There are very few things that are more damaging to the unity of the Body of Christ than suspicion. Only once is the word suspicion used in the New Testament, but it is connected with another dangerous word – “Evil” (1Tim 6:4 NKJV). “Evil suspicions,” or “evil surmising” (KJV) is how it is described. This word evil that Paul uses has another meaning to it – Hurtful. Suspicion is evil because it is hurtful to the process of unity in the Body of Christ. What we surmised becomes our truth. Our misguided feelings lead to wrong thoughts, which cause misguided responses. Suspicion trigger anger and hurt swell up. In Jesus’ High priestly prayer, He prayed for His Church to be one in the same kind of way that He and the Father were one (Jn.17:11). Suspicion is a tactic of Satan to undo Christ’s prayer for believers.
I. No one is immune from suspicion I Sam 18:6-9 Exo 2:13, 14
The husband and wife, believers, and leaders could suspect each other. People could mischaracterize the preacher’s demeanor while preaching. Preachers who perceived others to be sour looks afterward hear people say, “your sermon means a lot to me.” Facial expressions cannot be an accurate way to judge how someone feels. Suspicion happened when a friend did not sit with us in church like before. Or your sister has not responded to your texts, then you conclude, she must have found another friend whom to confide. Specific facial expressions as a way of feeling people out are tricky.
We have no reason to assume the worst about an individual. If they are doing things of an ungodly sort, then it is not suspicion, but fact. But do not get your facts from someone else. Secondhand information about someone tarnishes your view of him. If you are going to be suspicious, suspect yourself first. Could it be you are sinning in the manner of which you accuse others?
II. How dangerous is suspicion.
King Saul is an example of someone who let suspicion take over his life. When Saul realized that young David had captured the hearts of the people of Israel, he became angry and began to keep a suspicious eye on him (I Sam 18:10.) David had made no aggressive moves to Saul, yet Saul’s jealousy turned to suspicion, and he began seeking ways to kill David. The bible records that “an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul.” (I Sam 18:10) This seems to imply that he suspected David, an innocent man, and hatred took over him, and Saul opened the door for demonic influence in his heart. His suspicion became so overwhelming that he went on a murderous rampage, convinced that David was out to get him, including the priest, I Sam 22:13-19, and even Jonathan, his son, (I Sam 20:30-33) If Saul, God anointed could be destroyed by suspicion, we can as well.
III. Deal with suspicion
1. Do not feed on evil thought. Do not feed on thoughts, which leads to suspicion. The Scripture says, “Whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, think on these things” (Phil 4:8). God has given us the spirit of sound mind. 2 Tim 1: 7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2. Crucify the instinct to judge. Some see themselves as possessing the “gift” of discernment. However, the New Testament assures us that the gift of discernment was for discerning spirits (1Cor. 12:10). Someone once said, “Spiritual discernment is the grace to see into the unseen.” Discernment is not intuition. Intuition is an inner feeling. Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit that allows us to see in the Spirit what cannot be seen naturally. The Holy Spirit deals with the facts, not feelings.
3. Denounce Spiritual, “Celibacy.”
People think aloneness with God is the height of spirituality. It is true, but not an absolute truth. The church is a community of believers that walks in fellowship with God and each other. Aloneness with God is essential. We walk alone with God so that we can adequately walk together with men. People cover up with too busy with or for God. Psalm 133:1, Acts 2:42
4. Search your heart Psalm 139:23, 24
Could it be that your suspicion of their ulterior motives of others is owing largely to the fact that you yourself are so prone to operate this way, and you are reading your own motives into theirs?
5. Ask for God’s love
Pray and ask God to fill you with love and take away the bent towards suspicion
In conclusion: Ephesians 4:3 exhorts us to “Endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Colossians 3:14 urges us to “Put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” As we seek to grow and move forward in our walk with God, we will find that the enemy will look for in-roads. Let us take the advice of Peter: “Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil walks about (as a lion) seeking whom he may devour” (1Pe 5:8). Do not get caught up in gossip or suspicion. For in doing so, we open the door for Satanic activity.
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