TWO TYPES OF LIONS. LIONTAMER - How to Speak Truth to a Lion ROOTS: October 11, 2017

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1 LIONTAMER - How to Speak Truth to a Lion ROOTS: October 11, 2017 Oct 8 message TWO TYPES OF LIONS Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. - Revelation 5:5 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8 Fun Facts about Lions: Did you know that lions (Latin: panthera leo) are the second biggest cat in the animal kingdom? (second to tigers) Did you know that even though your pet cat may cuddle up on your lap, lions are the only truly social or communal felines in the world? Lions live in groups of about 15, called prides. Did you know that including the two verses quoted above, there are 119 references to lions in the Bible? Maybe because the Bible was written by people in the Middle East, where until about 200 years ago, natural lion habitats ranged across the whole continent of Africa, into the Middle East, and even into India. In ancient times, it was perhaps not unusual to encounter lions in the wild, versus today, where we are more likely to see them at the zoo, on a safari, or at the circus. References to lions were also commonplace in Middle Eastern culture, as in literature, mythology, architecture and art. Regardless of your knowledge of lions, God used Daniel, the lion tamer, to proclaim his truth. Part of why God used Daniel so mightily is that Daniel was a man of integrity before God. And one key aspect of Daniel s integrity was his speech that honored God. It was full of praise, it was honest, and it was true! The Bible says in Luke 6:45, For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks, and Daniel s ability to be a lion tamer and ultimately an influencer of kings, was through his speech and actions, guided by a steadfast heart. As Mindy Hopman reminded us, Daniel throughout his life had the, end goal in mind, because he, made up his mind about what he stood for. Accordingly, his speech followed his mind. Daniel had integrity: he had character! And as many of us know, one significant aspect of good character is honesty, especially with our words and speech. Just as there are two types of lions depicted in the Bible (one good, one bad), there are also two types of speech: truth and lies. Did you know that the hunters in a lion pride, the ones out finding food, are not the males, but the female lions? (Of course! Naturally! God ordained the females as the grocery getters just like today!)

2 TRUTH 2. Why is honesty such an integral part of integrity? Definition: a fact or belief that is accepted as true. Synonyms:: fact, verity, certainty, certitude No legacy is so rich as Honesty. - William Shakespeare Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. - Spencer Johnson Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving. - James E. Faust 3. What is the importance of truth? Why does it matter so much to God? If you tell the truth you don t have to remember anything. - Mark Twain 1. What does God say about telling the truth? Read the following Scriptures: 4. Talk about times in your life you were truthful, and how they benefited a situation. The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart - Psalm 15:2 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. - Proverbs 12:19 A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful. - Proverbs 14:25 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. - 1 Corinthians 13:6 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace - Zechariah 8:16 5. We know that sometimes the truth hurts, but why? Does it have to? Should it? Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ - Ephesians 4:15 Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy. - Warren W. Wiersbe

3 LIES Definition: an intentionally false statement. Synonyms:: fiction; dishonesty, falseness 1. What does the Bible say about lies or deceit? You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Exodus 20:16 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. - Psalm 101:7 2. Why do you think God hates lying so much? An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. - Proverbs 6: When are you inclined to tell a lie? Can lies feel good? Why? For out of the heart come evil thoughts murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. - Matthew 15:19 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. - Colossians 3: Take a moment and reflect on a time that you haven t been truthful and what were the outcomes? Was there a consequence? Has the situation been rectified? How?

4 Example: In the book, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Edmund Pevensie, one of the four children who tumbled through the wardrobe into the kingdom of Narnia, was known as being deceitful, scheming, and basically, obnoxious. But in the end, he was crowned a King of Narnia, along with his siblings, and given the title, The Just. Through suffering and trials, he was humbled, and also, under the influence of Aslan, the Lion-king, was transformed. Just as Edmund was made in right standing with his siblings and with Aslan, so we too, if we confess our sins to Jesus, can be forgiven and cleansed. The TRUTH Safe? said Mr. Beaver; don t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn t safe. But he s good. He s the King, I tell you. - C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe The truth is like a lion; you don t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself. - St. Augustine of Hippo Even though there are two types of lions depicted in the Bible, you have to read carefully, because one is actually a real lion and the other is just a phony. The phony lion is Satan. Scripture says he prowls around like a lion, seeking whom he may devour. Ha! The real, true, authentic lion, is the Lion of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the real TRUTH (not just the truth we use in everyday speech, but the truth of history, of all time, the reason we exist and our ultimate destiny.) As Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me, and he said to hold onto his teaching as, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. God s TRUTH: Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. - Psalm 119:43 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:5 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become, in every respect, the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. - Ephesians 4:14-16 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. - John 17:17 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. - John 16:13

5 Taking It One Step Further: Take time this week to examine yourself and your speech. 1. Are you being true and honest with your words? Are you living honestly before others? 2. Do you believe God s Word is the Truth? If so, how will you incorporate more Truth into your life? Meditate on Philippians 4:8. 3. How does our culture today portray truth? Think about truth vs. relativism. 4. For further consideration, read James 3:1-12, Isaiah 6:1-7. Suggested reading: Watch Your Mouth: Understanding the Power of the Tongue by Dr. Tony Evans.