Honest To GodHonest To God

by Tok W. Corpusby Tok W. Corpus

Call To Commitment (MMCC)Call To Commitment (MMCC)

Read Charles Swindol “Chicken Box” StoryRead Charles Swindol “Chicken Box” StoryMoral Relativism finds safe harbor in the area of Moral Relativism finds safe harbor in the area of honesty.honesty.Honesty is one of the great battlefield between what is Honesty is one of the great battlefield between what is socially acceptable and what is morally permissible.socially acceptable and what is morally permissible.Honesty “wholly and completely tints every aspect of life”Honesty “wholly and completely tints every aspect of life”The Call To Commitment is a call to Discipleship.The Call To Commitment is a call to Discipleship.And a call to disciplship is a call to biblical honesty.And a call to disciplship is a call to biblical honesty.For if we are Honest To Man we will be Honest to God.For if we are Honest To Man we will be Honest to God.And if we are Honest to God we will be Honest to ManAnd if we are Honest to God we will be Honest to Man

I. Honest to ManI. Honest to Man

Honest To ManHonest To Man

George Burns said “George Burns said “The most important thing in acting is The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made”honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made”When I refer to dishonesty, I am not merely talking about the When I refer to dishonesty, I am not merely talking about the gross indiscretions of life: stealing from the company, gross indiscretions of life: stealing from the company, cheating taxes, lying to a prospect, swindling, or cheating on cheating taxes, lying to a prospect, swindling, or cheating on your wife.your wife.Particularly, I refer to the seething subtleties of dishonesty. Particularly, I refer to the seething subtleties of dishonesty. The lower end of the honesty spectrum. The lower end of the honesty spectrum. Read Matthew 7:13-14Read Matthew 7:13-14The street named “Honesty” is an uncrowded street. The street named “Honesty” is an uncrowded street. Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, lighted a candle in the Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, lighted a candle in the daytime and went around looking for an honest mandaytime and went around looking for an honest manBlaise Pascal said he didn't expect to meet three honest men Blaise Pascal said he didn't expect to meet three honest men in a century.in a century.

Honest To ManHonest To Man

Modern day facts:Modern day facts:The Institute of Behaviour Motivation has found that 97 of The Institute of Behaviour Motivation has found that 97 of 100 people tell lies – and they do it about 1000 times a 100 people tell lies – and they do it about 1000 times a year.year.A London Newspaper did their own study and concluded;A London Newspaper did their own study and concluded;““The truth is people tell 200 lies a day.”The truth is people tell 200 lies a day.”On the average, people lie every 8 mins.On the average, people lie every 8 mins.They did an experiment. $50 was “mistakenly” sent to 25 They did an experiment. $50 was “mistakenly” sent to 25 clergy/ministers and 25 car salesmen. clergy/ministers and 25 car salesmen. 15 in both group cashed in the check.15 in both group cashed in the check.They concluded, Dishonesty is a fundamental part of life”They concluded, Dishonesty is a fundamental part of life”Now tell me, do you think we as movement is immune from Now tell me, do you think we as movement is immune from this social malady?this social malady?

Honest To ManHonest To ManRead Psalm 12.1-4Read Psalm 12.1-4““the essence of lying is in deception, not in words. A lie maybe told in the essence of lying is in deception, not in words. A lie maybe told in silence, by the accent on a syllable, or by a glance of the eye. All silence, by the accent on a syllable, or by a glance of the eye. All these kinds of lies are worse and baser by many degrees than a lie these kinds of lies are worse and baser by many degrees than a lie plainly worded”plainly worded”Reasons people lie:Reasons people lie:To manipulate. “you’re a great guy, if you do CM….”To manipulate. “you’re a great guy, if you do CM….”To not offend. “yes, sis, that is a lovely dress…”To not offend. “yes, sis, that is a lovely dress…”To withhold a portion of the truth. “im here na at C5…”To withhold a portion of the truth. “im here na at C5…”To avoid inconvenience. “Say, I stepped out of the room”To avoid inconvenience. “Say, I stepped out of the room”To excuse failure. “I was late due to traffic, Im sick, etc”To excuse failure. “I was late due to traffic, Im sick, etc”To exaggerate. “we practically own the whole market..”To exaggerate. “we practically own the whole market..”To flatter. “Bro, awesome message. Life changing….”To flatter. “Bro, awesome message. Life changing….”To deceive. “Sis, I will pray for you”..”Lets have lunch/DT”To deceive. “Sis, I will pray for you”..”Lets have lunch/DT”Church, H-O-N-E-S-T-L-Y, do you see yourself in these?Church, H-O-N-E-S-T-L-Y, do you see yourself in these?

Honest To ManHonest To ManMark Twain once said. “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to Mark Twain once said. “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”remember anything.”Dishonesty is secret, cunning and silent. Thus it is such a difficult Dishonesty is secret, cunning and silent. Thus it is such a difficult sin to avoid and confront.sin to avoid and confront.But it is so serious because it affects the very core of a person.But it is so serious because it affects the very core of a person.It makes him untrustworthy. People no longer trusts us.It makes him untrustworthy. People no longer trusts us.It makes him untrusting. We can no longer trust people.It makes him untrusting. We can no longer trust people.It makes him out of touch, unable to know himself, or relate to It makes him out of touch, unable to know himself, or relate to others.others.Bottom line, it is a spiritual cancer of varying degrees. Some are Bottom line, it is a spiritual cancer of varying degrees. Some are terminal, some benign, most are undetected. But in the end it is terminal, some benign, most are undetected. But in the end it is lethal. It will kill.lethal. It will kill.When you are not honest to man, you cannot be honest to God. When you are not honest to man, you cannot be honest to God. And when you are incapable of being honest to God, spiritual And when you are incapable of being honest to God, spiritual death is immanent. death is immanent.

II. Honest to GodII. Honest to God

Honest To GodHonest To God

The great heroes of the Bible came from diverse backgrounds. The great heroes of the Bible came from diverse backgrounds. Some royalty, others like Gideon from very dysfunctional Some royalty, others like Gideon from very dysfunctional families.families.Some very powerful figures like Samson, some very timid like Some very powerful figures like Samson, some very timid like Moses.Moses.Others like Jonah doubted, some like David had unswerving Others like Jonah doubted, some like David had unswerving faith.faith.But what attracted God, besides their faith, to these men of But what attracted God, besides their faith, to these men of such diversity?such diversity?In the final analysis, after they had fussed and fumed, these In the final analysis, after they had fussed and fumed, these men settled on the honest way.men settled on the honest way.Integrity, more than any other, distinguished the lives of these Integrity, more than any other, distinguished the lives of these Bible heroes. Bible heroes. God knew that He could trust these men when they were alone.God knew that He could trust these men when they were alone.

Honest To GodHonest To God

Jesus said in Luke 12:1-3Jesus said in Luke 12:1-3You can get away with dishonesty by being anonymous with You can get away with dishonesty by being anonymous with the disciples.the disciples.But you can’t get away with it with God.But you can’t get away with it with God.Paul says in 1Corinthians 4:5bPaul says in 1Corinthians 4:5bIs there really a point for dishonesty in discipleship if you can’t Is there really a point for dishonesty in discipleship if you can’t hide?hide?Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes 12:14 Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes 12:14 Is there an argument left for us to shun openness with God Is there an argument left for us to shun openness with God and to the Christians?and to the Christians?As Juan De la Cruz saysAs Juan De la Cruz says

“ “God knows JUDAS not pay”God knows JUDAS not pay”

Honest To GodHonest To God

Ultimately, the greatest motivation is that God detests and Ultimately, the greatest motivation is that God detests and abhors dishonesty.abhors dishonesty.David, Patron Saint of AMS captured Gods heart when he as David, Patron Saint of AMS captured Gods heart when he as King declared the standard of his discipleship.King declared the standard of his discipleship.Read Psalm 101Read Psalm 101Honestly, there is no other way to deal with God. Honestly, there is no other way to deal with God. That is why discipling is so much a towering foundation of the That is why discipling is so much a towering foundation of the church. church. Honesty to God is Honesty to ManHonesty to God is Honesty to ManHonesty to an invisible God is made visible and possible only Honesty to an invisible God is made visible and possible only through life changing discipling relationships.through life changing discipling relationships.

PracticalsPracticals

1.1. Be Honest/Open To GodBe Honest/Open To GodTrue to AMS form, in tears and full dramatics of anguish and True to AMS form, in tears and full dramatics of anguish and despair, David gave us a great practical example of openness and despair, David gave us a great practical example of openness and honesty with God in Psalm 6.1-7honesty with God in Psalm 6.1-7

2.2. Be Honest/Open To DisciplingBe Honest/Open To Discipling

Get Discipled. Get a partner to share your inmost thoughts and Get Discipled. Get a partner to share your inmost thoughts and struggles.struggles.

You can trust so long as God is in the middle of that relationship.You can trust so long as God is in the middle of that relationship.