The Danger of Believing a Lie
1 Kings 22

INTRO:
A few weeks ago in our Bible study of Colossians we read chapter 3 verse 9 which says; “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,” That kicked off a lively discussion on lying and today’s world.

A number of years ago Jim Carry stared in a movie that considered this topic. In the movie “Liar, Liar”, Jim Carry plays a lawyer who is particularly good at stretching the truth. After promising, and then breaking his promise, to show up at his five-year-old son’s birthday party, the son wishes that his dad would be able to only say the truth for one day. The wish comes true and Jim’s character wakes up not being able to tell even the smallest of lies.

Carry’s character says, “No one can survive in the adult world if they have to stick to the truth.” Do you think that’s true? Do you think that is a typical attitude in our world today? You bet it is!

There are many ways lies present themselves to us. I’ll mention just a few. There are the hidden lies people say in deceitful wording, bold faced lies we quickly recognize, outright lies that somehow we find believable, lies we tell each other and try to justify and the lies we tell ourselves. We live in a world that is filled with lies. Think about the lies that have been told on TV in advertising or the lies that have been told by politicians or maybe lies we have told ourselves. I’m ok with God. I’m one of His. I believe Jesus Christ. Truth?

People might think; “There are some things I really don’t believe. There are some things you don’t ask me to do because I’m not going to do it. There are some things that God requires of me that in real reality--that’s for somebody else.”

There are dangers in believing a lie and that is the focus of this evening’s lesson. We are going to study from I Kings 22. I invite you to open your Bibles there now, 1 Kings 22. I’m going to approach this by not reading every verse though I will mention them.

There are many people who are attending various worship services. They are performing in their hearts and in their minds what they believe is pleasing to God. They have done things and said things that they believe are from God’s word. Yet, very clearly, we can see from God’s word that there is only one body, one truth and one light.

We have read in scripture that the only way anyone can come to God, the Father, is through the Son. Yet there are those who have bowed down to idols this day. Perhaps not physical idols, but have in their lives other idols—for example recreation. I would dare say this morning early, as the sun rose, there were devout golf players who were bowing down to the 18 holes set before them. I know a lot of people would have been out putting their boats in the water early this morning for a day of fun.

I read of a 19-year-old teenager was lying in a coma, brain dead. Why? Because he had bought some of that synthetic drug called spice. He was told how cool it was and how it would give him the buzz of his life and make him high. The first time he used it he was left brain dead and his parents are asking why.
I suggest to you that the answer to that question is because he believed a lie—the lie that it was safe, it’s ok, just a synthetic marijuana.
We know there is no such thing as a drug that does not have potential harm. I’m talking about medicinal drugs as well as illegal drugs. If you take the time to listen to that speech at the end of commercials about some of the drugs, tell me there isn’t danger there. Those dire side effects will happen to someone else we say to ourselves. There are certainly times when the benefit of a drug may outweigh the risk, yet people believe they need the drug being advertised, the bad stuff only happens to others, and they demand their doctor prescribe what they have just seen on TV. Even over the counter drugs have warnings of risk and what to watch out for, but why read those, the bad things only happen to others.

A person I know, several years ago was diagnosed with cancer of the gum. He enjoyed tobacco and he would put it between his cheek and gum. He received treatment including surgery and he quit just like that. Then after a few years he picked it back up and you have to ask yourself why. You see, it happens to other people. That’s a lie that people have bought into. Stop and think about the lies that people hold unto in their lives. Yet knowing the truth, do we find we lying to ourselves?

There is inherent danger in believing a lie. That one drink that you take might lead to you being an alcoholic. That one smoke, or that one drug, or that one time that you decide to put the metal to the pedal. Speaking of the latter, recently a person was stopped on I90 for doing in excess of 100 miles an hour. I wonder what they were thinking. “This is fun, I’ll be ok.” That’s a lie.

Brethren when it comes to our spiritual lives there are people that are telling us that they are ok, we are ok. They say that all you have to do to go to heaven is believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Own Him as your personal savior. Ask the Holy Spirit to dwell in you and you’ll be ok. There is inherent danger in believing a lie.

From the very inception of the Bible we have been told of the dangers in believing a lie. The very first sin was predicated on believing a lie. The day in which you eat of this “thou shalt NOT surely die”. God said in Genesis chapter two verse 17 “the day you eat of it thou shalt”. The devil said “thou shalt NOT.

Eve took of it and she ate and she gave to her husband and he ate. The result of that is the sin in the world from which we suffer today. The father of all lies is the devil, the archenemy of truth. It is important and imperative for us to understand about the inherent danger of believing a lie and we can see this in the text for today.

I. There are many lessons that we can learn from 1 Kings 22. The text, and the lessons we learn from this text, are very simple.
A. First, in verses five and six we must be very careful who we trust. (1 Kings 22:5,6)
B. The second lesson we learn in verse six and verse 12 is that the majority does not determine the truth. (1 Kings 22:6,12)
1. People may ask you if you truly believe that only a few are going to go to heaven. They say “Look at the masses of religious people, look at the size of Catholicism or look at the number of protestant religions, how can you say few are going to go to heaven?”
2. To which I would say; it is because my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, said that.
3. The masses do not determine the truthfulness of something. Many may participate in an illegal activity but that does not make it right. Many people participate in riots. Does that make it right to loot and vandalize? No. You see, the majority does not determine truth. The majority voting to make something legal does not make it right either.
C. The third lesson we can learn from this text is that hatred is developed for the messengers of truth.– (1 Kings 22:8)
1. If you hear something from God’s word you don’t like, don’t hate the one delivering the message.
2. If you are angry with the truth, then be angry with God, the one teaching is simply the messenger.
3. We find in this text that such hatred for the messenger is certainly displayed.
D. The fourth thing is that the truth is what the Lord says, not what He doesn’t say.– (1 Kings 22:14-17)
1. There are lot of people who try to second guess what God says, what God means, and what God thinks.
2. Isaiah tells us that God’s thoughts and God’s ways are not our thoughts and our ways for His thoughts and His ways are higher than our thoughts and our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9.
3. Therefore truth is in what God says—not in what He does not say.
E. Fifth, we learn that the truth is not always pleasant to receive or to present – (1 Kings 22:13,18,26-28) That is a kicker. Why is it that people believe the lie? Why is it that people knowing the truth will choose to believe a lie?
1. Because of the fact that truth is not always pleasant. In fact, sometimes truth is not even present. What we are presented is just—devoid of the facts.
2. Have you ever watched any of the alcohol commercials? Don’t you see the fun in drinking alcohol? Don’t you see the joy that comes from having a couple of beers? What is missing in those ads are facts of the alcoholic who has lost his job and lost his family and now wallows in the slime of his own vomit in the gutter. Oh, but that only happens to the other guy, you know the one who is weak.
3. Those commercials don’t show you that, do they? Traffic accidents and fatalities have been on the increase. In 2016 there were over 10,000 fatalities related to drunk-driving. You don’t see that in those alcohol ads do you? Devoid of truth. “Gotta unwind with my buddies after work down at the tavern.”
4. In Australia there were campaigns run around most of the big holidays where they would try to show people what speed does on the highways. They started doing reenactments and people looked at them and said that’s just Hollywood.
i. That’s not what happens. So the government got graphic and real.
ii. They showed real accidents, real people mangled up in their cars being extracted with the jaws of life.
iii. Videos were aired from cameras showing the aftermath of accidents and the people’s reaction was: “Don’t show us those things, it’s too graphic.”
5. The question was whether or not people would slow down having seen that.
i. Polls were taken that showed the amount of speeding tickets went down drastically. But you see people don’t want to see that carnage.
ii. People want to think if I put the petal to the metal its cool, its okay. I’ll get home safely. Everything...will...be okay.
F. Here is something in this text that I believe is absolutely essential to our understanding of it. It is our sixth lesson, that the Lord will allow you to believe the lie. – (1 Kings 22:19-23)
1. God has given us truth but He does not say “now eat the truth” “accept the truth”. He will allow you to choose what you want to believe.
2. The truth is given us and if we look we can see the truth side by side with the lie. The consequence of that choice may be eternal.
G. And the last point I want to look at today is - liars destroy those who believe them. – (1 Kings 22:29-40)
II. Let’s look that the text and start with a brief overview: I Kings 22:1-2 – “1. Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. 2. Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel.”
A. We’re talking about the divided kingdom of the Jews at this point. Jehoshaphat is as you know from II Chronicles chapter 17 one of the good kings of the south. He walked in the ways of his father David.
1. The king he is going to visit is not a good king, as all of the northern kings, not one of them walked in the ways of the Lord nor were they pleasing to the Lord. They all walked in the ways of Jeroboam.
B. Next scripture tells us: I Kings 22:3-5 – “3. And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?'' 4. So he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?'' And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.'' 5. And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.''”
C. Ahab is the king of Israel, the northern kingdom. If you remember, Ahab is married to a woman named Jezebel. Today you do not find people naming their daughters Jezebel because she was a wicked individual. If you read I Kings 21 you’ll learn about Naboth and his vineyard. Because Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard and Naboth didn’t want to sell it, Jezebel has Naboth killed.
1. In the latter part of that chapter at verse 19 Elijah confronts Ahab about what had happened. He tells Ahab “concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'” Verse 23. It happened just like that.
2. Ahab was also told that the dogs were going to lick his blood. Because of his behavior and the abomination that had taken place. So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. In verse 29 the Lord says: “"See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days; but in the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.''”
3. Jehoshaphat had come to Ahab and Ahab wants some help to reclaim Ramoth from the Syrians.
D. Jehoshaphat however, wants to inquire of the Lord first. I Kings 22:6 – “Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?'' So they said, "Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.''” Four hundred prophets spoke in unison. They said go up you will be victorious.
1. Read carefully verse 6 and then you will not be surprised by verse 7: “7. And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?''” Jehoshaphat is not satisfied with the 400 that have spoken.
2. Doesn’t that prick you ears a little bit? Four hundred prophets and Jehoshaphat says: Is there not still a prophet of the LORD? That tells me that Jehoshaphat recognized that the 400 were not speaking the truth.
E. In verse eight it says: “8. So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but (yes there is a prophet of the Lord, BUT) but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.'' And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!''”
1. Yes there is a man who is inquiring of the Lord. He is a prophet of the Lord, but I hate him.
2. Why? Because he doesn’t say anything good about me.
F. Next starting in verse nine: “9. Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!'' 10. The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11. Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the Lord: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' '' 12. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's hand.'' 13. Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, (I want you to hear these words) the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.''”
1. You see Micaiah is advised not to go against the grain. He is told to be in harmony with the 400, to speak the smooth sounding words to the kings and to persuade them that the Lord has said it is ok to go.
2. Micaiah said in verse 14: “And Micaiah said (listen), “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that...I...will speak.” Remember, he’s been advised not to do that. That’s why Ahab hates him.
G. Now begins an interesting exchange. I Kings 22:15: “Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!””
1. Isn’t that what the 400 said? Isn’t that what he had been advised to tell the king? Go ahead. All will be well with you.
2. Then the king, I guess, from past experience knew there was something wrong. In verse 16: “16 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” I don’t want to listen to it. I’m not going to heed it, but I want to hear the truth from you.
3. I Kings 22:17-18: 17 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” Did he not command him to tell him the truth? Micaiah tells him the truth and what is his complaint? Isn’t that not exactly what I told you was going to happen? He’s not going to tell me anything good.
H. I Kings 22:19-22: “19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’”
1. We get a glimpse behind the veil of what is happening in the spiritual world. God looking at Ahab and knowing that he will not hear the voice of the Lord, sends forth that lying spirit. If you think that seems odd I recommend 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.
2. In I Kings 22:23 it says: “23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, (whose prophets?) and the Lord has declared disaster against you.” What were the 400 prophets saying? Go on. You’ll be victorious.
I. Micaiah speaking for the Lord said that it will be disastrous. I Kings 22:24-28 says: “24 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!” 26 So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” 28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”
1. Micaiah was not going to change God’s word. Ahab said you are going to suffer affliction until I return in peace. Micaiah basically said: I’m going to be in prison a long time because you aren’t coming back.
2. Micaiah prophesied that Ahab would not return. Ahab was going to die in battle. Look at verses 29 through verse 40. We find that the words of Micaiah are fulfilled exactly.
J. I find this interesting. Ahab is worried, fearful about going into this battle though he had the word of 400 prophets, and only a single voice of truth telling him it was going to be bad.
1. Because of that fear Ahab chooses to disguise himself. Rather than put on royal garments and go into battle he chooses to disguise himself and says to Jehoshaphat, king of the south, you put on your kingly robes. I Kings 22:31 – “Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, "Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.''” That would be Ahab.
2. Next in verse 32; as they are engaged in battle, Jehoshaphat is chased by the Syrians. He lets out a loud cry and they realize that this is Jehoshaphat and not Ahab and they turn away from pursuing him.
3. We read in verse 34; an archer takes a random shot that hits Ahab and mortally wounds him to the point where he bleeds to death.
4. Ramoth-Gilead was not reclaimed. Ahab died in that chariot. They bring the chariot back in to the city of Samaria. They wash out the chariot and the dogs lap up the blood of Ahab just as prophesied.
III. The lesson is very simple. We must understand that we need to be very careful who we believe and trust. Ahab believed the 400. He did not believe the voice from the Lord.
A. When we think about it we understand that it is not people we should put our trust in. For example, preachers.
1. In Matthew 15:14 it says: “14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
2. We should understand that just as we should not blame the messenger neither is our trust to be in the messenger. Our trust is to be in the word of the Lord that we, ourselves, have searched and have made sure is of God.
3. There are many, I believe, that are just like this. Wonderful sermons are preached yet somehow do not mention God’s word. No reference is given on where the ideas being preached come from. I wonder, do these wonderful sounding sermons, without scripture, keep our eyes blinded from reading the word of God? Are our ears satisfied with nice things that have little basis in the word?
B. There is another thing we should not put our trust in and that is in the creeds and doctrines of men.
1. In Matthew 15:9 it says: “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” That is vain. It’s vanity.
2. Creeds and Confessions are words written by men. Even if they echo what is written in scripture they are just that, an echo and have the potential to direct our attention away from reading the word of God.
3. They can be legalistic in the extreme. “Follow this” they say, “and you will get to heaven. We have studied God’s word, we know what is needed, and here it is!”... arrogance, vanity.
4. People are praising God and their voices and their praise are going no higher than the ceiling. They are not going to God’s ear for His ear is not inclined to the creeds and doctrines of men. His ear is on the righteous.
C. Luke 14:26 says: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”
1. We cannot put our trust in our parents for our salvation. That does not mean you are to think nothing my parents say is right. I can do whatever I want.
2. We are not talking about disobedience. God said obey your parents.
3. What I am saying is, that “Old Time Religion” which people sing about being good enough for daddy, the one you’ve always been a part of, the one that you grew up in, that’s what I’m talking about. You can’t put your trust in them.
4. I would dare say that there isn’t a parent alive who is Godly that does not want their children to be Godly too. That doesn’t mean that all parents are doing what God wants them to do.
5. As a child whether you are a grownup child or a young child you need to understand that your faith must be YOUR faith because you have studied God’s word and you have heard God speak, not because someone else has told you, but because your faith has become your faith.
D. You cannot put your trust and your faith in your friends. Friends will lead you astray.
1. The writer in I Corinthians 15:33 says: “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
2. I had a young person tell me that they did not believe association with their friend would change them morally. What this young person was thinking was: “If I’m there with them while they’re drinking and partying and doing all kinds of things and I’m not participating, what will happen is that they will finally become like me.” I tried to explain to that young individual it doesn’t say being a good companion overcomes evil. The Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible says evil companions corrupt good morals.
3. Let me ask us to consider some questions. I want you to think about your own life, what do see when you turn on the TV in your living room or bedroom? Is it corrupting your morals? Does it have the potential to make the wrong seem normal? Bad stuff cannot be changed by good stuff. Bad stuff can actually condemn a good influence. Just think about it.
4. Today, if you use the internet and get email you are likely to get spam from a lot of different sources. In spite of filtering and auto-deleting some spam manages to sneak through.
i. A preacher advertised Bible studies on Craig’s List and ended up with all types of spam coming in as a result. Recently he told of one spam message that said; “your wife does not need to know.”
ii. That was the title of that spam e-mail—“Your wife does not need to know.” Just think about that. We are living in a society that actually thinks it alright to do what is WRONG as long as somebody doesn’t know. What a lie.
E. How about feelings? You can’t persuade some people that they’re not saved because they feel they are. The feel the Holy Spirit has come in.
1. Proverbs 14:12 – “12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
2. A preacher in South Africa, James Buchannan, wrote about going to the prison that he was working in and about a man who has been a Pentecostal all his life, who believed in the influence of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon him and how he is able to perform miracles. The man now understands from the truth of God’s word that he has believed a lie and wants to be a Christian.
3. There are many people in the world today who believe that lie—that they’re saved—on the basis of they feel. The way they feel can be amazing.
4. A preacher related this about his brother: “My brother, and I’m talking about my physical brother, told me that he was in a bar drinking and dancing when the Holy Spirit led him to his wife who was drinking and dancing in the same bar.”
i. I said, “James, how did you know that?” He said, “One day I challenged God”, his exact words by the way, challenged God, “what is the right church?” “If it is the church of Christ, lay me down flat on the ground with your power, but if not leave me standing.” He said “I remained standing”.
ii. I said, “James, do you really and truly believe that?” “Yes,” he said, “the Holy Spirit told me that all churches are ok.” “Do you really believe that?” I asked him again. He said “I do.”
iii. I asked “How do you know that?” He said “because I have the power of the Holy Spirit to raise people from the dead.”
iv. I said “James, there’s a graveyard not too far from here, let’s see it.” Then he said “you cannot put God to the test. If He wants to, He will.”... Amazing what people will come up with.
5. People believe their feelings. Ahab felt right. Four hundred prophets said you’ll be fine. He felt right. He didn’t change.
F. The writer of Proverbs 10:14 says: “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” We cannot and should not believe a lie.
G. We should put our faith and our confidence in God’s revealed word.
H. I am saved. I know I’m saved because God has commanded me to do something and I have done what God has commanded me. I’ve changed my life and I’ve changed my ways in accordance to God’s will. The blood of Jesus Christ cleansed and cleanses me from my sin.
1. I do not FEEL saved.
2. I want you to hear this. I KNOW I’m saved as long as I remain faithful.
I. I John 5:13 says “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,”
1. I KNOW because of God’s word.
2. Psalm 19:7 says: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”
3. In John 17:17 he says: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

CONCLUSION:
There is danger in believing a lie. We had an overview of I Kings 22. We have looked in detail at the first lesson, the need to be careful who we trust. Now what does God’s word have to say about these other things we looked at.
I. As we have seen in I Kings 22:6,12 The Majority does not determine truth. My confidence is not in the words of men. My confidence lies in the words of God.
A. Danger is illuminated by the truth found in what the Lord says. Danger is in doing what the Lord does not authorize.
B. Exodus 23:2 – “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.”
C. The majority travels the broad way – Matthew 7:13,14 – “13. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
D. The majority is following the devil - 1 John 5:19 – “19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
E. The majority view is usually the wrong view!
II. The messenger of truth is often hated – I Kings 22:8.
A. Evil hates the truth. John 3:19-21 – “19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
B. The Jews hated the prophets of God.
1. 2 Chronicles 36:16 – “16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”
2. Matthew 23:33-36 – “33 “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?34 “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,35 “that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.36 “Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation”.
C. Jesus was hated. John 7:7 – “7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”
D. Jesus’ disciples were hated.
1. John 15:18-19 - 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
2. Revelation 11:7-10 – “7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”
E. Paul made enemies because he told people the truth.
1. Galatians 4:16 – “16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
2. This is still true today!! –
III. Truth is what the Lord says - not what He does not say. I Kings 22:14-17.
A. There is safety and assurance in following what God says.
1. Jeremiah 6:16 – “16 Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
2. Matthew 7:24-27 – “24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
B. We must speak as the oracles of God.
1. 1 Peter 4:11 – “11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
C. Authority is established in God’s word – not God’s silence.
1. Leviticus 10:1-2 – “1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”
D. Walking by faith requires that we walk by revelation.
1. 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2. Romans 10:17 – “17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
IV. Truth is not always pleasant to receive or present. I Kings 22:13,18,26-28
A. Sinners often reject truth and persecute the truth giver.
1. 1 Kings 21:20 – “20 So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD:”
2. Proverbs 9:7-9 – “7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”
B. Jesus warns us not to cast our pearls before swine.
1. Matthew 7:6 – “6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
C. Truth divides.
1. Matthew 10:34 – “34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”
2. Galatians 4:16 – “16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
D. There is the temptation to preserve a relationship, or forego persecution.
1. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 – “2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
V. The Lord Will Permit one to believe a Lie. I Kings 22:19-23
A. The Lord permitted a lying spirit to convince Ahab to go to Ramoth Gilead.
1. 1 Kings 22:22-23 – “22 The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 “Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”
B. Eve’s deception.
1. Genesis 3:2-6 – “2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;3 “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”
C. The Lord will give men over to their own lust.
1. Psalm 81:12 – “12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels.”
2. Romans 1:20-28 – “20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;”
D. Those who do not love the truth will be given over to deception.
1. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 – “9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
VI. Lies destroy the ones who believe them - vrs 29-40
A. Ahab was destroyed because he believed the false prophets – and rejected the truth.
B. False teachers destroy those who follow them – Jer 23:13,14,16,17; Matt. 15:14
1. Jeremiah 23:13 – “13 “And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: They prophesied by Baal and caused My people Israel to err.”
2. Jeremiah 26:14 “14 Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
3. Jeremiah 23:16 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD.”
4. Then in verse 17 “They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘Noevil shall come upon you.’ ”
5. Matthew 15:14 - 14 “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
C. There are many false teachers today – BEWARE!
1. 2 Peter 2:1-3 – “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”
2. 2 Peter 3:16-18 – “16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

It seems to me that beyond a shadow of a doubt, nothing good comes out of believing a lie. These get-rich-quick schemes, all these various lies that we hear—not one good thing comes out of believing a lie.

Do we believe the lies we hear or do we test what we hear? Do any of us believe the lie that regardless of what we do we’re ok? No matter how we live our life God will one day say to us well done thou good and faithful servant come on in?
Or do we want to put our trust in God, knowing that the conviction which led us to be a child of God is convicting our heart to remain faithful until death, so that we may receive the crown of life? Faithfulness is not just once a week. Faithfulness is 24/7 365. God demands that.
Our conviction must be on the truth and not on the words of men and the lies of the devil who is rightly called the father of lies.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.
Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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