Live an Honest and Open Life Before Others

Intro:

1. Speak Truthfully with your Words

Ephesians 4:25 NIV

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Nerve impulses

Sensory Signals

Application:

Be open about how you are doing.

Confess your sin to others: James 5:16

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

2. Live Truthfully in Love

Ephesians 4:15 ESV

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

There is a way to speak to truth lovingly, and unlovingly.

Illustration: “You married an ugly guy”

“What? It’s true!”

Truthing: “Technically I didn’t say anything false…”

General rules: Eph. 4:29

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Is it corrupting? (Bad, unwholesome)

Is it good for building up?

Is this fitting for the occasion?

NOTICE: It doesn’t say, “let no difficult conversation occur.”

3. Walk Openly in Integrity

Proverbs 28:1 ESV

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

“Much of the abuse uncovered by investigators took place around massage, which Zacharias relied on to treat a chronic back injury. He regularly traveled with a personal masseuse and criticized a fellow RZIM staff member who questioned the ‘appearance of impropriety’ for doing so.” -Christianity Today’s story on Ravi Zacherias

Are you open or closed off to people questioning you?

Why are you judging me?

You don’t trust me?

We need people who will ask us the tough questions.

Speak Truthfully with Discretion

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Discretion: For the benefit of others.

Deception: Tricking someone for personal gain.

Application:

Discretion: Not sharing about someone elses personal struggles.

Deception: Lying about your wrongdoing.

Discretion: Knowing that you shouldn’t go up to the girl you like and tell her you are struggling with lust for her.

Deception: When your close friend asks you how you are doing battling lust, you tell him, “I’m doing good.”

Discretion: Not shouting to the kids in line to see Santa Clause, “Santa’s Not real!”

Deception: Telling your kids that if they are naughty, Santa is going to bring them a lump of coal.

Conclusion:

Proverbs 11:3 ESV

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

When we choose integrity, we are inviting the LORD to take care of us.

We are saying, “I trust you enough, that I am going to do things your way.”

We are then in the hands of God.

When we are dishonest; it’s like we are pushing God out of the picture.

“I don’t trust you enough, for me to have integrity.”

“I need to take control.”

“I made this mess, now I need to cover it up. or else…”

Integrity brings peace.

What if I’ve messed up?

Confess to the Lord and receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9)

Own up to those whom you deceived.

Seek to make restitution.