HOW TO GUARD AGAINST THE DEFILEMENT OF LISTENING TO AN EVIL REPORT

 

DEFINITION OF AN EVIL REPORT

An evil report involves distortion of facts

                                       incomplete facts

                                       or false information.

It is given with wrong motivations

            and causes the hearer to come to inaccurate conclusions

            and to respond with unscriptural solutions.

Evil reports are so destructive that they can even destroy long-lasting, close friendships.

“A whisperer separates chief friends.” Prov. 16:28

 

STAGES OF DEFILEMENT 

            Medical world: stages of development of a disease

            Spiritual world: stages of destruction to a spiritually healthy person

 

IGNORANCE  of the “preventive” measures to avoid contamination

EXPOSURE to one who is already “infected”

CONTAMINATION (defilement) by allowing the “germs” to enter our system 

INFECTION as the “germs” overcome our normal defenses 

DISEASE when the infection destroys vital life-supporting functions

 

Stage One:  IGNORANCE  of the “preventive” measures to avoid contamination 

Definition: “IGNORANCE IS NOT BEING AWARE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF UNTRUE OR DISTORTED WORDS.”

1. Ignorance of how words destroy close friendships – Prov. 17:9
2. Ignorance of how the unclean defile the clean rather than the clean influencing the unclean – Haggai 2:11-14
3. Ignorance of what constitutes an evil report
4. Ignorance of how evil reports are given
5. Ignorance of who gives evil reports

* WHISPERER: One who secretly or privately passes on evil reports to others – Ps. 41:7

* GOSSIP: One who magnifies and sensationalizes rumors and partial information

* SLANDERER: One who seeks to destroy another's credibility  or reputation with

damaging facts, distortions of facts, or evil suspicions – Num. 14:36

* BUSYBODY: One who digs up evil reports and makes it his business to spread them by

 means of gossip, slander or whispering. - 1 Pet. 4:15

 

1. Ignorance of what motivates evil reports – James 3:14-18

*BITTERNESS: Reacting because of personal hurts

*REBELLION: Justifying an independent spirit

*DECEPTION: Believing that evil reports are right to give

*PRIDE: Wanting to exalt self

*GUILT: Justifying past actions or attitudes

*ENVY: Desiring what another has

1. Ignorance of how susceptible we are to evil reports

*We enjoy hearing them because they exalt us

*They bring down or hurt those whom we dislike

1. Ignorance of how Satan uses evil reports

* To discredit spiritual leadership

* To cause Christians to close their spirit toward each other

* To multiply conflicts and produce more ungodliness

* To prompt non-Christians to mock Christianity and reject Christ

 

Stage Two: EXPOSURE to one who is already infected and is a carrier – Prov. 27:12 

Definition: EXPOSURE IS ENTERING INTO CONVERSATION WITH A PERSON WHO IS A CARRIER OF AN EVIL REPORT

1. How does God want us to respond?
2. We have protective defenses to warn us about physical contamination – smell, sight, taste however, we are sometimes unaware of contamination until it is too late.
3. How to detect a carrier of an evil report:

* A carrier will usually test your spirit before giving you an evil report

* A carrier will usually check your acceptance of his report before giving it to you.

* A carrier will often get you to ask for the evil report by creating curiosity for it.

* A carrier may communicate an evil report by asking us for counsel or by sharing a concern

for the person involved

*A carrier may use evil reports to get you to admire him for access to privileged information 

* A carrier is usually one who evokes vivid details of evil and will search them out.

1. Five questions to ask BEFORE listening to a carrier:

* What is your reason for telling me?

* Where did you get your information?

* Have you gone to those directly involved?

* Have you personally checked out all of the facts?

* Can I quote you if I check this out?