The Ten Commandments – Part 5
05/05/18 (02/18) Video Broadcast
Blessed be the name of
Yahweh Eloheinu, Yahweh
Our Mighty One and I'm
glad you're with this.
And we are ready to embark on our study portion for today's broadcast and we're gonna talk today once more about the Ten Commandments are we really Keeping them? Many of us think well Ten Commandments are pretty fundamental I think yeah we're beyond Ten Commandments now we're looking at finer points of the law. But I think that if we really examine them a little closer than just a cursory review you'll find there are things in there if you dig deeper, principles in there that are very easy to violate. And we need to be careful that we are keeping the Ten Commandments, Yahushua taught us about some things regarding Ten Commandments; they're not just statutes or not just some kind of legal code.
There are principles involved here that we need to make sure we are following. And now we are at the Sixth Commandment of the ten we covered the first 5 in the previous to 4 portions of 4 segments of this particular study. And now we're on Commandment number 6, I'm going Direction didn't mean to put that up there, Hit the wrong arrow key there. Here we go Commandment number 6; everyone believes they're hardly ever violating this one. Commandment number 6 is you shall not murder. And a lot of people say well you know yeah I've never murdered anybody, so I'm good on that one, next one. Well we're going to see some things that may surprise you about Commandment number 6 and this is ultimately pointing to our need for the Savior Yahushua HaMashiach and just sometimes need to hear Yahweh's standards and
what he expects of us before we really see the need for a Savior. And so all of these are all commands that show forth our failures to keep the word and our need to repent and abide by these things. And so if anything I say this week makes you feel guilty then all you gotta do 1 John 1:9; confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Well, Commandment number 6 sadly was translated thou shall not kill in the King James version and I guess
it's possible that kill meant one thing in the 1600s and not quite the same thing today. But there is sort of some confusion as to when it is wrong or when it's right to take the life of another human being. We know Yahweh himself commanded that people will be put to death for various crimes that they committed and so it's not you know, ending the life of another human being is not necessarily murder. Yahweh sent Israel into the land of Canaan and commanded them to take men's lives and so that would not qualify as murder. He commanded people be put to death in the case of one man murders somebody then the family of the man whose life was taken would take that man's life and that was not considered to be murder. So those have to do with righteous judgment, another case in which it is not a sin to take the life of another human being that will be the example found here in Exodus chapter 22 in verse 2 it says; If a thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall no guilt for his bloodshed. So if someone is coming into your house in the middle of the night and you shoot him and they die, you are not guilty of murder even though you took the person's life you don't know what their intentions were you couldn't see to know whether they had a weapon in their hand or if they were just trying to take something. Now it says if it happens during the day, the next verse says; if it happens during the day then you would be guilty if they were indeed a thief and not someone coming to rob you or whatever. So and another case would be; say an accidental killing not intentional. If it's not intentional that a life was taken Yahweh said in Numbers 35:11; you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the manslayer who kills a person accidentally may flee there. In modern terms say a car accident and he didn't mean to kill the other person, it wasn't your intention that day to go out and kill somebody but you know through some kind of error or some kind of mechanical problem in your car or whatever something like that, you hit somebody and they die. And that kind of thing happens quite often in America and another case would be let's say you have an animal and the animal has never had a behavior problem in the past and that particular animal; say an ox or something like that gored your neighbor and killed him. You would not be guilty of that but if the animal was known to be violent in the past and you loan it to somebody and it killed them then you would be guilty of bloodshed. Now murder is very rampant today especially, incredulously the murder of children and particularly the most innocent time a child is in existence. And that's inside their mother's womb, Yahweh has something to say about the murder of unborn in Exodus 21:22 it says; If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows: he shall be surely punished, accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him, that's if it just hurts the nursing or the pregnant mother But if any harm follows (it's talking about harm to the little baby inside), then you shall give life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
So the obvious principle here is whether the harm is done to the woman or is done to the child, the life of the unborn child and the life of the woman were both considered to be important equally.
And today the life of unborn children are not even considered to be a life at all or even have value at all, unless the mother of that child wants the child to live then it's considered murder. If the mother does not want the child to live or doesn't care for the child to live and the mother orders a doctor to perform the procedure to kill the child then that's not considered to be murder.
And all over scripture we see that a woman who was pregnant was said to be with child, she was with child. That means Yahweh regarded the life that was inside the mother as to be a child, a human being. And that's how scripture describes the unborn, she's with a child. The child is not a part of her body, the child has its own body. But, sadly in the eyes of many people in the world today maybe you're just some blob of tissue, I mean really we're all blobs of tissue aren't we? We're a collection of cells and all constructed but you know we're more than that, we're the creation of our father in heaven and we are in his image. But scripture describes the unborn as a child and the one who would harm the child or harm the mother would be life for life, eye for an eye, tooth whatever. Whatever you damage will be damaged but today one out of 4 women who are with child successfully murder a child that they are with, one out of 4 worldwide. And they hire hit man called a doctor but they murder their own baby and they have these statistics, you know 32 abortions performed for everyone 100 live births, 32. That's going to bring I mean that's crazy. Now, in certain areas of the world it's even worse Eastern Europe they're using a life birth control about half of all children conceived in the womb are murdered by the mother. In the United States it's about one out of 5, now think about this name one place in the United States where you would go today and you go to live that you would have a one out of 5 chance of survival. Would you ever want to live there? I'd say probably you'd never wanna go there. But there is no place you could possibly go more dangerous in America than inside mommy.
The most dangerous is not Kato's it's not gang-infested neighborhoods, the most dangerous place to live is inside mommy. In the United States there is no punishment for destroying the life of that that child inside, yeah there's penalties say either if you grab an eagle egg and throw it to the ground and destroy it, little baby eagle inside the egg is stiff penalties, 3 years in prison, $5000 fine. Destroy human life no problem, what does that say about people's priorities? So when our laws value the life of an eagle over the life of a little baby boy or little baby girl hasn't been born you know things are awry. Now women's rights considered, these advocates consider it to be a violation of their bodies what you do with your body, you know don't force your laws on my body they say. But it's not their body that they're wanting to abort, if they want to abort their own body that would be suicide. What they want to do is they want to abort somebody else's body and that's the life they're seeking to end. And what about the woman of the female that happens to be inside the mommy, what about her right to live? So I mean really the text of the United States Declaration of Independence says we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and down by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
And so we have a document enacted by the originators of a constitution that unalienable rights is that we would have the right to live. But they do not give that right to the child that happens to be inside mom, it's just a location. And some say well you know the baby is not viable I mean if you took it out of mommy it would die and so how can that be really a life? Well it says the baby is born If you don't do something to keep that baby alive is gonna die too. So viability has nothing to do with that, so the scriptures are clear that we as people, as a nation, we live in a nation where murder is upheld. And since 1973 or 2 55 million, 60 million murders that's a long line of innocent blood being shed. So now for those of you who may be listening who have committed this crime need to understand this
Yahushua HaMashiach--there is no mark he cannot erase. And if you confess your sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, cleanse us of all unrighteousness. If you're cleansed of all unrighteousness that means you're every bit as righteous as Yahushua himself and that's pretty awesome. You're completely clean, you're completely freed so don't carry it only Yahushua can carry your guilt, he doesn't want you carry part and him carry another part he wants it all so let him carry it.
So how about other ways of being guilty of bloodshed there's an interesting one here in Deuteronomy 22 verse 8 it says; When you build a new house, then you shall make a battlement for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your
household, if anyone falls from it. So if you did not create a safe environment for the guests of your home which they often in ancient times would meet there and at the top of the house they would, ancient Israel the rooftops were flat and they might even put their tent there during feast of tabernacles, read that in Ezra and Nehemiah. But they were instructed to put a battlement or like a fence or a border around the roof for their homes. And what he's teaching here is to conduct ourselves in such a way that we're not creating an unsafe situation for other people either from drunk driving or... You know we have traffic laws today like speed limits, turn signals, stop signs, red lights, brake lights on the back of cars all these things are for safety. Workplaces more and more and I'm glad it's this way are focused on safety requiring hard hats, safety goggles and construction environments employees who get injuries are paid workmen's compensation and that's a righteous thing. And these are great laws I appreciate them OSHA regulations have saved countless people from dying and from injury. And they are for the most part very biblical principles, we have electrical codes, safety codes when it comes to building a house, code enforcement of the homes built in such a way it's not safe and that's the spirit of Deuteronomy 22 verse 8 then the builder of that home may be guilty of bloodshed if the house burns down or something happens later where it was not built safely. And so we want to have a safe environment and sometimes the codes get abused you know. But I mean who would want to be the builder of a house that eventually caught fire and killed 2 or 3 children, a husband and wife because you didn't wire the house in a safe way? I mean that would be really terrible and so we're all our brother's keeper and we all have a responsibility to live our lives in such a way that we are not endangering the lives of other people. I remember years ago I used to be an HVAC technician I did repairs and there was always a thought in the back of my mind you know if I don't repair this furnace in a safe way that furnace could cause the home to catch on fire because you have a literal fire going on in somebody's house and it's a controlled fire using that fire to heat the home. And so if I was to do something leave the cap off the gas valve when I'm checking the pressure or you know something like that just not being careful then I may be guilty of bloodshed, somebody could get hurt and I would feel very awful about that. So you have to be very careful and make sure you don't do something that would endanger the life of other people and I think it's a good concern to have. I'm not saying walk around in dread and fear, but to care about the lives of others and realize we have a responsibility here to conduct ourselves in a way that is safe for others and that's the principle seen here or we could be guilty. Yahushua's scripture says of bloodshed whether you're driving a car or whether you're doing something at work we have to do things in a safe way. And I think it's righteous, righteous principles so another way that we can be guilty of murder something our Savior taught us in Matthew Chapter 5 verse 21 to 22 it says; you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder; and whoever murders shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger
of the judgment: and whoever says to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever who says, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. It is a salvation thing, name calling, seeking to destroy a person with your mouth; he is saying this is a spirit of murder. 1 John chapter 3 verse 15 says; whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. And so if you hate a person in particular brother in the faith or a sister scripture says you do not have eternal life abiding in you when you're walking in hatred toward another person. Instead you are among those who are a murderer, wow. To insult a person and to infect a wound on them with our mouth, creating destruction is akin to murder. Proverbs 11:9 says; the hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. We do not want to be destroying people with this tongue we got, this mouth doing that is considered to be akin to murder.
The tongue used by slanders can be a weapon of destruction. Psalm 52 verses 1 through 4 says; why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of Elohim endures continually. Your tongue devises destruction; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. You love all devouring words, O you deceitful tongue.
And Psalm 140 verses 1 through 4; Deliver me, O Yahweh, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of adders' is under their lips. Keep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent men; who have purposed to make my steps stumble. David calls them violent men, verse 11 the Psalm
says; let not slander be established in the earth: let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him. Calling him a violent man: one who is a slanderer
serious words. Violence with the tongue all the time that Saul was seeking to kill David a lot of times it was because of his advisors who are bearing false witness against David. 1 Samuel 24 verse 8 says; David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, and said, My Master the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men, who say, indeed, David seeks your harm? These were false witnesses and slanders.
Look, this day our eyes have seen that Yahweh delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and someone urged me to kill you: but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my master; for he is YAHWEH'S anointed.
So this is all you know murderous slander that was being spoken to Saul, now when a man hates another
man maybe his conscience will not permit him to murder the person. So instead he seeks to destroy him with his mouth the difference is the murderer destroys the body but the tale bear in standard destroys the person emotionally in creating separation between that person and others. Murder creates a permanent separation between the person and the rest of life on the earth at least until the resurrection well there's a murderous spirit behind tale bearing and slander in that your creative trying to create separation between the person who is guilty of whatever crime they claim they're guilty of and others, who might otherwise have a good opinion of the person and willing to be in fellowship with them. And so Yahweh says in Leviticus 19 verse 16; you shall not go about as a talebearer among your people: nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am Yahweh. So going about like a talebearer is equivalent of taking a stand against their life you see that?
Talebearing kind of results: because Hebrew uses comparative stuff in their speech but talebearing results in the wounding of another person sometimes irreparably. That's because the harm done to someone through talebearing is not something that can be easily repaired. In fact it can be a way of permanently harming another person; in fact talebearing harms 3 people. It harms the person whom this is about; it harms the person who's speaking it. You may not think about it that that way, but it does and it harms the person listening to it. it harms the person is about for an obvious way but the person speaking it they're only hurting themselves because they are committing a sin against Yahweh and therefore they are guilty of similar way to bloodshed, and a murder because you're acting in hate toward another person. It also harms the person listening to it because I can tell you that once you hear slander about somebody you know a lot of times and when you use that to cause you to say yeah you kind of wonder about that person now, before you had no reason to doubt the character now the lingering question in the back of your mind you know about this person and you know it's harmful . So we don't speak evil of other people, we don't speak unkindly about other people. And that's why Yahushua says; if you say Raca, fool you're in danger because you're speaking against that person. James chapter 5 verse 9 says; do not grumble against one another brethren, lest you be condemned: behold the judge's standing at the door. Remember the door whenever you're complaining about somebody and grumbling against them, something they've done or whatever. Listen the judge is listening to everything you're saying and maybe you're not so great yourself.
So with what judgment you judged you may be judged. James chapter 3 verse 3 says; indeed we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn their whole body. Like, also ships, although they be so large, and are driven of fierce winds, they are turned by a very small radar, wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See, how great a forest a little fire kindles!
And a tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: a tongue is so set among our members, that defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by Gehenna or hell. For every kind of beasts, and birds, and of reptile, and of a creature of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind: But no man can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With that we bless our Mighty One, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of Elohim. Out of the mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. There is a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? or great vine, berry figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. So those who are grumbling and complaining, speaking evil of others are actually submitting to the evil tongue which Hebrew calls Mishe Rala, a world of iniquity setting on fire the course of nature in the Greek it's called the wheel of motion. You send out things with your defiling tongue and actually what happens is it swings back around to yourself. But the evil tongue set on fire by Gehenna, finds its origin where the devil finds his final home and those who follow his ways find their final home for the spirit that brings man's destruction upon himself is that same spirit finding held to be its final resting place, a spirit of faucet, a spirit of slander, blasphemy, pollution seems to inspire this defiling tongue, defiling the whole body
And so we are instructed Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14, pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see Yahweh: Looking carefully lest anyone falls short of the grace of Elohim; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; by roots of bitterness.
So you really the slandering tongue is coming ultimately from the heart and the reason why you can't tame the tongue is because the heart, out of the heart the mouth speaks. And you have to deal with the heart issue, the bitterness, the hate, the offense, the anger until
that's dealt with you're trying to tame your tongue, the cat is gonna come out.
And so we cannot hate or we are guilty of murder. Scripture says so. Slander's tongue actually harms the person speaking as I said as scripture says in Matthew 12:36; I say to you, that every idle word that men may speak, they will give account of it on the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. So it's not just by the word of Elohim in the Holy Scriptures that you're going to be just fine condemned, it's also your words that will either
justify you or condemn you.
So if every idle word we have to give an account how much more so hateful words, words coming from bitterness?
Proverbs chapter 18 verse 8 says; the words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, may go down into the inmost body. Same Proverbs repeated twice in scripture identical word for word and it's true when you hear a slander it's like you're never the same after that.
Because then you're always wondering if that really true or maybe you concluded that it is true and you'd never look at the person the same way again and you can but there's always something a
signal for the enemy to go yeah that person remember that. So you have to be on guard against the so-called tasty trifles, what the Hebrew has Leham, it's something you gulp and swallow greedily, something about gossip you know makes people just
gulp it up this whole magazine genre devoted to Leshon Hara, evil tongue and false witnessing and things like that. So you know people; they'll pay money for it, these little juicy details in people swallow greedily. And then they go down the innermost part of the body and they have a way of defiling you. Even so-called famous people you know they'll be
magazines writing about them slander slander slander slander slander and like I said it's all that voice coming back saying I wonder you know and so you don't want to hear it, you don't wanna receive it, you don't wanna buy it. You wait and let your own personal evaluation of the person's character make a determination of whether things are true or untrue. One witness is not sufficient, so but you know it's an act of violence that they are doing to this other person. Scripture says; blessings are on the head of the righteous. Proverbs 10:6; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked, have you ever met person they're always talking down about other people? Don't think for a minute they are not talking bad about you too? I guarantee you at most cases they are; now
scripture says a good name is better to be chosen than great riches loving favor rather than silver and gold. When a person's slaughtering another person's name or the reputation you're damaging the person it's an act of hatred and a court of law a talebearer could be a false witness that ultimately biblically speaking may deserve the death penalty. But the court of public record and the court of a person's name and reputation you are damaging that part of them. There is no physical violence involved but there is verbal violence involved sometimes which can be even more damaging and long-lasting. And that's why it said we read earlier the hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor. So next time you consider repeating something that may harm another person consider these scriptures. The question that is the thing that I am saying about this person could harm them, could it damage them if it could that's not loving your neighbor as yourself.
So we need to remember the dangers of this because we are participating in something Yahweh calls an abomination. Proverbs 6 verse 16 says; These six things YAHWEH hates: yes, seven are an abomination to him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. So these are all parts of the body the face, the tongue, the hands, the heart, the feet and what you speak sowing discord among brethren. Slander spiritually destroys other people those with proud looks and lying tongue and devise wicked plans are swiftly carried out plans to bear false witness and so discord. We don't wanna be a part of these abominations, now here is a scripture that just about blew me away I mean I was just totally floored when I read this scripture early on in my faith. Psalm 101 verse 5 says; whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart him I will not endure, wow. Now the author of this Psalm was actually David,
it's actually David speaking here but he did not put up with slander, he did not. He was a king and he executed those who verbally murdered other people.
He said so I am I will destroy, so he considered it to be a murder that's not just New Testament stuff here. So and we see hardiness and pride tend to go along with it, so very important. 1 Peter 2:1-3 says; laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, all evil speaking, (all evil speaking). As new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that may you grow thereby: If indeed you have tasted the Master's gracious.
James chapter 4 verses 11 to 12 say; do not speak evil of one of another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you to judge another? You see when a person stands as a brother in whom Yahushua who the living law, living Torah dwells he is slandering Yahushua HaMashiach the
living word. And so as much as we have that at the least of these my brethren you've done it unto him right whether good, bad or ugly. So we're destroying the body of Messiah when we choose to speak evil of one of its members.
So when a person murders another person physically they are usurping Yahweh's authority as a lawgiver and life-giver permanently destroying a man's life on the earth. When a person murders another person verbally he likewise usurps Yahweh's authority as lawgiver setting himself up as a judge of who to save and who to destroy. That's why you're considered me a logger, you're acting as the one who is master over that person's life. So rather than being one who's doing a law which you're not, if you do still practice these things then you become one who judges the law and says, no I'm going to create my own law. I want to take over the position as lawgiver, choosing who to destroy and who to save. And so you create your own set of rules doing this and you actually condemned the law itself saying well my way is better. And you set up your own law, so Yahweh has said alright well you judge other people by your own words well most the time that's what they're doing, they're judging other people by their own sins but listen if a brother sins and you speak evil of him you slander him you become guilty of sinning, also. You've joined him in whatever sin you're guilty also, because you are practicing sin and he is
practicing sin you both deserve to be judged for the sin that you practice. So don't join them, don't join the sinner and be in the sinner. Choose to zip your lip and say nothing and pray for them, Matthew 7 verses 1-2 says; Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged: and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And you just judging something, someone because they sin differently than you, you know that's all you're doing and so with what judgment you judge you're going to judged right back. Luke 6:37; Judge not, you shall not be judged:
condemn not, you will not be condemned: forgive, and you will be forgiven, let it go. It's not worthy and don't do. Hypocrisy is so very often involved when it comes to judging other people because one of the reasons why you think you see what you see is because you yourself have been guilty of the same thing and you assume that because you're doing something a certain way and that's the way you did it when you practiced that sin and therefore you think they're guilty too, when really they may not be guilty at all. You're responding to your own problems that you have in your own life. So Romans 2 verse 1 says; therefore you are
inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge: for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. So next time you think about you know speaking evil on another person remember who's standing at the door. All you have to do is speak evil of someone by grumbling, calling someone a senseless man or a fool or whatever it's very important we don't practice these things. The central command in the Torah is this, you shall not go about as a talebearer among your people nor shall you stand against a life of your neighbor, I am Yahweh. The word talebearer means to go about and basically going around telling people about other person's wrongs, like a merchant. You know talebearer will go from one person to another selling his wares which malign the reputation of other people. And those are buying to those stories are purchasers of the stolen goods; I say stolen goods because they're taking away an otherwise good name from the victim.
So it's actually an act of stealing.
You're stealing that person's good reputation and replacing it with something else. It's compared to the silver and gold only it's more important than silver and gold. So someone else has a good name which is better to be chosen than money or great riches but then a good name is stolen from them so they no longer have the good name. And they're stealing their good name would be worse than stealing their possessions because it's better to have a good name than great riches. I'm reminded of a story where a religious leader
was slandered by a man of the community in a misunderstanding and he found out that the man who
was slandering the religious leader found out he was wrong about something then he said and the whole thing was completely untrue. So he went to this religious leader and he said Sir I want you to know I apologize for what I did, is there anything I can do to make it up to you? And the leader said go take a goose-feathered pillow yep on the top of the hill in which our town is built, just above our town and it's a pretty windy day out today so I could take a goose feather pillow and go to top of the hill and just shake all the goose feathers out there in the wind.
And the man says alright so he went to his house got a goose-feathered pillow and shook out all the goose feathers in the wind.
And so we went back to the leader and he said okay I've done what you asked me to do but I don't know why you're saying do it but I'd just like you know that I did it. And the leader says well you told me is there anything that you could do to make it up to me. He says now go back and pick up all those little goose's feathers and put them back on the pillow.
He says I can't they're everywhere and so neither can you make it up to me. You can't go around because that's the way slander is; one person tells another tells another tells another you have no idea where it went. So that's the problem was slander and talebearing it
so often harasses the person and it's carried with them everywhere. Now sometimes the reason why people slander and they choose talebearing is because they have pride and they like the thrill, feeling superior to other people, really it's from insecurity. But you know telling the story about how bad another person is can produces mindset well see at least I'm not as bad as so and so because they did this this this this and this. And as a way of easing the person's conscience about their own sins when they talk about everybody else's sins. But easing our own conscience at the expense of another person is hypocritical and a sign that repentance is not really there in our hearts or guilt we're still carrying guilt. And that's probably why people do this on a regular basis when they do it regularly. Scripture says; wandering from house to house; not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. It's kinda interesting people compare themselves
with themselves, so you have 50 adulterers and fornicators living on the street one of them felt they were a good person because they are the 51st person on the neighborhood to say well I'm a good person because I don't commit adultery, I don't commit fornication, you know. But then they do the other things they might be a sodomite, they might be violating all the other commandments. In a city full sodomites newspaper will write about one sodomite, he's so kind and he fed the poor and gave to charity and he was so mistreated and you know that's more righteous than some of these christians. over here who are acting this way and that way. But we can't compare ourselves to ourselves. Don't compare your sin to somebody else's and go well since I'm better than him therefore Yahweh finds me acceptable. The only one you should be comparing yourself to is Yahushua HaMashiach, seeking to walk as he walked. Now there are some people who say well you know if what I'm saying is true it's not really talebearing it's true. You're wrong Proverbs 11:13 says; a talebearer reveals secrets, I imagine you probably have secrets
that you wouldn't want the whole world to know that'll be okay for everyone talk about them all the time? Would you feel hurt if someone's going around town telling everybody your secrets? Wouldn't you feel hurt by that? Absolutely, it's doing harm to the person that's the problem; you're hurting the other person. And so you have some kind of thing you have some juicy thing about somebody and you repeat it and you tell people and you think you are justified, but you're not. Everybody has things in our lives that they would rather not tell the whole world and wouldn't want to broadcast everywhere. But this is why scripture says you know; he who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, Proverbs 20 verse 19; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Oh he speaks so well of you and so badly of everybody else. Guess what? The likelihood is you're next and that person is carrying guilt and they're just easing their own guilt or feeding their own pride so they do so by putting other people down.
Scripture says whoever hides hatred has lying lips and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, somebody you hate secretly but you speak well all yeah yeah but really you hate them and you slander them, you
speak evil of them. That's what scripture is describing right here. So if someone is telling you secrets about other people don't assume that you're going always remain on good terms with that person. We're told not to associate with people like that who got this thing going on because it'll happen to you eventually. But the goal of the slanderer is a rejection
that's what standard does it creates rejection; you're rejecting that other person because of something about their character you find unworthy of your fellowship, unworthy of your companionship. And that's the goal well the one who is a slanderer ought to be actually someone we don't associate with. So they will create their own, their very problem they're trying to do the other people is what ought to be done to them. So and that's actually righteous now we should try to restore them, we should try to confront them, we should try to address the problem, I'm not saying you know go around avoiding everybody but I'm just saying that you think you're gonna be buddy with this person, so many times they're doing it to you later. All right so the word in scripture for accuser is
diablos. The word diablos is translated Devil that's what the word devil means accuser of the brethren, Revelation 12 verse 10 says; I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, strength, the kingdom of Elohim, the power of his Messiah have come: for the accuser of our brethren, who accused
them before Elohim day and night has been cast down. And this is the Diablos this word right here for some variation of the Diablos, accusing accusing accusing accusing. He's the one that whispers in your ear spiritually speaking about other people and so that's when
you have to be sensitive to not be influenced by the spirit of accusation because we know where that's coming from. Sometimes I'll be on the receiving end of what I call a machine gun accusations from, it's where person is angry and they just one thing after another, accuse accuse accuse at that point you know normally I'm listening and considering what they're saying but you know my mind goes into this other mode oh okay I know what spirit they are being influenced by. So you know they're in that zone so to speak. Scripture says there are ways of handling our offenses that are biblical. Leviticus 19 verse 16 says; you shall not about as a talebearer: nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am Yahweh. You shall not hate your brother in your heart: you shall surely rebuke your neighbor. They're committing the sin right there on the spot say wait a minute I don't think that's right rather than going oh they did this to me.
You should not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There are ways of handling offenses that are wrong and there are ways that are right. The wrong way is to go and tell other people about it and be a talebearer. The wrong way is to hate them in your heart, some say well the law is not about the heart, wrong wrong a thousand times wrong. He says in the Torah did I hate your brother in your heart. Another wrong way is take vengeance, you gonna do something about it and get back at him. Another way is to hold a grudge, all of these things are the opposite of what we're supposed to be and that's love love love. Love, the manifestation of love is seen in the willingness to go to that person and address the problem rather than holding it and slandering them, and writing them down, and telling everybody about and all these other things that people often do. So Scripture says in Proverbs 27 verse 5; open
rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. And that's true so if your brother sins against you Yahushua give us instruction, if your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault between you and him alone, if he hears you have gained your brother. This is probably one of the most disobeyed commandments in the body in the body of Messiah today; this commandment was given to guide against someone doing these other things, hating, vengeance, grudge, talebearing. Now you go to them you address the problem and you try to bring them to the place where they will repent another thing they did against you. So what Yahushua taught here in Matthew 18:15 was directly out of Leviticus 19, it was some new thing he came up with he told us how to solve the problem if someone sins against you. Now you don't have to always every time he does something wrong to you confront him, I mean scripture says; the discretion of a man makes and slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression. You can choose to overlook it and not hold on to it, that's a worthy endeavor. But if you find that you're in a place where you can't seem to let it go, you have a hard time carrying it then you need to go to Matthew 18 route
and that is confront the person about how you feel and what you're thinking and give them an opportunity to repent or maybe clarify their side
of it and then you can then at that point either you know say I'm sorry I thought that it was this way I didn't realize this part of it or that part of it or they can repent of what they've done against you. So that's our choices. But talebearing, grudges and vengeance and hatred all those things are the wrong response, it's a wrong response.
Alright now some are going to say what about situations where you feel like you need to warn people about someone's constant repetitive behavior you know what do we do about that? You know this person is going around hurting one person after another is there a place for going and warning others about the way this person is hurting other people? Maybe there are other things that you can do for
instance you can pray, sometimes Yahweh will step in if we pray diligently, it's not like Yahweh's hands are tied he can do nothing without your help.
So prayer sometimes resolves the whole thing and it has resolved things from what I've seen. Secondly we can prayerfully go to the brother with the sinful past and encourage them you know be open and honest with them say for instance you can bring one or 2 persons with you who are familiar with the previous situations, come in a spirit of gentleness and knowing you also need Yahweh's mercy on the day of judgment to say you know brother there is on-going habit you have of doing this very thing and I feel like you know, you need to come forward and be clean on this. And hopefully that will encourage that person to be accountable for not repeating the same things. Another thing could be what's appropriate offer to be a person that the brother who keeps repeating the same sin could be accountable to you in this matter, maybe in a ghostly avoid animosity between believers you don't want to be whether to be some kind of division between you and the person you want to put any you know yourself as a standing over him like you're a judge and you're a master over him. You go to him in humility put your arm around him help bearer's burdens maybe direct to an elder he could be accountable to.
And finally I find that there are hidden ways that sometimes you may have to do is actually warn somebody. You take any steps you have that everything you can do your intention is not to hurt the person, your intention is to avoid other people getting hurt so your forced between 2 things, A) you know the person is about right hurt another person B) you speak something and it's
probably going to hurt the other person but you'd rather come in and put a stop to it somehow you know. And so what you do you can actually go to the person who is about right hurt the other person say look I see what you're about ready to do and I feel like I need to warn the other person about it. I mean you need to turn away from this and if they won't turn away from it then you go ahead and warn the person but do it in the open, you don't have to go secretly just do it in the open. So now there are ways where people slander other people I've noticed and it's kind of sneaky what they do and they justify it.
People say well I need counsel you know that's the big one right there, Oh I need counsel can you tell me what I ought to do about so and so who hurt me this way and hurt me that way or be this way.
Yeah you need counsel well Yahushua already gave counsel he says go to the person who has offended you and here you're already at the second step when you bring one or 2 more and that's not the appropriate step. Another thing people say well yeah we need to pray about so and so they're doing this and doing this so we need to pray for them. No you need to go to them and pray for them yes.
Another way slander is hidden well, I feel like I need to warn you about so and so that's when we just not talked about. Well here's one I have a burden about this person over here I have a burden. You've more than burden you're about ready to talk against them and make them look bad to other people. So it's more than just a burden, so I understand we do have burdens we're carrying sometimes about other people the way they're acting we feel like we should warn we should pray for them, we feel like we need counsel about how to deal with it or whatever. But the reality is we're supposed to go the person and if they won't hear us you know you we could bring one or 2 more with you. Another way is oh they used to do this over here this person you know one time; you know he used to do this. It's not even about what they're doing today it's just like putting down for what they used to do there's no reason to even mention it, talebearers reveals secrets right, so the person's long repetitive the thing that was done but no you're bringing it up again.
So Ephesians 4:31 says; Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as Elohim and Messiah forgave you. Because the alternative is bitterness, bitterness turns to wrath comes anger and clamor, evil speaking it all goes downhill from there.
Another way to slander is sometimes done is through
you know speaking of public figures, presidents, people who are in a position of leadership, and I don't know how many times I've been pointed to conspiracy or conspiratorial websites where they got this idea of a conspiracy the powers that be, they are out to get you and whether they are whether they aren't we have to know for a fact and most of time you can't even tell one way or the other for sure 100%, I mean yeah it'll be nice to have you sit there in an oval office and listen to what's really going on and we don't know, heavenly father knows all things and if we are repeating something or hit the forward button on your computer or you share something on Facebook or whatever sending it through email and it's not true what you're saying. Scripture says you should not circulate a false report, do not put your hand with a wicked be of unrighteous witness.
There is a website right now where there is a false report about me and it's all headlines and everything and you know I actually wrote this morning as I was looking at the study and it got thinking about it you know and the owner of the website I'm asking to delete it because it's not a true report and the person actually recanted of spreading a false report about me and on the actual page itself but the man won't take it down, at least not yet he's been asked to apparently by the man who posted originally so I've had to email and asked them personally about that very thing.
So what we need to do when we hear slander is this, if it is a matter of personal sin against the one speaking it in other words if so and so got hurt that so and so who got her came to you and said do you know so and so hurt me with this this this this this? Ask them saying well you know Yahushua mentioned we should go to the person privately first have you done that? 9 times out of 10 they haven't done it, well let's go together and talk to that person about this sin he's done to you or she's done to you. You're ready for that? 9 times out of 10 they're not ready for it, oh no no we don't have to do that I just you know I, well scripture says we're supposed to.
You see how Yahushua is directing it's like cuts through all the nonsense and deals with the problem, some people don't want the problem to be dealt with, they like being a victim, they like being you know Mr and Mrs self-pity and getting sympathy from people and its pride, its pride like I shared last week. Number 2 say something against the one who is slandering with something mild like you know I'm just not really feeling very comfortable about this conversation you know that person is not here to defend themselves and or if some if they knew that you were saying these things about them, they'll probably be hurt don't you think, just ask the question. You know Yahweh's word speaks you know forbids speaking evil of other people and I really don't want to be tempted to think bad about the other person so you know I really think you need to go to them and talk to them about it. Maybe there's a misunderstanding somewhere or immediately go tell the person who's being spoken
evil of and encourage them to go to the slanderer privately about the matter. I put the wrong heading up there I apologize; it should be what to do when you hear slander. Number 3 what to do when you hear slander is immediately going and tell the person who is being spoken evil of say look this person said this about you I think you need to go to them and get that resolved privately because they have slandered or we can say something in defense. I know what you said about him but he does what he does this this this this and it's not really what I've seen from him or her. So these are the kind of things we can do when we hear slander, now as far as receiving slander from other people look I know 23 years now ministering online it goes the territory it just does, so that's how it is. But Yahushua said it would he said blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, evil against you falsely for my sake rejoice and be exceedingly glad for greatest reward in heaven, first so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. So Yahushua already knew this was going to happen and he says you're blessed, blessed are you, blessed are the peacemakers right, blessed are those who are merciful, blessed are those who get reviled and persecuted for it's a man's sack, Hallelujah, can rejoice anyway even in
the trials. Because if they call the master of the house Beelzebub how much more are they gonna call those of his household? Therefore do not fear them, do you get that, do not fear them, there's nothing covered that will not be revealed and that will not be made known.
The Psalmist went through this Psalm 38; those who seek my life lay snares for me: and those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; I'm like a mute who doesn't open his mouth. Thus I'm like a man who does not hear, and in his mouth there is no response. For in you, O YAHWEH, I hope: you will hear, O Master my Mighty One. Does that mean we always should be silent? I don't believe so, not every time all you got to do is read 2 Corinthians and see Paul speaking quite a bit of time having to defend himself. Read John chapter 6 Yahushua himself chose to defend himself but when he was going before the counsel, before the judges he kept his mouth closed he knew he was standing before accusers, the court was stacked against him.
For instance Yahushua defended himself when the Jews answered and said do we not rightly say you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Yahushua answered I do not have a demon but I honor my father, you dishonor me. He defended himself right, it's not always wrong but we have to use discernment.
Here's Paul the example I was talking in 1 Corinthians saying; we labored working with our own hands, being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure; being defamed we entreat, we have been made as the filth of the world, the out scaring of all things until now. He didn't care, he didn't care one bit yeah I'm a
filth of the world according to them, whatever.
We're going to show love anyway regardless because
in 6 trillion years it isn't gonna matter what people think of you in 2018, he's not going to care let's look at second amenity eternity look at the big picture.
So here's the advice that we're giving, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers and do not grieve the holy spirit of Elohim by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, be kind to one another, tenderhearted forgiving one another just as Elohim Messiah forgave you.
Beautiful words, let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, none, there's one body and one spirit just as you were called to one hope you're calling one master, one faith, one baptism, one Elohim, the father of all is above all through all in you all. Since there is one body and one spirit let's treat each other like, if we hurt each other we're really hurting ourselves because we're all part of the same body. If you hurt somebody else you're hurting yourself because you are part of the same body. And if you recognize that you will conduct yourself so differently realizing you're not only hurting yourself, you're not only hurting them, that body that we're a part of is the body of Yahushua the Messiah, it is him that you are hurting. Let's pray, O father Yahweh in the name of Yahushua HaMashiach I pray that all who are persecuting Yahushua would cease, all who are spreading false reports would cease, all who are slanderers would take note of the words in your holy words, that we may not manifest hatred and that we may no longer be guilty of bloodshed and that we may no longer walk as the Gentiles walk. That we could walk as Yahushua walked.
I pray the body of Messiah will practice the principles in the teachings in Matthew 18:15. I pray that all of us would be attentive to creating safe environments for those around us. I pray all of us would be willing to be a part of the solution with this nation's problem they called abortion, I call it murder of little infants who are in their most innocent possible condition. I pray father that you would forgive us where we have failed you in these areas, for we know for our divine against ourselves we're not gonna make it. And those who are authors of that division he will judge.
Strengthen us, fill us with your spirit supposed to walk out forgiveness, shalom, kindness, lowliness, gentleness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace.
For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory and majesty and all praise belongs to you Yahweh Eloheinu, Yahweh our Mighty One, forever and ever, in Yahushua's name we pray all these things, Amein.
And we are ready to embark on our study portion for today's broadcast and we're gonna talk today once more about the Ten Commandments are we really Keeping them? Many of us think well Ten Commandments are pretty fundamental I think yeah we're beyond Ten Commandments now we're looking at finer points of the law. But I think that if we really examine them a little closer than just a cursory review you'll find there are things in there if you dig deeper, principles in there that are very easy to violate. And we need to be careful that we are keeping the Ten Commandments, Yahushua taught us about some things regarding Ten Commandments; they're not just statutes or not just some kind of legal code.
There are principles involved here that we need to make sure we are following. And now we are at the Sixth Commandment of the ten we covered the first 5 in the previous to 4 portions of 4 segments of this particular study. And now we're on Commandment number 6, I'm going Direction didn't mean to put that up there, Hit the wrong arrow key there. Here we go Commandment number 6; everyone believes they're hardly ever violating this one. Commandment number 6 is you shall not murder. And a lot of people say well you know yeah I've never murdered anybody, so I'm good on that one, next one. Well we're going to see some things that may surprise you about Commandment number 6 and this is ultimately pointing to our need for the Savior Yahushua HaMashiach and just sometimes need to hear Yahweh's standards and
what he expects of us before we really see the need for a Savior. And so all of these are all commands that show forth our failures to keep the word and our need to repent and abide by these things. And so if anything I say this week makes you feel guilty then all you gotta do 1 John 1:9; confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Well, Commandment number 6 sadly was translated thou shall not kill in the King James version and I guess
it's possible that kill meant one thing in the 1600s and not quite the same thing today. But there is sort of some confusion as to when it is wrong or when it's right to take the life of another human being. We know Yahweh himself commanded that people will be put to death for various crimes that they committed and so it's not you know, ending the life of another human being is not necessarily murder. Yahweh sent Israel into the land of Canaan and commanded them to take men's lives and so that would not qualify as murder. He commanded people be put to death in the case of one man murders somebody then the family of the man whose life was taken would take that man's life and that was not considered to be murder. So those have to do with righteous judgment, another case in which it is not a sin to take the life of another human being that will be the example found here in Exodus chapter 22 in verse 2 it says; If a thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall no guilt for his bloodshed. So if someone is coming into your house in the middle of the night and you shoot him and they die, you are not guilty of murder even though you took the person's life you don't know what their intentions were you couldn't see to know whether they had a weapon in their hand or if they were just trying to take something. Now it says if it happens during the day, the next verse says; if it happens during the day then you would be guilty if they were indeed a thief and not someone coming to rob you or whatever. So and another case would be; say an accidental killing not intentional. If it's not intentional that a life was taken Yahweh said in Numbers 35:11; you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the manslayer who kills a person accidentally may flee there. In modern terms say a car accident and he didn't mean to kill the other person, it wasn't your intention that day to go out and kill somebody but you know through some kind of error or some kind of mechanical problem in your car or whatever something like that, you hit somebody and they die. And that kind of thing happens quite often in America and another case would be let's say you have an animal and the animal has never had a behavior problem in the past and that particular animal; say an ox or something like that gored your neighbor and killed him. You would not be guilty of that but if the animal was known to be violent in the past and you loan it to somebody and it killed them then you would be guilty of bloodshed. Now murder is very rampant today especially, incredulously the murder of children and particularly the most innocent time a child is in existence. And that's inside their mother's womb, Yahweh has something to say about the murder of unborn in Exodus 21:22 it says; If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows: he shall be surely punished, accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him, that's if it just hurts the nursing or the pregnant mother But if any harm follows (it's talking about harm to the little baby inside), then you shall give life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
So the obvious principle here is whether the harm is done to the woman or is done to the child, the life of the unborn child and the life of the woman were both considered to be important equally.
And today the life of unborn children are not even considered to be a life at all or even have value at all, unless the mother of that child wants the child to live then it's considered murder. If the mother does not want the child to live or doesn't care for the child to live and the mother orders a doctor to perform the procedure to kill the child then that's not considered to be murder.
And all over scripture we see that a woman who was pregnant was said to be with child, she was with child. That means Yahweh regarded the life that was inside the mother as to be a child, a human being. And that's how scripture describes the unborn, she's with a child. The child is not a part of her body, the child has its own body. But, sadly in the eyes of many people in the world today maybe you're just some blob of tissue, I mean really we're all blobs of tissue aren't we? We're a collection of cells and all constructed but you know we're more than that, we're the creation of our father in heaven and we are in his image. But scripture describes the unborn as a child and the one who would harm the child or harm the mother would be life for life, eye for an eye, tooth whatever. Whatever you damage will be damaged but today one out of 4 women who are with child successfully murder a child that they are with, one out of 4 worldwide. And they hire hit man called a doctor but they murder their own baby and they have these statistics, you know 32 abortions performed for everyone 100 live births, 32. That's going to bring I mean that's crazy. Now, in certain areas of the world it's even worse Eastern Europe they're using a life birth control about half of all children conceived in the womb are murdered by the mother. In the United States it's about one out of 5, now think about this name one place in the United States where you would go today and you go to live that you would have a one out of 5 chance of survival. Would you ever want to live there? I'd say probably you'd never wanna go there. But there is no place you could possibly go more dangerous in America than inside mommy.
The most dangerous is not Kato's it's not gang-infested neighborhoods, the most dangerous place to live is inside mommy. In the United States there is no punishment for destroying the life of that that child inside, yeah there's penalties say either if you grab an eagle egg and throw it to the ground and destroy it, little baby eagle inside the egg is stiff penalties, 3 years in prison, $5000 fine. Destroy human life no problem, what does that say about people's priorities? So when our laws value the life of an eagle over the life of a little baby boy or little baby girl hasn't been born you know things are awry. Now women's rights considered, these advocates consider it to be a violation of their bodies what you do with your body, you know don't force your laws on my body they say. But it's not their body that they're wanting to abort, if they want to abort their own body that would be suicide. What they want to do is they want to abort somebody else's body and that's the life they're seeking to end. And what about the woman of the female that happens to be inside the mommy, what about her right to live? So I mean really the text of the United States Declaration of Independence says we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and down by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
And so we have a document enacted by the originators of a constitution that unalienable rights is that we would have the right to live. But they do not give that right to the child that happens to be inside mom, it's just a location. And some say well you know the baby is not viable I mean if you took it out of mommy it would die and so how can that be really a life? Well it says the baby is born If you don't do something to keep that baby alive is gonna die too. So viability has nothing to do with that, so the scriptures are clear that we as people, as a nation, we live in a nation where murder is upheld. And since 1973 or 2 55 million, 60 million murders that's a long line of innocent blood being shed. So now for those of you who may be listening who have committed this crime need to understand this
Yahushua HaMashiach--there is no mark he cannot erase. And if you confess your sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, cleanse us of all unrighteousness. If you're cleansed of all unrighteousness that means you're every bit as righteous as Yahushua himself and that's pretty awesome. You're completely clean, you're completely freed so don't carry it only Yahushua can carry your guilt, he doesn't want you carry part and him carry another part he wants it all so let him carry it.
So how about other ways of being guilty of bloodshed there's an interesting one here in Deuteronomy 22 verse 8 it says; When you build a new house, then you shall make a battlement for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your
household, if anyone falls from it. So if you did not create a safe environment for the guests of your home which they often in ancient times would meet there and at the top of the house they would, ancient Israel the rooftops were flat and they might even put their tent there during feast of tabernacles, read that in Ezra and Nehemiah. But they were instructed to put a battlement or like a fence or a border around the roof for their homes. And what he's teaching here is to conduct ourselves in such a way that we're not creating an unsafe situation for other people either from drunk driving or... You know we have traffic laws today like speed limits, turn signals, stop signs, red lights, brake lights on the back of cars all these things are for safety. Workplaces more and more and I'm glad it's this way are focused on safety requiring hard hats, safety goggles and construction environments employees who get injuries are paid workmen's compensation and that's a righteous thing. And these are great laws I appreciate them OSHA regulations have saved countless people from dying and from injury. And they are for the most part very biblical principles, we have electrical codes, safety codes when it comes to building a house, code enforcement of the homes built in such a way it's not safe and that's the spirit of Deuteronomy 22 verse 8 then the builder of that home may be guilty of bloodshed if the house burns down or something happens later where it was not built safely. And so we want to have a safe environment and sometimes the codes get abused you know. But I mean who would want to be the builder of a house that eventually caught fire and killed 2 or 3 children, a husband and wife because you didn't wire the house in a safe way? I mean that would be really terrible and so we're all our brother's keeper and we all have a responsibility to live our lives in such a way that we are not endangering the lives of other people. I remember years ago I used to be an HVAC technician I did repairs and there was always a thought in the back of my mind you know if I don't repair this furnace in a safe way that furnace could cause the home to catch on fire because you have a literal fire going on in somebody's house and it's a controlled fire using that fire to heat the home. And so if I was to do something leave the cap off the gas valve when I'm checking the pressure or you know something like that just not being careful then I may be guilty of bloodshed, somebody could get hurt and I would feel very awful about that. So you have to be very careful and make sure you don't do something that would endanger the life of other people and I think it's a good concern to have. I'm not saying walk around in dread and fear, but to care about the lives of others and realize we have a responsibility here to conduct ourselves in a way that is safe for others and that's the principle seen here or we could be guilty. Yahushua's scripture says of bloodshed whether you're driving a car or whether you're doing something at work we have to do things in a safe way. And I think it's righteous, righteous principles so another way that we can be guilty of murder something our Savior taught us in Matthew Chapter 5 verse 21 to 22 it says; you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder; and whoever murders shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger
of the judgment: and whoever says to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever who says, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. It is a salvation thing, name calling, seeking to destroy a person with your mouth; he is saying this is a spirit of murder. 1 John chapter 3 verse 15 says; whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. And so if you hate a person in particular brother in the faith or a sister scripture says you do not have eternal life abiding in you when you're walking in hatred toward another person. Instead you are among those who are a murderer, wow. To insult a person and to infect a wound on them with our mouth, creating destruction is akin to murder. Proverbs 11:9 says; the hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. We do not want to be destroying people with this tongue we got, this mouth doing that is considered to be akin to murder.
The tongue used by slanders can be a weapon of destruction. Psalm 52 verses 1 through 4 says; why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of Elohim endures continually. Your tongue devises destruction; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. You love all devouring words, O you deceitful tongue.
And Psalm 140 verses 1 through 4; Deliver me, O Yahweh, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of adders' is under their lips. Keep me, O Yahweh, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent men; who have purposed to make my steps stumble. David calls them violent men, verse 11 the Psalm
says; let not slander be established in the earth: let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him. Calling him a violent man: one who is a slanderer
serious words. Violence with the tongue all the time that Saul was seeking to kill David a lot of times it was because of his advisors who are bearing false witness against David. 1 Samuel 24 verse 8 says; David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, and said, My Master the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men, who say, indeed, David seeks your harm? These were false witnesses and slanders.
Look, this day our eyes have seen that Yahweh delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and someone urged me to kill you: but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my master; for he is YAHWEH'S anointed.
So this is all you know murderous slander that was being spoken to Saul, now when a man hates another
man maybe his conscience will not permit him to murder the person. So instead he seeks to destroy him with his mouth the difference is the murderer destroys the body but the tale bear in standard destroys the person emotionally in creating separation between that person and others. Murder creates a permanent separation between the person and the rest of life on the earth at least until the resurrection well there's a murderous spirit behind tale bearing and slander in that your creative trying to create separation between the person who is guilty of whatever crime they claim they're guilty of and others, who might otherwise have a good opinion of the person and willing to be in fellowship with them. And so Yahweh says in Leviticus 19 verse 16; you shall not go about as a talebearer among your people: nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am Yahweh. So going about like a talebearer is equivalent of taking a stand against their life you see that?
Talebearing kind of results: because Hebrew uses comparative stuff in their speech but talebearing results in the wounding of another person sometimes irreparably. That's because the harm done to someone through talebearing is not something that can be easily repaired. In fact it can be a way of permanently harming another person; in fact talebearing harms 3 people. It harms the person whom this is about; it harms the person who's speaking it. You may not think about it that that way, but it does and it harms the person listening to it. it harms the person is about for an obvious way but the person speaking it they're only hurting themselves because they are committing a sin against Yahweh and therefore they are guilty of similar way to bloodshed, and a murder because you're acting in hate toward another person. It also harms the person listening to it because I can tell you that once you hear slander about somebody you know a lot of times and when you use that to cause you to say yeah you kind of wonder about that person now, before you had no reason to doubt the character now the lingering question in the back of your mind you know about this person and you know it's harmful . So we don't speak evil of other people, we don't speak unkindly about other people. And that's why Yahushua says; if you say Raca, fool you're in danger because you're speaking against that person. James chapter 5 verse 9 says; do not grumble against one another brethren, lest you be condemned: behold the judge's standing at the door. Remember the door whenever you're complaining about somebody and grumbling against them, something they've done or whatever. Listen the judge is listening to everything you're saying and maybe you're not so great yourself.
So with what judgment you judged you may be judged. James chapter 3 verse 3 says; indeed we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn their whole body. Like, also ships, although they be so large, and are driven of fierce winds, they are turned by a very small radar, wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See, how great a forest a little fire kindles!
And a tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: a tongue is so set among our members, that defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by Gehenna or hell. For every kind of beasts, and birds, and of reptile, and of a creature of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind: But no man can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With that we bless our Mighty One, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of Elohim. Out of the mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. There is a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? or great vine, berry figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. So those who are grumbling and complaining, speaking evil of others are actually submitting to the evil tongue which Hebrew calls Mishe Rala, a world of iniquity setting on fire the course of nature in the Greek it's called the wheel of motion. You send out things with your defiling tongue and actually what happens is it swings back around to yourself. But the evil tongue set on fire by Gehenna, finds its origin where the devil finds his final home and those who follow his ways find their final home for the spirit that brings man's destruction upon himself is that same spirit finding held to be its final resting place, a spirit of faucet, a spirit of slander, blasphemy, pollution seems to inspire this defiling tongue, defiling the whole body
And so we are instructed Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14, pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see Yahweh: Looking carefully lest anyone falls short of the grace of Elohim; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; by roots of bitterness.
So you really the slandering tongue is coming ultimately from the heart and the reason why you can't tame the tongue is because the heart, out of the heart the mouth speaks. And you have to deal with the heart issue, the bitterness, the hate, the offense, the anger until
that's dealt with you're trying to tame your tongue, the cat is gonna come out.
And so we cannot hate or we are guilty of murder. Scripture says so. Slander's tongue actually harms the person speaking as I said as scripture says in Matthew 12:36; I say to you, that every idle word that men may speak, they will give account of it on the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. So it's not just by the word of Elohim in the Holy Scriptures that you're going to be just fine condemned, it's also your words that will either
justify you or condemn you.
So if every idle word we have to give an account how much more so hateful words, words coming from bitterness?
Proverbs chapter 18 verse 8 says; the words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, may go down into the inmost body. Same Proverbs repeated twice in scripture identical word for word and it's true when you hear a slander it's like you're never the same after that.
Because then you're always wondering if that really true or maybe you concluded that it is true and you'd never look at the person the same way again and you can but there's always something a
signal for the enemy to go yeah that person remember that. So you have to be on guard against the so-called tasty trifles, what the Hebrew has Leham, it's something you gulp and swallow greedily, something about gossip you know makes people just
gulp it up this whole magazine genre devoted to Leshon Hara, evil tongue and false witnessing and things like that. So you know people; they'll pay money for it, these little juicy details in people swallow greedily. And then they go down the innermost part of the body and they have a way of defiling you. Even so-called famous people you know they'll be
magazines writing about them slander slander slander slander slander and like I said it's all that voice coming back saying I wonder you know and so you don't want to hear it, you don't wanna receive it, you don't wanna buy it. You wait and let your own personal evaluation of the person's character make a determination of whether things are true or untrue. One witness is not sufficient, so but you know it's an act of violence that they are doing to this other person. Scripture says; blessings are on the head of the righteous. Proverbs 10:6; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked, have you ever met person they're always talking down about other people? Don't think for a minute they are not talking bad about you too? I guarantee you at most cases they are; now
scripture says a good name is better to be chosen than great riches loving favor rather than silver and gold. When a person's slaughtering another person's name or the reputation you're damaging the person it's an act of hatred and a court of law a talebearer could be a false witness that ultimately biblically speaking may deserve the death penalty. But the court of public record and the court of a person's name and reputation you are damaging that part of them. There is no physical violence involved but there is verbal violence involved sometimes which can be even more damaging and long-lasting. And that's why it said we read earlier the hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor. So next time you consider repeating something that may harm another person consider these scriptures. The question that is the thing that I am saying about this person could harm them, could it damage them if it could that's not loving your neighbor as yourself.
So we need to remember the dangers of this because we are participating in something Yahweh calls an abomination. Proverbs 6 verse 16 says; These six things YAHWEH hates: yes, seven are an abomination to him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. So these are all parts of the body the face, the tongue, the hands, the heart, the feet and what you speak sowing discord among brethren. Slander spiritually destroys other people those with proud looks and lying tongue and devise wicked plans are swiftly carried out plans to bear false witness and so discord. We don't wanna be a part of these abominations, now here is a scripture that just about blew me away I mean I was just totally floored when I read this scripture early on in my faith. Psalm 101 verse 5 says; whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart him I will not endure, wow. Now the author of this Psalm was actually David,
it's actually David speaking here but he did not put up with slander, he did not. He was a king and he executed those who verbally murdered other people.
He said so I am I will destroy, so he considered it to be a murder that's not just New Testament stuff here. So and we see hardiness and pride tend to go along with it, so very important. 1 Peter 2:1-3 says; laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, all evil speaking, (all evil speaking). As new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that may you grow thereby: If indeed you have tasted the Master's gracious.
James chapter 4 verses 11 to 12 say; do not speak evil of one of another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you to judge another? You see when a person stands as a brother in whom Yahushua who the living law, living Torah dwells he is slandering Yahushua HaMashiach the
living word. And so as much as we have that at the least of these my brethren you've done it unto him right whether good, bad or ugly. So we're destroying the body of Messiah when we choose to speak evil of one of its members.
So when a person murders another person physically they are usurping Yahweh's authority as a lawgiver and life-giver permanently destroying a man's life on the earth. When a person murders another person verbally he likewise usurps Yahweh's authority as lawgiver setting himself up as a judge of who to save and who to destroy. That's why you're considered me a logger, you're acting as the one who is master over that person's life. So rather than being one who's doing a law which you're not, if you do still practice these things then you become one who judges the law and says, no I'm going to create my own law. I want to take over the position as lawgiver, choosing who to destroy and who to save. And so you create your own set of rules doing this and you actually condemned the law itself saying well my way is better. And you set up your own law, so Yahweh has said alright well you judge other people by your own words well most the time that's what they're doing, they're judging other people by their own sins but listen if a brother sins and you speak evil of him you slander him you become guilty of sinning, also. You've joined him in whatever sin you're guilty also, because you are practicing sin and he is
practicing sin you both deserve to be judged for the sin that you practice. So don't join them, don't join the sinner and be in the sinner. Choose to zip your lip and say nothing and pray for them, Matthew 7 verses 1-2 says; Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged: and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And you just judging something, someone because they sin differently than you, you know that's all you're doing and so with what judgment you judge you're going to judged right back. Luke 6:37; Judge not, you shall not be judged:
condemn not, you will not be condemned: forgive, and you will be forgiven, let it go. It's not worthy and don't do. Hypocrisy is so very often involved when it comes to judging other people because one of the reasons why you think you see what you see is because you yourself have been guilty of the same thing and you assume that because you're doing something a certain way and that's the way you did it when you practiced that sin and therefore you think they're guilty too, when really they may not be guilty at all. You're responding to your own problems that you have in your own life. So Romans 2 verse 1 says; therefore you are
inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge: for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. So next time you think about you know speaking evil on another person remember who's standing at the door. All you have to do is speak evil of someone by grumbling, calling someone a senseless man or a fool or whatever it's very important we don't practice these things. The central command in the Torah is this, you shall not go about as a talebearer among your people nor shall you stand against a life of your neighbor, I am Yahweh. The word talebearer means to go about and basically going around telling people about other person's wrongs, like a merchant. You know talebearer will go from one person to another selling his wares which malign the reputation of other people. And those are buying to those stories are purchasers of the stolen goods; I say stolen goods because they're taking away an otherwise good name from the victim.
So it's actually an act of stealing.
You're stealing that person's good reputation and replacing it with something else. It's compared to the silver and gold only it's more important than silver and gold. So someone else has a good name which is better to be chosen than money or great riches but then a good name is stolen from them so they no longer have the good name. And they're stealing their good name would be worse than stealing their possessions because it's better to have a good name than great riches. I'm reminded of a story where a religious leader
was slandered by a man of the community in a misunderstanding and he found out that the man who
was slandering the religious leader found out he was wrong about something then he said and the whole thing was completely untrue. So he went to this religious leader and he said Sir I want you to know I apologize for what I did, is there anything I can do to make it up to you? And the leader said go take a goose-feathered pillow yep on the top of the hill in which our town is built, just above our town and it's a pretty windy day out today so I could take a goose feather pillow and go to top of the hill and just shake all the goose feathers out there in the wind.
And the man says alright so he went to his house got a goose-feathered pillow and shook out all the goose feathers in the wind.
And so we went back to the leader and he said okay I've done what you asked me to do but I don't know why you're saying do it but I'd just like you know that I did it. And the leader says well you told me is there anything that you could do to make it up to me. He says now go back and pick up all those little goose's feathers and put them back on the pillow.
He says I can't they're everywhere and so neither can you make it up to me. You can't go around because that's the way slander is; one person tells another tells another tells another you have no idea where it went. So that's the problem was slander and talebearing it
so often harasses the person and it's carried with them everywhere. Now sometimes the reason why people slander and they choose talebearing is because they have pride and they like the thrill, feeling superior to other people, really it's from insecurity. But you know telling the story about how bad another person is can produces mindset well see at least I'm not as bad as so and so because they did this this this this and this. And as a way of easing the person's conscience about their own sins when they talk about everybody else's sins. But easing our own conscience at the expense of another person is hypocritical and a sign that repentance is not really there in our hearts or guilt we're still carrying guilt. And that's probably why people do this on a regular basis when they do it regularly. Scripture says; wandering from house to house; not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. It's kinda interesting people compare themselves
with themselves, so you have 50 adulterers and fornicators living on the street one of them felt they were a good person because they are the 51st person on the neighborhood to say well I'm a good person because I don't commit adultery, I don't commit fornication, you know. But then they do the other things they might be a sodomite, they might be violating all the other commandments. In a city full sodomites newspaper will write about one sodomite, he's so kind and he fed the poor and gave to charity and he was so mistreated and you know that's more righteous than some of these christians. over here who are acting this way and that way. But we can't compare ourselves to ourselves. Don't compare your sin to somebody else's and go well since I'm better than him therefore Yahweh finds me acceptable. The only one you should be comparing yourself to is Yahushua HaMashiach, seeking to walk as he walked. Now there are some people who say well you know if what I'm saying is true it's not really talebearing it's true. You're wrong Proverbs 11:13 says; a talebearer reveals secrets, I imagine you probably have secrets
that you wouldn't want the whole world to know that'll be okay for everyone talk about them all the time? Would you feel hurt if someone's going around town telling everybody your secrets? Wouldn't you feel hurt by that? Absolutely, it's doing harm to the person that's the problem; you're hurting the other person. And so you have some kind of thing you have some juicy thing about somebody and you repeat it and you tell people and you think you are justified, but you're not. Everybody has things in our lives that they would rather not tell the whole world and wouldn't want to broadcast everywhere. But this is why scripture says you know; he who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, Proverbs 20 verse 19; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Oh he speaks so well of you and so badly of everybody else. Guess what? The likelihood is you're next and that person is carrying guilt and they're just easing their own guilt or feeding their own pride so they do so by putting other people down.
Scripture says whoever hides hatred has lying lips and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, somebody you hate secretly but you speak well all yeah yeah but really you hate them and you slander them, you
speak evil of them. That's what scripture is describing right here. So if someone is telling you secrets about other people don't assume that you're going always remain on good terms with that person. We're told not to associate with people like that who got this thing going on because it'll happen to you eventually. But the goal of the slanderer is a rejection
that's what standard does it creates rejection; you're rejecting that other person because of something about their character you find unworthy of your fellowship, unworthy of your companionship. And that's the goal well the one who is a slanderer ought to be actually someone we don't associate with. So they will create their own, their very problem they're trying to do the other people is what ought to be done to them. So and that's actually righteous now we should try to restore them, we should try to confront them, we should try to address the problem, I'm not saying you know go around avoiding everybody but I'm just saying that you think you're gonna be buddy with this person, so many times they're doing it to you later. All right so the word in scripture for accuser is
diablos. The word diablos is translated Devil that's what the word devil means accuser of the brethren, Revelation 12 verse 10 says; I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, strength, the kingdom of Elohim, the power of his Messiah have come: for the accuser of our brethren, who accused
them before Elohim day and night has been cast down. And this is the Diablos this word right here for some variation of the Diablos, accusing accusing accusing accusing. He's the one that whispers in your ear spiritually speaking about other people and so that's when
you have to be sensitive to not be influenced by the spirit of accusation because we know where that's coming from. Sometimes I'll be on the receiving end of what I call a machine gun accusations from, it's where person is angry and they just one thing after another, accuse accuse accuse at that point you know normally I'm listening and considering what they're saying but you know my mind goes into this other mode oh okay I know what spirit they are being influenced by. So you know they're in that zone so to speak. Scripture says there are ways of handling our offenses that are biblical. Leviticus 19 verse 16 says; you shall not about as a talebearer: nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am Yahweh. You shall not hate your brother in your heart: you shall surely rebuke your neighbor. They're committing the sin right there on the spot say wait a minute I don't think that's right rather than going oh they did this to me.
You should not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There are ways of handling offenses that are wrong and there are ways that are right. The wrong way is to go and tell other people about it and be a talebearer. The wrong way is to hate them in your heart, some say well the law is not about the heart, wrong wrong a thousand times wrong. He says in the Torah did I hate your brother in your heart. Another wrong way is take vengeance, you gonna do something about it and get back at him. Another way is to hold a grudge, all of these things are the opposite of what we're supposed to be and that's love love love. Love, the manifestation of love is seen in the willingness to go to that person and address the problem rather than holding it and slandering them, and writing them down, and telling everybody about and all these other things that people often do. So Scripture says in Proverbs 27 verse 5; open
rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. And that's true so if your brother sins against you Yahushua give us instruction, if your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault between you and him alone, if he hears you have gained your brother. This is probably one of the most disobeyed commandments in the body in the body of Messiah today; this commandment was given to guide against someone doing these other things, hating, vengeance, grudge, talebearing. Now you go to them you address the problem and you try to bring them to the place where they will repent another thing they did against you. So what Yahushua taught here in Matthew 18:15 was directly out of Leviticus 19, it was some new thing he came up with he told us how to solve the problem if someone sins against you. Now you don't have to always every time he does something wrong to you confront him, I mean scripture says; the discretion of a man makes and slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression. You can choose to overlook it and not hold on to it, that's a worthy endeavor. But if you find that you're in a place where you can't seem to let it go, you have a hard time carrying it then you need to go to Matthew 18 route
and that is confront the person about how you feel and what you're thinking and give them an opportunity to repent or maybe clarify their side
of it and then you can then at that point either you know say I'm sorry I thought that it was this way I didn't realize this part of it or that part of it or they can repent of what they've done against you. So that's our choices. But talebearing, grudges and vengeance and hatred all those things are the wrong response, it's a wrong response.
Alright now some are going to say what about situations where you feel like you need to warn people about someone's constant repetitive behavior you know what do we do about that? You know this person is going around hurting one person after another is there a place for going and warning others about the way this person is hurting other people? Maybe there are other things that you can do for
instance you can pray, sometimes Yahweh will step in if we pray diligently, it's not like Yahweh's hands are tied he can do nothing without your help.
So prayer sometimes resolves the whole thing and it has resolved things from what I've seen. Secondly we can prayerfully go to the brother with the sinful past and encourage them you know be open and honest with them say for instance you can bring one or 2 persons with you who are familiar with the previous situations, come in a spirit of gentleness and knowing you also need Yahweh's mercy on the day of judgment to say you know brother there is on-going habit you have of doing this very thing and I feel like you know, you need to come forward and be clean on this. And hopefully that will encourage that person to be accountable for not repeating the same things. Another thing could be what's appropriate offer to be a person that the brother who keeps repeating the same sin could be accountable to you in this matter, maybe in a ghostly avoid animosity between believers you don't want to be whether to be some kind of division between you and the person you want to put any you know yourself as a standing over him like you're a judge and you're a master over him. You go to him in humility put your arm around him help bearer's burdens maybe direct to an elder he could be accountable to.
And finally I find that there are hidden ways that sometimes you may have to do is actually warn somebody. You take any steps you have that everything you can do your intention is not to hurt the person, your intention is to avoid other people getting hurt so your forced between 2 things, A) you know the person is about right hurt another person B) you speak something and it's
probably going to hurt the other person but you'd rather come in and put a stop to it somehow you know. And so what you do you can actually go to the person who is about right hurt the other person say look I see what you're about ready to do and I feel like I need to warn the other person about it. I mean you need to turn away from this and if they won't turn away from it then you go ahead and warn the person but do it in the open, you don't have to go secretly just do it in the open. So now there are ways where people slander other people I've noticed and it's kind of sneaky what they do and they justify it.
People say well I need counsel you know that's the big one right there, Oh I need counsel can you tell me what I ought to do about so and so who hurt me this way and hurt me that way or be this way.
Yeah you need counsel well Yahushua already gave counsel he says go to the person who has offended you and here you're already at the second step when you bring one or 2 more and that's not the appropriate step. Another thing people say well yeah we need to pray about so and so they're doing this and doing this so we need to pray for them. No you need to go to them and pray for them yes.
Another way slander is hidden well, I feel like I need to warn you about so and so that's when we just not talked about. Well here's one I have a burden about this person over here I have a burden. You've more than burden you're about ready to talk against them and make them look bad to other people. So it's more than just a burden, so I understand we do have burdens we're carrying sometimes about other people the way they're acting we feel like we should warn we should pray for them, we feel like we need counsel about how to deal with it or whatever. But the reality is we're supposed to go the person and if they won't hear us you know you we could bring one or 2 more with you. Another way is oh they used to do this over here this person you know one time; you know he used to do this. It's not even about what they're doing today it's just like putting down for what they used to do there's no reason to even mention it, talebearers reveals secrets right, so the person's long repetitive the thing that was done but no you're bringing it up again.
So Ephesians 4:31 says; Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as Elohim and Messiah forgave you. Because the alternative is bitterness, bitterness turns to wrath comes anger and clamor, evil speaking it all goes downhill from there.
Another way to slander is sometimes done is through
you know speaking of public figures, presidents, people who are in a position of leadership, and I don't know how many times I've been pointed to conspiracy or conspiratorial websites where they got this idea of a conspiracy the powers that be, they are out to get you and whether they are whether they aren't we have to know for a fact and most of time you can't even tell one way or the other for sure 100%, I mean yeah it'll be nice to have you sit there in an oval office and listen to what's really going on and we don't know, heavenly father knows all things and if we are repeating something or hit the forward button on your computer or you share something on Facebook or whatever sending it through email and it's not true what you're saying. Scripture says you should not circulate a false report, do not put your hand with a wicked be of unrighteous witness.
There is a website right now where there is a false report about me and it's all headlines and everything and you know I actually wrote this morning as I was looking at the study and it got thinking about it you know and the owner of the website I'm asking to delete it because it's not a true report and the person actually recanted of spreading a false report about me and on the actual page itself but the man won't take it down, at least not yet he's been asked to apparently by the man who posted originally so I've had to email and asked them personally about that very thing.
So what we need to do when we hear slander is this, if it is a matter of personal sin against the one speaking it in other words if so and so got hurt that so and so who got her came to you and said do you know so and so hurt me with this this this this this? Ask them saying well you know Yahushua mentioned we should go to the person privately first have you done that? 9 times out of 10 they haven't done it, well let's go together and talk to that person about this sin he's done to you or she's done to you. You're ready for that? 9 times out of 10 they're not ready for it, oh no no we don't have to do that I just you know I, well scripture says we're supposed to.
You see how Yahushua is directing it's like cuts through all the nonsense and deals with the problem, some people don't want the problem to be dealt with, they like being a victim, they like being you know Mr and Mrs self-pity and getting sympathy from people and its pride, its pride like I shared last week. Number 2 say something against the one who is slandering with something mild like you know I'm just not really feeling very comfortable about this conversation you know that person is not here to defend themselves and or if some if they knew that you were saying these things about them, they'll probably be hurt don't you think, just ask the question. You know Yahweh's word speaks you know forbids speaking evil of other people and I really don't want to be tempted to think bad about the other person so you know I really think you need to go to them and talk to them about it. Maybe there's a misunderstanding somewhere or immediately go tell the person who's being spoken
evil of and encourage them to go to the slanderer privately about the matter. I put the wrong heading up there I apologize; it should be what to do when you hear slander. Number 3 what to do when you hear slander is immediately going and tell the person who is being spoken evil of say look this person said this about you I think you need to go to them and get that resolved privately because they have slandered or we can say something in defense. I know what you said about him but he does what he does this this this this and it's not really what I've seen from him or her. So these are the kind of things we can do when we hear slander, now as far as receiving slander from other people look I know 23 years now ministering online it goes the territory it just does, so that's how it is. But Yahushua said it would he said blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, evil against you falsely for my sake rejoice and be exceedingly glad for greatest reward in heaven, first so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. So Yahushua already knew this was going to happen and he says you're blessed, blessed are you, blessed are the peacemakers right, blessed are those who are merciful, blessed are those who get reviled and persecuted for it's a man's sack, Hallelujah, can rejoice anyway even in
the trials. Because if they call the master of the house Beelzebub how much more are they gonna call those of his household? Therefore do not fear them, do you get that, do not fear them, there's nothing covered that will not be revealed and that will not be made known.
The Psalmist went through this Psalm 38; those who seek my life lay snares for me: and those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; I'm like a mute who doesn't open his mouth. Thus I'm like a man who does not hear, and in his mouth there is no response. For in you, O YAHWEH, I hope: you will hear, O Master my Mighty One. Does that mean we always should be silent? I don't believe so, not every time all you got to do is read 2 Corinthians and see Paul speaking quite a bit of time having to defend himself. Read John chapter 6 Yahushua himself chose to defend himself but when he was going before the counsel, before the judges he kept his mouth closed he knew he was standing before accusers, the court was stacked against him.
For instance Yahushua defended himself when the Jews answered and said do we not rightly say you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Yahushua answered I do not have a demon but I honor my father, you dishonor me. He defended himself right, it's not always wrong but we have to use discernment.
Here's Paul the example I was talking in 1 Corinthians saying; we labored working with our own hands, being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure; being defamed we entreat, we have been made as the filth of the world, the out scaring of all things until now. He didn't care, he didn't care one bit yeah I'm a
filth of the world according to them, whatever.
We're going to show love anyway regardless because
in 6 trillion years it isn't gonna matter what people think of you in 2018, he's not going to care let's look at second amenity eternity look at the big picture.
So here's the advice that we're giving, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers and do not grieve the holy spirit of Elohim by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, be kind to one another, tenderhearted forgiving one another just as Elohim Messiah forgave you.
Beautiful words, let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, none, there's one body and one spirit just as you were called to one hope you're calling one master, one faith, one baptism, one Elohim, the father of all is above all through all in you all. Since there is one body and one spirit let's treat each other like, if we hurt each other we're really hurting ourselves because we're all part of the same body. If you hurt somebody else you're hurting yourself because you are part of the same body. And if you recognize that you will conduct yourself so differently realizing you're not only hurting yourself, you're not only hurting them, that body that we're a part of is the body of Yahushua the Messiah, it is him that you are hurting. Let's pray, O father Yahweh in the name of Yahushua HaMashiach I pray that all who are persecuting Yahushua would cease, all who are spreading false reports would cease, all who are slanderers would take note of the words in your holy words, that we may not manifest hatred and that we may no longer be guilty of bloodshed and that we may no longer walk as the Gentiles walk. That we could walk as Yahushua walked.
I pray the body of Messiah will practice the principles in the teachings in Matthew 18:15. I pray that all of us would be attentive to creating safe environments for those around us. I pray all of us would be willing to be a part of the solution with this nation's problem they called abortion, I call it murder of little infants who are in their most innocent possible condition. I pray father that you would forgive us where we have failed you in these areas, for we know for our divine against ourselves we're not gonna make it. And those who are authors of that division he will judge.
Strengthen us, fill us with your spirit supposed to walk out forgiveness, shalom, kindness, lowliness, gentleness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace.
For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory and majesty and all praise belongs to you Yahweh Eloheinu, Yahweh our Mighty One, forever and ever, in Yahushua's name we pray all these things, Amein.