Never say "I don't know" - Sunday Sermon: Pastor Fadi
Today is better than tomorrow!
Take my word: Never say "l don't know!"
When the rains shower, and the winds blow,
You will find refuge in God's shadow.
When your sins stand in your face and show
How dark your heart is, and how narrow
Your door looks, so no guide to follow...
Then your hope is in Him, dear fellow.
I gave you the first word, it is "know".
Do you know what is next? Yes or no?
What is the second word? Plow and sow!
Hold the torch, open your eyes, my bro'.
If you ask, seek, and knock: look below
To the least, to the last, to the low
To the East, to the West, in the row
You will find next to "know" what l throw.
Who in the Bible said "l don't know"?
But he lied! Didn't care! It was so!
We should not do and walk with the flow;
We should know, do the good thing and glow.
We are His light on earth, white as snow,
May we be in His hand an arrow
To send us, where He wants; come and tow
The broken, and remove the sorrow.
Bring the lost when they fall sick and slow
To Him, and feed them so they may grow.
You'll find rest on His golden pillow;
And you'll shine in the divine rainbow.
======
I thought of summarizing this series on the above short poem...
I hope l could give you some hints.
So,
Today is better than tomorrow...
That's why l decided to send you my sermon; so take your time to read it more
than once, meditate on His Word, and listen to His voice...
And remember to send me the conclusion of this sermon, as you understood it, if
He spoke to you... so that l may personally be blessed by your message.
=========
How many times we answered a question about something or somebody, and we
said, "l do not know!"?
When in fact, we did know!?
What was the reason for our answer?
Even for our lie!?
Why do you think you answer,
"l do not know"?
Instead of, "l do know!"?
Especially when you "do know"?!
I sincerely wish that we all think seriously about this critical matter, &
look thoroughly into this important subject, & ask ourselves:
Was it true, even totally true, that l did not know, when l said, "l do
not know"?
Because, dear brethren, almost all starts here!
We are true believers.
We must be true.
We can't accept to lie and think that it's OK. Because it's not OK.
Really, somehow, and somewhere, in almost the very old start, someone said
"l don't know", while he did know... and one of the most dreadful
things happened, which we would never wish to happen!
There: one of the most horrible sins in the whole history of mankind had
occurred...
And, there: one of the most dreadful judgments in the whole history of mankind
fell down from heaven, from God!
I don't think at all that any of us would like this to happen to us at anytime,
anywhere!
1. I remember back in the early 70's a mother in our neighborhood used to
teach her children to always say "l don't know", when they are asked
by anybody about anything. She didn't want her children to divulge,
uncover, or reveal any fact or information from or about their household.
2. Some say "l don't know" because they don't want to give a clear
answer.
3. Some say it because they don't care.
4. Some say it because they "simply" lie.
5. Some say it because they forgot. However, in order to be true, they
should say "l don't remember!"; not, "l don't know!".
6. Some say it because they are not ready to put or make any effort to
know. So, in order to be true, they must admit that they are lazy and
ignorant. They could know, but they didn't want to know.
7. Some say it because they are afraid and not bold enough to tell the truth.
8. Some say it because they want to avoid falling in trouble, causing a
dispute, or breaking a relationship.
9. Some say it because they think that it's for "good reasons",
like this is the best way to hide something that hurts or to help someone from
being hurt.
10. Some say it because they truly, totally and perfectly don't know. They are
not quite sure, although they did everything possible in order to
know. They are sincere willing to say, "l do know!", but because
they truly couldn't know, then they say, "l don't know!".
So, on which of the above numbers, the title of today's sermon applies/falls?
(Never say, "l don't know!")
Answer: On all of them, except on # 10.
Your opinion?
You may not agree on my answer.
You may still continue to say "l don't know!" on one or more of # 1
to 9.
But, when it's not true, that is, when you answer "l do not know!",
when in fact and in reality, you do know => then, it's a lie.
And let's remind ourselves that in the last chapter of the Bible, we read
very clearly that that from the City of God, where the Tree of Life is, all who
love and make a (single) lie, are cast out! (Rev. 22:15).
15 For without are dogs, & sorcerers, & whoremongers, &
murderers, & idolaters, & whosoever loveth & maketh a lie.
&, to confirm this truth, let's read the last verse of the previous
chapter, Rev 21:27,
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are
written in the Lamb's book of life.
And, because # 3 is a very important number in the Bible, but more precisely,
so that we may not exclude any kind of lying, like:
. A "small" lie,
. A "white" lie,
. A "colored" lie
. An accidental lie,
. An "unintentional" lie,
. Or, a "good-intentional" lie...
The Holy Spirit inspired John to write a clear message, & a strong warning
& judgment on "all" liars, saying in the same chapter, Rev. 21:8:
8 But the fearful, & unbelieving, & the abominable, &
murderers, & whoremongers, & sorcerers, & idolaters, & ALL
LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire &
brimstone: which is the second death.
Some say,
But, God did not include it in the 10 Commandments!?
He did not say: Thou Shall Not Lie!?
Well, when we blind our eyes from seeing the truth, we fast & clearly do
all our best to justify our sins, & this becomes more than a sin => it
becomes devilish!
The Devil is the source of all sin!
And in his wickedness:
. he doesn't only want to see his sin,
. but he convinces himself and others,
. humans for example,
. that their sins are not sins,
. and that God is not fair,
. He is even not just and not good...
God the Holy Spirit did indeed include lying as sin, and condemned it, putting
it in the most important sins, abominations & prohibitions, in the 10
Commandments, as we read:
Ex. 20: 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
. Bearing a false witness is lying,
. & not saying the truth, the whole truth, & nothing but the truth is a
pure lie!
When we know, but we say "I don't know!": we are simply, but horribly
& dangerously, lying!
Let's not start trying to find excuses, examples, situations, justifications,
& escapes from not saying the truth...
A lie is a lie.
It's a sin.
Period.
& beware of the Devil who tries to take examples from Our Lord Jesus'
wise ways of speech in His answers, in order not to be caught by His enemies
who never stopped trying and tempting Him, wanting Him to fall in one single
word...
For Jesus was the Perfect One who never failed to tell the truth, and never
fell in facing His enemies by His wise and smart answers and questions.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He always knows
everything.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He never lied.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He was never afraid to say
the truth to anybody.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He was never not willing to
care for others. He always cared for everybody.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He never forgot or lacked
for information.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He never needed to put or
make any more effort to improve His knowledge or memory.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because He always knew
everything from the past backward to the Alpha, and about the future forward to
the omega, and all that is in between, because He is the Omniscient God.
Jesus never said "l don't know", because:
. He is the Truth.
. He was always ready to say the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the
truth.
. He had nothing to hide about the truth.
. He was never not wanting to say the truth.
. He was never hiding anything to be declared about the truth.
. He did not need to say "l don't know" for any "good
reason", because He always "knew" and always "did" all
that is good.
. He always did good and said the truth.
This being said,
. The Lord knew exactly what to say and how to answer in all the
situations.
. He also knew how to change the subject, or to give a different answer, for
His divine reasons and good goals.
. Plus, He certainly knew when not to utter any word from His holy mouth, but
to keep silent, to say "It is enough!", or to go away.
On top of that:
Jesus never said "sorry", not because He wasn't kind or humble, but
because He never committed any mistake or hurt anybody.
Jesus never asked for forgiveness, not because he was proud or boastful, but
because He was perfect & blameless, and because He never committed any
sin.
Jesus was never late nor hasting or rushing to an appointment, because He was
always:
ON TIME,
ON SCHEDULE,
AT THE EXACT HOUR,
AT THE RIGHT MOMENT,
IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME.
Jesus never said "Oups, or oh, I missed it!", because He is always
perfect & He misses nothing.
May we all learn from Him and be always ready to give the right answer to every
person in every situation.
==========
Please, let's take the time to read the below study and verses in order to:
. Wash our brains/minds, souls, & tongues,
. So, you can see what l did in order to find the 1st word
"know",
. Which helps us benefit the most from every sermon, preaching, & Bible
study or reading.
And: to find out who was John talking about, when l told you that this
great man of God had a ... :
. Who said "l don't know".
. While that was not true.
. Because his ... did know.
. But... simply, horribly and wickedly, lied.
. ... didn't make any effort to know.
. And most importantly, ... didn't care.
. & ... heart was full of hatred, anger, and wickedness. &,
. ... was empty of God's love, mercy & compassion.
Based on all the above:
We must never say "l don't know!"
We must not lie!
I Can Even Say:
Thou Shall Not Say,
"I Don't Know!"
Almost Like:
Thou Shalt Not Lie!
Study & Verses:
Many people can’t go 10 minutes without lying!
Moreover, they are ready to defend their lie, at all cost.
Plus, they are so blind to the point that they may, very possibly &
frequently, believe their lie and live in it! Not just adults, but
research also shows kids start lying at a very early/young age.
So, Correct me if l am wrong:
We’ve all told a lie at one point in our lives.
Someone said:
I have told terrible lies in the past to my dad, mum, and friends.
Recently, I had to lie to an ex-girlfriend that my wife is always home.
My intentions were right – I don’t want to cheat on my wife.
And it seemed this ex-girlfriend was going to come to see me anyways.
But I never wanted to meet her knowing her motives.
So, I looked for an excuse and so l lied.
But that’s wrong. I should know better and be bold enough to tell the truth.
God detests lying so much (whether you are lying to yourself or to
others).
In fact, it is the ninth commandment given to Moses.
God says “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus
20:16).
In other words, Thou shall not lie to one another.
I read through bible verses about lying, and It was really inspiring, and so l
decided to share this subject with you. There are many Bible verses about
telling lies and the resultant consequences. God hates it when we deceive
our friends and neighbors. He wants us to be led by the Holy Spirit.
If we are led by God, we
must never tell lies to one another.
Read and be blessed:
1. Lev. 19:11 (Thou Shall Not Lie )
Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.
2. Proverbs 6:16-19 – God Hates A Lying Tongue
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination
unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent
blood,
A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to
mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.
3. Proverbs 19:9 (False Witness)
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall
perish.
4. Colossians 3:9-10 – Do Not Lie To One Another
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of him that created him
5. John 8:44 – The Devil Is The Father Of Lies
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He
was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is
no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father of it.
6. Hebrews 6:18 (God=Truth)
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie
7. Prov. 12:22 (God Hates Lies)
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are
trustworthy.
8. Eph. 4:25 (we must not lie) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every
man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
9. Zephaniah 3:13 (The Remnant Of The People Of God Are Holy)
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a
deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and
none shall make them afraid.
10. Rev. 21:8 (In The City Of God)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
11. Mat. 15:18-20 (Oh! The Heart!)
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and
they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands
defileth not a man
12. 1 Tim. 1:9-10 (Who Is That?)
We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for
lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and
irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for
murderers,10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality,
for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to
the sound doctrine
13. Zech. 8:16 (We Have To Do)
These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to
his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
14. Jn 8:31-32 (Jesus' Disciples)
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free
Why I Must Not Lie And I Must Never Say "I Don't Know!" When I Do
Know?
There are many examples of lying in the bible which led to horrible ends. The story of Ananias and Saphira is one of them. In those days, after the
death, resurrection, appearances, and ascension of Christ, The apostles of
Jesus continued to preach the gospel of salvation. They received the Holy
Spirit on the day of Pentecost, which made them do great things. All Christians
at that time contributed to help the poor in the church. Even Barnabas, who belonged to the Levite tribe of Israel, sold his land and
donated the money to the apostles for distribution to the poor according to
each one's needs, although, according to the Law, the Levites receive the
financial help, support, & contributions from the people, while they serve
in the temple with the priests. Ananias and Saphira decided to sell a property, and they offered only a portion
of the money to the apostles. But they pretended to give the whole amount of
the sold property to the apostles. This angered Peter because he knew they were
both lying to God. So he said, in Acts 5:3-4,
Peter did not force anyone. But lying to God and the Holy Spirit, who lives in the believers, was an abominable thing to do. Just after speaking to Ananias, God sentenced Ananias to death. Acts 5:5. Same thing happened to his wife, because she followed her husband and walked in his steps, so she fell in his sin, and she was condemned by God the same way.
Satan is the father of lies:
The Lord Jesus said to the Jews in John 8, You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of the lie. Through lies, sin entered into this world. The devil deceived the woman, and the man believed the lie of the enemy instead of the truth of God, so death was pronounced upon all mankind.
But because God is merciful, graceful, good and loving, He has always intervened to help every human by showing them His way of Salvation. He had intervened before Adam and Eve fell in sin, by warning man of the consequence of the disobedience and untrusting in Him. For God certainly knew what will happen & how man will follow after the lust and the temptation of the enemy by eating from the forbidden fruit and tree. He had intervened before Cain killed his righteous brother Abel. And that was by encouraging Cain to do better, and prepare his heart first and also his offering in the right way, so that he and his offering may be accepted by God. And God had already prepared the plan of salvation for all sinners, way before we all sin against Him, as it is written by Peter about the blood of Christ which is known before the foundation of the world.
So, before humans started sinning, and not seeking to know the truth and not
willing to do the right, God had prepared the solution and the way of
salvation...
Didn't John write about that?
Who?
Well, l just told you ...
You told us about who? Pastor Fady?
Well, l just told you about the one who did know the truth but decided not to
do the right in the eyes of God...
I just told you, l even mentioned the name of the righteous man of God who had
a ...
Who said, "l don't know!:
Well, that was a lie.
Because he did know...
But he lied saying,
" l don't know! "
Because he was wicked, and careless...
Ah!
You want me to fill in the blank (...)
I know.
We reached the last part of this sermon and series.
No more sermons to complete it.
Today is the last one.
Ok. My dear partners:
John spoke about Abel without mentioning directly his name.
John wanted all the believers to know Jesus and to walk exactly and perfectly
in His steps, that is, to walk, act, and do exactly as He walked, acted, and
did, in order to accomplish and do according to His will.
John said:
1 John 3:18: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Deed and truth!
Deed means: to do.
Truth: we must KNOW it.
If we truly want to prove that we love the Lord: well, He said it very clearly,
that he who loves Him shall keep His commandments. It is not he who keeps
saying, My Lord, My Lord... but he who does His will, is the one who will:
. Be received/accepted by God
. Be forgiven and saved
. Be in his kingdom/eternal life
. &, Be the Wise builder
. Who listens diligently,
. Understands really,
. Obeys completely and
. Does exactly according to the Word and teaching of Jesus,
. And who builds his life on the Rock of the Word.
He who loves the Lord, KNOWS & KEEPS His commandments by:
. Deciding actually and practically to
. DO what he just listened to from the Word of God, by
. Reading it diligently,
. Understanding it correctly
. Listening to it promptly,
. Memorizing it exactly
. Sharing it definitively
. Spreading it widely
. Distributing it boldly
. Studying it thoroughly
. Obeying it heartily
. Loving it sincerely
. Believing in it blindly
. Searching in it hopefully
. Seeking it daily
. Continuing in it patiently
. Holding it highly
. Hoping in it fully
. Swimming in it deeply
. Washing through it wholly
. Interpreting it literally (as it is)
. & Doing it ultimately
Once we know and do the word of God this way, we will definitively benefit the
most from:
. Watching a sermon online or on TV,
. Studying our reading the Word, or,
. Attending church and listening to the servants of God preaching.
We will never benefit from any Word from God through His servants unless we
decide to:
KNOW AND DO!
Oh. How many times I used these 2 words in this series, & many times side
by side.
l put them in front of your eyes all the time.
So, what did you expect?
? £=@:(÷#
No.
I told you long before, many times:
My Master is simple and humble, although He is the Great Almighty One, & l
simply follow His steps in His simplicity.
Know and Do are 2 simple words, yet they are the only 2 words to keep and to
apply.
John quoted what Cain had done to his brother Abel, slaughtering him, because
his deeds were wicked while the deeds of his brother Abel were good and right.
God warned Cain that there was a sin like a beast hiding behind his door, his
heart door, as well as his house door.
And God encouraged Cain to:
Do...
To do the right thing after the right way of preparing his heart before God and
following what he already (knew) or did:
KNOW,
KNOW exactly what kind of offering he must present to Him.
But Cain decided to believe the voice of the devil, the father of lies,
instead of the voice of the truth and salvation, the voice of God.
So, Cain killed his brother Abel.
But the merciful God came again to him, as he came before to him, and as he had
come long before to his father Adam when he had disobeyed Him, with Eve.
And God asked the eternal question which He continually asks, all over history,
along all the ages, even to us today:
"WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?"
"WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?"
"WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?"
LOVE YOUR GOD FROM
ALL YOUR HEART
ALL YOUR SOUL
ALL YOUR MIGHT
ALL YOUR POWER
AND LOVE YOUR BROTHER/YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!
WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?
DO YOU KNOW?
DO YOU DO WHAT YOU KNOW?
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR BROTHER IS?
DO YOU DO TO YOUR BROTHER WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO TO YOURSELF?
DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME?
DO YOU TRULY LOVE YOUR BROTHER?
WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?
WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?
WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?
And Cain said;
"I DO NOT KNOW!"
...
...
...
If you truly heard God's voice through His Word,
Please complete this sermon and send it to me...
Sincerely,
Fady.
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