When you lie … Who do you think you lie to the most?

Boss? (Sick today)Children, Parents, Friends, Social Media Followers?

May surprise you to know that through conclusive research the person we lie to the most is ourselves.

Do it tomorrow, we won’t, Stop any time- we can’t, I’m fine -we’re not, Don’t care -we do, Not a big deal – It is

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

One of major reasons most New Year Resolutions fail. Focusing on Changing External Habits—External Behaviours.

Get more organised—Stop procrastinating—Read Bible. Eat better—Start exercising—Stop yelling at spouse.

The Problem is that we are focused on External Behaviours.

Where are Behaviours Birthed? – Behaviours are Birthed in the Heart.

If you want to change your life, change your habits. If you want to change your habits, let God change your heart.

Habits of a Healthy Heart:

The Habit of Self-Examination

 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Over time, David started understand that he had a propensity to lie to himself .He discovered it at one of the lowest moments of his life.

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him and all Israel… But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

  • Told himself—Fought enough—Deserves break—Stay safe.
  • Drink roof—Woman—Send for her—Get know her—Wrong.
  • Slept w/ her—Only one time—No one find out—Nothing bad will happen.
  • Pregnant—Panic—Uriah home/Sleep—Front lines—Killed.
  • David abused power—Violated Bathsheba—Committed adultery.
  • Wrecked family—Murdered Uriah—Baby—Sick—Died.

David didn’t recognise his sin—We are masters of self-deception. Psychologists call this à ‘Cognitive Bias.’ Bible à calls it “flattering themselves/deceiving/deluded heart”

For he flatters himself in his own eye that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. Psalm 36:2

In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.

Our Self-Deception Manifests in 5 Major ways:

Addiction to Distraction – Distract ourselves—Truth about ourselves. Porn/News/Work/Social Media /Alcohol—Facing ourselves.

Manic Cheeriness – Life’s great—Everything is awesome.

Judgementalism – Judge others—Vulnerable same issue. Our outrage at their sin blinds us—Own vulnerability—Same sin.

Defensiveness – Offended—Any suggestion we have problem. Not our fault—Don’t have a problem—His fault—Their fault.

Cynicism – Everything’s wrong—Everyone else is problem.

When David deceived himsel his life fell apart—2 Samuel 12 …

Question: What problem are you denying? Sin rationalising? Issue Are you hiding?

 

 Warning Signs

1.Watch for what Others Have Tried to Tell You.

 More than 2 people—Love you—Tell you—You have a problem.

 Working too much—Not present—On phone—Video games.

 Drink every night, closed hands instead of open heart, Dress immodest, Involved in unhealthy activity, Can’t say no—People please. Things you say & way you say hurt people over and over.

 When you ask God to search your heart—Watch out what others tell you.

 2.Watch for What You Rationalise.

 Shocking how good—Rationalising

 Not a big deal—Can handle this—Not hurting anyone.

Don’t have a problem! Know what I’m doing.

Wouldn’t do what I do … If you didn’t act the way you do.

3.Watch for Where You’re Most Defensive.

 Don’t have a problem—Leave me alone—Not your business!

The more convinced you are that you don’t have a problem, the more likely it is that you do.

We cannot change what we won’t confront.

 Habit of Self-Examination—Moment of truth—Pray.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me Psalm 139:23-24

 What is God saying To You? Showing you?

Afraid of God—He already knows—Shouldn’t be afraid of God.

Instead we should be afraid—What sin/self-deception will cost you.

Run to him—Not away from Him.

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right[a] spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12