Grace Bible Church
Associate Pastor
Rick Bettez
Friday,November 18, 2016
Sins of the tongue such as complaining, slander, or gossip are generated from within a bitter soul and become the cancer causing agent that can destroy relationships & organizations.
Exo 14:11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?
Exo 15: 24 So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Fruit of the flesh, bitterness, strife, anger, jealousy, gossip, slander and complaining.
Religion – Greek is defined different than we know the term today, THRESKOS. A respect toward God that shows worship, awe or trembling with a genuine reverence.
Jam 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (spiritual), and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion (spirituality) is worthless.
Jam 3:14 “But if you have bitter jealousy and strife in your right lobe, do not be arrogant and do not lie against the truth.”
Job said in 7:11 “Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the stress of my mind, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”
Even when we are upset or disagree with authority we are never to undermine or attack authority.
JUD 1:8, they reject authority —- though they make a career out of bullying others;
JUD 1:10 They revile things which they do not understand;
Jud 1:11 Cain rejected BD, the protocol plan was not important to him. Balaam had problems with covetousness and deceit. Korah rebelled against authority (Moses).
JUD 1:12 says they are hidden reefs in your love feasts …fellowship feasts promoted alongside the Lord’s Supper, fruitless and corrupted, having no respect for TLJC.
JUD 1:16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
JUD 1:19 They cause divisions, and are worldly minded, devoid of the filling of the Spirit.
Psa 64:3 says “They have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed their bitter speech like an arrow.”
Act 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Questioning authority one on one, with respect and consideration of the right time and right place is the only path you should seek when you are certain God is leading you to stand up against authority.
Jos 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
One of the most important things God told Joshua to do was keep BD as number 1 priority!
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Jos 1:17 “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses.
Jos 1:18 “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
Jam 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic (influenced by evil or satanic).
Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. Sown in peace by those who make peace.
Cosmic- tainted, bitter, unreasonable, no mercy or forgiveness, double minded and wavering, causing strife, having hypocrisy and legalism at its core.
Much like an artillery shell once the venomous words are launched…you can’t take them back. Just like that artillery shell they will strike and destroy their intended target!
Sins of the tongue such as gossip, judging, lying, causing strife and attacking others all stem from one source…a bitter root deep within the soul of the Believer.
Rom 10:9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in you heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Everything within your soul structure that you truly believe comes to the surface during times of great adversity, frustration or even during a time of triumph and joy.
Verbal assaults can have lasting damage to intimate relationship.
It takes true forgiveness from both parties to wash the slate clean. It can’t be done aside from your relationship with TLJC.
Negativity from the bitter tongue can erode a system, family, church or any organization.
Disrespect for authority starts with an evil thought left unchecked and grows into a flaming missile that ignites many small fires.
Callous Bel’s are comfortable with a flaming tongue. They lack spiritual growth and are unrecognizable from the Unbel.
Rehashing and living in the past hurts or troubles of yesterday never help raise you above the pit of bitterness or anger. It actually guarantees a longer stay in that dark place.
MAR 4:24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you;
LUK 8:18 “Therefore take care how you listen;