Lately, we are seeing more and more wickedness in our world. There are some who say that we should just keep quiet about it, but what does GOD'S Word tell us to do? In today's lesson we are going to learn from The Bible, the difference between standing against sin, and judging. They are two VERY different things. I pray that this gives each of us the courage to take a stand for JESUS and for what is right. May GOD Bless each and every one of you.
You are touring a foreign country with a tourist group and you are walking along the country side and some of the people see apples hanging from a tree and some of them start reaching up to pick the apples. Now they know it's not their apple tree and really it's not right to take someone else property without asking but it's just an apple they say and it's really not that big of a deal...we will pay the person for them when we see them.
You happen to know however that picking an apple off someone else's property without permission is a felony no questions asked in that country and if these people pick them, they will go to jail for a very long time, and there will be fines and many of other horrible consequences.
Up ahead you see a cop standing behind the tree...and there some of them are, ready to pick the apple...and they really want the apples too because they are hungry...the group hasn't eaten all day.
Do you...
1. Tell them not to pick the apple that it's the wrong thing to do and that it is a felony and that there will be horrible consequences if they choose to do it and you tell them that you understand that they are hungry and tempted to pick and eat the apples but that it's not worth the consequences...and there is a better way.
Or...
2. Do you keep silent and just pray that they don't pick the apples and say nothing because you don't want them to feel judged or upset or mad at you, and besides some of them already know it's wrong...and some of them don't but everyone around is telling them...pick the apples...or not saying anything at all out of fear of criticism.
Do you continue to remain silent and pray for the people to stop or do you stand up for what is right and speak up to try to warn them even if some of them don't want to hear it and don't agree with you because after all who wants to have a disagreement just keep quiet?
You know you only have a short amount of time before they get into trouble...it's one or or the other...now or never, speak up and say it or keep silent.
Ok now...reverse the situation...
You are the one about to pick the apple...and someone around sees what is about to happen to you if you do...would you want them to speak up or stay quiet?
What would truly be the most loving thing to do? Stand against it and warn them or just go along with them and keep quiet after all they are all adults if they choose it then let them, you are just supposed to be nice and love and accept them...not warn them.
What would you do?
Praying for wisdom from The LORD about situations in our nation and about some conversations that I have had lately...The LORD spoke to me with this little illustration above. Don't we have a obligation as human beings and Children of the MOST HIGH GOD to speak up and stand against sin and the lies of the devil and warn others what is going to happen if we as a nation and individuals do not repent of our sin and turn to JESUS CHRIST...or does GOD really want us to keep our mouths shut afraid someone will accuse us of judging and hatred and being prejudice or non-Christian or ignorant. Isn't it more loving to cry out with a loud voice in these last days and try to help and warn people of what satan is trying to do to them and the HUGE pit of death he has dug for them...than to sit back quietly and not say a word.
People we will never turn to JESUS CHRIST until we realize our sin and need for a Savior. Think about that.
When JESUS was with the woman at the well...yes HE loved her...and He made her aware of her sin...He just tackled it head on...said it out loud...Called it what it was.
When the woman was caught in the act of adultry...again...JESUS called it out...I forgive you of this sin...go and don't do it again...it's wrong.
When Moses came down with the 10 commandments did they yell at him...JUDGER! Condemner! Hater!
When JESUS and Paul and James and all the New Testament Teachers spoke against sin...was it wrong? No it was not wrong for them to stand against sin...it was not hateful...it was the most loving thing to do it was the right thing to do then, and it still is today.
YES...do EVERYTHING in LOVE...Love the sinner, hate the sin and call it what it is...because it's the right thing to do...not the easy thing to do.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Isaiah 58:1 "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
Romans 3:23 "23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
1 John 1:9 "IF WE CONFESS our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Everyone loves messages about Heaven...but not many like the messages about hell...still both are necessary and we are instructed in GOD'S Word to preach it all...even when it's uncomfortable. I don't want ANYONE to go there. It's forever and it's horrible...JESUS paid to high a price for us...we don't have to go there...we can accept HIM and be born again and our sins forgiven and HIS righteousness imputed to us! Thank GOD for HIS plan of salvation and thank JESUS for dying in my place...HE IS SO WORTHY!
Yes, JESUS paid the price for our sin debt and we as born again believers do not have to walk around in guilt and condemnation and we need to share The Love of CHRIST with EVERYONE, but GOD'S Word teaches that we have to tell people to repent as well as we have to remember it ourselves. No one can receive salvation without first seeing their sin and coming under Godly sorrow, confessing that sin and turning away from it in repentance to GOD. We cannot take one part of the Bible, and leave out another. Just because we stand against sin in our world today, doesn't mean that we are unloving. It's unloving to pat people on the back who are dying in their sins and pretending that everything is fine when it's not. Our Nation in America is killing babies through abortion and all kinds of sexual immorality is happening, adultery, fornication, rape, human trafficking, homosexuality, prostitution, pornography, and the list goes on and on. Murder, hatred, violence is everywhere and these things are wrong, they are sin (Romans 1:21-32). Does it mean we hate the person engaging in the sin...NO! We love the person, and hate the sin, just as JESUS does.
We cannot fear criticism so much that it hinders us from teaching people that they have to repent and turn to JESUS CHRIST. People are dying and they will spend eternity in hell if they do not accept JESUS and repent of their sins. Jesus is the ONLY way for salvation. Many people have not idea what GOD'S Word says because they have never picked up a Bible to read it. We...you and I are the only Bible some people ever see...if we close our mouths to the truth and just let them go on thinking that these things are ok...their blood will be on our hands!
Now, we are not supposed to accuse people of things, we do not know their hearts...that is judging...and we are NEVER to talk down to anyone as if we are better...we are to stand up and cry out against sin and try to help the sinner understand his/her need for JESUS CHRIST. Understand that standing against sin and not sugar coating it and calling it what it is IS NOT JUDGING! That is a trick from satan to get people to keep quiet about the wickedness going on in our world today, and sadly in alot of our churches! This should not be so!
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
It is our duty as believers to warn people against the destruction that is coming. The Bible says in Romans 6,
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Jesus Christ is coming back very soon and those who are not ready are doomed. We have to love people enough to tell them even if they hate us for it. It's the most loving thing we can do for them.
We have been given the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST and we are to share that with others. There is freedom from sin, from death, and from hell through HIM! When a child tells a lie, and his mother or father corrects him and tells him that it is wrong to lie, they are not judging the child, they are empowering him with the truth! The child may not like it, or may be embarrassed, or they may cry at the rebuke, but it is necessary and would be wrong for the parent not to say anything.
I am so thankful that my parents and that preachers and other christians taught me and helped me understand my sin and that JESUS saved me and forgave me of my many sins. I am so thankful that people cared enough to show me the way, sure I didn't like it at times, but now I see the truth and I'm am so thankful because it led me to JESUS and salvation and an understanding that I don't have to be a slave to sin and that I can say no and that I can live in FREEDOM! Praise The LORD. I want that for everyone. Freedom in CHRIST JESUS...Freedom from the law, freedom from sin, and freedom from death, hell, and the grave...all because of what JESUS CHRIST did on Calvary. He took your place and mine and suffered and died, then HE arose the third day victorious over it all so that we could have life and have it more abundantly Praise HIS HOLY WORTHY RIGHTEOUS NAME! Hallelujah!
If you are lost, and have never called out to JESUS CHRIST for forgiveness of our sins, then you can. No matter what sin you have done...even the worst sins...HE will forgive and wipe clean if you will believe and accept HIM repenting and trusting HIM as LORD and SAVIOR! NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!
Romans 10:9-13 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Now, if you are a person how has believed and you are falling into a pit of sin because you have strayed away from The LORD, turn around. You can.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."
Don't wait, and don't let satan guilt you into not confessing the sin and repenting. He will make you feel so low and tell you that GOD won't forgive you but the devil is a liar and GOD will forgive us when we confess and turn away from our sin and more that that HIS HOLY SPIRIT will empower us to say no to temptation! Just because we are tempted with sin doesn't mean we have to engage in it. We are empowered to say no. Praise The LORD!
I hope that this has blessed your heart and encouraged you to do stand up for what is right and know that GOD is pleased with you for being faithful. Now there will be those who will accuse you of being a hater and a judger for standing up for what is right, but just pray for them and GOD will take care of it. Keep standing against sin with the love of JESUS in your heart and in the right motives and GOD will bless you and you will lead many to HIM! I'm praying for all of you...pray for me.
Dear Righteous, Holy, Heavenly FATHER...
I come today asking YOU to open the hearts and eyes of YOUR people today and help them to realize the importance of taking a stand against sin with the LOVE of YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST in our hearts and as our motivation. I ask that You give us the words you would have us to say and the boldness to say it without fear of criticism. Help us not to judge but to cry out against sin leading many to You. Help us to be wise and know the difference. I thank You for Loving us and protecting us and for providing for us. FATHER thank You for everything You do. You are worthy of all praise. I ask all these things in YOUR lovely name JESUS...Amen.