Being Merciful Triumphs Over Judgment

As Jonathan mentioned at the beginning, in the feast in Bahamas, it was mentioned about that you are coming out for a rehearsal, in a sense. I use the analogy that we come into the feast, which is an adult education program, a faculty, a faculty for the brethren to practice and learn and live God's way of life. And indeed, in Brazil, it was a great training program. We focused on how God will bring peace to earth and also how, as we look forwards, we can really be excited of Christ's coming. Because, as you and I look at the country's internal politics, you can only say, thank God Christ's coming and is going to sort us out. It's going to be a beautiful time when Christ comes. And so, as Jonathan mentioned, what action plan, what are you thinking of implementing in your life? And, interesting enough, I had the same sort of question at the beginning, and I have the same sort of question at the beginning of my message. In other words, what main lesson are you taking home and what action plan are you going to put in place for this coming year? Now, obviously, each one of you is going to develop your own action plan, and I hope you do develop an action plan of areas to improve spiritually. That I do hope. But I want to focus on a specific key lesson about the feast. And as we read in Deuteronomy 14, verse 23, where it says, you save your tithe and you put it into money, and you go and rejoice. But it also says you go to learn to fear God. It is really one of the focuses of the feast to go there to learn to fear God. Now, what is the fear of God? It's not terror, but it's actually deep profound respect for his love and care for us. And we fear him, we respect him for what he's doing for us and the plan he has for us. In Ecclesiastes, at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, we read in chapter 12, starting in verse 13, the last two verses of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verse 13 and 14. It says, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God. The conclusion of the whole matter is to put God first and deeply, profoundly honor and glorify him and give God glory with deep respect to God. That is the conclusion of the whole matter and to keep his commandments. God's commandments, all of God's commandments, are good. You know, you think about it. Mankind says, well, God's commandments, the Mosaic law, ah, it was hard and what have you. Imagine God took Israel out of slavery, right, and on the way to the promised land, gave them a law that was good, that would give them liberty, not a law of slavery. There's nothing wrong with God's law. He didn't take them out of slavery to put them back into slavery. And so what has happened over the years is that Judaism has perverted God's law because Christ himself said, you guys keep the traditions, oh man, and not the laws of God. And the point is, brethren, God wants our good and has given us a law of love towards God and towards fellow man and many other principles of low abiding as good citizens for the good of our neighbors and our those around us. But then in verse 14 says, for God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing with a good or evil. God will bring every work into judgment.

We are going through an evaluation process. Think about it. And those that will be in God's kingdom will be those, as it was mentioned in the sermonette, that will overcome, that will change, that will become more like Christ. And it says God will bring every work into judgment. Now, judgment usually has a negative connotation, but judgment can also be a decree of passing a reward. You're judged, and therefore that's what you do. For instance, if you work for an enterprise or a company, you have a performance plan and counseling, and at the end of your year you have a counseling session. In a sense, it's like an evaluation or a type of a judgment of how you did over last year. And if you did well, you get like a top-stop performance, and you're going to be rewarded accordingly. So judgment usually has a negative connotation, but it can have a positive connotation as well. The apostle Paul in Romans, in first chapter, was talking about that man have rejected the truth and God. You turn to Romans chapter 1, and you'll see there is the emphasis there that Paul is saying that man have rejected the truth and God. And then he says that they knew this, and they absolutely rejected it, and they actually approved those that do wrong things because it justifies them to do wrong things as well. And then Paul goes on into chapter 2 of verse 1, and he says, therefore you are inexcusable, a man, whoever you are, that judge, because you do the same thing. And I think here is something for us to think about carefully. It's easy for us to criticize others, and none of us is perfect. None of us is perfect. And you read a little bit later in verse 3 of Romans chapter 2, and he says, and do you think this, O man, who you judge those practicing such things, doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? And so one of the things that we need to look at is, are we living, and are we analyzing ourselves? Because then in verse 4, it's a very critical point that Paul says, you know, due to spies, God's goodness is patience and forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. You know, how often do we see things going wrong around us? And God wants every one of us to repent, and He gives us time. He wants you and I, all of us, in God's kingdom, and He gives us time. And a little bit later in verse 6 says, God will render to each one according to his deeds. Everybody will be rewarded according to his deeds. This is the same thing that Christ said in Matthew 16 verse 27. Matthew 16 verse 27.

He says, For the Son of Man will come in the glory of the Father with his angels, and then he will reward each according to his works. That is judgment, but it's a positive judgment because he wants to reward us with rewards.

So brethren, we know, we know, that only crushed blood justifies us, but over and beyond that there is going to be rewards. There's going to be rewards. How do you want your reward to be? How do you want your reward to be? There's a very meaningful scripture to me, which is in James chapter 2 verse 13. James chapter 2 verse 13. And it says, For judgment is without mercy, to the one who has shown no mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment. That is a profound statement, brethren. God is very merciful. He is full of grace towards us, but it's conditional. It's conditional on you and I being merciful to our brothers and sisters. And so, as we go through the feast and we end on the last great day, which in a sense is a day of judgment, it makes us think about how are we going to be judged and how am I going to be judged? How are you going to be judged? And so, as you think about your action plan and items that you drew as things that you want to take home and improve yourself after the feast this year, may I humbly suggest that you add one extra item to your action plan, and that is that you and I may grow in becoming more merciful like God is merciful.

In other words, growing the grace of our God and Savior, then we become more merciful like God is merciful, because mercy triumphs over judgment. Think about in God's throne. God's throne is over the ark, which has got to ten commandments, judgment. But on top of the ark is the mercy seat. Mercy triumphs over judgment. You know, brethren, we are going to encounter a year which is going to be pretty tough. I would not be surprised if we're going to see considerable civil strife in this country. A lot of political division.

We're going to see the false white horse of religion mixed with politics riding pretty strongly. And you and I need to focus on the big picture. And what is the big picture? It's understanding what is God's purpose for mankind and what is God's purpose for you and I. That's the big picture. Why are we born? Why are we born? And you and I know we ought to be sons and daughters of God in his family, in his worldwide government. And God has a systematic process of evaluating, of determining who is going to make the grade to be in that government.

That government is not going to be made based on what we call in this world Peter's principle. Now, I don't know if you know what Peter's principle is, but if you've been in management, you will have heard about promoting somebody to their level of incompetence. And that is called Peter's principle. And God's government, you will not be promoted to a level of incompetence.

You will be given a position that you have qualified. And that involves teaching and learning the right from the wrong. In fact, brethren, it involves God's great plan of salvation for each one of us. At an individual level, God's great plan of salvation is basically made up of the three spring holidays. Think about faith, trust, believe what Christ has done, pass over.

Repentance, symbolized by completely repentant unleavened bread. And a commitment through baptism for us to live a new life, to obey God and receive God's help through the power of His Spirit, which is the new covenant we make, which is at baptism and symbolized by the day of Pentecost. That is the three basic steps for individual salvation. Granted, they are still another four future, which represent Christ's coming, Satan being put away, Christ's ruling on earth, and the second resurrection, the white throne judgment. But that is related to the judgment of the world.

The first three relate to our individual personal salvation for each and every one of us. And once you and I receive God's Holy Spirit, once you and I have been baptized, once you and I have made that commitment, please understand, please understand, baptism is only the first step. It's not the end of the road. It's the first step. Now we have to grow, overcome, persevere till the end, as we heard in the sermon. We have to overcome. And so there is a judgment process, an evaluation process that begins at the baptism, a process of overcoming, of continuous improvement, yes, ups and downs, but of continuous improvement to persevere till the end. And finally, there will be a final decision-making judgment for us in the Church when the time of our evaluation comes, which would most probably be at Christ's coming or at our death.

It is important for us to understand it is important for us to understand that you and I, as baptized members, as members that have committed to obey God, in other words, we made that new covenant with God. It's like a marriage. Like in a marriage, you make a covenant, a promise, a commitment of your spouse to be faithful to him or to her, depending on which side you're looking at, till death do us part. That's a commitment. That's a covenant. That's what it is. Spiritually speaking, you and I make a new covenant with our loving Father through Christ to be faithful to him forever. Physically speaking, if you break that physical covenant, basically you're committing adultery. Spiritually speaking, if you break that spiritual covenant, you are committing spiritual adultery. And so, you and I, you and I have been called to make this covenant. Now, a lot of people misunderstand this thing about calling. You're called to what?

You're called to what?

Matthew 22 gives an example of that wedding feast, and it shows, starting in verse 1, that this is called, that is called, that is called, and they all have an excuse not to come to the wedding. You know that parable? Well, I've got to do this, I've got to do that, and then even go in the streets and call people. And then it ends that parable by saying, many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22, verse 14.

We are called for what? Now, many people think, well, we are called to salvation.

Well, partly that's correct. But the people in the world tomorrow, in the millennium, in the Second Resurrection, will also be given salvation, but they're not called. What? What did I say? You know, what? You see, because when you read in John chapter 6, verse 44 says, no man can come to me unless the Father draws him. But then when you get towards the last great day in John 7, verse 37, it says, let any man come to me, because then you don't need to be called anymore because it's open to everybody.

Our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren in the world tomorrow, in the millennium, will not be deceived by Satan. Their mind will be open. They are, quote-unquote, automatically called.

They automatically got the door open for salvation. So what is this calling? Calling is to what? To rule with Christ. Calling is to be part of the bride. Calling is to be part of the first fruits. Calling is to be that unique few that will rule with Christ, that will always be with Christ.

It's a special calling.

It's a special calling. That's why it says it's a very unique vocation. Calling. In 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 17, 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 17, it says, For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. You and I have called members to the wedding supper. Many are called, but few are chosen. Few are selected. Few will make it.

But it's a high calling. But you and I are being evaluated now. You see, our judgment is today. When Christ comes, there will be the judgment of the world and the nations, and at the second resurrection will be the judgment of those that died in this age that never knew the truth. But for us, the judgment is today. And we either make the grade or we don't. We are called to rule with Christ, to be the bride of Christ, to rule with Him, to be—let's call it between inverted commas—the governing cabinet of God for eternity. Yes, in a millennium we'll be through on earth, but in the new heaven and new earth, we will be the government of God in that new Jerusalem, governing the whole universe. It's an amazing calling! It's an amazing calling!

In James chapter 1 verse 12, in James chapter 1 verse 12 says, "...blessed is the man who endures temptation," we're in Jewish trials, because for when he has been approved, he'll receive eternal life. We are through this approval process, this qualification process, yes, to receive eternal life, but more than that, we are called now to have a special, special, unique position, because we are now overcoming against the world, against Satan. The people in the world tomorrow, they won't have to overcome Satan or the world. The people in the Second Resurrection, they won't have to overcome Satan or the world.

But we are being trained, refined for a special commission. And so, brethren, we are under judgment now, not later. And therefore, remember that we are being trained to judge. In 1 Corinthians 6, starting in verse 1, "...dear any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Do you not know that you the saints will judge the world? Don't you know you're going to have the responsibility under Christ that the final decision maker for life eternal or death is Christ, of course, under God? But you and I will have responsibility delegated down to us to do additional judgments. He says the saints will judge the world. And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters today?

Do you not know that we shall charge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? In John chapter 7 verse 24, John chapter 7 verse 24 gives us a very powerful instruction about judgment. John chapter 7 verse 24. He says, do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

The word judge is the Greek word krino, and judgment is chrisus. So don't judge krino according to appearance. Get the facts. Find out. Get more detail, because we need to judge with righteous judgment.

In Matthew chapter 1 verse 1, I beg your pardon, Matthew chapter 7 verse 1, Matthew chapter 7 verse 1, it says, judge not that you not be judged. So is that a contradiction? Because we just finished reading in John 7, judge with righteous judgment. But judge not that you not be judged means don't condemn. The word, it's the same word, krino, Greek 2919, the same word, that has two basic meanings. You've got to read the context. One is careful evaluation, and the other one is condemning, but it's still an act of judging. So don't condemn. Don't be hypocritical, because the way you do it, that's the way it's going to come back to you.

You and I must not do the final judgment. The final judgment only belongs to God. Back to James chapter 4 verse 11. James chapter 4 verse 11 and 12.

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and charges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one law giver who is able to save and destroy. Who are you to judge another? Who are you to condemn another? Because the law says don't condemn another. The only one that can condemn or give us eternal life to save us or destroy is God, and God delegated that to Christ. You and I do not have the delegated responsibility to do that. Only God has the legal right to save and destroy.

As it reads in verse 12, there is one law giver who is able to save and destroy. Only God has that legal right. And so the question is, how do we judge? How do we judge righteously?

And I'm going to give you three simple points. In fact, four. The first one is look at yourselves. Look at yourself. Look at myself. In 1 Corinthians 11, this is a scripture we read every year at the Passover. In 1 Corinthians 11, verse 28.

Therefore, whoever, beg your pardon, 28, but let a man examine himself. This word here is docimatso, which means discern. Analyze yourself, discern. But then he continues a little bit further in verse 31 and says, but if you judge ourselves, judge ourselves. It's a combination of the word credo, judge, but dia, with a preposition dia, which is our self-diagnosis, dia, diagnosis, dia credo. And so if you judge yourselves, we will not be credo, judged. But when we are judged by God, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned. Also the word credo, but with a different preposition, cata credo, which means cut down, given a negative sentence. And so, brethren, the first thing is we need to look at ourselves. How do we judge others? Let's first look at ourselves. That's why we read in 2 Corinthians 13, verse 5, examine yourselves. That is the word de pirazzo, which means scrutinize, scrutinize yourselves. And so how do we judge the very first thing? Look at yourself. Before you look at others, look at yourself. And now we get to the point of the action plan. Of the action plan. And let me summarize it, very simple. If possible, live at peace with all men. If possible, live at peace with everyone. And I'll break that down into two simple steps. And the first one is in Romans 12, starting in verse 18. Romans 12, verse 18. And it says, if it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. In other words, the very second step is, let me put it another way. Does this make the grade to make an argument? Or is it better to just let it go and pass over? You see, Christ passed over our sins. Is it a time sometimes? We just need to just let it go and pass over. And allow God to do whatever needs to be done. Because it says, vengeance is mine, I'll repay, says the Lord. But if I do it, then you're taking that away from God's hands. So sometimes it's better to just leave it in God's hands. And therefore, it says, therefore, if your enemy is angry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap calls of fire on his head. Because God is going to sort it out, not you. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

And so, under this action plan, if possible, live at peace with all men, the first one is sometimes, it's better to just let it go.

Just let it go. But there is something else, and that is the Beatitudes. In Matthew chapter 5, we have the Beatitudes starting in verse 3. Matthew chapter 5, there is the Beatitudes. And it starts with the first one about humility. In verse 3, it says, be poor in spirit, be humble. The second is mourn. And it was repent. Mourn for what you have done and what I've done. Repent. And the third one is make, be teachable, be malleable, be willing to change. For then you'll be nearer to earth. And then hunger and thirst for God's righteousness. Not my self-righteousness, but God's righteousness. And then there is the important one. Be merciful. Be merciful. Because mercy triumphs over judgment. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Be pure in art. You know, you must be honest and see it. That's a true man, as we heard in the sermon, be honest. And then the outcome is peace. Peace. You're the peacemaker. And those who will be the ones that will be the children of God. Because God is a peacemaker. The other one is unfortunate outcome of being a peacemaker is that you'll be persecuted for that. But the first seven are things that we need to do. We need to be reconciled. Look at the in verse 23 and 24. It says on the same chapter, therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, in other words, you are praying about something and you're praying to God, and there you remember that your brother's got something against you, that you have offended your brother, something, there's something not right. Stop the prayer, verse 24. And be reconciled, your brother. Make peace. Consult it out. To your brother. It's not putting it on a loudspeaker and tell the whole church, but it's to your brother or your sister. And then continue if you're praying. In verse 25 and 26, it says agree, make peace, or else, right at the end of verse 26, you will have to pay till the last penalty. For the last penny, you'll have to pay till the last burden.

You see, we have a ministry of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5, 18, and 19. Sure, we've got to be reconciled with Christ, with God. But how can we be reconciled with God if we're not reconciled with our brothers and sisters? You know, for this very reason I came, that you love one another, we've got to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters. And that requires humility, and that is putting on the grace of God.

Going back to Matthew 7, where we were earlier on, so it's just a few pages ahead from where you are, where he says, judge not that you not be judged, in other words, don't condemn. Then in verse 2 says, for with what judgment you judge, you'll be judged. With whatever measurement you judge, it's going to be the same to you. So if the measurement you're going to apply is going to be mercy, it'll come to you as mercy. Don't you and I need mercy from God? I need a lot of mercy from God. I made a lot of sins and mistakes, and so have we all. I'd rather have mercy, triumph, winning over judgment. I'd rather err on the side of mercy.

And you read here in verse 3 through 5, and it says, you know, you look at your brother, and you see he's done this thing wrong, and he's done that thing wrong, and yes he has. But the problem is you've got a plank in your eye. What is the plank in your eye and in my eye?

Do you know what it is? Self-righteousness.

Because we don't look at ourselves first. He or she has done this, that, and that. But I am better. And so when you go, you have the self-righteous attitude, the beam, the plank, the self-righteousness, arrogance, pride, what Satan has. And that we're going to take out. And the problem, you and I cannot see self-righteousness. Because we are blind to it. And you and I need to fast. Isaiah 58 says, show me, God, where I have it. Because it says, this is the fast I wanted. Stop pointing the finger! Right? Blaming the other. Because we're self-righteous. And so the action plan is, if possible, live at peace with all man. Sometimes, just let it go. But at the times, there is a problem. Be reconciled with your brother, as we saw in Matthew 5. And don't be self-righteous about it. So now let's get to the next point. Which is the action plan in action. The action plan in action. And the action plan in action is described a few chapters ahead in Matthew 18. And in Matthew 18 starts from verse 1 through 5, talking about, you're proud. You should be like children. You're proud. And then verse 6 through 9 talks about, there's a member in the church that is hurt. That has been offended. That is left. Take the time to help that person. And now some of you have done. Kudos to you. Go and help that brother or sister that's struggling. Instead of criticizing him or her, go and find out how you can help, because that person is hurting, is damaged, needs help. So help others. And that is what it says here in Matthew 18 about the parable of the lost sheep. Bring him in. Bring her in. Bring her in. And then we get to the real key of the matter, which is verse 15. Moreover, if your brother's sons against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

Now we know this. And here are two problems we have. And I admit, I've failed in this in the past.

Because the instruction is very specific about sin against you, but don't look at the specific instruction. Look at the principle. Look at the principle. The principle is if there is an offense. Maybe he hasn't sinned against you. Maybe he's done something and it's just there is that division or that separation. And so what happens is most people normally look at it very specifically. He's sinned against me. It's a sin. Look at it beyond the specific. Look at the principle. And secondly, the second error. And this is a problem that we ministers sometimes have.

And I've done this in the past and I repent and I try to change. I justify myself saying, well, because this thing was public, I can now tell the whole world. No. The instruction is go to that person privately. Don't justify saying, well, because this was public, I can now make it public as well.

The instruction is go to him or her alone. And this is a problem we all have done sometimes because we looked at specific and says, well, this situation is not exactly the specific, instead of looking at the principle. And then we give ourselves the liberty of going beyond the instruction.

And then you read in verse 17 that, yes, then there is an escalation process. But look at verse 17. Verse 17 says, if the situation is such that it doesn't listen, he or she is removed from the church. Is this offense that big that warrants that? Maybe you're going to talk to him, try and reconcile, he doesn't. Then you get back to step number one, if possible, live at peace with everyone, overcome evil with good, and let it go. Because now if you take it bigger and bigger, the outcome would say, well, we've got to expel that person out of the church. Is that what we want to do for something small?

And remember, always, Galatians 6, verse 1, always do it with humility. When you go to your brother, I remember once in South Africa, I did something small. I was new in the church. I did something small, and I can't even remember now what it was. But I remember the reaction of that lady that came to me and said, George, you've done the thing against me! It was like a machine gun. Wow! Oh, I'm sorry. I just left it. Now, I could have reacted differently. But that person did not approach me. I can't even remember who that person was, to be frank. I just remember it was a lady. I remember I was in the church maybe one or two years before I met my wife. And it was just something small. But I never forget that when we go to others, we've got to go with the right attitude. And so that is the action plan in action, is be willing to forgive. And that's what then in Matthew 18, the next verses starting from verse 21 to the end of the chapter, just be prepared to forgive 70 times seven. How many people have offended you 449 times a day? Well, maybe you need to keep a count. And then at the end of the day, if they've done 491 today, then yeah. Well, I'm just joking. But the point is we just have to forgive and let go. Else, you and I will not be forgiven. We just got to let go. You know, if we harbor it, the one who's going to hurt the most is me, myself, and I. Because it's going to build a root of bitterness. We just got to let go. Nobody's perfect. And as we read in Romans 12 verse 21, leave it with God. Leave it with God. God will sort it out. He said vengeance is mine. And so, as we look at this, at important lessons to put into practice after the feast, maybe this is an action plan that you and I could add. Because, you know, in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 18 says, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ showed extreme grace and kindness and forgiveness to us by dying to us while we were yet sinners. So, we need to grow in understanding how He acted. How did He act? With grace, with mercy, with forgiveness. And what is our job? To grow in the same grace. To be like Him. That's our job. And so, analyze yourself. Be a peacemaker. Reconcile by going directly. And remember, in James chapter 2 verse 13, mercy triumphs over judgment. You and I need mercy. Apply it and you know you will receive it. What great comfort that is for the days ahead.