Understanding Our Times and Knowing What to Do 1 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

Issues Of Distinction 1 Pet 4.1-6 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.

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways” Actions – e.g. 2 Sam 11-12 Adultery, stealing, cheating on tests

“How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways” 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 E.g. When afraid to speak up or confront: Prov 27:5-6 “Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

“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 E.g. When afraid to speak up or confront: Prov 12:17 “He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit”

“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 E.g. When afraid to speak up or confront: Gal 4.16 “Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth”?

“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 Prov 27.5 “deceitful are the kisses of an enemy”

“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 Psa 5:9 “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.”

“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 Jas 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

“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 Jas 1:27 “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”

“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 Psa 51:6 “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”

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

Eccl 5:4-6 “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?”

“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 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 2 Tim 3:13 “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived”

“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 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.”

“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 Prov 19:5 “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.”

“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 Psa 32:3-4 “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.”

“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 Prov 20:28 “Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.”

“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 Prov 29:14 “If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.”

God hates lies Prov 6:16-19 “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.”

God hates lies Prov 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.”

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 John 8:44 "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.”