Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Why would you rebel against or resist love? Why would you push away and keep your distance from the One who made you, saved you, and is always there for you, even now? Why would you not link with the One who is your source and very life?
Jesus told you that none is good but God alone. He was referring to absolute goodness which has absolutely no taint of evil or any darkness, not even a shadow, upon its purity. All in Me can be fully exposed at all time to the light and you will find no fault. My way is perfect. And that is why it is revealed to you in My Word that I am love and I am light. These are not just characteristics or personality traits, these are My very core and substance, these are the divine nature. And by linking with Me in Jesus you partake of My divine nature.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4.
As a partaker of My divine nature, as a branch attached deeply (linked) into the Vine of My Son, you also can be love and light, for I have rescued you from the power of darkness and brought you into My marvelous light, the Kingdom of My Beloved Son. And that is when you enter joy unspeakable filled with glory. Why would you rebel against and resist so great a salvation?
In our last life lessons we were considering the authority of the members of the Church, the Body of Christ, built on the rock of revelation of Jesus as Messiah, the One who bore your sins in His own body and released you from them by His blood and made you a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people set apart unto Me. And we have been considering using your authority as a member of the Body of Christ, the Church, to bind things on earth that are bound in Heaven and to loose things on earth that are loosed in Heaven. “Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!
In the last Life Lesson we looked at your authority as the Church in the context of judgment of sin in the members and also as the prayer of agreement that moves mountains, wins nations, heals sickness and pain, and brings provision and prosperity. The prayer of agreement is made together with fellow believers and Jesus as the High Priest of your confession (homologia- total agreement with My Word in your heart and mouth). And I might add the prayer of agreement is always done spiritually at My throne of grace in the very Holy of holies in Heaven where I have seated you in spirit when you were born again from above and raised up with Christ.
And it was right after Jesus had discussed these things in conversation privately with His disciples as they drew near to Him, that Peter brought up the subject of forgiveness. You may wonder what this has to do with your authority to bind and loose, and to make the powerful prayer of agreement, but it is essential.
Do you recall another teaching Jesus spoke to His disciples about authority to move mountains and receive whatever you asked in prayer? Yes, He conditioned it on forgiveness in your heart to others and yourself. It is only then that you are wide open to Me and the power of the Spirit. You must clear your cache, so to speak, of all that unforgiveness, offense, bitter roots, and rancor before you can take the authority over evil that I have freely given you in Christ.
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:25-26.
You may be saying that this does not seem consistent with Me telling you to forgive others as I have already freely forgiven you in Christ. It is true that all your sins are gone as if they had never been in Christ, so how could it be that you would not be forgiven? I will tell you, and it is part of binding and loosing. But first let Me share with you the parable Jesus shared with His disciples at this point in their conversation after hearing about the prayer of agreement.
Peter, who was listening with the rest of the disciples, came near to Jesus and asked Him a question that he lined up as flowing from the teaching on binding and loosing. He asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” He was thinking about how many times before you could oust him from your midst. But the answer of Jesus surprised him and all the disciples. Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
This is not a matter of whether there is sin in a believer that is disrupting the unity of the Body, the Church. This is not about an Achan who violated the Covenant by taking My holy things and hiding them in his tent causing all of Israel to not be able to stand before their enemies due to sin in the camp. Joshua 7:1-26. This is about your personal response, that is, what is going on in your heart about that person who has wronged you. Paul took care of disruption in the Church by expelling the sinner but had no malice against the one who did it, in fact he was quick to forgive him and receive him back once he repented and changed his life so he could return.
Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Corinthians 2:6-8.
And Joshua had no malice towards Achan but he had to guard the camp from evil as the leader of My Covenant people. Achan is never mentioned again.
What I am speaking of is are you retaining the offense that you perceive done to you or are you loosing it? Is it binding you up in shackles of resentment and loathing? The question, and you will know the answer by the thoughts that your mind is dwelling upon, is your heart clear of that offense to you or are you letting it be your focus that is keeping you from going forward with Me to the clarity of walking in the light?
The abundance of grace cannot freely flow into a heart bound up and shut down with bitter roots. Healing cannot flow into that heart either, though I have freely given it to you in Christ. Why? My forgiveness cannot flow into an unforgiving heart. And that is why Jesus knew the paralyzed man that his friends lowered through the roof had to receive forgiveness first before he could receive healing.
But there is much more. And I will call it “you set the standard,” and that is a spiritual law that cannot be broken.
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2.
So back to Peter’s question about forgiveness for others in your heart and then we return to the standard.
Jesus answered Peter with a parable with the disciples gathered around Him, and read it as now He is telling it to you. But always remember this: forgiving does not mean condoning another’s sin or failing to do justice. It has to do with your freedom and your judgment before Me. It has to do with the thoughts and motives in your heart.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the servant fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that servant felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35.
This is a parable about the Kingdom. So you will note that the standard you use to judge others is measured back to you. But more on this in a moment.
This parable also shows you a very important truth. Forgiveness is not of the head but of the heart, it has to do with the purity of goodness and love remaining unstained by the failures and faults of others.
Did you know that you set your own standard of judgment? You alone determine how you will be judged.
My Son said He judges no one and yet I have given all judgment to My Son for He is also Son of Man. But He tells you how that works. It is My Word that examines you—it goes to the thoughts and motives of your heart.
And My Word explains how you will be judged. It is no secret. It is not mysterious. Let Me now share with you some Scriptures on this that will bring you light on this subject. And it is good news for it shows you that you can control the way your works are examined for reward. For you know that it is written that “judgment is merciless to one who has shown no mercy, but mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13. “Blessed are those who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs.” Matthew 5:7.
So now let us go deeper into My Word on this very important matter. I do not want you to be unaware and caught off guard. There is still time for you to profit from this and make sure that your entrance into My Heavenly Kingdom is richly provided for.
I quite clearly set out for you that “as you judge you shall be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured back to you.” Matthew 7:2. Have you thought of this when you are harshly critical of others and find fault with all they do? Are you setting a standard that is too high for you to pass? Some people are just very hard to please and they find fault with everyone and everything. Careful about that standard, you force Me to use it on your conduct.
It is wise for you to show mercy and to forgive others. For the measure with which you measure is measured back to you. I tell you: “if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15. There is nothing unclear about that direction. So do not think I am pleased when you bind My mercy by refusing to show another mercy, especially if you think on what they did in bitterness for the next twenty years. You are only making it very hard for yourself to receive any reward and are blocking your entrance into My Kingdom.
But first you must understand how I forgive sin. And it has been the same since the beginning. A life for a life, and the life is in the blood. It is the blood that atones for sin upon the altar. Jesus paid for all sin from the beginning to the end of time with His eternal blood which worked an eternal redemption. The sin offerings and sacrifices of the Old Covenant were set in place as the shadows of the substance that was fulfilled in Christ. It was like paying with a credit card until the real payment was made. You have full redemption in His blood.
Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:18-22.
In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8.
But understand this: Jesus not only paid Me for your sins with His blood, He also paid you for the sins of others against you with His blood as He released you from your sins and blessed you with every blessing in Heaven.
Do you understand how home insurance works? If a person burns down or causes damages to your house, your insurance carrier will reimburse you, even building a new addition to your home to restore the damage. But that is not the end of it. The insurer makes you whole, but then the insurance company is subrogated in your place to go after the tortfeasor and collect back what they had to pay to you for the damage the tortfeasor caused. But you have already been made whole and have no concern for pursuing the one that damaged your house. Do you see why I say vengeance is Mine and cast your cares on Me?
That is what Joseph did when his brothers did evil to him and sold him into slave traffic. He could have been resentful and bitter all his life about that but he was not. He refused to even consider it and went forward with Me to the high calling on his life. He never shared what his brothers had done to him with anyone. Why? It was no longer in his mind either. In fact, when in fear that he might take revenge upon them for what they had done to him when he was in the position of power to which I promoted him, they sought his forgiveness. And he not only forgave them but he provided for them and did good to them. Do good to those who hate you and I will spread a table of plenty before you in their sight and you will live in My house forever.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21.
But I want to go much further here. I forgive by the shed blood of My Son. It is more than enough to pay for EVERY sin ever committed or that will be committed from the beginning to the end of time. He paid the ransom for all. Once eternity dawns sin is done. Those who pass the test and come into My Kingdom will never sin again. Those who have persevered in sin and refused to receive the forgiveness of all their sins in Jesus will die in their own sins and be judged by their deeds alone, which is a fearful thing.
Now it is a law of the Kingdom that the standard by which you judge I must use on you, and you see this in the parable with which Jesus answered Peter’s question about forgiveness. So if you refuse to forgive someone, including yourself, your standard is that the blood of Jesus is not enough to take away sin. And if that is the standard you measure with it must be measured back to you. That is why I told you that by YOUR words you will be acquitted (declared righteous) and by YOUR words you will be condemned.
Furthermore, when you will not forgive yourself, you are not showing honor to Me, you are dishonoring Me to My face by telling Me that what My Son did for you in emptying Himself of everything for you and taking all your sins into His own flesh, dying for you to satisfy your sentence of death for sin, and giving you My righteousness was not enough. Are you saying that My righteousness is not enough for you? Be careful about this. It may seem holy but it is not, it shows no understanding of or appreciation for what I have done for you in My Son.
So what is your answer? My answer. I see and love in you what I see and love in Christ. Owe no one the debt except to love them. Jesus took your fault even though He did nothing to deserve it and took the punishment for your fault, so it is no longer your fault. If you or someone else has put you in a pit, and your life looks like a hopeless mess, that is kind of the way Elijah felt when he ran from Jezebel and it was then he gave up and never completed his destiny, stop the blaming and whining. My Holy Spirit can get you out of any pit, after all, He raised Jesus from the lowest depths of hell to the highest place in Heaven, and if your life is a mess, He can turn it into perfect order as He did hovering over the dark and void earth when I spoke creation into being, and through Him I can give you direction, protection, and pour My love in your heart so you can operate in My power and not in your own, so you can love as I love. Jesus came to undo the works of the devil and He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And you are now, as His body on earth, do step up and do the wonderful miraculous works of healing and provision He did and greater.
Stop whining about your spouse, family, siblings, children, co-workers, boss, business associates, parents, or whoever else you have unforgiveness for, and stop gossiping about them and telling others what they did to you for the next twenty years, take a lead from Joseph who never spoke badly about his brothers who threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave, and realize that by all your fault-finding and judging you are setting a standard that you do not want used back on you! Do onto others as you would have done unto you. Golden rule.
This is serious. Death and life are in the power of your tongue. Choose life that you and your descendants may live, prosper, and walk in the light of My love. That is where I want you and I have given you One that is with you and in you as your advocate, teacher, guide, leader, and who pulls with you on the helm.
And the wonderful thing is, I will take care of all those who are hurting you and putting you into slavery. Remember Pharaoh and the Egyptian army? Let Me fight your battles, your job is to go forward and follow Me and do what I tell you to do. It will always be awesome and amazing. If you are willing and obey you will have the best of the land and I will make your scarlet sins as white as pure snow. Up to you. Pray in tongues and you will get more revelation on this.
When you are attentive to My Words, supernatural things will happen. And that is what marked all who lived extraordinary lives in the midst of crooked and perverse generations. They hung onto My Word for their very life. My apostle Paul wrote, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of life.” Philippians 2:12-16.
I love you. Please set Me a standard of love for your judgment. It delights Me to forgive you, I sent My Son to die to pay your debt in full, and it pleases Me to give you the Kingdom. Please permit Me to do so. It is all up to you. For the measure with which you measure is measured back to you and more besides.