The WAVE: Living in the Truth

• The Definition of Truth 00:28:48 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines truth as that which is backed by evidence, contrasting human perspectives with God's truth.
• Jesus as the Truth 00:29:25 ▶️ 📄
  > Citing John 14:6, the pastor asserts Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, supported by historical and prophetic evidence.
• The Ninth Commandment 00:31:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor discusses Exodus 20:16, explaining that the commandment against false witness is a moral directive to protect reputation and witness.
• Integrity and Witness 00:32:35 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that a person's word reflects their character and serves as a reflection of the one they serve, urging believers to walk in truth.
• The Nature of Truth and Witness 00:32:41 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that a person's word defines their identity and that Christians must uphold truth to protect their reputation and witness.
• Biblical Basis for Honesty 00:33:53 ▶️ 📄
  > References to Romans 9 and the commandment against false witness, emphasizing that God is the God of truth and calls believers to reflect His nature.
• Categories of Lies 00:36:44 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor lists 15 different categories of lies (white, gray, self-oriented, etc.) to demonstrate that all lies are harmful and that labeling them does not make them acceptable.
• The Origin of Lying 00:43:09 ▶️ 📄
  > Uses the Genesis account of Satan deceiving Eve to illustrate that lying is a spiritual issue rooted in Satan, the father of lies.
• Authority of Scripture 00:44:32 ▶️ 📄
  > Contrasts the modern dismissal of the Bible as 'old-fashioned' with the eternal truth of God's Word, which sets believers free.
• The Power of God's Word 00:47:59 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that God's word sets us free, brings salvation, and provides a guideline for living, contrasting it with the failures of living on one's own.
• Salvation and Regeneration 00:49:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that believers are born again through the incorruptible seed of God's word, which endures forever unlike flesh.
• Living Out the Truth 00:52:04 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that knowing truth is insufficient; one must live it out to experience freedom and avoid the stress of covering up lies.
• Misuse of Truth (Truth Terrorist) 00:54:00 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor warns against speaking truth in an unhelpful or hurtful manner, distinguishing between bearing false witness and speaking truth without love.
• Discernment in Speech 00:56:34 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes the need to know when to speak and when to remain silent, citing Ephesians 4:29 regarding corrupt communication.
• Objective Truth vs. Cultural Relativism 00:59:07 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor contrasts God's objective truth with cultural lies, asserting that truth cannot be changed by fame, fortune, or personal belief.
• Righteousness and Truth 01:00:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that Jesus' righteousness is the believer's standard, making any deviation from truth unacceptable to God.
• Speech and Integrity 01:01:15 ▶️ 📄
  > Believers are encouraged to examine their speech, avoiding lies, exaggeration, and tearing others down, as God's word is truth.
• Holiness and Heart Condition 01:02:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor connects holiness to controlling one's speech, citing the biblical principle that the heart's condition determines what is spoken.

• Sermon Illustration 00:43:09 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the biblical narrative of Satan deceiving Eve in Genesis 2, where Satan claims she will not die but will become like God, illustrating the origin of lies.
• Sermon Illustration 00:41:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about childhood lies told to avoid punishment ('whoopings') from parents, noting how these small lies can lead to a life of mistrust if not addressed.
• Sermon Illustration 00:52:59 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate that hearing Jesus' words is insufficient; one must act on them to stand firm during life's storms.
• Sermon Illustration 00:56:19 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Larry Crabb's psychological observation that modern culture emphasizes openness and authenticity but has lost the ability to commit to direction, contrasting this with the need for discernment in speech.

• Pastoral Charge 00:40:59 ▶️ 📄
  > Cultivate a reputation for trustworthiness and honesty.
• Pastoral Charge 00:41:24 ▶️ 📄
  > Choose honesty regardless of the personal cost or difficulty.
• Pastoral Charge 00:47:01 ▶️ 📄
  > Remain committed to studying and engaging with Scripture through church attendance and study.
• Pastoral Charge 00:57:49 ▶️ 📄
  > Use speech to edify, lift up, and encourage others, avoiding lies.
• Pastoral Charge 01:01:15 ▶️ 📄
  > Examine speech, avoid tearing others down, avoiding exaggeration or lying, and stop repeating unnecessary things.
• Pastoral Charge 01:02:29 ▶️ 📄
  > Reflect on speech and actions and exercise self-control.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:00:00] But home is more than this more than the walls that hold us home is where we are seen where we are deeply loved

[00:00:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:00:08] And deep down we all long for that because home is a place where the soul could slow down It's the place where you don't have to perform where you are welcomed not because you've earned it

[00:00:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:00:20] But because you belong

[00:00:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:00:23] And maybe you've been looking for a place like that

[00:00:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_21]
[00:00:26] Or maybe you once had it.

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:00:28] And you've been trying to find your way back.
[00:00:31] But this kind of home isn't something that you have to chase.

[00:00:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:00:35] It's something you can step into right now.
[00:00:39] Because it is found here.

[00:00:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:00:41] In the presence of God.

[00:00:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:00:43] The Bible tells us that he makes his home within us.

[00:00:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:00:46] And when we come together.
[00:00:48] We are not just a room full of people.
[00:00:51] We are the family of God.

[00:00:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:00:53] So if you walked in today, carrying more than anyone can see, you don't have to carry it alone anymore.

[00:01:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:01:01] If you've been wandering, you can stop.
[00:01:04] If you're weary, you can rest.

[00:01:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:01:07] So come as you are.
[00:01:08] Pull up a chair.
[00:01:09] You belong.
[00:01:11] You are home.

[00:01:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:01:19] Home.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:01:20] The space where we live our lives.
[00:01:23] Working and parenting.

[00:01:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:01:25] Celebrating and resting.
[00:01:26] But home is more than this.

[00:01:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:01:29] More than the walls that hold us.
[00:01:31] Home is where we are seen.

[00:01:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:01:33] Where we are deeply loved.

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:01:35] And deep down, we all long for that.

[00:01:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:01:38] Because home is a place where the soul could slow down.
[00:01:42] It's the place where you don't have to perform.

[00:01:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:01:45] Where you are welcomed.

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:01:46] Not because you've earned it.

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:01:48] But because you belong.

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:01:51] And maybe you've been looking for a place like that.

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_21]
[00:01:53] Or maybe you once had it.

[00:01:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:01:54] And you've been trying to find your way back.
[00:01:57] But this kind of home isn't something that you have to chase.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:02:02] It's something you can step into right now.
[00:02:06] Because it is found here.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:02:08] In the presence of God.
[00:02:10] The Bible tells us that he makes his home within us.

[00:02:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:02:13] And when we come together, we are not just a room full of people.
[00:02:18] We are the family of God.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_17]
[00:02:21] So if you walked in today.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:02:23] Carrying more than anyone can see.

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:02:25] You don't have to carry it alone anymore.

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:02:29] If you've been wandering, you can stop.
[00:02:31] If you're weary, you can rest.

[00:02:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:02:34] So come as you are.
[00:02:35] Pull up a chair.
[00:02:36] You belong.
[00:02:38] You are home.

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:02:46] Home.

[00:02:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:02:47] The space where we live our lives.
[00:02:50] Working and parenting.

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:02:52] Celebrating and resting.
[00:02:54] But home is more than this.

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:02:56] More than the walls that hold us.
[00:02:58] Home is where we are seen.

[00:03:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:03:00] Where we are deeply loved.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:03:02] And deep down, we all long for that.

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:03:05] Because home is a place where the soul could slow down.
[00:03:09] It's the place where you don't have to perform.

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:03:12] Where you are welcomed.

[00:03:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:03:13] Not because you've earned it.
[00:03:15] But because you belong.

[00:03:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[00:03:18] And maybe you've been looking for a place like that.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_21]
[00:03:20] Or maybe you once had it.

[00:03:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:03:22] And you've been trying to find your way back.
[00:03:25] But this kind of home isn't something that you have to chase.

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:03:29] It's something you can step into right now.
[00:03:33] Because it is found here.

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:03:35] In the presence of God.
[00:03:37] The Bible tells us that he makes his home within us.

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:03:40] And when we come together.
[00:03:42] We are not just a room full of people.
[00:03:45] We are the family of God.

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_17]
[00:03:48] So if you walked in today.

[00:03:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:03:50] Carrying more than anyone can see.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:03:52] You don't have to carry it alone anymore.
[00:03:55] If you've been wandering.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[00:03:57] You can stop.

[00:03:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:03:58] if you're weary you can rest so come as you are pull up a chair you belong you are home

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:04:07] home the space where we live our lives working and parenting celebrating and resting but home

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:04:22] is more than this more than the walls that hold us home is where we are seen where we are deeply

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:04:28] loved and deep down we all long for that because home is a place where the soul could slow down it's the place where you don't have to perform where you are welcomed not because you've earned

[00:04:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:04:41] it but because you belong and maybe you've been looking for a place like that or maybe you once

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:04:48] had it and you've been trying to find your way back but this kind of home isn't something that You have to chase.

[00:04:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:04:57] It's something you can step into right now.
[00:05:00] Because it is found here.

[00:05:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:05:02] In the presence of God.

[00:05:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:05:04] The Bible tells us that he makes his home within us.

[00:05:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:05:07] And when we come together.
[00:05:09] We are not just a room full of people.
[00:05:12] We are the family of God.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_17]
[00:05:15] So if you walked in today.

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:05:17] Carrying more than anyone can see.

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:05:20] You don't have to carry it alone anymore.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:05:22] If you've been wandering.

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:05:24] you can stop. If you're weary, you can rest. So come as you are. Pull up a chair. You belong. You

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:05:32] are home. Home. The space where we live our lives. Working and parenting. Celebrating and resting.

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[00:05:48] But home is more than this. More than the walls that hold us. Home is where we are seen. Where

[00:05:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:05:55] we are deeply loved. And deep down, we all long for that. Because home is a place where the soul could slow down. It's the place where you don't have to perform. Where you are welcomed. Not

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[00:06:08] because you've earned it. But because you belong. And maybe you've been looking for a place like

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_21]
[00:06:14] that. Or maybe you once had it. And you've been trying to find your way back. But this kind of

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:06:20] home isn't something that you have to chase. It's something you can step into right now because it

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[00:06:28] is found here in the presence of God. The Bible tells us that he makes his home within us.

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:06:35] He knows what our desires are. Amen. Amen. All right. Let's go ahead and stand up. And we are thankful that you are here in the building with us today. We are thankful for those who watch us
[00:06:48] on Facebook Live and listen to us on 92.9 on the radio. We are so thankful that we serve a good God. Amen? Amen. So let's just go to the Lord in prayer, and then we're going to take up our tithes
[00:07:03] and offerings, and we're just going to worship God today. Amen? Amen. Heavenly Father, we just come to you today, Lord. We just thank you, Lord, that you are an awesome God. Lord, we thank you, Lord,
[00:07:14] that you do hear our prayers when we pray, God. And Lord, you don't only hear them, but Lord, we are seeing that you are answering them. Lord, and we thank you that we are walking in your favor
[00:07:23] in 2026. God, I thank you for everything that you've done, God. Lord, that we can, we not only have a hope and expectation, but God, we are seeing things revealed. Lord, and you are bringing
[00:07:34] those things to us, God. And we just thank you today. Lord, we give you glory and we give you honor because you're worthy of it all, God. Lord, it is because of you and who you are, God.
[00:07:44] Lord we thank you for your salvation God Lord your blood that you shed on Calvary for the remission of our sins God we pray for those that are sick today Lord that may be out God for whatever reason
[00:07:54] Lord that you would go to them today and be what they need to be in this hour God Lord we thank you and we praise you Lord we give you glory and honor and let the church
[00:08:02] say amen amen I think the kids are going to start us off this morning

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:08:13] many love the Lord this morning

[00:14:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:14:50] amen If ever is a time to worship God and love Him, it's now.
[00:14:56] So let's just worship the Lord and magnify Him.
[00:14:59] Amen.

[00:15:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:15:00] We love you, Lord.

[00:15:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:15:26] To see as we sing.

[00:18:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:18:16] We bless you, Lord.

[00:18:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:18:19] Hallelujah.
[00:18:26] I sought the Lord.
[00:18:31] And He answered.
[00:18:35] And delivered me.
[00:18:39] From every.
[00:18:43] Those who look on Him.
[00:18:52] They'll never be ashamed.
[00:18:54] There'll never be a shame This poor And the Lord Thank you, Lord And save me A son That the Lord Sing in church We bless you, Lord

[00:22:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:22:27] How wonderful it is to spend time in prayer And reading the Word

[00:22:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:22:38] I come to the Garden of Moses And the mercy Stay the God Let's just raise our hands and sing in that chorus again.
[00:26:46] And he walks with me and he talks with me.
[00:26:58] And he tells me I'm here and the joy we share as we tarry there.
[00:27:19] None other has ever, one more time, had talks, thank you, Lord, with me.
[00:27:33] And he talks with me, thank you, Lord.
[00:27:39] And He tells me I am His own And the joy as we tarry None other as ever

[00:28:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:28:02] Oh, give the Lord a clap of praise.
[00:28:06] Amen, amen.
[00:28:08] Thank you for being in the house of the Lord today.
[00:28:14] We are so proud that you are here.
[00:28:16] And those that's been out sick, we're glad you're here.
[00:28:19] And those that had to be working, We're glad that you're back and, you know, the Lord has just been so good to us.
[00:28:27] Amen.
[00:28:29] We're going to continue on.
[00:28:32] My message today is talking about the truth.
[00:28:36] Now, we talked about last week that Jesus said that he was the truth.
[00:28:42] Amen.
[00:28:43] And I just full weaving it started.
[00:28:46] I want to ask you a question.
[00:28:48] Do you remember what I said the truth was?
[00:28:50] The truth is anything that is backed by evidence Correct?
[00:28:55] You have to have evidence to back up what is said Now, there is your truth And there's my truth And then there's God's truth, amen And sometimes our ears don't hear I don't know about y'all
[00:29:10] But sometimes my ears don't hear completely right You know what I'm saying?
[00:29:15] Or if you're saying something the other person didn't hear what you meant.
[00:29:21] Anybody ever been in that situation?
[00:29:23] I think we all have.
[00:29:25] But last week in John 14, 6, 14, 6, the scripture said, and Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[00:29:40] No man cometh unto the Father but by me.
[00:29:43] So the only way we're going to make it to heaven this morning is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and know that he lives in our hearts.
[00:29:54] Jesus not only died and came back to life, but it was witnessed by over 500 people.
[00:30:02] And not only is it recorded in the Bible, it is also recorded by historians that wrote it down in our history books.
[00:30:12] And not only did Jesus tell them how he was going to die and that he would be resurrected, but the prophets of old had already prophesied exactly what had happened.
[00:30:26] And guess what? It happened.
[00:30:29] The Old Testament prophets hundreds of years or more told exactly how the Messiah would come into Jerusalem and how he would be punished, how he would be crucified, and how he would hang on a cross, how he would bleed for you and me.
[00:30:47] And you know what? It happened just as they said.
[00:30:51] The truth was spoken by the prophecies of old, but it was also the truth was spoken when Jesus spoke it.
[00:31:01] Now, Jesus Christ is the truth.
[00:31:04] We have to understand that.
[00:31:05] And anything that is not of Him is not the truth.
[00:31:10] Regardless of what the world wants to say, the world has their truth, but Jesus has His truth.
[00:31:18] And as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, it is up to us to believe what thus saith the Lord.
[00:31:24] Amen?
[00:31:25] But God has called you and me to be truth as well.
[00:31:29] Oops.
[00:31:31] Everybody knows Exodus 20 and 16.
[00:31:34] I'm sure we studied this in school, Sunday school.
[00:31:41] And the scripture says thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
[00:31:49] The commandments are not just rules.
[00:31:53] They're not a list of rules that everyone has to abide by.
[00:31:57] They are moral directives that guides you and me through this journey that we call life.
[00:32:04] and it protects our reputation, it protects our personal witness.
[00:32:11] How many knows when you're born again, you've got a job of spreading the gospel to other people, right?
[00:32:16] That is our job when we become Christians.
[00:32:19] But we need to understand that as we become a Christian, as we grow in Christ, it is our responsibility to make sure that we uphold what Jesus has asked us to do, amen?
[00:32:35] A person's word is really who they are.
[00:32:41] Let me say that again.
[00:32:43] A person's word is really who they are.
[00:32:46] If you're known for telling the truth, people will have confidence in what you say.
[00:32:52] Is that right?
[00:32:53] If you are known for telling lies or gossiping or stirring the pot, then your word means nothing because they do not trust what you say.
[00:33:03] Is that true?
[00:33:04] Sure, they want to hear what you want to say, But when it comes down to trusting you, they're not going to trust you.
[00:33:10] They'd like to hear what you've got to say, but yet they won't trust you.
[00:33:15] And when it comes down to it, your word, what you speak, is who you are.
[00:33:21] You are a reflection of the one you serve.
[00:33:25] Now, if you serve Jesus Christ, you should be walking in the truth.
[00:33:30] Amen?
[00:33:30] One of the ways to damage relationships and birth distrust is lying to each other or bearing a false witness.
[00:33:41] If you are honest and speak the truth, it is the character of Jesus Christ that is demonstrating that you are growing as a Christian and that you are taking on His character.
[00:33:53] Paul in Romans 9 emphasizes the importance of telling the truth.
[00:33:58] But he wants you to tell the truth in love.
[00:34:02] That's the difference.
[00:34:05] He's telling us in Romans 9 to tell the truth, but tell it with love.
[00:34:11] Just as Jesus says and does in John and in other scriptures.
[00:34:16] In the commandments, God instructs us not to bear false witness, which covers false testimony in a legal setting.
[00:34:24] But it also covers all the ways of lying, deceit, slander, and misrepresentation.
[00:34:32] Since God is the God of truth, he calls you and me as born-again believers to reflect his nature by being honest in every interaction that we have with each other.
[00:34:44] We are an example of who we serve.
[00:34:48] A reflection of God's holiness if you are born again.
[00:34:51] But yet if we choose to lie or stretch the truth just a little bit, it harms us and it harms the ones that we're telling it to.
[00:35:03] Honesty encourages us to maintain the truth and protects our reflection of who we serve.
[00:35:10] If you know Jesus and he lives in you, then you'll have a desire to tell the truth.
[00:35:17] Above everything else, you'll want to tell the truth.
[00:35:20] what is on the inside of us comes out so if jesus christ lives in you then you will want his will and his ways to be in your life and seen in you and one of those is being telling the truth
[00:35:37] because we are the truth when we have been born again now as we said last week in a court of law they want you to swear and take an oath that you promise to tell the truth the whole truth
[00:35:48] nothing but the truth amen but the problem is people don't hold the bible as sacred anymore it's just a book so they don't have a problem putting their hand and swearing on the bible because it has no meaning to them but listen unless you are in a court of law you're not
[00:36:07] going to say take that oath every day anyway unless that's your job or if you're really bad in trouble right so we have to allow jesus to help us grow and help us to learn to tell the truth
[00:36:26] every day without taking an oath amen truthfulness is part of our christian walk the problem is with not being honest there are different levels of lies did y'all know that I didn't realize that until I studied this out.
[00:36:44] And do you know there's 15 different categories of lies?
[00:36:51] Woo, I thought that too.
[00:36:52] So I'm going to read them to you.
[00:36:55] We often say, well, it was just a little white lie.
[00:36:59] There's no harm in it.
[00:37:01] A white lie is a minor lie that avoids hurting someone's feelings while trying to maintain peace.
[00:37:08] Then there's a gray area of lies.
[00:37:13] That's also often somewhere between harmless and harmful.
[00:37:19] A gray lie is often told to protect oneself or others with the potential that consequences will happen if found out.
[00:37:29] Then there is self-oriented lies.
[00:37:32] These are lies that are told to gain an advantage or appear more capable Such as claiming credit for work you did not do Or to avoid punishment or embarrassment like denying a mistake or a bad choice
[00:37:46] Then there's oriented lies Those are lies when you try to help somebody else You lie to support somebody else, a friend or a co-worker to prevent them from getting in trouble Then there's Pareto lies.
[00:38:04] They are lies that benefit from another person.
[00:38:08] They can be beneficial as to help a group of people or protect a group of colleagues from preventing mutual loss.
[00:38:17] Then there's compulsive lies.
[00:38:20] That's when you lie all the time.
[00:38:22] Everything comes out of your mouth is a lie.
[00:38:26] And then there's habitual liars who tell a lie just to be having conversation.
[00:38:32] They don't know the truth from a lie.
[00:38:35] They don't even have a reason to lie.
[00:38:37] They just lie.
[00:38:39] Then there's compulsive liars who lie to reduce the personal discomfort and to maintain a self-image.
[00:38:48] Then there's a pathological liar who is chronic and they indicate that they have a psychological disorder.
[00:38:58] These lies are totally unnecessary and harm those that they touch.
[00:39:04] Then there's occasional lies.
[00:39:06] They only tell a lie when it's necessary.
[00:39:10] And it's not every day.
[00:39:12] It's only once in a while.
[00:39:14] Then there's narcissistic lies.
[00:39:16] they're told to gain attention and admiration and to appear superior, so they have to exaggerate to make themselves look so much better. Then there's a broken promise, and that's failing to keep a commitment, sometimes intentional, sometimes not, but it's also considered a
[00:39:38] form a lion then there's pathetic lies that is lies that I was told to gain sympathy or manipulate emotions I believe that there's also a spiritual lie and the Bible tells us that Satan is the father of all lies so whether it's a little lie or it's a big lie guess what folks
[00:40:06] it's a lie and we as christians need to understand that god is calling us to be people of truth amen and a lie is a lie regardless how you label it and isn't it pretty sad that that people have
[00:40:25] put labels on the different kinds of lies think about that that's pretty sad but listen it won't just say it's okay to lie. I don't know about you, but I don't like people to lie to me.
[00:40:39] Is anybody with me on that? Why? It breaks the trust. Lies hurt. Lies and mistruth causes pain. You and I must never be known as the person who tells lies. We need to be known
[00:40:59] as someone who's trustworthy, honest, and people can count on us. You know, children tells lies. All of us that used to be children, didn't we used to tell some little stories?
[00:41:12] We like to say, well, mommy, this is a little white lie. It's not a bad lie. It's not really bad, but you know what? They ended up into being what? Big lies. And as children of God,
[00:41:24] we want to avoid telling lies. We want to be honest. Even if it hurts, we need to be honest.
[00:41:33] We said, children, we didn't want to be punished.
[00:41:35] We knew that we would get a whooping.
[00:41:37] How many knows what a whooping is?
[00:41:40] All right, we knew what whoopings were.
[00:41:42] Now this generation don't know too much.
[00:41:45] And we did not want to get whooped.
[00:41:48] And what we would do, we would tell a lie to cover up to hopefully that our parents didn't find out the truth.
[00:41:56] But do you know what?
[00:41:57] When you continue to lie, even as a child and you grow up, you have a tendency to lie you know the motives are different and sadly we know better whether we're saved or whether we're not we know what a lie is but if we don't teach our children
[00:42:20] differently it could lead them to a life of mistrust it could also teach them that lies are okay children listen to me lies are not okay they are not it'll affect your life and you think i can
[00:42:37] tell a little lie nobody will ever know but guess what god already knows lying is not okay and especially if the cycle continues as an adult with all that is within us we we must remember
[00:42:53] that the truth shall set us free.
[00:42:58] And if the words we speak cannot be backed with evidence, we need to keep quiet.
[00:43:05] Lies are at the center and at the beginning of the Word of God.
[00:43:09] In Genesis 2, we find out that when the woman, Satan comes to the woman and he says, I want you, if you eat this fruit, girl, you're going to be something.
[00:43:19] You're going to know all that and you're going to be smart and all this great stuff is going to happen.
[00:43:23] And the woman says, uh-uh, God done told us that if we eat that fruit, we will die.
[00:43:31] And Satan says, you know what?
[00:43:33] He's just talking junk.
[00:43:35] You ain't going to die.
[00:43:36] You will not.
[00:43:38] In fact, if you eat that fruit, you're going to be smarter than he is.
[00:43:42] You know, you finally know how to tell the truth and good from evil.
[00:43:50] He doesn't say that, but it's implied that, you know, you eat that fruit and you're going to be alive like you've never been alive before.
[00:43:59] You know, He's still getting people to tell lies today.
[00:44:04] He's still getting people to believe lies today.
[00:44:08] You know, He'll even make you question, did God really say that?
[00:44:13] Is that really what God's Word means?
[00:44:17] But what is the truth?
[00:44:19] We found out last week, who is the truth?
[00:44:22] Jesus Christ.
[00:44:25] Friends, the truth is words need to be backed up by evidence.
[00:44:32] And part of the process of loss of belief in an absolute truth has been that people are dismissing God's Word to have any authority in this age we live in.
[00:44:47] People say, the Word of God is old-fashioned and it's out of date and we don't need that.
[00:44:53] We've moved beyond that.
[00:44:55] It's just a book.
[00:44:56] It's somebody's opinion.
[00:44:58] We're more enlightened these days.
[00:45:00] We're not under a bondage.
[00:45:02] We don't have to do it.
[00:45:02] We can do what we want to do.
[00:45:06] No, God's Word will stand when this world is on fire.
[00:45:11] His Word is truth and He is truth.
[00:45:14] And as children of God, if we have been born again, if we believe and have received Jesus Christ into our hearts, we should be the truth too.
[00:45:25] We also need to be aware of the things we repeat.
[00:45:30] Repeating conversations and things we've heard can be noted as a lie too.
[00:45:36] If we don't repeat it exactly how it was said, guess what?
[00:45:40] It's a half-truth and it then becomes a lie and you are seen as a liar.
[00:45:45] As soon as we begin to think that truth is a matter of opinion or perspective, we've lost the ability to decide what is right and what is wrong.
[00:45:56] Our ability to discern good and bad behavior comes clouded and compromised.
[00:46:01] Morals begin in knowing and living the truth.
[00:46:06] What comes from our mouth should always be the truth.
[00:46:09] Well, Pastor Tammy, I don't want to get in trouble.
[00:46:11] Well, you know what? It's better to get in trouble and get it out there and get it done, get the punishment over with, whatever it may be, and move forward and be known as a truth-sayer than being known as a liar.
[00:46:24] In John 8, 31 and 32.
[00:46:32] John 8, okay, 31, 32.
[00:46:35] Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed.
[00:46:44] and you shall know the truth and the truth shall what?
[00:46:50] Make you free.
[00:46:52] We know that Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees there but he's also speaking to us today.
[00:46:57] We must stay in the word of God.
[00:47:01] That's why church is so important.
[00:47:03] That is why Sunday school and Wednesday night is so important to us.
[00:47:07] We get in the word.
[00:47:08] We study the word.
[00:47:10] We know the word and the word is truth and truth will what?
[00:47:14] Set us free.
[00:47:16] We have to make a choice to know what God's Word says in order to know what is true.
[00:47:23] If we are in the truth, the Holy Ghost will reveal all things to us.
[00:47:29] The reason that we fail to know what is the truth is in verse 43.
[00:47:34] Jesus continues saying, verse 43, Why do you not understand my speech?
[00:47:42] And she says, listen, guys, why are you not understanding what I'm saying?
[00:47:46] He says, even because you cannot hear my word.
[00:47:50] They was not understanding what he was saying because they did not know the truth.
[00:47:56] They did not know the word.
[00:47:59] The key in knowing the truth in God's word is that God's word will set us free.
[00:48:04] God's word will bring us salvation.
[00:48:08] And God's word will tell us how to live.
[00:48:11] Guys, I don't know about you, but I've made enough mistakes living on my own.
[00:48:15] I need the help of the Lord to get me through this journey that I'm on called life.
[00:48:21] It's what helps us to get through this world is the truth.
[00:48:27] And listen, telling the truth, speaking the truth is a lot easier than telling a lie.
[00:48:32] Because in my experience, you have to tell one lie.
[00:48:37] Well, the next thing you know, you've got another lie to cover that lie.
[00:48:40] and then you forget what lie you started out with at the beginning.
[00:48:43] You know what I'm saying?
[00:48:45] But we must understand what is truth.
[00:48:48] The truth is that Jesus Christ loves you.
[00:48:52] The truth is He died on a cross and rose again.
[00:48:55] He came to bring you salvation.
[00:48:57] He gave us His Word as a guideline to know how to live this life.
[00:49:03] He showed us what we need to do, and yet we don't want to do it.
[00:49:07] Why? Because we cannot hear His Word.
[00:49:10] 1 Peter 1, 23, starting with the 23rd verse.
[00:49:17] Being born again, not a corruptible seed, not a bad seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
[00:49:29] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as a flower of grass.
[00:49:35] The grass wherein and the flower thereof, it falleth away.
[00:49:39] But the word of the Lord, what? Endureth forever.
[00:49:46] And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
[00:49:52] The power of the gospel is that it changes people's hearts.
[00:49:57] It changes people's lives when you completely turn yourself over to God.
[00:50:04] You see, it opens our eyes to see the world from God's viewpoint.
[00:50:09] In other words, it gives us a true picture of the world.
[00:50:14] But that miracle of a revelation brought about by God's Word is like that seed that Peter has given us an example of.
[00:50:22] It begins its life in a small way and it gradually grows into a healthy.
[00:50:28] And then, in our case, the seed of truth of salvation begins as the Word of God is planted in our hearts and it grows.
[00:50:37] And the word continues to feed us and leads us deeper and deeper into the truth.
[00:50:44] Paul tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Jesus Christ.
[00:50:50] In John 6 and 63, John 6 and 63.
[00:50:56] It is the spirit that quickeneth.
[00:50:58] The flesh profited nothing.
[00:51:01] The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life.
[00:51:06] Speaking the truth will bring life to you So if we grow in our Christian life We need to feed on God's word If we desire truth in our inward being As the psalmist puts it
[00:51:21] We are immersing ourselves in God's word If the truth lives inside of us There is no room for lies But I don't want to hurt their feelings Then keep your mouth shut Well this is what I think they said
[00:51:37] No, don't repeat it unless you know what was said.
[00:51:40] We need to live out the truth in our life.
[00:51:44] Jesus said it in John that if we were his disciples, we would stay in his word.
[00:51:51] We will study his word.
[00:51:52] We will grow in his word because his word teaches us the truth.
[00:51:57] And what happens?
[00:51:58] The word is truth, and the truth will set us free.
[00:52:04] See, it's not enough to know the truth.
[00:52:06] We've got to live the truth.
[00:52:08] It needs to be lived out so that we can have the freedom and experience the freedom that living in the truth brings.
[00:52:16] Do you know, if you don't tell a lie, you don't have stress to cover up that lie.
[00:52:21] If you speak the truth and it's honest, you have no stresses behind it.
[00:52:28] The Bible tells us if we continue in His Word, He's talking about our obedience to tell us what we should do, our acceptance you know the word is full of things we should do but how many of us do them
[00:52:42] his word is the absolute truth and as we begin to live the word it becomes real for us do you remember a wise man built his house remember that song upon let's see a foolish man built his house
[00:52:59] upon the sand and you remember that little kid's song well what's happened is is a parable of the builders one built their house upon the rock and the other on the sand they were actually two
[00:53:12] builders in that story and both of them heard the same message but only one took notice and did as they were told the wise man heard what Jesus had to say and he heard his words and he acted on them
[00:53:28] but the foolish one heard them and ignored them and what happened when the storms of life came the one who acted on Jesus' words was able to stand on the rock.
[00:53:39] And the one that didn't listen, the one that didn't put it into action into their life, the house crumbled under the pressure of the storm.
[00:53:48] See, knowing truth and speaking truth will help you stand in life.
[00:53:55] Before we finish, let me give you a warning on the misuse of truth.
[00:54:00] There is a difference between what we might call a truth warrior and a truth terrorist.
[00:54:06] The commandment tells us not to bear false witness against our neighbor.
[00:54:11] Well, sometimes we can bear false witness simply by speaking the truth in an unhelpful manner.
[00:54:18] As I said before, our neighbor doesn't need to know and hear everything that we've done.
[00:54:25] Do you agree?
[00:54:27] And our neighbor don't need to know everything we think about them.
[00:54:32] Do you agree?
[00:54:33] so sometimes keeping our mouth closed is just as important as telling the truth we don't need to tell other people what we think about them we don't need to discuss what we used to be or how
[00:54:49] we used to be unless you're using it as a witness tool it is a matter of discernment and having the right context to speak the truth what you're thinking may be the truth but that just because
[00:55:03] you think it don't mean you're supposed to speak it.
[00:55:06] I think we call it, I don't have a filter sometimes.
[00:55:12] But we living in the truth, we living in Jesus Christ, we need to be on guard with the truth.
[00:55:20] Sometimes it's okay to say, you know, I really don't like that outfit you got on.
[00:55:26] Oh, I heard they say, don't say that.
[00:55:28] And then there's times you say, oh, if you like that, you are shining bright.
[00:55:32] That we have to learn the difference.
[00:55:37] Listen, there's an emphasis in our culture that we have free speech.
[00:55:43] We can say what we want to say.
[00:55:45] We can do what we want to do.
[00:55:48] We have a right, don't we?
[00:55:49] We can, yes, we got a mouth.
[00:55:52] We can open it.
[00:55:52] We can say what we want to.
[00:55:55] Larry Crabb, an American psychologist, suggested that one of the major key issues for us today is the emphasis that we have the idea that openness, authenticity, transparency, assertion, fulfillment, and genuineness is okay as long as it's the experience of self-sacrifice, self-discipline,
[00:56:19] self-giving love, obedience, and willing endurance.
[00:56:23] But as a result, we've lost the ability to commit ourselves to any direction.
[00:56:30] You know, you've got to know when to open your mouth.
[00:56:34] We need to be able to think and understand.
[00:56:38] And you know how we do that?
[00:56:39] Through the Word of God, the truth of God.
[00:56:43] Ephesians 4 and 29.
[00:56:49] And we ought to go home and underline this in our Bibles.
[00:56:52] It says, let no corrupt.
[00:56:56] What's corrupt?
[00:57:00] Bias?
[00:57:02] Lies?
[00:57:03] What else?
[00:57:04] Anything bad?
[00:57:06] Right?
[00:57:07] No corrupt communication for a seed out of your mouth.
[00:57:10] Does that mean gossip?
[00:57:13] Does that mean telling things about somebody else?
[00:57:18] Yeah.
[00:57:19] Does that mean just covering up your mistakes with a lie?
[00:57:22] Yeah.
[00:57:23] Anything corrupt, but that which is good to the use of what?
[00:57:30] edifying, that it minister grace unto the healers. If they don't need to be said, sip it. Right? What is he telling us to do? We need to use our mouth for the good stuff.
[00:57:49] Edifying, lifting somebody up, encouraging somebody, not lying to them. But the truth terror sometimes even speaks the truth in a way that hurts i guess we've all done that in the heat of the moment anybody ever been in an argument
[00:58:06] oh i guess i was the only one oh there's a few okay we've been we're and we're hot and we're mad and that temper's blowing and we're getting ready to blow our gasket for sure and we say we're going
[00:58:21] to give them a piece of our mind and i'm going to tell them exactly what i think and we claim to be just speaking the truth but we're not speaking it in love so sometimes it's best
[00:58:38] not to say anything especially if you're going to tear down well I need to get it off my chest you know what you need to do you need to cool down and pray about it
[00:58:51] and then get it off your chest the truth is we could be bearing false witness and it has no substance in it.
[00:59:04] Truth is truth whether we want to hear it or not.
[00:59:07] There's your truth, there's my truth, and there's God's truth.
[00:59:11] Truth is truth whether we believe it or not.
[00:59:16] I'm telling you, there's a lot of things that's being said today that is not the truth.
[00:59:21] And there's a lot of people believing lies.
[00:59:24] Truth cannot be changed.
[00:59:27] Like so many today, their fame and fortune was only important to them more important to them than knowing the truth.
[00:59:35] They only sought to get answers that were suited for the moment, to keep their happiness or keep what they're going.
[00:59:42] Do you know there is people that will lie in order to succeed?
[00:59:47] We talked about that.
[00:59:50] People's heart has got to be changed to the truth.
[00:59:54] Thank God for those who knows the difference and can see where a lie is a lie and they know the truth.
[01:00:01] truthfulness is important do you know what's at stake for our truth telling it is not only the key to relationships it's not only the key to stay insane with yourself but in every way truth telling is the key
[01:00:17] of being rightly related to God and that affects your eternity God is holy God his kingdom is a holy kingdom and the people of his kingdom are supposed to be holy well i can't be yes you can you're covered by the blood of jesus christ listen his righteousness
[01:00:38] is to be your righteousness and anything less than his righteousness including not telling the truth is unacceptable to him jesus loves you he loves me and he wants us to know the truth He wants you to know the truth
[01:00:57] He don't want you to be darkened by lies Listen He wants you to be free And the truth will set you free I want to encourage you this morning As a child of God If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior
[01:01:15] I want to encourage you to examine what comes out of your mouth Be careful not to say anything that's going to tear somebody down Be careful not to stretch the truth or exaggerate it.
[01:01:30] Be careful not to tell a pure out lie.
[01:01:34] And better yet, don't even repeat things you don't need to.
[01:01:41] Amen?
[01:01:41] Psalm says that God's word is like honey to our lips.
[01:01:50] When you speak the truth, it's like honey to your lips.
[01:01:54] Because God's word is truth.
[01:01:57] Our life should be truth.
[01:01:58] I realize that this message is not a popular message.
[01:02:03] A lot of people, maybe those watching online, thinks, ooh, that's a little bit out there.
[01:02:09] But let me tell you something.
[01:02:11] We need to understand God is calling us to be holy people.
[01:02:17] And to be holy, part of that is watching what comes out of our mouth.
[01:02:22] Because here's something very important you need to understand.
[01:02:25] The Bible also says what is in your heart comes out of your mouth.
[01:02:29] Think about what you say Think about what you do Get a grip on it Yes we have the freedom of speech But I don't need to go back there anymore We are under another King
[01:02:44] King Jesus And his truth should be living in us And our truth Should be living in the world in which we stand Amen Stand to your feet Heavenly Father I thank you for everyone that is
[01:03:02] in the house today. I thank you for those that have watched by the air and those that are listening by the radio station.
[01:03:09] Lord, I just thank you that they're here today.
[01:03:13] Father, I just pray something has been said that will touch our hearts.
[01:03:17] Make our minds think that yes, we