MEMORY VERSE:‘’The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. ” Proverbs 12:19
BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 5:1-10
INTRODUCTION
A lie is a false statement made with the deliberate intent to deceive or convey a false impression. Liars often engage in the premeditated act of deviating from the truth. Some people have branded lies and given them different colourations like, white lies, grey lies, black lies, and red lies. Also, there are those who justify the reasons for lying during their businesses or to save their faces.
OUTLINE
1.CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIAR
2. ELIMINATING THE LYING HABIT
CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIAR
According to 1 John 2:22, a liar is the person who denies that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Devil is a liar and the father of all liars John 8:44. A liar claims to know God but does not obey His commandments 1 John 2:4. Scripturally, a poor person is better than a liar, this is because you can be poor and still get to Heaven but all liars shall have their portion in hell Proverbs 19:22; Revelations 21:8. Anyone given to lies is an individual with the old man fully at work in them Colossians 3:9. No matter how smart a liar may be, their falsehood will only be for a limited time before the truth is established Proverbs 12:19; Psalms 63:11.
A liar is a proud person who must lie to sustain their false lifestyles and all the wrong impressions created Psalms 119:69; 59:12; 12:3; Proverbs 6:16-19. A liar is disloyal, unfaithful and a betrayer of trust who deceives at will Proverbs 14:5, 25; 19:9, and destroy by executing a well planned misrepresentation that may endanger lives Psalms 109:2; Jeremiah 14:4. Anyone who lies or is always given to falsehood is regarded as a wicked person Proverbs 17:4; Psalms 58:3.
ELIMINATING THE LYING HABIT
Believers must be conscious of their new status in Christ and be watchful 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore , it is expedient to be intentional about telling the truth all the time 1 Timothy 2:7; Romans 9:1. As believers we must learn to control our tongues Psalms 39:1; James 3:2, ensure our words are few and avoid any form of exaggerations Ecclesiastes 5:2; Proverbs 10:19. We must learn to think before we speak James 1:19. Let our Yes be Yes and No be No James 5:12.
Speaking the truth in love Ephesians 4:15 takes a lot of discipline but it brings peace to us and honour to God- who cannot tolerate liars Psalms 15:1-2; 24:3-5. Above all, we must remember eternity! No liar will get to heaven Revelations 22:14-15.
CONCLUSION
A liar has no worth on earth and has no place in heaven.