Righteous Judgment Series

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.