INTRODUCTION
We remember the passion of Christ on Holy week, and particularly guard against temptations. ‘Lying vanities’ are the things that speak against what God has said. They are the tempters snares, that easily beset believers. As we enter the ‘Holy Week’, let us reflect on the state of our hearts and minds to the word of God, as against the speaks of lying vanities. Access previous messages at <https://childrenofgraceministries.international>.
1. GOD’S TRUTH AND LYING VANITIES
God’s word is Truth! The Holy Spirit, which is the power of God on earth, perfects God’s word in those who desire his truth. (John 17:17; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 3:3,5). Conversely, Satan is a Liar with no truth in him. (John 8:44). But by voices of “lying vanities”, he opposes and manipulates God’s Truth. ‘Lying vanities are the things that speak against what God has said’; and one believes in them over God’s word. It is engendered by lusts of the eyes and perceptions that cause one to depart from the word of God.
God’s word cannot be understood by Man’s natural reasoning, but by spiritual discernment, revelation or conviction. However, because man, being ‘flesh and blood’ is subject to the material world, Satan employs lying schemes and ‘devices’ to outwit our understanding of spiritual things; and to take advantage of the ignorant. (Matthew 16:17; 1 Corinthians 2:11, 14; Hebrew 2:1; 1 Peter 5.8; Job 1:7; Mark 4:15; 2 Corinthians 2:11).
2. SPEAKING LYING VANITIES
Whenever one engages God’s word for the divine purpose, Satan’s lying speaks or voices of vanities will show up, to try the word of God in you. This is what happened to Adam and Eve. God commanded Adam saying: “… of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”. (Genesis 2:16-17). God’s instruction is clear – not to eat of a particular tree otherwise, face sure death.
But Satan’s ‘lying-speaks’, asks Eve: “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Satan knows God’s commandments! So why did he manipulate God’s words to Eve? He twisted the word of God, in order to gain Eve’s attention, to engage her in a conversation, or to provoke a negative reaction to God’s word. Brethren, Satan is entitled to hold his view of God’s word; but his version of God’s word is irrelevant to you. However, to avoid his manipulations and the temptation of a lying speak, one need to know God’s word, and to believe in it.
3. SPEAKING LIES POLLUTES TRUTH
Eve engages Satan, and is immediately polluted by speaking lies. She added to God’s words saying: God said “…Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die”. A common temptation that befalls many as with Eve, is the desire to misrepresent God’s word to others, to invoke fear. Brethren, “Add thou not unto [God’s] words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”. Do not add to it or subtract from it! Also, speak not wickedly for God, neither talk deceitfully for him. (Proverbs 30:6; Deuteronomy 4:2; Job 13:7-9).
Eve’s inclination to lying, becomes apparent to Satan, when she said that God spoke of ‘not touching the tree’. Satan then, outrightly contradicts God’s words. He provides explanations that would appeal to Eve’s flesh, saying: “Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”. (Genesis 3:4-5).
Brethren, Satan’s explanations of God’s word, is always a lying vanity! It shrouds lies in some perceived benefit or immediate gratification. In this manipulative design, lying vanities should make one feel that the word of God is intended to deprive you of some benefit; or to restrain the pleasures of one’s worldly desire.
4. BELIEVING LYING VANITIES
Lusts can make belief in lying vanities! Satan the “father of lies” frames the True and Good God, as the liar and deceiver to Eve, and she believed the devil over God. What made Eve to believe Satan and eat of the forbidden tree? The Holy Bible explains that, “…when [Eve] saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6). Let us examine the lusts that caused Eve, and many believers nowadays, to regard lying vanities:
4.1 SIGHT AND MATERIAL SATISFACTION
Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, and it was pleasant to the eyes”: ‘Sight’ or desire of the flesh and material satisfaction are key influencers that cause one to believe in lying vanities. Satan will always use worldly niceties, pleasures and wantonness to turn our hearts away from God’s word.
To avoid this snare, please note that, God’s word does not require proof or justification for it to be true; nor does it need to appeal to one’s “sight”, or carnal imagination for you to believe in its truth. Rather, what is required for God’s word to take effect, is FAITH IN GOD and to BELIEVE IN HIS TRUTH – i.e., His Word. (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrew 11:6; John 17:17). We must endeavour therefore to receive the “word of God”, not as the “word of men”, but as it is in truth, the word of God, and it will work in us that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
4.2 RELYING ON MAN’S WISDOM
Relying on carnal wisdom can open the door to lying vanities. Eve desired the ‘tree’ to make her “wise”. In other words, Eve desired ‘wisdom’ of her own, distinct from the “wisdom of God”. She desired to obtain the knowledge of “evil”, and Satan’s ways of deceit for it will work to distort God’s words; or to explain God’s truth in a manner that will satisfy lustful desires; or to achieve a worldly purpose or benefit. (Genesis 3:4-6; Romans 6:12 & 21).
God’s wisdom however, is “spiritually discerned”, taught by the Holy Ghost, who reveals “the things of the spirit of God” to us. (1 Corinthians 2:13-14). So, a ‘wisdom’ that is informed by lies, lustful desires, manipulations, presumptions, perceptions and material gain is evil, and a lying vanity.
4.3 THE LUSTS OF PRIDE AND ENVY
The Lusts of pride and envy are key influencers that cause many to fall for lying vanities. Eve believed in Satan’s words over God’s word, because, she desired that “[her] eyes shall be opened, and [she] shall be as god, knowing good and evil”. The lusts of pride and envy led Eve to desire “to be as god”. Pride and envy can lead one to make the choice to pursue one’s lusts, in disregard of God’s word and purpose, and thereby, one assumes the stead of ‘god’.
Brethren, often, people may draw inferences about certain conditions or situations, (e.g., an illness or loss of a job), or make presumptions, assumptions, and judgements, without discerning the purpose of God for those situations. Also, they may compare themselves or their situations with others and draw wrong conclusions. (Psalm 19:13). If you are prone to this attribute, you are in bed with lying vanities. If you desire God’s truth, endeavour to avoid the influences of pride and envy, for they can inhibit spiritual discernment.
5. OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF LYING VANITIES:
Brethren other attractions of lying vanities include: material gains like riches, property, and employment; or prideful emotions like strife, malice, anger, unforgiveness etc. These may cause believers to become vulnerable to the deception of lying vanities; and could compel them to deceive or speak vanity in order to obtain or pursue these lusts.
5.1 PRIDEFUL EMOTIONS
Prideful emotions could overcome one, to pursue lying vanity at own peril. For example, when God told Jonah to go and preach to the city of Nineveh, because of their wickedness before God, Jonah fled to Tarshish. (Jonah 1:2-3). The lusts of anger and unforgiveness – that Nineveh should be punished, led Jonah to regard lying-vanity: He believed that he could run away from God and thereby, to thwart God’s purpose of mercy for the people of Nineveh. (Jonah 4:1-4).
But Jonah’s evil perception, landed him in the fish belly, where he pled for God’s mercy. (Jonah 2:1-10; 4:9-10). Therefore, let us not, in our lusts, second guess God’s word or plans; or think evil of others, or wish them an evil, that we ascribe to a purpose of God.
5.2 SPEAKS THAT CONTRADICT GOD’S WORD
Also, lying vanities can speak to directly contradict God’s word. For example, Jesus was explaining to his disciples, God’s purpose for him: that he will suffer and be killed, and be raised again on the third day. Peter directly contradicted Jesus saying: “… Lord: this shall not be unto thee”. Jesus then says to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”. Although it was Peter that spoke, Jesus reveals to us that Satan spoke through Peter to oppose the revelation. (Matthew 16:21-23).
Brethren even today Satan’s lying vanity-speaks may manifest in our situations through advices we may obtain, which may go against God’s word. For example, God’s word says: “That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also”. (Matthew 5:39). But lusts of anger, malice or strife, may render one vulnerable to an advice, that encourages them to react negatively, so that they are not perceived as being ‘weak’ or ‘stupid’. Dearly beloved, do not allow the deceit of vain perceptions to overcome you!
6. DISCERNING LYING VANITIES
How can we discern lying vanities that speak against God’s word? The scripture describes the traits of a lying-vanity speaker saying : “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords”. (Psalm 55:21). This means that, the advice of lying vanities, may have an appeal, because it may encourage or goad one’s anger or malice; and will incense an evil conduct. Brethren, be mindful that, own perceptions or explanations, or those offered by others, that satisfy lustful emotions, or reinforce them, contrary to God’s words, may be snares.
Also, lying vanity speakers, may sound as though they care about you. But “they speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak”. Their speak is always prideful, “thinking that they will prevail with their tongue”. “They delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly”. Their mouth will be full of cursing and deceit and fraud. “Their tongue [is like] a sharp sword”, and under it “mischief and vanity” reside. (Psalm 10:7; 12:2-3; 57:4; 62: 4). Such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own lusts; “and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the [naïve]”. They “… only consult to cast [one] down from his excellency”. (Psalm 62: 4; Romans 16:18).
Brethren whoever loves vanity and seek after lies maligns the honour of God. Therefore, be obedient to God’s word; be wise unto that which is good, and ‘simple’ concerning evil. Avoid all anger and bitterness, cursing, flattery, deceptive statements, boasting, and evil speaking. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet. (Psalm 4:2; Romans 16:18-20: Ephesians 4:31).
7. TRUST IN GOD’S WORD OVERCOMES VANITIES
One must repose absolute trust in God and believe in his word to overcome the snares of lying vanities. “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy [and]Salvation is of the Lord”. (Jonah 2:8-9). For they leave God’s way of mercy and truth to follow the path of lies that can harden their hearts towards the word. Thus, the psalmist prayer: “I have hated them that regard lying vanities: But I trust in the LORD.” Psalm 31:6).
Jesus, demonstrates the attitude of trust in God’s word, that believers need, to deal with the snares of lying vanities. When Satan asked Jesus to fall and worship him in exchange for all the worldly kingdoms and their glory, Jesus responded: “get thee hence Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve”. (Matthew: 4:8-11). Jesus, knowing he was the son of God, with dominion over all of God’s works, did not lust over the vanities of worldly riches or power. (Psalm 8:5-8; Colossians 1:17). His anchor was the Trust in God’s word.
Similarly, Jesus did not succumb to Satan’s bait to engage on the interpretation of Holy scriptures and be polluted. Satan asked Jesus to fall from a pinnacle of the temple goading that, “if [Jesus] be the son of God”, His angels will save him. But Jesus defied the devil saying: “it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”. Jesus did not seek to prove his covenant with God, to Satan; neither was he prideful as to show Satan, that God can indeed save him; For this would make him obey Satan. (Matthew 4:5-7).
So, Brethren, do not succumb to lying vanities when temptations or worldly lusts abide. Do not regard distortive representations of God’s word; rather, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God …rightly dividing the word of truth”. Hold fast to the words of the LORD because: “[they] are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times…”. God shall keep them for ever. (2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 12:6-7).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
My people, the word of God says: “with his stripes we are healed”; “I will not leave you comfortless”; “ask and ye shall receive”; “I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him”; and “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. (Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 91:15; John 14:18, 16:24,33). God’s does not lie; he will do what he has said; and make good what he has spoken. (Numbers 23:19). So, hold on to his truth, believe in his promises, and seek him earnestly.
Then shall you revive hope, trust and courage: to wait on the Lord, to endure temptations, and to repel or overcome lying vanities. And because God is good, and his mercies endure forever, his promises will never fail. Invariably, they will be fulfilled to your good cause, according to his purpose. (Psalm 24:4; 136:1). “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrew 11:6).
PRAYER
Almighty Father, I thank you for your word. To You be GLORY, HONOUR and PRAISE! In thee, O LORD, I put my trust.
Dear Lord, help thy children who are snared by lying vanities; deliver them from speaking-vanities, prideful tongues, flattering lips and double hearts.
Holy Spirit of Truth, teach them thy word and grant them discerning heart.
Gracious LORD, let them never be ashamed; deliver them from the hand of the enemy and cause them to rejoice in thy mercy. And set their feet in a large room.
I make this prayer in JESUS NAME.
Have a blessed and fruitful Holy Week.
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 24 March 2024.
