Don't Fuel The Fire | Joel Osteen
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Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoyed today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend? We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you, we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you again for coming out today. I'd like to start with something funny. I heard about this pastor and this song leader. They weren't getting along. It started to spill over into the services. One Sunday morning, the pastor spoke on being willing to change.
Afterwards, the song leader got up and led the song, I Shall Not Be Moved. Next week, the pastor spoke about being a giver. The song leader got up and led the song, Jesus Paid It All. Next week, pastor talked about not gossiping, watching your tongue. Song leader got up and led the song, I Love to Tell the Story. Pastor got so frustrated, he resigned. Told the congregation, Jesus brought me here and Jesus is taking me away. The song leader then led, what a friend we have in Jesus. Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive.
I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk to you today about not fueling the fire. We all have opportunities to make people look bad. We hear rumors and things that we don't know for sure are true, but it's tempting to repeat them. And it's not that we're a bad person, we're just telling what we heard. Or maybe we know something about a person that is true. They made a mistake, they had a failure. It's easy to justify telling that because it's the truth. But there are a lot of things that are true that we don't need to tell. We should do our best to never show people in an unflattering light. First Peter 3.10 says, if you want to see your day fill up with good, here's what you do.
Say nothing evil or hurtful. We live in a society that's filled with rumors, gossip, innuendos. There's a lot of chatter these days. People talking on the internet, at work, at school. They're nosy, busybodies. They love to get things stirred up. They have no problem repeating things they know are only half true. On purpose, they'll leave out certain details just to prove their point. And if we're not careful, we'll get pulled in and become carriers of their poison. Did you hear what I heard? I got some big news. I got some juicy information. I read a quote that I like. Have you heard a word against your neighbor? Then let it die within you. In other words, have you heard any gossip lately? Have you read something juicy on the internet?
Has a friend told you some inside information about a person? It's true. It's hot off the press. They lied. They cheated. Here's what you're to do. Don't go to the phone. Don't go call three friends. Don't get on the internet and expose them. God says, let it die within you. Don't say a word about it. Somebody put it this way. Every person carries a bucket of gasoline and a bucket of water. When you hear rumors, gossip, juicy information, you can either pour your gasoline on it, add fuel to the fire, and make it worse, or you can do what God says and pour water on it, help to try to put it out. Too many people are using their gasoline. They try to justify it. Joel, it's the truth. They were wrong. I'm just stating the facts.
Yes, they may be guilty, but the scripture says love covers a fault. Love doesn't expose. Love doesn't tell five friends. Love doesn't get on Facebook and add fuel to the fire. Love says they made a mistake, but God can restore them. They messed up, but God has a new beginning. They did wrong, but I'm not going to add to their pain by talking about them, making them look bad. I'm going to show mercy and let it die within me.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–5:24
2
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
5:24–7:27
3
How can we avoid fueling negativity and gossip?
7:27–8:23
4
What does the Bible say about speaking positively?
8:23–11:16
5
How do we protect someone's reputation when they falter?
11:16–17:16
6
What are the consequences of gossiping and spreading rumors?
17:16–19:55
7
How can we respond to hearing negative information about others?
19:55–30:54