2 Cellos

Christians Judging Christians

Judging fellow believers

By Russ Kujawski 11/17/17

This subject is controversial on one hand, not spoke about often on the other hand, it may require you to take action against a friend who is living sinful life, it may require you to evaluate your own life to judge yourself for sin you may be living in. Some will think I’m being legalistic, because its condemning to them. I’m writing this looking up verses and trying to keep things in context. I’m not using much as far as commentary’s just reading scripture and letting it speak for itself. The Bible is its best commentary for its self. Comparing scripture with scripture. I do often lookup key words to see the varies meanings.

I’ll be looking at several verses about judging fellow Christians as a Christian and why we should do this and our responsibility to do this.  Like the word “works” don’t get caught up in the word “Judging or Judgment”. If it makes you feel better use the word “discern or discernment”.

Have you ever heard Christians and non-Christians say, “you can’t judge me”?

For the non-Christian they are right as a Christian we can’t judge them.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? {non-Christians} Is it not those inside the church {Christians} whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” {the word purge is a verb its saying take action and “remove” the evil from you} remove those who are living in, or walking in sin and not willing to repent and restore their relationship first with Christ then with the Body of Christ.

1 Cor 5:11 informs us as to who we are judging it’s those with in the church.

“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”

This verse makes it clear, if someone identifies as a brother and I’ll also add sister in Christ and they are living in sin, I would like to say I think this is talking of a lifestyle of sin, a continual sin. Christians fail (sin) probably every day in some form or another. I don’t think this is talking about that. This is about lifestyle of sin, living in undealt with sin, and claiming to be a Christian. {brother, sister in Christ}

Sin is a cancer to the Christian, if undealt with through repentance then it will spread. it not only hardens the heart of the believer but potentially lead to loss of eternal life. (If one can lose their salvation) It can spread though out the body of brothers and sisters who gather together.

 1Co 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1Co 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

When sin is not dealt with it can and probably does cause division in a church and possibly death to a congregation. As part of the body of Christ we should desire multiplication of the church, not division. A little yeast makes the whole lump of dough grow. Sin is like that when not dealt with it will spread, it will grow.

As a Christian are we to judge those who call themselves Christians and are in sin?

The answer is a resounding YES! It’s our responsibility!  There are many verses as to our responsibilities to each other. Here are 7 verses and my commentary on them.

1.     John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.   Isn’t Part of loving one another approaching a brother or sister in Christ who is in sin? Yes, it is. Part of loving one another is keeping in touch beyond the church building on Sundays. I my self-need to practice that better. As Christ love the church. Think Christ would keep silent? No he would point out your sin and direct you towards repentance.

2.      Rom 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Brotherly love out do one another with honor. Is there any honor in seeing someone in sin and doing nothing? No, you’re dishonoring them, by not doing something to help them deal with their sin. In fact, your saying “you’re not worth my time” This will probably sound harsh or maybe legalistic. The Church does a good job at showing brotherly love to each other, but I think when someone is in dealt with sin. The church has a kind of hands off approach to dealing with the sinner. Now I’m speaking in generality’s here the church as a whole not any one particular organization. Although moving someone in sin from one job to another within the church doesn’t deal with the sin. Only hides it. If the sin isn’t dealt with. Approach the one in sin and show love and honor.

3.     Rom 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,. Live in harmony by approaching a brother in sin may disrupt that harmony, I would say the harmony is already disrupted. The God of encouragement and endurance will grant you the same to bring harmony back to a brother in accordance with Christ.

4.     Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. As Christians we have the freedom to live in the flesh or the spirit. As scripture say’s “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!  How can we who died to sin still live in it?” {Romans 6:1-2} as a Christian you have the freedom to live in sin by doing so you weaken, my I say destroy your ability to serve God properly to be a witness to the world. The chains of sin weight you down and restrict you. If you have died to sin, then living in sin is bondage to sin. Yet being a Christian, you are part of a Godly family that supports, and serves one another. Sometimes that service /support requires judgment. As a brother in Christ It’s my obligation as well as other followers of Christ to discern {Judge} that the brother or sister in Christ is living in sin when they are showing evidence of an un-righteous walk. Let me be clear I’m not saying we analyze every action of our brother or sister, that I feel would then be truly judgmental, legalistic in a negative way. Our judgement done in the proper way would be in love to restore them to a proper walk with Christ, and fellowship with others in the Body of Christ.

5.     1Co 12:25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. As Christians we are all part of the same body in Christ. Maybe you visit someone in the hospital or bring a meal to someone that’s homebound, teach Sunday school or lead worship on Sundays. If you are living in sin, then the body has a cancer {a division in the body} and it needs to be dealt with. Sin is service limiting. We are to care for one another part of that caring would be approaching someone in sin to remove the cancer from the body{sin} by restoring them. 1Jo 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. {side note: sin leading to death I think is unforgiven sin. A discussion for the green folder}

Let’s look at the guide lines for Judgement of a Brother or sister in Christ.

Side note: read the whole thing before speaking about planks

Matthew 18:15-17 

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

·        A few things here in this verse on judgment. This verse says “if a brother sins against you “the word brother is meaning a believer in Christ anyone who is a follower of Christ, anyone who is a member of the body of Christ. Male or female this is referring to believers.

·        Next “sins against you” this is making it personnel. The bigger picture is “if any believer is in sin” Because we are one unit in Christ that is we are the body of Christ as stated in 1Cor 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Romans 12:5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. As we are one body in Christ we are also members of each other, so with this in mind to sin against any one person who is a believer in Christ you are sinning against the whole body. Sin has a deep impact, it’s a cancerous cell that can spread like fire when undealt with.

·        “go and tell him his fault” tell him his fault how do you determine it’s a fault?  By judgement! you pass judgement. I’m not speaking of the kind of judgement that condemns someone to hell. Only God can do that, only God can determine the heart of a person. We can judge if the actions are sin, if you know the scriptures if you pray and seek the Holy Spirit ‘s guidance, seek council from another believer. Then you can see if its sin. I’ll say this again “Like the word “works” don’t get caught up in the word “Judging or judgement”. If it makes you feel better use the word “discernment”. Here are a few other words that can be used to make it sound nicer: perceived, reckoning, prudence, reason, logic, and the last one gumption. They all are synonyms for judgement. You can’t tell someone their fault without determining that it is a fault that it is a sin, without passing some form of Judgment. {I’ll talk about the speck log conundrum a little further down in the study in Matthew 7.)

·        “he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” When the offender refuses to listen to you then take others with you to approach the offender (sinner) to try and get reconciliation between them and Christ, the Body of Christ and the two people. Reconciliation is the end goal along with that reconciliation is repentance and forgiveness. I think the two or three others would probably be someone who is sum what familiar of the situation. They become witnesses of the situation, and also there is extra wisdom to draw on for reconciliation.

·        “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church”  If you and probably the pastor and maybe an elder or two have gone the person in sin (the cancer) and they don’t listen  then bring it to the body of Christ so the cancer can either be eradicated from the one in sin or be removed from the church body I know that sounds unloving kicking them out of the church but to quote from a song from my child hood “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch girl” And scripture say’s to remove them. 1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals or sin in the body spreads to the rest of the body

·        “. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” When the person refuses to listen, and does not have reconciliation and again that’s the end goal, (repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation the word my pastor uses RESTORATION) remove them from the body of believers, the body of Christ. As I stated above we are of one body. That’s the Body of Christ and a body to one another. When someone sins against one believer they sin against the whole body. Let them go the way of the gentile and tax collector, they were considered outsides to the Jews back in the day. Consider them an outsider. BUT! The body also has to be ready to let them back when repentance, restoration and reconciliation has happened.

·        Side thought: In conversations I’ve had over the years there was a woman and man who had an affair with each other, both part of the same church. They were told to leave because of the affair. He left and never came back, she on the other hand broke off the relationship, repented of the sin, and was seeking reconciliation. A short time after attending the church she had the affair in she was asked not to return because she was a distraction to the congregation. Although I can understand the feelings of the church was that right? The body also has a responsibility in the forgiveness and reconciliation department too. Don’t they?

I asked the question on line on FB page and the response I got back was “forgive the person”. Scripture tells us God blots out our sin. Isa 43:25“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. God blots out our sin as if they didn’t even happen. That’s how we as a body need to be. When someone repents, seeks, forgiveness, and reconciliation we as a body need to BLOT OUT the sin as it didn’t happen. Of course, it sounds good but, our human minds don’t work like that. We must as a body and as an individual seek the Holy Spirit for the strength to move beyond the sin that was committed and forgiven. One last verse here before we move on to the spec log issue.

·        2Th 3:15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.        Always with LOVE.

Other Scripture about Judging other followers of Christ.

Matthew 7 Judging Others (followers in Christ)

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see 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,’ when there is the log 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 a verse that most people know followers of Christ and non-followers or believers and non-believers. The thing is they only quote part of the verse to fit their opinion. Normally “Judge not” and,” take the log out of your own eye,” There is much more to this section of scripture than those few phrases. In keeping things in context lets dig into this section of scripture.

·        “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”  Sounds to me if you don’t judge others then you won’t be judged, but as I have said above sin is a cancer if we do not take the risk of being judged ourselves and make an attempt to correct someone in sin then that sin will progress and infiltrate the body and cause destruction and division. If you’re not willing to reproof, correct, discern, judge someone because you are afraid of judgement then their eternity may be at stake here. {If it be possible for someone to lose their salvation} because they are living in sin and their heart gets hardened towards Christ, and you know you should say something and don’t then you have sinned. James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

·        I have asked a question on Face Book about judgement of a Christian in sin from other Christians here is one of the answers I was given” Jesus said Judge Not” then he went on to say by passing judgment on others you condemn yourself “ I’ll agree with that because of what verse 2 of Matt 7 say’s” ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”  This verse is telling me that if I can’t live up to whatever standards I’m using to judge a fellow believer of their sin {those standards must and have to be biblical standards not denominational standards} then I shouldn’t be judging their sin. By judging their sin, I bring commendation upon myself for my own potential sin by my own standards. I’m self-condemning.

·        Russaphrase: Matt 7: If you don’t condemn others then you won’t be condemned either, because of the condemnation you pronounced, then you also will be condemned, by the same standards you condemned, then those standards will be used to condemn YOU! Can you live up to your own standards? The guide is scripture.

                                                                                                                                                                                             

Time for the log and spec scripture that many use to say you can’t judge me.

·        ³ Why do you see 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,’ when there is the log 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.  

What does speck, and log represent? According to Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words speck is used metaphorically of a “minor fault” and log is used metaphorically “of a great fault”. Though you may see the faults or sin of your brother the log is keeping you from seeing your own faults or sins.

Example of speck /log: you see a brother that appears to you to have been rude to someone and you tell them you were rude you should apologize to them {speck} but when you get home you are emotionally and physically abusive to you family {log} how do you reconcile the two. Sin is sin is sin is sin, sin is a cancer. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  The rudeness {sin} may not be intentional maybe it’s a result of a rough day it’s not a life style, it’s a moment in life. The abusive sin is a lifestyle it’s an everyday occurrence. I know some will disagree with this thought. I think there are some sin’s that are of the moment, unintentional sins, that I think God’s grace covers. Although you should repent of them even if you’re not sure you committed any. Job 34:32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?  Job asked God to show him the sin’s he’s not aware of. We should be asking God to show us our sin’s we are not aware of and repent of them. Now for the log type sin. There are a boat load of scripture speaking of living in sin. 1 John 3:4-9  Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. I believe this is speaking to the one who’s lifestyle is in sin, who has un dealt with sin and continues to live in it. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all have sin, we all don’t live in a deliberate, lifestyle of sin.” Speck” sin of the moment or unintentional sin,” Log” undealt with sin or lifestyle of sin.

·        ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You can’t or shouldn’t attempt to deal with someone’s minor fault when you have a major fault of your own. Why is that? The answer is in the next verse.

·         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.  You hypocrite, what is a hypocrite? Someone who pretends to be something they aren’t. An actor is a hypocrite. They play the role of a character when is real life they are not that character. You can’t approach someone in sin minor or major sin if you have a lumber yard in your own life. That makes you a hypocrite. Speaking out of one side of your mouth saying one thing, out of the other side your saying something else. We are all hypocrites to some extent we all have a failure of the moment. The bigger issue isn’t so much the speck as it is the log. Never approach a brother about their failures when yours are not dealt with. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Seek your own restoration, confess your own sins, close the lumber yard. You may see that your brother has already dealt with his speck.

Final Thoughts:

Should Christians Judge other Christians? Yes, it’s our responsibility as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all part of the same body. Sin is like yeast or leaven, when not dealt with or removed it will spread and affect the whole body of Christ. You can see it in today’s society allowing those in sin to remain in the church and just accepting the sin as being OK. It spreads like cancer. As Christ loved the church we also must love the church, the body of Christ. Christ would have dealt with someone in sin with love we should do the same. We are to show honor, harmony, love and service towards each other. There is to be no division. Sin in one of the members of Christ if not dealt with can causes division. We approach someone in sin to restore them first to Christ then the body of Christ. Scripture tells us how we are to approach someone in the body of Christ that is in undealt with sin. Scripture also tells us if we have sin in our own life that hasn’t been dealt with then we should deal with our own sin and seek forgiveness and restoration before we approach them about their sin. It also tells us by judging others we bring commendation upon ourselves. Using the same standards, you used to judge them it will be judged on you. Can you live up to your own standards? The end goal when approaching someone in sin should always be repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration and always done is the love of Christ. One last verse as to why we are to judge those in sin.            Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

Bible Thoughts: Bring Your Own Goat

Bible Thoughts: Bring Your Own Goat: Bring your own Goat By Russ Kujawski 11/3/2017 Topic Repentance/ Bring your own Goat Scripture reference:  Lev 4:27-29   ESV As follow...

Bring Your Own Goat

Bring your own Goat
By Russ Kujawski
11/3/2017

Topic Repentance/ Bring your own Goat
Scripture reference:  Lev 4:27-29   ESV
As followers of Jesus the Christ we will still have failures, we  will sin. 1 John 2:1makes that clear.
 1 John 2: 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
 and he is our propitiation.
1 John2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John here calls the people he is talking to as his little children. Either he his older than his audience or he had a hand in their conversion to following Jesus. The real point here is they are believers, brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe its clear Christians do sin. Hopefully it’s not a life style, if it is a lifestyle of sin then evaluation of your relationship with Christ needs to be done. Is there true repentance or just a said faith?

This is titled bring your own goat so let’s get started.
 Lev 4:27-29: 27 “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt,28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. 29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.

Two things that I want to point out. 1 the sin offender brings the goat for a blood sacrifice, and 2 the sin offender kills the goat. To me that makes repentance very personnel, being the one who actually kills the sacrifice for your indiscretions for your sins. Taking the life of the innocent goat because of your failures.

Question for discussion.
With Christ being our advocate the one stands between us and God and our propitiation the one who turns away God’s wrath by taking on the penalty of our sin. Do Christians when they sin and repent of that sin have a hand an active role in the forgiveness of the sin, do they bring their own goat?
When you sin as a Christian and then repent of that sin is it as personnel as bringing your own goat and taking the life of that goat?
I’m basically speaking to Christians here. When a Christian is living in un-repented sin its devastating, on the outside you may appear to others to have it all together. On the inside you’re a mess because of the dwelling sin. Look at how the Psalms identifies un-repented sin.
Psalms 32: 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up] as by the heat of summer
You’re devastated inside you’re useless to the kingdom of God you need to find your goat and repent of your sin.
 Ok I know animal sacrifices are no longer done, so you won’t find a goat to cover you sins. The good news is there is a lamb that not only turns Gods wrath away this lamb also covers your sin.
Jhn 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus is our Lamb our blood sacrifice that takes away the penalty of sin.
1Pe 2:24
He himself {Jesus} bore our sins in his body on the tree {the cross}, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Brief note: this healing being spoke of is being healed from sin not necessarily a physical healing. Having forgiveness can improve the physical also.


Eph 1:7
In him {Jesus} we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
As a Christian when we are living in sin we can’t bring a goat to cover our sins, but we can go to the Lamb that is Jesus the Christ and confess our sins seek repentance and live a life of peace and rest even with all its turmoil’s. 
Take that personnel approach hands on and seek the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.
One more verse from Psalms
Psalms 32:1-2
 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.
Final Thoughts: sin is destructive, there is no such thing as a little sin. Undealt with sin will fester and grow to a full out defiance. Take hold of the sin.
8 Steps to take to combat sin.
1. Jas 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2. 1 Corinthians 6:
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
3. Ephesians 6:16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
4. Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
5. Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
6. 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
7. Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
8. 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.

Above are 8 steps to combat sin, if you currently are in sin then confess and be blessed.

Ignoring Instruction

Ignoring Instruction  

By Russ Kujawski

10/10/2017

Proverbs 15:32-33

³² Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.

So, let’s get started in the in depth look at the verses mentioned above.

Prov 15:32

³² Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

Whoever: I’m not a big fan on political correctness, when its he, her, me, you, us, them then that’s how it should be. This verse isn’t speaking to just a selected few it’s not speaking to males or females, it’s not speaking to the rich or the poor, the powerful or the weak. It’s speaking to you and me we are the WHOEVER your status in society or lack of status, you are the WHOEVER. John 5:24 “^24a Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life”. The word whoever is not exclusive it’s inclusive it refers to everyone on this earth. If you believe in the God of the bible or don’t believe in the God of the bible you are still a WHOEVER.

Ignores: The NASB states it this way “He who neglects” he here is referring to male or female. The word ignores or neglect is a verb it’s an action word.  Meaning: to let alone, avoid, neglect. Whoever take’s intentional action to not listen to instructions. Gods tells us to repent we are instructed to repent. King David in Psalms 32 gives an example of when he neglected to repent and also the results of repentance.

32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up^] as by the heat of summer. Selah

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 

Psalms tells us Blessed is the one who’s transgressions are forgiven. As we follow the instructions of the LORD we are blessed not in just repentance, but in putting into action Gods word {Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”} not following Gods instruction can be like a heavy weight around our neck. You want an easy life? Sorry it’s not going to happen this world is dying. As we stop ignoring Gods instructions or as we will see shortly Gods discipline We can navigate this world thru all its turmoil and have a Joy and be in Gods rest. Why because he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We as bible believing Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling with in us. He helps us understand, guides us in choices, lets us know when we are about to fall, renews us when we are at our whit’s end. He gives us strength, and words to say.

Stop and listen for the Lord, ignoring or neglecting the LORD is not a viable option.

Ps 32: ³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up^] as by the heat of summer. Selah

Don’t keep silent!

Next word

 Instruction: There is an aspect to this word that most probably don’t want to hear. It’s DISCIPLINE, CHASTENING, CORRECTION. Ouch! This verse is telling us not to ignore the discipline or correction. What are the results of our actions when we ignore instructions or discipline? Answered in the next Word

Next word

Despise: this is another action word (verb) when you despise instructions you are taking intentional action to not listen, you are rejecting the instructions or discipline. You are refusing to take the necessary action for correction. You become loathsome, melt away as the KJ translate this word sometimes. Although the next word is “himself” it’s speaking about the individual that does this. Rarely does the actions of a single person only affect that person alone. Your actions normally have a broader effect on others especially with in the family unit. May I also add with in a church family also. The church body can also be affected by those who ignore instruction /discipline.  When that happens division not multiplication can happen in the Church body.

The big BUT!

But he who listens: the one who hears and has understanding, who perceives this instruction and obeys. The one who takes the advice given and makes corrections. Action taken choice is made. Just like it’s a choice to not listen to ignore instruction it’s also a choice to listen and discern that the instructions and or discipline is for the benefit of the one instruction is given to and also benefit to the body that is the church and the family unit.

Next word

Reproof: rebuke, correction, punishment, chastisement.

Reproof is the letting know of some one’s mistake. As Christians when we see someone in sin, it is the duty of Christians to approach that person in love and make them aware of their wrong doing. Matthew 18:15-17 give’s instructions on how to do this. As I’m doing this study I came across many verses on judging other believers as a fellow believer. That’s another study for the green file. May I also say when someone is seen in incorrect doctrine or theology. It is the responsibility to make attempts to reproof their understanding of doctrine and theology. It’s not just the job of pastors or elders, we are all called to a holy priest hood, we are all called to ministry. Just one final comment on this word reproof. There is an aspect of chastisement.  Nobody want to be chastised, as a fellow Christian by letting a fellow Christian continue down the path of destruction and we don’t do or say anything, if it be possible are we not allowing them to throw away their faith and maybe their eternity with Christ. If it’s possible or not you still don’t want to see a fellow Christian in sin.

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Gains: this is a verb so there is some action happening here. Through the reproof, you obtain, acquire, secure, something favorable or profitable to you, in affect is also profitable to those whom you have contact with. If it be your family, the church you attend, or those you work with, what you gain can be useful to others also, as you speak to them.    

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Intelligence:  not so sure I like the ESV use of the word ‘intelligence” most versions use the word “understanding” or a couple of versions use “good sense” The NASB translation as well some others have a foot note and it states this “Literally Heart” one who listens to reproof gains a heart.

 Acts 8:20-22 

 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

Just a few more verses about the heart.

Rom 10:9

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Mat 15:18

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

By listening to reproof and taking corrective action, we gain understanding, we gain heart. A heart for the Lord, a heart for the church, a heart for people. Scripture is very clear I believe that the heart is the center of our relationship with the Lord and anyone else for that matter. Look at the verses above these are just a few heart verses, there are many “believe in your heart, with the heart you believe and are justified, what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart” Where the heart is so are your actions of faith.

Summary of verse 32

By ignoring discipline and not listening to reproof you not only continue in your failures as a Christian those failures will affect those around you. By listening you gain understanding {you gain Heart} you start walking in step with the Lord, and in turn have a positive effect on those around you.

 Proverbs 15:33

³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Fear of the Lord: This can be a tough thing to grasp especially if you don’t know what the word fear means in it’s context. Fearing God in this context is reverence for God as noted in the NASB translation. Revering God or fearing God in this way is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What does reverence mean: as a noun= deep respect for someone or something. Synonyms: high esteem, high regard, great respect, acclaim, admiration, appreciation, estimation, favor as a verb=regard or treat with deep respect.

What comes with reverence for God? How about desires. When you hold someone up and have a high regard for them or a deep respect for them you have certain desires. Maybe it’s to be more like them or to follow in their footsteps to imitate them.

As the verses above say the fear of the Lord or Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge. I think having a real reverence for God that we would have a desire to imitate him. No! we can’t create a universe or be everywhere at once. There are aspects of God we can imitate.

Ephesians5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Be imitators of God. Why? Because we are his children.

 Jhn 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

 Rom 8:16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Notice we are not step children, we are his children. It’s has always bothered me when someone marries into an existing family and when the kids are introduced something like this is said” This is my wife Mary my daughter Sue my son Bill and my step son Mike” you did a couple of things there when you used the word stepson. One you reminded him he is not your son,2 you are not his father, and 3 he’s extra baggage. If you a man or woman marring someone with kids, they are your kids you married the family not the individual. In case you think I don’t know what I’m talking about I married a woman with 3 kids, they are my kids. I don’t introduce them as step children and they don’t introduce me as their step dad. At the point here in being imitators of God because I Love them, and they Love me they can be called Children of Russ the same goes for being Gods children he loves us, and we love him we become Gods children. I have not found any references as Gods children as step children. We are part of the family.

 Being imitator of God, we are to Love one another, being kind and forgiving one another as God forgave you in Christ

Eph 4: ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I know the thought here is “there are some people I just don’t like, or you might say I’ll never forgive them” Well guess what Eph 4:1-32 is speaking of believers. To have unity in the body of Christ, we have a new life in Christ. Let this sink in “If we as brothers and sisters in Christ can’t be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another how are we supposed to affect the world, those around us. When we as Christians act as if we are still part of the worldly family instead of the heavenly family.”

As imitators of God we are to throw off are old self and be holy as God is holy.

^{1Peter 1: 14} As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” {Former ignorance: who you were before coming to Christ having received the gift of adoption}

Getting back on track

The fear of the Lord, reverence for the Lord, we desire to imitate his Love, His mercy, we desire his relationship to deepen with you, we desire his word, we desire communication with him, we desire to worship him, we desire to follow him, we desire to be obedient, we desire to fellowship with him, we desire to commune with other brothers and sisters in the Lord, and maybe the hardest of all is the desire to share him.

Next Word: Instruction in Wisdom

In verse 32 instruction is better translated “discipline” as the NASB does, but in this case instruction is just that instructions. The fear of the Lord is guidance in wisdom God will not miss direct you, miss lead you, making wise decisions, or speaking wise word to others. When we fail in making a wise chose is it because we listening to our thought instead of Gods instruction.  How are we to know the difference? Well here is a thought “If the door is closed and isn’t opening or if the door closed while trying to make a decision, then don’t force it open you probably shouldn’t go in that direction. If you force it open and things go south, then it’s all on you!”  That’s my thought. We have the Holy Spirit that is with us at all times part of his reason for being there is to guide us. He guides in all that we do we just need to listen more talk less. We need to discern actions in accordance with the word of God and not the ways of world

Next Word: Humility & Honor

The fear of the Lord instructs us in humility other uses of the Hebrew word for humility are gentleness and meekness.  How is the word humility defined in Webster’s dictionary?

: the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.

The instruction in humility that we receive from the fear of the Lord is an understanding the we need you Lord. I can’t imagine my life without God, my life without His intervention. Here are a few verses on those who humble themselves and call upon the Lord.

Psa 18:27

For you save a humble people,

  Psa 25:9

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. But the haughty eyes you bring down.

Psa 149:4

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

This is one of my Favorite verses.

2 Chronicales 7:14

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

What do these verses tell us God, the Lord saves the humble, he leads the humble, teaches the humble, he clothed the humble with salvation, and last but not the least by any means he HEARS the humble and Heals their land.

Just some little personnel thought on 2 Chronicles. This verse is being stated to a nation Israel a nation in trouble. I also believe the principles of this verse apply to us also in our lives. If we humble ourselves and pray he will heal our lives give us the peace we so desire. We need to come to the conclusion that we cannot fix our lives without the Lord. James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 is a good verse to read in conjunction with Prov 15:33. There will be those who see humbleness as weakness but when we humble ourselves before the Lord he honors us or as James states it He Exalts us, he will lift us up, raise us up to dignity. As we are humble before the Lord the world will see that they will see your light shining from amongst the evils of this world. { Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.}

 {2Co 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.}

How’s your light shining do you need to humble yourself before the Lord?

Final Thoughts

When we ignore instruction or as the NASB puts it “discipline “we despise ourselves we will continue to fail in our relationship with the Lord which in turn affects our personnel relationship with others. When we listen to reproof “correction” we will gain understanding, as we fear the Lord having reverence for the Lord we gain instructions in wisdom and humility, with that humility before the Lord he will honor us, lift us up, exalt us. The effects of the Lord honoring us, our light will shine and reflect the light of Christ.

Jhn 8:12

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

  How’s your light shining?