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歌曲129
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《荣耀》歌曲129
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歌曲129
《荣耀》歌曲129
歌曲129
《荣耀》歌曲129
歌曲129
《荣耀》歌曲129
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《荣耀》歌曲129
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it,
and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Brother Eli, could you pray to the service?
My father, my great, amen.
Amen. You are in Proverbs 26.
It's a great proverb.
It's also Proverbs of the day, okay?
I have no idea that, you know,
happened to hit on the Proverbs of the day.
But look at verse 24.
Proverbs 26 to verse 24.
The Bible says,
He that hateth, disembleth with his lips,
and layeth up the sea within him.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart,
whose hatred is covered by deceit.
His wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation.
And the title of the sermon this morning is
The Sin of Passive Aggression.
Now, what is passive aggressive behavior?
You know, that is defined as an indirect expression of
hostility, anger, or resentment,
rather than open conflict.
It usually involves a pattern of resisting requests,
using backhanded compliments,
procrastination, or the silent treatment
to express underlying dissatisfaction
while appearing compliant or innocent on the surface.
Basically, passive aggressiveness is bitterness with manners.
Hatred with a smile and anger in disguise.
And there are people who never say what they mean.
They will smile publicly, but they will attack privately.
They will hang things online, but they will complain sideways.
They would withhold help, they will use sarcasm.
They will never name the names, but everyone knows the target.
But nobody can prove it.
And this is passive aggression.
Now, you go to Proverbs chapter 10.
There are many people who have passive aggressive behaviors in our life, especially in the ministry.
I would even say that many of us, including myself, exhibit some sort of passive aggressive behaviors in some areas of our lives.
So I want to preach this sermon to help you recognize some of the behaviors, so you know how to judge righteously, as well as help you with your interpersonal skills.
So point number one this morning, the masked heart, the masked heart, because many passive aggressive people, they are hurt, they are offended, and they are envious, they are angry, but they refuse to admit it.
So instead of, you know, confession, confrontation, they choose concealment, instead of healing, they choose hostility, right?
And the Bible actually talks about such behavior.
You are in Proverbs chapter 10, look at verse number 18.Proverbs chapter 10, verse number 18.
The Bible says, "He that hideeth hatred, with what? With lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander is a fool."
So verse 18 describes a person who is obviously offended by something, right?
He hates something, he may even hate someone, he that hateth, you know, but then the Bible says he hides his hatred, with what? Lying lips.
So this is the person who says "I'm fine" when they are really not, right?
They may say "nothing is wrong" but they are simmering on the inside, you know, they are hiding their hatred with lying lips.
They will say "I'm happy for you" but while being envious, right?
They will say "no problem brother" while resenting the other person.
Keep up placing Proverbs chapter 10, go to Proverbs 28.No, my bad, go to Psalm 28, keep up placing Proverbs chapter 10, go to Psalm 28.
Look at verse number 3, Psalm 28 verse number 3, Psalm 28 verse 3, the Bible says this,
"Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts."
They have a masked heart, right? You know, in their heart there's mischief, there's hatred, there's envy, but they speak peace with lying lips, that is passive aggressiveness, right?
Let me read to you Jeremiah chapter 9 verse number 8, "Their tongue is an arrow shot out, it speaketh deceit, one speaketh peacefully to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his weight."
These are passive aggressive people. Go back to Proverbs chapter 10, Proverbs chapter 10.
See, passive aggressive people often avoid direct confrontation because they want to preserve their image, they want to avoid accountability, or they want to keep the leverage, right?
They will be nice to you on the surface, they will try to befriend with you on the surface, they will wish you peace on the surface only with their mouth.
But in their heart they hate you, right?They will use you and they will deceive you.
But when the resentment grows on the inside, eventually it will burst and then it will become open slander.
The Proverbs chapter 10, verse number 18, Proverbs 10 and 18 says, "He that hath hatred with lying lips," don't miss this, "and he that uttereth a slander is a fool."
I don't believe these two phrases are disconnected, right?
Because eventually the bubble will burst and it will manifest itself through, you know, slander, right?
Maybe through sarcastic comments.
There's nothing wrong with sarcasm, but some people are weirdly sarcastic to mask their wicked heart.
They will use backhanded compliments, they will use subtle criticisms, right?
They will even triangulate other people against you.
They may never say your name, but everyone knows who they are talking about.
They will never call you a pedophile, they will only say "You seem like one."
They will never call you a reprobate, but they will lump you with Jim Jones.
But when being confronted, they will deny those claims and say "I'm not talking about you."
After all, they never mention your name.
So to them, you are just falsely accusing them without any evidence, right?
Go to Proverbs 26.Proverbs 26, look at verse 24.Proverbs 26, look at verse 24.
The Bible says, "He that hateth, disembleth with his lips, and layeth up the seed within him."
The word disembleth means to hide under a false appearance, right?
To conceal, to disguise, to pretend that not to be which really is.
So the Bible is saying that a hateful person often hides behind pleasant speech.
They hide behind their lips.
Because the Bible says, "He that hateth, he obviously hates something, but he hides that with his lips."
Often using flattery, you know, statements like, "I love you, Pastor Thompson."
"I've been with the new IFB since the very beginning. I will never betray anyone."
These are deceitful people, deceptive people.
And the Bible says, "And he lays up deceit within him."
This means this is not accidental.
It's calculated. It's calculated manipulation.
He lays up deceit. It's fully intentional, right?
He plots it out. They are keeping score.
They are storing offenses. They are planning subtle retaliation.
They are creating a fake image online or something anonymous online.
Just to stalk you or the burner accounts or whatever.
While fostering bitterness against someone else.
And here's how to deal with those people.
Look at verse 25, Proverbs 26, verse 25.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not.
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
The Bible says don't believe them.
Don't believe their flatteries.
Because passive aggressive people are usually flatterers, right?
The phrase speaketh fair means pleasant words, charming words, or agreeable words, right?
They will go out of their way to signal loyalty to an influential figure,
just to go after someone they hate and want to destroy.
The Bible says in Psalm 12, verse number 3,
the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things.
The Bible says in Proverbs 20, verse number 19,
he that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth a secret;
therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Don't meddle with those people, don't deal with those people.
Look at Proverbs 26, verse 26, Proverbs 26, verse 26,
the Bible says, whose hatred is covered by deceit, is covered by flatteries,
his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation.
And their wickedness will eventually be revealed before the whole congregation.
They will eventually reveal themselves.
Everyone who has a few brain cells can see right through it.
Only those people who are being flattered may not see through their wickedness.
Go to 1 Samuel chapter 18.
So the Bible has a lot to say about passive aggression
because the Bible is a psychological book.
1 Samuel chapter 18, look at verse number 6.
1 Samuel chapter 18, verse number 6.
The Bible says, and they came to pass as they came.
2 When David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistines,
3 that the women came out of all cities of Israel,
4 seeing and dancing to meet King Saul with tabarets,
5 with joy and with instruments of music.
6 And the women answered one another as they played,
7 and said Saul had slain his thousands,
8 and David his ten thousands.
9 So they came back from a battle,
10 and the women were complimenting David
11 for killing more enemies than King Saul.
12 But notice David was fighting for Saul.
13 David was one of Saul's best soldiers, right?
14 And you can compare this to someone who goes to a church
15 and he's getting more people saved than the pastor himself.
16 What would be the proper response of King Saul?
17 Yeah, David is on my team.
18 Praise God, I'm glad to have him.
19 Hey, praise the Lord, this guy goes to our church.
20 Look at how many people he's got saved, right?
21 That's the proper attitude.
21 But look at Saul's response in verse number 8.
22 The Bible says, and Saul was very rough.
23 And the saying displeased him.
24 And he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands.
25 And to me they have ascribed but thousands.
26 And what can he have more but the kingdom?
27 So Saul became envious of David.
28 But the envy and the bitterness didn't stop there.
29 Look at verse number 9.
30 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
30 And it came to pass on the moral that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul.
31 And he prophesied in the midst of the house.
32 And David played with his hand as at other times.
33 And there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
34 And Saul cast the javelin for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it.
35 And David avoided out of his present place.
36 So I wanted to notice that Saul was masking his hatred and envy.
37 And he let us, you know, and he let that hatred a stew for a while since he eyed David from that day and forward.
38 But it didn't last long.
39 The bubble burst when he tried to kill David, right?
40 That's passive aggression.
41 And the ex, you knew I'd be, they are notorious for being passive aggressive.
42 Instead of rejoicing the Lord that we get so many people saved, they lie about us.
43 They slander us, they hate the fact that we have so many victories, right?
44 They are envious of our successes.
45 Could you Psalm 55?
45 Psalm 55.
46 Now let me give you some practical examples, because some of us may be doing the same things without realizing that.
47 And in marriage, a masked heart looks like this.
47 Honey, what's wrong?
47 Nothing.
47 Even though you are mad at your spouse on the inside, right?
47 That's passive aggression.
47 You know, that's not going to help your marriage, right?
48 If you let the bitterness grow, because eventually it will burst into flames.
49 And you can apply the same principles to any relationships.
50 Don't let the anger, bitterness, hatred do on the inside.
51 If you can't let it go, talk to that person.
52 Amen.
53 So I said point number one, the masked heart.
54 Point number two, the crooked mouth.
55 The crooked mouth.
56 Now I mentioned this slightly on my last point,
56 But I wanted to realize that passive, aggressive people,
57 They are calculated in what they say with their mouths.
58 You know, in Psalm 55, look at verse 21.
59 Psalm 55, verse 21.
60 The Bible says the warts of his mouth were smoother than butter.
61 But don't miss this, but war is in his heart.
62 They are vindictive, right?
63 His warts were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
63 They are extremely vindictive, but they may appear calm on the outside.
64 Passive, aggressive people have crooked mouths.
65 They will use sarcasm, weird jokes, and vague bookings to attack people.
65 They may never bluntly attack someone, but war is in their hearts.
66 They have plausible deniability, but on the inside they are full of bitterness and revenge.
67 Go to Matthew chapter 18.
68 Passive, aggressive people often have a crooked mouth, and they usually calculate what they say so they will have plausible deniability.
69 But God's way is directness, not side-way warfare.
70 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his faults between thee and him alone, not to everyone else; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
31 So God's way to deal with trespass is to go directly and speak honestly and seek resolution and keep it private first and pursue peace, right?
32 Because if it doesn't work, you bring the witnesses, eventually you'll bring in the whole church, right?
33 But the first step is to seek resolution, keep it private.
34 But passive aggressive people, they do the opposite, they go sideways, they will hint publicly, right? They might even recruit other people and they will communicate indirectly.
35 The Bible says in Proverbs 25 verse number 9, "Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, and discover not a secret to another."
36 So God says, "Go directly to someone who trespasses against you, but passive aggressive people, they go sideways."
38 Now go to Matthew 22, Matthew 22, look at verse 15, Matthew 22 verse 15.
39 The Bible says, "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk; and they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying,
'Master, we know that thou art true, and teach us the way of God in truth; neither carest thou for any person; for thou regardest not the person of man. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?'"
Notice the way the Pharisees ask the question. It sounds smooth. It sounds calm.
Hey, Master, I know you are truthful and always teach us what God says. You are not a respecter of persons, right? Flattery, deceit, but it sounds smooth, but so on the surface, what they say sounds right, but war is in their heart.
See, passive aggressive people, they often ask questions for damage and attack, and not really answers, right? And if Jesus says pay taxes, then the Pharisees might accuse him for siding with the Roman oppression, but if he says, hey, don't pay taxes, then they would accuse him for rebelling against the law of the land, right?
So again, it's a cast 22 question, because war is in their heart. And how does this look like in our daily life?
Someone may praise you publicly or behind the pulpit, but post nasty comments online about you, or post anonymously online, right?
And in marriage, the wife sees the husband relaxing on the couch and says, wow, you are helping today. It must be nice to relax.
But in her heart, she is full of war, okay?
See, that's passive aggression in your real life.
By the way, if you don't like your husband relaxing after a long day of war, just talk to him directly. Don't use those subtle jabs, okay?
So, hey pastor, you are such a man of truth and never fear anyone, so why are you afraid to address this issue?
See, it sounds honoring, but actually baiting, right?
Notice Christ's response in verse 18, "Why tempt thee me, ye hypocrites?"
So Christ ignored the math and he addressed the motive.
Here's a lesson, don't just hear words, learn to discern, okay?
And notice how Christ dissolved their hypocrisy. Look at verse 19.
Matthew 22 verse 19, "Show me the trippy money," and they brought unto him a penny.
And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?"
They said unto him, "Caesar's." Then said unto them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."
When they had heard these words, they marveled and left him, and went their way.
So Christ answered the fools according to their folly, right? Lest they be wise in their own conceit.
So a crooked mouth is a master of flattery, but also a master of vaguebooking.
Now personally, I don't think all vaguebookings are wrong, and a lot has to do with the intent, okay?
And I vaguebook in the sermon because I want to teach you some practical lessons and give you some practical examples.
But passive, aggressive people love using vaguebooking to attack others, since it gives them deniability, right?
They want the target to know, they want their Facebook friends to suspect, but they avoid direct identification, right?
And if being confronted, they will say things like this.
I never said your name. You are making this all about you. I was speaking generally. You are way too sensitive.
You should just roll with the punches. It seems very egotistical and self-absorbed.
Because they have plausible deniability.
See if you can post about it, joke about it, and hint about it, and tell others about it.
But if you won't tell that to the person, you are being passive aggressive.
The battle says go directly first, keep matters private when possible, speak truthfully,
and seeking reconciliation, not people's reaction online.
Not getting sympathies from those people who are not even related to the situation online.
So I said point number one, the mask heart.
Point number two, the crooked mouth.
Go to 2 Samuel chapter 13.
Point number three, the silent dagger.
And the silent dagger is hostility expressed through silence,
with joy, coldness, omission, and so on.
Because not all aggression is loud.
Some of the worst attacks are inflicted without words, right?
And some passive aggressive people, they don't really talk much,
but they'll give you cold silence.
See, silence can be wise, but it can also be weaponized, right?
And they will purposely withhold help.
They will purposely withhold information just to punish other people.
But the Bible says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth not to him, it is sin."
And you are in 2 Samuel chapter 13.
Now the back story is, Abnon force himself upon Absalom's sister Tamar.
You will think that Absalom will be angry.
Someone just force himself upon your sister.
You will think he will be mad, right?
But look at verse 21, 2 Samuel 13 verse 21.
The Bible says, "But when King David heard of all these things, he was very awed."
And rightly so, right?
Look at verse 22.
"But Absalom spoke unto his brother Amnon, neither good nor bad."
Your sister was being forced upon, and you didn't even express your anger.
So notice, Absalom gave Amnon the silent treatment.
But is he really that peaceful?
Let's keep reading.
"For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar."
And this silence would eventually become murder, right?
Now I think King David should put Amnon to death at that time, but he didn't.
But Absalom, he shouldn't take the law into his own hands.
Because David is the king, right?
But Absalom was silent for a long time.
Look at verse 23.
"And it came to pass after two full years."
See, Absalom gave Amnon the silent treatment for two full years.
And he was silent for two full years.
That's a long time.
And passive, aggressive people, they tend to hide in silence, sometimes for a while.
But eventually they will strike.
Look at verse 28.
"Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, 'Mark ye now, when Amnon's heart is married with wine, and when I say unto you, 'Smite Amnon,' then kill him. Fear not. Have not I commanded you, be courageous and be valiant.'
And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the kings and sons arose, and every man gathed him upon his mule and fled."
See, the Bible has examples of all sorts of people.
Eventually, after two years of the silent dagger, silent treatment, it becomes murder, right?
That's why if you have hatred or bitterness in your heart and you refuse to let it go or confront that person, eventually you will explode and the result is destruction.
So don't be a silent dagger. Go to Proverbs chapter 18. Proverbs 18.
Let me give you some modern-day examples of the silent daggers. This is very popular in marriage.
The husband gives the wife silent treatment for three days, a week, two weeks.
The wife withholds physical relationship from her husband as a punishment.
That's a silent dagger. By the way, that is wicked. You are defrauding each other.
At church, the person may shake hands of everyone but that person.
Again, that's a silent dagger. Eventually it will explode.
So I said point number one, the masked heart. Point number two, the crooked mouth. Point number three, the silent dagger.
Point number four, the suspicious mind.
Proverbs 18, look at verse 13.Proverbs 18.13 says this.
He that answereth the matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
See, passive, aggressive people, they often assume intentions over things like Facebook likes, views, reactions.
Reactions, followers, reaction time, seating choices, tone of attacks, and so on.
You know, she like everyone's post except mine, she must be against me.
Now sometimes it might be true, but oftentimes it is projection, insecurity, or complete guesswork, right?
See, this person liked one post from Verity Baptist Church in the past.
He must be aiding and comforting pastor and his enemies.
That is a suspicious mind.
If you like one post from a church that is not a new FB about people getting saved on a mission trip,
people assume you are anti-new FB.
That is a suspicious mind. That's passive-aggressiveness.
See, he used that verse online. He must be directly aim at me.
Well, you know, if the shoes fit, wear it, right?
Now I post this online, you know, I said this.
If you ever find yourself wondering if the preacher is preaching about you or against you, the answer is yes.
Not because the preacher always has you in mind, but because the Holy Spirit knows exactly what you need.
And if a verse someone shares online hits you like it was directly written for you, that's not a coincidence, that is conviction.
Because the Word of God never comes back void.
Those people are overly sensitive.They will judge their words by how many likes they get.They assume the worse intention if they see someone liking things they may personally disagree.
If you don't respond to their message within 10 minutes, they think you secretly hate them.
If you read their messages without responding, they just assume that you don't care about them.
If you forget to greet someone at the door when he comes to church, he just assume I'm secretly against him.
If someone forgets to text you back, you instantly post something online about why people should be friendly.
They live in a world of invented offenses.
Invented, every delay becomes rejection, every oversight becomes hostility, every neutral action becomes a personal attack.
They read motives they cannot know and then react to crimes that were never committed.
So instead of asking questions, they assume conclusions.
Instead of giving grace, they give suspicion.
Instead of speaking directly, they post indirectly.
Instead of believing the best, they interpret the worst.
Go to 1st Timothy chapter 6.
These passive aggressive people, they don't need facts to be offended.
They only need feelings.
They don't need evidence to be bitter.
They only need imagination.
Imagination like spongebob, right?
They don't need an enemy to fight.
They can create one in their own mind.
See, you know, I post soul winning results on Facebook and the soul winning group all the time.
And not everyone likes them.
Do I just assume if you don't like those posts, you are anti-soul winning?
Hey, that's petty.
My wife really likes any of my posts.
Even of my food post.
Do I just assume she secretly hates me?
You know, get the life, right?
Do you know what that's called?
Evil surmising.
Evil surmising is the act of forming negative, malicious assumption or suspicions about others without sufficient evidence.
You know, in 1st Timothy chapter 6, look at verse number 3.
1st Timothy 6, look at verse number 3.
If any man teach otherwise and consent not to hold some words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evils, and misings.
Those people are proud, they know nothing, they invent enemies.
Verse 5, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gains godliness from such with joy yourself.
Let me give you another example. Maybe a friend texts you, tells you something, and all you respond is "OK" or a thumb up.
Then your friend just assumes that you don't care about them because of your short response.
See, if you know me, I don't usually send long text messages.
Yeah, you can testify that.
You know, even if my wife texts me, "Hey, do you know so and so died?"
My response will be, "OK."
You know, by the way, don't read into text messages.
Text messages don't carry emotions, right?
They don't carry facial expressions, tone of voice, and body languages.
If you have any question or doubts, talk to that person.
Pick up the phone.Don't just assume the worst intention.
Go to 1 Corinthians 13.1 Corinthians 13.
Let me show you how you should approach these situations.
1 Corinthians 13.
Look at verse number 4.1 Corinthians 13, verse 4.
This is a chapter about charity.
1 Corinthians 13, 4.
The Bible says charity suffered long and is kind, charity envied not, charity vaunted not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly.
Seeketh not her own, don't miss this, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
You need to realize that not everything is about you.
Sometimes people are busy, sometimes people are distracted, sometimes people are tired, sometimes people simply forget, right?
And if your heart is always looking for offense, you will eventually find one.
If you are always on a witch hunt, eventually you will become the witch.
Stop making up hidden messages.Stop making enemies out of misunderstandings.
Stop punishing people for the intentions that you invented, right?
Look at verse number 6, 1st Corinthians 13, verse number 6.
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Do you know what this passage is teaching us?
Don't assume the worst.
If you always assume the worst intention of people, you have no charity.
You are puffed up.
You are the one who is actually self-absorbed, right?
You are a loser and you are being passive, aggressive.
Go to John chapter 12.
John chapter 12.
So I said point number one, the mass heart.
Point number two, the crooked mouth.
Point number three, the silent dagger.
Point number four, the suspicious mind.
Point number five, the holy cover-ups.
The holy cover-ups.
Now this is the most dangerous kind, especially in the ministry,
because passive aggression often hides behind spirituality.
You know, in John chapter 12, look at verse number one.
John 12.1.
The Bible says, "Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany,
where Lazarus, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper, and Martha served.
But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him,
then took Mary upon the ointment of Spikner, very costly,
and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair,
and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
So Jesus took this perfume, took his ointment, and just wiped,
no, no, yeah, this woman just, you know, anointed Jesus' feet with the perfume.
Then said one of his disciples,Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him.
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?
Notice, Judas sounds spiritual.Judas uses religious languages.Judas sounds practical.
It sounds financially responsible.It sounds like he actually cares about the poor.
Why can't you sell this, you know, perfume so you can give to the poor?
See, if you lack a sermon and side with those people who have been marked by the church,
you might think Judas was such a caring man.Judas would never do anything wrong.
Judas has been following Jesus for three years.Judas has been, you know,
listening to the New IP preaching online for fifteen years.He would never do things like this.
Well, never is never, because the other eleven apostles, they did not suspect Judas either.
But God reveals his real motive.Look at verse number six.
This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
See, passive, aggressive people, they would show concern for other people, but they are greedy, right?
They show fake characters, but they are full of envy.That's the holy cover-up.They will use religious, spiritual languages.
Their bitterness is disguised with discernment.Hey, I'm only telling you this so you can pray about it.
I hate to say this, but just feeling all the gossips and rumors, you know?
And they are full of pride, but they disguise the pride as conviction.They will say things like, "I answer to God, not men."
I'm just too real for the fake people.You know, go to 1 Corinthians 13 again.Let's go back to 1 Corinthians 13.
They are rebellious on the inside, but they will disguise that as spirituality.They will say things like, "I only follow Jesus, I don't follow any men."
Their envy is disguised as standards.They will say things like, "I don't care about so many numbers."
They have a big church because they must be compromised.Some people just know how to market themselves over Instagram reels, right?
Their envy is disguised as standards, fake standards.1 Corinthians 13, look at verse number 1 again.
1 Corinthians 13, 1 says this, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or tingly cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I can remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing."
So it doesn't really matter how eloquent of a speaker you are.It doesn't matter if you talk nicely or act nicely.It doesn't matter how spiritual you may sound like.
If you don't have real biblical charity, you are nothing.If you always post Bible verses online, but you treat people badly in your personal life, you are nothing.
If you serve at this church but out of envy and arrogance, you are nothing.If you always talk about how great Israel is, but don't show any love to the lost, you are nothing.
If you serve at this church but out of envy and arrogance, you are nothing.
If you always talk about how great Israel is, but don't show any love to the lost, you are nothing.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
The Bible says we should speak truthfully to each other because we are one body in Christ.
Why would you lie to yourself?
Verse 26
Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil.
If you are mad at someone, don't sin, don't say passive aggressive things.
If you can't let it go, fix it so you don't give place to the devil.
Either you let go or you confront that person.
Verse 28
Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Lastly, don't use manipulative or rotten speeches.
You know, don't use corrupt speeches, corrupt communications, but rather use edifying words, right?
Use words that actually build up people.
Use gracious and helpful words, because if you don't, you are grieving the Holy Spirit.
Look at the next verse.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed under the day of redemption.
verse 31.Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.
So verse 31 sounds like people who are passive aggressive, right?
They are full of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor.
Now clamor means a great outcry, someone who makes a good deal off of some assumptions, right?
Clamor and evil speaking.
The Bible says, hey, put these away from you. Look at verse 32.
So it's a great passage on how to deal with passive aggressive people, right?
It's to, you know, speak truthfully, don't lie, and just, you know, use edifying speeches.
See, some Christians are too proud to forgive others.
They are too cowardly to confront other people.
They are too carnal to stay silent, right?
And some marriages are cold because nobody speaks plainly.
Some friendships die from things that are never addressed.
Some churches split from the offenses that are never handled biblically.
Some people look peaceful because their war is in their heart.
See, you know, I think as a church body we should put away passive aggression from our lives.
And learn how to identify those people so you won't be deceived into their wickedness.
Amen.
Let's close in with a prayer.
Thank you for this sermon that you have given me.
I pray that we will not allow corrupt communication to deceive us and enter into our life.
I pray that we will learn to judge righteously and speak honestly.
And I pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
The last song we're going to be singing is song 301.Song 301.Sweet hour of prayer.Song 301.Sweet hour of prayer.
In your handbooks.
On the first.Sweet hour of prayer.Sweet hour of prayer.
That call from my foxy shreggory.My soul the pen of snare.
Singing Brother Bradley.Could you please close out in a word of prayer.Amen.You are dismissed.