Hidden beneath the earth, a fire burns and pressures are created.  Pressure of gases build and build until there is an explosion.  Mount Saint Helen in the western United States did just that in the 1980’s.  Smoke, gasses and ash erupted with explosive force.  Sent high into the atmosphere and spread by winds to a large area even going around the world for days and weeks.

Accusations and whispers of discontent do the same thing.  If not confronted, the accusations will build with mounting pressures until there is an eruption.

Paul dealt with such a problem and he confronted the accusations in a letter to the Corinthian church.

(NASB) 1 Corinthians 4:21 “What do you desire?  Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?”

This letter was sent and another later followed.

(NASB) 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 “NOW I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.”

Paul did not sweep the accusations and innuendos under a rug, hoping they would go away.  They don’t!  They grow; lying seething under the surface, waiting to explode as a volcano.

We are to deal with whispers and the whisperers!

Are you bold with confidence and courage against some who have accused you falsely?

Prayerfully consider what the living God would have you do and how you should confront another.

(NASB) 2 Corinthians 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”

~ Take it to heart ~

Be careful of your motives, if they are self-serving, they will not honor God.

If my motives to confront are to “destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” then I need to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ… and be ready to punish all disobedience” (of insubordination).