As the world is becoming one mind, we need to also to become one mind in the body of Christ, getting grounded in the biblical guidelines of how our characters and dealing each other should be.
Our matthew 18 lesson was also applied in heaven on satan’s fall and must be applied on earth
Satan in heaven
Adam and eve
Cain after he killed his brother
Woman at the well
Woman caught in the act of adultery
Pharisees – want to kill and throw people out, no reasoning, misapplied the law
Note; Jesus always reasons, communicated and spoke with sinners. His purpose was not to throw people out and put them to open shame. But Satan and pharisees did.
Purpose of using the Bible as our guide in how to deal with offenses and restoration:
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Exhaust your efforts to restore the sinner
Does not happen overnight
Labor for the soul
Is not to kick out a soul from the church
Restoration and forgiveness is the main menu not beating up and throwing people out like satan and pharisees
Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
When it’s over with, the great white throne of judge, what they have done will be done unto them. Unbiblically throwing people out is going to make them also be cast out from the kingdom of God. What measure they met is what they will meet.
Step 1: Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
You and the accused or the one who offended you
Do not pass to others even family members not even your husband or wife
If you hear the news from unbelievers, do not pass it to others
Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
If you have truly forgiven someone, you will learn to move on and let go and stop recalling past offenses.
Step 2: Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
You will be informed from the first witness
Get a witness from your own church family
It remains between you, the first witness and the accused
Call for another witness if necessary
Step 3: Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
The first and second witness will call for a church meeting to inform of the unrepented sin
The whole church counsels the guilty to repent, to restore him is the object and not to kick him out
Method to restore and not to destroy
Does not happen overnight
All efforts must be exhausted for that one soul just like what Christ does for you in your personal life
RULES TO PREVENT GOSSIP:
Do not inquire why. If you need to know or called for the 2nd witness, then it is the only time that you will know and be informed. The only time you will know is if you are going to be a witness.
If it something that you witness that is different but there is no need to pass it to others.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
Refuse a talebearer, whether it’s true or not tell them to follow Matthew 18
Learn to put your feet in other’s shoes
Treat others as you want to be treated
What does it mean: 2 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Answer: The best example for us is how Jesus applied this verse. He openly rebuked those who wanted to stone the adulterer to death. He also in the public rebuked and exhort the adulterer to go and sin no more. He never used 2 Timothy 5:20 to put someone to an open shame because of their personal issues and sins rather He was always calling people to repent without condemnation. The pharisees did the opposite. They love to judge and condemn people even before allowing them to explain themselves.
Those who are offended of Matthew 18
Mark 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
LET NOT THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
In the sanctuary there is morning and evening prayer
2 Chronicles 13:11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense:
Evening starts a new day - God's people offer evening and morning prayer
Incense - prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints,)
Ezra 9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
God does not want us to bring our offering of prayer for another day to Him when we have not removed the wrath from our heart and have reconciled with our brethren whom we are offended or have offended. He does not want our wrath to follow us to the next day. Before we bring our prayer to God, we have to cleanse ourselves and reconcile our offenses.
LEAVE THY GIFT AT THE ALTAR
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Gift - G1435 doron
Present specific a sacrifice
Before you present or bring a sacrifice unto the Lord, be reconciled with thy brother then come offer thy gift. This too was the command in the old testament.
Exodus 28:43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy [place]; that they bear not iniquity, and die: [it shall be] a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.
It was a strict command that before they come near the altar to minister, they were not to have any sin on them. This statute is forever, thus, this too applies to us in our days.
What are offerings or sacrifice:
Not the ceremonial offerings or sacrifice:
Psalms 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
In the old testament, their sacrifices were burnt offerings, drink and meat offerings.
What is reconcile:
G1259 diallasso
Change thoroughly, to conciliate
Conciliate - to end a disagreement or someone's anger by acting in a friendly way or slightly changing your opinions,
Types of Offerings:
Attendance to church public worship
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
Altar - place of gathering where God can meet with you (house, church building, under the tree, beside the river, online conference room)
Before you attend the public worship, first settle with your brother or sister then attend the worship or God cannot accept your gift of attendance to worship Him
Other forms of reasonable service
- part of our reasonable service to God is our public attendance to worship services
- before you go out to share the truth or spread the news to others, online, on the street, or going to the poor people to help them, or make a vlog about bible truths, or record a gospel music, or wherever as a gift you can offer to God as part of evangelizing, settle the matter first with your brethren or God cannot accept your gift
- you can believe you are doing good works but by refusing to leave your gift and to settle, your offering is not acceptable
- satan will make you feel good about what your’e doing like he will convince you it is a good fruit
- your supposed good fruit cannot cover up what you refused to do first
- how can it be good fruit when the first call from God is being ignored? The good fruit you need to produce is when you first leave your offering to settle with the brother or sister
- refusing to settle your matters with your brethren is not a good fruit at all because it is refusal to obey God’s command to settle first
Broken Spirit
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Before you ask forgiveness to God for your sins, you first settle with your brother, forgive each other then go to God for forgiveness
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Praises
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.
Before you bring your gift of praises thanks to God, first settle with your brother for any offenses you did or they did against you. Forgive each other then go back and lift up your praises to God
- God cannot accept your praise because you dishonor what He said to leave the gift first
- after you leave the gift and settle, then praise Him
Thanksgiving
Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay [that] that I have vowed. Salvation [is] of the LORD.
= same with praises, God cannot accept your thanksgiving if you have unsettle matters. This is a command by God.
God is telling us that before we give our offering or bring our offering to the altar, we have to leave them and settle first the matter with our brethren. Let us not wait for the time when God will require us to pay every cent or penny. It is good to settle our matters now than wait to be in trouble with God and be required to pay our last substance.