[Barnabas] sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. ACTS 4:37-5:11 NLT

Lying is my attempt to cover up what is real

You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. EXODUS 20:16 NLT

Covering up what is real…

Invites the work of the enemy

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart?” ACTS 5:3 NLT
“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!” JOHN 8:44-45 NLT
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. GENESIS 3:4 NLT

Steals from my true self

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives… JEREMIAH 17:9-10 NLT

Kills relationships

But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!” GENESIS 12:17-19 NLT

Destroys trust

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. PROVERBS 12:22 NLT

The acceptance I’m looking for only happens when _I’m exposed _

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” JOHN 8:32 NLT

Lying is a relational problem and Jesus is the relational answer

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” JOHN 14:6 NLT

I need to invite Jesus to take my ugly truth and make it beautiful

“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” JOHN 17:17 NLT
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. COLOSSIANS 3:9-10 NLT

Confession is God’s invitation to freedom and your next step in becoming the person God has made you to be. Check out the Sandals Church app to participate in 10 Reasons Real Confession project.

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. How have you seen the absence of real truth impact our current culture?
2. Recall a time when someone lied to you. How did that experience impact you?
3. Read Exodus 20:16. Why do you think God included this commandment in his top 10?
4. Living the vision of being real takes major commitment. In what way does lying to yourself, to God or to others find its way into your life?
5. What part of your life does lying tend to impact the most? Or what part of your life are you most likely to lie about?
6. Confession is one of the most challenging as well as most essential aspects of the Christian life. Read Colossians 3:9-10. What part of your sinful nature needs to be stripped off? What part of your life in God needs to be put on?
7. Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20. As we continue through this series and have opportunities to make changes to how we live, how will you open your heart to God so that he can make those changes permanent?

Personal Reflection Guide

Read Ephesians 2:10. Ask God to increase your faith so you can truly see yourself as God’s masterpiece. As you pray, focus on God’s love for you. Ask him to show you how he sees you, ugly truth and all. Lay all of your mess before God, and ask him to take those burdens and to set you free. Thank God for his love and faithfulness to you, that he will stand by you in the truth of all that you are. Ask for strength to believe the truth about yourself, and for strength to live in that truth this week. Now, take the next step in confessing your ugly truths and being accepted for who you are, by confessing that truth in real time — whether through this week’s confession exercise on the app, or by sharing with a trusted friend.