MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/22782234/theninthcommandment.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" The Ninth Commandment: The Sacredness of Reputation - Preserving the Honor of Others

The Ninth Commandment

The Sacredness of Reputation

Pres= erving the Honor of Others

 =

= Exodus 20:16

Do not give false testimony=

against your neighbor.=

 

= Proverbs 22:1

A good name is to be chosen= over great wealth.

 

“A reputation unsmirched by evil is a most precious possession.”

        =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =         = - G. Campbell Morgan

 

Introduction

 

      ILLUS= Midwest Pastor

 

The  Meaning  of  the  Commandment

 

This commandment includes not only telling an outright lie t= hat would defame the reputation of another person, but also saying vain,= worthless, and unfounded things about another person.

 = ;

Exodus 23:= 1

“You must not spread a false report. Do no= t join Lit join hands with<= /span> the wicked to be a malicious witness.=

 

Leviticus 19:16

You must not go about spreading slander among yo= ur people; you must not jeopardize Lit = not stand against&= nbsp; Jdg 6:31; Ezr 10:15; 2 Ch 26:18; Dn 11:14 your neighbor’s life; Ex 23:7; Dt 19:16–21; Jms 4:11 I am the Lord.=

 

Psalm 15:1= -3

Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain?
The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowled= ges the truth in his hear  Ps 24:3–5 <= /i>
 who does not slander with his to= ngue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor.

 

Psalm 101:= 5

I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor.

 

Proverbs 1= 0:18

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,= and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

 

Proverbs 2= 4:28

Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your l= ips.

 

The  Message  of  the  Commandment

 

A.  Love = Deters Us from Damaging & Destroying

   &nb= sp;  Others By Slander

 

God knows the danger and potential for harm in an undisciplined tongue.  He know= s the unspeakable damage it can do.

 <= /span>

“Death and life are i= n the power of the tongue.”  &nbs= p;

           &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;          - Prove= rbs 18:21

 

James says that the tongue is full of deadly poison.  (3:8)

 

We damage, damn and destroy people= when we speak untrue words about them.

 

When we are not walking in the Spirit, false, damaging, crippling words will flow right out of our old fleshly nature.

 

Slanderer

 

Gk. diaboloV  diabolos

1 Timothy 3:11    = ; “wives TOO not slanderers”

 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 2:3  “slanderers” or “= ;false accusers”

 

These references are to finding fault with the demeanor and conduct of others, and spreading innuendos and criticisms in the church.

 

Diabolos is the exact same word translated “Devil.R= 21;

 =

John 8:44

You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the trut= h, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his o= wn nature , Lit <= /span>from his own things because he is a liar and the father of liars=

 = ;

Devil means an accuser, a slanderer, one who maligns others or speaks evil of oth= ers.

It is a word applied only to Satan as a proper name.

Being the malignant enemy of God and man, he accuses man to God (Job 1:6-11;  2:1-5;  Rev. 12:9, 10) = and he accuses God to man (Genesis 3).

 = ;

James 3:14-15

But i= f you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and l= ie in defiance of the truth.
 Such wisdom does not come down from above,= but is earthly, sensual, demonic.=

 

The slanderer wounds three people = at one and the same time:

  1. The one he slanders
  2. The one who hears the slander
  3. And himself

 

To be silent is to consent to the slander and to be party to it.

 

A slanderer should be hung= by his tongue and those who listen to by should be hung by their ears.

 

Do you know why dogs have = so many friends?

Because they wag their tai= ls and not their tongues!

 

The nice thing about egoti= stical people is:

They don’t talk abou= t other people!

 

A slanderer is all at once a thief, a coward, and a liar.

 

B.  Truth Deters Us from Damaging & Destroying Others By Slander

 =

An important me= ssage of this commandment is that we should be vigilant to be truthful because tr= uth is a part of God’s holy character that we are to imitate.<= /span>

 =

Deuteronomy 32:4  NKJV<= o:p>

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of tr= uth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

 =

The Heb. word in this passage for “truth” means “faithful, trustworthy.”

 

But contemporary America= thrives on lies, innuendos and half-truths of daytime talk shows, politics, tabloid= s, magazines, etc.

 

People love to hear controversy, s= mut and defamation of other people. 

 

Our nation as a whole has lost any allegiance to the truth or any ability to search for and find the truth.

 =

The  Mastery  of  the  Commandment

 =

Only God can tame the tongue!

 =

Only He can purge = evil speech from us.

But He calls on us to put aw= ay lying and to speak truth.

 

Ephesians 4:25, 29-30

Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,  Zch 8:16because we are members of one another.

No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but = only what is good for the building up of someone in need, Lit for the building= up of the need in order to give grace to those who hear.
And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit, = who sealed you  Or Spirit, by whom you were sealed for = the day of redemption.

 =

Only God can produce = wholesome speech in us.

 =

Postively, the Bible tells u= s to use wholesome speech that builds others up – that builds up both thos= e of whom we speak and those who hear it.

 = ;

Colossians= 4:6

Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned = with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

 

Yes, God intends our words to bring counsel and encouragement and blessing to others.

 

Our words are meant to deliver healing and sustenance and sweetness and seasoning – not killing poision.<= o:p>

 

Proverbs 1= 6:24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb:<= /span> sweet to the taste Lit = throat and health to the = body.=

 =

Thr= ee  Essential  Rules  When  Speaking  of  Others

 

  1. Is it true?
  2. Is it kind?
  3. Is it necessary?

 

conclusion

 

ILLUS       Man I= n Former Church:  Wrote Letter & Spread Innuendos About Me

 

The Devil loves to have you as his partner in accusing others and creating division in the church.

 

      Are you willing to be honest with God right now about how you use your tongue?<= o:p>

 

  &nbs= p;   Are you willing to confess your sin of slander or your sin of  lying to God and getting right in = your heart and spirit with Him?

 

  &nbs= p;   Are you willing to try to make right wrong opinions you have given that may have discredited or defamed someone’s reuputation?

 

  &nbs= p;   Are you willing to go to that person and apologize, and ask their forgiveness?<= o:p>