Apostles and Prophets
GOD APPROVED - RATED "G", "RPG", & "KNOW"
~APPROVAL RATING ~
Unto Man or Unto God?
Romans 14:17-19 ~ Acts 2:22 ~ 1 Thess 5:9-15
Rom 14:17-19 “For the kingdom of God is…<1>righteousness, and <2> peace, and <3>joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Act 2:22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
1Th 5:9-15 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
When you go out to the movies, you are met with levels of or ratings of the movies at the box office that are showcasing within the theater’s facility. The ratings are quite simple. They are: G, PG, PG13, R, X, & NR (not-rated). There are many principles and rules that are established and set in order to allow the understanding of what it is to be expected while watching the show. If it is something the whole family can see, then it is G rated. If it is perverted, it is rated usually and appropriately with the correct rating. If it is violent then again it is appropriately rated. And if they cannot figure it out, then it is given a NOT YET RATING (NR) in ranking.
In the Kingdom of God, the ratings are very different. There are no in-between ratings. You are either a believer or a non-believer. You cannot ride the eternal picket fence. Often times, we look at someone and make a decision whether or not they are spiritual, or whether or not they have this gifting or that calling. Sometimes, we eye another brother or sister in Christ and make a judgment-call to speculate if they are who they say they are. Sad to say that we judge our brother or sister in Christ, and this is not to be so.
We size the King’s Kids up against the spiritual par of our own mindset of what we think they are or what we think they are not, and choose if what we see is real or not. We often times look at someone, consider their situations, and make up our minds and critic them by a measure that is best described as a flesh-marking or a ruler of the flesh. If they are not successful in business, or rich in wealth, or loaded with things we consider them unworthy. And, if that were not enough, if they are in ministry, and they pull up in a rugged old beat up run-down old Junker, then they are not spiritual, for they are not successful!
We speculate about someone by their outward appearance, and decide that since they are poor in one area, then they are spiritually poor in another! We theorize that if someone doesn’t look like we look, then they are wrong or just not good enough, because they do not look like me? Then we go one step further. We take it to the point of pain, both spiritually, physically, and what is worse – emotionally!
We often look at someone and become spiritually jealous & carnally envious. We look at them again, wondering how they can be doing that. For some in leadership, one pastor looks at another and becomes resentful to the point that they begin to throw the fiery darts at their spiritual Blood brother and size him up as not real, unsuccessful, and certainly non-spiritual! How dare we look at a child of God and say they are not part of our group, so they must be wrong! Who was it that let us become judge and jury of our own kinsmen? When did God turn loose the reins of Kingship, and turn it over to the saintly subjects of the King? Who was it that stopped the joystick of controlling our own lives, and began to think that we can control the lives of others?
I have the greatest respect for the French! The French people work as hard as everyone else does, they are successful just like us here in the US, and yet the difference is that they just know when to quit, and enjoy life. They have solace nights, and romantic relationships, and we judge them because they do not talk and act like we do. They do not walk like us. They sit around too much. Don’t they have jobs? What kind of job is that? Taking pictures of romantic nights, photographing those models for those magazines, is that a real job? Do they really get paid for doing that? You better believe it!
I was out this week driving through a school zone. The busses and cars were lined up in their trained positions, awaiting the birthing of this school house to bring forth its’ temporarily housed children that really belong somewhere else; the school is just a temporary purpose. The final outcome is the child growing up into a respectful and responsible adult who will in turn give back what was invested in them through training and teaching. However, while I was watching this activity, God took my eyes to look at the school guard, or crossing guard.
He was an old man with a reflective vest on. He stood there patiently waiting on the birthing of these children. As he stood there in anticipation, busses lined up, the loading of children upon their births; the cars in anticipation of the reception of their jewels, he watched with careful hope that as soon as the busses would move, he would stop the traffic to allow them to pass over to take their journey. He stood there knowing that what would soon take place would be done and completed by what he was set there to do!
We consider someone that may not be where we are, and then conclude that they are not doing it right, because they do it my way? I thought Elvis was dead?
This cross guard had a place! He had purpose – but purpose is temporary! What he left behind is eternal – destiny! He would be there to allow the traffic of the journey to take place. The journey NOT HIS was his destiny. He would stop traffic, and the journey of another would go on. He may not be around next year? His time may come to an end? Yet he played a SAFE part, an intricate part of what the journey’s course had to take? He had purpose!
We have purpose! Read the 3 verses in the Amplified Bible:
“[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men. So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual up-building (edification and development) of one another.” (Romans 14:17-19 AMP)
I CALL THIS THE “R P J” RATING IN THE KINGDOM!
R = Righteousness
P = Peace
J = Joy
Another rating that we spiritual folks like to and tend to give freely is one of discourse! It is what I call the “M E” Rating. IT IS ALL ABOUT ME! I do not like them, I got a CHECK in MY (ME) SPIRIT! IT is all about you! This rating is one that you do not get from God, yet you claim it is there? I got this check in my spirit? The thing you just said is that YOU got a CHECK in YOUR SPIRIT! Then to look all spiritual, you claim the HOLY GHOST gave you this check. I do not see anywhere God opened up a bank account!
You are a spirit! He is THE SPIRIT! Our spirits are made in the likeness of His Spirit! Therefore, when we get a CHECK, you better make sure where and what bank it was written on! If it is true in the natural it is true in the spiritual! If everyone is saying it has to be true! WRONG! We can all decide to go out here and do some great sinning together. We can all come together and build the tower of Babel? But if it is out of time, and we are out of our place, then God will come in and confuse our speech! NOT US! OUR SPEECH!
This is the “ME” RATING! It is all about ME!
He confused out tongue, and in that we can determine that it is God, for when CLOVEN TONGUES AS OF FIRE CAME DOWN, THEY SPAKE AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE! He messed up our SPEECH AGAIN! Only this time we speak mysteries…We speak as unto God! We can speak but this time it is IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME! WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME!!! IT WAS THE RIGHT PLACE!
It is no longer ME but HE!
In the book of Acts, here in the 22nd verse of the 2nd chapter, we find another rating. This is the GOD KIND OF RATING! THIS IS WHAT I CALL NATURALLY AS THE G RATING!
Act 2:22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
I can hear Him now…
“I AM GOD AND I HAVE APPROVED THIS MESSAGE!” What message? HIS! Whose message? JESUS OF NAZARETH! Peter standing up among the MEN OF ISRAEL demanding to be heard proclaimed that HIS MESSAGE (Jesus) had an approval rating that went far above and beyond anything MAN could give! Jesus was from NAZARETH, and that is significant! In the words of Peter, he was laughing at their spiritual intellect.
*It was on the road to Emmaus that the Stranger (Jesus) was responded to by the disciples amazed that this Stranger had not heard of Jesus of Nazareth.
*It was the man possessed by a Legion that asked what Jesus of Nazareth had to do with them.
*It was after going up into the desert that He came to Nazareth to pray in the synagogue. He stood up to read what I believe to be one of the most amazing fulfilling of Scripture AT THAT MOMENT OF FULFILLMENT ever! TODAY THIS HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING!
*It was blind Bartimaeus that was in the crowd that day, and when heard that JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS COMING – HE SAID SON OF DAVID! HAVE MERCY ON ME!
*It was when Jesus came riding into the city of DAVID that people cried out “HOSANNA, BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD”, and the city was moved and asked Who is this? The multitude answered in saying This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee
*It was Nathaniel that made the comment can anything good come out of NAZATRETH? It was when they arrested Him that they asked for “Jesus of Nazareth”
* It was Peter warming himself by the fire (“ME” RATING) that was asked by a stranger “it was you that was with Jesus of Nazareth? He denied it! But he still flamed his own fire!
*The prophets foretold of HIM BEING a NAZARENE!
*Those words were finally penned upon the top the cross! “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”
HE WAS A MAN APPROVED! He had a “G” RATING!
Finally: The last, and although I am sure there are many who could do much better than I in this kind of sermon, that we come to the final rating. It is what I call a “KNOW” rating!
We find in our last Scripture text today the final approval rating!
1Th 5:9-15 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
Again I call it a “KNOW” rating! How can I know them? I was asked one day do you really know them? Do you KNOW who they are?
I would like to introduce you to two words: Character & Reputation.
"Reputation is what people think about you;”
“Character is what people know you are all about."
I heard a great slap-stick drama played out in an old movie “Laural & Hardy”
The scene goes like this: Mr Hardy saw something he was confused about and he said, “I do not think I know what that is ither.”
Stanley said, “I know what it is Ollie.” His large counterpart said, “ I do not think… I know what it is, Stanley.” Stanley replied, “ I DON’T THINK… YOU KNOW EITHER OLLIE!”
That was too funny, but the jest of it is true! We don’t think what we know, and we know what we don’t think! We allow our minds to play a part in our decisions. We do not pray about it! We sit around and think of things and allow our minds to race away with what we do not know! We allow the news media to torment our minds, and play a HYPOTHETICAL ROLE in what they are REPORTING WHAT THEY THINK, OFTEN WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW! CRAZY THING IS< WE BELIEVE IT! AS CHILDREN OF GOD, HE TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN! DO YOU NOT BELIEVE HIM? OR DO YOU JUST BELIEVE THE MEDIA THAT TELLS YOU WHAT THEY THINK THEY KNOW!
In the Scripture above we often use this as a stone to stand on to stone another standing! When someone makes a comment or says something that we do not agree with, we immediately go to this Text and proclaim that WE NEED NOT LISTEN TO THEM FOR WE DO NOT KNOW THEM! WELL WHY NOT? Why not iniitiate the Love of God, and allow the Spirit of God to move in that situation and invite them out to eat, and get to know them? Find out about them, learn to love the Christ that is in them, before you pass judgment on them, and make or proclaim something that your mind is saying. When we proclaim something we need to know what that means to proclaim. It means to PRO or FOR; and the word to CLAIM some one or thing or object. Or in other words, before you go an claim FOR them something that you do not know to be true, and you speak something over them that is bad and detrimental to their well-being, get the facts! AND THEN ONLY TEST THE FACTS TO BE TRUE! If we are ever to get the truth in us, then we need to take hold of it and love everyone, without falsehood or facial lies.
Listen to the Text…
1Th 5:9-15 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
I cannot find in that Scripture where we are to SHUN someone away because they are not in your click? In fact, I see in the very last part of this to, EVER FOLLOW THAT WHICH IS GOOD, BOTH AMONG YOURSELVES, AND TO ALL MEN!
That pretty much sums it up for me!
So why judge your brother? You cannot! You can’t even judge ALL MEN! So why is it you feel your CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION AND DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM? Why do you believe that you are to sit in a CHAIR at the front of the room and declare that this one is WRONG? YOU CANNOT! God is our Judge, and His judgment is RIGHT! WE HAVE TO TAKE NOTICE THAT IT IS IN OUR REPUTATIONS ~ Those things that we THINK WE KNOW ABOUT SOMEONE, and conjugate our pre-evaluations, and disallow that one’s gifting to make an impact into our lives?
Do you honestly believe that when we all enter into that eternal place that they are not going to be allowed into our gardens? Do you truly believe that when we all become ONE that your thoughts, desires, prayers, beliefs, theories, and even eternal reality of understanding is going to be only to your own, and that we all will not get to be a part of you? Do you really think that what you believe is above everyone or anyone else? Who are you? I dare you to learn about Mephebosheth? He sat at the King's table EQUAL to that of the King, and yet he was crippled under it? However, at the King's table, one cannot see under it, we are eating on ONE LEVEL!
WHO TOLD YOU THAT LIE THAT YOU ARE ABOVE ANYBODY, & ESPECIALLY ANOTHER BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST? ARE WE NOT ALL THE KING'S KIDS?
I want to ask you, have you thought of someone this week that in a way that maybe you believed that they were under you somehow? Did you judge someone recently because you were not in agreement with them? God wants us to be ONE! That means, with all their mistakes made, making, and going to make, we are to LOVE and to work together for the benefit of ONE ANOTHER, and thus fulfill the Law of CHRIST! I implore you to allow this seed to fall into your earth and die, letting it bring forth a beautiful and fruitful harvest!
Amen
Unto Man or Unto God?
Romans 14:17-19 ~ Acts 2:22 ~ 1 Thess 5:9-15
Rom 14:17-19 “For the kingdom of God is…<1>righteousness, and <2> peace, and <3>joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Act 2:22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
1Th 5:9-15 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
When you go out to the movies, you are met with levels of or ratings of the movies at the box office that are showcasing within the theater’s facility. The ratings are quite simple. They are: G, PG, PG13, R, X, & NR (not-rated). There are many principles and rules that are established and set in order to allow the understanding of what it is to be expected while watching the show. If it is something the whole family can see, then it is G rated. If it is perverted, it is rated usually and appropriately with the correct rating. If it is violent then again it is appropriately rated. And if they cannot figure it out, then it is given a NOT YET RATING (NR) in ranking.
In the Kingdom of God, the ratings are very different. There are no in-between ratings. You are either a believer or a non-believer. You cannot ride the eternal picket fence. Often times, we look at someone and make a decision whether or not they are spiritual, or whether or not they have this gifting or that calling. Sometimes, we eye another brother or sister in Christ and make a judgment-call to speculate if they are who they say they are. Sad to say that we judge our brother or sister in Christ, and this is not to be so.
We size the King’s Kids up against the spiritual par of our own mindset of what we think they are or what we think they are not, and choose if what we see is real or not. We often times look at someone, consider their situations, and make up our minds and critic them by a measure that is best described as a flesh-marking or a ruler of the flesh. If they are not successful in business, or rich in wealth, or loaded with things we consider them unworthy. And, if that were not enough, if they are in ministry, and they pull up in a rugged old beat up run-down old Junker, then they are not spiritual, for they are not successful!
We speculate about someone by their outward appearance, and decide that since they are poor in one area, then they are spiritually poor in another! We theorize that if someone doesn’t look like we look, then they are wrong or just not good enough, because they do not look like me? Then we go one step further. We take it to the point of pain, both spiritually, physically, and what is worse – emotionally!
We often look at someone and become spiritually jealous & carnally envious. We look at them again, wondering how they can be doing that. For some in leadership, one pastor looks at another and becomes resentful to the point that they begin to throw the fiery darts at their spiritual Blood brother and size him up as not real, unsuccessful, and certainly non-spiritual! How dare we look at a child of God and say they are not part of our group, so they must be wrong! Who was it that let us become judge and jury of our own kinsmen? When did God turn loose the reins of Kingship, and turn it over to the saintly subjects of the King? Who was it that stopped the joystick of controlling our own lives, and began to think that we can control the lives of others?
I have the greatest respect for the French! The French people work as hard as everyone else does, they are successful just like us here in the US, and yet the difference is that they just know when to quit, and enjoy life. They have solace nights, and romantic relationships, and we judge them because they do not talk and act like we do. They do not walk like us. They sit around too much. Don’t they have jobs? What kind of job is that? Taking pictures of romantic nights, photographing those models for those magazines, is that a real job? Do they really get paid for doing that? You better believe it!
I was out this week driving through a school zone. The busses and cars were lined up in their trained positions, awaiting the birthing of this school house to bring forth its’ temporarily housed children that really belong somewhere else; the school is just a temporary purpose. The final outcome is the child growing up into a respectful and responsible adult who will in turn give back what was invested in them through training and teaching. However, while I was watching this activity, God took my eyes to look at the school guard, or crossing guard.
He was an old man with a reflective vest on. He stood there patiently waiting on the birthing of these children. As he stood there in anticipation, busses lined up, the loading of children upon their births; the cars in anticipation of the reception of their jewels, he watched with careful hope that as soon as the busses would move, he would stop the traffic to allow them to pass over to take their journey. He stood there knowing that what would soon take place would be done and completed by what he was set there to do!
We consider someone that may not be where we are, and then conclude that they are not doing it right, because they do it my way? I thought Elvis was dead?
This cross guard had a place! He had purpose – but purpose is temporary! What he left behind is eternal – destiny! He would be there to allow the traffic of the journey to take place. The journey NOT HIS was his destiny. He would stop traffic, and the journey of another would go on. He may not be around next year? His time may come to an end? Yet he played a SAFE part, an intricate part of what the journey’s course had to take? He had purpose!
We have purpose! Read the 3 verses in the Amplified Bible:
“[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men. So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual up-building (edification and development) of one another.” (Romans 14:17-19 AMP)
I CALL THIS THE “R P J” RATING IN THE KINGDOM!
R = Righteousness
P = Peace
J = Joy
Another rating that we spiritual folks like to and tend to give freely is one of discourse! It is what I call the “M E” Rating. IT IS ALL ABOUT ME! I do not like them, I got a CHECK in MY (ME) SPIRIT! IT is all about you! This rating is one that you do not get from God, yet you claim it is there? I got this check in my spirit? The thing you just said is that YOU got a CHECK in YOUR SPIRIT! Then to look all spiritual, you claim the HOLY GHOST gave you this check. I do not see anywhere God opened up a bank account!
You are a spirit! He is THE SPIRIT! Our spirits are made in the likeness of His Spirit! Therefore, when we get a CHECK, you better make sure where and what bank it was written on! If it is true in the natural it is true in the spiritual! If everyone is saying it has to be true! WRONG! We can all decide to go out here and do some great sinning together. We can all come together and build the tower of Babel? But if it is out of time, and we are out of our place, then God will come in and confuse our speech! NOT US! OUR SPEECH!
This is the “ME” RATING! It is all about ME!
He confused out tongue, and in that we can determine that it is God, for when CLOVEN TONGUES AS OF FIRE CAME DOWN, THEY SPAKE AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE! He messed up our SPEECH AGAIN! Only this time we speak mysteries…We speak as unto God! We can speak but this time it is IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME! WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME!!! IT WAS THE RIGHT PLACE!
It is no longer ME but HE!
In the book of Acts, here in the 22nd verse of the 2nd chapter, we find another rating. This is the GOD KIND OF RATING! THIS IS WHAT I CALL NATURALLY AS THE G RATING!
Act 2:22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
I can hear Him now…
“I AM GOD AND I HAVE APPROVED THIS MESSAGE!” What message? HIS! Whose message? JESUS OF NAZARETH! Peter standing up among the MEN OF ISRAEL demanding to be heard proclaimed that HIS MESSAGE (Jesus) had an approval rating that went far above and beyond anything MAN could give! Jesus was from NAZARETH, and that is significant! In the words of Peter, he was laughing at their spiritual intellect.
*It was on the road to Emmaus that the Stranger (Jesus) was responded to by the disciples amazed that this Stranger had not heard of Jesus of Nazareth.
*It was the man possessed by a Legion that asked what Jesus of Nazareth had to do with them.
*It was after going up into the desert that He came to Nazareth to pray in the synagogue. He stood up to read what I believe to be one of the most amazing fulfilling of Scripture AT THAT MOMENT OF FULFILLMENT ever! TODAY THIS HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING!
*It was blind Bartimaeus that was in the crowd that day, and when heard that JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS COMING – HE SAID SON OF DAVID! HAVE MERCY ON ME!
*It was when Jesus came riding into the city of DAVID that people cried out “HOSANNA, BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD”, and the city was moved and asked Who is this? The multitude answered in saying This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee
*It was Nathaniel that made the comment can anything good come out of NAZATRETH? It was when they arrested Him that they asked for “Jesus of Nazareth”
* It was Peter warming himself by the fire (“ME” RATING) that was asked by a stranger “it was you that was with Jesus of Nazareth? He denied it! But he still flamed his own fire!
*The prophets foretold of HIM BEING a NAZARENE!
*Those words were finally penned upon the top the cross! “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”
HE WAS A MAN APPROVED! He had a “G” RATING!
Finally: The last, and although I am sure there are many who could do much better than I in this kind of sermon, that we come to the final rating. It is what I call a “KNOW” rating!
We find in our last Scripture text today the final approval rating!
1Th 5:9-15 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
Again I call it a “KNOW” rating! How can I know them? I was asked one day do you really know them? Do you KNOW who they are?
I would like to introduce you to two words: Character & Reputation.
"Reputation is what people think about you;”
“Character is what people know you are all about."
I heard a great slap-stick drama played out in an old movie “Laural & Hardy”
The scene goes like this: Mr Hardy saw something he was confused about and he said, “I do not think I know what that is ither.”
Stanley said, “I know what it is Ollie.” His large counterpart said, “ I do not think… I know what it is, Stanley.” Stanley replied, “ I DON’T THINK… YOU KNOW EITHER OLLIE!”
That was too funny, but the jest of it is true! We don’t think what we know, and we know what we don’t think! We allow our minds to play a part in our decisions. We do not pray about it! We sit around and think of things and allow our minds to race away with what we do not know! We allow the news media to torment our minds, and play a HYPOTHETICAL ROLE in what they are REPORTING WHAT THEY THINK, OFTEN WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW! CRAZY THING IS< WE BELIEVE IT! AS CHILDREN OF GOD, HE TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN! DO YOU NOT BELIEVE HIM? OR DO YOU JUST BELIEVE THE MEDIA THAT TELLS YOU WHAT THEY THINK THEY KNOW!
In the Scripture above we often use this as a stone to stand on to stone another standing! When someone makes a comment or says something that we do not agree with, we immediately go to this Text and proclaim that WE NEED NOT LISTEN TO THEM FOR WE DO NOT KNOW THEM! WELL WHY NOT? Why not iniitiate the Love of God, and allow the Spirit of God to move in that situation and invite them out to eat, and get to know them? Find out about them, learn to love the Christ that is in them, before you pass judgment on them, and make or proclaim something that your mind is saying. When we proclaim something we need to know what that means to proclaim. It means to PRO or FOR; and the word to CLAIM some one or thing or object. Or in other words, before you go an claim FOR them something that you do not know to be true, and you speak something over them that is bad and detrimental to their well-being, get the facts! AND THEN ONLY TEST THE FACTS TO BE TRUE! If we are ever to get the truth in us, then we need to take hold of it and love everyone, without falsehood or facial lies.
Listen to the Text…
1Th 5:9-15 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
I cannot find in that Scripture where we are to SHUN someone away because they are not in your click? In fact, I see in the very last part of this to, EVER FOLLOW THAT WHICH IS GOOD, BOTH AMONG YOURSELVES, AND TO ALL MEN!
That pretty much sums it up for me!
So why judge your brother? You cannot! You can’t even judge ALL MEN! So why is it you feel your CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION AND DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM? Why do you believe that you are to sit in a CHAIR at the front of the room and declare that this one is WRONG? YOU CANNOT! God is our Judge, and His judgment is RIGHT! WE HAVE TO TAKE NOTICE THAT IT IS IN OUR REPUTATIONS ~ Those things that we THINK WE KNOW ABOUT SOMEONE, and conjugate our pre-evaluations, and disallow that one’s gifting to make an impact into our lives?
Do you honestly believe that when we all enter into that eternal place that they are not going to be allowed into our gardens? Do you truly believe that when we all become ONE that your thoughts, desires, prayers, beliefs, theories, and even eternal reality of understanding is going to be only to your own, and that we all will not get to be a part of you? Do you really think that what you believe is above everyone or anyone else? Who are you? I dare you to learn about Mephebosheth? He sat at the King's table EQUAL to that of the King, and yet he was crippled under it? However, at the King's table, one cannot see under it, we are eating on ONE LEVEL!
WHO TOLD YOU THAT LIE THAT YOU ARE ABOVE ANYBODY, & ESPECIALLY ANOTHER BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST? ARE WE NOT ALL THE KING'S KIDS?
I want to ask you, have you thought of someone this week that in a way that maybe you believed that they were under you somehow? Did you judge someone recently because you were not in agreement with them? God wants us to be ONE! That means, with all their mistakes made, making, and going to make, we are to LOVE and to work together for the benefit of ONE ANOTHER, and thus fulfill the Law of CHRIST! I implore you to allow this seed to fall into your earth and die, letting it bring forth a beautiful and fruitful harvest!
Amen
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Minister Charles M.Smith on -
that is a powerful and much needed word man of God
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Permalink Reply by John Roberts on -
you may, it is God's Word anyway, I am just a messenger!
Julie Harvey said:Amen! This is awesome i will copy and paste it into word if you don't mind so i can print it and read it again later, GBU
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