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BACKGROUND
Sermon on the mount.
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| Judging Others
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. |
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| 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? |
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| 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5) |
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| EXPOSITION: |
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 In essence; we are to judge ourselves - but not others. If we do, the standard we use in judging them will be applied to us by the Father!
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| TESTIMONY: |
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 Sadly, in my Christian experience I have found this to be one of the least observed of all the instructions of Jesus. Christians are so often regarded, not without cause, as being harsh and self-righteous in the manner of the Pharisees that Jesus was specifically criticising in this passage.
It is not easy to take stands about, for example, abortion and homosexuality, without coming across as judgmental to those on the other side of the argument.
In more personal matters too, such as swearing and drinking, retaining personal standards without seeming to be putting down others can, at times, be a challenge.
All these areas are real, practical tests of the love and grace of Jesus in our lives.
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 However, to me, the greatest application of 'reverse judgment' will be applied to us in our treatment of our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is, in our attitude to other Christians. Sadly, 'judgmentality' between believers is one of satan's prime weapons in his battle to destroy the church! And we let him twist and turn the knife of division in our lives and in our church situations. "My theology is better than your theology!" "Our denomination has the truth!" "We will not mix with you for fear of contamination!" "We are (or are not) Spirit filled!" "We are Traditional....Evangelical..... Pentecostal.....etc. and have the truth!" And so on...... and so on..... and so on......
How sad God must be with the behaviour of His children! For when it comes to dealing with each other, we are indeed more often children than mature believers.
I understand how it happens. The more passionate we become about what we believe, (which is a good thing in many ways) the less tolerant we can so easily become of those whose views are different to our own. So divisions grow. This is particularly true in pentecostal circles where, the '(unholy) spirit' seems to divide and splinter the people rather than bringing us into the promised unity of the Holy Spirit.
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 Why is this? Passion for Jesus is not enough! For passion must be harnessed with obedience to the will of the Father for our lives, in order to bring unity and maturity to the body of Christ.
Of course, each and every one of us needs to be corrected. But this needs to be done in the love and grace of God rather than the criticism and judgment of our human nature.
Many years ago, early on in my public ministry, I was given an 'ear bashing' after a meeting in which the Holy Spirit turned up. It sent me into depression and stopped me doing public ministry for several years. Of course, the Lord uses these situations to teach and develop us also. But had this situation been handled with love and grace instead of anger, Kathy and my lives may well have taken a different course.
The effects of judgment and ungodly criticism do affect each one of us.
As we will see in next week, these words of Jesus sum up the situation very well.
Luke 6:31
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 Next time we are about to think or open our mouths in judgment upon someone else, may we remember and apply these words of the man who gave His all for us on that 'awe-full' cross upon Calvary's hill.
Also, on the other hand, by judging ourselves we avoid God's judgment upon us!
1 Corinthians 11:21
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Worth thinking about? And acting upon!
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| 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
(Matthew 7:6) |
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| EXPOSITION: |
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 This may be considered, either, (1.) As a rule to the disciples in preaching the gospel; not that they must not preach it to any one who were wicked and profane (Christ himself preached to publicans and sinners), but the reference is to such as they found obstinate after the gospel was preached to them, such as blasphemed it, and persecuted the preachers of it; let them not spend much time among such, for it would be lost labour, but let them turn to others, Acts 13:41. So Dr. Whitby. Or, (2.) As a rule to all in giving reproof. Our zeal against sin must be guided by discretion, and we must not go about to give instructions, counsels, and rebukes, much less comforts, to hardened scorners, to whom it will certainly do no good, but who will be exasperated and enraged at us. (Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.)
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| TESTIMONY: |
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 While this is generally seen as applying to wisdom in sharing with non believers who are either not interested or downright opposed to the Gospel message, my experience has shown that it applies to sharing with other Christians equally as well.
For we, as believers, are all at different places along the road in our walk with Jesus. What makes sense to a mature Jesus follower may be incomprehensible to a new believer.
This is easily illustrated through the natural growing process of life. We are born a child, then grow through our turbulent teenage years before entering adulthood. Our understanding of the world changes dramatically as we grow older.
So it is also in the Spirit, although maturity has little to do with time, but all to do with commitment and obedience to the will of the Father in our lives. Long time Christians can still be babes while, in other cases, a fully committed new believer can grow spiritually quite rapidly.
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 Many of the problems in the church today are caused by misunderstandings between people at different stages of spiritual development. As is the case of parents in the natural it is the responsibility of spiritually mature believers to help 'spiritual babes' grow in their faith and spiritual understanding. So what you can share with a spiritual child is different to a teenager, and different again to a mature believer. This calls for great wisdom. It is a reason why it is so difficult to deliver an effective sermon to a disparate group of people, for levels of understanding are so different. Generally we overcome this by aiming at the lowest common denominator. Then we wonder why our people do not grow spiritually. This is a particular problem in larger fellowships.
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 Our spiritual walk is about discipleship. It has been proven discipleship is best developed on a one to one basis or in small groups. We can use the natural comparison of a school and a family. A school (church service) can impart knowledge and perhaps teach general morality, but it is parents who impart values through an understanding of their child, teaching, correction and personal example. On a personal level we can meet people where they are at. Then we can share the wonder of Jesus at a level they can understand. Over time the amazing depth of relationship with our Lord that is available can be imparted. Wonderful! PTL!
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> SERMON ON THE MOUNT continues... |
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 ..... as we consider prayer requests and our behaviour to others.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 One of the things that we so often fail to comprehend is that spiritual maturity bears no relationship to physical maturity.
May our discernment be both challenged and illuminated.
BIBLE ARCHAEOLOGY
HOUSE OF DAVID INSCRIPTION
Was king David's name inscribed on this black stone slab?
An inscription containing the words "house of David" was found on a black basalt stone slab called the Tel Dan Stele, from Tel Dan, Israel, 9th Century B.C.
It was a victory stele erected by an Aramaean king north of Israel. The inscription contains an Aramaic writing commemorating his victory over Israel. The author is most likely Hazael or his son, Ben Hadad II or III, who were kings of Damascus, and enemies of the kingdom of Israel. The stele was discovered at Tel Dan, previously named Tell el-Qadi, a mound where a city once stood at the northern tip of Israel.
1 Kings 2:11 - And the days that David reigned over Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
1101. To fullfil our potential in God we need to inherit His character.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Waxing Lyrical: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
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