GOD’S WORD FOR NOVEMBER 2

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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BREAKING THE TEMPTATION OF DISHONESTY

Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?” Acts 5:3

D.L. MOODY

“Mr. Moody,” you say, “How can I check myself? How can I overcome the habit of lying and gossip?” A lady once said to me that she had got so into the habit of exaggerating, her friends said they could never trust her.

The cure is simple, but not very pleasant. Treat it as a sin and confess it to God and the person whom you have wronged. As soon as you catch yourself lying, go straight to that person and confess you have lied. Let your confession be as wide as your transgression. If you have slandered or lied about anyone in public, let your confession be public. Many a person says some mean, false thing about another in the presence of others, and then tries to patch it up by going to that person alone. This is not making adequate confession. I need not go to God with confession until I have made it right with that person and the others who heard my remarks if it is in my power to do so; If not, God will not hear me.

ERWIN LUTZER

“Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

Remember Jesus said of Satan, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). When we lie, we are doing the devil’s work. Interestingly, Ananias and Sapphira did not know that their decision to lie was inserted into their minds by Satan (read Acts 5:1–6). This gives us insight as to how the deceiver works: The devil  puts lies into our minds that we think are our own.

Moody’s advice is excellent: Let us confess the lie to the person to whom we told it. And, if necessary, to a wider audience if they were included in our deception.

PRAYER

Father, help my heart and lips and to speak only truth, no matter the consequences.

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Proverbs 14:34

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

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Psalm 66:18

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

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Psalm 32:5

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

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Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

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Isaiah 30:15

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not,

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Psalm 19:13-14

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

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1 John 3:4

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

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John 8:34

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

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