Luke 6: 37-45 Are We to Judge ?

1. On one hand you have those who are advocating Unity & love at all cost! the way they come across is that just about everything is to be tolerated

2. On the other hand you have those who see how sick the church has become / who want reform at all cost .

1. In the case of the first group they are quick to look the other way in a spirit of " FORGIVENESS "

3. Where as the 2^nd group is quick to point a finger and accuse in a spirit of " RIGHTEOUSNESS" though it is often SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. The Greek word for judge used here is krino/ it means to judge to the place of condemnation.

2. It is the Picture of one person getting into the face of another person & pointing the finger at them & condemning them.

1. But Jesus says Judge not … judged / Don’t condemn ……

28. So does that mean that we never are to confront someone in the wrong?

John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

1. And those who are preaching false doctrine let them be accursed !!!!

is Paul contradicting Jesus ? The answer is no -

2. but you see we learn from this that sometimes there is a need to judge but not to the place of condemnation but for identification

1. Sometimes there is a need to identify teachings and people who are wrong for the protection of others

3. But also w/ the hope that through the identification - will come restoration of that brother by his repentance .

4. EXAMPLE We learned from our study in 1 Cor. 5 that if I see a brother is living in fornication or adultery

1. I do NOT judge him for those things/ MEANING CONDEMN BUT - I identify that he is living in them/ I can NOT deny that

5. And Paul said that I am to confront Him/ to point out what He is doing is scripturely wrong !

1. and if He doesn’t repent that I am NOT to have fellowship with a

5. Cast over to Satan ….. flesh …. Soul might be saved - Goal restoration

6. Now IF I say: "You are not to be living like that" and THEN he says: "Hey

1. I am NOT judging him / It is the Word of God that has judged him

7. The Word of God is clear on such moral issues - ABSOLUTES

1. He was coming to Pres. Clinton’s aid amidst the latest - Scandal in the Whitehouse

2. Comments - " What would be the alternative leadership - should it be someone who doesn’t want to have sex"

1. In other words - what is the big deal - Clinton is just enjoying himself - do you want a Pres. Who never has sex.

3. No Jack - We want a Pres. Who has sex w/ His wife!!! And no one else

1. First read that several emotionally responses - I was so mad - because his attitude reflects that whole mentality - no moral absolutes

4. Then sad - I don’t know if Nicholson is married but if he is - felt sorry for his wife - attitude

1. Then I actually was glad - Nicholson was volunteering to be Clinton's

E) We are to bring a RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT - according to word

I am to love people enough that when I see them erring, to say to them I care about you &want you to consider you’re going in the wrong direction

1. But The heart in that is for restoring & coming along side of that person to

restore them to a right walk w/ the Lord.

1. If that person gets bent out of shape and accuses you of Judging them it is their problem.

2. If they repent you have gained your brother !!!

3. Sometimes we want to talk to everyone but them - but when we do that we

are in the wrong !

1. If I am not willing to partake in their restoration I am probably practicing condemnation.

2. Guys what did Jesus do when he was in the upper room w/ His disciples

1. As they were sitting there He noticed their dirty feet.

3. Did He turn to them and say what is wrong w/ you guys - Your feet are dirty and stinky/ don’t you guys ever take a bath?

1. No instead - he girded himself w/ a towel and washed eat one of their feet

4. I believe that we do not have the right to point out someone’s dirty smelly feet - unless I am willing to get down and wash them.

1. That is the whole point of such a confrontation - bro/ sis I want to wash your feet.

5. Now Remember Peter’s response - Not washing my feet - Jesus No part Peter all of me - no - "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet,

1. Spiritual implication there as well - Once you are saved - you are completely clean - cleansed of all your sin.

2. But because you are living in this world - and are daily having contact w/ the world the / sometimes it rubs off - not as kind or considerate

1. Lose your temper or what ever - consequently there is a need to be

2. Sometimes that can take place when someone says - I noticed you lost your temper back there - let’s pray together about that !!!

1. Told in Heb. 10 we are to exhort one another to love & good works

3. Exhort is Parakaleo - taken from the same word used to describe the H.S.

Paraclete - both mean one called along side to Help !

3. So Jesus says don’t judge and condemn - don’t point the finger - because the minute you do you are claiming a superior position.

1. Remember point the finger there are 4 pointing back at you!!!

A) Forgiveness was a very important part of the ministry of Jesus

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray

2. There Jesus was making a statement that Our FORGIVENESS is

predicated upon our FORGIVING of others

3. I would like to change that prayer I would like it to say: Forgive me..... period

1) I don't want Him to forgive me on the basis of how I forgive others

4. In that prayer you are asking God to forgive you in the measure that we forgive

1. NOTE: AFTER giving the disciples this outline for prayer Jesus

HEAVY!!

1. Jesus gave a parable that taught this same thing There was servant who owed his lord $16 million

1) His lord called him in and said: "Your note's due... Pay up"

The servant said: "I don't have it just now... extend me a bit"

2) The master said: "I'll forgive the debt"

2. The servant went out and then grabbed a man who owed him $170 dollars

and said: Pay up

1. The man said: Please give me some time The servant said: No way -

3. He had him arrested and thrown into debtors prison Word came to the

master and he called for the servant

1) He asked him: "How much did you owe me?" "$16 million"

D) "How is it that I heard that you had a man thrown into prison for a $170 dollar debt?" Now Here is the Point of the parable

1. Or do you recall Peter’s question one day asked: How many times? 7 ?

Peter your so generous - Instead said 70 times 7 -Unlimited amount !!!

B) Jesus is saying: It is NOT a matter of mathematics I am NOT to keep count

1) That's 489 - Watch out next time

No It is a matter of heart I am to have a forgiving heart

C)QUESTION How did God forgive you? Completely

1. But A lot of times we are willing to bury the hatchet... But we leave the

4. Guy talking w/ his buddy - about the argument he had w/ his wife the night before - Every time I get in a fight w/ my wife she gets historical

1. Buddy says don’t you mean - Hysterical - He answered no Historical

A) He can NOT do that without ceasing to be omniscient

2. It means that He does NOT bring them up against us/ He chooses to put

them out of His remembrance

1. God will NEVER bring my past up against me/ And THAT is how God

3. And THAT is a matter of obedience to Christ THAT is a CHOICE and NOT a feeling

1) Will we CHOSE to obey Jesus or let our flesh have it's way!!!!!

c) Let the Spirit speak to you right now - Maybe some of you are harboring a wrong done against you

1. Way back.... But you're still nursing it / resentment that you've tolerated

D) "They did that deliberately and I'll NEVER forgive them as long as I live"

5. let the Spirit put His finger on that thing "Lord - Your Word says that I am to forgive" So I will forgive /

1. So forgiveness is a choice that I have to make in obedience to God’s word - but Restoration in Predicated upon - REPENTENCE

1. I am to forgive regardless of how they react toward me or how they respond to correction

2. But restoration only comes through repentance - a Change of direction

3. Illustrate it this way - Someone might hurt me in some way slander

- happens to all of us - right away - I have a choice - get bitter / better

1. Resent them - or love them

4. So I make a choice - like Jesus did on the cross - Father forgive them for they don’t know what doing - don’t have all the facts

5. So I forgive them- in my heart it is not going to be an issue - I apply the cross - Jesus paid for that sin !

1. So there is forgiveness on my part - & when I see that person - I say hi and am kind -

6. But Restoration - will only take place when they realize they were wrong and come -and ask for forgiveness

1. Because although I am fine - they still think the same way about me so

1. So He wants nothing to do w/ you - Well you forgive him for his reaction you are not going to hold it against him - blindness & conviction of his sin

2. Although there is forgiveness on your part - because of his sin - Paul instructs you are not o have fellowship w/ him / so there is separation

1. Your fellowship w/ that person is severed and will not nor cannot be restored until there is repentance on his part!

3. Not just toward you but concerning his sin! But you are to forgive regardless

1) God will not forgive & Restore - until there is confession and repentance

Now NOTICE: By forgiving You are the one that will be blessed

1. GIVE & IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU

2. Now I am not exactly sure how this principle works - but it does & can be applied to many aspects of our lives - giving to / how we treat others

1. I don’t understand it but I am to live by it ! In the same way I don’t understand the Law of gravity -but respect it- Airplane / Parachute

A)That is easy to understand - The more seeds I plant the more I harvest

B) But NOTE: This principle not only applies to QUANTITY of harvest, but in KIND of harvest

3. We are sowing in many areas of our lives If we sow judgement and condemnation then we reap that in our lives

1) If we sow mercy and forgiveness and love then you find mercy

4. See Whatever you give out you receive in multiples THAT is why it is so

important to heed these words of Jesus

1. But If you are giving it out in teaspoons..pinch here pinch there that is

how it will come back

2. Let’s be those who are giving out truckloads of mercy and forgiveness and

love