Shalom Dear Sisters in Messiah Yeshua!

Hopefully we have all been taking the last lesson to heart and “learning to discern” our thoughts and intents of the heart. Remember, using the Word of G-D helps us to do this as it is our measuring stick for life. (Hebrews 4:12).

In part 1, we discussed our own hearts. That is because it is a very biblical approach to dealing with sin in the body of Messiah. One must deal with their own self before pointing any fingers at someone else. Never the less, even after we deal with our own lives, we must remember to deal with sisters and brothers in HUMILITY. None of us are immune to sin, and we must always remember that we are NO BETTER than any one else.

Remember we are to give honor to one another in the family of G-D. We should not think highly of ourselves, but rather of our brothers and sisters. 

Ephesians 4:32
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” 

If we walk in a manner of love and gentleness, and remember from where we once came, and remember things the L-rd has dealt mercifully with us, we should be able to reprove and correct one another with the same mercy that was shown to us. Did I say reprove and correct? Yes, I did. Why? Because it is very biblical to do so. We are to have a high standard as believers for how we behave. We should not be tolerant of sin, as the church has gotten into practice of doing, in the name of “love”. There has to be some way we can, as a body, speak to one another in love and accept the person but not the sin. If we grow so tolerant of behavior that is less than honoring to G-D, than Who are we representatives of? What is it we are trying to prove? It is good that we let folks know that G-D is patient, and longsuffering and accepts us as we are. But it’s also the very message of Christ to “make disciples of all men.” He doesn’t say, “get saved and stay the way you are.” No. He said, “deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me.” 

So often we think that as long as we are not fornicating, stealing, or committing other “obvious” sins that we have denied our flesh. That, girl friends, was only the beginning. Denying ourselves runs deep. The closer we are to the L-rd, the deeper it goes. I don’t know about you all, but I want to go deep with the L-rd. I want to know Him so well, and love Him that I only reflect His face when people see me. I don’t want folks to see “Jennifer” I want them to see “Jesus in Jennifer”.  I can’t reflect His face if I’m not willing to let Him dwell in me and RULE over me. That means a lot of self denial.

Denial to self is not an easy thing, but surely, it has it’s rewards. When we walk onto that “higher plane” of intensity in our walk with the L-rd, the rewards of that denial are incomparable! In fact, I can’t really describe it with words. His presence is just not able to be compared with anything words can not do it justice.

Remember we talked about sin being as a cancer and spreading? Today, we are going to finish up this study of helping our church friends to also recognize if they despise G-D too. However, this is not a license to go around being the “spirit police”. There are some things that are left better off unsaid and just pray for someone. This teaching is going to deal specifically with outward displays of bad behavior or habits of which the individual may or may not be aware of that they are doing. Let’s look at Matthew 7:
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

Judgment we should not do. What exactly is judgment anyway? Because I hear all the time “do not judge”. So, let’s take a look at it. Here’s what Miriam Webster says about the word Judge:

1 : to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises
2 : to sit in judgment on : TRY
3 : to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation
4 : GOVERN, RULE -- used of a Hebrew tribal leader
5 : to form an estimate or evaluation of; especially : to form a negative opinion about <shouldn't judge him because of his accent>
6 : to hold as an opinion : GUESS, THINK <I judge she knew what she was doing> intransitive senses

We see here that judgment means to form an opinion of, or determine motives, and those opinions are especially in the form of a negative opinion. However, we are so often misunderstood when we are, as a body, behaving as we are commanded to. The Word of G-d does tell us to admonish one another. This is what Miriam Webster says about admonish:

1 a : to indicate duties or obligations to b : to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner
2 : to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement to

Notice the word encouragement.  Is it possible that when we admonish, or correct one another it can be a form of encouragement?  If done with the right heart and attitude, with no selfish, prideful motives, it can be used as in fact, “spurring one another on” helping one another to “finish the race that is before us”

Let’s see what the bible says about admonish:

Romans 15:14
Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:12
And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

2Thessalonians 3:15
Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 

Titus 2:4
that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children

So we see that we are called as a body to admonish one another. Unfortunately, in today’s church any type of godly admonishment is seen as judgment. No one wants to be accused of being a judge, just look back at Matt 7:2. Who wants judgment to come back at them? So, we as a body have shrunk away from our godly duties of helping one another stay in check for fear of being labeled “critical” and the state of our churches today shows it. I believe that folks who are not willing to hear correction will quickly state the person doing the admonishing is judging. It’s a defense tactic. It’s a way for our flesh to scream, “no, don’t touch me, I’m fine just the way I am, how dare you judge me?”

Let’s address the manner in which we should approach as well as how to receive correction.  Dealing with the latter first, because of Matt 7. Since we are supposed to remove our own planks, before removing a speck, we see that we are to understand that indeed we may have big problems compared to those around us who may not be struggling with much. It’s the bible’s example of humility. This passage is teaching us to be humble, and not to exalt ourselves higher. We all need to be in reverence to one another as well as to the L-rd. Let us pray daily, “L-rd, teach me to be teachable, help me to be approachable, and, if there need to be any correction in me, help me to receive that in Jesus’ name.”  Remember, no discipline is pleasant, but He promises to yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those of us who are willing to be trained by it. (Hebrews 12). Do you want to be trained? Are you willing to receive correction? If you have resisted in the past, repent.

There will be times, inevitably, that we, or someone approaching us, will be in error. There may be a correction that comes your way that is totally unnecessary. In such a case, it is always good to still search your heart, be sure you are right before the L-rd, thank the person for bringing it to your attention, and move onward. Forgive that person. (We will talk about forgiveness at a future time).

 When instituting a correction, if you are the person correcting and you are in error, ask for forgiveness. Better yet, seek the L-rd before doing any correcting.
This is the manner in which we should go:
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

I’m not going to weigh down this teaching with a bunch of examples, but I want to name just a few. 

*Gossip: if you hear gossip, see gossip, you must flee. Pray about approaching the person. If you listen to gossip you are just as guilty.
 

*ungodly dress: This is a huge issue in the church. Elisabeth Elliot said on a radio program once, “ladies, don’t say you love your brother and then dress with skirts above the knees to church.” (I think I paraphrased that-but this was the point) If you love your brothers, cover up your body. Resist the temptation to flaunt your looks. Our modesty is a demonstration of purity in heart. Men struggle with visuals. This is a fact of life. Not because they are animals, it is the way G-D designed men. I struggled with a girl once who was on a worship team at a fellowship we attended. She would get up there Sunday after Sunday and wear clothing that was revealing or she was covered but her clothing was tight. I was really uptight inside and it prevented me from worshipping the 
L-rd. So, many would say the problem is with me, right? Well, wrong, because I’m a woman. I’m not designed the way men are. I was thinking of all my married brothers in the church. It’s not fair to assume that they can be so pure that they’re not going to struggle. If church is a place that is supposed to be a haven from the world, then let’s make sure it is. Our husbands/pastors do not need distractions from the anointing of G-D on their lives. Wives: do you want your husbands struggling to not look at a pretty, young girl? It’s Christian pornography at best. When a woman is standing up there (or even attending fellowship for a while and should know better) and she has tight jeans on, or skirts way above the knee or tight sweaters on, there’s not much left to reveal. Men don’t need to see women naked, they just need to see their shape. Ladies, we must, must, must strive to not just cover our bodies, but loosely cover them. Train your daughters, train yourselves, and teach the other ladies in the church. Think of your teenage sons. They struggle with hormones. They do not need distractions in a place of worship.

*Youth.  Another issue I think we as a body have grown tolerant of is the behavior of our youth. How many times I’ve pulled into a church parking lot and found kids “making out” with each other and behaving like hormone ruled kids. I’m not going to go into youth group issues, I don’t even feel qualified since I’ve not reached quite that stage of parenting yet. (I’m on the verge of it though, pray for me!!). However, I do not think kissing is appropriate at all, and definitely not at church. I’ve made a comment in passing before and I have had all kinds of negative responses come back at me telling me I’m too critical and judging. 
Ladies, I can tell you that I’m far from judging or being harsh. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I can love those kids, or the lady that gossips or the girl who can’t put clothes on and even more so because I was once a partaker of all of the above. In some time of my life the L-rd has dealt with me on each of those issues.

 In these particular subjects, I can say “my plank has been removed” now, therefore I can help you with your speck. See, it doesn’t say we’re not to remove that speck, it just says to deal with ourselves first.

Above all, we are to love one another. We must teach each other, however, right from wrong. Mom's love their own children, right? Yet, parents correct their children, hopefully. Just because someone is a truth speaker and shows correction does not mean they are not walking in love. In fact, it can mean just the opposite. Jesus was a fine example of "tough love". Love is patient and kind, but it does not rejoice in evil.

We must show each other the godly road and encourage one another to get on that road and stay on it. We must resist temptation to become as the world and work heavily on preventing the world from coming into our churches. 
Remember, disobedience is despising G-D. No one who knows Him wants to do that. When we realize that Jesus is not just my friend, but He IS the Son of G-D, His Holy character comes into view. It is a Holy G-D we serve, and we must reverence Him in all that we do. In our speech, our dress, our mannerisms, our daily lives, and that includes church. It is time our churches go back to houses of worship rather than just a social gathering house. It is time that the L-rd rule the services and we not have it “our way” Let us repent for all that we have made mistakes on. Let us get serious about our walks with the L-rd. He is coming, and He’s coming soon. Look at the events of the world, Arafat’s death, hand scanning to get through airports, microchips……..etc. When He comes, will He say, “enter good and faithful servant,” or will He say, “depart from Me, I never knew you”

We must be strong girls. The times are coming, and I’m concerned the church is going to have to be severely persecuted in order to wake up to the call of holiness. Let’s get on that call in our own lives. Let’s remember the author and finisher of our faith. Let’s be on our knees as individuals and churches and seek His face and forgiveness. Let’s remember that we represent the King of all Kings, and someday, we will be basking in His glory!
Hallelujah to G-D most high.

“Father, in Jesus name we give You praise. We ask You heal us, individually and collectively as Your bride, as Your body. Forgive us for where we have not taken You seriously at Your word. Help us to love one another, admonish one another and to be teachable. Help us to desire You and not the things of the world. Forgive us for our idols we have extolled in our hearts and may You be on the throne of our hearts once again and rule our lives. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.”