SPEAKING TRUTH TO THE HEART (Ps. 15:2)

I. Dwellers in God’s Presence (Ps. 15:1-2) – Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? He who walks uprightly…works righteousness and speaks the TRUTH in his heart.

A. Dwell (settle down to remain); Sojourn (turn aside for a time)

1. Character of God determines our character. We become like Him by spending time with Him.

2. Righteous / Holy – character; not emotion but motive and behavior – seedbed of all He is/does.

3. “Be Separate” = “set deliberately distinct boundaries”

B. God’s character is TRUTH – Ex. 34:6 – “abounds in goodness and truth”

1. “What is Truth” (Pontius Pilate) Deut. 32:4 – God “is Truth; just and right; without iniquity.”

Ps. 117:2 – “is Truth forever”

Ps. 119:142 – God’s “Law is Truth”

Ps. 119:160 – “His word is Truth”

Jn. 14:6 – “Jesus is the way, Truth, Life”

Jn. 16:3 – H.S. “is Spirit of Truth; leads into all Truth”

C. Established in Righteousness (v. 2)

1. Upright(ly) – complete, whole, healthy, unimpaired Integrity!

a) Greek: orthopedias – “to walk in a straight course”

b) Lifestyle of honesty integrity; - Mic. 6:8 – God required: love mercy; do justly; walk humbly

c) I Jn. 3:7 – He who does righteousness IS righteous, just as He is righteous.

d) Opposite: “self-seeking” & “strife” – Jam. 3:16 = “confusion & evil (worthless; ordinary)”

II. Speakers of Truth – (Ps. 15:2b)

A. Heart = core of our being

1. Ps. 51:6 – “desires truth in inward part”

a) Truth = firmness, stability, faithfulness, continuance, testimony

b) “Inward” = (1) to hurl/shoot w/bowstring + (2) overlay; plaster over; spread over; cover over

c) “hidden” = “stop up; shut up; keep close/secret” part to know (perceive) wisdom

B. “How” (in what manner) to hear – Pro. 22:17-21

1. Attitude of soul/mind inclined / bowed towards to hear the words of the wise (Lord’s voice)

2. Position the heart to apply the knowledge of truth received

3. Behavior – it is pleasant to keep the Truth with you.

4. Mouth – the Truth is fixed upon your lips!

5. OBEDIENCE / Application /Doing Righteousness! Your trust is in the Lord; instructed in His excellent things, counsels, and knowledge that I may make you know the certainty of the word of truth that you may answer words of truth to those who send (to or for) you

C. Truth affects our Speaking – Ps. 15:3-4)

1. No backbiting = spy out to slander / gossip; OPINION = conviction of belief based on incomplete knowledge!

2. No reproach against innocent = no accusing taunts from enemy against those who have been received salvation in Christ Jesus.

3. Do no evil = injury; hurtful; unkind in word and action towards fellow members of Christ.

Eph. 4:15, 25, 29-30 gives us this critique:

Is it True?

Is it Kind?

Is it Necessary? (For edification)

D. How the Truth affects us – (Ps. 15:5)

1. Redeems me – Ps. 32:5 – acknowledge my sin…iniquity not hidden…confess transgression…You forgave!

2. Preserves me continually – Ps. 40:11 – by tender mercies…your lovingkindness and truth

3. Makes me know wisdom – Ps. 51:6 – by truth in the inward part…you make me know wisdom

4. Protects me - Ps. 91:4 – He covers you with His wings…take refuge. His truth is your:

Shield (large – to protect from things hurled; piercing; hooks; barbs; burning – quenches with coldness of snow)

Buckler – (small shield for close encounters in business / daily life skirmishes.)

5. Gives me a sensitive ear to hear – Jn. 18:37b – Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.

6. Purges me from ungodliness – I Cor. 5:7-8 – purge out old leaven (malice…wickedness) by bread of sincerity and truth.

7. Produces growth / fruitfulness – Eph. 4:15 – by speaking truth in love, grow to be like Jesus

8. Surrounds me (belt) of Truth – Eph. 6:14 so I can stand strong, with waist girded in truth…

9. Take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ – II Cor. 10:5

10. Produces repentance – II Tim. 2:25 – in humility correcting those in opposition so they may know the truth

11. Agrees with godliness – Tit. 1:1 – faith that Acknowledges the truth and agrees with godliness

12. Establishes me/You – II Pet. 1:12 – you know and are established in the truth.

13. Assures our hearts; removes condemnation – I Jn. 3:19-20 – we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him; if our heart/conscience condemns us, God is greater than our heart

14. Spirit Bears witness that we are of God and are overcomers – I Jn. 5:6 because the Spirit is Truth

15. Immoveable – Ps 15:5 – “He who does these things will never be moved”

Moved = totter; shake; slip; overthrown; dislodged; fall

E. Your choice – become “immoveable” stable and secure by God’s Word of Truth

Or (Ro. 1:18) suppress the Truth in unrighteousness; becoming unstable; faltering.

Zech. 8:16-17 – “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. Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor. And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.”

Let us choose to continually dwell in the Presence of the Lord God Almighty.