Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” NASU

 1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.”  NIV

Years ago I had a lady in the church I was serving as pastor who would always ask, “Do you have any news?”  She would also preface what she was going to share with, “Have you heard the news?”  I asked her once if she considered what she was doing ‘gossip’ and she said, “Oh no, pastor, I’m just sharing the latest news not gossiping for that would be wrong.”   I could never convince her that they were the same thing.  She longed to hear any tidbit documented or undocumented and would then ‘share’ it with whomever she could find that would listen.

Gossip is a very destructive weapon that the devil uses to drive wedges and damage people in their testimony.  I recall hearing something once about a fellow minister that, if true, would be so damaging to his reputation that it would impact untold numbers of people.  What I heard, is not important nor his name, the fact that I listened to it is.  As I pondered what I had heard the Holy Spirit brought conviction to my heart and I sensed the Lord speaking to me saying, “Why did you allow that gossip to be spoken into your hearing?”  I began to weep for I had listened and without realizing it formed an opinion regarding this brother without any real documentation or evidence.  It was wrong!  I was wrong and the gossip was a malicious lie later proven to be false.  Yet, had I repeated that gossip I would have been furthering the harm brought to an innocent brother.  Thankfully the Holy Spirit arrested me before I participated in an activity I have long abhorred – Gossip.

When people come to me with tidbits about someone I usually ask, “Have you gone to that individual to discuss this?”  If the answer is no I stop them and ask that they not continue with gossip but suggest they take it to God in prayer and then approach the person in question with that little morsel they are ‘sharing’.  Some have become quite angry with me calling me ‘self-righteous’ or worse, because I did not want to participate in gossip regarding another.  However, I must ask “Would you want someone spreading gossip about you?”  Consider that point when you are tempted to engage in sharing ‘news’ as that little lady called it.

Recently, Gil LeBreton a sportswriter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram wrote a piece regarding the Texas Ranger’s manager Ron Washington’s resignation and used an illustration from a movie that speaks to what I’m talking about.  It was excellent and I share it here.

In the Academy Award-nominated movie Doubt, there is a memorable scene in which the accused priest, Father Flynn, delivers a powerful homily to the congregation. The priest, brilliantly played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, tells the story of a woman who “was gossiping with her friend about a man whom they hardly knew.” Seized later with guilt, the woman went to a Catholic confessional and asked her parish priest if she had done anything wrong. “Yes,” said the priest. “You have borne false witness against your neighbor. You’ve played fast and loose with his reputation, and you should be heartily ashamed.”  As her penance, the priest instructed the woman to go to her roof and gut a pillow with a knife, a scene classically depicted in the movie.  And what did she see, the priest asked?   “Feathers,” the woman answered. “Feathers everywhere.”  “Now I want you to go back and gather up every last feather that flew out into the wind,” the priest instructed. The woman protested. “It can’t be done,” she said.  “I don’t know where they went. The wind took them all over.”  “And that,” the movie’s Father Flynn said, abruptly ending the sermon, “is gossip!”

That is a fantastic illustration of the damage done and the futility of trying to retrieve harmful words spoken about another.  It is IMPOSSIBLE!  The damage is done even if we go to them in repentance begging forgiveness we will NEVER retrieve all the words or find where they have been carried.  Therefore, the biblical prescription is DO NOT GOSSIP!    

            Blessings as you go through your day!

Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.”  NASU

The quest for a ‘word’ from the Lord has, at times, relegated many believers to becoming nothing more than ears!  The church is the BODY OF CHRIST not the EARS or MOUTH of Jesus!  Here, as Jesus taught, He made a clear distinction between success and failure in the Christian walk.  Both groups HEARD the Word and I contend that an absence of the Word is not the problem it is application of the Word.

I recall a story of a preacher who was chosen by a congregation and his first Sunday preached a powerful message that the people were raving about for days.  The next Sunday the same message was preached and this continued for several weeks.  The congregation began to complain and the board met to discuss the issue deciding to approach the minister and advise him that this was not acceptable.  The board called him in and said, “Pastor, your message was great but you keep preaching the same thing.  You need to get a new sermon.”  He calmly looked at them and said, “Only when you do something with that one.”

Jesus said if we HEAR and APPLY we are like the house built on the rock that cannot and will not be moved by trial, trouble, or difficulty.  However, if we HEAR but DO NOTHING we are like the house built on shifting sand that can and will be shaken by the trials of life and failure is virtually guaranteed.  We have the choice as He opens His word to become ACTION ORIENTED in faith through the grace of God.

May God help us apply His word in our lives daily!  Blessings as you go through your day!

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 – Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.  6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.”  NASU

Too often people live as though our actions have little or no consequences and there is an endless amount of time on this earth.  Both assumptions are wrong!  Here in six short verses a wealth of wisdom and a beautiful guide for life is presented.  Charity, caring, sharing, and compassion are not overlooked by God and as we extend our love and faith in true Christian Charity we find the Law of Sowing and Reaping coming into play in our lives.

Some things cannot be altered in life and words once released cannot be recalled.  The pain is sometimes permanent although forgiven.  Yes we can repent and be forgiven but some actions and words have a lasting consequence.  We need to always be careful what we say or do realizing it can and likely will have long term consequences.

Timidity will keep us from action and in life if we stop moving we die.  Fear of failure when allowed to control guarantees failure.  If we do not attempt because of fear we will not enjoy the fruit of success.  Fear paralyzes!  Therefore be diligent as verse six declares and work early and late because you never know which effort will be the most effective or productive or if both may be.  If we continue to pursue the purposes of God in our lives we will open the door to success but if we allow fear to bring idleness we will surely fail.

My prayer for each of you is success.  I pray that God give you the courage and faith to venture into the unknown and unseen climbing to the pinnacle of accomplishment in the pursuit of God’s purposes!  May God be with you as you go through your day!  Blessings abundantly!

Proverbs 25:4-5 – “Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith; 5 Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.”  NASU

Many cry out for God to purify their hearts then complain when He beings the process of removing the dross from the silver of our lives.  The heat is uncomfortable and we frequently express our preference for ease to purification.  We want instant righteousness and resist the process of becoming righteous.

The silversmith places the raw silver in a vat then turns up the heat and as the silver is heated to the melting point where the impurities separate from the pure and float to the surface allowing them to be skimmed off.  In life God turns up the heat to expose and remove the impurities in our hearts.  It is generally never a pleasant experience to be exposed but afterward it is joyous!

David cried, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  (Psalm 139:23-24)  Oh how we need to be placed in the refiner’s vat under the Holy Spirit’s microscope and allow God to expose and remove all wickedness from our hearts.  We want to be pure but we do not want to go through purification.  We will either be vessels meet for the Master’s (vessels of honor) or we will be vessels of dishonor.  Death and life are before us so let’s choose life!  We are instructed to ‘seek first’ the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness…. That is not only the best place in life it is the only place!

            God bless you as you go through your day!  Blessings!

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  NASU

It is possible to be one without being the other but when the two are combined it is incredibly powerful!  A friend, who is truly a friend, loves at all times.  It did not say ‘agrees’ at all times but ‘loves’ at all times.  Love is not an emotional response but a reasoned choice!  It involves a commitment and there is a friendship that reaches the level of ‘covenant’, unlike what many call friendship. Some people see to view friendship as they do socks; to be changed regularly.

A brother is born for adversity!  A brother is there through thick and thin and NEVER runs from the difficult or even unpleasantness of trial, trauma, drama, or difficulty.  A brother is not a church cliché to identify someone who is a fellow member of a congregation or organization but someone who is joined in faith and heart.  A brother is family in a very real sense.

I have friends who are brothers/sisters and have stood with me in the fire of trial.  They have had my back in times of trouble, encouraged me in trial, challenged me in error, and stood with me in faith.  They have opened their heart, hand, home, and treasure to me and considered theirs mine as the need presented itself and I them.  It is a bond that is unshakable based on faith.  Truly a person with genuine friends is blessed and a person who has friends who are brothers doubly so.

As individuals, families, and nations we need FRIENDS and need to realize that on some level we are brothers in our creation and on a deeper level we can become brothers and form a bond that is unbreakable even in the face of severe adversity and/or disagreement.  May God be with you as you go through your day and may you be blessed with a host of friends who are brothers/sisters in the Lord!  Blessings!

Philippians 1:21-26 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”  NASU

            Years ago as I traveled from place to place in itinerant ministry I would frequently hear a late night radio preacher saying, “You can’t lose with the stuff I use.”  In a sense that is what Paul is saying here.  He declares that if he lives in the flesh (natural) it is ‘in Christ’ and if he dies it is ‘gain’.  That is a NO LOSE situation.  He declares that if he lives in the flesh the result will be ‘fruitful labor’.  If he dies he receives his eternal promotion to heaven and being with the Lord.  It weighed heavily upon his heart.

             One of the messages conveyed here is – – We should live longingly for heaven but devotedly toward ministering to people.  That keeps the focus clear, our hearts right, and provides motivation to keep us engaged and involved.  Very few generals are needed in war.  We find that Paul served as a general but also a soldier.

            My life must not be about me but Him and people.  God has given to the church ministries to inspire and prepare believers to do the work of ministry.  The Great Commission is always a core tenant.  Building up one another always a function and seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness always a priority.  We do not live just to live we live with purpose and for a purpose.

            If you keep your focus on God you desire will be heaven and will live functionally to serve, equip, train, encourage, motivate, and bless others.  You will have a life that cannot lose!  So as the late night radio preacher of old said, “You Can’t Lose with the Stuff I Use!”  God be with you, go with God and He will go with you.  Blessings!

Acts 28:25-27 – – “And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,

‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, “YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”‘  NASU

            When the Jewish Leaders came to Paul in Rome he poured out his heart but many rejected his message arguing amongst themselves resulting in Paul quoting Isaiah regarding the tragic condition of their hearts.  Isaiah’s words sound a warning that causes me to cry out, “Lord May It Never Be!!!” 

May it never be said of us: 

• We HEAR but do not UNDERSTAND.
• We SEE but do not PERCEIVE.
• Our HEARTS have become DULL.
• Our EARS scarcely HEAR.
• Our EYES have been CLOSED.

 Oh God, help us to hear and understand, see and perceive that which you are saying and doing in our world.  May we open our hearts to the voice of the Spirit of God and have ‘ears to hear’, ‘eyes to see’, and ‘hearts to believe’.  May we return to the Lord with a whole heart and experience His healing in our lives.

 My friends, God has never stopped reaching out and will not stop.  He extends His mercy and grace to us so may we never stop responding to Him.  May God be with you as you go through your day!  Be blessed and be a blessing!

Daniel 8:5-8 – “While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.”  NASU

            The Ram according to the Arch-Angel Gabriel was the Medo-Persian Empires and the Goat was Greece (vv. 20-21).  The Grecian Kingdom that followed the Medes and Persians was that of Alexander the Great.  Gabriel continues to inform us that the four horns that came up from the broken horn represented four kingdoms and history reveals that Alexander’s kingdom was divided between four generals.  Gabriel continues to reveal that out of those four one would rise empowered by the devil himself being the antichrist.

             As we continue to read in Daniel we find the King of the South and North coming against him.  He enters many countries and overflows them.  He occupies the land of Israel for a time committing acts of heretical tyranny.  Many fall but not all – – Edom, Moab, and the foremost sons of Ammon escape his rule. He conquers Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia (11:40-42).  Rumors from the East trouble him and his overconfidence and arrogance help to bring him down.

            He and his followers will wage vehement war against anyone who disagrees with his ideology and oppose him including all who name the name of Christ, those who recognize the one true God Jehovah, all who reject his authority, religion or religious interpretation.  WHO IS HE?  Speculation has always been rampant and will continue to be so.  I have known people so adamant as to what they believe that they would almost come to blows with anyone who disagreed.  I personally believe, based on my understanding of scripture, that he is as the Bible calls him THE ASSYRIAN.  Assyria is a region of Iraq or ancient Persia.  I believe he is what the Muslims identify as the Twelfth Imam and his terror will be the final caliphate which God will ultimately destroy.  He does not control the entire world only a section of it as identified in the Bible but will impact the entire globe.

             We can fear him or trust God resting in God’s Perfect Peace.  The form of execution performed by this demonic individual and his followers will be ‘beheading’ and while this is a horrific image if we are God’s children it only last a moment and we say HELLO to our Lord in Eternity.  He is powerful but not all powerful.  He is the embodiment of evil but remember he is a follower of a defeated foe, the devil.  Jesus conquered the devil stripping him of his authority over man.  Therefore, rather than being filled with fear and angst about the future REST IN PEACE refusing to live in fear of the devil but in the faith of God. 

             May God be with you as you go through your day!

Nehemiah 1:4 – “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”  NKJV

This verse in in reference to Nehemiah hearing the news about the disrepair of Jerusalem and it so broke his heart that it moved him to action.  In his situation it was action that could easily have cost him his life but he was so moved he could do nothing else.  That brings me to the thought that I want to address today.

When was the last time you were ‘so moved’ by the condition of our world, the church, or a life that it moved you that ‘prayer’ and ‘fasting’ was the immediate response and then you moved into action with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  Sadly, I hear many talking about the NEED for ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, and/or ‘revival’ but I do not see many that are so heartbroken over the condition of the world and the dying souls of men that they are driven into intercessory prayer and fasting.  Honestly, if it does not move us to the point that it breaks our hearts I doubt that we will give it much serious thought and as a result will not be compelled to do that which is needed to change the circumstances or situation.

I am reminded of the biblical record when Jesus came to Mary and Martha at their brother, Lazarus’ tomb.  Mary ran to Jesus weeping and whether it was intentional or not leveled an accusation toward Him saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  It was both a statement of faith and frustration.  He asked where they had buried Lazarus and as she led Him to the tomb Jesus wept.  He then moved into action that restored the life to Lazarus who had been dead three days.  A significant miracle by any standards!

I know a man who is so easily touched by the Spirit of God that while in a public place sharing a meal or a thought something will catch his eye and tears will fill his eyes, brokenhearted over the condition, situation, or life that he is observing.  He will then excuse himself and no one has to ask for we know that he is going to his prayer closet to intercede over whatever it was.  There have been many times days later he will have a testimony of something God has done in that very situation.  He becomes so brokenhearted that he acts in the most powerful way that we humans can act he reaches out to the Throne of Heaven.

If we truly believe that the church or our world is in need of ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, and/or ‘revival’ why does it not crush our hearts?  I am not trying to be accusatory for I ask myself the same question and do not always like the answers I receive within my heart and mind.  God help us to never become so entangled with the affairs of this life that we lose contact with the Throne of Heaven and experience such a desensitization of our hearts that we are not shattered by the condition of the world.  Lord, I pray that you make our hearts so tender that we actually mourn over sin.

            May God be with you as you go through your day!