GOSSIP, LIE AND SLANDER (4)

GOSSIP, LIE AND SLANDER (4)

Text: Matthew 12:33-37
Memory verse:
“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV

The first thing to do to deal with these evils is to yield your heart to the Lord Jesus and to daily die to the flesh (1 Cor 15:31). This is living a life of sanctification, which is the greatest part of the Christian calling. Many believers only have mouth confession of the lordship of Jesus but lack heart commitment. Heart commitment will make you to daily press on to the higher life. You need to enforce the finished work of Christ in your life by not allowing sin to reign in your body. It’s your responsibility to starve that craving for gossiping. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” (Rom‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬). The NLT puts it as this: “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”. When God tells you not to let sin control you, it means He has given you what it takes to resist sin’s control. Romans 6:14 says it clearly, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace”. Friends, it’s now in your power to stop sin from reigning in your body. Just as you wouldn’t allow the birds to make their nest on your head, so you must not allow gossip, slander and lies to continue to have control over your mouth(Rom 6:14). It’s your responsibility not to make provision for the flesh (Rom 13:14). Don’t be passive about these verbal sins. God’s grace is God’s power to live the victorious life.
‭‭This grace is not a one-time-for-all thing. Rather, you must daily receive grace from God. Feed on the word and get connected through communion (John 15:5). You are as strong as your daily communion with God.
What do you do next? Faith without works is dead. “Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire?” (Prov 6:27). You need to simply cut yourself off from the people who enjoy doing it and start hanging out with those who can help you to achieve your new goal of godliness. The scriptures command us to separate from any one who can negatively influence our walk with God.
So, if gossip and slander had been a source of entertainment for you in the past, get a new hobby and new source of fun, like reading books, watching edifying movies, listening to music, speaking in tongues etc. Don’t allow your spirit man to be idle but engage it in things that can build it up. When your spirit is strong, it will be spiritually alert enough to discern the subtle temptation to slip from your normal conversation to gossip. Friends, be determined to break this evil habit. You have been enabled to live above gossip, slander and lies. Hallelujah!

Prayer points
1. Father, I thank You for empowering me by Your grace to have dominion over sin.
2. I refuse to allow gossip, slander and lie to reign over me from today in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I am crucified with Christ and dead to gossip, slander and lie.
2. Gossip, slander and lie shall not reign over me for I am not under law but under grace.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng