Sermon on the Mount - The Summary

I've just finished teaching a class at the Princess Anne Church of Christ on Sunday morning that ran for over 18 months. I was asked to prepare a detailed study of the the chapters in Matthew. I have studied it before but not necessarily in detail, nor did I ever think that it would take that long. A lot of information and sharing was done over that time. I just hope others got as much out of it as I did. I probably have 280 pages of notes on Matthew 5-7. Far more information written and prepared than I could ever share during the class. Teachers often learn more than the students just because so much time was done in preparation of the class. I know I did.

Here is a quick summary of the sermon in the mount as we quickly hit highlights last week to close out the class. Feeling blessed that I was given the opportunity.

The Sermon on the Mount describes what our life should be like while we live in faith, in our thoughts, words, and actions. Jesus said six times in Chapter 5, “You have heard it said”, or “But I tell you..” He was calling people to a new life instead of a legal system, that the Pharisees had put upon the people.

Lesson 1   Matthew 5:1-16

Jesus teaches us the eight attitudes. These attitudes or beatitudes explain that we are to live differently than the world for Christ’s sake. Blessed means happy. So when these attributes become part of us God is pleased and we are blessed. The beatitudes are to be poor in spirit,  mourn for sin, be meek, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We are to be merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. When we follow Christ in this manner we may become persecuted for our faith, but this too becomes a blessing and we will receive a heavenly reward.

We are called to be light and salt of the world. Salt has two functions. It flavours and it stops corruption. We must not lose our saltiness, because if we do we will lose our ability to be a committed Christian, who does not think or act like the world. Salt also creates a thirst, a thirst for the Lord and His righteousness.

Being light in the world refers to the way you show others in public what being a Christian means. How many of your friends see your personal commitment to Christ? How bright a light are you?

Lesson 2   Matthew 5:17-26

Here Jesus explains the Christian’s relationship to the law, and that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it. The Old Testament continues until all things are accomplished. He warned the disciples to do and to teach all the commandments, and that a better righteousness than the Pharisees’ is needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. And how can we keep God’s laws? We can’t. The Pharisees’ couldn’t, and that is one reason why they created their own set of laws. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that empowers us and convicts us. Where do you need to let the Holy Spirit help you obey what Jesus has taught?

God’s Word does not change over time. His standards for behaviour or morality does not change. It does not change from one situation to another or from one century to another.

Jesus gives illustrations of our relationship to the Law. The Pharisees often taught about people’s actions, but Jesus always goes further by raising the bar. He speaks of our thoughts, emotions, and attitudes of our hearts.

So what does He begin with? What is the most condemning sin you can think of? Murder. Jesus expounds on this and says that wrong attitudes and words count the same as murder. How could that be? Murder begins with anger, unforgiveness, hatred, contempt, envy and bitterness. All of it sin. To be full of such things reveals a heart condition that is condemning.

What is the remedy? It is the spirit of love and reconciliation. We must be reconciled with each other, no matter who the fault may lie with. Come to one heart and mind with that person, so that we can have an open relationship with the Lord.

Lesson 3  Matthew 5:27-37,   6:22-23

Here Jesus teaches that lustful imagination counts the same as adultery. Being tempted is not a sin, but we must reject the seed that get planted in our mind, so that sin is nipped in the bud. He said if necessary we should cut off whatever causes us to sin even if this causes discomfort or pain. What causes immoral thoughts in your mind? What books are you reading and what TV shows are you enjoying and what are you laughing and joking about? What do you need to cut out of your life to live a life of pure actions and thoughts?

We are reminded that marriage is a lifelong commitment. God hates divorce but it is a forgivable sin, and he allows it for infidelity. Let’s remember to love and pray for those who have been hurt in abusive relationships and know that God would not want them to stay in this treacherous situation.

Lesson 4   Matthew 5:38-48,   6:14-15

So what does “an eye for an eye mean?

The next topic was retaliation or getting even. Again Jesus quotes an OT command, one that was meant to limit the penalty for a wrong action. The person who was treated wrongly was only to demand repayment that was fair and fitting. And again Jesus asks us to go even further. He says to give to the person who asks, even when that person is asking something that may be unfair. Jesus’ disciples had been taught to love their neighbours and hate their enemies. Once again Jesus wants you and me to go beyond the old teachings. We are to love our enemies and pray for them. Will you ask God to give you His love for those who are unkind or unforgiving to you? What can you pray for them?

Lesson 5   Matthew 6:1-18

Here we learn that our righteous deeds are not so righteous when they are done to impress others. Therefore they are to be done before God and not before people. Jesus was concerned that the people, especially the Pharisees, wanted others to see them give to the needy or pray in public so that they would be noticed. They were pretending to pray with a sincere heart but were more concerned with what others thought of them. To do this is to lose our reward with God because our reward becomes an earthly reward of wanting praise from men.

The Lord’s Prayer was given to the disciples as an example. When we say it we should repeat it thoughtfully and not aimlessly. The point is, that we should pray, and we should have a regular time each day to pray privately. If you do not will you set aside a regular time and place to establish this time to spend with the Lord?

Lesson 6   Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34

Here Jesus teaches that faith is having a trusting heart knowing that He will supply all our daily needs. If we put these worries aside and first seek the kingdom of God all things will be given to us. He knows we need these things. Often in this life especially in the US we are bombarded daily about material possessions. We are told that we need many things to be successful and happy. So Jesus was concerned about people’s attitudes toward their treasures and possessions. He warned them about storing up treasures on earth. They can be lost, stolen, destroyed etc. We can set our eyes on power and wealth instead of God and what really matters. We cannot serve both God and money. We cannot have two masters.

We are not to worry. Worry is a lack of faith in God’s care. Worry and fret lead to sin. Remember to put God first in your life and to live right for Him. Live one day at a time doing your best to please God. He will supply your needs in His timing.

Lesson 7   Matthew 7:1-12

The judge not passage. The person who makes a practice of judging others will be judged with the same measure. Judging ourselves instead prepares us to help others. Also we have to judge between good and evil and we must make determinations each and every day. We have to separate truth from error or we will believe lies. We must pray for wisdom in this area. If we know of sin in our lives, and try not to remove it, yet try to help others with the same sin, then we are hypocrites, like the Pharisees. There is no room for pride or stubbornness when we are trying to help others.

Jesus commanded his disciples to think before giving sacred and precious truths from God to unholy people. Sacred things could be worship or communion or the Bible. These things are not holy to those who do not believe in God and they will ridicule the truths told to them. It is in this way they trample them under their feet….Christians are to be discerning but not condemning.

Prayer comes up again, in that we are ask, seek and knock. He wants us to be persistent in our prayer. And He gives good gifts to his children as a good father gives to his son. He wants our hearts in our prayers and doesn’t want us to give up when we think a prayer has not been answered quickly….Continue to pray. God will give you what is right and he will answer your prayer His way and in His time. What kind of things are you praying for? A car? Fame? Sunshine? Or are you praying for things that will please Him? A good list would be something like wisdom, love, healing, increased faith, boldness to speak for God, the filling of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, etc. If you are persistent in asking for things that please God, He will give them to you.

Lesson 8  Matthew 7:13-29

As we end the Sermon on the Mount Jesus now speaks of our life in faith, and the dangers of not following His teachings.

Those who go their own way will have difficulty discerning that there are two pathways. Jesus only gives us two. There are not many paths to God. False teachers offer a wide gate that welcomes many. It may seem kind and loving to accept all religious teachings, but it is not. The broad road leads to destruction. In fact the way is narrow and constricted and it will not be an easy path…but the end result is well worth it. Everlasting life with Jesus. Which path have you chosen and how are you persuading others to choose?

To ignore biblical teaching puts you in danger of listening to false teachers. Knowing scripture is important so you can recognise a false teacher by their faulty doctrine and bad fruit. Paul commended the Bereans for comparing his words against scripture. We must do the same. Those who say they know Jesus by using the phrase, “Lord, Lord” or even perform miracles may not truly know the Lord. Many will hear from Jesus on judgment day…”I never knew you.” The false prophets will be in the church itself. They will be disguised as sheep, but truly they are wolves.

Finally we are given an illustration of the person who is wise and the foolish person who does not obey the teachings. The obvious teaching is that Jesus is the rock and foundation and this is where we are to start building. This foundation is firm and solid. But there is a condition given in this passage. We must hear Jesus’ words and we must practice them. Then we are able to withstand the storms of wind and rain that will come upon us in this life.

The people were amazed at the authority that Jesus taught with. Whenever God’s Word is presented as it truly is, its power is unleashed. We too should be amazed and astonished with these teachings. God’s standards are high and today we have the Holy Spirit to help us live for God, illuminate scripture and lead us into truth.

There wasn't a lot of time to do a complete review of the study on Sunday but maybe a few of these highlights noted here will allow you to study further to become a better disciple for Christ.

ET This I Believe

Eugene Thompson

Setting Your Goals

I recently delivered a sermon at church while the minister was away for the holidays. It's no big deal, I've done it many times before.....that wasn't my 'goal'. I decided to speak on New Years Resolutions and the goals we set for ourselves. Is it Christian like to set high standards and goals. Is it appropriate to say affirmations to yourself. I not recap my lesson but I will say this, YES! It certainly is and there are several scriptures in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament that gives us examples.

The key? Do ALL things for the glory of God. Don't get carried away with yourself and your goals/accomplishments. He is the one who provides us with the blessings that we enjoy. The blessings of success are evident in the work that I've been able to accomplish. I certainly couldn't have done it without him.

Oh sure, I was worn out and tired at the end of last year. I asked for his guidance and help and he provided. He didn't just hand me over 13 marathon medals and say POOF! You've met your crazy goals. He made me work for it. God isn't a Genie that grants wishes. He is our Father that teaches us and cares for us. I have felt very blessed to have learned so much along my path in 2015. I look forward to what he wishes to share with me in this coming year.

So I share that if you have already set your goals for 2016, take a look at them again. Do they give you the right focus? Are they for the right reason? Are you being grateful for them along the way? I think it is wonderful to set high goals. Maybe even ridiculous goals. Many motivational speakers will say that you should plan realistically. That makes sense.....and it is the safe way. Not necessarily setting a crazy number of marathons when you haven't ever done that before. I just recall the scriptures where he tells us that we will be blessed because he can accomplish "immeasurably more than we can imagine".

IMMEASURABLY MORE......THAN WE CAN IMAGINE! So right now your goals you set are potentially too small. That's right, too small. We cannot even imagine what he can do in our lives......if you have the right reason.....and the right purpose. He does ask a few things in return. To love him, your neighbor and follow his commandments. Pretty simple.

I am reminded of the story about Gideon in the bible where God wanted to show his power. He didn't send the entire army with Gideon....that would be too easy. He kept sending away the troops until he got down to only 300. And what kind of soldiers were they? I say soldiers loosely. I think they were more animals.....maybe a bit crazy. After all they were facing a HUGE force against them and God had narrowed it down to have only 300...... Great warriors?.......how about 300 that drank water like a dog. Yep.....like a dog! And they won, without one causality. God can do immeasurably more than you can imagine. Just let him.

Just believe my friends and enjoy your day. Set your goals and follow your dreams....along with your prayers.

Eugene Thompson

ET This I Believe

RUN EUGENE RUN

Should a Christian set New Year's Goals?

Did I Do Enough?

Notes from my sermon on 12.27.2015

Princess Anne Church of Christ

This is the question I ask myself ever year in the final few days in the calendar year. I always answer it the same way...NO. I'm never quite good enough or strong enough or faithful enough or successful enough.....I'm always hard on myself. I go through my list and see what I was successful at through out the year, and what I found that I failed at. 

I have to do this so I can properly evaluate myself in order to RESET my new goals. Often people use this as the only day to establish their new goals. I like to use a series of firsts, not just the first day of the year. I have a reset at the first of every month, week and even morning. Sure, I have my New Years Resolutions....or goals. I set them for personal, physical, business and of course my spiritual. It is important to have an appropriate mind set and priority when you establish these goals.

I've gone through the bible and selected a few key thoughts about characteristics you should first consider when setting your goals. After that I sought out several verses that tell us about our new goals and how they should be established.

Enjoy. 

8 Biblical Keys for Goal Setting

Faith – We serve a big God who can accomplish the impossible.  There is nothing He can’t do.  We can believe that He journeys with us and always has our best in mind.  He is trustworthy and faithful.

Humility – We never want to be in a position of demanding that things work out or that all our goals are accomplished exactly as we say.  The Lord’s will always trumps our own.  We need to be sure our attitude is one of humility before our holy and mighty God.

Commitment –  We need to commit ourselves to the tasks at hand.

Diligence – Goals often require hard work.  We need to be diligent in our effort.

Perseverance – We will face set backs and disappointments, but need to persevere through rough times.  Don’t give up!

Alignment with God’s Word and Will – Are we within the parameters of God’s Word and His character?

Forethought & Planning – Have we done the appropriate homework before starting our task?  Have we counted the cost?

Motivation – We need to ask the hard questions.  What is our goal and why?  Do we have selfish motives or are we operating with a healthy heart.

Bible Verses To Think on When Setting Goals

Goals, Plans, Desires, Paths, Visions

Psalm 20:4 “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

Psalm 37:4-5  Delight yourself also in the Lord,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord,Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”

Proverbs 3:6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 13:16 “All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.”

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Proverbs 24:27 “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”

Isaiah 32:8 “But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.”

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Habakkuk 2:2-3 “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it.”

Matthew 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'”

Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

John 6:27 “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Philippians 3:13-14  “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Hebrews 10:35-36 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Hebrews 12:1-2a “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

James 4:13-15 “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'”

2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

Hope this gives you some perspective in setting your goals this year. Set them right and the Lord will prosper. God Bless my friends.

Eugene Thompson

ET This I Believe 

They Might Be Giants - 9. The Beguiling Giant: Deception

What does beguiling mean?
Enticing, charming, mesmeric, fascinating, captivating, enthralling, appealing, attractive, mesmerizing

What does this giant look like?
Powerful and Cruel Giant
He can strike in an instant
Devastation to ourselves and others around us
He doesn’t carry weapons of wood or iron.

“Our WORDS have untold power to BLESS, but they can do equally untold harm when we don’t speak truthfully.”
Lives…..DESTROYED (Deceptive words)
Reputations…..Ruined (Well placed lies)
Dreams…..Dashed (misled)

Psalm 38:11-12
New King James Version (NKJV)
11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague,
And my relatives stand afar off.
12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;
Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction,
And plan deception all the day long.

Matthew 24:10-12
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 24:23-25
New King James Version (NKJV)
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

Life and death is in the tongue

Proverbs 18:19-21
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Commandment #9

Exodus 23:1-3
New King James Version (NKJV)
Justice for All
23 “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 3 You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

“Neither my words nor my actions contained even a hint of deception”

Matthew 24:4-5
New King James Version (NKJV)
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.


4 types of Deception
Outright lies
Twisted Truth
Malicious Gossip
Flattery (inaccurate picture of the truth)

Many times it involves CHEATING OTHERS.

Proverbs 26:18-19
New King James Version (NKJV)
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, “I was only joking!”

Jeremiah 9:3-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies.
They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” says the Lord.
4 “Everyone take heed to his neighbor,
And do not trust any brother;
For every brother will utterly supplant,
And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.
5 Everyone will deceive his neighbor,
And will not speak the truth;
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves to commit iniquity.
6 Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the Lord.

Scramble to remember our latest FABRICATION so as to “KEEP OUR STORY STRAIGHT”

Adam & Eve
Serpent Deceived Eve by blurring the distinction between DIVINE ORDER and A FRIENDLY PIECE OF ADVISE.
Moses and the 10 suggestions
Eve misled husband
The two attempted to deceive their maker

Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on!

Genesis 3:12-14
New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.

YOU CANNOT DECEIVE GOD

LIE TO ME (television show)
Inspired by a real-life behavioral scientist, this FOX drama tells the tale of a deception expert who helps uncover the truth for the FBI, local police, law firms, corporations, and individuals. Dr. Cal Lightman and his team are effectively human polygraph machines, and no truth can be concealed from them.

Our faces reveal multitudes about what we are thinking, feeling, intending.
A slack jaw hints that we’ve been surprised,
flared nostrils suggest hostility.
Drooping eyelids indicate sadness or perhaps just … exhaustion.
This is to say nothing of the powerful messages communicated by the face in the embarrassed downward glance,
the flirtatious “look away,” or the piercing stare.

10,000 expressions – 43 muscles in the face
7 basic emotions: fear, happiness, sadness, anger, contempt, disgust and surprise

TEN SIGNS OF DECEPTION



1. Lack of self-reference

Truthful people make frequent use of the pronoun "I" to describe their actions: "I arrived home at 6:30. The phone was ringing as I unlocked the front door, so I walked straight to the kitchen to answer it. I talked to my mother for 10 minutes before noticing that my TV and computer were missing from the living room." This brief statement contains the pronoun "I" four times in three sentences. 

Deceptive people often use language that minimizes references to themselves. One way to reduce self-references is to describe events in the passive voice.

"The safe was left unlocked" rather than "I left the safe unlocked."
"The shipment was authorized" rather than "I authorized the shipment."
Another way to reduce self-references is to substitute the pronoun "you" for "I."
Question: "Can you tell me about reconciling the bank statement?"

Answer: "You know, you try to identify all the outstanding checks and deposits in transit, but sometimes when you're really busy you just post the differences to the suspense account."

In oral statements and informal written statements, deceptive witnesses sometimes simply omit self-referencing pronouns. Consider this statement by a husband who claims his wife was killed accidently: "I picked up the gun to clean it. Moved it to the left hand to get the cleaning rod. Something bumped the trigger. The gun went off, hitting my wife." The husband acknowledges in the first sentence that he picked up the gun. But the second sentence is grammatically incomplete; "I" has been omitted from the beginning of the sentence. In the third sentence, "something" rather than "I" bumped the trigger. The statement also contains few personal possessive pronouns. The witness refers to "the" gun and "the" left hand where we might expect "my" to be used. 



2. Verb tense. 

Truthful people usually describe historical events in the past tense. Deceptive people sometimes refer to past events as if the events were occurring in the present. Describing past events using the present tense suggests that people are rehearsing the events in their mind. Investigators should pay particular attention to points in a narrative at which the speaker shifts to inappropriate present tense usage. Consider the following statement made by an employee claiming that a pouch containing $6,000 in cash was stolen before she could deposit it at the bank (I have emphasized certain words.):

"After closing the store, I put the cash pouch in my car and drove to the Olympia Bank building on Elm Street. It was raining hard so I had to drive slowly. I entered the parking lot and drove around back to the night depository slot. When I stopped the car and rolled down my window, a guy jumps out of the bushes and yells at me. I can see he has a gun. He grabs the cash pouch and runs away. The last I saw him he was headed south on Elm Street. After he was gone, I called the police on my cell phone and reported the theft."

The first three sentences describe the employee's drive to the bank in the past tense. But the next three sentences describe the alleged theft in the present tense. An alert investigator might suspect that the employee stole the day's cash receipts, then drove to the bank and called the police from the bank parking lot to report a phony theft. (See another example in "Antics with Semantics" at bottom.)



3. Answering questions with questions

Even liars prefer not to lie. Outright lies carry the risk of detection. Before answering a question with a lie, a deceptive person will usually try to avoid answering the question at all. One common method of dodging questions is to respond with a question of one's own. Investigators should be alert to responses such as:
"Why would I steal from my own brother?"
"Do I seem like the kind of person who would do something like that?"
"Don't you think somebody would have to be pretty stupid to remove cash from their own register drawer?"

4. Equivocation

The subject avoids an interviewer's questions by filling his or her statements with expressions of uncertainty, weak modifiers and vague expressions. Investigators should watch for words such as: think, guess, sort of, maybe, might, perhaps, approximately, about, could. Vague statements and expressions of uncertainty allow a deceptive person leeway to modify his or her assertions at a later date without directly contradicting the original statement. 
Noncommittal verbs are: think, believe, guess, suppose, figure, assume. Equivocating adjectives and adverbs are: sort of, almost, mainly, perhaps, maybe, about. Vague qualifiers are: you might say, more or less.



5. Oaths

Although deceptive subjects attempt to give interviewers as little useful information as possible, they try very hard to convince interviewers that what they say is true. Deceptive subjects often use mild oaths to try to make their statements sound more convincing. Deceptive people are more likely than truthful people to sprinkle their statements with expressions such as: "I swear," "on my honor," "as God is my witness," "cross my heart." Truthful witnesses are more confident that the facts will prove the veracity of their statements and feel less need to back their statements with oaths.


6. Euphemisms

Many languages offer alternative terms for almost any action or situation. Statements made by guilty parties often include mild or vague words rather than their harsher, more explicit synonyms. Euphemisms portray the subject's behavior in a more favorable light and minimize any harm the subject's actions might have caused. Investigators should look for euphemistic terms such as: "missing" instead of "stolen," "borrowed" instead of "took," "bumped" instead of "hit," and "warned" instead of "threatened."



7. Alluding to actions

People sometimes allude to actions without saying they actually performed them. Consider the following statement from an employee who was questioned about the loss of some valuable data: "I try to back up my computer and put away my papers every night before going home. Last Tuesday, I decided to copy my files onto the network drive and started putting my papers in my desk drawer. I also needed to lock the customer list in the office safe." Did the employee back up her computer? Did she copy her files onto the network drive? Did she put her papers in the desk drawer? Did she lock the customer list in the office safe? The employee alluded to all these actions without saying definitively that she completed any of them. An attentive investigator should not assume that subjects perform every action they allude to.



8. Lack of Detail

Truthful statements usually contain specific details, some of which may not even be relevant to the question asked. This happens because truthful subjects are retrieving events from long-term memory, and our memories store dozens of facts about each experience — the new shoes we were wearing, the song that was playing in the background, the woman at the next table who reminded us of our third-grade teacher, the conversation that was interrupted when the fire alarm rang. At least some of these details will show up in a truthful subject's statement. 

Those who fabricate a story, however, tend to keep their statements simple and brief. Few liars have sufficient imagination to make up detailed descriptions of fictitious events. Plus, a deceptive person wants to minimize the risk that an investigator will discover evidence contradicting any aspect of his or her statement; the fewer facts that might be proved false, the better. Wendell Rudacille, the author of "Identifying Lies in Disguise" (Kendall/Hunt, 1994), refers to seemingly inconsequential details as "tangential verbal data" and considers their presence to be prime indicators that subjects are telling the truth. 



9. Narrative balance

A narrative consists of three parts: prologue, critical event and aftermath. The prologue contains background information and describes events that took place before the critical event. The critical event is the most important occurrence in the narrative. The aftermath describes what happened after the critical event. In a complete and truthful narrative, the balance will be approximately 20 percent to 25 percent prologue, 40 percent to 60 percent critical event and 25 percent to 35 percent aftermath. If one part of the narrative is significantly shorter than expected, important information may have been omitted. If one part of the narrative is significantly longer than expected, it may be padded with false information. The following statement, filed with an insurance claim, is suspiciously out of balance:

"I was driving east on Elm Street at about 4:00 on Tuesday. I was on my way home from the A&P supermarket. The traffic light at the intersection of Elm and Patterson was red, so I came to a complete stop. After the light turned green, I moved slowly into the intersection. All of a sudden, a car ran into me. The other driver didn't stop, so I drove home and called my insurance agent."

The subject's statement contains four sentences of prologue, only one sentence describing the critical event, and only one sentence of aftermath. The prologue contains a credible amount of detail: the day and time of the accident, the driver's destination, and the location of the accident. But the description of the critical event (i.e., the alleged accident) is suspiciously brief. The claimant did not describe the other vehicle, which direction it came from, how fast it was going, whether the driver braked to try to avoid the accident or how the two vehicles made contact. 

The aftermath is also shorter than one would expect from a complete and truthful account of a two-car accident. The claimant does not say which direction the other vehicle went after leaving the scene of the accident. He does not mention getting out of his vehicle to inspect the damage nor does he say whether he spoke to any people in the area who may have witnessed the accident. A claims adjuster receiving such a statement would be wise to investigate whether the policyholder concocted a phony hit-and-run story to collect for damages caused by the driver's negligence.



10. Mean Length of Utterance

The average number of words per sentence is called the "mean length of utterance" (MLU). The MLU equals the total number of words in a statement divided by the number of sentences:

Total number of words / Total number of sentences = MLU

Most people tend to speak in sentences of between 10 and 15 words (ACFE Self-Study CPE Course, "Analyzing Written Statements for Deception and Fraud," 2009). When people feel anxious about an issue, they tend to speak in sentences that are either significantly longer or significantly shorter than the norm. Investigators should pay particular attention to sentences whose length differs significantly from the subject's MLU.


Why does telling the truth seem so difficult when stretching the truth comes so easily?

What motivates us to speak deceitfully?
Why do we find it necessary to lie or twist the truth?
Why do we tend to present the facts in a way that is unfairly or deceitfully beneficial to us?

CAUSES: Caving into the Giant

OUR OWN FEAR
We fear the outcome of telling the truth
We lack the courage to face the consequences.
What are the consequences?

Romans 6:23
New King James Version (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:2-4
New King James Version (NKJV)
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[a] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

SIMPLE GREED FOR MATERIAL OR MONETARY GAIN
Giant DISCONTENT
Deceitfully gotten material. Wealth will never satisfy you, but will only make your lust for more stronger and stronger to the point that that is will consume you.
Your possessions will posses you.

2 Timothy 3:12-14
New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

OWN YOUR ANGER
“Get even” – False truths about others
Speaking deceptive words is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die: It may hurt your enemy, but eventually it will destroy you.

Deuteronomy 11:15-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’ 16 “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, 17 lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.

Ephesians 5:6-7
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.


SELFISH PRIDE
Pride motivates us to use deception because we feel the need to build ourselves up in the eyes of the world around us
Pride kills

Galatians 6:2-4
New King James Version (NKJV)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.


ASK YOURSELF!

We must DISARM the Giant!

Proverbs 26:20-22
New King James Version (NKJV)
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.

Poisonous Communication

GOSSIP (Relaying Information)
What is your motivation for relaying those facts. Constructive Information or Destructive Gossip
Example: Merchant
Verbal Vandalism Destroying his or her own property.
Have you listened? “Accessory to SIN”
Why?
Gain Advantage
Meanness
Get even
Example: Guards
TWISTING
Van Alen Story
FLATTERY
Opposite of Encouragement
Speak from Pure hearts.

Colossians 2:4
New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

OUR WEAPONS
Deception is Deception
“White Lies or Half Truths” – HALF Truth is always a WHOLE Lie
Negative
Stop and think! Who is this going to benefit?
Flattery
Consider your Motives
Count the Cost of your Words
Weight Watcher!
What can you loose?
Advantages of Truth

Proverbs 19:1
New King James Version (NKJV)
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

The only one Lying is the Giant: Deception

They Might Be Giants - 8. The Selfish Giant: Disregard

Two wealthy men. Both are have achieved exceptional wealth in their lives. They both have beautiful homes and many paid servants. Both have many acres of land, cars, boats, etc. They both have all the money they could ever use in this lifetime as well as the next. One is the picture of generosity. He pays his employees well, and gives to the poor and needy. He brings his tithes and offerings to the house of God. He gives cheerfully, because he knows

2 Corinthians 9:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

How can we be a cheerful giver? In your estimation what makes a cheerful giver? Are you a cheerful giver? Are you as big of a cheerful giver as you are cheerful with your big screen television purchase? Electric bill? Are you excited? We are obviously excited about spending time with our new big tv purchase....how about your excitement for your offering you give.

The other man is every bit as wealthy as the first, but anything but generous with his material blessings. He's stingy especially when it comes to the salary of his employees. He rarely helps those less fortunate than himself. He gives in the offering, but not near as cheerful as the first man. It almost pains him to drop that check into the offering. This man has been blessed with material wealth, but lives a life of disregard for anyone's needs but his own.
The second man describes the next giant we're about to discuss. The giant called “disregard.”

Proverbs 11:25
New King James Version (NKJV)
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 22:9
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

When we spoke about the giant of discontent, we said there was nothing inherently wrong with working hard to create material wealth, that it is fine to have ambition. We warned against making the acquisition of material wealth the center of your life. Not allowing yourself to fall into the trap of loving or serving money or material goods.


1 Timothy 6:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

When you allow yourself to fall into those things, you have been defeated by the giant called discontent. As long as you are losing a battle with discontent, you can count on disregard to join in the fight too. When disregard goes to war with us, he more often than not enlists discontent as his ally.
The giant named disregard wants us to cling tightly to what we have earned--to what God has generously given us. He defeats us by getting inside our heads and telling us that we don't have enough for our own needs, that we just can't afford to give to others. He takes us down by convincing us that if we give to eternal causes, then we'll be shorted and won't be able to pay our own way in the here and now.

There is something inside all of us that makes it difficult, in some cases impossible, to part with our money for the good of others and even for God Himself. There is some part of our fallen nature that keeps us from enjoying the blessings we receive when we learn to give freely and joyfully.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;
Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.
This also is vanity.

Even though one may have plenty as far as monetary things, we must not place our trust in that. One day it will be useless to us. We must use our money to do good for those around us and to further the purposes of God. When we do this we store up real and lasting treasures for ourselves.

GIVE TO THE LORD FIRST AND THE BEST

Numbers 18:12
New King James Version (NKJV)
12 “All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the Lord, I have given them to you.

Ezekiel 44:30
New King James Version (NKJV)
30 The best of all firstfruits of any kind, and every sacrifice of any kind from all your sacrifices, shall be the priest’s; also you shall give to the priest the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house.

Rams, Lambs, Goats
Exodus and several locations in the front of Leviticus tells us about what and how we select our offering. Unblemished without spots.

Disregard for people
EXAMPLES

Luke 10:25-36
New King James Version (NKJV)
Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[h] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[i]

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[j] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”


Acts 5:1-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
Ananias & Sapphira - Lying to the Holy Spirit

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

She said, “Yes, for so much.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.


Ephesians 5:33

New King James Version (NKJV)
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.


Luke 20:9-18
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”

And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”

17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’?[a]
18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Matthew 21:27, Mark 12:6
Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

In the presence of true generosity, the giant named disregard will be defeated on the spot. But how do we make use of the weapon of generosity? How do we take on an attitude, a heart condition if you will, of giving?

A mindset of generosity must begin with the realization that God has given us everything we have, our material riches, our power, our gifts, and talents--and He holds us accountable for how we use those things. It's the realization that God holds ultimate ownership over everything, and that includes all we have. Scripture says in

SELF RESPECT

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20,
"Do you not know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you are bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Whether you admit it or not, without the blessing and generous hand of God, you and I have and are not anything. When God chooses to bless you, He expects you to use those blessings to do the things He wants done.

Does this mean we're to take vows of poverty? Does it mean we should give everything to the poor and needy and move into a cave and become a hermit? NO! It simply means that our first priority, whether or not we are wealthy is to use our resources in a way that reflects God's ultimate ownership of those things.

If we are going to conquer the giant named disregard, we must develop our "weapon" of generosity the way a good soldier develops his swordsmanship or marksmanship skills, with practice, practice, practice.
Conquering the giant called disregard means understanding that you cannot serve two masters--namely God and money. You will always be a servant to something, and if you do not serve God and regard what He has given you, you will become a servant to your money. When you place your earthly treasures at the center of your life, you will be defeated by the giants named discontent and disregard.

Abraham faced a challenge when he was asked to give up the greatest gift he had ever received--his promised child, Isaac. The Lord prompted Abraham to give up Isaac, on an altar. Abraham may not have understood why God wanted him to do such a thing, but he was nonetheless obedient. When Abraham was found faithful to God, when God knew that he would not hold back even his beloved son, Isaac was spared.

Three uses of our generosity weapon
Abraham realized what we must also realize if we are to defeat the giant name disregard. We are to serve God and God alone, and there is nothing we shouldn't be willing to surrender to Him.
Each of us must begin today, through our generosity with those less fortunate, through our giving to the work God wants done--to convert our present wealth into the currency that is going to last beyond our lifetimes. It's the surest way to leave a legacy of lasting success.

It will speak volumes to the next giant we battle and how serious you and I are when it comes to putting the needs of others high on our list of priorities--which is important, because the next giant is disregard's evil twin: division.coming next!

They Might Be Giants - 10. The Subtle Giant: Discontent

What does a giant look like?

·         Muscle

·         Armor

·         Declares war on us

·         Too big to sneak up on us – we read what Goliath looked like in 1 SAM 17

This Giant doesn’t roar

“He knows how to kill us slowly, from the inside out by feeding us one lie after another until we are robbed of energy, our joy of life, our purpose for existence.”

This Giant, Discontent mocks us. And honestly we deserve it! We are a people that live a life of discontent. We are not satisfied with our position in life. We look for more and more to add to what we already have. There is never enough money. We have crazy debt in credit cards, home loans because we need a bigger and bigger house, car loans because we always need the newest car, and it is never enough.

We think it is our right! Our right to have all of these things…even though it took our parents years to reach this status. If our parents didn’t have the money we didn’t get it. However we are impatient…..we have to have it know.  This is the delusion that the giant of Discontent gives us.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 Samuel 22

New King James Version (NKJV)

David’s Four Hundred Men

22 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

Luke 3:7-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

John Preaches to the People

⁷ Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ⁹ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰ So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

¹¹ He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

¹² Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

¹³ And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

¹⁴ Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”

So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Philippians 4:10-13

New King James Version (NKJV)

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ^[a] who strengthens me.

1 Timothy 6:5-7

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ useless wranglings^[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.^[b]

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain^[c] we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Hebrews 13

New King James Version (NKJV)

Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. ³ Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

⁴ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”^{[a] 6} So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”^[b]

3 John 1:9-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but^[a] he who does evil has not seen God.

Perspective: When I used to draw perspectives by hand….the old fashion way, I needed to have the correct vantage point. If I didn’t, the whole thing looked off. Pride becomes a big part of discontent. When pride comes ahead of us it leads to us not being content in our lives.  We need to start with the correct perspective.

Romans 12:1-3

New King James Version (NKJV)

Living Sacrifices to God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

How did the Pharisees do on this?

1 John 2:15-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Not Love the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

James 4:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

1 Corinthians 1:31

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[a]

Luke 14:7-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

Take the Lowly Place

⁷ So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; ⁹ and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Philippians 2:3

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

1 Peter 5:5-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”^[a]

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

1 Samuel 17: 12-15; 1 Samuel16:6-7
1. Giant-killers have a heart that longs to pursue God. They have the capacity and develop the desire to allow God to own their heart.

·         Their heart is all out for God. Psalm 63:8

·         Their heart is fully devoted to God. 1 Kings 11:4

·         Their heart is easily broken by God. Psalm 51:17

·         Their heart longs to see God. Matthew 5:8

The Story of David, and How to Be a Giant Killer
1 Samuel 17:1-26
2. Giant-killers have a giant love for God. It is their love and respect for God that motivates them to stand up to giants.

1 Samuel 17:28-31
3.Giant-killers don’t give up when others don’t believe in them; it is enough for them to know God believes in them.

1 Samuel 17:32-37
4. Giant-killers have giant faith in their giant God. They believe that God will do the impossible and come through when they take the step of faith in obedience.

1 Samuel 17:38-40
5. Giant-killers use the gifts and abilities God has given them to make a difference in their world. They do it their own special way, not the world’s way.

1 Samuel 17:41-47
6. Giant-killers don’t give in to the fear of failure or defeat. They will face any fear and overcome any difficulty to reach the objective to bring glory to God.

1 Samuel 17:48-51
7. Giant-killers finish the job, they don’t stop until they have seen the giant they are fighting dead on the ground.

It's hard to imagine such a thing as a subtle giant. Giants are supposed to look and behave like Goliath. Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. They're supposed to be ferocious, merciless, and overwhelming. They're supposed to have muscles, thick armor, hard hearts, and they use all this to declare war on you and I. Giants are too big to sneak up on anyone. They rely on brute strength, superior weaponry, and a knowledge of warfare to overwhelm and take what they want, even our lives if they so chose to. They don't approach us with humility either. They know they will win--in a rout. They look on us with disdain as if we annoy they, and they know they won't work up a sweat in defeating us. Goliath wasn't subtle. He stood over nine foot tall and was armored from head to toe. He made fun of his enemy, the Israelites, and challenged them daily for 40 days to send just one man to fight him. Unlike Goliath, merciless killers don't always roar with such thunder. There is a subtle giant in our midst. He is big and strong, and he has all power he needs, if we give it to him to destroy us. Scripture says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This subtle giant we're about to speak of knows how to kill us slowly, from the inside out, by feeding us lie after lie until we are robbed of our energy, our joy, and our purpose for existence. This giants name is DISCONTENT. He is subtle because he is overgrown, out of control version of what can be a wise, sound approach to life--the approach that tells us that we can be successful, even wealthy, if we work hard and honestly to attain the appropriate handle on what we have. Discontent will mock us and say that we deserve what we don't or cannot have. He makes us believe that somehow life hasn't given us what we have coming to us and we've been treated unfair. This giant overtakes us by whispering in our ear that if what we have is good, more would be better. He focuses our attention on those who have what we want but don't have. He inspires within us every form of jealousy, resentment, and selfish ambition. Discontent is a subtle giant, but he's every bit as deadly as Goliath. Discontent is at the heart of so many human problems. The insatiable desire for more and better ruins lives, destroys families, stops businesses, and sends nations to war. David had to square off with Goliath because the giant named discontent had already infected the entire Philistine army. The discontented Philistines wanted to take from the Israelites the land that had been divinely appointed to them. We have to deal with the giant named discontent with finality. He's not a giant that can be controlled or put in his place. On the contrary, if we are to live full, rich victorious lives, we must slay this giant once and for all. Don't believe the lie that if you attain great wealth that all will be okay. You may not need anything in the physical sense, but there is always the danger of becoming disconent with what you have. Remember Solomon, David's son and successor to the throne? He was the richest man alive. He had many wives and concubines. Later in his life, he drifted to some of their gods. What happened? He lost focus. No matter how much you have, it's never enough to satisfy. No matter how much money you have in the bank, no matter how many employees you have at your disposal, if your love is places with those riches, your existence is meaningless. Scripture says, "He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity (futile)" Eccesiastes 5:10. We're talking about being possessed by possessions, being controlled by things we are called to control. There is nothing wrong with attaining wealth, but when we become servants to wealth, we have fallen prey to the giant called discontent. Satisfication can only be measured by what is inside a person. If what lies inside is discontent, envy, jealousy, and the love of money, that person's life will be an exercise in futility. Enough will never be enough. It is futile and pure foolishness to tie our lasting happiness and peace of mind to anything that cannot possibly last. When we do, we build our lives on what is at best an unstable, untrustworthy foundation. That is because the wealth of even the richest is temporal and can be gone in a moment. "Every good and perfect gift comes from above, even the ability to produce wealth" (Deutrononomy 8:18) This is not to say we're not to seek after honest work. Also there is nothing wrong with admiring other's achievements, gifts, or abilities. It's great to admire and respect what our friends, relatives and neighbors have accomplished. When that simple admiration turns to resentment or envy, it becomes another weapon in the hands of an assasin called discontent. Goliath was a belligerent giant. For forty days, he roared and bellowed curses at the Israelites, yet no one dared challenge him. He grew bolder and bolder with each day. He was not going to go away. Discontent inflicts on us greed and envy. He'll grow more stubborn by the day if we don't face him and defeat him. The weapon of choice to defeat disconent is to have a heart full of gratitude. You need to realize that everything you have, not just your wealth, but your ability to produce wealth; not just your position but the influence your promincence affords--is a gift. When you recognize that, you can develop in your heart a deep gratitude for all you have and believe it or not, for what you don't have. What if Noah and his wife displayed the attitude that is prominent with most people today, Rather than being thankful they had been spared in a great flood, they would have gotten off the ark and said: "What a lousy cruise--it rained for the first month and half." That's how the giant named discontent operates. In his grip, he will make your entire journey through life a miserable trip. Remember, not so much as one cent of what we possess will follow us to the grave. When we die, it will not matter what we possess. We are born with nothing, and after we die we will stand before God with nothing. "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shallhe return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carrry away in his hand" (Ecclesiastes 5:15). Work hard to accomplish things in this life, but be content with what you have. You've been given a promise that you will never be forsaken. Embrace the spirit of humble thanksgiving, and you will soundly defeat the first giant on your path to total victory. When you've done that, the good news is that you are now an official giant conqueror. The bad news is this: "now you've just made the remaining giants very angry."