Proverbs 19

God Hates Lying Tongues

The Hated Six - God Hates Lying Tongues

Dave Riddle - 8/6/2023

Key Passage: Proverbs 6:16-19

A Lying Tongue

seqer: an untruth, by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

John 8:44 - …the father of lies…

  • God hates lies because he is truth and the enemy is all about deceit.

    • 2 Corinthians 11:3, 14

A Lying Witness

kezab: falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)

Exodus 20:16 - …do not give false testimony…

John 14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life.

The Sobering Reward For Lies

  • Judgement

    • Psalm 5:6

    • Proverbs 19:8

    • Revelation 21:8

    • Revelation 22:15

Why do we lie?

  • Because we’re afraid

  • To gain advantage

  • To hurt others

  • Financial gain

  • Habit

  • To avoid embarrassment

  • To hide

  • To avoid punishment

  • To protect yourself or others

How do you lie?

  • We speak untruths

  • We believe the lies of the enemy and begin to tell them to ourselves and others.

  • We lie about who we are and what we believe 

    • 1 John 2:9

    • 1 John 4:20a

The solution for our lies: Repent

  • This is good news!

    • There is hope for us if we receive the truth of the gospel.

      • John 8:31-32

  • The truth will set you free.

Fill your Emotional Tank

Message starts around 30:00

Fill your Emotional Tank

Anxiety and Depression• 4/25/21 • John Opalewski

Key passage: Matthew 11:28-30

Why this subject?

  • God hasn’t called you to run a sprint he called you to run a marathon

    • Filling your emotional tank sets you up for a long race

  • 1 in 4 young adults 18-24 contemplated suicide.

    • 28% of US adults suffering with depression.

  • Proverbs 19:8 - he who gets wisdom loves his own soul.

    • We have a responsibility to tend to our own soul/emotional well-being.

Matthew 11:28-30

  • ...I will give you rest...

We can’t give what we don’t have

  • you can’t run if you don’t have fuel

We are emotional beings 

  • Our emotions need attention

We have three emotional indicators

  • Our Pace (Schedule)

    • Your value to God has nothing to do with how busy you are...

    • Both laziness and workaholism will run you into a ditch

    • Work hard and know when to take your foot off the gas.

  • Our People (Friendships)

    • Solitude is only good in small doses

    • Solitude leads to isolation and isolation leads to a multitude of negative results including depression.

    • There is no pill for loneliness.

    • Make room for replenishing relationships in your life!

  • Our Plan (Emotional Maintenance Plan)

    • 1. Laughter - why are Christians always so serious? Lighten up!

      • Proverbs 17:22 - a cheerful heart is good medicine.

    • 2. Exercise

      • 1 Timothy 4:8 - we interpret this as “physical training is of no value” when it says “of some value”

    • 3. Distraction

      • You need something that lets you pivot and catch your breath.

      • Even our perfect God rested between the days of creation and afterwards!

      • Find a hobby!

    • 4. Sleep

      • Sleep is not a disposable commodity.

      • Sleep deprived Christians can’t run the race God has called them to run.

Mark 6:30-32

  • “Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest”

  • Next time you read the gospels take notice of how many times Jesus got away to rest.

If your tank is full

  • Thank God everyday!

  • Educate yourself so you can stay well

  • Educate yourself so you can understand those who are struggling.

If your tank is running on empty

  • There is hope for you.

  • Anxiety and depression are not the last chapter in your story

    • Make an appointment with your doctor

    • Make an appointment with a Christian counselor

Become Your Own Best Friend

Become Your Own Best Friend

Anxiety and Depression• 3/14/21 • John Opalewski

Key passage: Matthew 22:36-39

1 in 4 adults 18-24 contemplated suicide during the pandemic.

  • A 300% increase

28% of Americans are suffering from symptoms of depression during the pandemic.

Followers of Jesus aren’t immune.

Our capacity to love others is directly related to the degree we love ourselves.

  • Matthew 22:36-39

How do we love ourselves without becoming self-centered narcissists?

Healthy self-talk

  • Be kind with the words you say about yourself.

  • If we talked to our friends the same way we talk to ourselves, we would quickly wind up with a long list of enemies.

Self-care vs Self-centeredness 

  • Acts 20:28 - attend to the flock AND yourselves.

  • Philippians 2:4 - not just yourself, not just others. both/and

Embrace God’s opinion of you

  • Psalm 139:1-3 - God knows everything about you.

  • Psalm 139:13-14 - you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

  • Psalm 139:17-18 - his thoughts and cares for you are vast and uncountable.

  • You are worth loving without strings attached. You are worthy of His thoughts.

Get in touch with your soul

  • Proverbs 19:8 - he who gets wisdom loves his own soul.

60 million people in the United States suffer from depression

  • 350 million worldwide (pre-Covid)

Why does depression happen to someone who loves the Lord?

Event- driven

  • loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job

Incremental

  • Small things that compound and build up

Doesn’t respond to strong-will

  • You can’t work your way out of it by sheer force of will.

A black hole of sadness

  • Matthew 26:38

Hits when least expected

  • It can happen even when life is going great.

  • It can happen even when we are close to the Lord.

It can happen to anyone, even people who love God.

  • King David, Jeremiah, and Elijah...

Our capacity to love others is directly related to the degree we love ourselves.

3 Choices

  • Tell your anger where to go.

  • Protect yourself from abuse.

  • Refuel emotionally. Fill your emotional tank.

I’m not struggling with this

  • Be thankful!

  • take care of yourself

  • It is easier to prevent depression and anxiety than it is to cure it.

I am struggling

  • Know that it’s not a life sentence.

  • Call your doctor

  • Find a competent counselor/therapist