PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DISCREDIT BELIEVERS BY LYING ON US

Proclamation:

“… I went up to Jerusalem to worship.  My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.  And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.”  Acts 24:11-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

The apostle Paul was arrested and escorted to the governor for a hearing.  After the elders and their lawyer, Tertullus, had presented their case against him to Felix, the governor, Paul was allowed to speak. (Acts 24:1-10)  Paul basically said that the charges against him were false.  He said that he was in the temple when they seized him but that he did nothing wrong.  He said that he was on trial because he publicly declared that he believed in the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 24:17-21)  When Felix had heard Paul he sent him back to prison, but he called for him frequently and talked with him, and yet still kept him in prison for two years as a favor to the Jews. (Acts 24:25-27)

Application:

As believers we are encouraged to share The Word of God and to tell others about Jesus, The Christ.  However, when we tell some people, especially non-believers, about The Lord Jesus we will offend some of them.  In an effort to keep us quiet and to keep others from believing us, some people will lie on us or about us in order to discredit us.  The Bible says when men persecute us and say all manner of evil against us falsely that we should rejoice because great will be our reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)  So, let us keep on spreading the gospel.

AVOID IDLE CONVERSATION

Proclamation:

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:36 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were spoken by Jesus, The Christ, as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Matthew.  Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisees and to the crowd which had followed Him after He healed the demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. (Matthew 12:22)  They accused Him of being the prince of demons. (Matthew 12:24)  After defending Himself, Jesus told them that the things which come out of a person’s mouth is that which is stored up within him. (Matthew 12:33-35)  Then He told them that they would have to give an account for the words that they speak.

Application:

Most of us think that our thoughts, words, and actions are either good, bad, or neutral.  The problem is that either they give glorify God, or they don’t and they are sinful.  The Bible says that all unrighteousness is sin. (1 John 5:17)  We should keep our conversations free from perverse and corrupt language. (Proverbs 4:24)  We would all also do well to heed the Apostle Paul's warning to Timothy to avoid all idle godless conversation. (2 Timothy 2:16)  Jesus, The Christ said that we would be judged on every idle word that we speak. (Matthew 12:36)  Christ also said that by our words we would be justified, and by our words we would be condemned. (Matthew 12:37)  Much of what we say could be left unspoken, because it is not helpful, and it does not praise God or give Him glory.  As servants of The Lord we are not to quarrel with others or engage them in pointless conversation.  We are to kindly tell them what The Lord says. (2 Timothy 2:23-26)  It is the job and sanctifying work of The Holy Spirit to convict, convince, and convert them as He deems necessary. (2 Thessalonians 2:13 and 1 Peter 1:2)  If they will not hear us, or listen to us, it is better for us to just walk away than to argue with them. (Mark 6:11)  We should always be mindful of the fact that our behavior may be the only "Bible" that some people will ever read.

Our Words Can Condemn Us

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."  Matthew 12:35-37 (NIV)

Speaking directly to the Pharisees, and probably indirectly to the surrounding multitude, Jesus The Christ said good things come out of good men and bad things come out of bad men.  On judgement day, all men will have to give an account for every spoken word, and by their words they will be justified or condemned.

We need to be very careful about what we say.  Our words are very powerful, not only for their effect on others but also for their future effect on us on judgement day.  Good people say good things to other people.  If what we are about to say is not going to help someone, educate them, correct them (in a loving manner), or direct them to Christ, then we probably ought to be quiet.

Teachers Will Be Judged More Strictly

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1 (NIV)

James warns that teaching and preaching should be taken very seriously and not entered into lightly, because they will be held to and judged by a higher standard. False teachers will be judged more strictly.

While this clearly applies to pastors and preachers, it also applies to teachers in general, especially religious teachers. If you are in a position to provide instruction to others, be very careful about what you say. This is especially true if you teach, lead, guide, or direct children (parents for example). Leading the youth and young adults astray has very serious consequences. (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42; & Luke 17:2) Remember that children learn what they see, so we should be careful regarding what we do in front of children. We would not want a child to stumble into sin following our example.

Our Deeds Will Follow Us Even After Death

"Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Revelation 14:13 (NIV)

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, recounted and out of body experience in which things beyond earth were revealed to him. He was told by angels and by The Holy Spirit to write what he saw and heard. He was told that those who die believing in Jesus Christ will be blessed. They will be given rest from their earthly labor, and they will be rewarded for their works which were obedient to His word.

This revelation of John was revealed to him after he saw images of the anti-Christ, and there are those who believe that this blessing is only for the martyrs who will be killed for refusing to be branded with the mark of the beast. Others believe that this blessing applies to all who die believing in Christ. Either way, it is clear that we will all have to give an account of our stewardship (Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:12; Hebrews 4:13; & 1 Peter 4:5) and it is clear that Jesus, The Christ, will judge each of our thoughts, words, and deeds (John 5:22; John 5:27; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 4:12; and Revelation 20:12-13) and our future rewards will be based upon what we did to give God glory.