Faults
Pastor Jerry Wilhite,
author
The main fault of most Christians is being legalistic. I am just as much at fault in my past as anyone else is. I would see someone on Sunday morning not dressed or going to church but going fishing, out, etc and in turn would think they do not know the Lord. Or I would think due to their clothing, actions, driving, etc that a person must not know the Lord. All of this and more is being legalistic, not being forgiving and of grace but of the law and judgmental.
Matthew 7
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
I can hear it now, "But what about all those who we can tell by their fruit they produce nothing for the kingdom?" It is not fruit of your hands or actions you can control that are the fruit Jesus speaks of, but the fruit that can only come from Him via the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit.
Matthew 7
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Many Christians think being a Christian is attending church and being a good person. But being a Christian is being of Christ and since Christ is the Spirit of God then being of Christ or being a Christian then the fruit of the Spirit should be evident.
Galatians 5
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
The fruit of the Spirit is not something one can pretend to have without eventually failing unless they are actually of the Spirit.
Matthew 15
8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Many have, do, and will in time believe that as long as they believe in their heart even if they deny with their mouth they are saved. They are not because when we deny Him before man He denies us to the Father.
Matthew 10
34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
It is the words of our mouth not our thoughts by which we are judged.
Matthew 12
37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
We judge and condemn ourselves by the words of our mouth but we can control this by controlling our thoughts.
2 Corinthians 10
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Even before our thoughts there is one more area that can trip us up and that is our imaginations. So if we cast down imaginations that exalt themselves against the KNOWLEDGE of God then we need to bring every thought into the captivity to the obedience of Christ. At this point we are now more than on the safe side of not saying with our mouth that which will trip us up. Of course there is one more step we can take to be sure we never trip up.
John 5
30. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
In the verses to follow we learn that Jesus did nothing nor even said anything that was not told to Him or taught Him by the Father.
John 6
45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 8
28. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
How can we believe we are more than Jesus if Jesus did nothing or said nothing unless the Father taught Him or told Him? How much more should we do the same?
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Especially since we are told we are to be taught all things, not just that of God, but all things via the Spirit.
John 4
23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
If instead of being condemning or judgmental of others we would live a life to God in the Spirit which would be in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and self control, we would reach more than we do.
When we operate in the flesh judging and condemning others we are doing Satan's will not God's will.
God's will is that we love Him before all else and our neighbors, as ourselves. If you love how can you be prejudice or condemning?
What if a person is living in sin and they do not realize it?
This is why it is so important to hear from God so He not I or anyone else guide you in your life. Because each person is different and each can take things differently it is important that we seek the one whom knows all hearts for guidance.
We can either live a life unto and with God in the Spirit and Love or in the world by the flesh. If you really want to Know God and be of God then it can only be done in the Spirit.
God calls us to salvation, Jesus, then God tells us Who Jesus is as the true son of God and the Christ and we are then a piece of the church (rock). To go beyond to being a part of Christ requires a relationship one on one with God. The benefits are as follows:
Romans 8
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
God (Spirit) tells me in my spirit that I am His child then no one can ever steal my salvation; all doubt is gone.
1 John 2
27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Being taught by the anointing (Christ) I can grow in this relationship in all ways.
1 John 4
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
I seek daily what is still in me of the flesh and work to get it out. This includes all forms of legalism, selfishness, self-centeredness, judgmentalism, prejudice, condemnation, unforgiveness, and anything of the flesh and the world. I seek to replace with the fruit of the spirit anything I find in me that I do not want.