Number One Sin In The Church

I don’t know what is happening lately but the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me in the wee hours of the morning causing me to become restless in my sleep.  The Holy Spirit asked me a question, “Do you know what the number one sin in my church is?”  I rolled around a few thoughts but honestly could not think of anything because I was still in the daze.  I heard the word “reviling.”  Over and over again the word reviling kept tumbling around in my spirit until I got out of bed to look it up. 

Revile – Synonyms: rant, rail

To use abusive or scornful language against (someone or something)

To assail with contemptuous or opprobrious language;
Address or speak of abusively.

I was surprised because this was totally unexpected.  What is even more shocking that Jesus said that it could send us to hell!!!

Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Wow.  Who doesn’t call people names on the freeway or say things about others in frustration.  Have you ever called someone and idiot or a jerk?  This is not any better than calling someone a fool.  God’s word says that we will give an account for every idle word.  We need to repent of our slip ups too!  I started to really feel convicted and the fear of the Lord took over when I read the following:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

That’s right you read it.  You will not inherit God’s kingdom if you habitually call people names, curse, tell people off and verbally abuse others.  They put this sin in the same list of sins as adultery and homosexuality.  Why is reviling so bad?  It violates the second commandment of loving others as you would love yourself.  I told this to someone and they responded to this by saying, “How in the world can we live up to this standard?”  Note the following scripture.

^{1 Peter 2:21-23} For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:²² “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Jesus was our perfect example.  He was abused the Roman government and Jews.  He did not retaliate.  He did not open his mouth to defend himself.  He did not argue.  He did not give them a piece of His mind.  This can only happen if we walk in humility.  If we walk in pride then we will stir up strife. 

There will be Christians reading this who have made it a habit to abuse their spouses and children with their words.  You may also be guilty of abusing others at work or on the road. According to God’s word you are a reviler and cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  You need to repent.  Jesus said, “You are in danger of hell fire!”  I could tone this down but we need to grasp the gravity of the consequences of living this way.  In God’s mind verbal abuse and name calling is injuring someone else’s spirit.  Some of you be struggling being in the presence of God not really knowing that this being caused by this sin.  I’m not saying this is easy but God’s standards are clear:

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

This is when true grace comes in and helps us become Holy.  Some may confuse grace as an excuse to sin but true grace helps you live for God.  There is a blessing for those who allow themselves to be persecuted and reviled. 
(1) They inherit the kingdom of heaven.
(2) They receive a great reward in heaven
(3) They shall take their place alongside the prophets were persecuted for righteousness sake.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

Let’s pray:
Dear Jesus, we ask you to forgive us for using our mouth as a weapon and hurting others with it.  We understand this violates the second commandment of loving others as ourselves.  We repent of being a reviler and ask that you would help us by putting a guard over our mouths.  Please change our hearts.  Your Word says that whatever comes out of our mouths, comes out our hearts and is defiling us.  Cleanse us from all defilement and heal all those we have hurt with our words by being careless. Forgive us for every idle word.  We are asking that your Holy Spirit bring to mind the things we may be doing and help us change them.  In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Jaziz Gutierrez
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