This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘The Ten Commandments’. Her main scriptures were taken from the book Exodus 20:1-17; John 8:31-59; Luke 23:36-43

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS – INTRODUCTION

The Ten Commandments are ten laws that God Himself gave to the ancient nation of Israel thru His servant Moses. These Biblical principles apply to men’s relationship with God and with one another. If all people on earth keep at least one of these commandments, the world will be a better place. These Commandments were spoken directly by God at Mount Sinai and written by God’s finger on tablets of stone and given to Moses. This act makes them unique in the Bible. These Ten Laws are commands and not suggestions. They are personal, spoken to individuals.

GOD’S WORD RUNS FAST TO THE EARTH AND DOES GOD’S WILL

“He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow” (Ps 147:15-18). God Himself sends His Commands to people on earth. His Word runs like a champion, fast and focused. There is no difficulty or delay for the Word going from heaven to earth. Nothing can stop or slow down the Word. “As the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Lk 17:24, 25). Because Jesus suffered rejection on earth, and died for sinners on the Cross, God’s Word is now triumphant and fast like lightning. If a man rejects God’s Word, his heart become frozen, and he becomes like an ice statue. But the same Word, like the sun during the springtime of grace, melts the icy heart and the tears of repentance ‘flow’ like the waters. God’s Word kills and makes alive! Selah!

THE 9^TH COMMANDMENT – YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR! YOU SHALL NOT LIE!

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor… You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (or any person)” (Ex 20:16; NKJ; AMP). The 9th Commandment concerns our speech. It is the chief sin of the tongue. It forbids men to speak wicked lies against another to damage his reputation, in order to reduce people’s respect for him. Satan is the principal instigator of it. He deceived Eve through the first lie that was spoken on earth (Gen 3:4). To bear false witness against someone is also called Calumny, Slander, or ‘character assassination’. It is a wicked verbal attack, meant to destroy reputations or friendships. Slander is called ‘Grudges fortified’ or ‘The Devil’s masterpiece.’ “A perverse person spreads strife, And a slanderer separates close friends” (PV 16:28; NASB). A perverse man is someone who distorts the truth. Strife means quarrels. The 9th commandment forbids us from committing any act that might bring undeserved suffering to another person. The focus is on our speech, but not exclusively. Words and deeds that unjustly destroy others’ reputations, harm them in court, or promote evil are prohibited. Another way to break this commandment by teaching false doctrines that damage God’s character and by not honoring the truth. Gossip is also forbidden by this commandment. The words of gossip are ‘sweet’ poison. They stay in the heart and are not easily forgotten. They do great damage. “The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon]” (PV 18:8; AMP). The fleshly tongue is connected with hell fire. It is only by the Holy Spirit that the tongue can be controlled and used for good. “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell” (Jam 3:5, 6). Connecting our hearts and tongues with heaven is our prayer! This is God’s command: “But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth” (Col 3:8; AMP). Confess this: “I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law” (Ps 119:163).

Slander is lying and a direct insult to God who is Truth. Jesus said: “I am the Truth” (Jn 14:6). “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Nu 23:19). “God, who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). God wants His people to love truth. We are commanded to “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15). To falsely accuse someone or quote them out of context with the intent to do them harm is wicked. The liar wants to deceive others to believe in his lies. Some political candidates use this tactic against opponents hoping that voters will be tricked into thinking that the accusations are true. This is how politicians deceive and steal followers. Written words used to harm a person’s reputation are called ‘libel’, and spoken words used to harm a person’s reputation are called ‘slander.’ False witnessing is done in public (in a court of justice) or in private (gossiping). Slander is a social sin or a criminal offence. It often leads to court cases. In most countries the Constitution protects the character of man and punishes the slanderer. The Law also tries to balance this with the freedom of speech. Just having a different opinion is not regarded as slander. A vulgar insult spoken in anger is wicked but not considered slander. Slander is always done through wickedness and a desire to destroy another person’s reputation and good name. For example, these are some serious accusations considered as slander: accusing someone to be an armed robber or a witch; accusing a person to be sick with an incurable (mental) disease, accusing someone to be an adulterer, or accusing an athlete that he is taking drugs to win the race. These accusations damage the person’s character and social status. Public persons are more likely to be slandered. A word spoken is not considered slander if: the word proves to be true, the word was only an opinion and not spoken with malice, the victim was not harmed by it or the victim agrees with the word. Generally, it is hard for lawyers to win a case against those who slander.

Slander against God is called blasphemy. It is the act of insulting, cursing, or showing lack of reverence for God. The Third Commandment forbids blasphemy: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Ex 20:7). This is God’s Law in the Old Testament: “Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death” (Lev 24:15. 16). Our Lord said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an eternal sin. “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation”— because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mk 3:28-30). “No sin is greater or provokes God’s wrath more than the blaspheming of His Name” (Heidelberg Catechism). Blasphemy remained a criminal offence in England until 2008. In the past, promoting atheism in England could be a crime and was vigorously prosecuted. Presently, almost all countries have removed the laws against blasphemy. In the Muslim countries, blasphemy is still punished with flogging and even with a death sentence.  

GOD HATES PRIDE, LIES, WICKEDNESS, SLANDER AND DIVISION!

“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (PV 6:16-19). Liars are wicked fools. “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool” (PV 10:18). Those who lie and flatter hate their victims. “A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (PV 26:28).

God forbids taking His name in vain and slandering the name of people who are created in His image. Slandering men means slandering their creator. While everyone has a fundamental right to freely speak their minds, your freedom of expression is not absolute. Most legal systems set limits on what you can say especially if you make claims about someone that are not true. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (PV 22:1). Calumny damages the good name of a person. That damage is stealing from a greater treasure than silver and gold. It injures a man more than stealing from his bank account!    

“Who steals my purse, steals trash,

But he who steals from me my good name,

Robs me of that which not enriches him,

Yet leaves me poor indeed.”

WHY DO PEOPLE SLANDER OTHERS?

Slander is always wicked. It is a manifestation of sin dwelling in the heart. Jealousy, inferiority complex, anger and fear are the main reasons why people lie against others. Most of the time, people slander because they have been deceived to believe a lie. They trust the liar and they repeat the lie. That is why we should not totally trust men, but only God! Another reason people slander it is because they have misunderstood the person. They did not search for the facts, and they jumped to conclusions. Impatience often leads to error. Peer pressure should not lead you into sin! “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice” (Ex 23:1, 2).  Selfishness is the root of slander. When you are careless with your words, and you do not feel the pain in another, you will fall into sin. God judges careless (idle) words. Search your heart! Words come from inside your heart. Our Lord said: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:33-37).  

GOD’S LAW CONCERNING WITNESSES- SLANDER IS EVIL -SLANDER IS PUNISHED!

The ninth Commandment forbids all lying, but especially trying to deceive others as you damage your neighbor’s name. Trying to bring down a person, destroying his good name so that you raise your own reputation at his expense is sinful. Slander is sin! God hates it! God punishes it! In The Old Testament, if a man commits a sin, the witnesses should bring him to a court presided by priests or judges in the presence of God. Only one witness is not acceptable in court. At least two witnesses must testify. A witness is one who has seen the offence firsthand. A secondhand witness is not accepted. The judges make a careful inquiry about the accusation. If the accusation is true, the judges give the punishment accordingly. If the accusation is false, the victim is freed, and the accusers are condemned. The judges will give the same punishment that the false witnesses wanted for the victim. Slander is called ‘evil’.  “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so, you shall put away the evil from among you. And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deut 19:15-21). A false witness is a wicked liar. He causes much damage to the victim and his family. “A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness will utter lies” (PV 14:5). “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape” (PV 19:5). “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow” (PV 25:18). Remember how Ananias and Saphira lied to the Holy Spirit, and they died on the spot (Acts 5:1-11). True believers like Joseph, David and Naboth experienced slander. They suffered because of it. They chose not to defend themselves. Like Jesus, they trusted God who vindicated them. Selah!

JOSEPH WAS SLANDERED BY POTIPHAR’S WIFE (Genesis 39:1-23)

Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an army general in Egypt. He was faithful and wise in the house of his master. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. But Joseph refused saying that this is ‘great wickedness and sin against God’. Rejected by Joseph, she decided to punish him. With Joseph’s robe in her hand, she accused him of trying to rape her. She slandered him to the household servants and to her husband. Joseph was to be killed for such an accusation. But God was with Joseph. He was sent to prison. Joseph did not defend himself. He trusted God. After some years, according to his dream, God promoted him. He became the prime minister of Egypt, the greatest country at the time. Lesson: slander cannot destroy a true believer! “A curse you don’t deserve will take wings and fly away like a sparrow or a swallow” (PV 26:2; CEV).

KING DAVID WAS SLANDERD BY SHIMEI (2 Samuel 16:5-14)

David was falsely accused and persecuted by King Saul. He knows how painful it is when men speak evil against you. Listen to his advice: “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Ps 27:11-14). Read God’s Word! Having patience, courage, and trust in God is how you respond to false accusations.

The story of Shimei is a sad one. We see that God is merciful even with slanderers. But if they refuse to repent, they will be punished. When Absalom took over the throne, King David, with some faithful followers, ran away from Jerusalem. Shimei, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, and the same family with King Saul, taking advantage of David’s pain, cursed him publicly. He said: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil because you are a bloodthirsty man!” (2 Sam 16:7, 8). These words were wicked lies. David did not plot to kill Saul to take over his throne the way Absalom was doing. Even when King Saul wanted to kill him, David did not insult or attack the king. One of David’s men wanted to kill Shimei for slandering David. But even in his pain, David refused to defend himself. David said: “Let him curse because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David’ … See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day” (2 Sam 16:10-12).

David trusted God for justice. After Absalom died, as King David was coming back to Jerusalem, the same Shimei came to bow and asked David for forgiveness. It was clearly a false repentance but because it was a happy day of victory, David forgave him. As he was dying, David told his son Solomon to judge Shimei later. He said: “You have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood” (1 Kings 2:8, 9). As Solomon took over the throne, he called Shimei and commanded him not to leave Jerusalem. He agreed. After three years, Shimei left Jerusalem to capture two of his runaway slaves. People told Solomon that Shimei broke his promise to stay in Jerusalem. “Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’ Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the commandment that I gave you?” The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore, the Lord will return your wickedness on your own head. But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.” So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus, the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon” (1 Kings 2:42-46). God is patient with sinners but not forever! Selah!

NABOTH IS SLANDERED AND KILLED BY AHAB AND JEZEBEL (1 Kg 21:1-29; 22:29-38; 2 Kg 9:30-37)

The story of how Naboth was killed is a tragedy. King Ahab wanted to buy a plot of land belonging to Naboth. This land was next to his palace in Samaria. Naboth was using it as a vineyard. It was his family inheritance since the Promised Land was divided by Joshua. Because Naboth refused to sell the land, Ahab became angry. His wife Jezebel reminded him that he was the king, and that he had all the powers in the country. Her father was a pagan king. She grew up to believe that all kings and rulers have the right to be oppressors. They could take any land and kill if any refuses them. Ahab was a weak man, but his wife was a strong wicked woman. She took over the matter. She used her husband identity and seal and wrote official letters to the men of Naboth’s village. They were commanded to fast and make a feast, giving the impression that they are religious men serving God. They should ‘promote’ Naboth so that he will not suspect any plot. They should hire two false witnesses who will publicly declare that they heard when Naboth cursed God and the king. At the feast, the men declared Naboth guilty and stoned him to death. They sent a message to Jezebel that they had obeyed all her instructions. Liars and wicked men always walk together. “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked” (PV 29:12). Jezebel tells her husband that he can take over Naboth’s land. Happily, Ahab goes to inspect the land. Prophet Elijah meets him there are declares that he is a murderer and a thief. Elijah prophesies that both Ahab and Jezebel will die violent deaths at the same spot where Naboth was killed. Ahab repented. Though it was a false repentance, God showed him mercy delaying the punishment to the time of his son. All Ahab’s male descendants died untimely deaths. Ahab and Jezebel died violently on Naboth’s plot.

What are the lessons? Jezebel is dead long ago. But there is a spirit of Jezebel still doing harm in the churches (Revelation 2:18-29). This spirit misleads the Christians to backslide, by worshiping idols and committing adultery. The spiritual Jezebel is wicked, selfish, and bold. She calls herself a prophetess. She uses false prophets in churches. God did not call them. They called themselves. They are ‘ordained’ by the spirit of Jezebel. They sponsor slander and gossip. They oppress and deceive. They hate to humble themselves and repent. They teach false doctrines. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. They send their spies to the churches to investigate the freedom the true brethren have. They mislead believers back to the bondage of sin (Gal 2:4, 5). Jesus died to set us free from sin, from the world and from the devil. Be careful! Freedom can be lost! We are commanded to protect the freedom we have received in Christ (Gal 5:1-10). These false brethren may use magic powers to oppose the pastors who preach truth (2 Tim 3:1-13). They take advantage of the immaturity of young believers, especially the women in the church. Their intent is to keep men foolish and into the bondage of deception. The spirit of Jezebel is the main reason why many believers attend churches but still remain spiritually immature. There is a need for spiritual warfare. We need to be filled with Holy Spirit so that we expose, confront, and destroy the stronghold Jezebel has raised against the knowledge of truth (2 Cor 10:3-6). The Resurrected Christ promised to reward those who defeat the spirit of Jezebel in the church. Their reward is authority over the nations in His name. Also, the champions receive the gift of ‘the morning star’. They become leaders in the church. They shine in the midst of darkness and lead many to righteousness. This authority manifests as genuine revival in the land. Praise the Lord!  

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE ARE SLANDERED? LOVE THE SINNER! HATE THE SIN! TRUST GOD FOR VINDICATION!

Jesus said: “You must love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mk 12:31). Your neighbor has a reputation. It is your duty to defend it as you defend your own. God commands: “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord” (Lev 19:16). A talebearer is a gossip and a slanderer. He divides the people in the church. Friendship is built on trust. Slander (gossip) destroys friendships. You can’t trust one who gossips. “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore, do not associate with one who flatters with his lips” (PV 20:19). The slanderer himself has no true friends. People may try to get close to him but soon, they draw back because he talks too much. “An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends” (PV 16:27, 28). Like a dog digs the ground to find food, so an evil man digs up evil that becomes fire on his lips. Gossip separate friends and is a possible cause for divorce. The victim of slander ends in depression, anger, or even committing suicide. Be careful! Words are powerful. They create or destroy. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (PV 18:21). Words are like seeds. You speak lies, and death, that is a form of suicide. You speak health, peace and life, your reward is eternal life. Slander is one of the manifestations of sin and evil. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim 3:1-5). These are religious but wicked people. We are commanded to turn away from them!

When slandered, we trust God to defend us. This is what Joseph, David, and Naboth did. They are symbols of Jesus. “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 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” (1 Peter 2:20-23). We remind ourselves that God reigns forever. He cannot lose any battle. God hates and punishes sin. In Christ we are more than conquerors. We overcome Satan, ‘the accuser of the brethren’ by faith in the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross for our sins. We also overcome him by the Word of God applied in our lives and becoming a testimony.

“A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure. My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord” (Ps 101: 4-8). “The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart” (Ps 119:69). The psalmist says that he will radically separate himself from wicked proud people, from liars, slanderers, and deceivers. Lesson: we do not quarrel or desire the death of any man, no matter how wicked. But we separate ourselves from these people. We pray. We study God’s Word. We apply God’s Word in practical living. We attend a local church and serve God there. We submit to the delegated authority God has placed us under. We remain sensitive to the possibility of deception. We do not trust ourselves or people. We trust God totally. We also trust people who have proved to us, beyond any shadow of doubt that they are godly Spriit filled leaders in the Body of Christ. We do spiritual warfare. We learn to control our tongues. We do not curse, slander, or abuse people, especially our parents, elders, and leaders. We chose to bless and pray for others. We shine God’s light! Praise the Lord!

“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:25-32). The Bible commands us to stop sinning and lying in particular! This command can only be obeyed by the true believers. All malicious angry speech, unforgiveness and bitterness grieve the Holy Spirit. Repent! Ask the Holy Spirit for forgiveness for grieving Him. Speaking the truth in love imparts grace to others.    

JESUS EXPOSES THE DEVIL AND HIS CHILDREN (John 8:39-47)

We all know of the power of godly lineage. Many people become proud of it. Coming from a good godly family is wonderful. But a good family is not enough to save your soul. Salvation is thru a personal commitment to Christ. The Jews at the time of Jesus are good examples of religious unbelievers. They saw themselves as ‘children of Abraham’ and were boasting about it. At the same time, they rejected Jesus as their Savior. Jesus compares them with Abraham to prove that they were hypocrites. In what way are they different from Abraham?

*In their attitude to Jesus Christ. Abraham recognized and humbly accepted Jesus when He came to visit him with two angels. He welcomed Jesus and called Him ‘Lord’ (Gen 18:3, 32). But the Pharisees opposed Jesus and slandered Him saying that He has a demon (Jn 8:48). A true sign that you are a child of God is that you honor and worship the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ. None who slanders Jesus is saved.

*In their attitude to God’s Word. Jesus said: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father” (Jn 8:37, 38). Jesus said that He speaks what He has seen and heard from God the Father. But the Jews ‘had no place’ for God’s Word. They rejected Jesus and His Word. Lesson: A true sign that you are saved is that you accept, love, and obey God’s Word.

*In their attitude to good works. Jesus said to them: “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father” (Jn 8:39-41). Abraham welcomed and humbly served Jesus. He and Sarah brought food and water. Abraham was proved right by his faith and the deeds that proceeded from his faith. “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jam 2:23, 24). But these proud Jews were rude to Jesus and to the disciples. Lesson: A true sign that you are saved is that your faith is fruitful and manifests by good works.

Jesus confronts the Jews: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do” (Jn 8:44). Many people don’t believe in a devil. But here, you see Jesus clearly believes that there is a devil who has children who reject Jesus. There are two major attributes of the devil: he is a murderer and a liar! We are not told many details about the devil, but we know he was an archangel, created by God. His name was Lucifer, meaning ‘The bearer of light’ or ‘The morning star’. He received power, wisdom, beauty, and authority over other angels. It seems that he was in charge of heaven’s choir. He became proud. He wanted to be worshipped as God. Pride and rebellion are the oldest sins in the universe. God threw him out from heaven to the earth. Some angels followed him, and they are now called demons (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28). The name ‘devil’ means slanderer or accuser. The name ‘Satan’ means adversary, or enemy. He is the enemy of God and of God’s people.

Jesus said that the devil was a murderer from the beginning, that means starting from the Book of Genesis. In the Garden of Eden, the devil lied about God and deceived Eve. She gave Adam to eat from the forbidding fruit. By disobeying God, sin and death entered mankind. The devil is the author of the original sin, and he is the murderer of the human race. This is one of his greatest achievements. Jesus also calls the devil a liar and the father of lies. Everything the devil says is a lie. He has used lies successfully to deceive all men. Deception is his preferred weapon. The devil hates and opposes truth, especially the Gospel. He attacks God’s servants who preach the truth. A preacher needs to be strong and courageous as he preaches the truth. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the truth. His former name Lucifer means ‘The bearer of light’. He hates that God’s people see the light, hear the truth, and become free. Paul says: “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:1-6). Be careful! The devil cannot succeed in defeating a believer except through deception. We are reminded of the need of spiritual warfare. Even if we are deceived by the devil, we cannot lose our salvation. But we can lose rewards, the joy of our salvation and many opportunities for ministry. That is still a great loss! We need to study God’s Word, fast, watch, and pray! In Christ, the victory is sure! Praise the Lord!

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE ARE SLANDERED? LOVE YOUR ENEMY!

“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… Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:43-45, 48). To be able to control your tongue is a great spiritual achievement. “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (Jam 3:2). Selah!

How do we love our enemies? First, you need to have the right view of your enemies. You do not act towards them the way they act towards you. You do not talk to them according to what they say to you, but by the higher command of love from our Lord. See them as blind slaves under the devil. Like Jesus said, ‘they don’t know what they are doing’. Love is the highest motive of any action. And Love never fails! If you answer in anger at their angry words, you have lowered your stand for Jesus. Do not put yourself at their level. Secondly, remember that you don’t have to LIKE them. The command is to LOVE THEM. Talk and behave as a child of God! Do all things for the glory of God! Amen!

THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time… The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev 12:7-12; 20:10). Jesus promises: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning, and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev 22:12-17)

THE ROBBER WHO GOT SAVED ON THE CROSS (Luke 23:36-43)

The last day of Jesus as a Man on earth was hell on earth. The religious rulers hired false witnesses against Jesus. The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy. They slandered Him (Matt 26:57-68). It was in the midst of lies and abuse that our Lord was crucified. Apart of the few disciples at the foot of the Cross, He was surrounded by wicked religious rulers, by men who tortured Him and slandered Him and blasphemed God. On His way to the Cross, the crowd and the Roman soldiers mocked and slandered Jesus. The devil tried his best to increase the suffering of our Lord. Two robbers were crucified with Jesus. Initially, they both insulted Him (Matt 27:44). Later, one of them repented of his sins. He rebuked the other robber for insulting Jesus. He then asked Jesus to save him. This was true faith. At this time, our Lord was hanging on the Cross, naked, with a crown of thorns on his head, His body and face bleeding. Who can believe that this dying Man is the Savior of the world? One of the robbers did! Hanging on his cross, he got a supernatural revelation of King Jesus and against all odds, he believed. Christ promised him personal and immediate salvation. What a Savior! Worship the Lord!