We finished yesterday’s blog by noting that the promise of Luke 6:38, ‘Give and you shall receive’ was preceded by Jesus’ decree not to judge.
37 ‘DO NOT JUDGE, and you will not be judged. DO NOT CONDEMN, and you will not be condemned. FORGIVE, and you will be forgiven. 38 GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6
The question is, could some of us be missing out on our blessings by Judging, Condemning or failing to Forgive? If there’s any possibility of this, then we should repent (change our mind) for the Lord will always forgive us.
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their STRENGTHENING, ENCOURAGING AND COMFORT. 1 Corinthians 14 NIV
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for EDIFICATION (building up), EXHORTATION (might have some correction), and CONSOLATION. NASB
New Testament prophets are not permitted to verbally abuse God’s people. Old Testament prophets often spoke God’s judgement to people after long periods of disobedience. The prophetic has a different emphasis in the Church. What would happen in the today’s Church if we all spoke (not prophetically, just in conversation with one another) only to edify, encourage and comfort? Words create atmosphere and if we use the wrong words, spoken in the wrong spirit they may taint the whole body. God’s Spirit will lift and the enemy usually has a free hand, often with disastrous results for the Believers.
The lesson in these scriptures is that we do need to guard our words and not give the enemy access, we bear the responsibility to keep him out of our lives.
God bless and keep you today.