Tag Archives: lying

I Think I Got Away With It… Or Did I?

Posted on August 18, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Maybe you faked being sick so you didn’t have to go to school and or work?  Perhaps you exaggerated slightly to avoid being blamed for a mistake or oversight?  Or did you flat out lie to your parents, creating a fictional story which rescued you from being grounded?  If you are like me, there were times in my past when I thought I got away with a lie.  However, future consequences, events and trials suggest that God was watching and I did not escape His punishment.

Genesis 27 provides a perfect case study for someone who thinks they got away with a lie.  Rebekah is the mastermind of this initial lie, trying to steal Isaac’s blessing from Esau.  While ease dropping, she overhears Isaac’s request for his favorite meal.  Once Esau leaves his father’s presence, Rebekah lays out her plan to deceive the blind, but not deaf Isaac.  With meal in hand, fake hair and one of Esau’s favorite outfits which he wasn’t wearing, Jacob tricks his curious father into the blessing he longed to receive.  The plan was executed with perfection or was it?

Upon hearing he had been duped by his twin brother, Esau sobs, begging Isaac for another blessing, yet he is denied.  Genesis 27:41 reveals Esau’s ploy for revenge, murder.  When she heard this through the grapevine, Rebekah ushers Jacob quickly out of their house to stay with her brother Laban until Esau’s anger cools off.  However, Uncle Laban teaches Jacob a few lessons about lying, Genesis 29:15-30, possibly in response to his sister’s foolish actions.

The answer to the question, did I get away with it or not is found in Deuteronomy 30:17-18.  Whenever you add or subtract from God’s commands, Deuteronomy 12:32, you forfeit God’s favor.  While forgiveness will be received after confession, God’s formula for blessings in life is simple, fully obey God’s commands, decrees and laws, Deuteronomy 28:1-2.  When you rely on your own strength, this is impossible, Romans 3:23.  Yet, in Christ, Philippians 4:13, with sole dependence on Him, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, God’s power is unleashed.  Therefore, the next time you are tempted to exaggerate, falsify or lie, remember to place your faith in God, Proverbs 3:5-6, so that He alone will make your paths straight.

by Jay Mankus

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The Gift of Intercession

Posted on August 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

One of the best ways you can demonstrate your love for someone is by praying for them by name.  The term intercession in the context of prayer refers to relying on God to supernaturally intervene bringing about change, healing or transformation.  According to Genesis 24:67, not only did Isaac love his wife, he refused to accept that Rebekah was barren, interceding on her behalf for God to preform a miracle, Genesis 25:21.  Whether you are married, dating someone or unattached, when you enter into God’s presence, Ephesians 6:18-19, intercession can have everlasting results.

Something struck me when I read Genesis 25:21 today.  Instead of focusing on his wife’s situation, like a woe is me attitude, Isaac took action by praying to the Lord.  Whether he learned this from his father Abraham or realized his father did not practice intercession like he should have, God exceeded his prayer with 2 children, not just one.  Sure, Isaac and Rebekah had their faults, lying just as his father and mom did, Genesis 26:1-7.  Yet, a faithful pray-er, especially one who consistently lifts up their spouse to the Lord night after night, spurs the Holy Spirit into action.

For most of my life, prayer has been a struggle, not one of my gifted areas.  However, as I read the prayers of David and see the example of Isaac, I am motivated to pray more than ever for my family and friends.  Join me in this quest, fanning into flame the gift of intercession, 2 Timothy 1:6.  May all those who apply this biblical principle begin to see the fruits of time on their knees.

by Jay Mankus

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The Lying Prophet

Posted on August 2, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Solomon proclaims in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “there is nothing new under the sun.”  However, if you were one of the first inhabitants of the earth, you could become a trend setter.  While called a prophet by God in Genesis 20:7, lying had become an habitual sin for Abraham based upon the events of Genesis 12:10-13 and Genesis 20:1-2.  Thus, the two become one, forming the lying prophet.

If Hollywood made a modern movie about Abraham, the first film is obvious, The Indecent Proposal.  The sequel might called called Indecent Proposal II: Role Reversal.  Finally, the Trilogy would not be complete without Indecent Proposal III: You Can’t Touch This.  God allows the first 2 sins to go, yet I was curious why God intervenes in Genesis 20:4-7.  Then, it struck me, if Abimelech did consecrate his marriage to Sarah, Abimelech could claim the child was his.  To avoid a Jerry Springer like scene, God forbids intercourse, keeping Sarah pure, leaving no doubt that Abraham was the father of Isaac in the coming months.

One of my theories I have developed over time is that Genesis 22:1-14 is punishment for Abraham’s continued disobedience.  If Abraham would have relied on God and not his own human nature, this test would not have been necessary.  However, since Abraham struggled with yielding full control of his life over to the Lord, this trial forced Abraham to place his trust solely in God.  Despite the victory in Genesis 22:12, Abraham passes on the generational sin of lying on to his son, Genesis 26:7-8.  Wherever you are in your spiritual life today, be careful about the legacy you pass on to your children.  Don’t be a lying prophet.  Rather, set your mind on things above, Colossians 3:1-4, so that the seeds you sow on earth may sway others toward eternal life in heaven.

by Jay Mankus

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Opps … I Did It Again.

Posted on July 31, 2013 by expressyourself4him

An acronym that I use for sin is Sudden Irrational Nonsense.  Whether you are struggling with something like cursing, lying or sexual desires, all sins can be addictive.  This is why so many individuals make the honest confession, “Opps, I did it again!”

Sudden

Irrational

Nonsense

Unfortunately, the Christian Community has created their own ranking system, giving a degree of severity for each transgression.  The church in Rome was the first to develop this pious attitude, mentioned by the apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32.  This mindset filtered down into their hearts, leading toward thoughts like “Well at least I am not a murderer, God hater or fornicator.”  Struck down by the words of Romans 2:1-5, God gives words of hope for those wresting with the Opps I did it again syndrome, Romans 2:6-10.

When these words become a weekly or daily occurrence, one call lean on the grace of God.   The well known acronym God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense helps a sinner find comfort in the Bible’s promise, Ephesians 2:8-9.  Beyond this, one must consider how contrite you are after sinning?  If sorrow is absence from a guilty heart, Jesus is nothing more than a Get of a Jail Free Card, Hebrews 6:4-6.  As an expert in sin, reaching this point requires intervention starting with an accountability partner, once a week at the minimum.  If this step is ineffective, you must purge yourself from anything that triggers the thought of sin.  Like detox, this one of the most painful, but a necessary element to achieve freedom.  The goal is perfection, Matthew 5:48, yet the reality of life is giving your best each and every day, letting God do the rest.  When the opps I did it again resurfaces, turn your prayers toward the sky, trusting in God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy, John 3:16-17.

by Jay Mankus

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Go Back To The Mountain

Posted on July 29, 2013 by expressyourself4him

The imagery of the Old Testament uses mountains as the place where God resides.  The book of Exodus refers to Moses’ skin as sunburned and windburned after exiting God’s presence in the mountains.  However, there is something unique about mountains, often glanced over by those who read the Bible for the first time.  According to Genesis 12:6-8, Abram builds the first altars, one in the place where God first revealed himself and the other up in the hill country between Bethel and Ai.  It was on this mountain, where Abram called on the name of the Lord for the first time.

Unfortunately, this mountain top experience didn’t last long as Abram quickly turns to his old self, lying to save his own life.  Since Moses wrote down the accounts of Abram well after his death, there isn’t any details like Jesus’ prayer with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36-46.  One can only speculate what Abram said to God as he returned in Genesis 13:3-4.  Confession is a given, acknowledging his wrong thinking and asking God to provide daily bread for the remainder of the famine is likely as well.  Nonetheless, this mountain held sentimental value.  This was the place where Abram first began his personal relationship with God.

From a modern sense, Christian’s have a certain church, retreat center, city or place where they first met Jesus.  Whenever believers lose their way, its vital to return to this place so that one can reconnect with God.  Despite all of our shortcomings, God longs to spend time with his children.  Therefore, before the summer comes to an end, go back to the mountain, to the place where you first met Jesus.  May this journey bring peace to your soul!

by Jay Mankus

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The Pain of Sin

Posted on March 26, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Since the garden of Eden, the consequences of sin have left people in agony.  Guilt has become like a nightmare that won’t go away, often overwhelming your soul.  Meanwhile, shame isn’t far behind, leaving a trail of disappointment, embarrassment, and tattered reputations in its wake.  If this wasn’t enough, the fear of punishment and rejection bombard an individual’s mind, wishing they did not partaken in sin.

Regardless of how moral you claim to be, everyone has had a 2 Samuel 11 moment.  One second you are thinking about others, then boredom leads to idleness, from here aimless wandering leads your heart into the presence of sin.  These momentary lapses in judgments are common, except the time they last.  The sooner a person comes to their senses, the softer the blow you have to endure.  However, if you choose to go on a binge of rebellion like King David, adultery, lying and murder will flush your legacy right down the toilet.

When a man after God’s own heart sins, 1 Samuel 16:7, no one is exempt from the power of temptation.  Psalm 38:1-11 serves as a confessional for David, describing the pain sin has left behind within his soul.  This crippling state should inspire Christians to follow the words of 1 Peter 5:8-9, who also struggled with this pain, swallowing his pride after publicly denying Jesus 3 times.  Submit to God, resist the devil and the pain of sin can become a distant memory, James 4:7-8.

by Jay Mankus

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If God Used Logic…We’d All Be Dead!

Posted on March 6, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Throughout the course of history, a series of cycles retrieve, add to and reinvent old theories about the Bible.  Gnostics build upon the teachings of Simon Magus in Acts 8:9-19 with modern theories like the Jesus Seminars and Da Vinci Code.  Meanwhile, books like the Secret take biblical principles out of their proper context by blending these truths with metaphysics and self-help methodology.  Despite what so called experts may claim, the Bible continues to be an annual best selling book about the creation of earth, the fall of man and restoration of life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  If you read and study this book you will soon discover, if God used logic, we’d all be dead!

If you were God, how would you respond when your only rule, Genesis 2:16-17,  is quickly broken by your second created being, the first child born on this planet becomes a murderer, Genesis 4, and a few generations later, the only person worth saving is Noah.  Meanwhile, the flood is immediately forgotten by the people of Babel in Genesis 11, your only leader, Abraham, is a habitual liar, Genesis 20:1-2, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were given over to shameful lusts, Romans 1:26-27.  Like a frustrated parent whose children never listen to them, if God used logic, the earth would have been destroyed once and for all in Genesis 19:29.

Fortunately, for all of mankind, God is love, 1 Corinthians 13.  Logically, God should have given up on us years ago, but He loved us so much that God gave us His one and only son, John 3:16-17.  Despite the wages of sin, Jesus paved a new way toward heaven in Romans 6:23.  Jesus left a final reminder of God’s love with his best friend on earth, John.  According to 1 John 3:16-20′ true love today is found today by living out the love of Jesus.  Like the classic country song by Crossway, “Thank God I’m not Jesus!”  Come alive by following the apostle Paul advice in Galatians 2:20.

by Jay Mankus

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