God's Economy h

"Just a Slip of the Tongue"

"Garbage In, Garbage Out"

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul said

No foul language shall come from your mouth but only what is good for building up someone in need 

In Ephesians 5:4 (same letter from Paul, he said) Obscene and foolish talk or crude joking are not suitable. 

But now, put away all the followingL Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth - Col 3:8 

In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus said

I tell you that on the day of judgement, people will have to give an account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be acquitted and by your words, you will be condemned. 

First, abusing the ___ of God. 

How pop culture has gravitated to use the Holy name of God

Do not misuse the name of the LORD Your God because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.  - Exodus 20:7 

Names, as in the naming of children, used to have deep deliberateness.

God is referred to in many names:

• YHWH - The Great I Am
• El Elyon - The Most High God 
• Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
• Jehovah Nissi - The Lord is my banner
• Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of hosts (or) … of armies

What does boasting reveal about us? 

It exposes our selfishness and our vanity. 

It shows that we think that we are really in charge of our lives. 

It reveals the desire to claim the glory that really belongs to God. 

God is not a faithful "___" 

God is not a wise " ___ " 

Got is not a "motherly cleaner upper" 

The Heart of the Issue
- Jeremiah 17:5-10

Three questions:

1. Are there any areas that I am relying on my own strength and sense of direction? 
2. Do I truly believe that God can/will provide for my needs for his glory? 
3. How are my action showcasing what's on the inside? 

[Opening: Andy Griffith clip]

Ancient Proverb: Gossip is a rumor that goes in one ear and out many mouths.

The only time when people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.
- Will Rogers 

Gossip Defined: 

Biblical Definition: Gossip: The betrayal of confidence. (Proverbs 11:13, 20:19)

Proverbs 18:8 - A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. 

The Lure of Gossip

1. Gossip just ___ do ___ ! (Proverbs 18:8)
2. Gossip appeals to our most fundamental, depraved human nature. 
   • Our curiosity … we are inquisitive and often-time nosy people. 
   • Our overabundance of time and technology
   • Our egos. 
   

How Does Gossiping Harm You? 

1. It allows evil to get a foothold. (image: this is what a "foothold" looks like) (Ephesians 4:27)
2. It gets you branded as being untrustworthy. (Proverbs 20:19)
3. It makes you a relationship destroyer. (Proverbs 17:19)
4. It ruins your fellowship with God. (James 1:26)

How to Shut Down Gossip 

We have to make the conscious choice to power it down. 

1. Re__ it!
2. Re__ it!
3. Redirect it (Look at the gossiper and say, "…")

How to Train your Tongue 

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices. - Colossians 3:9 

What is Truth? 

What is its foundation? 

Do we have a truth problem within our culture? 

How? 

George Barna's study: "The Trends Shaping a Post-Truth Society" 

Is moral truth absolute (objective) or relative (feeling-based)?

Does the Bible compel us to speak truth? 

Is "Thou shalt not lie" in the Bible? 

Not in those words exactly. It's this: The 9th Commandment: 

Exodus 20:16 - Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. 

The wisdom of the Proverbs

The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. - Proverbs 6:16-19 

The Psalms of David 

Surely you desire integrity (truth) in the innermost being, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 

The Judgement of the Revelation 

But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all the liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. - Rev 21:8

Ways we Distort Truth 

1) Deceit - Twisting truth through verbal camouflage 

2) Lying - disguising the truth or intentionally telling an untruth 

3) False Witness - ____ directed at another persona and intended to cause harm (Proverbs 19:5)

Becoming People of Truth 

1) Understand that God , by His very nature, is truth. 

2) Understand that you have been designed to reflect God's nature. 

3) You must choose to submit to God's standards and be a people of the __ .

2 Timothy 1:12 - But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. 

Facing Change 

1) Change is ___. (Isaiah 43:19; Ecclesiastes 3:1) 

2) God has a ___ for the changes in yor life (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28)

3) Find __ in the fact that ___! (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

• His ___ does not change. (Isaiah 46:10)

• His __ does not change. (Matthew 5:17-18)

Psalm 23:4 - Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 

True security is not found in the absence of danger. It is found in the presence of our good God. 

Crossing Those Scare Valleys 

1) Don't be too eager to avoid the valleys

• Make no mistake … valleys are an inescapable part of real life. 
• Realize that the valleys are only 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. 
You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. 
Isaiah 43:2

You will have suffering in this world. 
John 16:33

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials. 
James 1:2 

2) Know that every scary valley is a path to something better. 

3) Focus on our good God's power, not on your problems.

We sheep are prone to wander off and get ourselves into trouble.  

4) Don't wander off from God and your church and isolate yourself. 

The enemy __ attacks the "stragglers" who are isolated from the ___ . 

[story: Lt. Charles Brown… American bomber, "Ye Old Pub" pilot and the mysterious German pilot who gave grace and allowed the tattered, beaten plane to land.  Both survived the war (nothing short of miraculous itself). Listen to find out how both the German Lieutenant (Lt. Franz Stigler) and Lt. "Charlie Brown" lived their lives when they finally discovered each other generations later.

Driving it Home 

If you are in Christ, and if you will cling to him by faith, then you do not have to fear. 

In a culture that's working so tirelessly to create a society where everything is fair and equal, how are we instructed to live? What do we really deserve? 

How to Respond When Life Seems Unfair 

1) Never be envious because of God's ___ (Matthew 20:1-16) 

Envy = comparing ourselves to someone else. 

Like people who can eat anything they want while you might inhale the sweet smells of near the buffet and put on a pound. 

Like those who never crack a book and ace the test. 

Like those who can't stop getting pregnant in the midst of the couple dealing with infertility. 

Like those who seem to have a story book marriage. 

When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner. … 
Matthew 20:11-12 

2) Stop __ ! (Luke 14:12-14, 22:42-43)

3) Go ahead and lose… and join the ___ (Luke 9:23-25) 

Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. For… 
- Luke 9:23

What's really "fair"?

Romans: For the wages of sin is death. 

Wages are what is earned. God is more than fair. 

Living What You've Learned 

Never look for comfort within the human notion of fairness. Always find your ___ in the ___ ! (Nahum 1:7) 

To rephrase what Paul was telling Timothy, "Timothy! That's them. BUT YOU can choose to be different."

Questions to ponder over and over. 

• What will be your impact? 
• Are you making any real difference at all? 
• Is your life even about make a difference … or is it just about you? 

Biblical Principles for Having a Lasting Impact 

1) ___ your ___ . (vs. 10-11)

2) Pursue holiness. (v. 12)

3) Be on the lookout for impostors. (v. 13) 

4) Hold fast to your ___ and your family. (v. 14) 

5) Pursue ___ ___ as your only dependable guide for life. (v. 15) 

The Key to Leaving a Legacy 

Christian, you must be CONVINCED! 

• What you hear and learn must become mattes of belief. 

• Your knowledge and beliefs lead to ___ . 

• Conviction is the fuel that prompts ___ action .