Sermon Central
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Verbal Bloodshed!
Contributed by Howard Strickland on Oct 12, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Our words are very powerful; with them we can bless or cruse. Through the word of men the process of Christ death begun, and of course He willingly endured the cross!
Verbal Bloodshed Matthew 26:59-61
9 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
Murder always begins with the mouth! Sometimes we overlook the sin of verbal bloodshed within us, but let me remind you that all physical damage starts within the heart. Our self-talk is very important! These men had gathered together and talked about their hatred for Jesus, way before they ever acted on His death! The death of Jesus Christ begins with unkind and hateful words!
These men repeated a true statement that Jesus had said. Verse 61 ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’
Isn’t it something how the very thing these men accused Jesus of is the very action Jesus accomplished for them and all of mankind! Through His death, burial and resurrection!
Leviticus 19:16-17 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 the LORD. 17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
Tale bearing and gossip are likened in this verse to bloodshed! Gossip and verbal bloodshed always resurrects what God has buried!
If something that is said plants seeds of question and/ or discord, if what is said can ruin an individual, we are coming against the Creator, the creation, and the fruit of that creation that is yet to come!
Jesus said in Matthew 19:19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
When we overlook verbal bloodshed within we will drive away the Spirit of God! Our evangelism and the transformation of our community can’t be done without God’s Spirit!
In Ezekiel 22 Ezekiel is a priest and prophet who lived during the time when the nation of Judah was in captivity. Ezekiel reminded the people of the sin of shedding innocent blood!
Ezekiel tells the Jewish people that they were guilty of bloodshed! But in verse 6 Ezekiel say’s, “ Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.”
Princes of Israel in Hebrew is nasi, which means, “Behold the Priest and the Prophets,” the spiritual leadership of Israel!
Listen to James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
When sheep can’t trust each other, or they can’t trust their pastor, the breath of God is driven away!
In the gospels when Jesus breathed on His disciples they were all filled with God’s Spirit, but when angry men came to Jesus to arrest Him- they said, “Are you Jesus?” Jesus said, “ I Am ” and every angry man fell forward!
They fell forward! This speaks to me that Jesus, even while being falsely accused, arrested, beaten and put to death desired that men and women would fall forward. Forward means, Progression. Falling forward means repentance. Falling forward means laying prostrate on the face worshiping!
Matthew 27:25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"
We are either walking with a curse or we walk blessed!
Verbal bloodshed removes God’s Spirit, but unity, love and grace brings the HolyGhost!
One man once said, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words!”
Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.3 It is like the dew of Hermon,Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Anytime someone is healed, saved or delivered. Anytime a church enters into true revival there is always unity and love!
A call to all around the altar, and join hands for prayer.
