Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge HIM,
and HE shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

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Lance Knights 6/19/05 Sermon

Here is the link to a file sharing program for an MP3 copy of the live broadcast from The King's Chapel aired Sunday, June 19th, 2005 at 10 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time. This is a short sermon (30 min) and there is only one file to download. You can save the file or open and play it.

Click HERE for file.

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Scriptures quoted or referenced in this sermon:
Rom 14:17 (q)
Mat 7-3 (mote-beam eye) (ref)
James 1:25 (law of liberty)
Deut 32 (waxed fat) (ref)
Hosea 6:6 (ref)
1st Cor 13 (ref)
Romans 14:15 (q)
Phil 2:3 (q)
1st Cor 13 (ref)
Matthew 5 (6th commandment) (ref)
Romans 14:1-5 (q)
Romans 14:7-23 (q)
Phil 2:3 (q)
1st Cor 13: 1-? (q)
Romans 10:13-16 (q)

For a little balance on Lance’s 6-19 sermon:

Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1) has become one of the Great "Cop-outs;" and is uttered with equal fervor by both Humanists and Christians. Christians have not only allowed our enemies, the Humanists, to steal our Scriptural weapons in the battle against evil, it would appear, we have also willingly taken up their banner.

God gave the Bible, with His Laws and Statutes recorded therein, so that we can use them to "judge" between good and evil. But the Humanists and all too many Christians say we cannot judge, thus forbidding us to act according to God's Laws and Statutes.

Men have, from the beginning, resented being "judged" for their evil, sinful and unGodly acts. It is clearly seen in Genesis 19:9, "But they said, "Stand aside." Furthermore, they said, "This one (Lot) came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge (Teach God's Laws and Statutes - condemning their sinful acts); now we will treat you worse than them. (the Angels who had come to visit Lot before God's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah)" So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door."

Of course men must "judge" and is clearly shown in Exodus 18:13, "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to JUDGE the people..."

However, we are to "judge" according to God's Laws. "When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and His laws." (Exodus 18:16) This is clearly shown in Leviticus 19:15, "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor know the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor."

Again we are told: "Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (1 Samuel 1:17)

In 1 Corinthians 6:2-4: "Do ye not know that the saints [Christians] shall judge the world? and if the world be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church."

In Matthew 7:1 and again in Luke 6:37, in both cases, if we read the very next verse, it becomes apparent that, contrary to modern day usage, we are being cautioned about how we must judge (fairly, not rashly or severely, according to God's Word, as we will be judged); We are not being instructed not to judge.

Matthew 7:2 explains; For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged and Luke 6:37-38 goes on to say...”condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven...For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

These passages, along with many others, provide us with a textbook on how, what and when to "judge." The most classic and moving example of our Father's intent with regard to "how" we are to judge is to be found in the Book of Job.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, Job's friends, judged him and determined that the negative circumstances which had befallen Job were proof that Job was involved in some secret evil for which he must repent. Bildad concludes, after a lengthy dissertation on the plight of Job, Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God. (Job 18:21)

Job responds with, “How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?...Know not that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment...” (Job 19:2, 6-7)

What is it that Job desires? He desires judgment; that is, he wants to be fairly evaluated because he feels he will be redeemed as a righteous man. Job wants to be judged by his actions, or fruits, as the Scriptures instruct us to do: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:7) Ye shall know them [false prophets] by their fruits. (Matthew 7:1) Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (Matthew 7:17) Job does not want to be judged by his situation. Again the Bible clearly guides us in this respect. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

This message is confirmed in another Bible story which is quoted out of context by the majority of preachers. In the parable of unclean foods (Acts 11:5-18), Peter was instructed not to judge people by whether they were circumcised or not, but to carry the Gospel to all people, because God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts 11:18)

We are not to judge others by the meats or foods they eat or drink and is clearly shown: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25)

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:31) I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:14) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days. (Colossians 2:16)

We cannot know God's plan, who he has chosen as a messenger or to whom he has granted grace nor are we to speculate, as Job's friends did. We are, however, clearly instructed to judge all situations, all doctrines and all people to determine if they are good or bad and we are further instructed to separate ourselves from, to beware of, the "bad" person or situation. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14); "...He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, received him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (2 John 9:11); “...we command you, brethren, on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6) And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)

Having established that we are not only expected to judge but we are expected to act upon the judgments we make, it is critical to search the Scriptures for "rules" to guide us in this endeavor. For God's plan is very clear and simple. He expects us to look within and judge ourselves first. Then we are to judge people by their "fruits," not by appearances. We are always to employ the same standard or means of evaluation and that standard is to be God's Holy World.

God exhorts us to always "judge" ourselves, to "clean up our own act," first, before we judge or criticize others...“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.” (Matthew 7:5)

It goes without saying that we must, in all situations, make every effort first, to rectify our fault in the matter. This does not, however, mean that you can't judge until you're perfect; It does not mean you should continue to associate with a chronic liar because on your last escapade together you also told a lie. You must fix your behavior but you must also "judge" the value of having a relationship with such a person. (God's Word tells us, “Make no friendship with an angry man...lest thou learn his ways...” (Proverbs 22:24-25); The Israelites were told to kill all the Canaanites so they would not learn their ways. In other words, we become like those people we associate with and in this example you would become a liar.

God instructs us to judge people by their "fruits." Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this type of "fruit" as "that which is produced" (i.e. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Ephesians 5), the "effect or consequence" (i.e. They shall eat the fruit of their doings. Isaiah 3), or the "Advantage, profit, or good derived" (i.e. What fruit had ye then in those things where of ye are now ashamed? Romans 6).

Essentially this means we are to judge people by their actions, what they cause or bring about, and what a person receives as a result of his actions. For instance, the words of a preacher or teacher have a direct effect on those "learning" from them, therefore their words must be judged. A politician who says one thing and does something entirely different must be judged not by what he says he will do but by what he does do. A person who profits from wrongdoing and apologizes but does not return the profit should be judged by the action of non-repentance not the words of repentance.

This can often be very difficult but we must remain vigilant in our efforts to judge people by their fruits. God offers us many additional guidelines in this area: “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15); “Who is a liar but he that denieth the Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the son.” (1 John 2:22); “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6); “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.” (Proverbs 14:9)

As you read your Bibles, both Old and New Testaments, you will discover many more ways in which the "fruits" of man may be known.

God admonishes us not to judge by appearances...“Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7); “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (1 John 7:24)

In this world people are often respected if they drive an expensive car and yet our Bible tells us that it is more likely that a rich person is sinful than that he is righteous...“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24) We must not, as Job's friends did, assume that a person is sinful because they are poor or sick, nor should we assume that a rich person is evil. We must always judge people by their "fruits."

God demands that the same standard be used to judge all people all actions and all situations...“with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.” (Psalm 98:9); “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth...” (Isaiah 11:4); “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have...” (Leviticus 19:35-36)

This is essential since we are often tempted to believe our best friend is right or it is alright to engage in a particular activity because it seems like fun even though it may be morally wrong. We must always try to be as objective as possible. It sometimes helps to ask yourself, If my daughter, instead of me, was in this situation what would I want her to do?" or "Would I make the decision tomorrow that I am making today?" or "If someone other than my best friend said this what would I think?" or, the best question of all, "If Jesus knocks on my door five minutes from now, will I try to hide my decision from him or will I feel comfortable telling him about my decision?"

God provided us with the standard by which we are to judge all things -- His Holy Word. “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) He that saith, “I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4); “The commandment is a lamp and the law is light.” (Proverbs 6:23)

God gave us his commandments to guide us, to lead us, to allow us to discern between good and evil, right and wrong. This is precisely what judging is all about. To stay out of trouble, to be strong and sure in our convictions, God has taught us to judge people by their fruits according to his Word. Dr. Spock and the Humanists have taught two generations of parents "Not to be judgmental." They have raised children who are so oversensitive that they can't tolerate criticism and yet the Bible teaches us that chastisement is love, and in order to chastise, we must first judge.

I caution you to Beware of Anyone who tells you not to Judge. "Judge not, lest ye be judged" is the great deception used by many pastors to rationalize their offerings of pablum or the "doctrines of devils" and to disarm Christians in their fight for truth. Remember that some of the greatest Martyrs of all times died because of those things which Pastors today call "doctrinal differences." For the sake of "fellowship" we support those who teach false doctrines and we rationalize our behavior with "judge not, lest ye be judged."

When we give tithe dollars to mainline churches because we can't find a church to attend, we are supporting, by our presence and our dollars, the teaching of lies. and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Wouldn't we be better off worshiping in our own homes? If we can home-school our children in academic subjects, we should certainly be able, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to "Home-Church" our families.

Are the Humanists sayings, "To each his own," "Do your own thing," etc., really any different than the out of context "Judge not, lest ye be judged?" “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)