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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: MURDER BY WORDS

I often say that our words have power. If you don’t believe me, you have never been on the receiving end of unkind words that crush your heart and spirit. It leaves you feeling less than human, like you don’t deserve to live.

This is why God tells us to not gossip. People spread rumors about others that they do not know if there is any truth in them or not. Those lies can do harm. This is why Jesus tells us to not judge one another. If the rumors are true, then they need prayer and understanding not talked about behind their back. They need encouraged and lifted up, not slaughtered by judgment of others.

I John 3:15-17 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

It is easier to believe a lie. It is easier to listen to the lie and share it. Gossip is spread to hurt and destroy. It is not called character assignation for no reason. The false words chip away at the perceived reputation and character of the person. Gossip is often spread in hate; therefore it is murder.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

We as children of God are only to speak words that build up and encourage one another. Ephesians says to not let corrupt communication come out of your mouth. Many think it is cursing, but that is only part of it. It is speaking gossip and lies about others. One passage of the scripture says that the liar will have his place in the lake of fire.

Prov 16:27-30  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. 29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. 30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

Godly people, who walk in the spirit do not delight in seeing people fall. Many are being exposed for their evil. These things are true and are not gossip. Many more will fall before the shaking is finished. We need to thank God for our freedom from evil. But we should not delight in seeing anyone fall. But for the grace of God, it could be any of us.

Prov 11: 13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

If we learn something about someone that could be considered gossip. We need to take it to the Lord. Then keep it to ourselves, sharing it will only cause more damage. Most things that are spread as rumors and gossip end up being lies. Remember God considers hate to be murder.   

Now in light of what I have said about gossip and how it hurts people. I want to share the other side of gossip. If you are the recipient of lies and rumors. What are you supposed to do about the situation? Let us see what God’s word says about being the victim of false witness and gossip.

I Peter 3:15-16  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Our good conduct will turn back on them and make them ashamed that they ever spread rumors or gossip. If we can learn to hold our peace, God will fight our battles. The phrase “hold my peace” means to grasp on to peace, carry peace, or keep my peace. Jesus is our peace. As long as we can walk with him.

We can never allow ourselves to fall into hate. I understand the emotion may show up, but we have to pray and overcome the emotion. Emotions are temporary, it is how we respond to them that will make or break us. We can take our pain and hurt that causes anger and hate and do something positive with the pain. Some choose to retaliate to do other things that are not a part of God’s will for their lives. Choose to walk in your integrity before God, he will bless you for putting aside the hate.

Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Often people gossip because we are Christians. The devil in them wants to see us fall because he doesn’t like for a Christian to be happy or prosper. If we suffer for the cause of Christ, God will undertake. If we walk in the fruit of the Spirit and hold our peace God will receive the glory. Jesus didn’t defend himself, we shouldn’t either. We cannot control what people think. The ones that matter will not believe it anyway.  The ones that will believe it, don’t matter anyway.

We do not have time to waste on people who would not give us a drink of water in the desert. The world is full of people that need us to be the light. They need to see us being a light and holding onto our peace. The Lord will fight for us, we just need to sit back and watch.

People do not realize how serious our words are and how powerful. Make sure your words are ones that edify yourself and others. There is no room for negativity, degrading or gossip. Now is the time to be strong and not allow the enemy to get us into a place that we sit in judgment of another or walk in half-truths of gossip. Now is the time to walk in faith and God’s love.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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