Judgment and Baptism

There's a whole lot of folks today who aspire to be 'prophets of judgment.' Their really are. Some people feel that if they know how to speak in tongues, and at least think they can see something wrong with somebody, they're qualified to deliver 'the Lord's pronouncement of judgment' on 'the wicked and the wayward.' This kind of stuff is all over the internet both in type and in video. Don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware that part of the believer's calling is to "reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (Jn. 16:8). Been there and done that many times over, and shame on me if I haven't. What I'm talking about and reproving here however, is this manic ambition that so many have of being like the prophets of the Bible, and are so ready to judge who they will to prove the same. What I'm saying is that you do not become like the prophets in the Bible by TRYING to be like the prophets in the Bible, or by THINKING that you are like them. The problem with all of these religious 'heavy hitters' is that they are missing a key element in the equation. I'm talking about love, and I do mean God's love. And that brings me back to what it takes to be like the prophets of the Bible. It takes having a lot of love for God's people, and a real sadness to see souls that are bought by the blood of Christ depriving themselves of the glorious fellowship and blessedness that Jesus longs to have with all of us; and longs to see us have with one another. I"m talking about a fellowship of divine love, unity, peace, holiness, power, comfort, and joy. Here's what I'm talking about more pointedly: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:32,33). That's where God wants us to be, and in the hearts of those who are honest and humble, that is where they want to be as well. Well, the good news is that it's going to go back to that, and it is all so true that we will not get there without some serious rebuke from some fearless servants of Jesus Christ, and subsequent repentance. But those servants will have been qualified, not by their own ambition, but by God. And the truth is there are some who have this ambition and are off track with a hard spirit now, who will become qualified by God and have the love to do the job with. Some fine folks just need some good guidance and examples, and the right spiritual environment to be in, and they will grow to that place. But others will refuse the right guidance when it comes their way, and will call righteous examples of the faith something other than what they are; because they simply will not be willing to let go of their own personal religious ambitions.

Maybe you've noticed just how much 'discernment' so many people have, or claim to have rather. But I'm afraid that many of these 'masters of discernment' aren't discerning much more than their own spiritual condition, and believing that almost everyone else is guilty of what they themselves are guilty of. For example, the Pentecostal zealots that are 'prophesying' from their perches of judgment that everyone who is operating in miracle power and getting anything done for the Gospel, are actually operating under a Hindu spirit; are themselves under the influence of a Hindu spirit, and that is why they are accusing the righteous of the same. These kind of people are the ones to whom Jesus is going to be sending the rebukes of severity, while they themselves believe that he has sent them to give the rebuke. If they do not repent they will fulfill the sobering words of THE prophet, who said, "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another" (Mat. 24:10). Let me tell you my friend, that if you linger with the kind of spirit that I'm talking about here today, you will end up on the wrong end of that saying, and will fulfill this fearful prophecy as well: "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Mat. 13:40:42). Like I said already, it's the love of God dwelling in the hearts of the faithful that will make the difference, and that takes me back to Matthew 24 and the passage I've already partly quoted: "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound , the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Mat. 24:11-13). So then, if you're a prophet, and you feel that God's people need rebuke; just be certain that you know what you're talking about and that you actually feel the holy love of God for those who receive the rebuke, though it may needs be sharp. I assure you that the prophets of the Bible did so on both counts. Jonah was struggling a bit, but I'm confident that God managed to get him back on the right track. And for all of these 'zealots of judgment' running around out there 'discerning' everyone else's 'wickedness,' here's a few key scriptures that should be remembered and soberly heeded: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; CONSIDERING THYSELF, lest thou also be tempted." And this one: "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." And finally, this simplistic and powerful saying of Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful: for THEY [alone] shall obtain mercy." (Gal. 6:1; Jas. 2:13; Mat. 5:7). That's just the way it goes. Amen.