The Character Assassination

INTRO : GOSSIP IS WHEN WE SPREAD CRUDDY STUFF ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, A HALF TRUTH OR EVEN THE TRUTH THAT IS UNFLATTERING OR UNKIND. SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY NO ONE ELSE’S BUSINESS. THERE’S NO NEED FOR THEM TO KNOW. OUR MOTIVE IS WHAT DETERMINES WHETHER NEWS BECOMES GOSSIP. IF OUR INTENTIONS ARE GOOD, WE CAN BRING GOSSIP TO A GRINDING HALT AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE. IF YOUR INTENTIONS ARE TO JUST PASS ALONG THE LATEST PIECE OF JUICY INFO, THEN IT IS GOSSIP. CHRISTIANS FREQUENTLY DISGUISE GOSSIP IN THE FORM OF A PRAYER REQUEST. THEY USE PRAYER REQUESTS FOR AN EXCUSE TO BLAB SOMETHING. THAT IS GOSSIP. GOSSIP IS SPREADING A FALSE NEWS OR RUMORS. SO DON’T SPREAD IT AROUND.

TEXT: Ps 52:1-5 1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words,

O thou deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

1. THE PROSECUTOR IS THE EXECUTIONER

A. I SAMUEL 22:8-18: DAVID SAW IT NECESSARY TO SEEK FOR HIS OWN SAFETY FOR

FEAR OF SAUL. WHO HAD ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO MURDER HIM. HE GOT AHIMELECH TO PROVIDE HIM WITH WEAPONS AND FOOD. DOEG OVERHEARD A CONVERSATION BETWEEN AHIMELECH AND DAVID. DOEG GOES AND INFORMS SAUL.

B. THE SAME TONGUE THAT PERSECUTES IS THE SAME TONGUE THAT EXECUTES.

C. SAUL TELLS HIS SERVANTS TO TURN ON THE PRIESTS AND KILL THEM BECAUSE

THEY KNEW WHEN DAVID FLED AND DIDN’T TELL HIM. THE SERVANTS WOULD NOT KILL THE PRIESTS. (1 SAMUEL 22:17)

D. BY ORDER OF THE KING, DOEG SLEW 85 PRIESTS WHO WORE A LINEN EPHOD.

E. 6 FOLD CHARACTER OF DOEG

1. BOASTFUL AND TREACHEROUS

2. A LIAR AND A SLANDERER

3. A DECEIVER FOR PERSONAL GAIN

4. A LOVER OF EVIL MORE THAN GOOD

5. A LOVER OF LIES MORE THAN TRUTH

6. A LOVER OF SEEING OTHERS HURT

2. WE MUST GIVE ACCOUNT OF EVERY IDLE WORD AT JUDGMENT

A. Matt 12:34-37 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say

unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

B. DOGS HAVE MANY FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY WAG THEIR TAILS AND NOT THEIR TONGUES.

C. Prov 11:13 -- A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

D. SILENCE COMBATS GOSSIP. IF YOU REFUSE TO ENTER INTO THE GOSSIP OR EVEN

LISTEN TO IT, THEN THE OTHER PERSON WILL BE FORCED TO BE QUIET. WITHOUT TALE

HEARERS THERE WOULD BE NO TALE BEARERS.

E. A BILLBOARD ONCE READ.. HE WHO THROWS DIRT, LOSES GROUND.

F. A FOUR YEAR OLD BOY MADE AN ATTEMPT AT RECITING THE LORD’S PRAYER WHICH HE HAD HEARD IN CHURCH. HIS VERSION WENT.. AND FORGIVE US OUR TRASH BASKETS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRASH BASKET AGAINST US.

G. Prov 6:16-19 -- 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he

that soweth discord among brethren.

H. PEOPLE WHO GOSSIP ARE MISERABLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO PEACE. HERE IS A

DESCRIPTION:Rom 3:13-19

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become

guilty before God.

I. A GOSSIP CAN BE COMPARED TO TWO SNAKES THAT GRAB EACH OTHER’S TAILS AND

START EATING. THEY EAT EACH OTHER UNTIL BOTH ARE CONSUMED. PEOPLE WHO GOSSIP GET SO INVOLVED IN THEIR CRAFT THAT THEY DESTROY THE OTHER PERSON. THEY ASSASSINATE THEIR CHARACTER.