Bible Study - Transformed (5) - Transformed in My Actions - Matthew 7:1-12 - July 3, 2016

Bible Study – Transformed (5) – Transformed in My Actions – July 3, 2016

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Transformed: My Life in GOD’S Kingdom.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 7:1-12.

The way we treat others should reflect the way GOD treats us.

Our lesson this week focuses on judging and the scripture we refer to as the “Golden Rule.”

People make judgments every day as they journey through life. We judge what we purchase, what we wear, what we eat, where we live, where we work, those with whom we associate and the list goes on. Judgment is a part of our lives. In our focus scripture JESUS focuses upon judgment. The question is “Do we judge to help or judge to condemn?” Let’s explore!

Let’s read Matthew 7:1-6:

Do Not Judge

1 "Do not judge, so that you won't be judged.

People judge others based upon their actions, where as GOD judges their heart, therefore GOD is the only true judge of us all. But here JESUS was teaching that we, as human’s, judge based upon the things we see, hear and observe in others applied to our standard for living. But what is our standard of living based upon? Is itself or GOD’S standard?

JESUS was teaching HIS disciples to discern what they were hearing and observing based upon GOD’S standard of righteousness. A judgment is to be made by Christians based upon being in right relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST. Christians are to judge or discern truth from error as led by the Holy Spirit to help and not to condemn. JESUS cautions us to be very careful when we judge others. Why?

2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Can we live up to our own standard all the time? We must be honest with ourselves. Do we measure up to our own expectations? Do we measure up to GOD’S expectations? Christians must first examine themselves. In Psalm 139:23:

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

JESUS is the Master teacher. HE continued teaching using a humorous and exaggerated example to reveal truth.

3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and look, there's a log in your eye?

5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Before judging others, JESUS admonishes Christians to critically examine their own lives or better, let GOD examine your life from HIS prospective. As each of us deal with our own problems in life, we discover that we are not perfect. When we are honest with ourselves and seek to serve our LORD, we ask the Holy Spirit to examine our lives to reveal our flaws. As we gain knowledge on how to deal with our own issues in life, we in turn know how to help others and have compassion for those who are struggling with various issues. But in helping others we must keep a close eye upon ourselves lest we fall back into sin.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Christians are to first seek GOD’S help in cleaning up their own lives. When we do, we realize that we are sinners saved by grace. But that does not mean that we do not help others until we are perfect but as GOD helps us, we in turn help others. Even here, we must be careful as JESUS taught in Matthew 15:14:

14 Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."

The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:1-5:

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won't be tempted also.

2 Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself.

4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else.

5 For each person will have to carry his own load.

Christians are to judge themselves first. We must be honest with ourselves first, and then we are in a position to help others. GOD is the only impartial judge. We have a tendency to be less critical of our own faults than the faults of others. This is especially true based upon our like or dislike of the other person.

Christians are generally eager to help others but those they would like to help may not want their help. Here Christians need discernment. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you minister or else, as JESUS teaches in the next verse ---

6 Don't give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.

Satan loves for those to whom you witness to rip you to shreds because you are likely to remain silent for the rest of your life. The Holy Spirit will give you the opening when the person is ready to receive truth.

Father, help us all to see the opening when you give it.

So, what are Christians to do as we seek to grow, mature and obediently serve? Salvation is just the beginning of a Christian’s Spiritual journey. We are the clay in the potters hand to be shaped into the image of CHRIST.

Let’s read Matthew 7:7-11:

Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking

7 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

JESUS taught that Christians are to pray and when we pray we are to ask, search and GOD will reveal. So what is happening when we ask and seek? GOD is revealing the areas in our lives that need to be brought into conformity with HIS will, plan and purpose for our lives according to HIS will, plan and purpose. GOD’S desire is for HIS children to have an intimate, loving relationship with HIM. As mentioned many times, salvation is just the starting point for a life-long journey of getting to know GOD. We have many rough edges that need to be smoothed by the potter, GOD.

The asking, searching and knocking is based upon our conversation with GOD or seeking to obediently serve HIM. Prayer is communication with GOD. Do we, as Christians, understand effective prayer?

    

    As we journey with HIM we discover some of the requirements for an effective prayer life: 

           James 5:16 - 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful. Ground zero is being righteous and that requires having JESUS as your Savior.

           Psalm 66:18 - 18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. If we have sin in our lives it blocks our prayers. Christians are to confess their sins - 1 John 1:9 - 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

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           Hebrews 11:6 - 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Do you believe that GOD is capable of responding to your prayers?

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           James 4:3 - 3 You ask and don't receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure.

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     1 John 5:14 - 14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

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          Matthew 5:23-24 - 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

-         24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

-         1 Peter 3:7 - 7 Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

There seems to be a lot of conditions regarding an effective prayer life. So how can we live such that we, as Christians, are in step with GOD? It is by having the right relationship with HIM through faith in CHRIST. When Christians are in right relationship, they are in HIS will. Then when we ask, search and knock our next scripture reveals the result.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Truth is the end result. When we find truth nothing can shake us from that solid foundation which is in CHRIST.

Being in right relationship with GOD is an active relationship where we are constantly getting to know HIM and responding to HIS instructions. Can Christians trust GOD to guide them? We need to keep in mind that in JESUS’ day, those who worshiped gods knew that they were fickle and could not be trusted. JESUS taught that GOD could be trusted by again using a lighter to heavier example as we read the next verse.

9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Most every dad or mom wants to give his or her son or daughter the best. By the same token, dads and moms can be trusted. We question that sometimes today but for the most part dads and moms build trust and can be trusted. In JESUS’ day, I understand that there were stones that resembled bread. No loving and caring parent would give his or her child a stone when they asked for bread.

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 

JESUS again used another example. If your child asked for fish would a loving parent give his child a snake? Of course not!

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Then JESUS compared human nature with GOD’S. Again, this is a contrast. Human nature is evil, yet humans give good gifts to their children. I love the words “how much more will your Father give good things to those who ask HIM!” How much does GOD love you? John 3:16-18 tells us:

16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

So what does all of this mean? JESUS tells us in the next verse.

Let’s read Matthew 7:12:

12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them-this is the Law and the Prophets.

JESUS gives us a summary “therefore,” treat others like you want others to treat you. We refer to this verse as the Golden rule. Practicing the Golden rule is good for getting us through life but it will not get us to heaven.

There is but one way to heaven and that is by acknowledging that JESUS died just for you to pay your sin debt, in full, by the shedding of HIS blood. Ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life. When you do, you will be born-again in your spirit and into the family of GOD. 

GOD becomes your Father, you are HIS Son or Daughter through the miracle of rebirth and your citizenship is in heaven. You are the child of GOD. Rejoice! Blessings!!!