“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back, (with the same measure you measure with, it shall be measured for you again – KJV)” Luke 6:38.

This is one of our favourite Scriptures to quote from the Word of God! But do we know what it is Jesus is asking us to give and what it is that we will so bountifully received back?

Care to read the previous verse with me to find out?

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven,” Luke 6:37.

What Jesus is promising is one of two things which will return to us as gifts we have given others – Either grace or judgement!

He is asking us to give the gift of grace, so that grace will be bountiful towards us when we need it ourselves – because He says, whatever you have given to others, will be multiplied back to you with interest paid to the point of brimming over in your life!

So here’s the question –

How many fingers are you pointing to others in criticism and in judgement?

How many are you severely judging today for the very things you fell into, in days gone by?

How many are you stamping down on, for the very sins you as a Christian, failed in yourself and expected grace and forgiveness for from the Lord?

How do you know that those you keep placing under judgement in your heart, have not repented and made right with God?

So – should we then just be silent about error and false teaching?

There is a difference between correction and judgement, and between encouragement and spiritual brutality.

God never wants us – ever – under any circumstances, to judge people! That is exclusively for Him to do!

Judging error and erroneous teaching is a whole other matter, and judging sin and sinfulness is also another matter. Speaking up against the wickedness of deceivers leading others astray, is also something different.

As leaders, and please note this with care – AS LEADERS – we have the authority to act against those brothers and sisters under our care, who will not adhere to the Truth and to the Holy Spirit, to bring them under spiritual discipline until they repent and do so.

As God’s children we are given the Authority to judge between truth and error, and to test every spirit by the Holy Spirit, and we are to keep ourselves and our lives from those who go astray after falsehood and false teaching. This is true and correct.

We can speak about what is right and wrong and what is true and false. But we are NEVER allowed to judge people under any circumstances!

That is beyond what God has called and authorised for us as His children to do.

The one exception to this rule applies to Holy Spirit ordained prophets (and I say this with trembling in the light of those who have self-ordained themselves as prophets today!)

Where such prophets are moved upon by the Holy Spirit to speak forth judgements from the mouth of God Himself, it does not account as their judgement upon men, but as the Word of God released through them by the Holy Spirit. This we see clearly demonstrated through Jesus and the prophets of old.

Beloved – DON’T JUDGE!

For in doing so you are multiplying judgement upon your own self.

Correct. Rebuke. Admonish.

But do not judge, lest judgement is pressed in, shaken together and runs over in your own life!

Keep yourself pure before God and keep your heart pure as well!

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching,” 2 Timothy 4:2.

 

~ Johann van der Hoven

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Johann van der Hoven is in South Africa. He has been serving the Lord in ministry since 1991 and has hosted numerous apostolic revival meetings in South Africa and in South America. He also currently pioneers a organic church planting movement across South Africa. For more information about him and his ministry visit www.sonsofsovereignty.com or Revival.

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