LaShon Hora Part III

Words Determine Destiny

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

“Keepeth his soul from troubles” Soul –Hebrew – Nephesh- Mind, Will and Emotions. Are you having mental and emotional problems? What is coming out of your mouth?

Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Confess (ἐξομολογεῖσθε)

The preposition ἐξ, forth, out, implies full, frank, open confession, and so in every case of its use in the New Testament. See on Mat_3:6.

Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phi 4:8 -

Summary of all his exhortations as to relative duties, whether as children or parents, husbands or wives, friends, neighbors, men in the intercourse of the world, etc.

true — sincere, in words.

honest — Old English for “seemly,” namely, in action; literally, grave, dignified.

just — towards others.

pure — “chaste,” in relation to ourselves.

lovely — lovable (compare Mar_10:21; Luk_7:4, Luk_7:5).

of good report — referring to the absent (Phi_1:27); as “lovely” refers to what is lovable face to face.

if there be any virtue — “whatever virtue there is” [Alford]. “Virtue,” the standing word in heathen ethics, is found once only in Paul’s Epistles, and once in Peter’s (2Pe_1:5); and this in uses different from those in heathen authors. It is a term rather earthly and human, as compared with the names of the spiritual graces which Christianity imparts; hence the rarity of its occurrence in the New Testament. Piety and true morality are inseparable. Piety is love with its face towards God; morality is love with its face towards man. Despise not anything that is good in itself; only let it keep its due place.

praise — whatever is praiseworthy; not that Christians should make man’s praise their aim (compare Joh_12:43); but they should live so as to deserve men’s praise.

think on — have a continual regard to, so as to “do” these things (Phi_4:9) whenever the occasion arises.

LoShon Hora Part III
Words Determine Your Destiny

Ø The first step in avoiding Loshon Hora is to recognize our own faults and commit to improving on them. When I accept that I alone am responsible for my inadequacies, then I will similarly be less critical and more tolerant of others. If you find yourself getting “Down” about yourself or others, try focusing away from negativity. The Torah says: “Don’t take the easy way out; Feeling down? Work hard to improve yourself (Mikahael Ben Moshe)

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

Ø “Keepeth his soul from troubles” Soul –Hebrew – Nephesh- Mind, Will and Emotions. Are you having mental and emotional problems? What is coming out of your mouth?

Ø Most who are taking hold of the faith or our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will find that they can be very successful in regard to the Shabbat, koser eating, and the starting places of a walk in Torah as described in Acts 15:28-29.

Ø Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Ø Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well, Fare ye well.

Ø One of the most commonly violated segments of Torah, and perhaps the most difficult to gain mastery in, are the laws regarding Loshon Hora or the evil tonque. This is a very important area of Torah; few men master the Yetzer har (evil inclination). Disharmony will remain, and the full light of YHWH cannot be found in this life without master over loshon hora, an evil and gossiping tonque. (Mikahael Ben Moshe)

Jam 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Jam 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Jam 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

Jam 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.

Jam 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

Jam 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Jam 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Jam 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Jam 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Jam 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Jam 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Jam 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Ø Spirituality is not measured by how well we expose an offender, but how effectively we facilitate the restoration of the offender.

Ø Dr. Michael Sedler

Ø Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Ø Stop and think of the times you have heard negative things about a person. Doesn’t it cloud your perspective? The next time you see the person who was bludgeoned with words, do you see them the same way as before? Prior to going to a new congregation, if I were to tell you negative things about the pastor, people or worship music, would it impact you?

Ø How about at work? If you heard critical statements about your boss, supervisor or co-workers, would you see them with an open heart and mind? It is my contention, that congregations have been split, businesses destroyed and even marriages injured by the power of the spoken word. Dr. Michael Sedler

Ø Loshon Hora is any degrogatory or damaging statement against an individual. In Hilchot Deto 7:5, Maemonides supplies a litmus test for determining whether something is or isn’t Losohn Hora:

Ø Litmus Test:

Ø Anything which, if it would be publicized, would cause the subject physical or monetary damage, or would cause him anguish or fear is LoShon Hora.

Ø Men determine their own destinies by the way they use their tongues.

Ø Numbers 13:26-28

Ø God arranged with Moses to send 12 men ahead of them to spy out the land: to find out its general character, the nature of the inhabitants, the kind of cities, the kind of fruit, and to bring back a report. One leader from each of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Ø When God gives you a promise, are you going to accept the promise at its face value, or are you going to accept it and then say “NEVERTHELESS”? That was a fatal word that caused the people to be disturbed and distressed.

Ø Two of the spies, however, Caleb and Joshua, refused to go along with this negative attitude.

Ø Numbers 13:30-31

Ø Caleb and Joshua said” We are well able to overcome it”

Ø The Other Ten Spies said “We be not able”

Ø Each group got exactly what they said.

Ø Numbers 14:20-24

Ø Numbers 14: 26-32

Ø “As you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you” God is saying in effect. “You have settled what I will do to you by the words that you have spoken”

Ø Death and Life are in the power of the tongue - How much more clearly is it illustrated?

Ø Hebrews 4:1-2

Ø Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Ø For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.