["Pomp and Circumstance"]
You
I have a song
You
Should be awake now, let's sing it out on the last
See
You
Amen all right well we want to welcome you to Verity Baptist Church this morning
We're glad you are here today, and we're glad that you survived the storm
I don't know how bad it was at your place, but last night. We didn't have power for like seven hours. I think and
We had a big old limb that fell on our arm
Our offense didn't hurt the fence, but I was pretty pretty bad, so we're glad
You're here, and let's begin the service with the word of prayer. Let's fire heads together. Heavenly Father Lord
We do thank you for the safety. You've given us through the night Lord
And we thank you for everybody that's here and Lord we pray that you would bless the service today
We pray that you would bless the time that we have set aside for singing for preaching and of course for fellowship
Lord we love you in Jesus name we pray Amen
Go to song 264
264 once more
264 on the first
Oh
Good on the second
Oh
Amen all right well
Let's take our bulletins this morning
And we'll look at some announcements if you did not receive a bulletin on your way in just raise your hand and one of our
ushers can get one for you if you need a bulletin just put your hand up and we will get one for you the verse this
week Proverbs
21-3 to do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice
And that's a good
Verse there we like that if you open up your bulletin you'll see our service time Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m.
And we are glad that you're with us of course on Sunday morning on the Lord's day for church
We're back into our regular schedule
We're past the holiday schedule
So we invite you to be back tonight at 6 p.m.
For the evening service and the evening service is different than the morning service different songs that are sung different sermon
That's preached just one more opportunity to be in God's house with God's people
Under the preaching of the Word of God and then of course we have our Wednesday evening Bible study at 7 p.m.
If you look at our soul winning times our main sewing times on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m.
And then we have additional sewing times on Thursdays and Fridays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
So if you'd like to go out soul winning this afternoon
There'll be a time and an opportunity for you to be able to
Do that if you're a first-time guest if it's your first time here at Verity Baptist Church. We're glad you're with us
We have a gift
We'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building this morning as you go through our main foyer
Or if you go out our secondary foyer, you'll see a little table set up and on that table
You'll see these little gift bags. Please grab one on your way out as a gift from us to you for being our guests this morning
There are several resources in this bag that we'd like you to have
But the one I like to highlight is this documentary called being Baptist it's a documentary that our church made
It's very well made very interesting
We tell people that it's entertaining. It's enjoyable. It's educational and we think you'll like it want to give this to you as a gift
So, please make sure you don't leave here this morning without grabbing one of those gift bags on your way out
And if you are a guest we'd ask that you please take a moment and fill out the communication card
Which is inserted in your bulletin
If you need a pen just raise your hand and one of our ushers can bring you by a Verity Baptist Church pen and you're
Welcome to keep the pen as a gift from us as well. We're not gonna do anything odd with your info
We would just like to have a record of your attendance
We actually would like to send you a little gift, but we need your information to do that
So, please take a moment to fill the card out when we're done with the announcements
We're gonna sing a song when we're done singing
We're gonna receive the offering and as the often plate goes by you can drop that card in the offering plate or you can hand
It to me after the service. I'll be standing at the main door greeting people on the way out
If you look at the announcements there, of course, we are a family integrated church
What that means is that children and infants are always welcome in the church service
We do not separate children from their parents for any reason
But we do have mother-baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience
All of the rooms have comfortable seating. They have monitors set up so you can watch the service and listen to it
So if you have a child that's been
Distracting during the service or if you need some privacy
We would encourage you to use the mother-baby rooms in the daddy room
If you're not sure where those are at
You can look at the back of the bulletin and you'll see a layout of our church building
It'll show you where the mother-baby rooms are with the daddy room
It'll show you where the restrooms are. If you need to be baptized, please let us know
We'd love to baptize you. The baptistry is filled, the water is warm, and we've got everything you need
Shorts and shirts and robes and hairdryers and whatever you need. We've got it and we haven't of course
We just started our brand new year. So we'll see who the first baptism of the year is
But if you'd like to be baptized, we'd love to take care of that
If you'd like to speak to somebody about baptism on your communication card
You can actually check off on the back that you'd like information about baptism and we'll follow up with you
or if you've already spoken to somebody then all you need to do is at the end of the service after the preaching while we're
Singing the last song if you step out that door
One of our staff guys will meet you there and we'll get you situated for baptisms
If you look at the announcements and upcoming events, of course, it's the beginning of the year
So we are starting a brand new sermon series this entire week
So this morning we're starting a brand new series called judgment
and we'll be looking at and studying the subject from the Bible over the next several weeks and
Then on Sunday nights we are
Restarting our declaring doctrine series and if you're familiar if you remember our declaring doctrine series
It's kind of a series that we have been on and off in for I think
Two or three years and we'll do it for a little bit and then we'll take a break and we'll go back to it
and we are systematically
studying through all of the
Major doctrines of the Bible and we're taking them in sections and we're gonna restart tonight
So we encourage you to be here of course for that and then on Wednesday night
We're starting a brand new Bible study a verse by verse study through the book of Amos
And we encourage you to join us for the book of Amos. This is an Old Testament minor prophet and
If you are not familiar with the book of Amos
Then we encourage you to be with us on Wednesday nights as we take time to study through this book together
Nine chapters a day challenge. I hope you are with sticking with it. Don't give up don't quit and
Even if you've gotten behind you can you can make up for it
And look in the next few days
You're gonna get through the book of Acts and you're gonna get into the book of Romans and even really kind of past Romans
once you get into those church epistles, the chapters get a lot smaller and
Reading nine chapters takes a less time. So that's that's a benefit for you if you're on track
But if you're behind maybe you've already used a couple of grace periods and you're still behind you can plan to catch up
Towards the end of the New Testament because you can read 12 chapters 15 chapters. The chapters are a lot shorter
So don't give up. You'll be glad that you read the New Testament
Just make sure you stick with it teen activities coming up on Friday, January 27th at 6 p.m
All the teens and parents are invited for an evening of laser tag and the address is there for you
And if you'd like to join you can sign up on your communication card
the laser tag cost is covered for all teens that are at the activity siblings not included and
one parent so
The other parent can come but they'll have to pay for themselves, but we want to make sure that all the kids are chaperoned
During laser tag, so we invite all of you to join for that
Choir practice begins today at 5 p.m
For I love my church Sunday. If you are part of the choir make sure you are here for that at 5 p.m.
Homeschool group. They've got a PE class scheduled this Thursday January 12 at 10 a.m
We'll kind of have to play that by ear with the weather but Lord willing they can have PE class this coming Thursday
Upcoming cleaning crew you can check for your name there. There's other things there for you to look at
Please don't forget to turn your cell phones off or place them on silent during the service
So they're not a distraction to anybody if you look at the back of the bulletin birthdays and anniversaries for the month of January
Tomorrow is brother Keith Rosenberg's
birthday on January 9th, and
so be praying for him and of course be praying for miss Katie as well and then also Casey Chandler has a
birthday on
January 14th, my parents are in Venezuela right now
They're gonna be there for a couple of months and I was talking with my mother this morning
And she reminded me that today is my grandmother's 84th birthday. I think they might be watching on live stream
So happy birthday to my grandmother
I don't not I didn't I don't know her as well as I'd like to I've lived here most of my life and she lived
In Venezuela most of her life, but the one the one
Really great memory that I have of my grandmother was when she was visiting here a few years ago
I was already a pastor and she was here at our church. Of course. She doesn't speak English. So I was preaching a sermon series on
things that attack
Salvation and I was talking about, you know defending eternal security and defending. Well the Sunday she happened to be here
I was preaching on James 2 and I was explaining about
James 2 how people will say that faithful that works is dead and what that really means and how it's not teaching work salvation
Well, we were at lunch after church and I was explaining to her what I was preaching
But before I explained to her what I was preaching
I was telling her how you know how people say in James 2 that it you know
They try to use that to prove a work salvation
Well, she misunderstood and she thought I was preaching a work salvation
and you know
here's my elderly grandmother and with her her and by the way, my grandfather was a Baptist preacher and
And and and and you know, I'm her grandson
I'm a Baptist preacher and she looks at me and she says now listen you are wrong about that
James chapter 2 does not teach them. I'm like, no. No, I know I know grandma. I know you know and
But praise the Lord for that. That's a great memory to have praise report money matters
All those things are there for you. So happy birthday for watching if there's money matters all that's there for you
To take a look at we're gonna go ahead and sing the chorus of the week
Which is the insert in your bulletin and we'll sing I know who holds tomorrow
As we prepare to receive the offering this morning. I don't know about tomorrow. I just live from day to day singing out on the first
Oh
What Jesus said and today I'll walk beside
Many things about tomorrow
Oh
Amen good singing what the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time
And let's go ahead and bow our heads and have a word of prayer
Emily father Lord, we do. Thank you for allowing us to gather together today Lord
We pray that you'd bless the offering the gift and the giver and we ask that you'd meet with us as we take time to
Open up your word in Jesus name we pray. Amen
You
Please open ropes to first Kings chapter 3
First Kings chapter number 3 if you'd like about you put your hand up in a new Bible
first Kings chapter number 3
If you'd like about keep your hand up or she'll come by
First Kings chapter 3 we were in the entire chapter as our custom
First Kings 3 meaning verse number 1 and
Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David
Until he had made an end of building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall of Jerusalem round about
only the people sacrificed in high places because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord until those days and
Solomon loved the Lord walking the statutes of David his father only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there for that was the great high place a thousand burnt offerings
did Solomon offer upon that altar in
Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said ask what I shall give thee and
Solomon said thou showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy
according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and an uprightness of heart with thee and
Thou has kept for him this great kindness that thou has given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day
And now Oh Lord my God now it's made thy servant king instead of David my father
And I am but a little child
I know not how to go out or come in and thy servant is in the midst of thy people
Which thou has chosen a great people that cannot be numbered nor counted for a multitude
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people
That I may discern between good and bad
For who was able to judge this so great a people
And the speech please the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing and God said unto him
Because thou has asked this thing and it's not asked for thyself long life
The other has asked for riches for thyself nor has asked the life of thine enemies
But has asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment behold. I have done according to thy words
Lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart so that there was none liked before thee neither after thee shall any arise like unto
Thee and I've also given thee that which thou hast not asked both riches and honor
So there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days
And if I'll walk in my ways to keep my statutes and my commandments as thy father David did walk
then I will link in thy days and
Solomon awoke and behold it was a dream and he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the Covenant of the Lord and
Offered of burnt offerings and offered peace offerings and made a feast to all his servants
Then came there two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him and the one woman said oh my lord
I and this woman dwell in one house and I was delivered of a child with her in the house
And it came to pass the third day after that
I was delivered that this woman was delivered also and we were together
there was no stranger with us in the house say we too in the house and
This woman's child died in the night because she overlaid it and she rose at midnight and took my son from beside me
While I'm handmade slept and laid it in her bosom and laid her dead child in my bosom
When I rose in the morning to give my child suck behold it was dead
When I had considered it in the morning behold
It was not my son, which I did bear and the other woman said nay
But the living is my son and the dead is thy son and this said no
But the dead is thy son and the living is my son thus they spake before the king
Then said the king the one saith
This is my son that liveth and my son is the dead and the other saith nay
But thy son is the dead and my son is the living and the king said
Bring me a sword and they brought a sword before the king and the king said
Divided living child in two and gave half to the one and half to the other
Then spake the woman who's the living child was unto the king for her bowels yearned upon her son
And she said oh my lord give her the living child and in no wise slate
But the other said let it be neither mine nor thine but divided
Then the king answered and said give her the living child and in no wise slate
She is the mother thereof and all is heard of the judgment
Which the king had judged and they feared the king for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment
Let's pray Heavenly Father. Thank you for this morning. God. I thank you for our church for everyone that's here
I say, please give us all tender hearts at the message
Please be the pastor to strengthen them and from the spirit. We love you and just think pray. Amen
Amen
All right, well, we're there in first Kings chapter number three and we are starting a brand new sermon series this morning and
sermon series we are starting is entitled judgment and
Every new year here at Verde Baptist Church. I like to always start off the new year with a
sermon series
In the subjects or under the category what I would refer to as a spiritual growth sermon series
So sometimes I preach Bible studies. Sometimes I preach what may be called an attraction series. I usually do those after a big day
But at the beginning of the year
I like to do what I refer to as a spiritual growth sermon series and right in January and February and March
I like to spend time studying things that are gonna help us grow as
Christians and this
January the Lord is later on my heart to preach on the subject of judgment and
You may find that odd or you might think it's odd to preach an entire sermon series on judgment
and I want to start here in first Kings chapter 3 because the importance and value of judgment is really highlighted in this story of
Solomon and just by way of introduction
I'd like you to notice the story if you're not familiar with it
Of course, if you are familiar with it, you know that Solomon was given an opportunity by God
He was pretty much asked by God
To give him a request. I mean really God just pretty much said to Solomon
I'll give you one wish whatever you ask for you can have it notice there in first Kings chapter 3 in verse 5
The Bible says in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said ask what I shall
Give thee this is a very unique situation where God comes to Solomon
It says just ask it and I'll give it to you whatever you want
Whatever wish you want whatever request you can have it
And of course we see here in verses 6 7 & 8 that Solomon acknowledges something about himself in verse 6
The Bible says and Solomon said thou has showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy
according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and in a brightness of heart with thee now is kept for him this
Great kindness that thou has given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day
And of course if you're familiar with the context here
David has died and Solomon is now the new king of the nation of Israel notice verse 7
Notice what Solomon says and now Oh Lord my God thou has made thy servant King instead of David my father and
Notice what he says. He says I am but a little child
He says I know not how to go out or come in and I want you to notice that when God comes to Solomon and asks
him
Make one request ask what I shall give thee Solomon begins by acknowledging his inexperience
He's a new king
He's a young king and he acknowledges the fact that he does not have the experience that he needs to be able to do this
Job, he says I am but a little child
I know not how to go out or come in verse 8 and thy servant is in the midst of
Thy people I want you to notice not only does Solomon acknowledge his inexperience
But he also acknowledges the magnitude of the job that has been given to him
He says there in verse 8 and thy servant is in the midst of thy people
Which thou has chosen a great people that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude
So I want you to notice here Solomon's heart
and of course
we know that Solomon's a sinner like anybody else and he sinned and there was things in his life that he
I'm sure regrets and is ashamed of but here's what we do know about Solomon is that at this point?
He's right with God and he was a good leader for the nation of Israel
I want you to notice for those of you that are leaders
We should learn from Solomon that he'd not come into a brand new position thinking I've got all the answers
In fact, he came into a brand new position thinking. I don't have the experience that I need I am but a little child
I know not how to go out or come in and he realized the magnitude of the job that was given to him
He says thy people which thou has chosen a great people that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude and because of this
Solomon is of course famously known for if you were to just ask the average person
What is Solomon in the Bible known for they would probably tell you this story. Solomon is
famously known for
Making a request for wisdom now
We know that Solomon ended up being the wisest man who ever walked on earth other than the Lord Jesus Christ
We've got the Proverbs of Solomon in the Song of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes these are poetic books and they're known as wisdom literature
We know that Solomon was a very wise man and Solomon is known for
Asking in fact, he became famous for asking and making a request for wisdom
The interesting thing is though. I do agree that he asked for wisdom. I want you to understand that he literally
Actually did not ask for wisdom
Now we say that he asked for wisdom and I don't have a problem with that
He what he was asking for definitely required wisdom, but that's not actually the request that Solomon made
I always think it's interesting that the one thing he's known for asking for wisdom is actually not the thing he asked for me
And again, I'm not making a big deal about it
It definitely was wise and wisdom was a part of it
But I want you to notice specifically what it is that Solomon requested first Kings chapter 3 verse 9. Here's his request
He says give therefore this is Solomon speaking to God making his request
he gets one wish from God and here's what he says give therefore thy servant notice these words and
understanding heart to judge thy people
When Solomon asked and made a request what he asked for was the ability to judge
the ability to
Understand the ability to judge this great people because he says I am but a little child
He says I don't know how to do this job and he says this is a great people
I can't do this and he says give therefore thy servant and
Understanding the heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad
Notice what he says at the end of verse 9 for who is able to judge this
This thy so great a people
now notice God's response verse 10 and
The speech pleased the Lord
want you to notice that Solomon asked for the ability to
understand the ability to
discern the ability to judge and in the story
we see the value and the importance of judgment and I want to begin here because I hope that you will see the value and
The importance of judgment and learning to judge and that you'll make a commitment to come over the next several weeks to church and learn
about judgment because it pleased the Lord when Solomon asked for the ability to
Understand to judge the people to be able to judge this so great a people notice verse 10 and the speech pleased the Lord
That's all I'm gonna ask this thing and God said unto him notice the importance and value of judgment
Because thou has asked this thing and has not asked thyself for long life. Isn't this what you and I would ask for?
if we got one wish if
You rubbed a lamp and a genie came out and said you get one wish
These are the type of things that we would ask for long life
He says because thou has not asked thyself long life
Neither has asked riches for thyself nor has asked the life of thine enemies, but has asked for thyself
Understanding to discern judgment. Here's what's interesting
Solomon God says you didn't ask for a long life. You didn't ask for riches
You didn't ask for the life of thine enemies
You asked for the ability to discern to make good decisions to understand and to judge
Yes
He asked for wisdom and God says here's the interesting thing because you ask for judgment and the ability to judge
The wisdom and discernment to make good decisions with that request will come a long life with that request will come
Riches with that request will come victory in the life of thine enemies
He says but has asked thyself understanding to discern judgment. Look at verse 12 behold
I have done according to thy word slow. I have given thee a notice what God says wise
He didn't ask for wisdom
He asked for understanding and the ability to judge but God says you know what you need for that wisdom
So God says I have given thee a wise and an
Understanding heart so that there was none like thee before thee neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee and I have also
Given thee that which thou has not asked both riches and honor so that there shall not be any
among the kings like unto thee all thy days I
Want you to notice the value of judgment the importance of judgment the word judgment
Maybe you haven't thought much about it
But the word judgment is defined as the ability to judge to make a decision to form an opinion objectively
authoritatively and wisely
We're gonna spend the next several weeks here on Sunday morning studying this subject of judgment
You might be surprised how much the Bible speaks about the subject of judgment
and we're gonna look at this and we're gonna study this and
over the years I
Have been frustrated from time to time
With this idea of judgment and honestly people's inability to judge
Over the years, of course our church and churches like ours have had enemies
Who have made?
judgment calls
Against us they've made judgments against us
unbiblical judgments and I I often find myself frustrated like
Really? That's the argument you're making
There are enemies trying to use the Bible against us and it's like that's the Bible don't say that
They'll make some argument and you know, sometimes we're like, what do you say to this argument? And I think myself like my response is so
So what?
The Bible doesn't say that but I don't say that's wrong. The Bible don't say that's right
They'll make these judgment calls and they're unbiblical judgment calls and it can be a little
Frustrated frustrating when your enemies are attacking you using the Bible
But not realizing that the judgments that they're making are unbiblical now, that's frustrating
But you know, it's even more frustrated and frustrating is when our friends
When our own church members and please listen to me god bless you and I'm not I'm not speaking about anybody specifically right now
And I appreciate anybody who will defend me or defend our church or defend any church like ours
But you know, sometimes I find myself frustrated because people will come to our defense in order to
Defend us against maybe an unjust attack
But then the argument that they themselves use to defend us is an unjust
argument and I think to myself, thank you very much, but that's not biblical I
Appreciate your heart your hearts in the right place and thank you, but that's not what the Bible says
I've seen both friend and foe make unbiblical judgment calls
both against and in defense of us
I've seen people destroy
relationships as a result of bad judgment calls and probably the most frustrating to be honest with you is this and
I shared this with my wife and I was talking about this and I use these words and she said those are the right words
to use
What seems to be to me in ministry as a pastor and for my wife as a pastor's wife
Maybe the most frustrating thing is that we've seen so many and here's the words I want to use
Self-inflicted wounds
Because of a lack of knowledge a lack of judgment a lack of inability to understand what the Bible says and what we're supposed to
Do in that situation or this situation and here's what happens and here's my job
And I'm not mad at you if this is you but people will make these choices and they'll take all these
Self-inflicted wounds. I mean nothing happened to them. They did it to themselves
Then they show up at my office just bleeding all over saying okay. Now you deal with it
Now you fix it
Now you help me with my children
Now you help me with this big issue and problem I have and I and what I think and I'm happy to do it
I mean, this is a spiritual hospital. We're happy to help but I think to myself. I wish you would have asked me three months ago
Six months ago a
year ago
When it was still a small problem and we could have kept it enclosed and we could have helped you deal with it
In a more discreet way now, you're just kind of just bleeding everywhere and destroying everything and fighting with everyone
And it's a little more difficult and what I've learned is that
No judgment you will notice as we study it in the Bible
It's probably the most common-sense thing in the Bible
common sense is not very common and
What seems to just be very simple to understand seems to be the hardest things for people to grasp
When they're making decisions
so I want to try to help you understand this idea of judgment and
This morning what I'm going to do and this is what I often do when I begin a series is I'm just gonna give you
A biblical overview on the subject of judgment. I'm telling the sermon a theology of judgment
I want to just give you some thoughts just to help us over the next several weeks
We're gonna be talking about judgment and learning about judgment
But I want you to understand what judgment is biblically and I'd like to do this as quickly as possible
I'd like to give you three thoughts regarding judgment
And maybe you can write these down on the back of your course the week
There's a place for you to maybe take some notes. Here's point number one
Let's talk about the meaning of judgment the meaning of judgment. What exactly is judgment and
What when we're talking about judgment, what is judgment now, let me give you a word I'm gonna give you two words
That are really synonymous with the word judgment and we can use a lot more words than the two. I'm gonna give you
But I think these two pretty much cover the subject pretty well
The word that you and I because the word judgment in our culture is a bad word, right?
People will often attack us and say you're judgmental
stop judging
But the word judgment here's here's a word that maybe doesn't carry that same emotion
But it's synonymous with the word judgment and it'll help you understand judgment when we're talking about the meaning of judgment or what?
Judgment is here's the first word to help you understand it
justice
Judgment is justice
You say what is justice?
Justice is having the ability to figure out who is right and who is wrong
Justice is the ability to figure out from the Word of God who's right
Who's doing the right thing who's making the right choice and who's wrong?
Who's doing the wrong thing who's making the wrong choice?
I want you to notice here in our story with Solomon Solomon asked famously for the ability to discern to
understand to judge this great people and God said I'm gonna give you wisdom in an understanding heart and then the Bible tells if you
Skip down to verse 16. We see that he gets his first ability. And again, this is a famous story
Regarding a Solomon his first ability to show off his ability to judge to give
Judgment to make justice he had to figure out who is right and who is wrong
Notice what's brought to Solomon if they she said she said situation
In 1st Kings chapter 3 and verse 16 the Bible says then came there two women
You're always in trouble when you got two women coming to you. Let me just say
Then there came two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him and one woman said oh my lord
I and this woman dwell in one house dwell in one house
And I was delivered of a child with her in the house and it came to pass the third day after that
I was delivered that this woman was delivered also and we were together and there was no stranger with us in the house safe to
In the house, so here the story is you've got two harlots and living in one house one has a child and then a little while
Later another one has a child. They both have babies. They both have newborn babies verse 19 and this woman's child died
This is a harlot speaking to the king
She's came for judgment or justice and this woman's child died in the night because she overlaid it and she arose at midnight
and took my son from beside me while thine handmaid slept and laid it in her bosom and later dead child in my bosom and
When I arose in the morning to give my child suck behold it was dead
But when I had considered it in the morning behold
It was not my son
which I did bear and the other woman said nay, but the living is my son and the dead is thy son and
They said no and and excuse me and this said no
But the dead is thy son and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king
So here's the story two women two harlots. They both had babies both had newborns
Living in the same house a bait one baby dies in the night
One woman wakes up and says this isn't my baby. This dead baby is not my baby
You you your baby died and while I was sleeping you took my baby that was alive and you gave me your baby
That was that does not my baby
the other woman says no the opposite is true the dead baby is yours and the living baby is mine and you've got the
Situation presented to Solomon and he is to make judgment
He is to figure out who is right and who is wrong and it's really a she said she said situation
There's really no way for Solomon to know the difference
and we see that
Solomon has the discernment to figure out who is right and who is wrong
And let me just say this and I'll spend an entire sermon on this at some point
Let me just highlight this as we're here I
Want you to notice that when you have a situation where you have two people saying this is what happened and this is what happened
First of all realize that in both of those situations. Usually neither one is telling the complete truth
Let me just help you understand something. I know I'm gonna hurt everybody's feelings right now, and you're gonna think I'm a respect or persons
You know, you're you know
You're not a respect or persons when everybody's accusing you of being a respect or persons because you don't take anybody's side
Let me just help you out with something. Usually both sides are wrong
and
Usually both sides are right
to an extent
What I've learned over the last 12 years of ministry and I would tell you this that inch in ministry
I didn't know this before I became a pastor
But I'm very aware of it now my wife and I are aware in ministry
Probably the number one thing we do around here is judge
Is give make judgment calls
What are you this situation? What do you do about it? This happened? What's gonna happen here? These people are fighting
How do you deal with that? This is probably the number one thing we do around here, honestly and
And often you make decisions and nobody's happy. I
Figured out a long time ago. You can't make anybody happy or everybody happy. So I just don't try to make anybody happy
I'm the happiest when everyone's pissed off
When everybody walks out of my office mad, here's what I think myself justice has been served
Then said the king
the one saith
This is my son that liveth and thy son is dead and the other saith nay
But thy son is dead and my son is living verse 24 and the king said bring me a sword
they brought a sword before the king and the king said divide the living child in two and
Give half to the one and half to the other. I want you to notice. Here's a principle adjustment of judgment
And again, I'm not even necessarily preaching on this right now
I'll preach on this another time
But let me tell you something you do not decide who's right or wrong based solely on what they say
That is dumb
That only works in a world where people don't lie
Notice that Solomon didn't say well
I think you're being more honest and I think you're not being honest and your tears seem more sincere than her tears
Don't seem as is here. He didn't base off what they said
he said bring me a sword and
They brought a sword before the king and the king said divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half
To the other he said here's what we're do bring me a sword where you can't beat you you guys are fighting
You're saying you're it's your baby. It's your baby. Not your baby. Here's what we'll do
Let's cut the baby in half
You can have half you can have half and then we'll be done with it then spake the woman
Who's the living child was unto the king for her bowels yearn upon her son?
And she said oh my lord give her the living child and a no I slay it
See Solomon wasn't gonna actually kill this baby, but here's what he understood with threat making this thread
He understood that the real mother the one who actually loved this child would not allow him to be put to death
and
The real mother actually says forget it forget. We even had this conversation. Just give her the child let her have the child
She can raise him
But don't slay him and no I slay it notice the response from the other woman
But the other said let it be neither mine nor thine but divide it
That callous response not what she said
But her response to his judgment is what told Solomon who was actually the mother
Verse 27
Then the king answered and said give her referring to the woman who said no don't slay this child
Give her the living child and a no I slay she is the mother thereof
notice verse 28 and all
Israel heard of
The wisdom is that what it says?
Now they did hear about the wisdom
But they heard about the judgment
Which the king had judged notice how God is highlighting this and all Israel heard of the judgment
Which the king had judged and they feared the king for they saw the wisdom of God was in him notice
to-do
judgment
You say what is the meaning of judgment? What are we referring to when we refer to judgment? We are referring to justice
Being able to figure out who is right and who is wrong?
Oftentimes
It's interesting to me that oftentimes and look and if this is if you've done this or this is you I'm not pick
I'm not picking on anybody right now. I hope you understand this
I'm speaking very much generally because this has happened multiple times over 12 years of ministry
Where a decision is made and people will say
I don't think I agree with that
It's always funny to me how people are always very confident to talk about how they disagree with me not in my presence
It always comes from somewhere else someone else
And then I will go and do what a judgment person supposed to do it. Maybe go approach that person say
I heard you had a question about
My decision here, but here's what's interesting sometimes when you just take the time to explain to people
Well, here's why I made that choice because the Bible says this and Bible says this and Bible says that and based off these principles
Here's the gym and then people go. Oh, wow, that makes sense
And I think to myself yeah, that's why I'm the judge
Because
justice is
To figure out who is right and who is wrong and that is not based off your relationship with that person
That is not based on how much you like that person
Here's my judgment is terrible in most people's eyes because most people's make judgment calls based on how much they like someone that's not justice
That's corruption
Justice is saying here's what the Bible says thus saith the Lord God and I may love you or I may dislike you
It doesn't matter because what the Bible says is what the Bible says and that's all that matters
Justice is the ability to say this person is right and this person is wrong
And if I like them praise God and if I don't doesn't matter what's right is right period end of story
Doesn't matter how much you like him doesn't matter how much you spend how much time you spend with him doesn't matter what relationship you?
Had with them none of that matters. None of that is justice
Justice is deciding who is right and who is wrong
Go to do to keep your place right there in first Kings
We're gonna come right back to it go to Deuteronomy 25 if you go backwards from first Kings you have
second for Samuel Ruth
Judges Joshua Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 25, by the way, if you say I don't I don't know what I feel about judges and justice
Well, let me tell you something. There's an entire book of the Bible called the book of Judges
Which might tell you a little bit about how God feels about judgmental people
Who make judgment calls?
God says what do you call a judge who makes judgment calls? He says call him the leader
Deuteronomy 25 look at verse 1
If there be a controversy between men right we just had a she said she said but don't misunderstand me
there's also the he said he said and
the he said she said
it all happens if there be a controversy between men and
They come unto judgment
That the judges may judge them doesn't God's to sound like this judgmental person
Notice what the Bible says what is the judge supposed to do then they will justify the righteous
and condemn the wicked
Because what is justice? What is judgment? It is to figure out who is right and who is wrong
so that you can justify the righteous and
condemn the wicked
That is the meaning of judgment, but there's another word. I want to share with you go back to first Kings chapter 3
There's two words that define the word judgment for us. What is the word justice? What does it mean?
I hope you're writing this down justice. What does it mean who is right and who is wrong?
Here's another word
That is synonymous with the word judgment and is this word discernment
Discernment I'm gonna spend an entire sermon on that one word discernment
But let me just help you understand. What does the word discernment mean first Kings chapter 3 look at verse 9 notice what Solomon said?
His famous prayer to God give therefore thy servant and understanding heart to judge thy people
Notice what he says that I may
discern there's our word
That I may discern notice it between good and bad
See judgment is not only justice, which is who is right and who is wrong, but judgment is also
Discernment, which is what is right and what is wrong?
Do you understand that?
Because you might be here this morning saying well, I'm not a pastor. Nobody ever comes to me. I'm not a pastor's wife
I'm not a judge. I'm not of the boss at work
Nobody ever comes to me and makes me make a decision and make a judgment call. Do I really need to know judgment?
Yes, you do because here's what judgment is. Judgment is not only
Justice figuring out who is right and who is wrong
You definitely leave that in a position of leadership
But judgment is also discernment figuring out what is right and what is wrong and let me tell you something every Christian needs that
You need in your life what Solomon realized that he needed the discernment to discern the ability to discern
What is good and what is bad?
I don't care if you're a leader a pastor or a layman it doesn't matter every Christian needs to be able to discern
Is this right?
Or is this wrong?
Maybe you never get asked who is right and who is wrong
Every single person in this building makes decisions every day. What is right and what is wrong?
So when we talk about judgment
What is the meaning of judgment two words justice and discernment?
Justice who is right and who is wrong?
Discernment what is right and what is wrong?
Keep your place there if you would in first Kings
And go with me to the New Testament book of first Corinthians
First Corinthians chapter 6 in the New Testament you have Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans first Corinthians
I hope you understand why you need judgment
Why do you need judgment because you need to be able to sometimes you will need to be able to discern who is right who?
Is wrong if you're a parent and you have more than one child you better believe you need the skill
Because every day multiple times a day children are coming up to parents saying she said this
Okay, the only she know she said this and I'm like let's take that baby doll and divide it in half right now
It's like no as I give her the doll
Her heart did yearn in it
Justice is the ability to know who is right and who is wrong
When they were fighting over dessert like we're not getting that thing in half just give it to me
The
Sermon is the ability to know what is right and what is wrong in life
You need to know that the word discern or discernment is defined as to perceive the site
To perceive by sight or some other sense or by intellect
To be able to look at a situation and make a decision. No, that's not right
That's not something we should do
That's not something I should do or that is right. That is what I should do
Those are the steps I should take
Talked about the meaning of judgment
Let me give you a second point this morning
Not only do we see the meaning of judgment as we see an overview on this idea of judgment
But here's the second point. Let's talk about the mandate of judgment
The mandate of judgment. You say what does that mean? Here's what it means. Here's why you need the sermon series. Here's why we need it
It's because you as a Christian are actually commanded by God you are mandated by God
to judge
The bible says here in first corinthian six, it uses a little term set them to judge
referring to all christians
So i'm a new christian. That's actually who he's referring to. He said let's have the newest christian to judge
notice first corinthian six in verse one
Paul is speaking to the church of corinth and he says dare any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unjust
Paul is dealing with a situation where there are christians within the church of corinth that are literally suing each other
Taking each other to court over an argument
And paul says dare any of you having a matter against another go to law meaning you're going to court
You're going to where the law is pronounced. You're going to be judged. You're going to see a judge
Notice what he says before the unjust
The unjust here is referring to the unsaved
I want you to notice that the unsaved is the word unjust is used synonymously with the word unsafe
Please understand this the unsaved
are
inherently unjust
I didn't say they're bad people. I didn't say they're all reprobates
I did not say that but you need to understand something that justice is an attribute of God
justice
Equal justice comes from God and when you are rejecting the lord
Jesus Christ when you are rejecting God when you are not saved you are
inherently unjust
It's just part of it and i'm not saying that every unsaved person is a criminal or or or a reprobate or anything
I'm not saying that but i'm just saying you cannot get justice from unsaved people
Because you can only get justice from God the holy spirit and you can barely get it from saved people
But at least there's a chance that you can get it from saved people because hopefully if they're actually saved
They've got the holy spirit of God and they know what the bible says
Dare any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unjust and not before the saints notice
He's rebuking them. He's saying you're going to law to be judged by the unjust and not the saints who are the saints the saved
Look at verse two
dare ye not
Excuse me. Do ye not know now here's what
Paul is making the point
He's like it's so silly that you're you're going to the unjust to be judged by the unjust
Instead of going to the saints and he says do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world
What is that a reference to the millennial reign
during the millennial reign of christ those that have the
Privilege to rule and reign with christ the bible says that they will sit on seats of judgment
The ruling part
means it's
You you get to be solomon. You're the king you make you make the judgment calls
you judge
Look, do you know you realize in a millennial reign? We're going to be judging
Know ye not that we shall judge angels
Look at verse two again. Do ye not know that saints shall judge the world so we're going to be judging unsaved people
And if the world shall be judged by you
Are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
No, you're not that we shall judge angels. He's like look in the millennial reign
We're going to judge the world we're going to judge angels if the world's going to be judged by you
You should be able to make judgment calls
Look at the last part verse three how much more things that pertain to this life
Here's what he's saying. If you're going to be making judgment calls during the millennial reign, then you should be able to make judgment calls
to things that pertain to this life
like verse four
If then ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life
Notice the words set them to judge
You know, most the average christian today thinks the bible teaches to not judge ever anyone for any reason
But the bible says no no set them to judge
Who the most spiritual no, no who are the least esteemed in the church
Here's what paul's saying
If you are the least esteemed, what does that mean? That means you are the the person people think the least of
You're the newest christian. You're the most worldly christian. You're you're a christian
That's no one's looking at you saying there is a specimen of maturity
No, you're you're the christian with the worst reputation in the church god says you should be able to judge
Because why because every christian needs to be able to judge
That's why i'm preaching this to an entire i'm not preaching this to at a pastor's conference
To a bunch of pastors, although i'm sure all pastors would need it too
obviously
You said why are you preaching into a church because even the least among us should be able to judge
Set them to judge who are the least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame
Is it so that there is not a wise man among you?
No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brother paul's rebuking them
He's saying is there really not one wise man in the church that you can set to judge?
And you have to literally sue each other and take yourself to court
For the unjust to judge you
He says what brother goeth to law with brother
and that before unbelievers
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you because you go to law
One with another why do you not rather take wrong?
Why do you not rather suffer yourself to be the product?
He said he said it would be better for you to just take the wrong than to take your brother to court
By the way, the bible teaches the christians should not sue each other. Did you know that?
By the way, here's a judgment call that I make that sometimes people don't like if you ever bring a lawsuit against anybody in this
Church, we will throw you out
I don't understand that we just read it
Verse eight nay you do wrong in the fraud and that your brother
Are you telling us we can't bring a lawsuit? I didn't say you can't bring a lawsuit
I said you can't bring a lawsuit and be part of this church
There is a mandate to judge
The bible commands us to judge
The bible says set them to judge now
Let me answer the question because I know some of you are thinking it the only verse you have memorized in the bible
Wait a minute pastor the bible says judge not that ye be not judged
Right
And there is more to that verse
Let me say this i'm not going to spend time on it i'm going to preach an entire sermon
On that one concept. Okay, so just hang tight. It's coming. Let me just give you you know spoiler alert
When god when jesus has judged not that you be not judged. He's not saying to not judge
In fact, jesus said that we should make righteous judgment. What he's saying is to not be a hypocrite in your judgment
And to not make hypocritical judgment
We'll come back to that and I will develop that and we will cover all of that
But just understand when the bible says judge not it's talking about make not hypocritical judgment
All throughout the bible were commanded to judge uprightly to judge righteously to judge according to the law of god
We are to set them to judge
So we see the meaning of judgment what is it justice who is right and who is wrong discernment what is right and what is
Wrong, we see the mandate of judgment
Not judge not but set them to judge
Judge not is in the bible, but it's in the bible in reference to hypocritical judgment
When I was 16 years old
I
Went on this little kick
Where I decided to read
Every book that I could get my hands on
By pastor jack hyles
Pastor jack hyles wrote many books and I decided i'm going to read every jack house book that I can find
So I read
Teaching on preaching I read how to build an evangelistic church, you know, i'm 16 years old
I don't know why I read how to build an evangelistic church
But there you go. Maybe that's why i'm a pastor
I read the house church manual I read
Pardon my poetry. I read everything that jack howells had but there was one book every time
I would research jack howells books more jack howells books. I was on this kick
I was reading all the jack house book. There was one book that kept coming up
And it was called justice by jack hyles
And I remember thinking to myself like I will never read that book
I remember thinking to myself think about this 16 year old kid judging a 72 year old giant of the faith, right?
That should have told you something
And I remember thinking myself like
Who would read that book? Why would you even write that book? What is the point of that book? I'll never read that book
And I went years and years and years and years. I never read that book justice by jack. I read everything else. Jack house wrote
Justice by jack house never read it. I thought that sounds boring
I don't even know why you would write that. What is the point of that?
A few months ago pastor thompson. I can't remember if he was coming here or I was going there
But we were seeing each other and he brought me a little gift a little basket with little different things in it
It was very kind of him
And in that basket, he gifted me this book called justice by jack house
And I remember picking up the book and I kind of
Chuckled within myself i'm like man the one jack house book I never read, you know, jack house must be sending this from heaven
And keep in mind
When I was 16, I said, I don't need that book
Now i'm a 36 year old man
20 years later i've been a pastor for 12 years
I've grown and matured in my christian walk a lot. I remember picking up the book by
That pastor thompson gave me justice by jack house
And I did what I normally do with the book. I turned around I read the back cover
To see what it's about. I want to read this to you
Here's what it says justice
Often when we think of justice, we think of the gavel and the judge's desk
But justice goes beyond the courtroom
True justice is judging only the areas in which we have been given authority by god
Judging outside our area is unjust
Listening to an accusation or repeating one is unjust
Believing what someone tells you about another is unjust
Deciding guilt based on hearsay is unjust
Our churches are full of injustice
Our christian homes suffer with injustice our media thrives on injustice. Our nation has been damaged by injustice
Micah 6 8 says and what does the lord require of thee but to do justly
And to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy god
The bible answers every problem we face we know that justice is the great attribute of god and we are
To be like jesus justice should be the utmost priority to god's people and we as
People as we strive to balance the scales in justice and in every area of life
And I remember reading that and thinking to myself like this is a great book
And here's what I thought to myself
oh
Now I get it
Now I get why jack house wrote this book on justice because he's a pastor
And he probably literally thought to himself i'm gonna write this book and I hope all my church people read it
Because he was probably dealing with a bunch of problems in his church because people did not understand biblical justice
I just think it's funny that the 16 year old me was like, why would you ever write that book the 36 year old pastor?
Me i'm like I need to read this book. I need to make all the men in the church read this book
I need to preach a whole series about this subject judgment
And obviously I don't endorse everything jack house says, you know, let me just say that because you'll probably accuse me of something
Because you didn't get to that chapter in the book
Go to exodus if you would exodus chapter 18 second book in the bible genesis exodus
We're talking about judgment in this sermon i'm giving you just an overview
We talked about the meaning of judgment. What is it justice who is right and who is wrong?
What is it discernment? What is right and what is wrong?
We talked about the mandate of judgment. We are mandated and commanded to judge
Paul said set them to judge referring to the least among us
And judge not is not a command for christians
To never judge. It's a command to never judge hypocritically
And we'll talk more about that at a later time
Let me give you the third point
We talked about the meaning of judgment. We talked about the mandate of judgment. Here's the third
Point if you'd like to write this down, let's talk about the maturity of judgment
the maturity of judgment
Notice there in exodus chapter 18 and verse 13
The bible says and it came to pass on the morrow
That moses I want you to miss don't don't miss it
You might be surprised how much this comes up in the bible that moses sat to judge
That moses had to judge the people
And the people stood by moses from morning until evening. What does that mean? It means it took all day. It took a long time
What's going on here? Look at verse 14 and when moses father-in-law saw all that he did to the people
He said what is this thing that thou doest to the people?
Why sittest thou thyself alone and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even here's what happening
Here's what happened. Moses would come to work every morning
And as soon as he started work, there'd be people would start showing up
And before long there was a line of people and they were all coming to moses
asking him to judge
Just like with king solomon
He said this she said that he did this she did that. What do you think? Tell us what's right?
Tell us what's right and moses is spending his entire day judging the entire congregation
And his father-in-law who's a wise man is visiting and he says to moses. He says what is this thing that thou doest to the people?
Why sittest thou thyself alone?
Skip down to verse 17. Notice what he says
And moses father-in-law said unto him the thing that thou doest is not good
I want you to notice here you have moses who's a judge being judged by his father-in-law
His father-in-law saying hey what you're doing is not good
You shouldn't be doing that
Notice what a wise judge does when somebody judges him
They listen
In case there's some truth
verse 18
That will surely wear away
Both thou and this people that is with thee for this thing is too heavy for thee
Thou are not able to perform it thyself alone
You know the bible calls in the book of acts the bible calls moses and the children of israel in the wilderness
It calls them the church in the wilderness
They were a congregation in the wilderness
You know that a congregation needs more than one or two people to be able to judge
Hey
Now in this congregation I do most of the judging my wife does a lot of judging when it comes to matters dealing with ladies
You can call it counseling call whatever you want, but it's really just judgment. It's telling people. No, that's not right. You shouldn't do that
No, that's wrong. You shouldn't do this do that
It's biblical. It's what the bible says
But you know the congregation needs more
More than just one or two people to be able to judge
Here moses father-in-law is telling moses like hey you can't carry this burden on your own
So notice what he says verse 21
Moreover thou shall provide out of all the people notice these words able men
What does able men mean? It means they're talented
Such as fear god, what does that mean? It means they're spiritual
Men of truth, what does that mean? It means they have character they have integrity. They're honest
Hating covetousness. What does that mean? It means they're not greedy. They're not covetous. They don't give in to their lust
He says and place such over them to be rulers of thousands
And rulers of hundreds and rulers of 50s and rulers of tens
You say well, wait a minute. I thought you were looking for judges. Now you're telling us you're going to set them as leaders
Please understand something a leader is a judge
Amen
He says I want you to find able men such as fear god men of truth hating covetousness verse 22 and let them judge
And let them judge the people
at all seasons
and it shall be
That every great matter that they shall bring that every great matter they shall bring into thee, but every small matter they shall judge
So shall it be easier for thyself and they shall bear the burden with thee
If thou shalt do this thing and god command thee so
Then thou shalt be able to endure and all this people shall also go to their place in peace
See a congregation not only needs more than one or two people to be able to judge
But a congregation needs christians that are growing and maturing in order to be able to judge
Pastor why are you preaching the serpent series and you're trying to teach everybody how to judge because if you learn biblical principles
If you learn that we are to be loyal to the word of god and to biblical principles not people not relationships
Not institutions. Our loyalty is to be by the way. I learned that from jack house
Just if you're curious
That we are to be loyal to principles not institutions
Say what does that mean? Here's what that means if verity baptist church
God forbid ever becomes an niv liberal church. Then you take your loyalty with the word of god not with the institution
You understand that we're not to be loyal to relationships
We're not to be loyal because well, that's my uh pastor and that's my uh, brother and that's my best friend
That doesn't matter
Loyalty is to be given to principles from the word of god period and the story
And if I can teach you to have biblical principles
And if I can teach you to live your life in such a way where you understand and you've got
An arsenal of biblical principles and you know what the bible says in this situation and that situation
And while that's supposed to be dealt with and how to deal with that then you can stop having so many self-inflicting wounds
You can come to a situation and you've got to make a choice and you can say well
Here's what I want to do. Here's what my flesh wants to do. But you know what the bible says the bible says i'm gonna do this
You know what the bible says the bible says your children come to you
There's a problem and you say you don't just say well i'm not you and i'm no no it's here's what the bible says kids
Amen
Let's do what the bible says
Here's what the word of god says
Go to ezra chapter seven last verse. We'll look at we're done
Ezra chapter seven if you kept your place in first kings if you go back from first kings you have uh
Excuse me. If you go back to first kings or from first kings
You have first and second kings first and chronicles ezra ezra chapter seven
You say pastor
Why are you preaching this can I let you in on a little secret
Let me give you my ulterior motive can I do that now keep this quiet between you and I okay
Don't let this go out of the room
Here's what i'm hoping
Since so many of you do not have the judgment and discernment to come to somebody who knows what the bible says before the problem
That little problem you're dealing with becomes a big problem
Since so many of you are so hell-bent. Yes. That's the word I want to use
On never going to the pastor of the pastor's wife for any reason until you're almost dead until the relationship is almost
Gone until you're just a bloody mess
Since there are so many of you like that you said well, why are you saying that because that's human nature
Human nature is to hide by the way
Let me give you another principle for judgment
The person who doesn't want to bring things out to light is usually the person that's wrong
So when you got two people and you're like hey, well, you know, let's just talk about it
Let's bring everybody together. Let's talk about it. And everybody's like sure let's talk about it. Sure
Let's talk about it. No, I don't want to talk about it
I mean, I don't know i'm not god
I'm, just going to use some biblical principles to discern some things but here's what I do know
The bible says that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil
So a biblical principle that I can just use a discernment to judge is the person who doesn't want to come to the meeting
Is probably wrong
You say I don't like you saying that I know so here's what i'm going to do i'm going to teach you to do it
Because you don't want me saying it or my wife saying it
So i'm just going to teach you to do it so that you can do it on your own
So that you can stop having so many self-inflicted wounds and when you do self-inflict some wounds you can care for them on your own
Not because I don't want you coming to me. I wish you would come to me, but you won't
Because you don't have the discernment to
So i'm going to try to help you
Here's my ulterior motive
I want to make you a bunch of judges
So that you not not so you can be judgmental and critical we'll talk about that in another sermon as well
But so you can discern and say no, wait a minute
So when your friends say I think we should do this you say no, wait a minute
The bible says
You know what I love to hear come out of our very baptist church members mouth the bible says I love that
The bible says this and the bible says that and the bible says that this is how we're supposed to deal with that situation
And here's how we're supposed to deal with that situation. So let's do that
And you know what happens when you do that you are now a biblical
Judge
My ulterior motive
Since you won't let me judge you and most of you when I do judge you you just go do whatever you want anyway
My ulterior motive is to help you learn how to do it
So maybe at the very least you can do it for yourself
Ezra chapter 7 verse 25 and now ezra
After the wisdom of thy god
That is in thine hand
That's what he says set magistrates
and judges
Which may judge all the people
That are beyond the river
Who are we supposed to set to judge all such as know the laws of thy god?
That's the requirement to judge because remember we do not judge based off relationships. We do not judge based off feelings
We do not judge based off emotions
We do not judge based off what I think we do not judge based off how I feel
We do not change judge based off what I heard that is ridiculous
We do not judge based off hearsay. We do not judge based with no evidence. We don't make judgment calls like that
That's not justice. That's corruption
And here's what I think is funny is if a judge i'm talking about a physical literal judge in a courtroom said
I'm going to make a decision based off what I read on facebook
You and I would think you're unjust you are corrupt you need to be removed yet. That's how most christians make judgment calls
They never go to the person they never talk to the person they never confront the person they never go and talk to them
Well, I heard this and I heard that and I heard these things you are corrupt
Call it whatever you want. It's not justice
So, what are we who we're supposed to judge we are to find all such as know the laws
of thy god
And then if you're if you're a pastor and you're listening to the sermon, here's the question you're asking
Well, what if we don't have any of those?
What if we don't have many of those
That's the problem these people they don't know what the bible says that's why they're making so many mistakes
last part of verse 25
And teach ye them that know them not
Amen
You say why are you preaching on judgment? Here's why so that those of you who know what the bible says
Can have confidence in righteous
Unhypocritical
unbiased rightly dividing the word of god justice
And those of you who don't I want to teach ye them that know them not
I want to teach you how to judge
I just believe it'll help your marriage
I believe it'll help your relationships. It'll help you with your kids. It'll help you at work. It'll help you at church
It'll help you to realize. Oh wait. No
That's not
I know I feel bad about but that's not my place to judge that
Oh, wait. No, that's not right. No, that's not that's wrong. No, we're not supposed to do that. We're not supposed to go there
I primarily want you to become a judge why so you can judge yourself
Amen
I hope you understand
I hope you understand the importance of judgment
I hope that you will commit. I hope that you will make a judgment call right now
I hope you make the right one to say i'm going to show up every sunday morning
I'm going to learn about judgment
I'm going to learn about justice
I'm going to learn about how to figure out who is right and who is wrong
I'm going to learn about discernment to figure out what is right and what is wrong for myself
I'm going to realize that I have been set to judge in situations as a christian
I should be able to judge judge not does not apply to all christians at all times. It applies to hypocritical christians
I'm going to grow in my maturity
I'm going to learn and understand the bible
I'm going to live my life loyal to principles and guided. Please don't miss this loyal to principles and guided by
principles
So that no matter who says what and what is done no matter what the relationship is
How much I like them how much I don't like them no matter any of that
What's right is right?
And what's wrong is wrong
that's
What the bible says?
Let's bow our heads in that word of prayer
Heavenly father
Lord I have done my best
And I realize that i'm a feeble man
So
Sometimes when I preach things are misunderstood
Sometimes when I preach I miscommunicate
I get that
But lord I have done my best this morning
To try to help this congregation understand
Why they need to learn to biblically judge
To rightly judge
To justly judge
And lord I pray you'd help us
I pray you'd help us over the next several weeks as we
Dissect these judgment principles from the bible
As we learn to judge ourselves and in places of authority
When we've been given the authority to righteously judge others
Lord I pray you'd help us
We love you
In the matchless name of christ we pray
Amen
We're gonna have brother matt come up and lead us in a final song. Just want to remind you
that
We have the sunday night service tonight at 6 p.m
And we'd love for you to join us for the sunday evening service
The sunday evening service is different than the morning service different songs
We take favorites and I like to call the sunday night service the most exciting service of the week
And I think you'll enjoy it we'd love for you to join us at 6 p.m
We're gonna be in a new series or coming back to an old series called declaring doctrine and we're going to be looking at some
Theological doctrines from the word of god and we encourage you to be with us tonight as we begin that study
And of course on wednesday night
We'll start the book of amos verse by verse study through the book of amos and we're going to spend one
Week in every chapter in amos. So I want to encourage you to read amos chapter one before wednesday night
And be ready to learn it and study it together
And if you've got some great insight, then let me know so that I can add that to my sermons
All right, so we appreciate you if there's anything we can do for you
Please let us know we'll have the matt come up and lead us in a final song
Turn to song 190
Wonderful wonderful jesus 190 sing it out on the first
Oh wonderful
There is
So
There is
Is
So good, let's sit out on the last
Oh
Amen good singing before we leave here if anybody has questions about salvation church membership or baptism pastor will be at the door
He'd love to talk to you or direct you to someone who's trained to talk about that
Brother george, would you close a prayer for us?
Amen
So