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  WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ME？
  by Shane Idleman
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Summary: This sermon delves into the importance of discerning God's will
and avoiding the broad road that leads to destruction. It emphasizes the
need to truly repent, believe, and follow God's Word, highlighting the
dangers of practicing lawlessness and the deceptive nature of false
prophets. The message encourages humility, genuine repentance, and a
deep commitment to seeking God's will above all else.

Topics: "Discerning God's Will", "Genuine Repentance"
Scripture References: Matthew 7:13, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 7:24, Romans 14:4, James 4:7, 1 John 1:9

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DESCRIPTION
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This sermon delves into the importance of discerning God's will and
avoiding the broad road that leads to destruction. It emphasizes the
need to truly repent, believe, and follow God's Word, highlighting the
dangers of practicing lawlessness and the deceptive nature of false
prophets. The message encourages humility, genuine repentance, and a
deep commitment to seeking God's will above all else.

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CONTENT
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Doesn't say that The Bible doesn't say that and I don't know if you've
came across Over the years that you've been a Christian or the months
maybe where you wonder is that really in the Bible? Does God help those
who help themselves? Is that is there were there really three wise men
in the Bible? Did you know there weren't? What? There were we don't know
how many wise men there were but it's you know, I'm not against three
wise men There's frankincense and myrrh and gold and the gifts We also
I'm assuming, you know, he wasn't born on December 25th Christmas okay
there so there's a lot of things that aren't necessarily in the Bible,
but I'm not going to talk about those issues The title this morning is
who are you to judge me? Who are you to judge me? Now unless you've
lived on another planet for the last few years you realize that this is
the popular statement these days This is how Hollywood and Washington
get out of a conviction Who are you to judge me? I remember a famous
athlete pro basketball player. He was considering running for public
office and They mentioned, you know, the big issues of the day and
whatever abortion gay marriage and different things and he said Doesn't
the Bible say judge not who are you to tell people what they can and
cannot do? Isn't that a good point because the Bible says judge not who
are you to judge? So we're going to talk about a lot of those issues in
the series Does the Bible really say this and here is the problem up
front? I'll tell you biblical illiteracy Biblical illiteracy most
Americans even those claiming to be Christians really don't know what
the Bible says They might have glanced through it. They might hear a
sermon now and then they might have a little daily devotional that has
one little scripture in Proverbs and and if you're not careful, you can
take things out of context and even the best of us are guilty of picking
and choosing Certain scriptures like oh, I like this like a menu you're
going through a buffet.

Remember those they still have those around, you know I'll take this
I'll take this I don't like this and when if we're not careful we can go
through the Bible like that I don't like this and I but I'd really like
this and abusive husbands will say well, I like this scripture
submitting to your wife's well, that's out of context and then others
will use it for this and biblically illiteracy is pretty Rampant right
now, especially in the church. I remember I just heard a story about a
pastor who went to a couple's house for dinner and She set out the nice
silverware Expensive silverware actually real silver in the spoon and
After he left she noticed that the spoon was gone He took the spoon and
This really bothered her So for many months many months she was praying
and Lord. I don't know what to do Months went by I think I'm also year
went by and she finally had the courage to say did you take my spoon?
And he said I did I put it in your Bible Funny, but not funny and one of
the difficulties with pastoring is you tell people, you know You got to
read the Bible got to read about we all know that But you need to
actually do go a little deeper make it a spiritual discipline We'll go
to the gym We'll do things.

We don't you know feel like sometimes the flesh but you have to make it
a daily discipline So it actually becomes part of your life It becomes
part of your morning or evening. It becomes part of something you look
forward to you start to spend time with God Maybe you have a journal.
I'm not I've tried to journal a lot of times I'm not real effective at
it, but you'll write down thoughts, you know God What about this and
prayers and have it be a part of your life? And as you go through the
scriptures write down questions you have get to know the Bible and then
let the Bible know you Let it cut you deep.

Let it let it begin to build as well So it has to become a daily
discipline, especially now in our culture to know what the Bible really
says Do you know it has something to say about a nation protecting
borders? Following law it speaks into all these issues That's why
everybody is saying that is against conservatives and biblical
Principles will say you're not to judge the Bible just says love your
neighbor in context. So what does it say? and Often the Bible will put
the responsibility back on us To respond that's where the word
responsibility comes from. We have a we have the Ability and the
responsibility to respond and Tony Evans said truth takes the guesswork
out of life I love that statement knowing the truth takes the guesswork
out of life.

You don't have to I wonder about this I wonder about this. Should we be
doing this? Should I be dating that person? Should we be marrying this
and marrying this person? Should I be? Truth takes all the guesswork out
of life. You know how God wants you to live So where do we find this
famous famous famous scripture? Judge not Matthew 7 verse 1 I'll put it
up on the screen for you.

So you can see it Jesus is talking obviously and he says judge not that
you may that you be not judged So don't judge people unless you're going
to be judged according to that same same judgment for with what judgment
you judge You will be judged and with what measure you use we measure
back to you So just in that one verse you could see where people maybe
come up with this. Hey, don't judge. Don't judge me I won't judge you
because however, you judge me.

It's gonna come right back on you But here is the irony very few people
reference the context They don't look at the context and they forget
about other scriptures such as John 724 where Jesus says judge with
righteous judgment Wait a minute. Isn't that a contradiction? Judge not
but then he says judge with righteous judgment Well again, look at the
context and we're gonna do that in a minute But in first Corinthians 2
15 the Apostle Paul said that those who are spiritual should judge and
discern all things So here's the biblical mandate those who are mature
those who are spiritual those who are seeking God. They should be the
ones judging What's going on in our culture? That's why the pulpit
should speak about issues in our culture and not be silenced That's why
you'll hear separation of church and state What does that mean?
Basically church be quiet Keep your faith to yourself Keep it within
your four walls Don't talk about these issues But God has given us a
biblical mandate to discern all things To say it's not okay to murder a
child in the womb or outside the womb now To say this is what God says
about marriage to say This is what we are our policy should look like
we're actually called to do that.

It shouldn't take up all of our time The priority of the the pulpit is
to preach the gospel But also to discern what is going on in our culture
Here's what John Calvin said about these words of Christ These words of
Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but they are
intended to cure a disease That disease is criticism See the context is
Jesus is going after a critical heart Sin sniffers You know those people
maybe you're that person You can sit and point out the sin and everybody
out there and you don't look in the mirror you don't look in your own
heart So whatever you're using to judge that's gonna be thrown back on
you that same judgment It's it's a call against a critical spirit I like
what Martin Luther King jr. Said the church must be reminded that it is
not the master or the servant of the state We are the conscience of the
state The church is to be the conscience of the state that that light on
a hill So how can you remove the church from politics or remove the
church from Hollywood? We should be making a difference in media. We
should be making a difference in all areas of life Unless you read the
scripture differently You shall be a light upon a hill Go and be the
salt of the world, but don't affect these areas stay out of those areas
See the truth is to permeate to saturate all areas of our culture From
the sex slave trade we should be vocal From what they're trying to do
and and the big thing Let's look at if you think the church shouldn't be
involved in some of these things look at governmental spending Look at
what we're leaving for the next generation We've got this Hezekiah
attitude where at least it's not gonna affect me. I'm out of here before
God judges So the church should be able to speak into all these issues
Think about this Moses spoke to Pharaoh Nate that spoke to Dave and
Samuel spoke to Saul prophets throughout the Old Testament and even into
the New Testament Paul went to King Agrippa you would speak into the
culture So regarding moral issues that destroy lives and dishonor God we
are called to judge Which is basically to call into question Behaviors
choices and lifestyles that lead people in a dangerous direction
Especially if these issues are to become social policy and legally
sanctioned We so so when they say judge not We have to remind them.

No, we're actually called the judge however We have to keep keep
reading. It's pretty important here. Here's the context Picking back up
and why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye? We have some
speck hunters may be here So what is that your eye? What's that in your
eye? huge plank So Jesus said why do you look at the speck in your
brother's eye basically going around? Do you know those people but boy
they can find fault in anything any public speaker any of this thing?
Wow They just find anything I've told you before if you ever want
criticism start a church if you ever want criticism start a radio
station as You know, we just launched the Westside Christian Fellowship
radio network and I'm getting emails from people How can you have Greg
Laurie and Alistair Begg and David Jeremiah? They're part of the one
world religion and they're false teaching I'm like what in the world.

Are you smoking? What are you drinking? What Bible are you reading? See
little Little things why I think they had lunch with a Catholic priest
two years ago. Oh Boy, I guess they're leading people see pick that
little speck That little speck they're going that's all they do and it
drives me crazy these armchair quarterbacks heresy hunters with these
negative websites just like to go in and point a point pull down
everybody Because they don't measure their standard And often if you
follow that person around You'll see a lot of sin in their life They're
a Pharisee So Jesus said how do you look at the speck in your brother's
eye? But you do not consider the plank in your own eye or how can you
say to your brother? Let me remove the speck from your eye and look a
plank is in your own eye you hypocrite First first, here's the key you
want to judge others or speak into their lives? You want to maybe have a
ministry or some of you listening out there? I know a lot of pastors
listen in and and and this is well If you want to speak into this area
of judging you want to make spiritual judgments. Here's the key First
remove the plank from your own eye What's he talking about it's it's you
have to be completely broken Humble before God we shouldn't be excited
about pointing out sin We should be broken about the sin First remove
the plank from your own eye, then you'll be able to see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye Do not give what is holy to the
dogs nor cast your pearls before swine Lest they trample them under
their feet and tear you in pieces Now we'll get to that in a minute, but
I don't want to leave this one first remove the plank from your own eye
And then you'll be able to see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eyes Or I now I'll just tell you up front Admittedly, I felled
in this area because I did not exercise grace at opportune times.

I just told my wife this morning It is so hard To go from like a John
the Baptist Right you hear calling the nation to repentance calling the
the political system out Calling that being that voice in the wilderness
calling people back to God and then when I step down from here I have to
become mr. Rogers nice gentle meek understanding compassionate listening
not overbearing So you go from this type a preaching to That's the
balance. That's the struggle. So in order to do that, he says here
remove that speck from your I humble yourself We should not excuse sin
in exchange for tolerance Extending grace does not mean we approve of
sinful behavior, but it does mean extending compassion Not Looking at
the plank in your own eye.

I'm sorry removing the plank first from your own eye Romans 14 for who
are you to judge another servant? Who are you to judge another servant a
Judge hears the evidence and pronounces judgment. We are in no position
to do this. We do not have all the facts So you have to look up this
word judgment that Paul's talking about in Romans, but it's a different
type of judgment It's a judgment like saying you're going to hell.

You don't deserve God. You've always drifted. You're a false this you're
and you're judging the person We're in no position to do that But we are
called to make righteous judgment types of decisions For example, I have
told people based on the fruit I see in your life.

I would be very concerned Do you truly know Christ you have a
relationship with him? See I'm not judging them and coming down hard on
them I'm bringing a reality to them that there's no fruit There's no
fruit in your life And it's interesting one of the sure signs of someone
who's been filled Mildly with the Spirit of God is they're anxious to
get that plank out They're they're they're humble they're broken they're
often just Weeping and their own sins and looking in their own hearts
and then when they go to someone it's coming out of a spirit of love not
this not the finger-pointing and What we so we do reap What we so we
reap a judgmental attitude is often judged I've seen this many times
before these people maybe they even their ministry gets big Or they're
they're heresy hunters or they're in the church and they're very
critical They're a critical type of person always judging always putting
down be careful your day's coming, sir You will fall Because pride comes
before a fall Those people often just just fall flat on their face And I
can't tell you how many times how many heresy hunters how many arrogant
critical armchair? Quarterbacks and mean-spirited websites there are
under the banner banner of defending the truth That's how they hide I'm
just defending the truth. No, you're arrogant You're mean-spirited And
it has to be called out. We call out sin and carnal Christians.

We have to call sin out in Pharisees as well Those who've not been
humbled by God But let me give you a test. Are you excited about
critiquing others? don't raise your hand because But you see what I'm
going after an attitude there there's a there's an excitement about
critiquing others Are you argumentative and very opinionated? That's not
a that's not always a good thing Actually, the Bible talks about even
leaders in the church should not be quarrelsome Should not be
argumentative. There's there's you got us you got to stand for the
essentials for sure But when it comes to non-essentials you have to
allow people the freedom to believe what they want to believe Because if
you're always critiquing others, you're argumentative and you're very
opinionated Also, do you leave churches because you disagree with
someone on things that aren't important? See it's showing the heart.

It's revealing what's in the heart And are you excited about telling
others? That someone fell or someone's in sin, I can't believe it and
you're excited so see it's you see what I'm getting at here It's a
spirit of of I'm just so glad they fell. I can't wait to tell others I'm
pointing out that sin in their own life. And then if they disagree with
me if they challenge me God forbid I'm opinionated.

I'm the final authority. No, that's arrogance. That's that's spiritual
arrogance We forget that Jesus rebuked spiritual arrogance just as just
as much as unbelievers Can you imagine a row of nicely dressed
Pharisees? Dressed in their whatever they were dressed in and their you
know They're they're they're necklaces or whatever.

They wore their factories and things and he said you whitewashed tombs
You whitewashed tombs. You're gonna be example this morning gay you
whitewashed tombs You are full of death inside you look nice on the
outside, but you're full of dead men's tombs Well, well with dead men's
bones. Well did our fathers who prophesied about you? You are dead and
decaying you draw nigh to me with your lips, but your hearts are far
from me And he just rebukes these religious leaders Hypocrisy spiritual
pride because if spiritual pride says right now that sermon is not for
me Let me get this CD for Bill And we try to defend and it's ironics and
sometimes I'll go to people and say listen Don't you see this in your
own life? No, but but I'm defending the truth.

No, you're arrogant Defenders of the truth are broken and humble not
perfect, but they don't want to point out the sin and others Are your
words seasoned with grace? Are your words seasoned the Bible says season
you put seizing on anything? So the words now I'm telling you I could
sit right there because I'm preaching myself this morning This is my
constant challenge, right? I've got to be bold against sin, but I've got
to be passionate with others I've got to be convicting and insured and
then when I and then graceful and gentle with others It's that and then
when you speak to others great seasoning your words with grace If you're
going to go after someone don't go after them season your words with
grace and be gentle Now I'm not talking about sweeping corruption under
the rug and hiding it and don't we hard to confront We are to confront
if you know me I confront That's why it's hard to find that balance and
people are surprised I mean, they'll tell they'll sometimes come to my
even go. How do you live with that? He must be well just no no who you
are up here is not necessarily who you are at home Laughing and joking
and leading and loving and being compassionate and understanding. I
don't go and talk to the single mom like this How could you repent and
believe in the gospel you sinner? But see you can talk a lot different
to the masses than you do individuals.

That's what preaching really is I don't know where the Holy Spirit's
arrows are going, but he does And boy does it go and this might be a
good time to remind you of a time I had let me ask one more question
proud. Are you proud about your knowledge and eager to put others down?
No, it's quiet Pin drop or is it a little pin? I think there's nothing
but but this we have to be careful and here's I Kind of like draw back a
little bit when I see zealous young Christians. I love zealous young
Christians praise God for it but when they start saying You know, I'm
reading the Bible.

I'm also reading this book. I'm reading this book I'm reading this book
and and they they start to this knowledge starts to do something
interesting it call it's it puffs them up They memorize the five points
of Calvinism now. They think they're a scholar they quote John Owen the
Puritan Calvinist a Famous Puritan and Calvinist and now they think they
know it all and and they begin to but have you read this but have you
done? This and there's this there's this there's this building up of
self There's this knowledge and and so they can start to put other
people down They look forward to debating the Mormon before they cry for
them See they come with the wrong heart.

And so I I notice these people often I was one And I can slip back back
into that very easily if we don't stay Broke, I would encourage you to
come to the morning worship That's really where you get broken if those
type those types of things are where you're gonna see the most
transformation in your own heart So anyway proud about your knowledge
and eager to put others down so 2005 I think I've shared this before My
mom came to me and she goes Shane your family doesn't want to be around
you anymore. And and I thought I was spiritual No, I was critical I
could put down everybody Yeah, I know this you need to be very very very
careful where you're getting your information from Because there's a lot
of negative heresy hunter websites out there who are not filled with
love and compassion and broken They want to pull everybody down There
are groups out there that will go after anybody who's charismatic And I
tell them often if this church keeps growing watch out. I'm next on
their hit list Hour and a half of worship you guys are brainwashed on
the altar weeping.

Oh my lord, you're emotional No, that's God breaking a heart. That's
biblical fasting Oh What's wrong with this group Fasting emotional
worship the Holy Spirit might be moving and convicting and drawing and
see they'll just start nailing you with all that because you're not
conservative like they are and You begin you be going begin to be one of
their targets So anyway 2005 I could put down everybody Beth Moore I
mean you name it. I had something critical to say Why because I was
listening to the wrong voices the to be honest with you the Bible says
go directly to the source and Hear what they have to say.

We have to allow people we have to give them the same grace that we
would like The same grace that we would like we need to show to others
So ask yourself those questions. Are you excited about critiquing
others? Do you have a negative judgmental heart? Are you argumentative?
Are you very opinionated? Are you excited about your education and what
you've learned and you're excited to tell someone off and excited when
an argument? We never should be excited about winning an argument and
have that argumentative spirit and I can see them coming from a mile
away They'll start to ask what's your view on this? They're not
concerned about my view What are they looking to do argument they want
to they want to argue my position that that's what they're not even
listening to What we have to say they're they're just to show their
pride and show their arrogance. So be careful God does not approve of
that.

So that's what he's saying here. If you go back to the scripture we saw
up there Remove the speck from your your own eye remove. I'm sorry
remove the speck or the blank from your eye humble yourself So basically
before critiquing others, you really need to spend time in the prayer
closet So if you want to go and critique others spend time broken before
God and saying God I humble myself before you.

I Don't want to do that So do not give what is holy to the dogs nor cast
your pearls before swine Lest they trample them under their feet and
turn and tear you in pieces. What is he talking about? Well, I like what
got questions org said so I'm just gonna read read what they said in his
sermon Jesus uses dogs and pigs as representatives of those who would
ridicule reject and blasphemy the gospel Is that not true? Most of you
know that We are not we are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to
those who have no other purpose than to trample it and return the to
their own evil ways Think about that So there are groups out there. I'll
tell you groups.

I'm not gonna name names or get too specific here But there are people
that I'm not even gonna talk to Locally right over that hill certain
groups. I'm not even they know where I stand. They know the gospel.

Mm-hmm What's my what am I gonna do? I'm gonna back away and pray that
rhymes you can remember it easy I'm just gonna back away and pray I'm
not gonna keep throwing the gospel to those who trample it under feet
and that's actually he says something entry Lest they lest they trample
it under their feet and then they turn and they tear you in pieces so
it's this image here of being a doormat of Like come on guys, come on
guys, come on guys and you and you keep you keep bringing this the
gospel to these people You keep trying to be that light. He's just stop
it at some point. You need to say like Paul I turn you over to Satan
Bye-bye, I'm not gonna I can't keep doing this now Maybe many of you
haven't encountered this but the longer you become a Christian the more
you stand up for Jesus You will encounter people where you need just
just stop because it's not productive anymore he said they said
repeatedly sharing the gospel of someone who continually scoffs and
Ridicules Christ is like casting pearls before swine We can identify
such people through discernment which is given through To some measure
to all Christians.

So be careful who you involve yourself with Now, I'm not telling you not
to witness or spread the gospel. That's what we're called to do But
there are some people where you've tried they know where you stand
Should I say family members sometimes? Might fall in this camp. You've
shared it.

They know where you stand and You just keep bringing it to them it's not
productive anymore. It's almost like you're arguing you're coming with
argument of a spirit It's unproductive. You just need to let that go And
then he said in verse 7 here keep asking seeking and knocking.

So the context is being judgmental judgmental humbling yourself Not
throwing the gospel out to those who who will keep demeaning it and then
I don't know if he's talking about praying Possibly or asking for
discernment in this area, but it seems to flow together Ask and it will
be given to you. Some of you need to hear that this morning ask and it
will be given to you But also seek and you will find knock and it will
be open to you Sometimes we make these separate things. Okay, let me ask
that's separate.

Let me seek that's something different Let me continue in this that's
something different. It's all together. What are you asking God for in
your life? God remove this from my life God bring this into my life.

God open this door whether it's marriage or work or whatever is what are
you asking God for? It says here to keep seeking that Now this isn't
just seeking with our heart. This is also lining up our life with what
you believe God is doing If you're saying God, I need that job
opportunity God. I need some employment Well, don't sit at home and
watch Netflix Go fill out applications Go be available Seek and whatever
you're praying for God restore my marriage husband say all the time God
restore my marriage and I say stop being a jerk Can you say that from
the pulpit? Stop being a jerk You see it seek you have to line up with
Scripture as well So asking seeking knocking it says knock and it will
be open to you For everyone who asks receives and who seeks finds and to
him who knocks will be opened Now this could be a whole new sermon on
what's not in the Bible Because whatever I ask I receive That's where
the name and claimant movement came from You know what that is Name it
the new s-class Mercedes Is there an s-class Then whatever that new
Mercedes and I've got that $85,000 luxury vehicle right there on my
refrigerator I'm gonna put my Tony Robbins Anthony Robbins CDs right
next to it And I'm just gonna just that I'm naming it and I'm claiming
it God your word says if I ask if I seek I'm gonna work hard Lord.

That's my that's my goal Name it and claim it and while I'm at it. I'm
gonna get this nice new house. I just saw in the MLS That's the multiple
listing service for the real estate agent.

I've got this nice big That's 12 bedroom up there on the mountain see
how that pool that pool kind of I like those pools I've never had one
but where they drop over the valley. I've got that and I've got that
right there I'm naming it and claiming it That's where it comes from
This ministry someday someday some way somehow is going to have its own
private personal jet Gulf Stream I'm naming it. I'm claiming it.

It's only 68 million. So on your way out On your way out we have an
envelope here No Phil don't leave it's I'm not sure If we can if we can
start now that will become a Reality, I don't have to fly coach anymore
and we can spread the gospel all around the world with this new Gulf
Stream All three of those examples are examples of what is happening in
the Christian community I Mean if anybody need a Gulf Stream Billy
Graham needed a Gulf Stream and he didn't do that So You don't take
this. Maybe I should do a whole sermon on this You can't just say by it
says ask and receive but your word says it right? But if you look again,
if you're reading the whole Bible, it says whatever you ask according to
my will Whatever you ask according to my will What is God's not gonna
hear that So whatever a person asks they say Lord according to your will
I Don't need that car Lord.

How about just a car that runs and the God might answer that and give
you a car According to my will I Lord I need that to get to church. I
need that to get home and a house I'd like to provide for my family, but
let's downscale that let's just get a basic living God Would you provide
these living conditions and as you as you commit your ways to the Lord
your thoughts become established according to Proverbs? So you're
thinking actually changes if you're open for it The Gulf Stream, I don't
know about that could still be you know But that you won't even that
won't even be on the radar. So see your prayer life starts to change It
starts to line up So when God puts something on your heart, for example
I've talked about this before when he put the radio stations on our
heart in the heart of the elders We begin to ask and seek and continue
Lord.

Is this what you want to do Lord? You show me and I've saved this off
and I'll tell you I'll publicly admit this You ready? I? Don't trust my
feelings But I trust him and I said Lord, I fully trust you if you're
doing this, we'll just step out of the way But if you're not Please
close the door. I don't trust my feelings and one of the things I have
to work on This is confession morning Is and I know you can relate to
this It's sometimes we don't forget we forget how big God is Because
when he started I started really praying fast for the radio stations For
those of you don't know we just purchased four radio stations and it's
you can actually listen live now online and hear it all Over the world.
So there's people turning in from all over Listening to it online, but I
thought there's no way this can happen There's no way this can happen
He's But then your minds, I know God can but I don't think he's going to
you ever fall into that I mean, you know, he can but at this I told I
would tell Morgan I catch myself, you know, that's impossible They're
not gonna drop their price in half.

They're not gonna do that. I don't know anything about running away This
is not God can't handle this one. This is way too.

This is too much But God often likes to show Who he is and I'm learning
to believe God for big things big things Something else I'll tell you
about on this topic I've probably heard this a lot over the last couple
years that people really see how Westside Christian Fellowship could
really grow and Be in a church where there is a thousand people
worshiping What do I say? I? Don't think There's no way guys. I can open
that door. I don't I don't that's too big That's God's not gonna give us
a campus Somewhere else and have couple campuses and have enough people
to oversee two three campuses.

That's impossible That's not gonna happen. But people say no I can see
God doing that. No.

No, I can't Why where's my where's my thinking? Limited it's like can be
limited because the flesh comes in and it really limits Can God give
your kids a dream and turn their hearts right back to Christ Just ask
Jim Simba. Ah It's exactly what happened. No, he that's too big That's I
don't think God can do that and we start to really limit our prayer life
now on the flip side You don't just start believing God for the Mercedes
and for the this and and and have you get outside of his will but when
God gives you a glimpse gives you a picture I Begin to even doubt what
we're doing right now When he showed me glimpses 15-20 years ago of what
we would be doing and I was not speaking anybody There's nothing on the
radio.

We'd have anything My I'd say no, that's impossible Don't they know I
didn't go to seminary I can't speak as well as I'd love to preach like
Billy Graham and be articulate like Alistair Begg and You hear these
guys you're like I could never I mean, that's incredible That's
impossible. And then God begins to slowly see sometimes we just we
dumbed down what God wants to do and what God can do It doesn't give us
free license to believe all these crazy things because there's a fine
line between faith and presumption You know presumption is I presume And
I've seen people fall flat on their face by presuming God is in
something when he's not But they cloak it they hide it with faith, I'm
just having faith brother I don't know if you sifted that through the
filter of God's Word Have you spent a lot of time in prayer and fasting?
Is it really faith? Because when it is you grab hold of him and I've
seen this I think happen more often than any other time in the area of
finances and Ministry churches people go out man. I think God is doing
this and we're just gonna step out in faith Well, you better make sure
you have something in the bank account Now there is a time to step out
in faith I don't want to minimize that but I've the most the many
failures I've seen over the years is because people got too presumptuous
I've given advice even this week.

I told one guy no don't go into that business deal I think God will
provide but you have nothing right now. You have nothing God will show
you God also gives us wisdom Why have we forgot about that? Above all
else get wisdom and in all you're getting get understanding. She will
exalt you.

She will promote you So what we try to do is we make wise decisions wise
decisions For example, let's just say it's not happening. So this is not
a good example But there's 150 acres across the street for sale only 1.5
million. Hey elders.

Let's do it We don't have 1.5 million. Well, who cares? Let's just do
it. Let's trust in faith.

Let's believe What will they take? Well, they carry the note we can make
a $40,000 payment every month and really just squeeze it out of the
people. Wait, no 1.4 million is probably $8,000 payment depending on
interest what they charge if it's a hard money loan and all stuff you
don't need no, so But see that wouldn't be a good idea. But Shane you're
you're limiting God.

No, that's not wise That will hurt the church financially What I would
do is take it to prayer and the owner would call and say we're donating
the land That's that's how God often works. I've seen him. I've seen him
work that way a lot of you don't know it I've never talked about it But
there have been some places in Lancaster that have approached me And
have want us back before we were even here and they'd say hey, it's you
know Three million will carry the note and you guys and every time it
never worked on the books And never like this is not gonna work We're
gonna be we're gonna be strapped financially.

This is not gonna work because see the devil open doors to a business
investor wanting to make money will open doors to So in the area of
finances be careful. We usually step out When it makes sense when God
provides The new roof we're putting on right asking people if they like
to donate to that Make sure we have the resources and and step out so
God often uses wisdom with his will I've seen so many people fall flat
on their face because they don't use wisdom and God says I will not be
mocked Here's the thing we have to remember about God if you step out
and do something God doesn't have to do anything He doesn't have to go.
Oh darn it.

I was hoping they wouldn't do that now. I've got to bless them Now I
have to do no he'll say no come back come back fish really you're back
in you come back here So that was a big big rabbit trail On prayer and
using wisdom and asking and seeking because it that verse is taken out
of context quite a bit Hey, whatever you ask man, you'll receive
whatever you ask. No, it's according to God's will Maybe I should just
do a sermon on then the prayer that God answers that I did that before
but more specific on this verse But then verse 9 or what man is there
among you who if a son asked for bread will give him a stone Or if he
asked for fish will give him a serpent if you then being evil Know how
to give good gifts to your children how much more will your father who
is in heaven give good things to those who? ask him Therefore whatever
you want men to do to you do also to them for this is the law and the
prophets That's another sermon Whatever you want men to do to you do to
them as well.

It's a golden rule that we know but look at this here This is a good God
for what what man is there among you? Who will give his son a stone for
bread or would give him a serpent if we Being who we are know how to
give good gifts to our kids How much more a good God a perfect God see I
trust in his sovereignty Trust in who he is stopping bitter and angry at
God trust in his sovereignty. He knows what is best There's a song out
there one of the lyrics they say this when I only see in part I will
prophesy your promises when I only see a part Lord. I don't know what
you're doing I we see through a glass dimly.

There's things in my way I don't know what you're doing, but I'm still
going to prophesy which is proclaim Proclaim when I say prophecy
charismatic say amen conservatives say Don't use that word that word
just means proclaim Prophesy could proclaim what God's Word has said
God's Word says I will never leave you. I will never forsake you I will
never fail you. I'm there you can call on me I might even set a table
before you in the presence of your enemies say Lord I'm gonna eat right
here.

All these people are against me says no one can touch the head that The
head of you if I'm am not for you No one can touch you if I'm not going
to allow them to do that. I'm sovereign. I'm in control Not one hair of
your head.

That's what I mean to say should not fall to the ground without his
notice just like a sparrow This is the God we serve Because God finishes
what he starts and that goes into a very difficult passage for many
people enter by the narrow gate For wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction and there are many who go by it Remember
that broad is the way to hell Broad is the way to hell Just look look at
our culture who's on the broad road It's huge. It's just big road that
everybody's walking by they're walking down so he said there are many
who go by it because narrow is the gate and Difficult is the way which
leads to eternal life and there are few who find it So he says choose
the narrow gate and then we skip to verse 21 not everyone who says to me
Lord Lord Christian listen here. Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord
shall enter the kingdom of heaven So not everybody says but I'm a
Christian enters the kingdom of heaven.

Isn't that a wake-up call for many people? But he who does the will of
my father in heaven and I do ruffle feathers sometimes I'll tell people
Listen, I don't see you doing God's will I don't see any fruit in your
life. Are you sure you're on the narrow road? Because one thing that is
it is guaranteed in the Bible. Is it a genuine believer will have
genuine fruit It's not perfect fruit.

It might be fruit that's missing here and there But there will be there
will be something in them that is genuine. It's it's a genuine
relationship They can't fake that and many will say to me in that day
Lord Lord Have we not prophesied in your name in other words? how we not
spoke in your name did we not say things in your name and Cast out
demons in your name and done many wonders in your name So this is just
this is just mind-boggling and a lot of this I think of a lot of guys on
TV when I read this That are acting flamboyant and charismatic and crazy
and cuckoo Doing all these things in the name of the Lord and Jesus
someday will say I don't even know you depart from me Sure, you say all
these things But do you truly know me and Jesus said I will declare them
that to them. I never knew you depart from me you who practice
lawlessness So he's saying here There are people who spoke thus sayeth
the Lord not everybody who says God said or God.

This is of the flock They said thus sayeth the Lord. They did spiritual
things. Did they not? They did spiritual things and apparently they did
wonders If you do all these things in my name cast out name demons in my
name and you do many wonders many wonders in my name So that's one of
the things that they believe of the false prophets and and and false and
False Antichrist and coming later and all these things that they're
gonna be do some type of wonders that can deceive people And I read on
the news that Tom Brady says his wife is a good witch Shares rituals
that helped him win the Super Bowl Be careful what team you root for
Anyway, I thought of wonders, you know, like she's in I don't think it
has anything to do with them winning But there's there's there's this
there's this sense sometimes in the Christian community of people doing
Things of that are but how could they be a false prophet or how could
they be? Look at what they do Look at their ministry Look at their
outreach that person in Brazil John of God I don't know if you followed
that and their sexual abuse case against him and just a false prophet
from the moment I saw him I could tell but many people were he's on
Oprah and And Brazilian faith healer and all that just you could tell
from the get-go I just screamed false prophet, but many people are left
asking what happened.

We're so hurt He said he was of God Do all these things in my name who
practice lawlessness? Now I'm gonna close with this practice
lawlessness, what does practice means practice mean it's the customary
habitual way of doing something So be very encouraged if you don't
practice sin meaning it's not your habit It's not what you're
comfortable with. It's not what you want to do you struggle with it? But
the difference between the sinner and the person who is saved is the
person who is saved hates the sin They hate their miserable condition.
They want God to help them They cry out for help and they're fighting
against this.

The unbeliever says I enjoy it. I Practice it Practice it. That's why
Paul said do you not know that those who practice? adultery
homosexuality fornication Drunkenness all these things thief thief and
stealing things.

It's their practice. It's your lifestyle. It's who they are They don't
have you ever meet people like where's the conviction in them? They're
not even convicted They don't even know what they're doing wrong They
could care less they're hurting people see they're practicing
lawlessness But there will be those people in the church a Christian say
but Jesus I went to church I Went to a Christian school.

I thought I did did things for you and I spoke about God and and I gave
This wonderful example of how I thought God moved in my life, but
they're practicing lawlessness They never repented and believed in the
gospel So back to the question, who are you to judge me? Well, let God's
Word judge you Let God's Word judge you have you truly repented and
believed Because the reality is there is a judgment coming There is a
judgment coming where God will look look at the heart of all men and
will ask the hard questions Do you truly know him and as a believer?
What would be our practical application? Well is sin trying to take us
in a wrong direction? Is sin trying to Take us down. I have an article
that I'm actually releasing tomorrow in response to what recently
happened to James McDonald Somebody I've looked up to and read his
material and the title is the struggle is real passive and pushy pastors
So it's primarily to pastors, but I also want to encourage you with this
if you are on a cliff and You're about ready to fall into sin take time
now and repent it will hurt but the fruit of repentance far outweighs
the fruit of exposure God's grace will see you through a penitent person
a person who's truly sorry about sin They accept full responsibility for
their actions. They don't they don't blame others.

They don't resent others. They there's not bitterness. They seek
forgiveness So what we need to do is begin to repair the cracks and the
armor by making God not the ministry the priority Deep healing needs to
take place weep and worship while God breaks and heals and restores Let
the Bible study you let it cut deep and remove the cancer of pride Pride
is deadly and damning Ask God to heal and help you and it does beg the
question you call yourself spirit filled But are you because many people
can use that theology, but not be truly spirit filled That's the key to
be broken and humble before God exposing sin as soon as it begins and
staying vigilant and Remembering that your enemy goes about as a roaring
lion seeking whom he may devour All of us have to be on guard the pulpit
and the pew All of us have to take a real short account of sin like John
Owen said be killing sin or sin be killing you So that would be the
practical application this morning you're on the narrow road, but that
broad road it looks enticing And even though we I don't think a person
can switch to the broad road I think they can put one foot on and play
in that Area be in the enemy's camp and walk willingly to the enemy's
camp and it's good for us to get back on track and give Our lives back
to the Lord

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Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/cZ_fRWvHHi4.mp4
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/shane-idleman/who-are-you-to-judge-me-cZ_fRW/
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