1. Today’s Scripture Reading Ephesians 4:25

2. Real Christians Are HONEST Ephesians 4:25

3. Poverty Stricken “Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess, and yet all the honesty in the world ain’t lawful tender for a loaf of bread.” Josh Billings

4. Honesty-Challenged We are an honesty- challenged people.We are an honesty- challenged people. Lies come easily to our lips.Lies come easily to our lips.

5. Why Do We Lie? People lie to: People in the world lie to get out of tight spots.People in the world lie to get out of tight spots. They lie to make themselves out to be greater than they are.They lie to make themselves out to be greater than they are. They lie to get ahead financially, or to defraud the government over taxes.They lie to get ahead financially, or to defraud the government over taxes. True Christians must be the exact OPPOSITE of that profile.True Christians must be the exact OPPOSITE of that profile. Real Christians are HONEST

6. The Wisdom of Honesty Proverbs 12:19 -- Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.Proverbs 12:19 -- Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Truth endures, lies last only a short time.

7. The Lord Detests Lying Lips Proverbs 12:22 “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”

8. Honesty Is Like A Kiss On The Lips Proverbs 24:26 “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”

9. A Man Of Integrity Walks a Straight Path “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9

10. Duplicity Destroys The Unfaithful Proverbs 11:3Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”

11. The Lord Despises Dishonesty But Blesses HonestyLeviticus 19:35-36 "Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

12. We must make all measurements and business practices honest.

13. The Honest Person Dwells on the Heights He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil- this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. Isaiah 33:15-16

14. A Dishonest Nation Is Cursed Jeremiah 5:1 "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.”

15. God Is Pleased With Integrity I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 1 Chronicles 29:17

16. The Power Of Complete Honesty Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Does anyone really mean this anymore?

17. Lies Come From The Father of Lies You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

18. Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Only honesty can edify the body of Christ.Only honesty can edify the body of Christ.

19. Hear the chant of the truly honest and righteous Christian 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 --We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

20. 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

21. The Mindset of the Truthful Christian Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

22. The Punishment for Liars But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars— their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8

23. Real Christians Are HONEST “Honesty pays, but it don’t seem to pay enough to suit some people.” Kin Hubbard Dishonesty can seem very convenient at times.Dishonesty can seem very convenient at times. Ultimately, it will destroy us.Ultimately, it will destroy us. Only through complete honesty can we excel in our Christian walk.Only through complete honesty can we excel in our Christian walk. There are plenty of liars – lets show the world honesty and truth.There are plenty of liars – lets show the world honesty and truth.