The Ballestero Blog

The Deadliest Plague Of All

Some Of The World’s Worst Plagues

• The Back Plague – 375 Mil.
• Influenza – largest killer in USA – 50 Mil.
• Plague of Justinian – 25 Mil.
• Plague of Athens – killed 1/3 of population
• 3rd Pandemic of Bubonic- 60,000 a week
• Cholera – 120,000 per day. 3.5Mil cases yr.
• SARS – Global Threat #7
• Malaria – 660,000 per day
• Smallpox – 500 Mil.

The Worst Plague In The Church!

• Not Adultery
• Not Worldliness
• Not Rebellion

The Worst Plague In The Church Is Gossip!

• Gossip Def: Speaking negative about a person not present.
• (Speaking negative with them present not good either.)

God’s Law About Hurting Others

Exodus 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

MSG. Exodus 21:22 “When there’s a fight and in the fight a pregnant woman is hit so that she miscarries but is not otherwise hurt, the one responsible has to pay whatever the husband demands in compensation.

• If the Church is God’s Bride, and Spiritual babies are about to be born…
• Imagine the Father’s reaction when church folks get into a big fight and that fight stops Revival.
• Everyone can expect the Father to exact damages.
• He will exact damages. If not now, He will in the Judgment.

Know When To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

In the Heat of Anger – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Psalm 116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.

When You Don’t Have All The Facts – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

If Your Words Make Your Family, Friends or Church Look Bad – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

If You Think You Might Regret Your Words Later – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

When You Are Tempted To Tell Something That May Not Be 100% True – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

• A talebearer has no place in God’s Favor!
• It violates God’s Law and Commandment – “Do unto Others”
• Love thinks no evil.
• Speech that tears people down, travels like wildfire. Good news goes at a snail’s pace.
• Sowing discord is hellish.
• It’s from the pit.
• It’s from Satan himself.
• Is it your intention to destroy?
• They that live by the sword, shall die by the sword.

If Your Words Are Meant To Get Even Or To Give Someone A “Piece Of Your Mind” – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

If You Know That What You’re Saying Can Hinder Revival In Your Church – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

When The Subject Is None Of Your Business – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

If Your Words Will Damage Another’s Reputation Or Character – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

If Your Words Will Damage A Friendship – It’s A Good Time To Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Bottom Line:

If you want to gossip and be a talebearer, I can’t help you.

(You don’t even know what spirit ye are of.)

• God may not even try to help you if you don’t want to change.
• He may not even try to save you if you don’t want to change.
• Why would He want that kind of spirit in heaven?

If You Want God To Be Good To You, You Must Be Good To His Children!

• Gossip is a bigger terror and threat to God’s Church than ISIS.
• Gossip is like a hit and run driver.
• Gossip is not much different from a drive-by-shooting.

All We Have Is Our Name.

All We Have Is Our Character and Reputation.

• Gossiper? Did it ever dawn on you that you are a tool of Satan?
• That your every hurtful word is an abomination to God?

How to Stop Gossip?

1. Change the subject.
2. Say something positive
3. Confront the gossip politely. Yet frankly. (“That sounds like gossip to me!”)
4. Point out missing info in the story.
5. Walk away.
6. Turn the gossip into a prayer for the victim.

We All Must Give An Account For Our Every Idle Word.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

In One Church That I Know:

If You Commit Moral Sin…

• The Pastor tries to be patient and merciful.

But If You Gossip And Don’t Stop After First Or Second Admonition,

• You are no longer welcome.

Gossip Against A Minister.

1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

• Against A Minister, receive not an accusation – (Don’t listen to the accusation)
• There must be at least two actual witnesses before it can be told. That shows respect.
• Why not show your brother in Christ the same respect? Why not two witnesses for him too?

With Gossip:

• Unity is destroyed.
• Revival will stop.
• Friendships are broken.
• Holy Ghost is grieved.

David Protected His Brother’s Inheritance!

1 Samuel 16:11-13

The first mention of David finds him tending sheep. He was the youngest of many brothers. The eldest son received two-thirds of the father’s possessions for his inheritance and the rest divided up the remaining third among themselves.

David was guarding sheep that would never be his. They would wind up being his brother’s sheep. He was in charge of his brother’s inheritance. He was told by the father to guard his brother’s inheritance.

In like manner, we too are guardians of our brother’s inheritance. All your brother has is his good name, (his inheritance) and you are the guardian of that. You may even have to defend it against a lion or a bear.

Remember that you too have a brother whose job it is to defend your good name. You sure want him to do a good job. Why don’t you protect your brother’s inheritance like David did?

Like Yours, Your Brother’s Good Name Is Worth Defending Too!

The Spirit Of The Church Is Worth Saving!

The Deadliest Plague Of All Can Only Be Stopped By You!