INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Paying it forward is the concept of sharing the blessing you have received with others, not because they deserve it, but rather because you chose to do so.
• The phrase PAY IT FORWARD was made popular by the release of the movie in 2000 entitled Pay It Forward.
• In the movie, the school teacher (played by Kevin Spacey) gives his class an assignment: look at the world around you and fix what you don't like.
• One student (played by Haley Joel Osment) comes up with an idea, in order to fulfill the assignment he came up with the pay it forward concept: #1 it is something that really helps people; #2 something they can't do by themselves; and #3 do it for them, and then do it for three other people.
• In the movie this concept conceived in the mind by a small boy and put into action was shown to spread all around the country.
• This was a movie, but would it not be great to see it in the real world.
• In reality Christians are called to live this type of existence. We have been blessed in big ways by God and we are called to share those blessings with others.
• God has the above assignment to us, now it is time foe
• If we are seeking that new you for the new year, if we are seeking to grow in our faith and our relationship with God; being able to pay it forward will be an important part of our development.
• Today we are going to look at three areas in which we can pay it forward and a reality of paying it forward.
• Let’s turn to Luke 6:37-38.
• SLIDE #2
• Luke 6:37–38 (ESV) “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Pay it forward with your judgments.
• Verse 37 starts off with the admonition, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned;.
• WE have spoken of this same thought before, it is also found in the parallel passage in Matthew 7:1-2.
• SLIDE #4
•
•
• Matthew 7:1–2 (ESV) “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
• We need to understand what Jesus is telling us. He is NOT telling us we cannot make evaluations of situations and people.
• The word translated JUDGE can mean to evaluate or analyze.
• The Greek word “judge” is the source for our English word “critic.” It seems to imply a critical, judgmental, self-righteous spirit which judges others more severely than it does itself.
• It emphasizes one set of sins over another set of sins. It excuses one’s own faults, but will not excuse the faults of others
• Jesus is not telling His people to refuse to think critically or make decisions, nor was he attempting to abolish the legal system or disciplinary measures.
• We are called to be discerning and to make certain judgments.
• In Matthew 7, just after this admonition not to judge, Jesus says…
• SLIDE #5
• Matthew 7:6 (ESV) “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
• What Jesus speaks of is judging people harshly while overlooking our own sins.
• This is why going down a bit further in our passage Jesus states:
• SLIDE #6
• Luke 6:41–42 (ESV) 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
• 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
• Jesus was referring to the judgmental attitude that focuses on others’ faults, criticizing and tearing them down.
• Is it not easy to look at other people through the eyes of judgment while we turn a blind eye to our own short-comings?
• When Jesus is saying to judge not and condemn not, the verb tense relays the thought to STOP DOING WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING!
• Let me ask you this. As a Christian, has God dealt with you with a spirit of judgment or a spirit of love and compassion?
• We see time and time again that when Jesus dealt with the public, He did not act as their judge, jury and executioner.
• He DID tell them to stop doing what they were doing.
• When Jesus encountered sinners, He offered them the chance for redemption!
• SLIDE #7
• Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
• God GAVE you eternal life, not condemnation. How can we show God we appreciate not being under condemnation?
• By paying it forward. We can offer others something better than condemnation and judgment.
• How about mercy?
• Some Christians get judgmental because they have forgotten that God has given them eternal life, not a death sentence of judgment and condemnation!
• When we pay it forward or give to others that which God freely gives to us, Luke concluded this command with an emphatic promise by using the strongest annulment possible in Greek, i.e., you shall not in any way be judged.
• Let’s look further into verse 37 for our next call to action.
• SLIDE #8
II. Pay it forward with your forgiveness.
• Jesus continues, forgive, and you will be forgiven.
• This is a tough one, it can be tough not to overlook our own issues and judge others, but sometimes forgiving others can be so difficult because of the level of hurt associated with what was done.
• I really believe this is where the Holy Spirit comes into play; the Holy Spirit can give us the strength to forgive what we thought to be unforgiveable.
• The foundation in which we build judgment and condemnation is the same foundation that we use to build a lack of a forgiving attitude.
• Here is what I mean.
• When we truly grasp the magnitude of our sins against God, along with grasping the magnitude of God’s forgiveness toward us, then it makes it easier to forgive others.
• God has given us the gift of His forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.
• Think of it this way. God sending His own Son to die on the cross for our sins show the magnitude of our sins.
• Why did God forgive you? Was it because of you or because of who He IS?
• SLIDE #9
• Colossians 3:13 (ESV) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
• We are told that IF we forgive we will be forgiven.
• That can be so hard to do because we many times feel the person who we need to forgive does not DESERVE forgiveness.
• Maybe they do not, BUT did we DESERVE to be forgiven by God?
• Let’s face it, IF the person does not DESERVE your forgiveness, the only one we hurt by not offering it is ourselves.
• WE become enslaved to the one we will not forgive.
• This command does not require that we IGNORE the guilt of those who have sinned against us or to proclaim the guilty as innocent.
• It means instead to forgive the guilty.
• Jesus in Luke 11:4 says…
• SLIDE #10
• Luke 11:4 (ESV) and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
• We are called to forgive people who are indeed guilty of sinning against us.
I would like to challenge each of us in regards to forgiveness. Think of just ONE person that you have not forgiven. Now pray to God for the strength to forgive that person.
• This does not mean you have to be buddies with them, but that you simply release the felt right to retribution.
• Forgive them, and then let God deal with them. Do not let them drag you down.
• You ARE hurting your growth in and relationship with Jesus if you allow the bitterness to rule your life.
• Let God deal with them, IF they do not what is in store is far worse than anything you can ever to do them.
• Pay it forward with the undeserved forgiveness that God has extended to you!
• Next let us look at another area in which we can pay it forward.
• SLIDE #11
III. Pay if forward with your material blessings.
• give, and it will be given to you.
• The word GIVE is one of the words that really catches the essence of the Christian walk.
• We are to give ourselves to the Lord. WE are to give to others so we can help them.
• In Acts 20:35 we are reminded…
• SLIDE #12
• Acts 20:35 (ESV) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
• One of the real measures of the Christian walk is not what we get but rather what we give.
• Giving should be a joyful thing for us. When we understand that what we have is a blessing from God, it will help us to want to share those blessings with others.
• The early church was known for their desire to give.
• SLIDE #13
• Acts 2:44–45 (ESV) And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
• I love serving at FCC in part because there are so many with a giving spirit.
• WE give to the Missions program through the Faith Promise and through designated giving.
• People generously share through our Caring By Sharing. People were so loving and generous toward my family during Christmas.
• People give of their time, talents and treasures at FCC!
• I want to wrap this Pay It Forward thought with something that is so true when it comes to paying it forward.
• SLIDE #14
IV. Paying it forward always pays back.
• Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
• The metaphor of someone buying grain at the market is used by Jesus, to show us that those who give will receive a good measure, pressed down (so that more can be added), shaken up (to settle the grain so that even more can be added), and running over.
• WE cannot out-give God!
• When we chose to give, whether it be materially, forgiveness, mercy, love, God will see to it that we receive back, but in even greater measure.
• The picture is of this measure now being poured in the individual’s “container,” which is the fold of his outer garment.
• Between the shoulders and the belt, this outer cloak would be loose and could form a kind of pocket into which this measurement could be poured.
• When we pay it forward, there will be a pay back!
• As verse 38 closes out, it does so with a blessing but also a warning.
• For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
• This points out that my behavior toward others will determine God’s behavior toward me!
• The issue is not that human generosity is accorded the same generosity (no more or no less) from God but that human generosity is rewarded with divine generosity, which is far greater, as the early part of this verse shows.
• So If I give a dollar, it does not mean I will get $20 back! It means that God will reward us in even greater teems.
• On a more negative note, IF I am stingy in my willingness to share my material blessings, forgiveness, mercy and love, God will also be stingy with His toward me!
CONCLUSION
• Imagine how great things would be IF just those who proclaim to follow Jesus would Pay It Forward.
• The world will take note!
• Jesus has called us to live life in a different manner than the world around us.
• The blessings we will receive for doing so are out of this world!
• Are you ready to embark on an awesome journey of Paying It Forward? If you are it needs to start with giving your life to Jesus, so He can do for you what you cannot do for yourself, what you need Him to do for you!
