March 5 2017 What Do not Judge Means and More Keys to Overcoming

Last week – we had two practical ‘take-homes’ – and I actually had 3 – but I thought it was too much – but people talked to me afterward – the Smyrna church is next – and it is the smallest – maybe the least, but not the least important!

Matthew 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.

There are 5 ways that judgment is used.

• 1)God’s judgment – this is condemnation
• 2)Person to person – condemning and blaming
• 3)Discerning and distinguishing (the food was delicious (or not so much!))
• 4)Deciding and choosing (Deciding - I am going to wear this color sweater… whatever it is called – (actually, I didn’t, I just decide based on what my wife tells me to wear!))
• 5)Discerning evil and sin

3-5 we are to do – 1 and 2, we are not to do – and those are the ones that this passage focusing on.

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.

Condemning & Blaming (Human) - God’s Judgment (Condemnation)

Do not condemn or God will condemn you. For in the same way you condemn others, God will condemn you. That is ALL this verse is saying.

But Jesus is saying that we like to jump into God’s world.

There are times when we can say – “That is not right!” We can never say to someone, “You’re not right!” That’s where we are not allowed to go. That is only for God. Condemnation is only for God to do.

If we need to say, “That is not right!” The Bible gives specific ways to do that. There are precise rules on how to do that. I don’t have time to explain that today - Look at Galatians 6 and Matthew 18 – so yes, as Christians, we need to be able to say, yes, that is sin – and there is a difference between that and condemning – but it is easy to cross that line as humans. Some behavior is not preferred, but it is also not evil or sin. Our problem is we often mix those up. We want to say, That is wrong! When maybe it is simply not the preferred behavior.

We should never make the Bible say something is sin that it does not say – but it is really easy to do that! This is what Jesus is dealing with here. That is what we tend to do. There are things that are wrong and God will judge – but we need to understand OUR position.

“Jesus’ warnings of condemnation are almost never aimed at those who committed adultery or collected taxes dishonestly – but at the pious who would exclude such people from the community and those who are condemning others.”

Jesus condemns the religious leaders. We all have a problem judging people. I do. You do. That is settled. Here is one reason why:

We have a misplaced confidence in the power of condemnation to change peoples’ behavior. We use judging to try to manipulate behavior. We believe if we make them feel guilty they will change. The problem is – it doesn’t work. It is easy to get in that rut – but it is deeply wrong and

Matthew 7:3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 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.

This is an example of self-righteousness. The judging person always carries a bigger flaw than what is being condemned. That is what Jesus is saying. The good news is you can become the type of person who does not judge people. An overcomer – understand that you have a plank in your own eye.

As you deal with planks in your life, you deal with people the way that Jesus did.

You can become the type of person who does not judge. This series is about overcoming. Find the planks in your own eye. Not to be guilty and feel lousy – but recognize – I’ve got some issues too – so why am I so upset about this issue in someone else’s life?

Revelation 2:8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life: 9 'I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

This church has received no rebukes from Jesus – nothing but praise. This was probably one of the smallest churches in Asia Minor. He knows their suffering and poverty – but they are rich. This was a wealthy community with natural resources that made it wealthy. Most were wealthy – but the Christians were living in extreme poverty. Jesus is saying – what the world values is not what I value. Smyrna had all the things the world valued, but the church had none of it. God tells them – you have the true riches. True riches is not about what you accumulate – but it is the other things that really matter.

They are going through these difficult circumstances and peril – but are living amazingly in light of it.

There is slander – a result of Jews in what He calls the Synagogue of Satan. The Jewish people were the only ones allowed to keep their own religion – and not worship all the other gods. Because Palestine was the breadbasket of the Roman Empire, the Jewish people had influence, so they were given a pass – and at first, the Church was connected with the Jewish religion. But the Jewish leaders were not happy with that – and said – they are not part of us – and there was a persecution that erupted as a result of that – so they faced all these difficulties.

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.

This is not literally ten days – but for a short time…

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Some will die. Imagine getting a letter from Jesus… You’re going to go through some hard times and some will be killed because of their faith. Just imagine it! Here in America, people would say – I think I’ll go to a different church!

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

Some will die – but don’t worry – that is just the first death – it is not the one that REALLY matters. Jesus says there is a second death – and you won’t go through that.

In the middle of this section – Remain faithful!

Jesus is telling them – though they are doing well, even as things get hard, they need to remain faithful.

It is counter-intuitive to us – but our experience in the faith and fruitfulness in the kingdom has nothing to do with favorable circumstances. Difficulties play an important role in the quality of their witness. It is their struggles that made them who they are. The most important thing about us is the kind of person we are transformed into in every aspect of our inner being – then we need to change our perspective on difficulties when they enter our lives, if we know that being transformed into Christ is the most important.

When things go well, I think I am doing well – but probably the opposite is true. We know that the best work takes place in us when we go through struggles.

“God initiates the work of transformation…

These events are not accidents but the hand of God – and He wants us to grow and mature. When we relegate those events to fate or bad luck, we negate the power of those events to transform us.”

Our tendency is to believe that difficult times will hinder our growth and progress in the faith. Many Christians have learned that times of suffering have produced the greatest amount of change. We need to welcome these as partners.

Greet trials as friends, James tells us.

I’m a long way from that.

Revelation 2:10 – do not be afraid. 10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer.

How do we overcome? First – don’t be afraid. The source of animosity and division in our country is fear. The Bible says over and over – do not fear. We have so many fears. Stop being afraid. I am with you, God says. That command, “do not fear!” is for us today.

Second – even when we are doing well, we still have things to overcome. We never get to a point where there is nothing that God wants to change. When you are doing your best is when you should understand most deeply what needs to be changed.

Thirdly – a key to overcoming – they knew they were going to be imprisoned and killed – and the third key is not retaliating.

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

This is not about self-defense, but how to respond when someone mistreats you. Do not respond in kind. Do not respond in defensive retaliation. “She got me, now I’m going to get her”

Wouldn’t it be great if people today refused to stoop to the level of others? How about in your workplace? You can be that person.

Getting back at someone is easy – it requires zero character. Real character is hard work. Getting back requires none.

Jesus said - If they insult you – turn the other cheek. If they accuse you – turn the other cheek.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;

We all know this verse. But when Jesus said this – no one had ever heard it before. No one said love your enemies! It was the worst thing one could possibly do! We don’t want to do it! But we don’t have a choice! This church is about to be killed by their enemies – and Jesus says – Pray for them.

I believe doing deeds of justice and service are important aspects of our witness today. We need to proclaim and perform the gospel – to serve and live our lives in ways that proclaim the gospel in what we do and say. The first 300 years of the church – the number one way the gospel spread and grew was the Christians loving their enemies. I would say we have reached that point again, in our world. Even more – we should do works of justice. If the Christians were loving and blessing those who persecuted them – this is how the gospel will spread and grow. Start where you are. It shocked the world that was built on an eye for an eye. No one ever did that.

Honestly – I think today – a little loving of your enemies can go a long way in proclaiming the gospel.