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August 11, 2021 3:00 am
Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to important counsel from the Sermon on the Mount – the Lord’s directives to His disciples on matters of faith, love and harmony.
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A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.
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You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org we should be discerning what the Bible even says the problem is to use the Bible to destroy often the truth.
Her we enjoy hurting people with the truth. Pastor Greg Laurie says we should be compelled by love.
God's desire should always be to restore the person incident willing that any should all should come to repentance is God judges sinners. That's not his desire what charges someone is sin, we reflect the Lord's.
We should lovingly leave him back into fellowship with God today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie takes is to important counsel from the sermon on the Mount directives to his disciples on mother's face. Love you know people sometimes what is your favorite. The Bible it's hard for me to answer as I have a lot of favorite verses from the Bible.
A lot of it depends on what I'm going through any given moment, and I might say all I really love this verse for this kind of a situation that I love another verse for another kind of a situation, but according to Amazon.com the verse most commonly highlighted in the Bible is Philippians 4 it says don't worry about anything but pray about everything in the peace of God that browses all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ.
That verse would definitely make my top 10 but I wonder what Bruce would you choose if you had to choose your favorite verse. Well tell you this much of your talking to a nonbeliever you're going to find it with their favorite verse is because basic nonbelievers may know two verses from the Bible that they like to quote and the birds that you will often hear from a nonbeliever is judged not lest you be judged by and when does this happen this happens, usually when were talking to them about their need for Jesus Christ and telling them that maybe they need to turn from their sin and they get really indignant and they say quote doesn't the Bible say judge not lest you be judged. In other words, will you please go away now it's there. Verse that they quote to make you stop talking to them in the second favorite verse of nonbelievers is let him that is without sin, just the first stone. Now the problem is they totally misinterpreted what those verses mean what is Jesus saying when he says judge not lest you be judged. Is he actually saying that a Christian is never to judge anyone or anything.
Is he saying that we should never make an evaluation of a situation or of a person's conduct that we should never in any way shape or form.
Use our discernment and just sort of accept everyone and everything know that's what you say.
So let's read the words of Jesus from the sermon on the Mount Matthew seven verse one judge not lest you be judged.
For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and not consider the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother. He let me remove the speck from your eye to look up plank is in your own eye hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye, then you'll see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Do not give that which is holy to the dogs or cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you in pieces alright so here's some take away truths from these verses.
Point number one if you're taking notes as Christians, we should be discerning, but not condemning them repeat that as Christians we should be discerning not condemning again verse one judge not lest you be judged. Now before we tell you what it does mean let's find out what it doesn't mean it doesn't mean that a Christian loves and accepts everyone in as far as we never comment on their actions. Are there conduct or their lifestyle because the reality is, if you really care for someone you need to tell them the truth, and sometimes you have to confront people about the sin that may be therein that's keeping them from God. The Bible even says speak the truth in lot. Now the problem is, some will speak the truth, but not a lot. They use the Bible like a weapon to destroy if the Bible is his sword and it is it's not given to decapitate people to be thought of as a scalpel to bring healing to people, a scalpel and the surgeons hands to help a person, but some people weapon eyes. The Bible and they use truth like a sledgehammer. So it's all truth and no love.
But then there are those that it's all love and no true bill just say oh that's okay you know what I understand, oh it's okay with God. If you keep doing that and that is also incorrect. So we have to find the right balance any if you really care about someone you tell him the truth say that it with your friends. You know, for dinner and there were giants staying in the middle of their surge. You might say that you want that giant thing.
The leisure or by the way you and it's in your teeth. Actually, in all of your teeth are covered in minutes what happened you know what you tell them for their own good, because that's what friends do well if that's true, should we not tell them if there is sin in their life. Proverbs 27, five says open rebuke is better than secret love people of the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
If you have some friends that will tell you the truth. Those are true friend okay know that because a true friend will stab you in the front, not of the back is in a sense see someone was in your friend out to your face and say your awesome your grade. Everything's cool. Everything you're doing is wonderful, even though they know it isn't what a true friend will tell you, dear patient what I love you man I gotta warn you, this could be your downfall. This could hurt you because I care about you. I minute tell you the truth.
Yes, we have to make evaluations in judgment so and some it says a Christian should never judge that's incorrect. Is it what we just read judgment was to be judged again to that in a moment because there are many verses that actually tell us as Christians to judge to make evaluations and to exercise discernment with the verse six Jesus says don't get that which is holy to dogs. Now, obviously, he is saying that by a certain person's reaction there like a dog so that's an evaluation I have to determine who dog is in all deal with this in a moment was a dog getting what we talking about here.
Someone wearing a flea collar. I don't know yet so that there's an evaluation then Jesus says in verse 13.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing. What how my going to determine what false prophet is unless I make some kind of a judgment. You see, so there is a place for judgment.
The Bible even says judgment begins in the house of God. First Peter 417. In first Corinthians 62.
Don't you know the saints will judge the world and of the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters.
So yes I am to make up valuations and judgment. It's very important, but having said that, what does it mean when Jesus says judge not lest you be judged. A better translation clears us up quickly. The better way to translate the statement of Christ in Matthew seven verse one is not judge not lest you be judged but rather condemn not, lest you be condemned is a big difference. I only make judgments. I am to make evaluations. I am to use my discernment but having said that, I am not to condemn a person. I judge for identification, not for condemnation.
I need to refrain from hypercritical condemning judgment and her are people that love to just judge the whole planet in their mind.
Everyone's motives are always wrong in their hypercritical of every person in about an old guy who went over to the preacher South Watson fixes roof the preachers up there hammering the shingle down and the extent of the old codger and says what you try to pick up some tips on carpentry your guy says no I just want to know what a preacher says when he gets his thumb with a hammer judge is the guy waiting for you to slip up and to be honest there are people waiting for you to slip up. Let me take it a step further, there are people that want you to slip up the other. Though the watcher amen you're a hypocrite. You went 1 mile over the speed limit. I saw you do it you know they're looking for you to make a mistake that they can hang their down on.
So the idea here is condemn not, lest you be condemned. We should not be condemning other people.
I like a statement of old J. Vernon McGee and he's been in heaven for years now, but is still on the radio and one thing I heard him say once was the only exercise.
Some Christians get is jumping to conclusions and running down others that that's pretty good, but he said I only exercise. Some Christians get is jumping to conclusions and running down others, my beloved, let's get on the Bible but it's really bad for Vernon but I like him.
That's true. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the help they received from Pastor Greg's teachings's books and God's word hi Pastor Greg, thank you for writing about your personal loss and hope for hurting heart. I read your bit many times in the past two years. After my dear son went to heaven.
Three days before his 20th birthday. I continually refer to your butt for encouragement and help as you know firsthand what it's like to lose your own precious son. I also appreciate your podcasts and glean wisdom from please pray for me as I still cry God bless you, your ministry and your dear family, thank you for being God's messenger for information on Pastor Greg's book for hurting hearts search for that title@harvest.org if you have some words to share how Pastor Greg studies God's word touched your life, drop him an email greg@harvest.org. In fact, do it today, would you that's great@harvest.org will today.
Pastor Greg is offering important perspective from salt and light series in Matthew chapter 7 it's a study called the nonbelievers favorite verse. Point number two are desire should always be to restore, not condemn the person and said, let me say that again our desire should always be to restore, not condemn a person in sin. We want to restore that. Here's what Paul says in Galatians 61 about some of those fallen spiritually, brother. If someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should kick them while they are down and tell as many people as possible. There were a diverse know you have because is out of the Bible.
I just made it up but by the actions of some you would think it is in the Bible, someone stumbles okay to come on their down and tell everybody about their fault know the Bible says love covers a multitude of sins.
I want to Hope you get back up on your feet. Remember that commercial is still out there now and I'm not making fun of them a little but I making fun of that person that plays the role of an older person was fall and she's like I fallen and I can't get appetite. I'm not laughing that anyone who's fallen I just seen the way she said is you know anyway so so they have this device that you where righted and you push the little red button which you know you have to walk around with that device of the red button which is the person that falls a lot right but you know I'm now seriously there are people who will follow and they can get up. They don't know how to get up. They don't know how to get out of the pit therein. They don't know how to break free from the addiction therein.
They don't know how to leave the lifestyle therein. That's where you come in. That's right, commit as a Christian you are spiritual, restore them so it doesn't say someone's overtaking in the fall to come on their down. Here's what it does say of her brother or a sister is caught in his sin, you are spiritual should restore them gently, but watch yourself or you may also be tempted carry each other's burdens. In this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. By the way, this phrase caught in his sin implies it was not premeditated.
It's a person who lower their guard and there were caught like an animal in a trap.
It wasn't intentional, but yah they messed up and it is our job to restore them help gently. In fact, the word restore means to set up broken bone or put a dislocated limb back in place.
So if you broken your harmonica manhandle you twisted back into its proper place on the probably try to get you to hospital as quickly as possible.
Have a professional help you but I want to assist you see this is what we wanted to restore the classic example of this is the woman caught in the act of adultery.
She's grabbed by the religious leaders were setting a trap for Jesus. They throw her down at his feet and they say the law says she should be stoned what you say Jesus looks around and he says well and bends down in the right something in the sand they stand up and says let him that is without sin among you cast the first stone.
The Bible says they left from the oldest to youngest so there's some connection between what he wrote in the sand and then leaving from the oldest of the youngest, what you think he wrote in the sand. I guess he may have written the name of one of the people and maybe the sin they were committing. Maybe their so-called secret sin that they thought nobody knew about whatever was the clear the house out quickly. So all these self-righteous religious hypocrites leave and Jesus turns of the woman and says woman, where are your accusers uses an interesting word for woman. It's a word of respect like Bam lady she probably never been called out before man where your accusers. She says I have the Lord. He says neither do I condemn you go and sin no more. See that's what you do when someone is fallen, your objective is to restore them again number three. I cannot see a speck of my friends. I if I have a telephone pole in mind. By the way, I think Jesus is using humor here. I think Jesus use humor all the time and I think Jesus smiled a lot and left a lot. Can you prove that biblically. Well, I know children were drawn to him and I see humor in many of his teachings. Now the Bible does say he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
That's not speaking of his general demeanor all the time that's specifically talking about that moment or period of time when he was headed to the cross of Calvary is the weight of the world was on his shoulders, but in general I think Jesus was quick to smile and he would use humor to make a point is certainly a camel going to the eye of a needle was a humorous illustration and this is as well.
Matthew seven verse three what you look at the speck in your brother's eye and not consider the plank in your own eye.
How can you say to your brother, let me remove the speck from your eye and look up plank is in your own by the way, the word that his usurper plank is a very large piece of wood in the word user speck would be like a piece of sawdust. So let me update this translation why you looking for a tiny piece of sawdust in your friends like when you have a telephone pole in your good people probably chuckle. Joey got it and so he's making a point that were so quick to go after minutia, and one Christian's life when we are guilty of a lot worse in our own life, you show me a condemning hyper judge mental person and I don't think that's a sign of spirituality. I think that is a sign of possible sin in their life and it's interesting because the word that is used here would imply that the reason I'm so quick to see it in your life is because I have a lot more of it in mine. Okay so careful what you're always criticizing people for maybe that's your issue.
Maybe you're projecting your sin on this. We love the person so proud of their maybe it's you made your describing yourself actually maybe the reason you're so quick to see it in someone else's life is because you're so familiar with it in your own life is see and so that's what Jesus is saying here, is don't be that person. So first remove the plank from your eye. Verse five and so the idea here is not that I should not try to help somebody who was Newsom sawdust in their iris in their life. But before I can do it. I have to get it out of my own life, he says, first remove the plank first, confess your sin, you know, forgiven people should be forgiving people. And if you're so quick to judge others. Here's my question for you. Are you prepared to be judged with the same type of judgment you give to others because that's exactly what Jesus says, verse two, with the judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you to be careful boy number for some people just don't want our help.
Some people just don't want our help verse six. Don't give what is holy to dogs nor cast your pearls before swine, less sample them under their feet and turn and tear you in pieces, casting approval for us. Swine is giving something valuable to someone who does not care pigs like to live in and slop and fill that's all pigs role. The reason they live in the slop is that's actually how they cool themselves off and said that for the comfortable. So you go to your pagan number of years ago them so much today but pigs were very popular as pets.
Remember that some of you that the people we get these little potbellied pigs and it was a really great idea when their little then one day you wake up and you're like a giant hog running up and down your hallway and but if I give approval to a pig a pig is not going to appreciate a pearl by given some fresh garbage in our talk and write so that's the point. Casting your pearls before swine sharing the gospel to someone who does not want to hear it, Esther, Greg Laurie has more to come. Message called nonbelievers favorite for practical counsel from the Lord's sermon on the mount today here on a new beginning. And if you weren't able to hear all of today's program. No problem, you can catch up by listening to the program again on the harvest app or by going to harvest.org just look for the message titled, the nonbelievers favorite verse, and never excited to have Arthur J Warner Wallace with us today. Jim Wallace is a retired cold case detective and he's just finished his new book person of interest. Subtitled why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible that Jim in the book you examine two cases side-by-side.
One is a real-life cold case you investigated in the latter part of your career, and the other is the case for the deity of Christ and you do a great job of showing how the same investigative techniques can apply to each case and render a verdict give us one more soul from your book. One example sure him a part of this is that we are able to commence juries of something that's true even though we don't have any evidence from a crime scene.
This happens all the time reason why were called cold cases are cold for a reason because they're lame okay don't have the evidence that a case that would be easily so I would have. So I picked these cases up.
I often are not can I have evidence from the crime scene to find another way to convince people that this actually occurred and so I'm always talking about what leads up to the crime and what follows the crime that is as important as what happened on the day of the crime is matter fact, what leads up to in what follows will often demonstrate what happened on the daily grind. Turns out the history same way, what leads up to history to a prophetic fuse right of all the Jewish prophecy leading up to Jesus. There is a cultural fuse of all of the world powers that were aligned and unaligned in the wars that are current to find the Roman empire began to take over and develop questionnaire to lay the foundation for the arrival of Jesus. And there's even a little out of a huge history of ancient history of deities and in the ancient world that seem to bear some resemblance to one another is matter fact I have identified 15 ways that these ancient deities are similar to each other yet they don't all possess all 15 attributes they possess no. 678 of these attributes will then comes along one who possesses all 15 attributes of the ancient deities, and his name is Jesus and has now why would God align history and then arrive meeting those attributes of the other because it turns out that when you can meet the expectations of the expectorant you get a great response and so what God does as he arrives. As Paul says on Mars Hill. You are people you offer to worship a lot of gods even see it. A monument here to the unknown God me tell you now what you have been worshiping common ignorance.
Let me tell you now about that, but it turns out Jesus embodies the expectations of all humans who worship deities prior to Jesus. Why would this be the case was that fuse is burning up to the appearance of God incarnate, and of course all of human history follows Jesus from the arts. For music you will. You can reconstruct the story of Jesus just from the painted and sculpted artwork to antiquity to the Middle Ages. If all you had to destroy all of art in order to erase the strip as a matter of fact, the top artists in the history of art any genre any time. Do the top three artists in that genre. And guess what in their portfolio.
You will find a painting, sculpture and etching a drawing of Jesus of Nazareth. There is no other historical figure in the history of historical figures who can claim they been painted or sculpted by everyone. So it turns out that you do a lot of erasing in order to erase the impact that Jesus had on now. How could this be what it turns out if you just a guy it makes no sense if he's God entering into his own creation and makes all the sense in the world. And so it turns out that fuse and fallout are actually really good evidence that Jesus is who he said he was pleasure. Those are just some of the insights that you'll find reading this brand-new book from J.
Warner Wallace, a former cold case detective in the title of the book is person of interest. Subtitled why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible. It's an exciting journey. Looking at the evidence laid out in this book and would like to send you person of interest to thank you for your investment. So a new beginning can continue coming your way. Each day you know we don't have any churches or large organizations paying all the bills it's the donations of listeners that help these studies to remain available.
So thank you for your generosity and you can send your donation today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody regularly here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call Harvest at Home is worse in the message of the word of God and watch it with your family and your front room. You can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer. Take it with you think the word of God with you.
Join us for Harvest at Home harvest. How do we respond when someone doesn't want to hear the good news is outright hostile pastor Greg has some important perspective on that from the sermon on the Mount next on your new beginning and thanks for the to a new beginning. Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org