|
HELEN SANDERS
3-24-2022
GOSSIP – THE FIRE OF THE TONGUE
In the book of James 3:5 it says, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.” This lets us know that when we use our mouth to talk about people behind their back it will become a fire that fuels offense. We should not even let that fire get started. James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, (That is all those that are born again) let every man (woman, child) be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” A mature Christian will know when to keep his mouth shut and will think before he/she speaks knowing that death or life will proceed out of their mouths.
I am sure that all of us have things that irritate us. One thing that irritates me is when people gossip. So often only part of the truth is told, and that part is not even all truth. God hates gossip.
It is listed in Proverbs 16 as one of the things that he hates where it says, “feet that be swift in running to mischief.” It must be quite offensive to our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit when members of their family are talked about behind their back. Gossip can destroy people, families, relationships, and Churches.
When someone wants to tell me something that is supposed to be a secret, I stop them in their tracks, and you should too. If it is a secret, then keep it a secret. I do not want to hear it! Quite often the spirit of Jezebel rises up in people and is used to destroy Godly people. Jezebel is not just about sexual sin. Jezebel is a lying, controlling and deceiving spirit. No one that loves the Lord should be involved with this kind of activity.
I have seen many people hurt because of things said behind their back. Years ago, a Pastor said to me “If they aren’t talking about you, they are talking about me.” How sad. We should be lifting each other up in the body of Christ and bringing life to each other. Jesus should be our example. He said things to the Religious Pharisee’s face, and to the sinner. He did not talk about them behind their back. He was open with his words. If you find a brother in a fault then do what it says in Galatians 6:1-2, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” You go alone and make things right. You do not go to social media or blab about them to someone else.
Someone asked me once if something was true about another Pastor and I replied, “I think you should go see this Pastor and ask for him yourself.” I was not going to gossip. Christians should not be found gossiping. We are to be light, and not darkness. Let us become spirit controlled with our mouths and ears and show the world that we are different than they are. Stop gossip in its tracks! Do not add fuel to the fire!
Missed some of Helen's messages? click here to read
| 
