Worship – Our Weapon

“Now when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon and Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated”

– 2 Chronicles 20:22

 

We are in a war.

 

Nationally the push to rewrite history and eliminate any vestige of Christianity as a ground for defining morality is at a zenith. You may disagree that the founders of this nation were Christian. But it would be hard to contend that Christianity hasn’t had a profound influence on this nation in her times of greatness. All of this is being sacrificed for a convoluted worldview that sees America as simply another nation in the world rather than an exceptional nation blessed by God. America, this worldview contends, is imperialistic. America has become great at the expense of the weak. America is unjust and oppressive. America must be brought down a peg and Christians with it if they get in the way.

First, prayer, then God’s word and any traces of the holy were removed from our educational institutions. (Don’t want to pollute the young populace.) Then mores of common decency were rejected and the floodgates of free love and sex opened wide. Now the family fabric of our nation is in the process of being dissolved to such a degree that it ceases to mean anything. Men can marry men. Women can marry women. Soon to follow adults will marry children (or at least the age of consent will be removed). There will be allowances for a man to have many wives and for equalities’ sake, a woman to have many husbands. Eventually a time will come when humans can marry animals or inanimate objects. All of this will likely be presented as human rights issues. It will come under the banner of freedom and anti-discrimination. It will be enforced with the patrolling gunboats of political correctness. It will be promoted to the disgrace of a once great nation by a  government that has degenerated to legislate licentiousness. We are in the midst of what is in reality an antichristian political utilitarian anarchy of lawlessness. If it feels good legislate it; hedonism in the highest. Pass laws to protect sin. Remove laws that uphold righteousness. Government was ordained by God in His Word, but this government has long left God and His Word out of its equation.

On the other hand government intrusions are at an all-time high. National crises have been seized upon to implement an unprecedented pervasive and proliferating system of citizen oversight and control. They know where you are, when you’re there, all the time. The government has taken control of the medical system. They determine if you are deserving of treatment. The masses are being purposefully addicted to the drug of dependency on government. The spirit of entitlement sucks people into the system. They promise cost effectiveness and deliver individual dependency and national bankruptcy. The Internal Revenue Service has become a political weapon. The police force has been armored and equipped like an army. I’m all for protection and preparation against terrorism, but it does appear lately that some of this anti-terrorism strategy is conveniently aimed at and used on the citizenry.

All of this is painful and scary to see for many. But the pharmaceutical industry has the solution. Take a pill. Take a pill for anything and everything. Evangelist psychobabblers spreading the good news of wellness will keep people seduced in a reduced state of apoplexy. Keep the patient under anesthesia until their organs are removed. Hey, they’re doing head transplants now you know. (I’m not kidding.[1]) What we see is a national head transplant. Without the Head, how much longer can this go on?

Internationally there is the cancer of ISIS (ISIL) terrorism metastasizing from the bowels of Islam over the body of the earth. The cells of this cancer feed on “infidels.” They are committed to a war of elimination by decapitation. They brag and boast of their cutthroat crimes in the media. It is a fanatically depraved demonically inspired leprosy which feeds on itself as well as others. Our nation is not exempt from this cancer. Shortsightedly and foolishly our leaders are actually purposefully lowering our border guard. They look the other way allowing for the infiltration of those who would do us harm. All of this fueled by a lust for the votes of illegal immigrants and packaged in disregard of citizenship. It’s all to sustain political power. Their self-promoting miscalculations are proving dangerous for their constituency.

Already we have seen a decapitation by one infected with the ISIS plague. An innocent secretary was stabbed and then beheaded all as an act of vengeance upon those who would not convert to Islam. The Islamic executioner had been fired from his job for his disruptive verbal attacks on his co-workers. This blatant attack by an ISIS sympathizer was of course dismissed as a simple work place homicidal disturbance. We must be politically correct; don’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers (that’s too big a block of voters to alienate!); even if vast proportion of them are out to annihilate us! And really, aren’t you surprised you haven’t heard that the ACLU is taking the offenders case because he was discriminated against?

Despite all of this and much, much more, there is an even greater related age old war that is well underway. All that we see on the surface is fueled by what is going on under the surface. There is a spiritual war raging. There is a light versus darkness, truth versus falsehood, Heaven versus Hell war going on. This war is between God, His angels and His people versus Satan, his demons and sympathizers. It’s an interesting war in that Satan has already been defeated at the cross of Christ (Colossians 2:13-15).

You’d think Satan would give up given the decisiveness of his defeat at the cross. But no, he is a maniacal miscreant dead set on doing evil and deceiving. And he is still somewhat effective at this devilish determination. This is a war that can’t be fought with conventional weapons. This is a battle against unseen principalities and powers and rulers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). Therefore, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

God has provided us with the best of armor for this battle (Eph. 6:10-18). If we simply put that armor on and stand in the might of the Lord, we can’t lose. With the helmet of salvation our mind is protected. The breastplate of righteousness in Christ guards our heart. With gospel shoes on we can carry the gospel to free others from the enemy’s talons. The shield of faith deflects the fiery arrows of enemy doubt. The sword of the Spirit when swung in love cuts through the enslaving damming lies of demons. The belt of truth holds our armor in place. Yes, our commander has given us the best equipment for the battle.

But I want to speak to you about an oft forgotten and even unrecognized weapon in this battle. It is a weapon that steadies and calms the ranks of God’s army. It is a weapon that when taken up gives God’s forces a steely unbeatable determination. I’m talking about Worship – Our Weapon. Immediately you may be tempted to think, “Worship, you mean singing? We’re in a war and you’re writing about worship?” Yes, my contention is that worship and in particular singing is one of our most potent weapons for the war we’re in. My contention is that instead of saying, “We’re in a war why worship?” we should be responding, “We’re in a war, we better worship!”

Now worship is far more than only singing. In reality our life is to be lived with an attitude of worship. When we live in full surrender to God in light of His grace we are worshipping (cf. Romans 12:1-2). When we live to please God not merely to please people we worship (cf. Colossians 3:17, 23-24). When we do all that we do for the glory of God we are worshipping (1 Cor. 10:31). We are to live lives of worship to God. Worship is more than singing. But singing is an important part of worship. Singing and its harmonies and sounds influence not only those physically in earshot of it, but it influences those in the unseen spiritual battle. If prayer is the long range artillery in our spiritual war, and God’s armor equips the boots on the ground, then worship singing is that communications jamming that brings confusion to the enemies of God. If the enemy is confused and divided, they will soon be defeated. Jesus said, “A house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25; Mark 3:25; Luke 11:17). Worship to the enemies of God is a loud screeching in their earphones.

God wants to unite people in Christ (Eph. 2:11-22). The only good division is separating from sin. In this sense Jesus came to divide believers from unbelievers in Him (Matthew 10:34). God’s word is to be rightly divided in terms of orderly study and presentation of it (2 Timothy 2:15). God’s word divides us from our sin (Heb. 4:12). When God divides He does so to put things in their proper order and place. God is orderly (1 Cor. 14:33, 40). God divided the sky from the earth and the land from the sea.

God divides to create and beautify. Satan divides to conquer and disqualify. Divide and conquer is one of the oldest if not the oldest military strategies. It is rudimentary military strategy. One of Satan’s greatest strategies against the forces of God is to divide them. He took a third of the angels of heaven with him in his rebellion against God. He will deceive and take a host of God’s creation with him to hell.

An army united is stronger than an army divided. Satan wants to divide God’s army. He seeks to divide and cause chaos. He wants there to be infighting among God’s troops. He too often succeeds in his efforts to divide by pandering to people’s flesh. He encourages using selfishness to create division in the ranks. The carnal Corinthians are a perfect example of this strategy (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10; 3:1-4). Division in the church ranks is a sign of carnality not spirituality. Those who are divisive should be corrected and if they persist, they are to be avoided (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10; Jude 19).

Worship singing has a way of uniting the ranks of God in a holy chorus. When we sing together we are united. But worship singing, while it unites worshipers, has the exact opposite effect on the enemy. Worship singing disrupts and divides the enemy. Worship singing has a positive and negative impact. Worship singing is therefore an extremely effective weapon in God’s arsenal. And that is why Satan does everything he can to corrupt worship singing as well as quench it as much as he can.

Satan doesn’t want you to sing worshipfully. He will do everything he can to keep you from worshipping God in song. And that is why singing is such a touchy subject with people. There are some who don’t think singing is a manly thing to do. Singing is for children. Singing is for the feminine. If you think that way you’ve been deluded. Those ideas are straight from the pit of hell. Consider this: Moses and the children of Israel sang and God helped them defeat an empire. David sang and God helped him slay a giant enemy nine and a half feet tall. Paul and Silas sang and God brought an earthquake to break open their prison doors. Jesus sang and He defeated the devil and suffered successfully for our redemption on the cross. I think it’s time for us to sing and see what God will do for us!

In the Old Testament there is a historical battle recorded that demonstrates the effectiveness of worship singing. In 2 Chronicles Jehoshaphat was for the most part a good king of the southern kingdom of Judah who implemented righteous reforms (2 Chron. 19). Then a horde of Moabites and Ammonites came up against him (2 Chron. 20:1-2). Both these groups trace their roots to Lot’s incestuous relations with his daughters (Gen. 19:37-38). It was in Moab that Balaam brought God’s people down with a strategy of lust (Number 22 and 25). The cruel Ammonites were into eye-gouging (e.g. 1 Samuel 11:2). They would rip open the pregnant women of their conquered foes (Amos 1:13). They worshipped the god Molech, a fire-god with the face of a calf. The idol of Molech was made of metal. It had outstretched arms and a cut out furnace area in its belly. In the ceremonial worship of Molech the idol was heated until it was red hot and then as an act of worship infants were placed on the red hot arms of the idol. Simultaneously a loud drumbeat would drown out the cries of the burning child as well as the mournful cries of the child’s parents. Satan was written all over Molech. Today’s ISIS terrorists had nothing on this confederacy of cruelty that came up against Jehoshaphat and his people.

 Understandably this was a frightful sight. Good king Jehoshaphat did what any godly person does when faced with a trial. He immediately “set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). He sought the LORD and brought the people together. A good godly leader will always seek the LORD first and then rally God’s people together. A good godly leader knows God works through united people. The Holy Spirit comes to empower believers united together in “one accord” (e.g. Acts 1:14 and Acts 2).

 Having sought the LORD and having brought God’s people together, Jehoshaphat led a congregational time of prayer. His opening words of prayer recognized that God is sovereign and in control (2 Chronicles 20:5-6). He then remembered how God had delivered His people in the past and had promised to do so again if they sought Him out in times of enemy attack (2 Chronicles 20:7-9; cf. 2 Chronicles 7). Then the godly king laid out the current predicament before His LORD (2 Chronicles 20:10-11). And in the concluding words of His prayer he humbly expressed, “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12). They were powerless and perplexed but they did know Who to look to; “but our eyes are on You.”

Humbly united before the LORD, God faithfully responded by the Holy Spirit coming upon the Levite Jahaziel. As a relative of  “the sons of Asaph” he very well might have been involved in the worship ministry (2 Chronicles 20:13-14; cf. 1 Chronicles 25). The Holy Spirit will often speak to us through worship. And the word of the Spirit to Jehoshaphat and God’s people was a comforting one. “And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). The Spirit always brings things into proper focus; proper perspective – the battle is not ours, it is the LORD’s. Even though God had sovereignly determined to allow this predicament, He also had a plan to deal with it. And this plan of God would serve the purpose of teaching God’s people a valuable truth.

 While the battle was the LORD’s it didn’t mean His people would have no part in it. In this particular battle they would need to “position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!” God affirmed, “Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:16-17). We need to be ready to take our positions. We need to step up and step into our place of responsibility. Be ready for how God wants to use you.

Then Jehoshaphat leads his people in humble thanks entering into worship of the LORD. And their worship was no barely heard half-hearted lukewarm singing. It says they “stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high” (2 Chronicles 20:18-19). “Loud and high” my brothers and sisters; “loud and high”! When you worship the LORD can your singing be described as “loud and high”? When you sing, can you be heard? Is your heart in it? These people were aware of God’s deliverance and they expressed their thanks in appropriate singing. Their singing was an expression of their faith. They sang as though their lives were in the balance; because they were! Their worship flowed from the word the Holy Spirit had provided. Their worship was connected to the Spirit. How about you; what does your singing express, worship? Who are you connected to?

There is a connection between the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and worship singing. In the Old Testament Moses was instructed by God to strike the rock and water would come out for the people (Exodus 17). Later he was instructed by God to speak to the rock in order to get more water out of it (Numbers 20). But as the people continued their journey to the Promised Land and moved away from this rock how would they get water? As they moved on and needed more water God instructed Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water” (Numbers 21:16). God had the people come together; He had them unite. Then it states, “Then Israel sang this song: ‘Spring up, O well! All of you sing it” (Numbers 21:17). Then God provided water. Here God’s provision of water is connected with singing.

Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in the New Testament (John 7). This was a time of remembering and worshipping God for His provisions in the Wilderness wanderings. Each day during this Feast there was a libation ceremony during which the High Priest would lead a joyous procession of worshipers down to the Pool of Siloam. There he would dip a gold pitcher into the water and fill it. As the pitcher was filled with water they would sing Isaiah 12:2-3 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Then the priest would lead the procession back to the Temple where he would pour out the water into a silver basin as a drink offering. As the priest poured out the water Isaiah 44:3 would be sung – “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.”

On the last great day of the Feast when the water had been poured out, the priest would lift up the empty pitcher as a call for Messiah to come and fill up His people. It was at this point that Jesus, on that final great day of the Feast, “stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). John is inspired to comment here, “but this he spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39). This is important.

When Jesus spoke of “rivers of living water” He was connecting the Old Testament type of water in this Feast to being a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament states clearly “that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). When Moses struck the rock to get water out of it, it was a typology of Jesus being struck on the cross. When Moses was instructed to speak to the rock, it was a typology that the work of regenerating water of the Spirit had been completed and one only had to speak in faith to it to receive the water. But look what follows, as the pilgrims journeyed on from the place of the rock (the cross) they needed only to sing and the water would flow. “Spring up, O well!” and the water would flow. Water is a type of the Spirit. When we unite in worship singing, the Holy Spirit will flow! At Pentecost the believers were “one accord” (Acts 1:14). There is no specific mention of their worshipping, but gathered together for prayer they very well might have been. Then we see the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowering them to serve the Lord. Worship singing creates the environment for the living water of the Holy Spirit to flow. We need the power of the Spirit for the war we are in! Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to come with our singing.

You may be thinking, “Okay Pastor, I’m following you, but is there any other confirming evidence for this?” Yes! Being continually filled with the Spirit is connected to our worship in song. In his inspired letter to the Ephesians Paul writes, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Eph. 5:18-20).

The Spirit filled life, the life of continually being filled with the Holy Spirit, is directly related to “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” When we worship in song it invites the Holy Spirit to come.

Only a fool would go into battle without the authority of their commander’s orders and the equipment provided by the army. With the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we have both. And worshipful singing is the means God uses for the Holy Spirit to be poured out and His soldiers to be empowered for battle. From now on, when you sing in worship, sing with purpose. Worship in song as a call to the Holy Spirit to empower and equip you. Then you’ll be ready for the war.

“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20). All true worship involves believing in the LORD and His word (“His prophets”). The effective weapon of worship is worship defined and found in the word of God. I’m not speaking of mere music or secular songs. Such things will more likely lead to melancholy or very temporal distraction from your problems. If you want potent and more permanent deliverance from the attacks of demons you will need to worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness. Only that will lead to prosperity; the fulfillment of God’s will and purposes in your life.

God’s word speaks of the instrumental use of worship to empower and defeat His enemies. When we worship Him it empowers us. When we worship Him as He prescribes; we must worship God the way He ordains us to worship Him. We must worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). “In spirit” means we must be “born again,” regenerated; made spiritually alive.  That happens when we turn from our sin in repentance to God through faith in Jesus Christ as the sole means and basis of God forgiving our sin. By faith we ask for and receive God’s forgiveness for our sins. When we do that the Holy Spirit indwells us giving us a second birth; a spiritual eternal birth (John 3; Titus 3:4-7). Only then can we “know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). You can’t worship God if you don’t know Him or His Son Jesus.

“In truth” means according to God’s word which is the embodiment of truth (John 17:17). When we are spiritually born in Christ we live by Him and for Him. To worship “in truth” means we live by God’s truth in His word. We can’t worship God apart from His truth. True worship, worship that God accepts and looks for, is worship defined by His truth.

Have you ever been down or depressed for no apparent reason? Have you ever been overwhelmed with doubts? Ever felt hateful or all of a sudden angry and vengeful, belligerent? Have you ever felt defeated? Ever sink in despair? Ever been deluged by darkness? Let me tell you something. That is very likely evidence of an enemy attack. Did you ever notice how, you can be feeling some or all those things but when you worship it seems to change you for the better? Ever ask yourself why that is? It’s because when you worship the Lord the enemy can’t stand it. When we worship the enemy breaks off the attack. Worship confuses the enemy. Worship is like a high piercing horn blast in the ears of the demons of darkness.

^“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21). The enemy can’t stand it when God’s people, “praise the beauty of holiness.” What does that mean? It means we praise the beauty of living holy before our Holy God. When we worship God and live in total surrender and love to Him, it is an overpowering weapon. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8a). Love is what the Holy Spirit pours into us when He indwells us (Rom. 5:5). Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39). When the enemy knows we know that, well, more often than not they will just let down their weapons, put down their heads, and walk away in defeat. When we praise the beauty of holiness it is very discouraging to our spiritual enemies.

Satan and his hordes are sore losers. When we praise the beauty of holiness not only do they turn in defeat, but they turn on each other. When we worship in song it so defeats the enemy that they are reduced to confused consternation.  And they become so confused that they turn their cruelty on each other. In Jehoshaphat’s predicament it states, “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. ²³ For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.” (2 Chronicles 20:22-23). While worship brings the true worshiper peace and power, worship brings confusion to the enemy. Lucifer was very possibly the worship leader of heaven at one time (Ezek. 28:11-19). His pride led to his fall (Isaiah 14:12-17). Lucifer perverted worship to exalt himself. When he hears true worship that exalts God Almighty as it should, it is like nails scraped on a chalk board, a deafening sound that hurts his ears and stabs his mind and heart with the truth and judgment of God.

Worship as a weapon can do a thorough work of defeating the enemy. “So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24). When we worship we submit to God. We “resist the devil” with our worship. And when we do that, he must flee (James 4:7). Worship is a mighty weapon against Lucifer and his fallen angels. When we worship, Satan goes down for the count. The next time you’re tempted to give into the flesh or some ungodly notion, just tap out a worship melody and you’ll tap out the enemy.

Worship will lead you to the Valley of Berachah or Valley of Blessing. You will despoil the enemy and take back from him what is rightfully yours in Christ (2 Chronicles 20:25-26). Worship singing leads to abundant blessing at the expense of the enemy. Worship singing leads to a victorious joyous procession (2 Chronicles 20:27-28). The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Worship leads to a victorious procession to the glory of God! And worship singing impacts unbelievers. It communicates the presence of the Lord and instills the “fear of God,” reverence for God to them (2 Chronicles 20:29). When we worship sing God is enthroned in our hearts. And when we worship like that, it has an impact on those around us.

When we worship in song it soothes us and instills in us a sense of rest and peace in the Lord. After Jehoshaphat’s victory in worship it states, “Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around” (2 Chronicles 20:30). Worship and worship singing leads to peace. The prophet Isaiah echoes this when he is inspired by God to write of a song God would give His people: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. ² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. ³ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ⁴ Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:1-4). Isaiah speaks of bulwarks and a strong city because there are always foes ready to attack. What did God instruct Isaiah to communicate to the people? God gave Isaiah a song to sing and that song of worship in the presence of the Lord would “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”  If you want calm when faced with calamity worship the Lord in song.

Finally, we should sing worshipfully in times when we are set to pick up our cross or encounter the enemy in pivotal purpose-fulfilling plans of God. After Jesus had put in place His Table before His disciples and was getting ready to go to Gethsemane and then the cross, it states, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). At the most critical redemptively important time in His life Jesus approached the cross worshipping in song. At the cross Satan and all the demons of hell brought their hardest and darkest devilish attack. Jesus warded them all off with a hymn of worship.

When we worship in times of trial it brings us closer to Jesus.  Jesus comes closer to us in our worship. What hymn did our Savior sing with His disciples? We don’t know. Perhaps it was a psalm traditionally sung at Passover (e.g. Psalm 113-118). Perhaps at some point Jesus sang, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me” (Psalm 118:6-7).

 Martin Luther the reformer was known to battle the devil all his life. You can still see at Wartburg Castle an ink stain on the wall of Luther’s study. It was there that he threw an inkwell at the devil. Luther fought oppressive thoughts throughout his life that he attributed to spiritual warfare. But he found a more effective weapon to fight the devil than an inkwell. In the great Reformation hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God written by Luther he conveys the hope we have in Christ when he writes, “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.  The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.” What might that “little word” be? In John 19:30 the single Greek word tetelestai is translated “It is finished!” Jesus’ redemptive work is finished and complete. The enemy is finished. Let’s be a constant reminder to him and those who fight with him that he “is finished!” We’re at war. Worship is our weapon. Use it!

 

 

 

 

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[1] http://qz.com/99413/first-ever-human-head-transplant-is-now-possible-says-neuroscientist

Encouraging Light or Fearful Darkness?

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12

“Daddy, I’m scared! DADDY I’m scared!” When my kids were younger from time to time I’d hear their voice utter those words during the night. I’d get up, go to their bedroom and calm them. I’d pray with them. But sometimes, just to be sure, they’d ask, “Dad, can we leave my light on?” And of course we’d leave the light on.

There’s something about light that removes the fears cultivated in darkness. When the light is on there’s no shadows that can birth imagined or real scary images. I remember in 1973 a few friends and I went to see the movie The Exorcist. (I wasn’t a Christian at the time and don’t encourage any Christian to see such themed movies.) I remember the goofing around and joking about the scariness of the movie before it started. We were big guys; nothing would scare us. Well, we went in joking but came out scared and shaken. When the lights in the theatre were turned down and the movie started, our light countenance dissipated pretty quickly. Once that movie started unfolding, we got pretty serious. I have to admit there were some scenes where I closed my eyes. It impacted me. The sights, the sounds, the thoughts produced, were frightening. I was afraid.

When I went home from that movie I remember I had a hard time sleeping in the dark. There was a ceiling hatch door to the attic in my bedroom. I just couldn’t sleep with the lights off without being overcome with fear something was up there and would come out in the dark. Funny how you hear things in the dark. So I slept with my lights on. Of course when my parents would come and see the lights on in my bedroom I’d pretend I’d left them on by accident. They’d shut the lights off. But I’d soon get up and put them back on. That went on for some time. Interesting how the simple putting on of a light to dispel the darkness does away with the fear of the dark and what it hides. Light has a calming effect. I still don’t like that movie! Haven’t seen it since.

There is a greater application of light and darkness. There are things we would be wise to fear. There is a Prince of Darkness. He does oversee principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12). But there is Someone who can help us deal with the darkness and our fears. That Someone is Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world. Our Heavenly Father is the “Father of lights.” God’s light overcomes darkness.

In the Gospel of John Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. This was a weeklong festival to commemorate God’s provision during the time of wilderness wandering of His people. During the nights of the Feast there was an illumination ceremony. In the court of the women there were four 75 foot tall candelabras set up and lit up at night to commemorate God’s provision of light during the darkness in the wilderness. There was also a prophetic messianic implication associated with this ceremony. In the Talmud it states that when those huge candles were lit all of Jerusalem and the surrounding area was illuminated. It was the day after the illumination ceremony that John records: “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Jesus was speaking of spiritual light and spiritual darkness with these words.  What can we draw from this verse and the idea of Jesus as light in scripture?

To “follow” means an ongoing active following; a walking side by side; an accompanying. The Bible says, “Can two walk together unless they be agreed” (Amos 3:3). If you walk with Jesus you believe in Him. To follow Jesus means to actively live a life of ongoing trust in Him. It is to pass from darkness to light; ; from death to life; from the power of Satan to God having received forgiveness of sins and living a sanctified way of life (cf. Acts 26:18). All of this is what it means to, “have the light of life.” It means to experience a new life in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

The term “light” occurs 263 times in 228 verses in the Bible. The term “dark” occurs 205 times in 177 verses. “Fear” is found 468 times in 448 verses. “Afraid” occurs 216 times in 212 verses. Light, darkness, fear and being afraid are prominent issues in God’s word. The world can be a very fearful place. The Bible uses the contrast of light and darkness to illuminate us about some very important spiritual truths. These lights of truth dispel the scary darkness. Let’s turn the light on and see what God has to say about light and darkness.

First, light conveys the idea of illumination; darkness conveys the idea of ignorance. In darkness you fumble around and can’t see where you’re going. Darkness creates uncertainty. Uncertainty can be scary; fear producing. In the darkness of our world, people are fumbling around with no accurate sense of direction, purpose or meaning. This can be fear producing; frightening. It takes the light of God to dispel fearful unknowns. It takes the light of God to expose the darkness of sin. It takes the light of God to expose our need for a Savior. It takes the light of God to show us the way out of the darkness. It takes the light of God to show us the way through this dark world. “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light” (Eph. 5:13).

Second, light is associated with holiness and truth. Darkness is associated with evil and falsehood. John is inspired to write earlier in the gospel the words of Jesus: “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Speaking truth openly is associated with light – “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:21). When we live in a way pleasing to God we are in the light of God. Deeds ‘done in God” are holy. So let’s cast off the “works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12).

Hell is described by Jesus as “outer darkness” (Matthew 22:13). When Jesus was paying the atoning redemptive price for our sins, “darkness was over the land” (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33). Peter writes, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (2 Peter 2:4).  Jesus stepped into darkness to shine His light and make a way of life for those lost in darkness.

Heaven is associated with light. The New Jerusalem is described as, “her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crustal” (Rev. 21:11). Heaven is described as – “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). Light is hopeful. Light is encouraging. Light is an effective antidote to fear.

Third, God is the Source of light. God is the Creator of light. “Then God said, ‘Let there be light; and there was light’” (Genesis 1:3). The Old Testament speaks of the “light of Your countenance” (Psalm 4:6; 44:3; 89:15; 90:8). God is the One who “lights my lamp” (Psalm18:28). David said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). Here salvation and strength are connected to the light God provides. God’s light is our source of courage. With God, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night . . . nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness” (Psalm 91:5a and 6a; cf. also Proverbs 3:25-26). Don’t fear; God has our back.

Light is a fountain of life that springs from the Lord (Psalm 36:9). God’s light is associated with His truth – “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle” (Psalm 43:3). The Lord covers Himself with “light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2). The Old Testament speaks of the “light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5). God’s light is revelation, life, all goodness and rightness. God’s light is salvation for all who live in darkness without Him. God saves us from the predators of darkness. God lights up the darkness when He walks in.

In the New Testament it states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). This verse tells us that God is the Source of light which is a symbol of God’s grace (i.e.  “gift”), everything good and everything perfect, as well as the consistency, dependable and faithful (i.e. with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”). If “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,” then that which is bad and imperfect is from below and the product of darkness.

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b). God is the Source of light. If you are in darkness having no sense of direction or purpose or meaning, if you’re under attack and feel beaten down by life, fearful, listen to the words of God through Micah – “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8).  David was inspired to write, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered my from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). God delivers us from darkness and fear with His presence and His light.

Fourth, Jesus is the Source of light; therefore Jesus is God. Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). The incarnation of Jesus is introduced in the gospels with mention of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy – “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region of the shadow of death Light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16; and Isaiah 9:1-2).  In the beginning of this gospel John is inspired to write, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5). If God is the Source of light and Jesus is the Source of light, then Jesus is God.

In the night, when the seas of circumstance are rough and threatening, Jesus comes with His soft but strong voice and says, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). If we just keep our eyes on Him we won’t be afraid and we might even walk on water (Matthew 14:28-30). Jesus is there, in the darkness, for you.

Fifth, God’s word is a source of His light. Isaiah was inspired to write, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Through the prophet God also said, “Listen to Me, My people; and give ear to Me, O My nation: for law will proceed from Me, and I will make My justice rest as a light of the peoples” (Isaiah 51:4). God’s word shines forth and lights a way of justice in a dark world of corruption.

God’s word sheds light to show us the way out of darkness. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). If you feel like you’re groping around in darkness, go to God’s word for light! “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). God’s word lights the path to safety through a dark scary world. God’s word is our spiritual flashlight. It helps us out of darkness.

In the latter days when the dark dealings of the god of this world get really scary and will seem to cloud out all light of hope, then we must pay heed to and cling to the prophetic word of God until Christ returns for us. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

Sixth, light is a symbol of life. “Light” is a symbol of “life.” Job spoke of the “light of life” (Job 33:30). David spoke of walking before God “in the light of the living” (Psalm 56:13). We may have physical life without Jesus, but we will never have spiritual or eternal life apart from Him. Faith in Jesus and repentance from sin is the way to be forgiven and freed from sin and experience the spiritual regeneration of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3). We need not fear the darkness of death when we have the light of the Lord.

Seventh, the gospel is a light source since it contains the truth of God. Paul speaks of sinners, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. . . . For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4, 6). We will never really live and find meaning and true purpose in life without the light of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need not fear uncertainties, a critics claim or skeptics sarcasm. God’s word is true; always has been; always will be.

Jesus saving redemptive atoning work on the cross was a magnificent mission successfully accomplished as witnessed by His resurrection defeat of death (1 Cor. 15). And He saves people out of darkness so that they can be freed from it – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). We don’t have to walk in darkness anymore. Indeed Paul writes, “What communion has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14). He wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). He says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11). Don’t play with darkness. There are demons in the dark. Predators prey in darkness.

Eighth, walking in the light of Jesus brings us into fellowship with God. “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Walking in the light of God leads to fellowship with Him and each other. Division therefore is the contrasting darkness to God’s light. Any time we allow ourselves to be divisive we walk in darkness (e.g. gossip).

The darkness may be scary, but when Jesus is with us and we are shoulder to shoulder with Him and each other, the darkness can be overcome. Together we can face the monsters of darkness. Together, with Jesus and each other, no matter what pounces from the dark, we are ready. Jesus will hold our hand in the dark. Jesus will guide us through.

Ninth, light leads to love. “He who says He is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now” (1 John 2:9). According to this verse hate is darkness. And apparently it is possible for someone to say they are walking in the light but actually be walking in darkness through hate. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10). When we love we walk in God’s light. When we love we grow in the Lord and become spiritually mature. And we need not fear anything or anyone one when we have such love. Nothing can separate us from God’s love, not even the darkness (Romans 8:31-39).

Tenth, we are the “light of the world” as we reflect God’s light in Christ in good works. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Christians are to be moons; they are to reflect the light of the Son. We do that with our good works. When we do all that we do in a Christlike way and to the glory of God we become God’s light reflectors (1 Cor. 10:31). We were once “darkness, but now we are light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). When we have the light of life in Christ we are commissioned to share it with those who remain in darkness. We are to encourage the fearful with the light of Jesus. Light exposes sin and it shows the way out of it.

Eleventh, we are warned to make sure that the “light” in us is not “darkness.”  Jesus said, “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness” (Luke 11:35). Later in the New Testament Paul was inspired to warn, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan and his hoards are “rulers of the darkness of this age” (Eph. 6:12). “Light” that deviates from God’s truth as revealed in His word is counterfeit; a false light. We don’t want a false imitation light from a bulb. We want the light of the Son Jesus.

Twelfth, apart from Jesus we are in darkness. Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12).  Without Jesus there is no light in the world. The world is in darkness without Him. Look at the depth of darkness in the world where Christ has been rejected:

• Dark devaluing of life: millions of babies murdered in the dark of their mother’s womb.
• Dark ruthless genocide of Christian men, women and children.
• Dark ethnic cleansing.
• Dark vicious beheadings broadcast in the media.
• Darkness and confusion about how to handle the “distress of nations and perplexities “of life (Luke 21:25).
• Darkness and confusion about who people are; even to the point where people doubt and deny their very gender.
• Dark images of violence, perversion, pornography saturating the world through the media and Internet.
• Dark rise in Satanism and the occult.
• Dark religions and cults who mis-define the One True Triune God as polytheistic, pantheistic, denying the Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of light.
• Dark churches that have gone dark without Jesus. These are churches that call evil good and good evil. A “church” lost in darkness is often darker than the world. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

It’s scary to see what Satan brings out of the darkness. It’s scary to see what the children of darkness are doing. Their dark heart is filled with diabolical schemes. There are demons in the darkness. They are scary. But they are no match for Jesus and His light. Demons of darkness are defeated and flee when we turn on the light of Jesus. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

If to follow Jesus means we “shall not walk in darkness,” then it follows that if you don’t follow Jesus you walk in darkness. To follow Jesus means to walk side by side with Him; to never go where He wouldn’t go; to go where He would go. To follow Jesus means to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). Jesus may lead you through darkness, but He will never lead you into darkness.

I drive an older car (276,000+ miles! Lots of memories in that vehicle.)  But as an older car the plastic headlight covers get oxidized. That makes the lights shine dimly at night. It can be scary and dangerous to drive in the night with dimmed lights. What to do? Well, low and behold I saw a commercial on TV for a two step liquid solution to my problem. You can treat the headlight covers with a liquid product that clears up the oxidation. Voila! Bright lights! The same thing can happen with us. Our spiritual eyes are the lamp to the soul (Matthew 6:22). Our spiritual eyes can become covered and clouded with the images of this world. When that happens we need the washing with the water of the word. Then His light will shine bright through us. Is God’s light shining through you? Do you need washing with the word of God? Let your light shine through brightly! It’s the only way to make it through the dark.

In the final words of the last book of the Bible it states of the New Jerusalem, “The city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23). Jesus is not only the light of this world. Jesus is the light of eternity. There is no darkness in heaven. There is nothing to be scared of in heaven. Are you walking in darkness? Are you scared? Are you walking in Jesus light? Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” You don’t have to grope and fear any longer. Encouraging light or fearful darkness, the choice is yours. Come and follow the light of Jesus the Lord!

 

Dirty Words

“And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.”- John 8:8

 

“Don’t judge me! You’re judging me and Jesus said not to judge people.” If you’ve ever been used by God to point out sin in someone’s life those are words you’ve probably heard. To those whose sin is being exposed and identified God’s words are dirty words. There’s a lot of sin in life today to be pointed out. And those who are living in disobedience to God’s word are quick to shout the words, “Don’t judge me!” They will shout those words along with others such as: “Hater!” “Intolerant!” “Bigot!” and a myriad other really dirty words and profane phrases. Truth is often met with pretentious indignation. When you’re caught in a falsehood, shout louder! When you’re sin is exposed by the light of God, throw a punch; verbal or physical. These are the defense mechanisms meant to protect the sinner in their sin. The guilty deflects attention from their own culpability to those exposing their sin. So what about judging? Is “Don’t judge me!” a valid defense and protection against identifying sin in life? Is judging a dirty word? Well, honestly, “yes and no.” There is wrong judging and there is right judging and if we are to reach a wayward generation of self-indulgent sinners we need to know the difference. But to know the difference we are going to have to consider some dirty words of Jesus. That’s what we will consider in this study.

There’s an interesting account of a woman caught dead to rights in sin who was then brought before Jesus for judgment. The account begins, “Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, ⁴ they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. (John 8:3-4). The day after the Feast the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman “caught in adultery, in the very act” and set her before Jesus. She was guilty. Caught in the very act of adultery she may have been brought naked before Jesus.  She was likely shamed and embarrassed. She had no argument of defense. She remained silent before Jesus and her accusers.

⁵ Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned.” (John 8:5a). The Old Testament declares adultery a capital offense for those convicted (Leviticus 20 and Deuteronomy 22). This woman was “caught in the act” and therefore there was ample evidence against her. “But what do You say?”(John 8:5b). The scribes and Pharisees wanted to see what Jesus would say about this women caught in adultery. Would He adhere strictly to the Law? What would He say? If you were this woman, caught in the very act of sin, with no doubt of your guilt, what would you want Jesus to say? It’s interesting that we are inclined to think Jesus would be understanding and easily forgiving in our situations of sin, but when it comes to others, we often want offenders prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. What’s dirty in others is just as dirty if it is found in us. But though we put on the white dirt exposing gloves for others, we take them off when looking at our own dirt.

The motivation of these accusers is revealed in what follows. “⁶ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.” (John 8:6). Sometimes it’s best to ignore the words of the vengeful. Just close your ears to hateful words. That’s what Jesus did here because the accusers of this woman didn’t really care for her. She was a pawn they were using to trip up Jesus. Paul wrote the Ephesian church, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). Using others for our purposes is anything but clean holy living. We need to pay close attention to how Jesus responds to this situation because this is the way we should respond to those caught in sin or who wrong us. When you bring accusations against people what is your motive? Is it justice? Is it mercy? Is it grace? Is it restoration? Is it proud vengeance? Are you looking to tear down or build up? Are you looking to destroy or save?

What do you think Jesus wrote in the dirt? This is the only place where we see Jesus physically write in scripture. In Revelation we see seven letters from Jesus but they are already written. And here in John’s account, Jesus wrote in the dirt, a very temporal format that could be blown away in the wind. But it was legible nonetheless to the accusers. Perhaps Jesus wrote a verse from the prophet Jeremiah. In Jeremiah it states, “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be ashamed. Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters” (Jeremiah 17:13). That would have made a clear point to the accusers don’t you think?  Maybe it’s a word we should consider.

The Bible doesn’t say what Jesus wrote. People have speculated about what Jesus might have written. Some say Jesus wrote out the rest of the Commandments and as the onlookers saw what He wrote they were convicted of their own sins and then walked away. That’s possible. Jesus may have written particular sins of the accusers. He may have written something else.

But notice, Jesus was NOT quick to condemn the woman. Jesus addressed the situation with calm compassion. The patience with which Jesus handled the situation was likely meant to allow the guilty to think about their own sin. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23; cf. Romans 3:1-20). The accusers were proud in the accusatory position. The guilty woman had been humbled. She was in the right position before Jesus. The accusers were not. Bottom line; we all have dirty hands. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rages” (Isaiah 64:6a).

Jesus has written dirty words to the accusers. Now He is going to talk dirty to them. “So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7). Jesus paused to give the accusers time to extricate themselves from their proud position. But they insisted. They evidently didn’t get the point Jesus was making as he wrote in the dirt. Jesus always provides the sinner a way out (e.g. 1 Cor. 10:13). He desires to deal with our dirty sin in as gracious a way as possible. He takes this position because He has bore our sin and shame. His promise is that those who believe in Him will not be put to shame (Rom. 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6). Therefore, Jesus gives the sinner time to turn from sin and to Him in faith to be cleaned; to remove the sin, guilt and shame.

 

But as the accusers persist, Jesus drives home a very humbling unmistakable point. “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Jesus is completely efficient in all He does. He was not only interested in dealing with the woman caught in adultery. Jesus was also interested in the condition of her accusers. Jesus seeks to deal with people, sinful people, on both sides of this situation. Jesus wants to completely clean house. When you point the finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at you. Jesus doesn’t deny the woman’s sin, but He does want to draw additional attention to the attitude of the accusers. There was enough sin to go around and Jesus was going to clean it all.

 

“And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.” (John 8:8). Again Jesus wrote in the dirt. Again we don’t know what He wrote. In Revelation Jesus writes to the lukewarm Laodiceans, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Rev. 3:18). Maybe Jesus wrote something like this in the dirt before this guilty woman and her guilty accusers.

 

These were dirty words to the accusers. These words in the dirt squashed their mean intent. These dirty words of Jesus written in the dirt took effect. “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” (John 8:9). If you know the Lord and are open to the Holy Spirit, the older you get, the more aware you are of your sinfulness. The longer we live the more we should see our sinfulness and our need for God’s grace. That is why as the accusers left the line of departing accusers started with the oldest.

 

There’s a message here for  the relatively young. It is usually the young who fail to grasp the depth of their sin. It took longer for the young to grasp the point Jesus was making. As the older and likely esteemed scribes and Pharisees began to leave one by one, the younger ones probably looked at each other thinking, What are they doing? They thought these older men were to be looked up to. Now they saw that they were sinners; and they saw that these older men knew they were sinners. With their heroes retreating with tails between their legs, it didn’t take long for the younger ones  to also be “convicted by their conscience” and walk away.

 

Then it was just Jesus and the adulterous woman. Jesus is a one on one Savior. Jesus meets personally with us. He isn’t just interested in the crowds. Jesus is interested in the individual. Jesus is interested in “me,” in “you.” Jesus is a personal Savior. And He wants to clean us up. “ When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, . . .” (John 8:10a). Jesus must have been looking at the ground all this time, not at the accusers. He then rose up “and saw no one but the woman.” What would He say to her? Would He point a finger? Would He badger her with the truth of scripture? Would He throw more dirt on her? No.

 

“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10b-11). Jesus removed the proud accusers. Jesus points out that her accusers were in no position to condemn her. “Condemned” (Greek katakrino) means sentenced, to render a condemning decision against, to judge worthy of punishment. Jesus put her accusers in their place. They were right in identifying her sin. They were wrong in standing over her as God to condemn and judge her.  Jesus shamed the woman’s accusers by putting the spotlight on their own sin. Jesus humbled the accusers away.

 

Jesus communicated with this woman. He entered into a redemptive conversation with her. Jesus spoke truth and reality to this woman. Her accusers had walked away acknowledging their sin. They were in no position to proudly judge or condemn this sinful woman. Jesus is showing that the accusers were hypocrites because they were guilty of sin just like this woman was. Jesus leveled the playing field. He demonstrated an impartial truth based reality to the woman. Jesus didn’t take sides. Jesus listened to the woman’s response. Jesus listens when we talk to Him. Talk to Jesus. If you are caught in sin, trapped in sin, cast down by sin, bring your situation to Jesus and talk to Him. And the woman responded by calling Jesus “Lord.” The accusers of Jesus didn’t see Him as Lord. They saw Jesus as ministry competition. They were jealous of Him. They were out to kill Jesus. They wanted to eliminate Him. This woman caught in sin had been humbled and shown compassion by Jesus. Jesus presence and compassion had won her heart.

 

 Jesus didn’t condemn this woman. There is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus (Romans 8:1). This woman believed in Jesus and called Him Lord. He forgave her. He was her Protector. Jesus welcomes those who turn to Him in faith. And Jesus gives the repentant sinner a second chance. We are who we are by God’s grace and mercy (1 Cor. 15:10: Titus 3:5; Heb. 2:17; 4:16). But Jesus did point the woman toward serious holiness. Jesus didn’t forgive this woman in a way that condoned her sin. No, Jesus said, “go and sin no more.” In other words, this was not easy believism. This was not belief and forgiveness without repentance. No, this was forgiveness and life change. Jesus forgive this woman so she could continue in her sins. Jesus forgave this woman and exhorted her to “sin no more.” Be serious about what Jesus does for you and turn the page to a new chapter in life that frees you from having to sin.

 

Does this interaction mean we are never to address sin in others? As stated in the introduction, a common reaction to pointing out sin in other’s lives is for them to say, “Don’t judge me! You’re judging me!” Real holy truth is a dirty word to sinners. They will even quote Jesus’ words, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). How are we to deal with the “unclean”? If God calls us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” then how can we be an instrument to see that happen in people’s lives? (cf. 2 Cor. 7:1).

 

Context is so important the cleansing away sinful dirt. The context of Jesus’ words about judging was The Sermon on the Mount. Context is critically to proper interpretation. This Sermon is found in Matthew 5-7. This was a hallmark and foundational sermon of Jesus. It was addressed primarily to “His disciples” (Matthew 5:1). He introduced the Sermon with the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). He says His disciples are salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Then He says he didn’t come to destroy God’s Law and the writings of the prophets, He came to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-18). He emphasized that the Law of God should be honored (Matthew 5:19). Then He says, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Wait a minute, the scribes and the Pharisees were dedicated to keeping the Law. In fact, they created an entire set of human traditions and interpretations aimed at helping people keep the Law of God. And doesn’t saying our righteousness has to exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees require judging? Isn’t Jesus instructing His disciples in a way that would require them to judge others?

 

Let’s continue. Jesus goes on to speak of a higher standard than mere outward adherence to the Law. He says murder is not just something done outwardly, but it takes place when we have hateful thoughts in the heart (Matthew 5:21-26). He says adultery isn’t just something done physically, but takes place when we have lustful thoughts toward someone “in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-30). Jesus goes on to speak of the sacredness of marriage (Matthew 5:31-32), oaths (Matthew 5:33-37), not being coldly just to demand and eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth (Matthew 5:38-42), and He speaks of loving your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). All of these involve the heart.

 

In Matthew 6 Jesus speaks of prayer and good works. He instructs His disciples to not do their good works “before men” to get their attention. Instead our good works are to be done for God. When we pray we shouldn’t go to a street corner and take a prayerful pose to let everyone know we are praying. No, we are to get alone with God and when he sees us pray privately He will reward us openly (Matthew 6:1-18). We shouldn’t be focused on earthly wealth but making deposits in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). He warns us to take care about what we look at or focus on and to not let the allure of earthly riches steer us away from service to God (Matthew 6:22-24). Then Jesus offers words of encouragement. He says we shouldn’t worry but instead we should seek God and trust Him to care for us and our needs (Matthew 6:25-34).

 

It is only after all of this that Jesus says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” A main theme that runs through Jesus’ Sermon is the heart; our attitudes in what we do. Are we doing what we are doing for ourselves or for God? Is our focus earthly recognition and riches, or honoring God and relying on Him for our needs?

 

Jesus did say, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But let’s look further at the context of that passage in order to understand what Jesus was saying. In Matthew 7 the context of Jesus’ words are as follows: “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  (Matthew 7:1-5).

 

The word “judge” (Greek krino) means to try and condemn, punish, avenge, damn, sentence, or judge. Jesus points out that we will be judged based on the judgment we use with others. This is a sobering thought. Then Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He asks, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?” In other words, before we look to point out sin in others, we need to do our own honest self-assessment. Before we look to clean others’ houses, we need to humbly clean our own. It’s easy to complain about other’s dirt piles when we ignore our own. Before you look to clean your neighbor’s porch, get the broom and dust pan out and clean your own.

 

When we turn a blind eye to our own dirtiness, we are inclined to become judgmental; we become obsessed with the dirt in other’s lives. Why is that? Because when we lift the carpet to expose the dirt others are hiding, we don’t have to look at our own. Jesus has a convicting word for such people. Jesus sticks the shovel in the fertilizer. If we judge others before we have done our own self-assessment, we are hypocrites! “Hypocrite!” (Greek hypocrites) refers to an actor under an assumed character; a stage player, a pretender. A hypocrite is someone who is pretentious; they present themselves as something they are not. A hypocrite is not genuine. A hypocrite is not real. A hypocrite is false. People who go around pointing out sin in others usually do so to deflect attention from their own sins. Hypocrites dress up in white clothes and play in the dirt thinking they won’t get dirty. The reality is, if you play in the dirt you get dirty. You can only live the lie of a hypocrite for so long. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Heb. 4:13). Remember that the next time you are eager to take someone to the cleaners.

 

But what about judging?  Are we never to identify and seek to help others to deal with their dirty sin? When we return to the context we see evidence of Jesus making statements that require us to discern, to make assessments and act accordingly. Isn’t that judgment?  Jesus speaks of a narrow way as opposed to a broad way involved in life; two ways one leading to eternal life, one to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus speaks of identifying false prophets and that we will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20). He says some people will call Him by name but they aren’t genuine disciples or followers of Him because they don’t’ obey Him (Matthew 7:21-23).  And he concludes His Sermon with a call to build a solid life foundation by obeying His words as opposed to building on sand by not adhering to his words (Matthew 7:24-27). At the end of His Sermon the people were astonished at the authority with which he taught (Matthew 7:28-29). These weren’t words that could be set aside and ignored. Jesus meant for people to apply His teaching. Later in Matthew Jesus is recorded to have said we need to discern the times in which we live (Matthew 16:3; cf. Luke too Luke 12:56). Isn’t this making judgments? How are we then to interpret, “Judge not, that you be not judged”? We’ve seen the judgment we are to say “no” to. Now let’s look in closing at four criteria for right judgment we can say “yes” to.

 

First, we aren’t to judge others to pronounce condemnation on them as though we were God. This is why Jesus said we would be judged with the same judgment we judge others with. We aren’t to be proud and exalt ourselves into a position that only God justly deserves to hold. He alone can judge to condemn. We can make judgments in terms of warning others about sin in their lives. But condemnation belongs to the Lord. When we condemn others we step into an area which is way above our pay grade. When we do that or have a judgmental attitude it is an indication our heart isn’t right with God. It’s dirty. Look at the plank in your own eye before you look for specks in the eyes of others. Sweep your own porch before you go to sweep your neighbor’s.

 

Second, Jesus warns against a certain kind of judgmental attitude of the heart; hypocritical heart judgment. It’s wrong to judge others when we are guilty of the same kinds of sin. We need to follow the inspired words of Paul: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). People will be overtaken by sin. We will see it. What are we to do? We shouldn’t do anything in the flesh (self-seekingly; proudly) but instead we need to proceed in the Spirit (“you who are spiritual”). Our objective is to “restore” people. “Restore” (Greek katartidzo) means to repair, adjust, put back together. And as we seek to follow the Spirit in this restoration we need to “consider” ourselves and our attitudes so that we aren’t tempted. Such temptation might involve our feeling superior or proud over the fallen person. We might be tempted to use this information against this fallen person to manipulate them or extort them in some way. Or we might be tempted to get them to look at us in an elevated position; as a replacement for Jesus. A person is restored when they look to Jesus and live for Him, not for us.

 

Third, we are to pray for direction in situations where people are caught in sin. The context of Jesus’ word on judging show that directly after His statement He instructs us to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7-12). While this may be a general exhortation of Jesus to pray, we can’t ignore the context in which it comes. If we judge others or make assessments about sin in their lives that hasn’t involved prayer, we are hypocrites. Any and all correction of ourselves or others is to be done in prayer. Only then can we see our dirt and others dirt in the proper perspective; in the proper holy light of the Spirit.

 

Fourth, Judgment that is right and proper is judgment made through the lens of God’s word. Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets; God’s word (Matthew 5:17-18). God’s word is the Ultra Violet light that exposes the dirty bloody stains at the crime scene of sin.  Jesus said a false prophet is distinguished “by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20). How do we determine good from bad fruit? The answer is, by God’s word. For instance, God’s word says anyone who does anything, even miracles, and then tries to get you to follow them rather than God, that person is a false prophet (Deut. 13:1-5). God’s word says if a prophet makes a prediction that doesn’t come to pass, that prophet is false (Deut. 18:20-22). These are both scriptural criteria for determining a false prophet.

 

God’s word is our standard for proper judging. God’s word sets the parameters of what is cleanly righteous and what is the dirt of sin. In the New Testament it states:

 

• 2 Timothy 3:16–17 - ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

“All Scripture” refers to the 66 books of the Bible. These writings came “by inspiration of God.” “Inspiration” (Greek theopneustos) is literally God-breathed. God’s word is our source of right and wrong because it alone is breathed out from God’s pure and holy heart to ours. God’s word is “profitable” (Greek ophelimos) or helpful, advantageous, profitable. God’s word is the shovel and broom used to take away the dirt. God’s word instructs us on how to apply the cleansing blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7, 9). God’s word is what is needed to, “sanctify and cleanse . . . with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26).

 

God’s word gives us the advantage in cleaning away the dirt of sin in a number of stated areas:

 

1. “For doctrine” (Greek didaskalia) teaching, learning, doctrine; the information needed for life. God’s word gives us the baseline of truth and righteousness from which to judge and assess all things. God’s word teaches about the dirt of sin and how to cleanse it.
2. “For reproof” (Greek eleghos) reproof, to prove something, evidence, conviction about something, God’s word helps us prove right from wrong; life from death; holiness from sin. God’s word proves the dirt of sin is dirty. It proves what is clean.
3. “For correction” (Greek epanorthosis) for straightening up, rectification, reformation, correction. God’s word helps us straighten out what has been bent by disobedience to God’s word. God’s word gives us a clear path out of muddy waters.
4. “For instruction in righteousness” – “Instruction” (Greek paideia) educational training, disciplinary correction, chastening, nurture, discipline. God’s word helps us stay within the defined parameters of what God calls righteous. God’s word keeps us from playing in the dirt.

 

The verses end with the purpose of God’s word in our lives as “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” “Complete” (Greek artios) means fresh, perfect, and complete. “Thoroughly equipped” (Greek exartidzo) means equipped to finish well, enabled to accomplish, thoroughly furnished for the task. God’s word keeps us fresh not dirty and rotten. God’s word gives us all we need for what God calls us to do; including cleaning the dirt. Go to the word in every circumstance of life, especially those where people have strayed into dirty sin. God’s word is a road map to restoration when we fall in the mud. God’s word will help us maneuver the dangerous dirty journey of life until we arrive at clear cooling fresh waters of eternal life with Him. Clean your own dirt before you seek to clean the dirt of others. But by all means, clean the dirt – “go and sin no more.”