Text: Psalm 101:4-5
Memory verse:
âWhoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.â Psalms⏠â101âŹ:â5⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
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Gossip, lie and slander are subtle strategies of the enemy to sneak into a winning team and beautiful destinies to defeat them without any direct attack. This is why you need to know so you donât become a tool in the hand of the devil or become a victim of these evils.
Gossip refers to idle talk or rumor especially about personal or private affairs of others while slander, which is also referred to as defamation in law, is the act of spreading rumors or lies about a person to cause damage purposely. Most often, these are done behind the victim, while lies can be before the victim. Slander is like gossip except that it is intentionally coloured with lies so that it can be more appealing to the hearers and can destroy the victimâs reputation. Unlike slanderer, gossip doesnât start with a goal of destroying the reputation of someone.
Gossip, also called whisperer or talebearer, spreads the fire, slanderer sparks it and liar provides the fuel.
âGossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships.â (Prov⏠â16âŹ:â28⏠GNT)
ââGod promised to destroy the unrepentant slanderer ââ(Psa⏠â101âŹ:â5bâŹ; Rom 1:29,32). Lying is an abomination to the Lord, so are the lying lips (Prov 12:22).
This doesnât mean that talking about others behind them is always sinful but we must weigh our motives anytime we want to do such. There are times when we have to speak about people who are not present. For example, it is not gossip when you inform the police about a suspicious movement in your neighborhood or when you inform your boss about the activities of a person that could affect him or the organization. Modecai wasnât gossiping or slandering when he alerted the king of the evil plans of some of his officers (Esth 2:22-22). You are not a gossip because you sought for advice on how to relate with a person or because you warned someone to separate from a dangerous person (2 Tim 4:15; Rom 16:17). Itâs all about, why and what you talked about the person. Gossip, slanders and lies flow from the abundance of the evil stored in the heart (Matthew 12:33â37). So, are those who enjoy listening to gossip, for an evil person is attracted to evil (Prov 17:4, Matt 15:18â19).
Friends, those who gossip, slander and lie about others are primary offenders and those who hear and join in spreading are secondary offenders. Both will be guilty before the Judge.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, reveal the true condition of my heart to me and I receive Your grace to overcome these verbal sins in Jesus name.
2. I renounce the devil and I refuse to be a tool in his hand against Godâs interest in Jesus name.
Todayâs declarations
1. I am not a gossip, a slanderer or a liar because my heart has been purged from evil.
2. I donât share in another personâs sin because I donât receive gossip, slanderer and liar.