I invite you at this time to take your Bibles and turn to the Gospel of Matthew, the seventh chapter. Quite timely in our reading starting out the worship this morning was Matthew chapter 7. And the sermon we are starting on as far as in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and it's actually toward the latter part of the Sermon on the Mount, it is in chapter 7. This is the last section of this, so What we see here is the two words that starts out chapter seven. It says, judge not. Have you ever tried to correct somebody and they will turn around to you and say something like, you're not supposed to judge. You're not to be judgmental. Doesn't the Bible say, judge not? Well, Here we're at that passage of Scripture. As we look at the Sermon on the Mount, we want to take this passage and portion of Scripture and keep it in the right context. Therefore, it was quite appropriate that we read the complete chapter of 7, but the Sermon on the Mount actually started in chapter 5. and goes through chapter six and then chapter seven. So in keeping this in the context, what I want to do is just kind of give you an overall bird's eye view of what we have gone through so far. Chapter five, in Jesus starting this message, he started out with the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes basically are describing a Christian's character, how a Christian ought to be, the right mindset, the attitudes, of a child of God. Here are the Beatitudes describing us as children of God. It's a mindset that a Christian has when he has been born again. As we have looked on through this sermon, we have gone a little bit a portion at a time, a little bit at a time. And what we see, Jesus started teaching on the effect of the things of this world and how it affects the child of God. How do things in life affect us? If you're a child of God, it ought to affect you different than it does a person who is not a child of God. Because we ought to have the mind of Christ. The word of God describes us as the salt of the earth, the light of the world. There should be a vast, distinct difference between the child of God and the one who is not a child of God. Jesus goes on to relate about how the law relates to us as his children, how we're to be mindful of his presence in our everyday life. These are things we've gone over over the past few weeks and we're just kind of summarizing it all to get us to where the point is this morning. It teaches us how to grow spiritually. And you know what, as you read the Sermon on the Mount, if you try to live this out in the flesh, you're gonna be flustered and frustrated. You're gonna be exasperated because no one can live up to this standard. Oftentimes, I will tell when I'm witnessing to people, they will say, some often say to me, I can't live the Christian life. Let me tell you, I cannot either. but it's the power of Christ in us. It's He who does the work that glorifies His name. He uses our lives. Here, the Word of God cautions us of the dangers of this world's influence, how the world is trying to squeeze us into its mold. And there's danger in that. We must understand as children of God that we are but pilgrims. We are what is called sojourners. We are people who are just passing through this life, and that's how we see life as an overall picture. You know what? We're all gonna pass away someday. We're very cognizant of that. We're very aware that death is a reality. The Word of God tells us that it's appointed unto man once to die. Then the judgment. As we ponder that thought, I want you to think with me. How does that impact your life if you're a child of God? If you're not a child of God, let me tell you, what you live for is ultimately this world. You live for this life only. There is no hope if you're outside of Christ. So all you do is live to please self. As we approach these two words, judge not, the word of God tells us much about judgment. The word of God tells us that there are two judgment scenes. when it comes to the end of the ages. I want you to notice these two scenes so we will be clear. Look over in 1 Corinthians 5. In 1 Corinthians 5 and down in verse 10, the apostle Paul's writing here, and he says, for we must all. Now when Paul is writing, he's writing to the church at Corinth, He's saying, we. He's including himself. Plural pronoun. That means he's talking about Christians. We all must appear before the judgment or the behemoth seat of Christ. Every child of God must appear before Christ. Now this is not to be judged for our sins. but to be rewarded are the loss of rewards in this life. Notice what it goes on to say, that everyone may receive the things done in his body according that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For the believer, It's appointed, wants to die. Then there's the judgment seat of Christ. But that's not the same as for the unbeliever. If you look back in the book of Revelation, chapter 20. In Revelation chapter 20, and notice down in verse 12, there is a different type of judgment that takes place there. The word of God tells us, chapter 20 and verse 12, As John has been given a vision, he says, I saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. A lost person, one who knows not Christ, will be judged for everything they've done in this life. All their sins, God keeps a record. Notice what the Word of God says in verse 13. The sea gave up the dead. All that have died out in the ocean, they've thrown their body overboard. However, if they fell off and they drowned, whatever it might be, The sea gave up its dead. And death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. Those that had died, they're in the graves. They are in a place called Hades, the unseen state. They gave up their dead and they were judged, every man, according to their works. And then the word of God says, and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. They are judged according to their works. They are judged according to their sinfulness. If their name is not written in the Lamb's book of life, the Word of God tells us they will be cast eventually into the lake of fire. That is judgment and that is very serious. As we ponder this judgment, the Word of God tells us, as we have just read in Matthew chapter 7, how this sermon ends. It ends about a wise man who builds his house upon a rock, and that rock stands firm. We read about the foolish man who builds his house upon the sand, The winds blew, the storm came, and the house fell flat. The house fell flat. Why? Because the foundation was not good. The wise man who built his house upon the rock, he built his house upon the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other foundation given among men whereby we must be saved. And that's only in our Lord Jesus Christ. That's why we sing of Jesus Christ. That's why we say, all I have is Christ. You know what, when it comes to that day where we stand before the Lord, all we have is Christ and his finished work. And that is sufficient. for the child of God because his death upon that cross paid for our sins. Therefore, we give him praise. We sing to him. We glorify him. We want to live our life for him. We have a surrendered life because of what Christ has done for us. This portion of scripture in chapter seven says judge not, that you be not judged. Here is a very timely topic for the day and time which we live in. There are many people who will teach. You've got to be tolerant. You've got to be tolerant of other lifestyles. You've got to be tolerant of another person's choices. You've got to be tolerant of sin. You've got to be tolerant of this and that. Let me tell you, that's what society says. That's not what the Word of God says. They will twist scripture to try to make it sound all lovey-dovey, but that ain't what the Word of God is talking about. There is coming a judgment. And if you knew someone was about to enter into eternity, and that they were gonna be cast into the lake of fire, is it loving to just let them pass away and spend eternity in hell? That's not loving at all. The Bible gives us warnings. Judge not that you be not judged. Does that mean we do not judge at all? If you ponder this thought, it's very interesting what this means. What is our Lord saying? If a person stands on principles and morals and values, you better expect you're gonna be attacked You're going to be called a sexist, a racist, a misogynist. You'll be called a prejudice. You'll be called all kinds of names. I cannot go into all of it, nor do I want to say some of the things some people say. What is our Lord saying when He says, Judge not? Is He saying don't judge at all? Is He saying you cannot reason things? That's taking it out of context. And there are many people who take this passage of scripture out of context by saying, we are not to judge. Does this mean we don't use discernment? That is totally wrong. Look down in verse six. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs. Neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and wring you. In other words, you gotta use some discernment, some judgment about who Jesus is talking about here. Don't cast that which is holy unto the dogs. Don't cast your pearls before the swine. Look down in verse 15. Beware of false prophets. Now what does it mean to beware of false prophets? There are certain people that have false teaching, wrong doctrines, and because of these wrong doctrines and teachings, we've got to be aware of them. That means we've got to make a judgment. That means we've got to be able to discern what is right and what is wrong. The Word of God says, they come to you in sheep's clothing. There are some churches that would say, you gotta love everybody and love everybody and accept everybody, no matter what they say. If they say they're a Christian, you just gotta accept them as that. But let me tell you something, the Word of God also says, by their fruit you shall know them. That takes some discernment. In other words, we must use judgment in our day and time. You've got to discern what's right and wrong. Look how society is blurring the lines. Man, it wasn't that many years ago that a sex offender could not come near where children's playgrounds or schools were at. Now they're letting sexual offenders parade around in kindergarten classes, in libraries, Teaching ungodliness. Let me tell you something. We've lost our sense of judgment in a large degree. We must use discernment. Listen to what the Word of God says. There's plenty of passages of scripture we could go through, and I'm gonna just go through just a few. Notice what the Word of God says down in Romans 13 in verse one. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power will resist the ordinance of God. They that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil. Will you not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good and you shall have praise of the same. For he's a minister of God to do you good. So what if the powers that be, what if they tell us to do something that God's word tells us not to do? Are we to use discernment or are we just to go with the flow? I believe abortion is a very dark spot in the history of the United States of America. Abortion ought to be the forefront of the issue as far as in voting. And yet, what one party's doing, they're making abortion the forefront of the issue as a woman's choice. If you understand what abortion does, God has placed a little child in the safest place it should be on the face of this earth, and that's in a mother's womb. What abortion does, it literally tears the infant before it comes into this world, limb from limb. It suctions it out. It's a hideous process. that they don't wanna talk about. They wanna highlight choice. We need to make it clear where we stand. We don't need to back down from that issue. Abortion is an abomination unto God. There have been millions of babies that have been aborted. It is not the unforgivable sin, but it is something where we, as God's people, need to take a stand. As best of my knowledge, as long as I live, I shall never vote for someone who's pro-abortion. Even if they're running for dog catcher, I'm not voting for them. Forget it. Listen to what the Word of God says in Matthew chapter 18. Matthew chapter 18. And down in verse 15, moreover, if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. He shall hear you, or if he shall hear you, you've gained your brother, but if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more. That is in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established. If he shall neglect to hear them, tell them to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto you as a heathen and a publican. In other words, you discipline the person from the church. That takes discernment. It takes judgment. It takes judgment to be able to go to a person and confront them about the issues where they've been offensive at. Listen to what the Word of God says over in the book of Titus chapter three. Titus chapter three and down in verse 10. The Word of God says, a man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, reject. Now what does that mean? A heretic is someone who is off in doctrine. If they are off in doctrine, you are to rebuke them is what the Word of God is saying. You gotta admonish them and admonish them and if they don't listen, you are to reject them. That takes judgment. Look back or over in 1 John chapter 4. In 1 John, the fourth chapter. 1 John chapter 4 and verse 1 tells us, beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. If you don't use discernment in your life as a child of God, you're gonna be tossed about by every wind and slate of doctrine and every TV preacher that comes on the TV. You must use discernment. Listen to what it says in 2 John. 2 John, down in verse 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receiving not into your house, neither bid him God's speed. That's using judgment. There are many other various scriptures. One in particular which I always use when somebody throws this at me as far as judge not, you're being judgmental and you shouldn't judge people. Jesus said over in John chapter seven and down in verse 24, judge not according to appearance but judge righteous judgment. You see in the Christian life there is a balance. And the problem is some people go off too far one end or too far off the other end. Jesus tells us to use righteous judgment. If you were to turn, you don't need to turn there over in 1 Corinthians or 2 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and 6. It talks about a young man who took his father's wife. which this was a practice that even the lost people didn't even do. And this was happening at the church at Corinth. Paul told them to discipline the guy, which they did. And it caused godly sorrow, which worked into repentance. There's one thing missing in many churches today is church discipline. Judging. So what is the meaning of judge not? I read a little article by Richard DeHaan. You may have heard that name on the radio before. He says it's being critical of others with the purpose of causing harm. And he wrote a little tongue-in-cheek portion of criticisms of pastors. Now, I don't know if you've ever talked about your pastor this way, but here's some of the criticisms. If the pastor is too young, well, he lacks experience. If the pastor has gray hair, well, he's too old for young people. If he has five or six kids, he's irresponsible. If he has no kids, he's setting a bad example. If he uses a lot of illustrations, that means he's neglecting the Word of God, not using the Word enough. If he doesn't use enough illustrations, he's irrelevant. If the pastor condemns wrong works, he's just a cranky old curmudgeon. If he doesn't condemn wrong works, he's compromising. If he drives an old car, he shames his congregation. If he drives a new car, well, he's setting his affection on earthly things. You see, there's no winning in this game, because everybody can find something to criticize about. Now, you can go have your pastor for lunch, and I've given you a few things you can chew on him about. But hear what the Word of God is saying to us. Judge not. And it's referring to condemning in your judgment. Listen to what Jesus said, and I don't doubt that he had the Pharisees in mind, because you remember what he said back in chapter five and down in verse 20. He says, for I say unto you that except your righteousness succeed, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. So here's what the Pharisees did. They were hypercritical of everybody else. Have you ever known anybody who's been very hypercritical? If you've lived long enough, you have to say yes. Some people can only see the bad in other people. And some people can only point out the bad in other people. They become an expert in criticism. But the problem is, this is all self-righteous criticism. Their self-righteousness is critical of other people. Their purpose is to put other people down. Let me tell you, this is not what the Word of God's called us to do. Every one of us can criticize at one time or another. True. Now you know what, there is such a thing as corrective criticism. Don't get me wrong, there's a balance here. Corrective criticism is where you see a person where they have a fault and you come alongside and you try to help them and show them their fault and encourage them. But then there's the hypercriticism that you're coming alongside that person to be critical of them, to put them down. You see, there's two different ways of going there. constructive criticism is needed. What Jesus is talking about here in verse 1 in chapter 7, Judge not that you be not judged. He's very simply talking about a judgmental spirit. And you know what, it's easy to get caught up with this spirit of looking at the faults of others and constantly pointing them out and talking negatively about others. Let me give you an example. Even believers, even the apostles tripped up on this. I want you to notice over in Luke chapter nine. In Luke the ninth chapter, look down in verse 51. And it came to pass When the time was come that he should be received up, and he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, he sent messengers before his face, and they went and entered into the village of the Samaritans to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. Now when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them even as Elias did? Here's where the sons of thunder got their name. They wanted to call down fire upon the Samaritans because they did not receive Christ. What's Jesus' response? He turned and rebuked them and said, you know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. How quick we are in our thinking to call down condemnation upon somebody else that don't meet our standard. how quick we are to be critical of others. Listen to what the word of God says over in Romans chapter 14. In Romans the 14th chapter, notice the first four verses. We, that is Christians then, that are strong, that means that you have been a Christian and you've walked with the Lord for a while, we ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. In other words, there are certain people, as far as Christians, that have infirmities. I'm not talking about sicknesses. I'm talking about areas in their life where they're weakened in their walk with the Lord. We ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproach thee fell on me. Hear what the Word of God is saying. We are to do good for the edification of others. Let me tell you, when you speak negatively to others to put them down, you're cutting them down. Maybe by calling them a name or pointing out a fault that they've got, you're actually trying to build yourself up. as you're putting others down. There's that self-righteousness that is rising up. Jesus said in verse two in chapter seven, or the latter part of verse two, for with what judgment that you judge, you shall be judged. And he says, with what measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again. Whatever standard you set for others, the word of God is telling us that you're gonna be judged by that standard. Here's a caution. Are you judgmental of other people? Is it because you want to be super Christian, so you wanna be holier than thou? Don't impute motives to other people. Here's a caution. Here's something where you don't fall into the hypercritical mindset. Do not impute motives to what you see other people are doing. They might be doing it for a totally different reason, and their heart might be in the right place, but they're doing the wrong thing. You see, there can be mixed message there. They could have good intentions, but they need to grow in certain areas. Don't express, here's another point, don't express your opinions about a matter until you know the full story. How often people get in trouble talking about that which they don't know what they're talking about. Don't express your opinions until you know all the facts. Here is a major point with this, if you have a hypercritical spirit. Allow the Spirit of God to do His work. You are not the Holy Spirit of another person. Hear me good. You are not the Holy Spirit of someone else. It is God only who can change a heart. There are some people who, if you were to skip down to verse 17 in the same chapter, they believe they are the God appointed fruit inspectors of other people's lives. But that's not what God has called us to do. He does tell us that we shall know people by their fruit, by their actions, by their works. We are to discern, but we're not to be judgmental in condemning other people. Let me ask you a very personal question this morning. Have you made yourself to be the judge of others? There are times in life we've all done that. Let me ask you, who appointed you as judge? With what judgment that you judge, it's gonna be measured back to you in the same way. The word of God tells us that we have all sinned. We've all come short of the glory of God or God's standard. There's none of us that measure up to that. And even we as God's children, we sin, we fail in certain areas in life. If you've had a hypercritical spirit, a condemning spirit, a judgmental spirit of other people, God's grace is sufficient to forgive you. you must come to him confessing your sin. Acknowledging that you're a sinner and that you've sinned against him. And the word of God gives us so many promises. The word of God tells us over in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21, God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Here's a promise from God. He's our sin bearer. He's our burden bearer. He took upon himself our sin that we might have his righteousness. Therefore, when we are out of line with what he says, we need to repent, confess, that's agreeing with God, and make things right. Here is a Christian standard, and it should be for every child of God. The Apostle Paul said, it's no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. Is your life surrendered to him today? This is a message directed mainly at Christians, as the whole Sermon on the Mount is mainly directed at Christians Are you walking worthy of your calling? Do you have a Christ-like spirit? Are you saved by grace? If you're saved by grace, you need to show grace unto others. If you know not Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you've not surrendered your life to him, There's conviction of sin. You know you've offended a holy and righteous God. And you know one day there's gonna be that judgment before that great white throne. And you're gonna have to stand and face Him who's, the Word of God says, the face of all heaven and earth fled away. You're gonna have to stand before Him who knows all the deeds and thoughts and words, actions and responses of your life. He knows the good, the bad, the ugly. You need a Redeemer. You need someone who takes upon himself God's wrath so you don't have to experience that. This morning I tell you there is a Redeemer. It is Jesus Christ, our Lord, who loved us and gave himself for us. that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Would you surrender your life to him today? We're gonna give a hymn of invitation. We just ask that you simply respond to how the Lord's dealing in your heart and in your life. Brother Spencer will come up and lead us. And as we go to the Lord in prayer, I'm gonna ask you to stand. Father, we pray this morning that you would search our hearts. We pray that there would be great conviction for sin in our lives and restored fellowship for your children. We pray that there would be great conviction in the lives of those who are not believers. And Lord, that they would by faith turn their eyes towards you. And by faith, which comes by your grace, you would save them. We ask that you work in our midst to bring glory to your name. Help us as your people to pursue holiness and peace all the days of our lives. That we would not have a hypercritical spirit, but that we would seek to edify and build up one another in the most holy faith. Glorify your name for Christ's sake. Amen. We're gonna sing, turn your eyes upon Jesus. And that's simply what we ask you to do this morning. Look to Him.