OVERCOMING GOSSIP

WORD OF GOD3John 1:9  ”I wrote to the church,

but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.” 

3John 1:10  ”So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.”

3John 1:11  ”Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” 

A. OVERCOMING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GOSSIP

a. reputation is maligned

b. people’s perception of you is negative and bad

c. bothered mentally and emotionally  

1.Choose to Forgive all offenders refusing to be bitter

Colossians 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

2. Discreetly Speak with those involved in the gossip if you know them to explain the issues

Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

Matthew 18:17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

3. Avoid to Spread unnecessarily . Never use the media like FB to explain.

4. Pray and trust God to vindicate you

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," [62] says the Lord.

Romans 12:20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

B. OVERCOMING GOSSIPPING

1. UNDERSTANDING THE ILL EFFECTS OF GOSSIP

a. Gossip is a sin of destroying people’s reputation ( murder )

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

2Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

b. Gossip makes its subject suffer emotionally and mentally.

note: 9th Commandment Exodus 20:16 "You shall not

bear false witness against your neighbor.

c. Gossip strains and even severs relationships

Proverbs 16:28 NIV A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

d. Gossip breeds quarrels

Proverbs 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

2. AVOID TO PASS ON “GOSSIP” AS A GESTURE OF LOVE

1Corinthians 13:5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

1Corinthians 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Exodus 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

( 9TH COMMANDMENT )

3. HAVE THE COURAGE AND WISDOM TO SPEAK TO THE SUBJECT OF THE GOSSIP ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU.

NOTE: TAKE IT AS ASSIGNMENT FROM THE LORD TO STOP THE GOSSIP.

4. FIND AND SPEAK TO THE PERSON/S WHO CAN FIX THE ISSUES IN THE “RUMORS”

NOTE: PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY MAY HELP.

5. PRAY FOR ALL TO BE SPIRIT-FILLED TO STOP ALL GOSSIPS IN THE CHURCH

CONCLUSION:TALK ABOUT THE LORD

JESUS , HIS GOODNESS AND HIS VISION.

Isaiah 50:4 4 “The Lord GOD has given Me

The tongue of the learned,That I should know how to speakA word in season to him who is weary.He awakens Me morning by morning,He awakens My earTo hear as the learned.