02/07/10 - Gossip Message 2010 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore teaches on "Gossip" in this Sunday service.

Gossip Message 2010
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, February 7, 2010

www.churchatmirrorlake.com


Sermon Notes:

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Catch us the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vineyards are in bloom.”

James 3:2 “…if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.”

The Book of James teaches us that, like the rudder of a ship, our tongue determines our direction. James asks how blessing and cursing can flow from the same mouth. How can we praise God and then turn around and curse God’s supreme creation? Our words can either bring life to others, or release death; our words can be set on fire in hell, or fueled by the passion of Heaven. We can never expect to live in charge if our tongues are not under God’s control. We were created by God, FOR God. Until we understand that and incorporate it into our lives, we will never find fulfillment or satisfaction. We are made in His image, created in His likeness, and given dominion over His works: We are to express His personality, exhibit His power and extend His Kingdom. Any part of our lives not placed under His control is robbing us of our destiny and fulfillment, and shortchanging Him on His investment in us. His most powerful tool is His Word. Satan perverts this as the Prince of the Power of the Air. Our words can either be a life-giving tool in the hand of a mighty God, or a destructive force unleashed by hell itself. (2 ministries in Heaven—Intercession and Accusation) (Story from movie Doubt about feather pillow)

Today, I want to talk about being a church that is as innocent as doves and as wise as serpents. I want to talk about being a No-Tolerance Zone for Gossip.

The Bible teaches that there are two things on earth God treasures more dearly than all others: people and the Church.

These 2 are the biggest targets of gossip. Nothing will stop a church in its tracks faster than gossip. Nothing will destroy people, even nations, faster than gossip. That’s why the Bible treats gossip on a different scale when it defines church discipline. For all other matters--adultery, fornication, greed, etc.-- the Bible defines a 4 step process. (Matthew 18:15-17). For gossip and slander it is a 2 step process. (Titus 3:10)

You can’t play around with something this explosive and life-threatening. It is like an insidious virus that will quickly infect all those who come into contact with it. The Bible tells us in at least 4 places to treat it like an infectious disease: Stay away from it and anybody who has it!

A Kingdom View of Gossip:

1. The Kingdom of God is “…first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18. The Holy Spirit in our lives produces “…this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23. Obviously, nothing is more contrary to the Kingdom than gossip. Lucifer used it to deceive angels into leaving their posts in Heaven and following him. Then he used it to deceive Adam and Eve into leaving their place in Eden to follow him. Paul tells us in Romans 1:30 that those who gossip and backstab are “haters of God.” Jesus died to give us the Kingdom, and gossip lives to steal it from us!

2. Gossip is a major weapon in the arsenal of hell. God has given us the victory over hell, and in fact we are to prevail against it as His church, never vice-versa. It is important that we have a clear understanding of this satanic tactic so we never fall prey to it.
* Gossip: a whispering; secret slandering; of the magical murmuring of a charmer of snakes; speech injurious to another's good name; speak against; speak evil of; backbiting; to defame or to belittle (use Bullhorn to illustrate.)
John 18:20 “Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.”
Mark 4:22 “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.”
* (use garbage can ears to illustrate) The Bible also defines gossip as not only those who say it, but those who listen to it. Proverbs 17:4 “…the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip…”. A great example of why God is so down on gossip is found in 1 Samuel 24:9 “…why did you listen…”. Saul, as God’s anointed king, is listening to gossip about David. The end result is the destruction of Saul. God was warning Saul about the dangers of gossip because it was robbing Saul of his God-given destiny!

3. The Source of Gossip:
* Hell James 3:5-7 (set on fire by hell itself)
* Jealousy and Hatred, Desire for Position: Psalm 38:12; Acts 5:17-18; Nehemiah 4:4 “for they have demoralized the builders”
* Laziness and Stupidity, Easier to Tear Down than Rise Up: 1 Timothy 5:13; Proverbs 10:18
* Ignorant--Just don’t know any better: 1 Corinthians 6:19

4. Some Different Types of Gossips:
* Mean Spirit:
“I know its wrong and I either don’t care who I hurt, or I intend on hurting them.” They will spread the poison with anyone, anywhere. It is a lifestyle. It is sometimes deemed “justifiable” usually because of a previous circumstance or incident that inflicted injury, but it is usually because the gossip is just downright mean or plain ignorant. Hurting people hurt people. These people need to allow Jesus to heal the hurts that are making them mean.
* Illusion of Innocence:
This gossip is skilled at making gossip seem harmless. It just blends in to the landscape. These are the “secret agents” or the “booby traps” of gossip. “Bless their hearts”, “a prayer concern”, “Did you hear about poor Jack”, etc.
Then there is the Jezebel spirit: the questioning spirit: “What did you think about today’s message?,” or “ I was just wondering…”. A question that calls for a negative response. Another Jezebel tactic is the “we vs. they”. “I had a great idea, but they squashed it.”
Watch out for the “sway of they”—Note that Moses put more stock in what “they” (Pharaoh, Egypt, Israel) said than what God said. That attitude had to be overcome before Israel could be set free. Remember, Jezebel can’t be successful unless there is an Ahab: a man-pleasing, coveting, jealous spirit. The folks who fall in this category of gossip need to recognize they are accepted in the beloved and ask Jesus to deliver them from the need to be approved or popular.
* Social or Recreational Gossip:
I only gossip in certain locations, circumstances or around certain people. These are like your terrorist cells. Groups of normally innocent people who suddenly become dangerous when they interact with other members of the cell or in certain locations where gossip is deemed acceptable. These folks need to “be sober and vigilant,” guarding their hearts. They need to set their desires on the things of Heaven rather than being drawn to earthly pursuits.
* Passive or Enabler:
Constantly find themselves in a position of hearing gossip. The majority of gossip would be stopped if these folks would just position themselves better. Example: Joyce Meyers heads off negative comments at the pass. Romans 16:17: “mark them which cause divisions…and avoid them.” Proverbs 20:19 “A gossip tells secrets, so don't hang around with someone who talks too much.” These folks need to get a backbone and some boldness. “righteous are bold as a lion.”
* Whiner and Complainer:
These folks either expect the worst, or are never satisfied. They are “glass half-empty” folks and complaining has become a habit. They may not even be unhappy, they just complain automatically. Sarcasm is one of their tools. They are gossip-attractors because misery loves company. The malicious gossip is looking for an opening and complaints are a great one. Check out the end result of complaining in John 6:61-67. The desertion of disciples began with complaining. Those people were committed (disciples) but abandoned their mission and calling after beginning to complain. They missed out on history’s greatest hour because of it. The folks in this category need to re-fill daily with the Holy Spirit and joy (Acts 13:52) and change their word habits.

All gossips are like Suicide Bombers. Not only are they hurting others, they are destroying themselves.

Deuteronomy 27:24 “Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.”
Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

Keys to being a No-Tolerance Zone for Gossip:

1. Treat gossip as life-threatening. Leviticus 19:16 Message "Don't spread gossip and rumors. Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am GOD.”
2. Replace jealousy with rejoicing with others. 1 Corinthians 12:26 “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.”
3. Live your life as if there are no secrets. Romans 6:15 Message “…But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!”
4. If you don’t know it firsthand, you don’t know it. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay…”
5. Handle true things with love and scripturally. Ephesians 4:15 “speak truth in love”
6. Be bold and proactive. Proverbs 10:10 “People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.” “We don’t do that here.”

The Benefits:
* Acts 10:24-44 “…Cornelius was waiting for him and had called together his relatives and close friends to meet Peter…as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message…”
- Positive impact on circle of influence
- A great harvest of souls
* Psalm 34:12-14 “Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.”
- Long and good life
* Isaiah 58:9 "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness”
- Powerful prayer life
* Proverbs 26:20 “Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.”
- A Peaceful Life
* Acts 9:31 “The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it grew in strength and numbers. The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”
- Grew in strength
- Grew in numbers
- Healthy relationship with God
- Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

We as a church, and as individuals, must use the words we speak to help each other toward our destiny just as Jesus did with the woman caught in the act of adultery when He refused to condemn and instead challenged her to go for glory. Our words can aid in the further destruction of lives ravaged by sin, or they can remind us, and those around us, of whose image we reflect, of whom we are made and to whom we belong! (Saul)