In this sermon, Brother K.P. O'Hannon discusses the negative impact of evil reports within the church. He highlights how evil reports can lead to division, conflicts, and the discrediting of spiritual leadership. O'Hannon emphasizes the importance of guarding against these reports and encourages listeners to ask critical questions before accepting and spreading them. He also shares his personal experience with discouragement and the comfort he finds in the book of Numbers. Overall, the sermon serves as a reminder to build each other up and avoid participating in gossip and destructive talk.

While God calls us to build each other up, much of the church world is tearing one another down. It could be a nasty rumor spread over the internet, or a destructive post on social media, or someone approaches you at church with a juicy bit of gossip. How do we spot these evil reports and guard against it? Well, allow Brother K.P. Yohannan to point that out to you from Scripture today on the Road to Reality. How Satan uses evil reports, one, to discredit spiritual leadership. That's what happened with Moses, Numbers chapter 12, verse 2, you can read that. Number 16, you will find Moses' life was, I mean, I feel, I mean, by the way, I read Book of Numbers every year, at least once. When I'm really discouraged, I try to read it a second time. And second time I read as often as I can, as a matter of fact. You know why? It kind of gives me a good feeling I'm not alone. I mean, someone like Moses, he goes in despair sometimes, God, did I give birth to all these people? Why, why I had to carry this burden? And I can feel his emotion sometimes when I go through times like this. Basically, what is the reason for it? Basically, the very people that he helped, and weep and cry for, begins to talk evil. Number two, to cause Christians to close their spirit toward each other. Gossip basically divides. It never helps. And, you know, we can be like Barnabas, when that happens, you know, we'll be the one to say, no, that's not the way to go. The number three, it causes the body of Christ to divide. And that happens all the time. How many church split happens? How many organizations split? How many families split? How many friends become enemies? Number four, it causes to multiply conflicts and pleases more ungodliness. Second Timothy 2.16, it gives occasion to unbelievers to mock Christianity and reject Christ. Number five, the main point, how to dictate one with an evil report. Now the points are quite significant. Please look close and listen close. How to dictate one with an evil report. One, he will first test your spirit for compatibility or agreement. You know, ask a Christian, oh, by the way, I'm just wondering, how do you feel about the way he said that? Did you hear his message tonight or yesterday? The way she sang, the way she looked, how did you feel? Well, the person's answer to the question already made up their mind. And if the hearer says, you know what? Kind of think of it. Yeah, I felt fun. I knew. Then he will start telling you all the dirt that he's thinking or she's thinking. Two, he will check your acceptance of the report with a juicy morsel. Did you know John and Mary seems to have some problems? And if you're interested, if your ears start growing bigger, they say, well, just for your information only, I'll tell you. Number three, he will cause you to ask for the report. I really don't know if I should tell you this, but you know, we've been prayer partners and friends for a long time, and oh, no, maybe I should. Tell me. I will tell anyone. Tell me. Tell me. And all of a sudden, it's like somebody's thirsty. Well, since you asked, no, I just don't worry. I'm concerned about what you're talking about. I'll pray with you. All right. You promise not tell anyone? No. All right. Then goes a three-hour long conversation. Number four, he may ask you for your counsel to share a prayer concern. Say, you know, I don't know what to do. Can I share something with you for prayer? Sure. Then goes all the evil report and all the things they want to say. Number five, he wants you to admire him for his spiritual perception and concern. You know what? I am, you are so young. How old are you? Nineteen. Well, can I talk to you? Yeah. I was nineteen, ten years ago. And I tell you what, I am really concerned about things that you are told and you hear, and I just want to protect you. And all of a sudden, it becomes a bridge, a means for start the evil report, the negative talk. Number six, he will give you vivid details rather than a simple sketch. Say something you may need to know, but the intention is not just basically to help, but rather this means now to go into. And to make sure they are telling the truth or they believe you, they will put enough masala into it. Exaggeration to the, I mean just, and all of a sudden, a tiny ant becomes an elephant. Number six, how to dictate an evil report. Now, we saw about how do you dictate someone with an evil report. Now, how to dictate an evil report. Six questions to ask before listening to an evil report. One, why are you telling me this or telling us this? I mean, what's the need for me to hear this about them? Why don't you go and talk to them? If I hear this thing, there's nothing I can do about it. Number two, where did you get your information? First hand, second hand, third hand. By the way, I tell you something interesting. When I did this radio broadcast for 35 some days, some of the broadcast I do, basically I do go in person, doing tests on different things. And I did a little survey on this thing. Just check it out. And I found out 99% of things people repeat, or they say, actually it comes to be in the end, there's no truth in it. And in the end, what people say, well, I mean, that's what I thought he said. That's what I heard. Don't blame me. And when you say, you know, as a matter of fact, being in leadership, in God's work, you know, we deal with thousands of people. I mean, just this morning, there was a crisis on one of the mission fields. 17 years, this brother was with us in leadership. And all of a sudden, the guy is going through a tailspin or crisis of, you know, his life. And the whole problem was, somebody starts spreading a rumor about him. It's not immorality or anything like that, but it was something about his leadership. And then I called the senior leader, and I asked the question, did you hear all these things? He said, yes. I said, did you go and actually check it out? He said, I did. Then I said, is there anything? He said, not even 1% truth in it. And this brother suffered only three weeks, hell on earth agony. And thank God for the leader who was willing to go and investigate. And otherwise, can you imagine, 17 years of faithful service, all of a sudden, he's condemned and guilty about something that he never even had no clue about it. You see how this whole thing happened? Usually, it's all, somebody said, you never know this. Number three, have you gone to those directly involved, Matthew 18, Galatians 6, and Matthew 5, and all that? How to dictate an evil report? You ask the question, have you gone? I mean, just hold on. You hear one sentence, you know it's going the wrong way. He said, please listen. I don't want to hear it. The reason is, have you gone to the person? Oh, no, no, no, no. You are my best friend. That's what I'm telling. No, I don't want. You see, somebody giving a glass of milk, and in it, a few drops of poison. You think they are your friend? No. And it's a slow death. And number four, have you personally verified all the facts? Number five, may I quote you if I check this out? I tell you, this is of a true honest report. In our, there are 1,500 people live in our campus in India, our seminary, synod campus. This law established until now, it's a second nature. It's automatic. You know what that is? If anybody say anything to anyone about something, immediately, they say, if you want me, I will listen to it. But, please know, I will say exactly everything you said to that person. We almost 100% eliminate our gossip. We just don't work like that there. The reason is, we are miltoned about doing what we do based on God's word, because that's the only absolute we can go by, non-psychology, what Bible says. Number six, well, if it is that serious, will you go with me? If you are scared to talk to him, I will talk to the leader. I will talk to the person. I will talk to her. But, I don't want to go and say, you said all this. Will you go with me? That makes a big difference, doesn't it? Number seven, symptoms of defilement. This is the biggest problem I had to deal with. Now, brothers and sisters, you need to believe me. It's not a matter of pride or arrogance that I've been involved in counseling literally thousands over the years, and some I could not help. The people I could not help are people that listen to the gossip, and they're not even aware about it. Their inside is already defiled, and they don't understand how to find cleansing for the defilement that already took place within themselves. And I show them the way, and some of them refuse to do it, and they continue to wither away in their understanding and walk with God. Hey, thanks for joining us today for The Road to Reality with K.P. Ohannon. When a natural disaster strikes, like an earthquake, a cyclone, or flood, many people are left without a home and livelihood, leaving them impoverished and with little hope for the future. That's where GFA-supported national workers step in to help. These relief teams not only share the love of God, but assist victims by providing the essentials like food, clothing, clean water, and shelter. They also provide counseling and prayer, and provide long-term solutions too, helping families get back on their feet again. We can tell you much more at RoadToReality.org. You can even donate to disaster relief there too at RoadToReality.org. Let me also pass along our toll-free number in case you have any questions, 866-946-2742. That's 866-946-2742. That's all the time we have for today, but come back next time when K.P. Ohannon will have another inspiring message for us on the Road to Reality.