08/12/10

Judging and discerning

John 8:7 - But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.


In today's scripture we see Jesus saves the adulterous woman (some state this was Mary of Magdalene) for death at the hands of the scribes and Pharisees. This incident and in other incidents Jesus did state that He did not come to judge but to save. Paul too writes about those who judge will be judged.

But interestingly we see Paul does at many place judges others like the case where he surrenders two persons unto Satan so that by the suffering in their flesh they will change. He did this because he was not able to change their wicked ways. Jesus too condemned the Pharisees and Sadducees at many places.

So did Paul and Jesus judge even though they said not to?

What Jesus and Paul did was not judge but discern right from wrong or good from bad.

God has given man 5 senses to discern things in the natural rem. A believer receives the Spirit of discernment, Who helps him discern things in the spiritual rem. It is only by the Spirit and the Word of God that a believer can discern the hidden things and save himself from the evil of this world.

We should always discern everything in life but judging them is not something that we should do unless God has already done so. For example the case of Satan we know by the Word of God that he is set for doom and there is no hope for him all because it is written. Also take the case of Judas; Jesus knew from the start that he would betray and perish. Jesus did not say let me pray from him nor did Jesus rebuke the spirit behind Judas like He did with Peter.

What is written cannot be changed. If the scriptures states XYZ person or XYZ institute will face the wrath of God it is not our judgment but we are just narrating that which is written and cannot change. If the institute is condemned it does not mean that all the people of that institute are. Like Jerusalem was condemned in the year 70AD and Jesus did warn them before hand and gave them an opportunity to escape and be saved. Similarly the Bible has given ample warnings and even in simple words written 'come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues' for the people in this institute which is so called the Babylon of the modern age.

If you are a true child of God, in your spirit you will hear a voice telling you to get out of this institute in case you are still a part of her. I was before a part of her and I did not have anyone telling me to get out, it was the Lord and His Word that did.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we thank You for your Spirit. Holy Spirit your people suffer because they lack discernment. Lord, give your people the Spirit of discernment so they see and save themselves from perishing...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
John 3:17-18
17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Luke 6:36-37
36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
1 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you hath his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing,
4 in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:11-13
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth [separate]. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Revelation 17:15- 18:10
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
1 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
5 for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.
7 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.
8 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,
10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)