A Bible study on Honesty

It is written, THESE SIX THINGS DOTH THE LORD HATE; YEA, SEVEN ARE AN ABOMINATION UNTO HIM. Three of these are as follows: A LYING TONGUE... A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKETH LIES, AND HE THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN-Pv 6:16,17,19.

The Bible tells us, NONE CALLETH FOR JUSTICE, NOR ANY PLEADETH FOR TRUTH: THEY TRUST IN VANITY, AND SPEAK LIES; THEY CONCEIVE MISCHIEF, AND BRING FORTH INIQUITY-Isa 59:4. Are these Scriptures for today?

The Bible tells us, THEY BEND THEIR TONGUES LIKE THEIR BOW FOR LIES: BUT THEY ARE NOT VALIANT FOR THE TRUTH UPON THE EARTH-Jere 9:3; AND WILL NOT SPEAK THE TRUTH-Jere 9:5.

Yet, the Scripture tells us, LYING LIPS ARE ABOMINATION TO THE LORD-Pv 12:22; and A RIGHTEOUS MAN HATETH LYING-Pv 13:5.

    One of the biggest problems people have is honesty. Now, very few of us think of ourselves as dishonest. Very few of us would consider ourselves "a liar," yet we all know that, at one time or another, we have lied.
    One of the problems we may have, regarding lying, is not having an honest enough heart to admit the truth. We may tell a little "white lie," but refuse to admit it was a lie. For instance, you may give your word you will be at a certain place at a certain time, but something comes up, and you do not keep your word, yet refuse to admit it was a lie. Perhaps, you may jokingly say, "Oh, yes, I’ll be there at three o’clock," but you aren’t. It was a lie.
    Perhaps, we are not prepared to admit what a lie really is. A lie is an abominable thing that God hates. Let’s put it in perspective. To say something in the form of a promise or a commitment and then not keep your word (regardless of the reason) is to lie, and God hates it. Perhaps, you say you will go to a certain church on a certain day, yet you do not go. This is a form of lying, and God hates it. If you say, "I’m going to the store at three p.m.," and you do not, it is a lie, and God hates it. If you say you will have a Bible study at four p.m. on Tuesday, but then you change your mind, you have lied, and God hates it. If you tell a person anything that is part true and part dishonest, it is a lie, and God hates it. If you say, someone did this or that, and it is not true, then you have told a lie about that person, and God hates it. If you tell your neighbor you stopped by to get some sugar, when the real reason you stopped by was to see her baby, you have just lied, and God hates it. If you say you will be at someone’s house at two p.m., but you have a flat tire, it is still a lie, and God hates it. What you should have said was, "Lord willing, I'll be there at 2 pm, or "I'll try to be there at 2 pm." As one might say, tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Another form of lying takes place among "professing Christians." You may say, "God told me to tell you this"; yet what you say contradicts the Bible. God never told you to tell them that at all. It was your own emotions, prompted by Satan. You may say, "God told me to tell you to close your business, to go here or there, to divorce your wife, or to leave your husband. God told me to tell you not to go to a certain (born-again) church or Bible study." Lies, lies, and God hates it. "God told me to tell you, they don’t know what they’re talking about." All are lies and forms of deceiving people, and God hates it all. Or, perhaps, you simply say, "You should not go to this Bible study, or to that church," or "You should not listen to that preacher." These also can be lies, as God may want them to go. When you say things that contradict the Bible, they are lies, and God hates it. The world is so full of lying and dishonesty, it has become an accepted practice, yet God hates every bit of it.

Perhaps, you may say, "That preacher is doing something wrong." You may feel he is teaching incorrectly, when, in fact, he is doing exactly what God tells him to do. Therefore, you have lied, and God hates it. Perhaps, you make accusations, such as, certain evangelists own big houses, make large salaries, and own big cars. Do you actually know how much they make? Do you know what make and year of car they own? Do you actually know how much their house costs? or if they even own a house or rent? Lies, lies, lies, wickedness, murmuring, slander, sowing discord, and God hates it all. You may say, "I don’t like this evangelist or that preacher (born-again)," yet God loves them. If you do not love your brother in Christ, you should not expect to be in heaven. You may not agree with what they teach. Nevertheless, if they are born-again, you are to love them no matter what. The seventh abomination God hates is sowing discord among the brethren (among brothers in Christ). It may be your own heart and tongue that shows it is you, who is not abiding in God’s will, not them. God hates this kind of sin (that of speaking against our brethren). Repent of your wickedness. Repent and forsake your lying, slandering, and murmuring.

Perhaps, you are invited to go out witnessing, yet you refuse to go and lie about the reason. You may tell them you have an appointment or have to go to lunch, when, in fact, you do not have to go right now. Do you lie, because you do not wish to reveal that the real reason you will not go is because you are afraid? Perhaps, someone has persecuted you, and you are a bit uptight that you could get kicked out of your apartment or fired from your job. Your mom, dad, sisters, relatives, or friends may mock you. So instead of telling the truth, you lie to cover up your fear. Adam and Eve were afraid after sinning. They hid. When it comes to witnessing, the Bible shows why you do not go, in the parable of the "unprofitable servant"-Mt 25:25. The servant that would not witness or serve Jesus, said, "I WAS AFRAID." This is further backed up in Jn 12:42, which shows us people who did believe on Jesus, yet because they were afraid, they would not confess Him as their Saviour. As it is written, NEVERTHELESS AMONG THE CHIEF RULERS ALSO MANY BELIEVED ON HIM; BUT BECAUSE OF THE PHARISEES THEY DID NOT CONFESS HIM, LEST THEY SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE. They were afraid they would be put out of the church. You may be afraid of being put out of your church or losing your friends, if you go overboard for Jesus. You may be afraid you could lose your job or house, if you witness for Jesus. Be warned—if you are ashamed of Jesus, He will be ashamed of you (and you will go to the lake of fire)-ref Mk 8:38.

To put things of the world before the work that Jesus has for you to do is a form of denying Him. Come out and be honest. Be willing to admit, "Yes, it is true, I am afraid." You are under commandment to obey what Jesus says to do and trust Him. If you get put out of your apartment, God can give you a better one. If you lose your job, God can get you a better one. If you lose your friends because of the Gospel, then God wanted it that way, as you are not to keep company with unbelievers.

You see, many will not witness, because they would not have compliments from people anymore. People would turn against them. They are afraid of losing their friends. As the Bible tells us, in Jn 12:43-FOR THEY LOVED THE PRAISE OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD. Jesus warns us, Jn 12:48-HE THAT REJECTETH ME, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY.

Are these Christians who lie over and over really saved? The answer is no. But let God’s Word judge. As it is written, Rev 21:8-BUT THE FEARFUL (those who do not trust in Jesus), AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE. Lev 19:11 says-NEITHER LIE ONE TO ANOTHER. The Bible also tells us in the same verse, NEITHER DEAL FALSELY...ONE TO ANOTHER. When we say things about a person that are not true, it is bearing false witness. What is one of the Ten Commandments? NEITHER SHALT THOU BEAR FALSE WITNESS-Deut 5:20.

God wants us to be children, Isa 63:8-THAT WILL NOT LIE. The Bible tells us of many who, Jere 27:14-PROPHESY A LIE UNTO YOU. Jere 27:15-THEY PROPHESY A LIE IN MY NAME. Do you do this? Speaking of preachers, priests, and rabbi, it is written, Jere 28:15-THOU MAKEST THIS PEOPLE TO TRUST IN A LIE. Many may try to throw you into confusion and cause, Jere 29:31-YOU TO TRUST IN A LIE.

Look at Jesus’ words about Satan, in Jn 8:44,45-HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND ABODE NOT IN THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE SPEAKETH A LIE, HE SPEAKETH OF HIS OWN: FOR HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF IT. AND BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, YE BELIEVE ME NOT. Please note, it is not only those who lie that go to the lake of fire, but also those who refuse to believe the truth. They choose to believe a lie and are not saved. Jn 8:47-HE THAT IS OF GOD HEARETH GOD’S WORDS: YE THEREFORE HEAR THEM NOT, BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF GOD.

Who causes us to lie? It is Satan. Satan works in our emotions and feelings. Perhaps, if we did not lie, we would embarrass ourselves, so we lie. We may try to cover the truth. We just cannot seem to tell the whole truth. It is written, Acts 5:3-BUT PETER SAID, ANANIAS, WHY HATH SATAN FILLED THINE HEART TO LIE? Satan is the father of lies. Satan was a liar from the beginning. Satan is a deceiver, and he deceiveth the whole world. Again, we are told in Col 3:9-LIE NOT ONE TO ANOTHER, SEEING THAT YE HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN WITH HIS DEEDS. Once you are born-again, you are to put off the old man (Satan’s ways) and follow the path of complete truthfulness and honesty. If you do not, you are lying to (or deceiving) yourself. 1 Jn 2:4-HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. Understand that, 1 Jn 2:21-NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH. No lie that you ever tell is of God. No matter what the excuse, no matter what the reason, no matter if your house burns down—if you make a promise, keep it. No lie is of God. Watch your words. Be careful what you say, lest you misspeak and lie. Jesus never lied. Satan is the father of lies. Whom do you follow? "Little white lies" are big, abominable lies that take you to the lake of fire.

Perhaps, the greatest lie is to believe the Bible is not the Word of God. The Bible is the perfect Word of God. To say, "I don’t believe I need to do what the Bible says," is lying to yourself. It is written in Acts 2:38-REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU. Thus, we are to obey. The Bible says, Eph 2:8-BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH. Thus, we are to believe it. The Bible tells us that Jesus died for those who obey the Word. Heb 5:9-HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM. There are many that willingly choose to follow their preacher, priest, or rabbi, whose teaching is not quite in line with the fundamentals of the Bible. By doing so, they are choosing falsehood over the truth of God's Word.

The Bible tells us to FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL-Pv 3:7. Yet some preachers and people make God’s Word null and void, by saying this does not mean exactly what it says. Some say that we are not to fear God, but only reverence Him. The Bible says fear (be afraid of) God. That is exactly what it means. Be careful you do not reject the love of the truth, so that God sends you a strong delusion that you should believe a lie-ref 2 Thes 2:11.

It is written, Ro 1:25-WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE(?). The answer is people. The answer is Satan moving in the minds of people that do not have a good and honest heart. Heb 6:18-IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE. The Bible warns you, Ja 3:14-LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH.

Submit yourselves to God, submit yourselves to the truth. Dwell in the truth, and love the truth. Love Jesus and His ways.

Many people say the sinner’s prayer, but then they refuse to obey it. They lie to God. Listen to the sinner’s prayer. Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I believe You are the Son of God and died for my sins on the cross. Forgive all my sins. Remove all my doubts. Jesus, I ask You to come into my life. Help me to follow and obey Your commandments and to live for You. "Jesus, I give You my life." Thank You for hearing my prayer. Thank You for coming into my life. I ask it in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Did you promise to follow and obey God’s commandments, but you do not? Did you, Acts 5:3-LIE TO THE HOLY GHOST? Have you tempted, Acts 5:9-THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD? In the days of the apostles, Acts 5:11-GREAT FEAR CAME UPON ALL THE CHURCH. God struck dead both Ananias and his wife for lying. The Bible tells us to call on the name of the Lord IN TRUTH-Ps 145:18. Mk 7:6-THIS PEOPLE HONORETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.

So how should you speak? It is written, Ja 4:13-17 NIV-NOW LISTEN, YOU WHO SAY, "TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL GO TO THIS OR THAT CITY, SPEND A YEAR THERE, CARRY ON BUSINESS AND MAKE MONEY." WHY, YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? YOU ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN VANISHES. INSTEAD, YOU OUGHT TO SAY, "IF IT IS THE LORD’S WILL, WE WILL LIVE AND DO THIS OR THAT." AS IT IS, YOU BOAST AND BRAG. ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL. ANYONE, THEN, WHO KNOWS THE GOOD HE OUGHT TO DO AND DOESN’T DO IT, SINS. Do not say you will go to church if it be God’s will. It is God’s will. Say that you will make every effort to come, then do so. If you said the sinner’s prayer but have pulled back, repent. If you promised God you would follow Him, do it. Go to church, read your Bible, attend Bible studies, and serve the Lord willingly.

God’s Word tells us, Ecc 5:4-6-WHEN THOU VOWEST A VOW UNTO GOD, DEFER NOT TO PAY IT; FOR HE HATH NO PLEASURE IN FOOLS: PAY THAT WHICH THOU HAST VOWED. BETTER IS IT THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT VOW, THAN THAT THOU SHOULDEST VOW AND NOT PAY. SUFFER NOT THY MOUTH TO CAUSE THY FLESH TO SIN; NEITHER SAY THOU BEFORE THE ANGEL, THAT IT WAS AN ERROR: WHEREFORE SHOULD GOD BE ANGRY AT THY VOICE, AND DESTROY THE WORK OF THINE HANDS? Mt 5:33-THOU...SHALT PERFORM UNTO THE LORD THINE OATHS. Num 30:2-IF A MAN VOW A VOW UNTO THE LORD, OR SWEAR AN OATH TO BIND HIS SOUL WITH A BOND (is that not what you do in a sinner’s prayer?); HE SHALL NOT BREAK HIS WORD, HE SHALL DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF HIS MOUTH. Pv 6:16-19-THESE SIX THINGS DOTH THE LORD HATE; YEA, SEVEN ARE AN ABOMINATION UNTO HIM: A PROUD LOOK, A LYING TONGUE (God hates a lying tongue), AND HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, AN HEART THAT DEVISETH WICKED IMAGINATIONS, FEET THAT BE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO MISCHIEF, A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKETH LIES (please hear, friends; God hates bearing false witness and speaking lies), AND HE THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN. Repent sinner. Stop lying.

Have your CONVERSATION HONEST-1 Pe 2:12. WALK HONESTLY TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT, AND THAT YE MAY HAVE LACK OF NOTHING-1 Thes 4:12. IN ALL THINGS WILLING TO LIVE HONESTLY-Heb 13:18.

CLICK HERE FOR—IDOLS