Renewing Your Maturity 2

Protecting God’s Children

(the child-likeness of the Believer)

Text: Matthew 18:15-20

Introduction

How many of you like confrontation? How many are inclined to run from confrontation? Do you run away from confrontation even at the expense of possible restoration and gaining a friend? Do you think to yourself, “I am better off without them in my life anyway?”

Running from healthy confrontation is simply giving your heart over to fear and the lies of the Devil.

The Devil knows how much your emotional, psychological, and spiritual well being depends on the connection with others. Even the most unpleasant experience brings some benefits to your life. The Devil has been long at work to sever relationships ever since the poisonous lie that was told in the garden.

When it comes to Jesus’ plan on how to handle sinful situations between two Christians, He is often times misunderstood and therefore ignored.

Jesus is referring to a process for the entire local assembly of believers to follow. We need to understand it by renewing our thinking on the heart of Jesus for Christians relationships. He wants us approaching each other as children; His children.

This plan of Jesus is deeply embedded in the Gospel! That is where we will concluded today’s sermon.

Now, lets renew our maturity by learning God’s heart when it comes to restoring a fellow believer from sin.

1) Engage In Winning Your Brother

Remember, the key to follow through is approaching your brother as one of God’s children. Remember the child-likeness of you and them.

. On the outset, do not adopt a carnal paradigm. Meaning, do not attempt to approach your spiritual brother to win an argument!

Many a Christian will love their opinion over the truth!

Their opinion always leaves them in the “right.”

You can walk away winning an argument while at the same time losing your brother.

Let this never be about your ego. Let it be about love.

A. Take the private approach

It is very important that you have a self-check on your own attitude before approaching someone.

Illustration: I’ve had people come to me and say, “I have been offended by someone” or “I am aware of a grievous sin in someone’s life and I can’t believe how long they have let it continue.” I usually respond with, “Are they aware of their offense toward you” or “Are they aware that should not be allowed in the life of a Christian?”

Your attitude can play a big role on how likely they will repent and apologize.

Turn to: Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

“Restore” comes from a Greek medical word means “to set a broken bone.”

If someone was setting your broken bone, would you want them to be patient and tender with you?

B. Take the team approach

This step should only be taken if there is refusal to repent and resolve on the first attempt.

Jesus says to take witnesses with you.

Those whom you pick should be individuals who are dependable, honest, and unbiased.

Share the facts, have them pray over them and give you their honest opinion of wether or not the offense is valid.

Think about this possibility…YOU COULD BE WRONG!

Including others keep you honest and will confirm all the facts of the second attempt to restore.

The church deserves honesty if the last step need be taken.

Deuteronomy 19:15 “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

Quote: “When sin is not dealt with honestly, it always spreads.” (Warren Wiersbe)

C. Take the family approach

Again, this is about “gaining” your brother.

1 Corinthians 9:19–22 “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Jesus is refering to the entire local assembly of believers.

Jesus’ audience understood this language due to being raised up in a Jewish synagogue.

While you might easily entertain the first two steps, this might seem a little bit harsh to you.

2 Thessalonians 3:11–16 “11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”

2 Timothy 2:24–26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Question: How many of you believe children should be disciplined if necessary? Avoiding discipline will lead to a much larger issue for the child and the family.

At this point, if your brother has yet to repent, they forfeit being treated as a spiritual brother.

The only way he/she can be treated is like someone outside the church.

They are NOT hated, but no longer in close fellowship.

2) Engage To Be Spiritual

Jesus talks about “binding and loosing” when two or three agree on earth.

This is Jesus’ way of illustrating the team of the church validating any actions they take are in harmony with God in Heaven.

If it is agreed upon on earth, it must first be agreed upon in Heaven.

It’s important to keep in mind, when a church disciplines a member, they are examining and discipline themselves.

So, how can we have assurance that what is decided concerning a rebellious brother is holy?

A. Place one’s self under the authority of God’s Word. (v18-20)

Jesus did not refer to some kind of spiritual police throwing their weight around.

God exercises His authority through the entire local body of believers.

B. Devote one’s self to prayer (v19)

“Agree” (GK: symphōneō) = to agree (harmony) v. — to achieve harmony of opinion, feeling, or purpose.

Along with consulting God’s Word, PRAYER plays a vital role on understanding God’s will in the matter.

C. There must be healthy fellowship (v20)

The church is a worshiping community of baptized believers.

We are a community who understands the facts the Lord is always in our midst.

The Holy Spirit will faithfully carry out His job of convicting and judgement (Acts 5)

If we are child-like believers worshiping our Father in Heaven, let us never speak TRUTH without LOVE.

Ephesians 4:15 “15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Quote: If we practice love without truth, it is hypocrisy. But if we try to have truth without love, it may be brutality. (Warren W. Wiersbe)

Proverbs 27:6 “6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

YOUR PRIDE MUST BE PUT TO DEATH!

Pride will lead you to use your brother’s sin as a weapon to beat him further down.

Every Christian is in the BUILDING MINISTRY.

Dishonesty was the first problem the church faced (Acts 5)

Two believers lied about being more spiritual than others.

They lied to themselves, thinking they could really get away with their masquerade.

They lied to church leaders.

They lied to God.

Judgement finally came!!!

Quote: The result was judgment and death. God may not kill every hypocrite in the church today, but hypocrisy certainly helps to kill the church. (Warren W. Wiersbe)

3) Empowered By The Gospel

Jesus, the One who was deeply offended by your sin took the initiative to seek you out in order to restore you back to Himself.

Jesus comes and reproves us of our fault; unbelief.

His desire is for you to HEAR Him; admit & repent.

For you to repent and believe on Christ is equal to Him gaining you as a brother/sister.

God always goes further than He needs to in order to win you back. Likewise, we must go further than needed to win back our wayward spiritual brother/sister.

THATS WHAT GRACE DOES!!!

Conclusion

Is there someone here today who needs to begin the biblical journey of restoring a brother or sister? DON’T NEGLECT LOVING THEM!

Is there someone here who has failed to deliver God’s truth with God’s love and brought further injury? MAKE THE CORRECTION!

Is there some here who has yet to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord? YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…JESUS IS SEEK YOU!