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You Shall Not Lie

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. EXODUS 20:16 NIV

The truth matters…

Because God calls us to protect the reputation of our neighbor

Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow. PROVERBS 25:18 NLT

We destroy both our neighbor’s reputation and our relationships when:

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body EPHESIANS 4:25 NIV

The truth matters…

Because without it we are still enslaved to lies

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” JOHN 8:31-32 NIV

To the degree we walk in the truth is to the degree that we will be free

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. 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 8:43-44 NIV

What are the lies that I am believing today?

The truth that matters is that we are unconditionally loved by God

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 JOHN 4:16-18 NIV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few moments to simply rest in God’s presence. Invite Him into this time, asking God to help you see what He may want to show you during this time. Next, ask God to help you discern any lies that still enslave you. Some of these lies might be: • You are a disappointment to God • If you distract yourself, the pain will go away • You need to produce in order to be valuable • Yes, you are alone in this world • One more visit to that site won’t hurt • If you expose your sin, they won’t accept you, and you will lose everything Spend some time with these before God. Which ones resonate with you? Are there any other lies about yourself (or God, or others) that you have believed or are believing? Ask God to replace these lies with His truths. Write these truths down in the space below. Finally, ask God to show you a picture of how your life would be like if you trusted more deeply in God’s infinite love for you. Ask Him to help you grow towards realizing this vision. Write your reflections in the space below, sharing with your group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. REAL WITH OTHERS: Share of a time where you spoke about someone’s negative qualities that you later learned were proved to be false. What did you learn from this incident?
  2. REAL WITH SELF: Whom do you lie to the most? Yourself? God? Someone else? Why do you do this?
  3. REAL WITH GOD: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “...If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” JOHN 8:31b-32 NIV What are the lies that you are believing today? About your career? Your family? Your past? What you won’t be good at? What would God’s truth be in these circumstances?
  4. REAL WITH GOD: Spend the next 5-10 minutes doing the Personal Reflection Guide, inviting God to show you any specific lies about yourself that you might be believing. We recommend putting on some soft background music during his time. (Link to the PRG can be found at the top of the sermon notes).
  5. TAKE ACTION: This week, the next time you are tempted to lie, ask yourself “what am I afraid of?” Then bring God’s perfect love (the truths about yourself from your time doing the PRG, above) in the place of this fear. As you do, ask God to remind you that your identity is no longer based on what others think, but rather on what Jesus thinks about you. Share with the group next week any “wins” you may have experienced through this practice.