People of Truth

Introduction

1. Let’s turn to 1 Samuel 20:1.

2. Lying is something that every person participates in one way or another.

a. There is one question that each husband is afraid of: “Does this make me look fat?”

You have two options.

·         Run as fast and as far as you can from there – OR – Lie!

b. Maurice Damets tells a story about lying.

·         Down in Jackson, Mississippi, three boys arrived in school late.

·         It was as late as 10:00 a.m. They had been fishing.

·         For their excuse they stated that they were delayed because of a flat tire.

·         The teacher decided to give them a test immediately, so she separated them.

·         She said, “This test will have only one question, and I will give you thirty seconds to put down your answer.” The question was, “Which tire?”

·         The teacher was pretty sharp. There is no question as to the result of the test. The boys were shown to be liars.

c. D. Webster said, “Falsehoods not only disagree with truths, but usually quarrel among themselves.”

3. As followers of Christ, we can be people of truth as we serve the God of truth.

4. We are continuing in our study of 1 Samuel.

a. David was a man who had his faith tested.

·         Remember, his faith was tested by popularity.

·         His faith was also tested by demotion.

·         His faith was finally tested by disappointment.

b. David was a man whose faith began to waiver when he trusted in people.

·         He trusted Jonathan to bridge the gap with King Saul.

·         He trusted Michael to protect him from her father.

·         Finally, he trusted the Samuel could keep him safe from Saul, but the Spirit of God intervened

c. David was a man whose faith continued to waiver when he trusted himself and began to lie.

5. Tonight, I want us to see that we as followers of Christ, we can be people of truth as we serve the God of truth.

I. David trust in himself lying to protect himself.

A. David interacts with the Prince; he lies to King Saul.

1. Saul is the cause of David’s fears (1 Samuel 20:1-23).

2. Jonathan confirms David’s fears (1Samuel 20:24-42).

B. David interacts with the Priest; he lies to Ahimelech.

1. David perpetuates another falsehood saying that Saul sent him on a private mission.

2. David asks for a favor from the priest; he asked for holy bread and Goliath’s sword.

C. David interacts with a Pagan; he lies to Achish, the king of Gath.

1. David seeks refuge from Saul in the Philistine city of Gath.

2. He fears what the king of Gath might do to him, so he pretends to be insane.

a. In the ancient world, insanity was viewed as something from the gods.

b. They were viewed as taboo or even as holy being prophets or seers.

II. As followers of Christ, we can be people of truth as we serve the God of truth.

A. Why do we lie anyway?

1. Well we can start by saying that we are sinners by nature and by choice.

a. By nature we mean that it is a part of our make up to sin or lie.

b. All men are liars (Psalm 116:11).

c. “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips.” Romans 3:13 quoting Psalm 5:9

2. We lie because of pride – Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).

a. We lie about age, weight, etc because of pride.

b. We lie on our resumes because of pride.

c. We lie about our personal background because of pride.

3. We lie because of fear – The wicked servant (Matthew 25:24-26).

a. The servant was lazy, but he was called wicked because of the false allegations against his master.

b. He was fearful so he lied.

c. We lie when we are fearful

·         We lie when we are afraid of losing face – who took the last, who said that?

·         Why do people lie about affairs?

·         Why do people lie about __________?

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B. God is a God of truth and He calls us to be faithful, trustworthy people who love the truth.

1. God’s commands relate to being truthful people (Exodus 20:16 and Exodus 23:1 and 7).

2. God considers lying to be an abomination (Proverbs 6:16-19).

3. God is a God of truth.

a. God love truth and righteousness (Isaiah 61:8).

b. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

C. As followers of Christ, we can be people of truth as we serve the God of truth.

1. We can be people of truth by loving the truth.

a. Paul says that we can receive a love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

b. I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.Proverbs 8:17

2. We can begin to wear the truth and speak truth to each other (Ephesians 4:20-25).

a. We speak the truth because we are members of each other.

b. We speak truth through love (Ephesians 4:15).

Conclusion

1. David trust in himself lying to protect himself

2. As followers of Christ, we can be people of truth as we serve the God of truth