January 18, 2014: Every Idle Word


Matthew 12:24-50

Amplified Bible (AMP)
24 But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, This Man drives out demons only by and with the help of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
25 And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.
26 And if Satan drives out Satan, he has become divided against himself and disunified; how then will his kingdom last or continue to stand?
27 And if I drive out the demons by [help of] Beelzebub, by whose [help] do your sons drive them out? For this reason they shall be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you expected it].
29 Or how can a person go into a strong man’s house and carry off his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
30 He who is not with Me [definitely on My side] is against Me, and he who does not [definitely] gather with Me and for My side scatters.
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Spirit, the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in this world and age or in the world and age to come.
33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.
34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.
36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.
37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, Teacher, we desire to see a sign or miracle from You [proving that You are what You claim to be].
39 But He replied to them, An evil and adulterous generation (a generation morally unfaithful to God) seeks and demands a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, Someone more and greater than Jonah is here!
42 The queen of the South will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, Someone more and greater than Solomon is here.
43 But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through dry [arid] places in search of rest, but it does not find any.
44 Then it says, I will go back to my house from which I came out. And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, put in order, and decorated.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be with this wicked generation.
46 Jesus was still speaking to the people when behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to Him.
47 Someone said to Him, Listen! Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.
48 But He replied to the man who told Him, Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?
49 And stretching out His hand toward [not only the twelve disciples but all] His adherents, He said, Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!
First of all, exactly what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? It is calling the Holy Spirit an evil spirit. This type of slander cannot be forgiven. I fear for those who still say speaking in tongues is of the devil. They are no different than these evil Pharisees. They are blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Blasphemy generally happens right in church. This is where some decide if something that happens is of God or not of God. I fear for those people as well. They are leaning towards blasphemy.
And verses 36 and 37 go right along with this. In years past, I have been guilty of letting all my thoughts spill out of my mouth. I am a talker. And I enjoy a captive audience. I have said idle words I wish I could take back! God has forgiven me but I know I have hurt many people by my loose talk. Even though the words were spoken many years ago. How I wish I could take them back. I will have to give an account for every idle word I spoke. What will I say? I don't know. Maybe I will say I was a fool. And I'm not that person anymore. God forgive me for all those idle and many times, hurtful words.
"God, my heart is pierced once again. Your word cuts me deeply and it hurts to remember who I used to be. But thanks to You, I'm not that person anymore. I still slip. But I see more clearly now. Thanks to Your word. Continue to cut on me, O God! Please don't ever stop working on my heart! I desire a pure heart. I want to be one with You. I don't want to be like these evil Pharisees, judging whether or not something is of You or of the devil. I can say I would never do that. But the fact is, I can easily fall into that type of behavior. Cleanse me from anything even remotely like this, O God! Make me pure and holy as You are. You are worthy. Thanks for loving someone like me. Thanks for allowing me to feel Your sweet presence. In Jesus' name I pray these things, AMEN."

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