The Preacher's Special
Subject: YOU BE THE JUDGE
Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007
DEAR FOLKS,
I hope you are praying and getting yourself ready for our Revival. Part of that preparation is the judge or examine yourself. What is your spiritual condition?
1 Cor 2:15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
There are many that claim to be spiritual and are having some kind of experience they call spiritual. I believe must of it is satanic and fake. Even in our Independent Baptist Churches there are many that have an experience; they claim salvation, walk forward, and even get baptized. But in a matter of a few days the FBI can’t find them. They may have had an experience, but it was not spiritual.
To many of us a rejoicing over the experiences people have rather than rejoicing over true spirituality that can pass the test of judgment. There are some that do not want to hear about judgment and they have swallowed the satanic concept that we are never to judge. The Bible tells us otherwise. Spirituality must always be judged according to God’s Word:
WE ARE TO JUDGE ITS GENUINENESS
1 Corinthians 2:14-15
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Those that are spiritual will be receptive to the truth of the Word of God. Those that reject Bible truth are giving a sure indication that the Holy Ghost does not dwell in them.
The word “Judge” means to investigate or examine.” The Holy Ghost of God gives us the ability and the Word of God gives us the standard to judge all things.
WE ARE TO JUDGE DEEDS OR ACTIONS
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Too many are living after and are being controlled by the flesh and they have murdered their own spiritual influence on others. Instead of being an example, the become stumbling blocks.
Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Every man has to deal with the flesh, but the spiritual man refuses to allow the flesh to be fulfilled in his life. He does not yield to it, he crucifies it.
WE ARE TO JUDGE FRUIT
Galatians 5:22-24
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Bearing the right kind of fruit is crucial for the Christian. Our fruit must be spiritual, not carnal. The graveyards are filled with those that bore carnal fruit and the Lord removed them from this life.
WE ARE TO JUDGE HOW WE AND OTHERS DEAL WITH BACKSLIDERS
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
I wish it were not so, but some good people can get caught up in things that are wrong and sin can take control of their conduct. This is not a reference to full-blown rebellion; it indicates a mistake or someone that was wrongly influenced.
It is up to the spiritual to do the restoring because the non-spiritual person will condemn both the sin AND the sinner. The spiritual Christian will deal with a backslider biblically and compassionately.
WE ARE TO JUDGE HOW PEOPLE TAKE THE MEAT OF THE WORD
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Too many saved people are living like lost people. That is why they can’t take strong, Biblical Preaching and teaching. Receiving the meat of the Word is what helps us develop and grow spiritually. Those that can’t take it do not grow and the other way around.
WE ARE TO JUDGE THE PEACE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
One of the basic needs of a person is to have peace within. Jesus said He would give us peace.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
His peace was the kind of peace that never left Him when threatened with death and it will do the same for us.
WE ARE TO JUDGE THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP OTHERS HAVE WITH JESUS
Galatians 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The spiritual Christian has an internal relationship with Jesus that shows in his devotion and worship.
I am not advocating that we set ourselves up a judges and point our accusing fingers at others. The judging is a gift from God and our responsibility to God in order to minister to others and set the course for our own lives.
I am praying that our Revival will help us see what we are, what He is, and how we can impact the lives of others.
