, we need to be truth-tellers as well. Like any bad habit, lying can be broken, but not without God's help. In this sermon, we will explore the Bible's definition of lying, explore God's clear prohibitions concerning lying and consider a few rare exceptions in the Bible where liars "seem to be" rewarded for their untruths. This sermon will conclude with a 4-part "Treatment Plan for being Set Free from Lying.

1. FROM LYING

2. The Average
person lies 25
times per
day!

3. 91% of
Americans lie
regularly in
one way or
another!

4. 36% tell big
“important”
lies.

5. 1. To protect themselves.

2. To keep from hurting
someone’s feelings.

3. To get out of trouble.

6. WHAT LYING
1S

7. “To utter falsehood
with an intention to
deceive; to cause an
incorrect
impression; to
present a misleading
appearance.”

8. There is really one main word
in Greek to describe a lie. The
term is “pseudos” and refers to
that which is false or
deceiving.

9. There are at least five different
Hebrew words describing
differing aspects of lying.

10. Although there are at least five
different Hebrew words
describing differing aspects of
lying. There is one word for
truth!

11. MAN

Firmness, Faithfulness,
Stability, Reliability, Truth

12. Emeth/Truth

NIN

Tau=LastLetter Mem=Middle Aleph = First
of Hebrew Letter of Hebrew Letter of Hebrew
Alphabet Alphabet Alphabet

13. WHERE DOES LYING
COME FROM?

14. The Devil - John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and
your willis 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.

15. “A man is
never more
like the devil
than when
he's telling a
lie.”

16. The Fallen Heart- Mt. 15:18-20

18 But what comes out of the mouth
proceeds from the heart, and this
defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart
come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,
sexual immorality, theft, false witness,
slander. 2% These are what defile a
person...

17. The mind governed by the

flesh is hostile to God; it

does not submit to God’s
law, nor can it do so.

18. IN ORDER TO BE SET FREE
FROM LYING, WE NEED TO
KNOW...

WHETHER LYING IS
SERIOUS SIN OR A
MINOR PROBLEM.

19. WHITE LIE

E.g. “Your butt

doesn’t look
big.”

GRAY TIE | BLACK LIE

Es. “thedog) E.g. “Read my
ate my lips... No new
homework.” taxes.”

20. 16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, 5
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,

19

and one who sows discord among brothers.

21. Lying lips are an
abomination to the Lord,
but those who act
faithfully are his delight.

22. Lying can be LETHAL!

*Prov. 21:6: The getting of

treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor anda
snare of death.

(Ex. Ananias and Sapphira)

23. Lyingis ETERNALLY LETHAL!

«Rev. 21:8: But as for the cowardly,
the faithless, the detestable, as for
murderers, the sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, ¡|
„their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur,
which is the second death.

24. WHETHER THERE
ARE ANY
EXCEPTIONS

25. Shiphrah and Puah Bs
(Exodus 1:15-21) And

because the
midwives
feared God,
he gave them
families.

26. Rahab By faith the prostitute
(Joshua 2) Rahab, because she
welcomed the spies,

was not killed with

those who were
disobedient.

Heb. 11:31

27. 2 And Samuel said,
(1 Sam. 16:1-5) “How can | go? If
Saul hears it, he will
¿7 kill me.” And the Lord
said, “Take a heifer
with you and say, ‘I
have come to
=" sacrifice to the Lord.

28. What do these “ex

Us about Goa?

lotice that God comm

righteous action, n

29. 1.Notice that God commends the
righteous action, not the lie.

2.Notice that at times a lesser
commandment is subordinated
to a higher commandment.

30. 1. Notice that God commends the righteous
action, not the lie.

2. Notice that at times a lesser ’
commandment is subordinated to a higher
commandment.

3.Notice that God focuses on the
purity of the heart behind the
words.

32. 1. Instead of making
excuses, make
confession.

33. 2.Instead of relying
on will power,
rely on God’s
power.