Introduction
Two part series- based on two teaching- Mike Bickle.
Helping Others Overcome by the Word of Our Testimony
Righteous Judgment in a Culture of Honor
We live in an age when the onslaught of the enemy against the people of God is growing more intense.
If is important we understand- we have been called into a corporate, many-membered body.
Heb 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASU
God has created us to live this life together w/others.
Review
Last week talked about Righteous Encouragement, or How to Help Others Overcome.
Believers- end of the age- will overcome- devil by …
the blood of the Lamb (Rev 12:11)
the word of their testimony,
did not love their life even when faced w/death.
We looked at how the Word of our Testimony is not just our experience with Jesus.
It is also us declaring over others what God believes about them.
Part of my success depends on you encouraging and affirming me- because we are interconnected.
EnCOURAGEment puts COURAGE in the hearts of others. Mike Bickle
God is raising up a body of people to speak words of encouragement over one another day and night.
How to Honor One Another
The HS requires- we honor all believers/ministries, not just those we agree with.
Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; NASU
Honor- they have value, high price tag on them, if you buy something expensive you take care of it.
We must not speak negatively of another Christian or ministry because of their deficiencies/differences.
As honor others- will see increase in God’s blessings.
To Judge or not to Judge?
If you ask people- Christian/non-Christian- should we judge others, the majority would say NO!
People readily quote …
Mtt 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. NASU
This verse is typically taken out of context.
Jesus does instruct us to judge others, but He carefully warns us about how to judge …
in the right way,
with the right motives, and
with the right spirit.
Jn 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." NASU
We are not to judge w/limited information.
Instructed to judge w/righteous judgment- involves …
gentleness and grace,
the correct information, and
the right motive-
to restore something lost in- person’s life
Many have- wrong idea about what judgment is.
Lord- judges His people, and when judges us He is …
giving us opportunity to experience deliverance
His intention- make things right that are wrong,
to correct the things that are hurting our lives.
He exposes something so we can be set free from it.
Vehicle that God uses for judgment- another believer.
It is like going to a doctor who says he has good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that you have cancer. The good news is that they caught it in time, it can be treated, and there is a 100% opportunity for recovery.
Now …
What would you think about a doctor that does not want to be negative or give you bad news, so he does not tell you that you have cancer.
Part of God’s judgment is to expose things in our lives that are killing us spiritually- so we can be set free.
Rev 2:2, 20
Jesus-commends/condemns-for how-handle judgment.
Judgment would bring opportunity for Jezebel to repent/be saved, and- keep the church from harm.
Judgment done properly- not a contradiction to- grace of God- it is an expression of the grace of God.
Lk 17:3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
To rebuke- must make a judgment- they have sinned.
It does not say to rebuke your brother if he …
annoys you,
hurt your feelings, or
you feel rejected by your brother.
Talking about a serious/weighty sin in a relationship.
Rebuke does not imply-using a harsh or negative tone.
We can rebuke with gentleness, with a spirit of mercy.
Many times when someone sins against us, instead of dealing with it we avoid the relationship …
we let it smolder on the inside,
grow resentful, and
leak it to others on the outside- this is gossip.
When- take time to rebuke someone- they may supply information that will change our understanding.
Judging the Right Way and for the Right Reason
Jesus instructs us on how to judge properly …
Mtt 18:15-17
The process begins between you/the person- alone …
keep it between you and them.
Too often- look for a loop hole to God’s instructions.
Loop hole- find someone to pray with/give us counsel.
This is little more than a way to gossip.
Do not sort it out w/another person, you have …
the entirety of the Bible and
free access to the Holy Spirit.
When we go through the process it drives us to …
wrestle with God and clearly define the issue.
If your brother hears you, you have gained a brother and you were changed in the process as well.
If he will not hear you, take one/two more with you.
If he refuses to hear two/ three- announce it to-church.
If he refuses to hear the church, the person is no longer welcome in the community until he repents.
Not because he is a sinner but because he is a believer who is refuses to take ownership for his sin.
Goal- wake him up so he repents and is restored.
If someone repents- you must hold the information about their sin in total privacy forever.
Judge with the Right Spirit
Mtt 7:1-6
Dogs, swine- people unresponsive to- Word of God- even believers who refuse-standard of God’s Word
These verses are not telling us not to judge, but not to judge in a wrong way or with a wrong spirit.
Jesus is not saying do not remove the speck from our brothers eye- but remove plank from our eye first.
Self-righteous spirit of the Pharisee is a person that does not judge themselves before judging others.
Tolerance
Our society is opposed to the concept of judging.
One of- greatest values in our culture today- tolerance.
Jesus did not preach tolerance.
Tolerance has become a demonic strong-hold in US.
Tolerance w/no boundaries is not love, it is counterfeit mercy and it brings ruin to a nation and the church.
Tolerance is a virtue that is good if it has limits on it.
Tolerance must be measured by the Word of God, not by culture or what makes us feel comfortable.
For people w/deficiencies/differences- show mercy- but destructive doctrine/sin must be addressed.
Titus 1:10-14
Our society teaches tolerance that has no limits.
We honor everyone for anything that they want to do regardless whether it aligns w/God’s standards.
The only thing that will deliver people from their problems is truth in love, not tolerance.
When you take a stand, the righteous are excited and the compromisers are offended.
Individual and Private Faith
Today there is a radical individualism and privatization of our faith.
The sovereignty of the individual is idolized.
What the individual says/thinks is the final authority- no absolutes- my opinion is right- do not judge it.
We are individuals/there is- private dimension to-faith
I am not only an individual, I am part of a community.
All of my faith is not private, part of it is public …
part of what I believe is your business,
part of what you believe is my business.
If you accepted Christ you are part of- body of Christ.
You are required to uphold- standards of the Bible.
The church has the right to hold members accountable to those standards- to judge them accordingly.
1 Cor 5:1-5
The elders of Corinth had wrong concept of judgment.
Judgment is waking the brother up because- salvation is in the balance- he could lose his salvation.
1 Cor 5:9-13
We allow unbelievers in, but not those who claim to be believers and refuse to repent of their sin.
How do we judge people?
1. Gently …
Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
2. Humbly …
Mtt 7:5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. NASU
3. Accurately …
Pr 18:13 He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.
Pr 18:17 The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
Often draw quick conclusions about persons motives.
4. Patiently …
Rev 2:21 ’I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
We must give our brother time to process/repent.
5. Confidentially …
Pr 11:13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. NASU
Never reveal past sins that have been repented of.
Conclusion
We confront people because we care about them and their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mercy must be a part of everything we do …
Ja 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. NASU
Prayer Assignment
1. Is there someone who has sinned against you and you have ignored it?
The truth is it has not really been ignored.
Ask God to help you speak to them.
2. Is there a believer- you are connected with- living in- body of Christ- involved in repeated sin?
Talk to them alone/follow the procedure in Mtt 18.
Does not apply to those who were once Christians but no longer desire the fellowship of the church.
