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Subject: Lying in the Church MP3 See Notebook Piece, "Little White Lies" Is there lying in God's Church? There have been a lot of accusations in the history of the church about ministers and members lying. I find this to be a subject of insanity in the Church of the Almighty God of the Universe. To lie in the church is insane. Think about it for a moment. IF THE PERSON IN QUESTION IS TRULY A FIRSTFRUIT CHRISTIAN WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIM OR HER, what would the point be to lie?
Now clearly there
can be wolves and spies and the fallen away and heretics and blasphemers
and the unconverted in the Church of God and by definition, many of
these could lie and are liars. When the Bible DOES speak of those
spreading discord and bringing rebellion within the church, clearly
lying is present. However, how can we, as firstfruits, KNOW OR BE
ASSURED OF ANOTHER FIRSTFRUIT telling the truth? There is a Biblical
WAY to know. The Bible says very important things about the heart of man:
Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
I cannot readily find where man can know what is in the heart of another man unless that man truly discloses it. The disciples did not know what was truly in the hearts of the two who would replace Judas:
Acts 1:24-26 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
I know that one man can tell another by his fruits or by the abundance of his speaking, but what I want to do here is tell you what I feel about lying, deception and generally playing “fast and loose with the truth."
Frankly, I hate lying and cannot even imagine how a spirit-begotten person would want to lie. What would be the purpose? What would be the gain if you know full well that God knows everything?
Would a person lie to keep from getting into trouble with an elder of the church?
Would a person lie to get power, position, praise or money?
Would someone lie in the face of the Word of God?
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, 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: which is the second death.
Why would I lie knowing that…
One………God can discern my thoughts? Two………That God can discern even my intents? Three…….That liars have their part in the Lake of Fire with murderers, sorcerers and idolaters?
There is an event in Acts that has always put the fear of God into me. I know that you are aware of it.
It is the story of Ananias…
Acts 5:1-5 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
…and Sapphira
Acts 5:6-11 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
In both verses 5 and 11, it says that “great fear came upon all the church and those that heard these things."
Does this true story still generate that fear? IT HAS AND DOES WITH ME!!!
This is the fear that is in my heart about lying.
Peter is very clear: When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the apostles they were actually lying to THE HOLY SPIRIT and therefore the GREAT GOD OF THE UNIVERSE.
On some 11 separate occasions Paul acknowledged that he was speaking before Christ or in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Often he had to tell people he did not lie. If 11 are recorded, clearly he had to do this on many more occasions. Examples…
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.
2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
Galatians 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
1 Timothy 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
It should be clear, to anyone with the Holy Spirit, that what Paul is doing here is of the MOST SERIOUS NATURE. One can lie about something in this life and repent, but when it comes to matters of the church and especially when you preface your statements with acknowledgement that you 1) lie not and 2) are speaking before Christ, the throne of God or in the presence of the Holy Spirit, you are putting your Salvation on the line.
Knowing this; believing this, what does a true firstfruit Christian stack up against their Salvation that would be worth lying about and giving up eternal life?
Therefore, you want to know the truth? Simply ask them to acknowledge that they are speaking to you in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Now, some will NOT do this. Paul was not afraid to do this on multiple occasions and in writing. I, for one, am not afraid to do this. Why do we have so many examples of Paul having to do this? Clearly, because of his past and his position, many doubted him and no doubt, called him a liar and/or spread this gossip about him. Ironically, on one occasion, he had to make such an acknowledgement when all he was telling them was that he loved them. Accusations of lying in the church will probably continue to the end time. However, if we invoke the example of Paul, we eliminate lying from the church now and forever.
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Las Vegas, Nevada Church of God - part of The Intercontinental Church of God and The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association - Tyler, Texas |