Warm hellos once again friends, brethren, fellow laborers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God from here on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.

If you spend any amount of time at all watching the “news”, or reading the daily headlines there is one common element that never ceases to amaze me.

Human nature so easily can justify not speaking the truth. It’s become all too common place in our daily lives, and in fact almost the norm it seems.

One of the Cardinal Ten Commandments given to us from our Creator forbids lying and bearing false witness.

So, who “invented” lying? That’s a good question. Who was the original prevaricator and bender of the truth?

We might recall when Jesus had dialogue with the Jewish leaders recorded in John 8. Some believed Him. (v.31) Others were antagonistic and condemning. They relied on being physical descendants of Abraham to claim some righteous condition. Twice Jesus pointed out to them that they desired to kill him. (vv. 37, 40)

Jesus went on to make a revealing statement. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (v.44)

The Devil was responsible for both the first lies and for the first murder. The Devil lied to Eve when he stated, “You will not surely die.” Of course Eve did not immediately slump over and physically die when she ate of the forbidden fruit. Nevertheless she was given the sentence of the ultimate death penalty, just as God had warned in Genesis 2:17. The first murder recorded in Scripture was that of Abel. (Genesis 4:8) The apostle John connects this murder with the Devil. “. . . not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.” (1 John 3:12)

Let’s go back to John 8 for a minute. Jesus went on to expound on His pre-human identity. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:56-58) Jesus was the Word of God through whom the angels and Universe were created. (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17) He was the One also called YHVH or the I AM who interacted with the Abraham and patriarchs and with Moses and the Israelites. (1 Corinthians 10:4, 9) Jesus accurately assessed their demonic influence and murderous attitude. “Then they took up stones to throw at Him. . .” (John 8:59) They attempted to stone him again at a later occasion. (John 10:30)

Let’s notice how God allowed an evil spirit to influence the prophets of Ahab.

Ahab had somehow convinced king of Judah Jehoshaphat to join him to fight the king of Syria. After all the false prophets of Ahab claimed that Ahab would be victorious in battle, the prophet of the LORD, Micaiah, was brought forth. He relayed a heavenly scene or event that he must have seen in a vision. “And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?‘ (1 Kings 22:21) “Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ “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 Kings 22:20-22) God allowed this spirit, (evidently a demon), to influence the prophets of Ahab to all spin the same lie.

Ahab trusted in his lying prophets, and subsequently he met his death shortly after that.
The prophet Ezekiel refers to a conspiracy among the prophets. “The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey . . .” (Ezekiel 22:25) There may be an ancient as well as an end time application. Sometimes our modern day “news casters” or news spinners all seem to have the same sound bites, phrases, and script. Does anyone else find this strange? One has to wonder.

Some very big lies were told by our Adversary when he induced a third of the righteous angels to turn against the true God and follow him in rebellion. They must have been told some real “whoppers” and clever accusations that poisoned them against their Creator.

The admonition in Proverbs surely is applicable here. “Six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

The Accuser of the brethren craftily uses other human instruments to do his dirty work. If you and I are not close to God in our relationship with Him, we can be tools in our adversary’s hands, often without even realizing such. Let us be on guard and not allow ourselves to be his tool in spreading false accusations and/or sowing discord. We also need to resist a wrong spirit and attitude. “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” (James 3:14-15)

God is clear in His Word, “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25).

As the world in which we live continues down this path that communicates in a manner directly contrary to what He is and lives, let us be seeking Him, allowing Him to live in us (Galatians 2:20) and be about truly representing God the Father and Jesus Christ in our daily lives.

Have a blessed upcoming Sabbath as you worship and fellowship with one another and Him.

Arms up friends! Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Thanks in advance for your heartfelt prayers for us.