THE BACKWARDS LIFE (4)

LUKE 6:37-42

Luke 6:37–42 ESV

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Loving Spirit

Loving Spirit

Jonathan Edwards was born September 5, 1703, in East Windsor, Connecticut, where his father was minister of the village church for sixty-four years. Jonathan was a bright boy. He entered Yale at thirteen and graduated at seventeen. Eventually he became assistant to his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, pastor of the Congregational Church in Northampton, Massachusetts. When Dr. Stoddard died, Jonathan succeeded him at the age of twenty-six. Five years later he stepped into pulpit fame as one of America’s most provocative theologians and preachers.

In 1744 controversy developed in his congregation. Gossip made its rounds. Not a single soul united with his church for four years. Agitation for a new minister spread. Personal animosities grew. Finally, in 1750, the church dismissed its minister. Edwards was then forty-seven and had a wife and ten children to support.

The members of Northampton Church soon discovered that their pastor was not easily replaced. His stature was far larger than they had surmised. A bit chagrined, officers of the congregation asked Dr. Edwards if he would supply until his successor was determined. With remarkable grace and effectiveness, Jonathan Edwards returned to the pulpit from which he had been dismissed. After this interim service, the only parish available to the deposed pastor was a small one near Stock-bridge, Massachusetts, where he also served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians.

Despite economic hardship and personal embarrassment, the dedicated minister maintained a beautiful and forgiving spirit. It was in this obscure parish that Jonathan Edwards wrote some of his most important works, including The Freedom of the Will. Seven years after his dismissal from the prominent pulpit in Northampton, he was called to the presidency of the College of New Jersey, which is now Princeton.

1- THE 2 NEGATIVES

Luke 6:37 ESV

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

A- JUDGING

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

B- CONDEMNING

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

2- THE 2 POSITIVES

Luke 6:37–38 ESV

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

A-FORGIVE

Matthew 6:14 ESV

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

B-GIVE

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 ESV

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

3-THE 2 ILLUSTRATIONS

A-THE BLIND

Luke 6:39–40 ESV

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

B-THE CORRECTOR.

Luke 6:41–42 ESV

41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

John 8:7–9 ESV

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.