Paul in a Roman jail. Not discouraged. Letters to churches and Christians.
To the church at Ephesus. Discussion of the 10 Commandments.
Timeless truth. "With the Lord one day is like a thousand years" (2 Peter 3:8).
"The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul. . .The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. . .by them your servant is warned" (Psalm 19:7-8,11).
--Telling the TRUTH
Perjury
"You shall not bear false witness AGAINST your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).
Dark tendency of the human race. Sarah (Genesis 18:15). Peter (Luke 22:57).
"The Devil. . . is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).
Defensive lies
Deceptive lies
Lack of Discipline lies
Denial lies
"Behold, you desire truth in the innermost being. In the hidden part (sub-conscious, inner man) you will make me know wisdom" (Psalm 51:6).
Great damage done--courtroom and church and family "Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25).
Lack of honesty and transparency destroys unity!
"Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" (James 1:19).
"Speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). Is it true? Is it loving?
--TELLING the Truth
"Now if a person sins after he hears a public adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt" (Leviticus 5:1).
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" (Psalm 107:2).
"But I tell you that every careless (a + ergon, lazy, irresponsible) word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgement" (Matthew 12:36).
--HEALING POWER
The power of positive, truthful words. A lesson for every congregation. "Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. . .Now in like exchange. . .open wide to us" (2 Corinthians 6:11, 13).
740 BC Isaiah. Uzziah's death. National anxiety. Comforting vision of God.
"I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5).
