"Need To know Basis"

Need To Know Basis

During the Second World War, the United States government launched a propaganda campaign that carried one of the most famous slogans in history. It was printed on posters and then hung in bars, train stations, factories, and military bases across the country. And it said simply, “Loose lips sink ships.” The message was direct. If you talk carelessly about military information, about ship movements, troop positions, convoy routes, enemy spies could hear you. And that careless conversation could lead to the deaths of hundreds of men at sea. One sentence spoken in the wrong place, to the wrong person, at the wrong time could sink an entire ship. And this wasn’t just theory.

In at least one documented case, a United States congressman named Andrew J. May was given a tour of military operations in the Pacific. And when he returned home, he held a press conference. And in that press conference, he carelessly revealed that the Japanese military was setting their anti-submarine depth charges too shallow to damage American submarines.

That one statement, spoken publicly, gave the enemy the information they needed. Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood later estimated that this single act of loose talk contributed to the loss of 10 American submarines and approximately 800 lives. Yes, 800 lives. All because one man said too much, to too many people at the wrong time. And in today’s world, we face the same danger in a different form.

Social media has now become the new press conference. People broadcast their locations, their finances, their family disputes, their plans, and their breakthroughs to hundreds or perhaps thousands of people, many of whom they barely know. And they don’t realize that what they are sharing can be used against them. Burglars have targeted particular homes after people posted holiday photos online. Business competitors have exploited ideas shared too freely. Relationships have been destroyed by private matters aired publicly. Loose lips still sink ships. The ships just look different now.

And so before we go any further today, I want to highlight the wisdom in silence because the Bible teaches a great deal about silence, both explicitly and implicitly.

The book of Proverbs in 10:19 (NLT) says, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” Is that not interesting? The Bible clearly highlights the danger in talking too much.

The amplified translation of the same verse says, “When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, but he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.” And when Jesus was being questioned by the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin, the Bible says in Mark 14:61 (NIV), “But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.”

The son of God chose silence. He could have spoken and silenced every accuser in the room, but he held his peace because there is a time to speak and there is a time to be silent. And it’s wisdom that knows the difference. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV), “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.” A fool vents everything; a wise man holds back. There is safety in silence. And today I want to walk you through the things that you should be very careful about revealing and to whom you reveal them. The first thing you should be careful about revealing is your plans, goals, and ambitions.

Not everyone in the church should be your confidant. Not every Christian should be told your intimate plans because at the end of the day, we are all human. We are all people. Even in the house of God, you have to choose wisely when it comes to who you trust with the details of your life. Prayerfully consider who should be a trusted mentor, a close friend, or an adviser.

Think about Joseph. God gave him two extraordinary dreams about his future. And Joseph told his brothers. He shared the vision openly, and the very ones he told became the ones who threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. Yes, the dream was from God but sharing it prematurely with the wrong people open the door to years of suffering.

Listen, when you talk too much about your business plans or goals, even in the church, the devil may send the wrong person into your life. He will send an opportunist, a person with questionable integrity, someone who will disturb, discourage, and disappoint you. So before you open up to anyone, stop, pray, ask God for wisdom about who should hear what’s on your heart. The second thing you should be careful about revealing is your intimate moments with God.

Dreams, moments where the word of God spoke to you in a way that was deeply personal and sacred. Unless the Holy Spirit prompts you to share a testimony to encourage others, many of those profound moments are meant just for you. Do not quickly turn sacred spiritual events into casual conversation pieces.

Mary’s visitation announcing her pregnancy with Jesus was a secret only revealed later when angelic timing permitted. The Bible says in Luke 2:19 (NASB) “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” She didn’t broadcast them. She held them close.
John was instructed not to write the thunders he heard in Revelation 10. Paul heard inexpressible things in 2 Corinthians 12 that he admitted no one is permitted to tell. And I really like the way one person described it to me. He said, “Some things that God reveals to us are like babies still developing in the womb. If they are born prematurely, they go into the wrong atmosphere and they will not survive. They won’t survive the words of discouragement or spirit of doubt from others.” This is a great visual illustration that highlights how important it is to guard what God gives you. The third thing you should be careful about revealing is your family matters.
We all face marital disputes, health concerns, financial pressures, relational conflicts with children. However, we should never carelessly expose what goes on in the home. Proverbs 14:1 (NIV) tells us “That the wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands, the foolish one tears hers down.” And Ephesians 5:25 tells us that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
Think about Noah in Genesis 9. After the flood, Noah became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. His son Ham saw his father’s shame and went out and told his brothers. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, walked in backwards, and covered their father without looking. Ham exposed. Shem and Japheth covered. And there were consequences for both. There is a blessing in covering. There is a curse in exposing. Not everything that happens between you and your spouse should be public. Don’t make your family vulnerable by airing their imperfections before a fault-finding audience. Handle issues privately. Find godly, trustworthy counselors and protect your inner circle from unnecessary scrutiny. The fourth thing you should be careful about revealing is your early victories and breakthroughs.
When God first grants you favor in your business, in your career, in any area of your life, do not run to announce it. When God promotes you, increases your territory, elevates you, do not in this age of social media, rush to broadcast it.
The Bible says in Psalm 23:5 (NKJV), “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.” The Bible never tells you to announce the table God has prepared for you. It is God who prepares the table in the presence of your enemies. He does not need your help advertising it.
Think about Nehemiah. When God put it on his heart to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah didn’t announce his plans. The Bible says in Nehemiah 2:12 that he went out at night and had not told anyone what God had put in his heart. He moved in silence. He surveyed the situation prayerfully, and only when the time was right, did he reveal the plan to a trusted few.
When King Saul was anointed, Samuel didn’t encourage him to broadcast anything publicly. It was a sacred secret. The devil plants people in your life who are only there to plot your downfall. So, be careful what you reveal and to whom.
Finally, be very careful when revealing your future plans and dreams. What God has placed in your heart, whether it’s a desire to go on a mission trip, a dream of starting a business, a calling to ministry, these things are precious and fragile in their early stages. The plans you have and the dreams you carry are like babies needing protection and nurturing. During their early and fragile stages, premature oversharing can open you up to misunderstanding, to skepticism, and to attacks at the wrong time.
Don’t give the wrong person ammunition to sabotage you. Rather than seeking public validation, quietly commit yourself to prayer and to seeking God’s counsel. God may have you share pieces with a few trusted confidants who will stand with you in prayer but learn to steward revelation with wisdom.
The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 (NLT), “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Guard what is in your heart. Guard the dreams God has given you. Not everyone deserves access to what God is building inside of you. There is safety in silence.