Understanding Our Times and Knowing What to Do

1
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
2
How Shall We Now Live?
Issues Of Distinction 1 Pet 4.1-6
Speaking Truth
3
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.

4
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.

5
How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways

• Actions e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

• Adultery, stealing, cheating on tests

6
How Do I Deceive Thee? Let Me Count the Ways

• Actions e.g. 2 Sam 11-12

• Half-truths Gen 12.10-13

7
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

8
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 275-6
Better is open rebuke Than love that is
concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
9
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 1217
He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a
false witness, deceit
10
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?
11
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
12
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 59
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.
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

• 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 122
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not
merely hearers who delude themselves.
14
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 127
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and
yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his
own heart, this mans religion is worthless
15
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 516
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know
wisdom.
16
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

17
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

18
Eccl 54-6
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?
19
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

20
Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave

• Lying leads to further lies 2 Tim 3.13

2 Tim 313
But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad
to worse, deceiving and being deceived
21
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 415,25
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.
22
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 195
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he
who tells lies will not escape.
23
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 323-4
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.
24
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 2028
Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he
upholds his throne by righteousness.
25
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 2914
If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne
will be established forever.
26
God hates lies
Prov 616-19

• 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.

27
God hates lies
Prov 1222

• Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But
  those who deal faithfully are His delight.

28
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 844
"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.