Take your Bibles once again and go to Matthew chapter 18
Matthew chapter 18 I
Hope that as we've been going through this book chapter by chapter. It's helped you understand the Bible a little bit more
I hope it's helped you study your own Bible as you're reading through the gospel and some of these things that are challenging
I hope they've come to lights a little bit more and
Look at the same thing in chapter 18. You're gonna. There's a story here. We're gonna look at it very soon a story
That's very
Commonly preached, but it's very commonly preached incorrectly all right so as we go to it
You'll understand why and we'll touch upon that later on but look at verse number one
Matthew chapter 18 verse 1 the Bible says at the same time came to disciples unto Jesus saying
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven the title for the sermon tonight is?
Greatest in the kingdom all right, so it's an interesting question the disciples come to Jesus
Jesus you know out of all of us who's gonna be the greatest
So you know we think of the disciples we think of these men as great men of God
you know Peter and and John and and so on you know Philip and Bartholomew and and
you know all these men and
We see immediately just how immature they are you know there's still a place in them that they need to grow
They need to mature they're comparing themselves one to the other and asking Jesus who's gonna be the greatest
This isn't the first time that this question gets brought to Jesus all right, and I don't know about you
I mean you might say I don't really struggle with that
I don't really think about you know am I gonna be greater than others in the church, but you know what in my Christian life
I've definitely come across people who feel that way
I've definitely come across believers who serve the Lord or you know say they love the Lord
They they do the works that God has given them, and they don't they're not satisfied to know
I'm just serving the Lord they also want to know how well am I doing with other people you know is this person of?
Doing less soul-winning, and if they're doing less then surely I'm greater now
You might not say that out loud, but in the hearts of many people. That's how they feel
This is why quite often you go to a church, and you'll see mature Christians look down on younger Christians
You know Christian people come into church. They're not dressed properly. They're not they don't know the hymns
They don't know their Bible they might be newer Christians and sometimes you see mature Christians turn down the nose look down that person
And and you know think of themselves as greats, okay, and so yeah
They might not ask the question
But in the hearts of a lot of believers and it might be in your heart if it is in your heart you need to
Overcome this you know, but you see how immature it is to ask Christ who's going to be the greatest now
Should we desire to be great people absolutely we should desire to be great people in the Lord?
Which are desired to have those heavenly rewards to come, but look how Jesus responds to them in verse number two
Verse number two does Jesus say well, you know keep working hard
You know keep doing what you're doing and that will guarantee you to be great
know what does Jesus do in verse number two and Jesus called a little child unto him and
Sets him in the midst of them all right takes a little child now before we go into why he brought that little child
In the midst all I want to say here is one thing you'll notice about Jesus
Is when he was going around teaching and preaching the little children were present
Okay, and that's another thing guys in church. We want our children here. We want the little children here
This is so you'll see soon why it's so important
Okay, but a lot of churches remove the children from the congregation put them in a Sunday school
You know away from the church services why cuz children allowed children can be distracting all those other things
No, we see that Jesus when he preached he had children there right there
He took the little child and placed them in the midst of the disciples
Okay
And the the illustration will be there he's going to point to this child soon and say this child's the greatest right
so he really rubs it into the face of the disciples will have a look at it there in verse number three and
said
Verily I sent to you
Except ye be converted and become as little children
You shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven so you see the disciples saying who's going to be the greatest?
Jesus says look more important than who's going to be the greatest
Are you even going to enter the kingdom the first thing you need to do is be converted become like a little child and that?
Will guarantee you to even to be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven
Why is that so important because little children are humble right little children here
They believe this is why when you go so dolto those soul winning
It's so much easier to see little children say it's so much easier to see young teenagers saved
But once an adult reaches, and I and you know an older life once they've lived their life
They've provided for themselves. You know that they don't think they need God they become hardened
They become prideful you see little children are humble little children find it easy to place their faith on Jesus Christ
Okay, this is why he sets a child in their midst
It says look you've got to become a little child even to answer into the kingdom
Okay, you must put your full trust on the Lord God your full trust on
Jesus Christ
Now let's look at verse number four verse number four the Bible says
whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is the
Greatest in the kingdom of heaven you see in order for you to enter the kingdom of heaven
You must be humble right you must come to realize. I can't make it to heaven on my own merits
I can't bring my works. I can't bring my righteousness
I can't bring my my reformed life to Christ. He's not going to receive that they're like filthy rags
I must come humbly before the Lord and accept him as my Savior
You know that same humility the same humility that drives you to be saved is
Required for you to become the greatest in heaven, okay?
What's humility putting yourself lower before other people you see the greatest in the kingdom of heaven when we get there?
It's not going to be those that proclaim their works
It's not going to be those that that talked about how great they were in the great works
They did the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
We're going to be the believers that were the most humble quite often the believers that are the most humble the believers that are the most
Quiet, they're the ones that are serving the Lord with all their heart more often
They're serving the Lord, but they don't want anyone else to know about it. You know it's just between them and the Lord
They don't need to impress anybody. They don't need to lift themselves up with pride. They do it through humility and
Verse number five please verse number five
Verse number five so if a little humble child can be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
What does Jesus say in verse number five? He says and whoso shall receive one such little child in my name?
receive of me
See Jesus was that child says this is child this child we could because of his humility
It's going to be the greatest in the kingdom if you receive that little child
Jesus says you receive me
Why is that because that little child is a believer of Christ?
You know and this is the thing you know as someone who thinks you won't be great in the kingdom
You want to have your names in lights?
You know quite often what happens you know let's say you've got a guest preacher coming around right?
I'm not against guest preachers or some guest pastor some with a reputation someone with a great name quite often you'll see
People that like to suck up to them right you'll see people after the service come on
You're the greatest preacher. You've changed my life
You've done all these amazing things you see quite often when someone with a big name comes
Everyone wants to get around and be recognized by that great name
And you know what little children in the congregation quite often get a not get get dismissed little children a congregation
You know get ignored why they're just a child who cares the guest preacher is here
You know what Jesus says does yeah, you probably want to receive me because he's the greatest
He's the greatest in keys God God Almighty of course we want to acknowledge God of course we want to honor Jesus Christ
But Jesus Christ says if you want to honor me if you want to respect me you go for the little child you go
And receive the little child in my name you receive him you encourage him you honor that child
And this is something we need to be reminded of in church
Is that the children in our church are important that the next generation of Christians?
Hey, they can do greater works than what we can do in our generation if we train them to love the Lord
We receive them listen if the child comes to church
And they feel accepted by the adults accepted by the teenagers don't you think they'll love to be in church
Don't you think they'll design hey, I want to be like them. I want to grow up and serve the Lord
Hey, but if you ignore the children say who cares they're not important. They're not gonna want to be in church
They're gonna grow up one day as teenagers and quite often in a lot of churches
You see the teens grow up and not want to be in church
They they leave the church, and you never see them for years
You know sometimes they come back praise God when they come back
But quite often they come back that destroyed the life. You know we have a life of sin
Jesus Christ makes a very important point children are important. Hey, they can be distracted sometimes
I acknowledge that okay
But you receive the little ones you're receiving Christ verse number six
And verse and verse number six confirms that this child this little child is referring to is a believer of Christ
He's a saved child verse number six
But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me see there is he's a believer of Christ
He's saved
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he was drowned in the depth of the sea
Now quite often we think about this and and what you know what so what's a millstone?
I mean a millstone you know before our modern machinery
You know to grind wheat that would use these huge stones these huge stones there were at least 50 kilograms in weights
You know and Jesus says look it's better if someone comes and offends a little child that believes on him
It's better for just a move that that stone be hanged around his neck and is thrown into the sea
So look you're better off dead. You know if you if you mislead children if you offend little children
Against the Lord you know you discourage little children. You're better off dead is what Jesus Christ says that pretty harsh words from Jesus Christ
That's how he feels about it. Okay, and this is something that quite often
That's brought up when people preach against pedophiles when people preach against sexual predators that come into churches
Seeking for to corrupt the minds of little children
You know this is you know this is something we need to be aware of because you see
Churches will bring the best of people
But churches will also bring in the worst of people because quite often you know the predators those that seek to offend
Christians and offend little children they'll come into a church because they think where everyone's friendly everyone's going to receive me
I'll be able to get away with my perversions
I'll be able to get away with my you know my sinful acts
And we as a church as we continue to grow you know right now
You know I know all of you
But it's going to come a time when our church starts to grow continues to grow there'll be new people that we don't know hey
You know and we shouldn't we shouldn't we should encourage people to come we should be
Inviting we should be hospitable toward people, but nevertheless we always need to be aware
Who's around our little children you know parents?
I would always say never leave your children unsupervised even in church
Okay, please don't think this church is a safe place to leave my children unsupervised
No
You know sexual private for our predators
Seek churches to harm little children and these perverts these people that are better off dead in the ocean as Jesus Christ
Speaks of here
That's number seven
Jesus says woe unto the world because of offenses for it must needs be that offenses come
But woe to woe to that man by whom the offense cometh
So what Jesus Christ is saying here is that woe to the world you know the world is the one that comes to offend
Christians that comes to offend believers, but that shouldn't surprise us because in 2nd Timothy 3 12
It says yay, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution
You see if you live for Jesus Christ if you live as a Christian the Bible guarantees that you will suffer
Persecution you might say pastor Kevin. You know I've lived a Christian life for
You know two decades three decades. I've don't suffered any persecution
Probably because you're not live for Christ. You know probably because you you know you just got on the radar
You know you you've just been like the world of course if you're operating just like the world you're not gonna suffer persecution
Hey, but if you stand for the Word of God if you walk the ways of Christ
Guaranteed you're gonna suffer persecution
Guaranteed you know just this morning. I've got a phone call from some guy on the Sunshine Coast you know
Trying to blame us for his house getting burgled
You know trying to blame our church because we left a gospel tract
You know and he's saying well
You know someone's walked past and so that no one's home, and they burgled the house
You know he wasn't expecting to get the harsh words he got in return
I'll just say that okay, but look the word wants to attack the churches
they especially want to attack those that go out and preach the gospel and
And so Jesus Christ basically confirming here offenses will come okay get ready toughen up
You know grow close to the Lord mature grow up because when offenses come you'll be better prepared to overcome those verse number 8
And these are some interesting words and some people struggle with this
It's not that difficult to understand really but verse number 8
It says wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee cut them off and cast them from thee
It is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed
Rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire
And if thine eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee it is better for thee to enter into life with one
Eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fight
now
Keep your finger there and turn to 1st Corinthians 15, please 1st Corinthians chapter 15 I
Can't believe there are some people all right even Baptists
Take what we just read there and think
This is literal all right that if you've done something sinful
Then you're better off cutting off literally cutting off your hand so you can enter into heaven without sin
Okay, now. Do you I mean does that sound very foreign to you like if you know if you went to someone
I said what must I do to be saved and someone says you know have you looked with lust yes?
Well, you've got to pluck out your eyes. That's how you can get saved
I mean that's very foreign. That's very extreme right, but there's some people that actually believe that and you know
There's this guy on the internet. I don't know if you ever listen to online preachers his name's Robert breaker
Okay
He's a Baptist he's a preacher online and he has said basically
Those that live in the tribulation period if they've taken a mark of the beast on their hand well the only way they can get
Saved now is to cut off their hand all right or if they take the mark of the beast in their forehead
You've got to cut off your head
I mean do you think it's a Jesus Christ is teaching of course not okay now the reason I'm going to turn to the first
Corinthians 15 is just to bring us back to some fundamental truths if we again if we stick to our fundamental truths our
Fundamental doctrines everything else about makes sense okay first Corinthians 15 verse 50
first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 50
The Bible says now this I say brethren that flesh and blood
Cannot inherit the kingdom of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption
Listen this physical body this flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God
I'm not going to heaven in this body. It's not going to happen. Okay. That's that's a basic truth
Okay
This is why the Bible talks about the resurrection the rapture the new body that says here that what did it say at the end?
Neither doth corruption to this body's corrupted
Inherit in corruption in corruption is heaven this corrupted body cannot inherit something. That's incorruptible
Otherwise what was incorruptible will become corruptible because it allowed something corruptible into it. Okay. This is why we need new
resurrected bodies
Okay, because once we have those sinless bodies then yes bodily physically we can be in heaven all right
So if you take that that's a basic truth the rapture resurrected bodies most Christians know this they understand this
Then do you think cutting off your hand or plucking your eye out is gonna help you get to heaven?
No, because this body was never going there in the first place all right now. Let's quickly drop down to verse 51
So we just read first Corinthians 15 50 now verse 51 behold. I show you a mystery
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
Talking about bodies here in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead
Shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed, so how are we going to be changed?
Incorruptible we're going to be incorruptible. Just like heaven is incorruptible
That's how we enter into that into heaven bodily physically by the resurrection with our new incorruptible bodies, okay?
So that's a basic teaching of the Bible of course if you know that when you read about Jesus Christ saying plucking out your hand
Or you know cut off your hand you know he cannot be talking literally because the body was never going to heaven in the first
Place all right, so let's just if you go back to Matthew 18, please Matthew 18
Let's go back to back there, so what is Jesus Christ teaching of course?
He's teaching about the horrors of hell
Okay, if you if you were possible for you to cut off your hand as it were so you could you know avoid hell and
Just let that one one hand go to hell you're better off cutting off your hand than suffering the horrors of hell
That's what Jesus Christ is teaching. He's giving us a very graphic description
You know so you can understand just how how are you know?
Yeah, just how horrible hell is you know you rather avoid that place at any cost if you were possible to do those things you're
Better off doing that then letting your whole body go to hell, okay, so of course look cutting off your hands plucking your eyes
It's very graphics. It's horrible. You wouldn't want to do it yourself
You wouldn't want your worst enemies doing it them so you know themselves right?
So if you wouldn't want that to happen then how much more would you rather people avoid hell?
How much more would you rather go out there preaching the gospel so people can know what they must do to be saved and it's not
Cutting off their hands right it's being like we just read about being that humble little child coming to Jesus Christ and
Receiving his sacrifice his death burial and resurrection being humble as that child verse number 10 verse number 10
Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones so Jesus Christ see he's still talking about the little ones still talking about
The little child for I say unto you that in heaven their angels whose angels the angels of the little ones
Do always behold the face of my father which is in heaven say what is that about?
I'll tell you the truth. I'm not 100% sure okay
But it sounds like little children have what some people called guardian angels that that God the Father
Loves little children so much
especially those that have believed on Jesus Christ love them so much that he has appointed an
Angel to watch over that child
Okay, this is why when Christ says you see the little child you receive me
We see just how important little children are to God and they should be important to us as well, okay?
Now what does that mean can you explain that any further?
I really can't because we don't have any other scriptures that really developed this point, okay?
But it looks like what it says there there are angels for the little ones for the little children
That's number 11 now
This is a verse that I said to you a lot of people quotes, and I know what they mean they mean well
They have us in see heart, but they quote it they all they teach honor incorrectly and of course
This was the memory verse it says for the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost
Alright, so a lot of people will take this verse because you know a lot of modern-day preaching
You know you don't get preaching chapter by chapter like we get today right a lot of modern-day preaching
You know you let's say you're preaching on the gospel you take a verse here verse there verse there
Maybe five verses and most of the sermon is just somebody talking okay, and what the problem is when that happens
They'll take beautiful verses like verse 11 and take it out of its context and teach about something else and quite often
Verse 11 when it's taken out is taught about salvation of the soul
You know that that God has come to seek and to save those that are lost like those that are going to hell
Okay, but if we keep it in the context of what we're reading. What is God talking about here?
He's talking about the little children and those little children. He spoke about they already were believers in Christ
Jesus what Jesus Christ is teaching about here are
Believers okay children of God he's not talking about those that are unsaved
He's talking about children of God that are lost say what do you mean by lost?
Well what we just read about keep it all in context that G that Jesus Christ is
Rebuking those that would offend little ones rebuking those that will turn their hearts against the Lord
You know so much so that it'd be better if they drowned in the ocean drowned in the sea, okay?
Let's understand a couple of things here you see when little children are offended in a church when little children are
Offended by other people like I said many of times
They'll leave a church may many times that we backslidden many times
They'll leave you know leave God all together and think well. You know this is not the life for me
This is not the way. I want to walk and in a sense they become lost lost
You know we'll use the phrase backslidden many times as the Bible and if we keep reading the context you'll see that
this is true that this is speaking about a backslidden or
Lost child of God and why they're lost is because they've been offended by other people
That's why God says that he has he shines his face on little children. We'll have a look this very shortly look at verse number 12
There's number 12
How think ye so Jesus Christ is asking us a question. What do you think he's saying?
What's he asking if a man have an a hundred sheep and one of them is gone astray?
doth he not leave the 99 and golf into the mountains and
Seeketh that which is gone astray because what do you think?
Let's say you're a shepherd you had a job to do
You started with a hundred sheep right you're leading those hundred sheep to its green pastures to eat
And at the end of the day you count them all up. There's 99 and when there's one missing. What do you think?
Would you go after the one?
now I I think Jesus Christ is asking this question because I
Look if it was me if at the end of day I had 99 left and I lost one
I'll be like I got 99. I'll be happy that I still got the vast majority. I've lost one
Well, I mean just one it's not gonna be a big deal
I mean if you got a hundred dollars in your pocket and you lose a dollar somewhere
Are you really going to be like that bothered you got 99 dollars still there?
You know, I mean you lost a dolly probably whatever, you know, what do you think? You know, that's what Jesus Christ is saying
okay, now let's look at verse number verse number 13 verse number 13 and
If so be that he find it
Verily I say unto you he rejoiced of more of that sheep then of the 99 which went not astray
Look at this even so it is not so Jesus Christ is now comparing this this parable this story
We've what he's been preaching before
Even so it is not the will of your father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish
What are the little ones remember the little one that Jesus Christ brought before the midst of the Apostles?
But the little ones that believe on Christ, okay, you see what God is saying here. Is that
First of all in the story, he's got a hundred sheep those sheep already
Belong to the Shepherd, you know
If you're not saved you are not a child of God if you are not saved you are not his sheep
You are not of his fold. It's not till that you're saved you become born again and you become a child of God
Okay, that's when that's how you belong to God. That's how you become a sheep of his fold
That's how you become a child of God
And so Jesus Jesus is giving the analogy here if it's got a hundred, you know people
Let's say in a church a hundred of his children and one goes missing one gets lost because it's offended
All right that he would leave the 99 and go seek after that one
That's how much God loves us that much that's how much God
Wants us to fellowship with him to walk with him that if you get back sitting one day if one day in your life
You're out of church one day in life. You're discouraged pastors have let you down
Whatever churches have let me down and you're out about you
You don't know what to do with your life one thing I want you to remember is that God is seeking you again
Okay, he's seeking you like that Shepherd looking after that one now
I'm probably not gonna look after you look out look for you, right?
I mean, I hope so, but honestly, I mean like I said if I lost one sheep
I'll be happy for the 99 I've already been working hard for the 99
But God would leave the 99 that haven't gone astray and go seek after that one
You know God's got an amazing love an amazing love for his children for his sheep
Yeah, if you're not yet, you know convinced that this is talking about a backslidden or lost Christian
I mean you should be you keep in the context. That's what he's talking about. The little ones that have believed on him, right?
Just keep your finger there. And I just want to just reinforce this path for you. Please go to the book of Luke
Keep your finger there go to Luke. Let me just see if I can find the reference very quickly
I'm not sure if I took it down
I'll go there. It might be Luke 16
from memory
Sorry guys just bear with me
I
Well, what I'll do I'm gonna I'm gonna skip that for now if somebody has the time to go through Luke and
Find the other parable of the lost sheep. I'll really appreciate it. We'll come back to it
So I'll keep preaching if somebody can go to Luke. I can't remember the chapter right now
And find the other parable of lost sheep. That would be great
Okay, if we don't get to it, we don't get to it, but it'll be great
if you can you go back to Matthew 18, please Matthew 18 and
verse 15
Matthew 18 verse 15. Remember the context did we find it?
Is it Luke 15 Luke 15? All right, let's go to look 15 quickly
Luke 15 because I just want to drill this home for you because there is a lot of bad teaching here
From from different preachers that you'll find. Yeah, Luke 15. Okay, Jesus Christ gives many parables
All right, the parable of the lost sheep is in verse number three. Okay, we're not going to read it all again
But look at verse number four quickly
What man of you having a hundred sheep if you lose one of them doth not leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after
That which is lost until we find it. So I just want to draw the attention once again
This is a shepherd with a hundred sheep and he loses one. Okay. Now, let's drop down drop down to verse number eight
verse number eight
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver if she lose one piece doth not light a candle and sweep the house
And seek diligently till she find it. So Jesus Christ gives us all these parables. They're all teaching the same story
Now this time the woman she owns ten pieces of silver
Okay, those ten pieces of silver already belong to her and she's lost one. You see that now, let's keep going
We get to the most popular parable now in the parable of the of the lost son
It says here in verse number
number 11 verse number 11
Luke 15 verse 11
And he said a certain man had two sons and the younger of them said to his father father
give me the portion of goods that fall off to me and he divided them to his living and
not many days after the youngest son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country and there wasted his substance with
Righteous living you guys know that parable whether with a son goes and he leaves the father
He takes his inheritance waste it all and then he comes back to the father
Okay. Now the reason I told you you can turn there to Luke 15
We have these three parables first
It starts with this with a hundred losing one
Then we have the woman with ten losing one and then the father with two sons losing one
Okay, and every time you know that the one that was lost is found but in all of these parables those things that were lost
Belong to the owner already to begin with the ship belong to the Shepherd the the the the talent was it
Belong to the woman who lost it and the son was obviously already a son of the father
The only way you can become a son of the father is by believing on Christ
Okay, so I just wanted to show you that in Luke 15 and then just bring our attention back to Luke Matthew 18
Please Matthew 18
Matthew 18 verse 15
Matthew 18 verse 15 again believers
We're talking about believers and we're talking about people that offend
Okay that persecute that offend but now Jesus Christ is driving this home to a local church
Okay, no longer about the world offending believers, but believers offending believers. And you know what? I know this church
We're not even a year old. Maybe it's already happened. If it hasn't happened, it will happen. All right
It will happen that you will get offended by another brother or sister in this church at some point in time
Okay, or maybe offended by me or maybe you'll offend me. Okay, it's going to happen
I promise you I promise you might be new to church. Oh, man. This is awesome. I'm with brothers and sisters
We're on the same page. We're like-minded. It's gonna be awesome. That's my new family. I promise you one day
You're gonna get offended, right? Okay, it's gonna happen
And so Jesus Christ knows this which is why it teaches us this in chapter 18 verse number 15
Verse number 15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee
Go and tell him his faults between thee and him
Alone, this is important if he shall hear thee thou has gained thy brother
So what's the teaching of Christ if you get offended by a brother a brother or sister in the Lord?
What are you to do? Are you to go and tell the rest of the church?
Are you to go and tell all your friends?
Are you to go and tell the pastor pastor brother such-and-such do this to me sister sister so-and-so do this to me
No, the Bible said here go and tell him his faults between thee and him alone
Okay, that is step number one in sorting out conflicts between brethren when brethren offend you you go to that person
Alone, please take heed you do this
The Bible says if he shall hear thee thou has gained thy brother. I'll tell you now
99% of your personal conflicts will be resolved if you just do this first step
Okay, you just go suppose most people are reasonable you go to someone say look you've hurt me
You've offended me say these words, maybe not even intentionally
Okay, maybe you were just mucking around or maybe you know, you were just careless with your words, but they offended me
Can we sort this out?
Common sense people they have a heart for the brethren will just be yeah, of course
I'm sorry, you know, I didn't mean to support that way or oh I did mean it
I should have said that I should have said those words. Let's sort this out. Let's move on. I'm sorry
It's gonna happen but you know what it's so hard
It's so hard when you've been offended to go to that person and deal with it one by one
It's so much easier for some reason to go and tell everyone else, but here's why you don't go to everyone else
Because I've offended a lot of people in my life and a lot of the times that I've offended people
Purely by accident, you know, I've told some of you guys. I'm very sarcastic. I like to make jokes
I like to laugh, you know when you laugh you laugh at your expense
And sometimes you laugh at someone's else's expense, right because that's what makes things funny
You know when you find faults of one another you have a bit of a laugh about it
But sometimes that person is not in the right
Mindset to laugh about that situation and I've had a laugh about it and they've got offended now
I didn't mean to hurt them. I didn't mean to upset them
Alright, and sometimes I'm not even aware but there comes Christina my wife up to me
Kevin you offended that person. Hey, are you serious? Like okay. Alright, I better go sort it out
Okay, but here's why you don't go and tell everyone else. Okay is because that person may just honestly may not have meant it
It wasn't their intention to do that. Okay, you got offended if you go and tell everyone else
You're taking that person's name and you're dragging it through the mud. You're making things worse
In fact, your offense to that person by going and spreading what they've done could be ten times a hundred times worse
Than what they've done to you what you do to their name what you do to the reputation?
Could be so much worse than the little thing
They may have done to offend you take it to that person alone
And let me tell you honestly ninety nine percent of times
You'll be sorted out if you just do that. You just go to that person alone. So I'll go to my pastor
I don't want to hear it. If you've not gone to that person one-on-one. I don't want to hear it
Okay, if you come to me and say look someone's done something. What do I do pastor? That's different
I would say to you go to that person one-on-one alone and goes I don't need to know just go and sort it out with
That person alone. All right
Let's keep going verse number 16. There's some 16
Now this is the case when it after you've done that it still hasn't worked out
There's some 16, but if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more
That's one or two more witnesses that in the mouth of two or three witnesses. Every word may be established
So now it's been escalated
You've gone to brother so-and-so. They don't want to sort it out. So what's the next step?
You know, we want to resolve this well now you take two or three witnesses and that could be your pastor that you know
But I would I would I would say these should not be your best friends that will always have your back
This should be impartial mature believers your brother so-and-so. I have a situation with a with a person
I need two or three witnesses. Would you come and listen to this conversation? Why is it important to have impartial listeners?
it's because
You may be tainted with bitterness and so you may think this person has not accepted you or whatever
But when the witness is here, they might hear that it's actually you that you're the one of the problem
You're the one that is not letting that go that person's willing to move on but for you
You're not satisfied and you you know, you're making things worse. You need impartial listeners to come and sort things out
Oh if that person is truly not wanting to hear from you truly not wanted to resolve things at least now
You have the weight of other witnesses to reinforce. Yes. This person has tried to sort it out
We've confirmed this and let's keep going
If that person still would not hear if that person still does not want to sort out the conflicts in verse number 17
It says and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the church
But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as in heathen man and a publican
Let me just stop here for a minute
Most preachers will say to you the church age has not started yet
All right, the New Testament Church Age has not begun yet Jesus Christ is teaching take it to the church
Right here right before his death before his resurrection
It's saying take it to the church and this is what you do
If someone has not heard you after the witnesses you get it gets brought before the whole church
And if the church is an agreement the person that does not want to resolve the problem
Will be treated as a publican as a heathen. What's a heathen a non-believer? It's not saying this person's not a non-believer
It's saying just treat them like a non-believer
Of course the church ought to be a place for believers to be gathered together
And it's churches not a place for non-believers
And so what do you do you keep that person out of the church you treat them as a publican a heathen man?
Someone that does not believe in the Lord you treat him you cast them out of church you kick him out
Okay, if they don't want to resolve the problem
Okay, so please don't let your conflicts go unresolved if you have a conflict with someone in the church today
Then you need to go and sort it out
You need to go and take that to that person one-on-one all right
And it's and if you've done that and it's still not resolved
Then you need to take two or three witnesses
But I've never seen a case where that's ever had to happen quite often people don't take it one-on-one
They make it so much worse
You know and then you know the conflicts so much more hard to manage and to sort out
Okay, so please do things in accordance to God's Word look at verse number 18 verse number 18
So you've tried to resolve it with that person you could not be able you weren't unable
You weren't able to so the church has kicked them out treat them as a heathen a publican verse number 18
Verily I said to you whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever
You shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven
What is this teaching if?
Brethren resolve the conflicts it's resolved in heaven if you loosened it
It's loosed in heaven you know if God sees a church sort out a matter as far as God is concerned I
Don't need to get involved. It's sorted out. Okay, but if there's a situation a conflict
That's not resolved someone's kicked out of the church
Well, it's still not resolved in heaven and God's judgment God's justice will come upon that person. That's been kicked out
That's what it's teaching here in verse 18. Let's keep reading verse 19 again
I say unto you
That if two of two of you shall agree on earth as touch in anything that they shall ask it shall be done
For them for my father, so I read that let me just read it again again
I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touch in anything that they shall ask
It shall be done for them of my father, which is in heaven
So basically what's been confirmed by Jesus is here if you if the church is in agreement
You know then as far as God is concerned
Sorry, yeah, if we're in agreement as a church then
It shall be done for them of my father which is an
God's approving of it as well as what he's saying, you know, as far as God in heaven is concerned
He's approved of that decision of that agreement that's occurred in church
Okay again, if you cast someone out the church churches agreement in that the father is an agreement of that. Okay?
Why because in verse 20 for where two or three are gathered together in my name
There am I in the midst of them?
You see even when a church makes a decision like that when a church is an agreement
The reason why a church can be in agreement is because Christ is in the midst of us
Christ is already here the decisions we make as a church where the body of Christ the Bible calls us is
Because Christ is in the midst and that's why we always seek the Lord's leading
That's how we seek the Holy Ghost to empower us to guide us to lead us is because the church decisions
Our church make is as though God the Father has made that in heaven. Okay, so let's keep reading verse number 21
There's number 21
Then came Peter to him and said Lord how off shall my shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him till seven times
Yeah, Peter's being a little bit
It's sarcastic the right word. Well, even seven times you think I should even seven times God, you know
Is that how much I should forgive that person?
Jesus safe unto him I say not unto thee until seven times but until 70 times seven
So Jesus just plays the game right with Peter more than seven times Peter
70 times seven four hundred and ninety times you ought to forgive your breath in other words
It's not like you need to keep record as this guy is he close to 490, you know, he's sin, you know
He's a sinned against me four hundred eighty nine times one more time and I can finally not have to forgive this guy
That's what he's saying. Obviously, okay, obviously you always forgive they come
Repentant asking for forgiveness saying sorry then you ought to forgive them every time is what Jesus Christ is saying. Okay, and
you know once again if you've been offended by someone in this church and
They come and say sorry, but sometimes the only way they'll know when you say well see they're not coming to say
Sorry, did you go and approach it to them one-on-one? Do they even know you got offended by them?
Do they even realize you've been bothered by that?
Probably not that's probably why they don't even come say sorry
But look if they do come and apologize and say sorry you ought to forgive them. All right
It's one of the hardest things in life is to say
Sorry, one of the hardest things to apologize or to figure of other people, but it's such an important thing
I mean God's forgiven us, you know
It was see soon that he compares his forgiveness to us with how we ought to forgive our brethren verse number 23
Please verse 23
We end on this story says therefore is the kingdom of heaven like and unto a certain King
Which would take account of his servants and when he had begun to reckon one was brought to him which owed him 10,000 talents
but for as much as he hadn't had not to pay his Lord commanded him to be sold and his wife and his
Children and all that he had and payments to be made
so obviously this story the Lord here is a picture of the Lord God and
All of us have sin all of us have something to pay
We all when they have to pay for our sins
Either Jesus Christ has taken that and paid it himself in his body on the tree on the cross or you
Decide to pay for all for all eternity in hell. Okay. So this is a story that's been pictured here this man
Owen his Lord but unable to pay
This 26 the servant therefore fell down and wished wished him saying Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all
Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed him and forgave him the debts
So that's exactly the same thing, right?
We come before God and we call out to him and we ask him for two patients have patience to be merciful to us
You know through Jesus Christ and the Lord here moved with compassion loose him forgave him the debt
That's exactly what we've gone through in our lives
Okay, God has forgiven our debt because Jesus Christ has paid for it all, you know, praise God for that
but the key the key to forgiveness is found here in verse 27 and this is what this is the key that a lot of
Christians don't have with their brothers and sisters in Christ. What do you say? It was moved with compassion?
If you are unable to forgive your brethren if you're unable to go and say sorry for something you've done you're lacking compassion
Okay, and yet the Lord God had compassion upon you. Okay. So what do you need to have on your brethren then obviously compassion?
Let's keep reading verse 28
But the same servant went went out and found one of his fellow servants which owed him and a hundred pence
So he owed him much less than what he owed the Lord
Okay, and says here and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat saying pay me that thou owest
And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him saying have patience with me
so he's asking the same thing right have patience with me and I will pay thee all and
He would not but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debts
I'm reminded of a story. Yeah, it's not really related. But just a quick story. I was down in Liverpool once
And I got a junkie saved like just just a full-blown junkie, you know, I gave him the gospel
He bowed his head. He prayed he got saved
Literally a few moments later after he received Christ the Savior. I said well now you're on your way to heaven
You can be sure you're going to heaven some other junkie walks up to him and he's like hey you owe me $30
Right, you know, I lent you that money you went out you bought smokes or whatever. You still haven't paid me back
What are you gonna do about it? And I quickly turned to this passage
So as I can I just show you this and I just showed him, you know
And the other guy was asking like please forgive me. Give me more time
You know, I said you but something small right something's fine
but you know how these junkies are they you know, they can't manage their money properly and
So I showed him that story. I thought it's kind of funny and then I showed him cuz oh, yeah
You're right. You know God's really forgiven me and I was like, you know give that guy a bit more time
You know be patient that guy just like God was more patient with you. Well, let's keep reading verse 31
So when his fellow servant saw what was done
They were very sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done
Then his Lord after that he had called him said unto him. Oh that wicked servant
I forgave thee all that debt because thou desirest me
shouldest not thou also have compassion on thy fellow servant even as I had pity on thee and his Lord was wroth and
Delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him
Now look at this now first of all, if you're saved you can never go to hell
I don't want you to think that this story is about someone losing their salvation
It's not but it's still a very important principle here. Let's look at it verse number 35. So likewise
Shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother
Their trespasses. All right. Do you see now? It's not about salvation. Okay, it's not about salvation
When you're saved your position before God is righteous is perfect because of Jesus Christ
That's your position
Then you have your walk with the Lord
Okay, your fellowship with the Lord and your fellowship your walk with the Lord can be tainted by your sins
In fact, when you walk in darkness, you have no fellowship with God whatsoever because there's no darkness in God whatsoever
That's why the Bible teaches us that we should go to the Lord and confess our sins
You know confess our sins daily so we can continue maintain that walk and fellowship with God not for salvation
But just to have the presence of God in our life be walking in his ways walking in the spirit
Okay
Now here's the thing
If someone has to come and apologize to you they've done wrong for you and you've not forgiven that person
You still hold bitterness in your heart against that person. Well when you go before the Lord and confess your sins
Yes
They're gonna God's not gonna forgive you fully because until you have forgiven your brethren fully for what they've done to you
Okay, your walk with the Lord will be tarnished
Okay, it'll be defiled as it were until you forgive your brethren for what they've done against you, okay
This is not the only place the Bible teaches this please we've already covered this
Let's go to Matthew chapter 6 please Matthew chapter 6 verse 14
Matthew chapter 6 verse 14
Just in case you're wondering is this is this really right is this true doctrine?
Yes, it is. Matthew chapter 6 verse 14 the Bible just Jesus once again speaking
For if you forgive men their trespasses
Your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. Hey, there's a condition
You know, how will God forgive you in your walk with the Lord if you forgive other men their trespasses against you
Look at verse number 15
But if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses
Hey, do you want to be walking with the Lord?
You know if you want to be counted as it were the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Do you think the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is someone that's holding grudges against their brethren?
That hasn't forgiven their brethren their brethren has come and said sorry
They've done wrong or maybe they've offended you but you've not gone one-on-one that person to sort it out
You know, you've held it against them
But you've not done your work the step of you going and trying to sort it out with that person
If you've not done that if you've been offended by brother if you have divisions conflicts with brethren in the church
You know, you cannot forgive them for what they've done. So how do I know if i'm not forgiving them?
bitterness in the heart
Bitterness in the heart can grow and and destroy your life
Okay, you need to go and sort this out if you've not done that to your brethren
Then the Lord God's not going to forgive you
In your spiritual walk with him you're not going to be able to walk in in the pureness
That that he wants to walk in the fullness of the light that God wants you to walk with him
Okay, so this is an important thing guys. Okay, we you know, we we can rebuke the world when they persecute us
We can rebuke, you know, those that offend us the unsaved the ungodly the reprobates. It's easy to do that
It's harder to rebuke ourselves, you know when we've done wrong against the brethren
We have not come with a forgiving heart with the brethren. So please make sure if you have
Conflicts if you have division, let me just say first of all, it's normal. It happens to everybody
Okay, that's that's that's the that's normal. That's it. You should expect that but what's not normal is when you don't forgive one another
Okay, so if anyone's like that today, let me encourage you sort it out one-on-one with that person. All right, let's pray