The LORD will work mightily in the man who is correctible and will set Himself against the proud! David. Psalm 51

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

— JUDGING the fruit of others? Yes! That’s how Jesus says we know ourselves and others – “by their fruit.” Pride refuses to be corrected and therefore conveniently pulls out and uses the “judge not” verse out of context … refusing to read just a bit further where Jesus says we will know others “by their fruit” which must mean He wants us judging the fruit of others (Matt. 7:15-20) … otherwise He would never have spoken these words. Rhetorically, Paul asked: “do not ye judge them that are within?” (1 Corinthians 5:12) Jesus says that we are to “Judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) Believers, when needed, and only if they are mature and have the sin out of their own lives (Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1-2), are to “judge righteous judgment” – that is, to discern the fruit and attempt to help other saints. Those who don’t accept the LORD’s correction will perish (Hebrews 12:5-12, etc.). In light of this, the disciple of Jesus must “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Jesus says “JUDGE righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) Matthew 7:2-5 says “Judge not” and yet is specifically speaking of HYPOCRITICAL judgment, not all judgment. Paul says “do not ye judge them that are within?” (1 Corinthians 5:12) Speaking God’s Word, what the JUDGE has stated, on record in His Word, the Bible, is speaking HIS judgment, not ours.

IF I AM AN AUTHENTIC FOLLOWER OF JESUS, I will pray this like David did when he cried out to the LORD …

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5

If you are truly a man or woman after God’s own heart, you will humbly ask Him to send others of His people to rebuke, correct, or admonish you when needed. What would a true disciple of Jesus ever be afraid of? Why would one not want the light of truth to shine on his darkness? –Because that person would love the darkness of his sin more than the Savior (John 3:19-21). This would prove his apostate condition. Hell awaits.

If the BIBLE reveals ANY mere human being to be unsaved, even if we think we are saved, WHY is that anything but a good thing? After all, isn’t that the mercy of God, showing us we need to turn to Him before it’s too late? – “While He may be found”? (Isaiah 55:6-7)

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:16-20

Please allow me to say right here that God be praised for those along the way who have preached God’s pure Word which revealed my error and sin. This then brought God’s conviction, repentance, and refreshing (Acts 3:19). God is good.

Was Paul the apostle of Christ just being unnecessarily harsh, rude, or sadistic when he warned the Corinthians who had not yet repented to repent before it was too late? Here it is:

“And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” 2 Corinthians 12:21

Note that it was only those who had not repented who were in trouble, not those who had repented. Read the verse again beloved.

The way the kingdom of God works… There are people who have not yet repented of condemning others for sins God has already forgiven them of (because they repented). So, the self-righteous who condemn them, are still in sin, separated from God. When and if they do repent, they will openly apologize to those they have wrongly condemned. That alone will be the proof of their repentance. Until they do such, it’s clear that they have not repented before God. God will severely judge and eternally condemn any person who sows discord among the brethren, digging up past sins and using them against His children (Proverbs 6:16-19; 16:27-28). Hell awaits all unrepentant railers (1 Corinthians 5:10-12).

The person who is not teachable clearly reveals his backslidden, hell bound condition. Like Saul and Judas, he has hardened his heart against the LORD (Hebrews 3:12-15).

Heavenly Father, I come afresh to You this moment, in the name of Jesus. LORD I ask You to create in me a clean heart, to take away the stony, hardened places, and to grant a heart of flesh dear Jesus. I love You my LORD and ask You to cause me to be Your authentic, humble, crucified disciple. Thank You Father, in Jesus’ name, amen.  

Fresh Start with God | Having a Heart after the LORD 

Let’s grow in His grace together. Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God  | Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ

Godly Integrity [podcast]

    INTEGRITY in·teg·ri·ty inˈteɡrədē/Submit noun 1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. “he is known to be a man of integrity” synonyms: honesty, probity, rectitude, honor, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness, scrupulousness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness “I never doubted his integrity” the state of being whole and undivided. “upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty” synonyms: unity, unification, coherence, cohesion, togetherness, solidarity “the integrity of the federation” Being circumspect, having a heart and life of godly integrity, should be the prayer and goal of every person who names the name of […]

Having a Heart after the LORD

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 IF we don’t have a heart after God today, all we have is dead religion, A MERE FORM OF GODLINESS (Acts 13:22; 2 Timothy 3:5). Having a heart after God, a heart, a life that relentlessly seeks the LORD is a choice, today. We are either choosing to be full of self […]