“Gossip Causes Strife”

Hello 👋 😁 & Welcome!

Today’s word resonating in my spirit is strife, contention & talebearing. The Bible is full of correction and reproof as we should all be careful not to hurt others because the effects can damage a person’s well-being.

Matthew sheds some light on offense as well as a warning from which they come. Let’s do our best not to be used as a stumbling block and learn to be considerate of others within the confines of godly principles.

Matthew 18: 6-10

6- “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

7- “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”

8- “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.”

9- “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

10- “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”

One of the greatest acts of kindness and faithfulness you can sow into someone's life is to keep their confidence: Proverbs 11:13, "He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden." (Amp)

A Talebearer is defined as: A person who maliciously, (In a manner characterized by malice or ill will; with intent to do harm), gossips or reveals secrets.

I once found an interesting definition in a concordance for the Greek word diabolos that fits in with this verse. For one thing, diabolos means devil. But it also means one who falsely accuses and divides people.

The devil is an accuser and a slanderer, called by that name because originally he accused and slandered God in the Garden of Eden.

Revelations 12:9-11

9- “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.“

10- “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.“

11- “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The definition of Slandering is: To make false and damaging statements about someone; The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.

Genesis 3:4-5

”And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doeth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be open, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.“

Satan deceives us as he is continually twisting words to turn our hearts against God: (God doesn't care about you), (God isn't going to answer your prayers), (God isn’t going to heal you) and the number one lie, (God isn’t going to come through for you).

Yet, the devil tries to talk us out of believing what God says. He and his host of demons try to get us to doubt God and accuse him unjustly. So, don't take the bait by inclining your ear to listen to his lies by accepting unbelief inside your life but rebuke him boldly, and he shall flee from you.

James 4:7-8

7- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

8- “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.“

Luke 10:19

19- “Behold, I give unto you power to thread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

In essence when talebearers slander others by gossiping and spreading lies, they are operating in alignment with the original accuser, Satan as he comes in human form from person to person. When we do that the hedge of protection lifts and in come the serpents. And who is typed as a serpent? The scriptures say, “That old serpent, the devil. With some people, the serpent has gotten in and sunk his fangs into your marriage or into your children and he has pumped them full of rebellion.

Perhaps, you find yourself in such a state today, speaking against God, saying bad things about the Church, Leadership and about this person or that person. Friend, when we do that we lose Gods covering.

Numbers 21:6

6- “And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people: and much people of Israel died.”

Numbers 21:7

7- “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee: pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us, and Moses prayed for the people.“

Proverbs 6:16-19

16- “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him.”

17- “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”

18- “An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief.”

19- “ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Numbers 21:8-9

8- “And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live.”

9- “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

If you have spoken against people and sowed seeds of discord, then you need to repent, confess it and get it under the blood of Christ.

A perverse tongue breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4, “A wholesome (healthy) tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach (disturbance) in the spirit.”

Proverbs 15:1-2, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

There are a couple of things here: First, it talks about harsh words stirring up anger and our anger is just one letter away from danger. Harsh, Bitter, Cutting, Damaging words, when they are spoken as a habit of life, it can effect both the speaker and the hearer in a negative way! Now all of us, err in speech at times.

You see, God wants to inspire our tongue. And the devil wants to inspire our tongue as well because there is power released in our words. The devil likes to use a talebearer to pass on diabolical information about someone to others. Satan is diabolos, the one who likes to conquer and destroy friendships, families and marriages. He knows that people who are divided from one another are not loving, open and kind to each other, as he causes this division to gain an advantage and make entrance as he is always trying to obtain a foothold inside our lives in order to creat a stronghold.

So if you're spending time listening to someone who is a talebearer and a gossip, you are a partaker right along with them. Proverbs 11:21, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.“

Proverbs 20:19

19- “ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.“

People who like to reveal others' secrets can cause a great deal of strife among the people with whom they associate. Many times the tales they pass on may even be true, but they are certainly not pure, lovely or of good report. Whether they are true or not, gossiping causes strife, period.

Philippians 4:8-9

8- “Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.“

9- “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.“

Enclosing, you want to stay clear of a talebearer who accuses others and spreads strife because if they’re talking to you about someone; chances are they’re also talking to others about you. So just keep sowing mercy, kindness and righteousness. Keep doing what is right before God. And as you stay steadfast in righteousness, you will attain to life.

Proverbs 11:19 (Amp)

19- “He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life, But he who pursues evil attains his own death.”

Solomon acknowledges that God rewards righteous living with life but inflicts death on those who lead a wicked life. As a statement of general wisdom, this is common sense. Those who pursue truth, goodness, kindness, and mercy are more likely to be respected and helped by others, while avoiding the natural consequences of evil and selfishness. Of course, good people suffer tragedy and loss, and evil people sometimes prosper. The absolute fulfillment of this truth is in eternity. The apostle Paul was steadfast in righteousness and could embrace death as a steppingstone to a crown of righteousness at Jesus’ return. He writes, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all also that love his appearing.” Throughout his Christian life, Paul maintained self-control so that he would not become disqualified in the Christian race but would receive an imperishable prize. Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let us pray:

”Father, I pray strength from the Holy Spirit would flow into the inner being of every person reading this right now. God, for that one who has been bowed, weighed and broken down on the inside. Jesus, I thank you for the anointing that heals the broken hearted, flowing to them by the power of your Spirit, lifting people up in their hearts and giving them a fresh hope and a new determination. In the mighty name of Jesus, Lord we receive strength from your Spirit today. Amen!”

In His Grip,

Pastor Wendy Schenkel