The Return of the Judges

When Israel was in deep moral decline, God sent her judges  and counselors to restore the broken foundations of faith. The church of the Lord Jesus is in shame because we have lost our ability to judge. Judging is NOT taking sides in an issue, nor accusation, but discerning what needs to be done to bring THE CHURCH  in TOTAL agreement with the TRUTH, the Lord Jesus Christ. Without this ministry, we are subject to the unrighteous judgment of the world. Through Isaiah, the Lord prophesied that ministry is about to be restored back to the church who will soon judge the world!

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Deut. 17:8-12 - If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose; [9] And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: [10] And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall show thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: [11] According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. [12] And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that stands to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. 

Isaiah 1:24-27  - Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:  [25] And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: [26] And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. [27] Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 

1 Cor. 6:2-3  - Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? [3] Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

One of the most important mandates the Lord has given us as His Body is to JUDGE ourselves first, then execute RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT upon matters among us that need correction. The church desperately needs a revival of righteous judgment  in our midst to bring us back into agreement with the TRUTH that will set us free of delusion and deception. It's hard to comprehend the depths of delusion we have sunk into as we rapidly approach the return of Christ. The Lord declared to Israel in Isaiah that He would restore their judges and counselors as she enjoyed at the first of her history. This referred to the time of Moses when in Deuteronomy the Lord gave Moses the mandate and outline in appointing men who would oversee Israel's internal conflicts. It would also speak of the time of the Judges as recorded in the Old Covenant book by the same name.

As a result of the restoration of this ministry in Isaiah's day, Israel would be called the "city of righteousness, the faithful city." The Lord said  "ZION SHALL BE REDEEMED WITH JUDGMENT!" I believe this is not only a message to Israel but a message to the CHURCH of the LORD JESUS  in these last days. To understand this statement we must go back to Israel's earliest history during the period of the Judges who ruled her during times of great apostasy and decline. The first  ruler of Israel as a nation was actually MOSES. Moses was also a judge as recorded by Luke in the book of Acts.

Acts 7:7, 27,33 - And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.  But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? (33) This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

God instructed Moses to appoint JUDGES over ISRAEL to assist him in settling matters of controversy and matters too hard for the general population of Israel to decide in judgment. Whatever sentence the judge passed down Israel was to abide by it. There was even a specific place where they would come to hear the sentence. The soul who did not listen to the judge would be cut off or in modern terms killed. Moses exhibited four distinguishing characteristics that made him an anointed ruler and judge. These were:

• Humility

• Face to face revelation with God

• Suffering on the backside of the desert

• Meekness

These four characteristics are the same vital ingredients needed for leadership today. We must have men of God able to settle the internal conflicts the church faces today. These men (or women) must have the humility not to pervert judgment among the people. The judges of Israel provide us a good portrait of what a Godly judge should be. After Moses and Joshua died, the nation fell into deep chaos. The introduction to Judges <1:1-3:6> describes the period after Joshua's death as a time of instability and moral depravity. Without a strong religious leader like Joshua to give them clear direction, the people of Israel fell into the worship of false gods. The book of Judges, a  historical book of the Old Testament, covers the chaotic time between Joshua's death and the beginning of a centralized government under King Saul, a period of about 300 years. The "judges" for whom the book is named were  charismatic leaders who would rally the people to defeat the enemy. As God's agents for justice and deliverance, they would act decisively to free the nation from oppression. The judges were people of deliverance who came in response to the nation's pleas to God for salvation during times of moral distress. Is there ever a time when such a ministry need to be restored as it does today?

The Revelation of the Judge - The Judgment Seat of Christ

"There is a freedom that comes when you perceive truth, but whoever I set free is free indeed. The freedom of my Presence is greater than just 'knowing truth.' You can experience freedom in My presence but you will never be truly free until you have experienced My judgment. When I judge, I am not seeking to condemn, or to justify, but to BRING FORTH RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is only found in UNION WITH ME. THAT is the RIGHTEOUS judgment, BRINGING MEN INTO UNITY WITH ME. My church is now clothed with shame because SHE DOES NOT HAVE JUDGES. She does not have judges because she does not know ME AS THE JUDGE. I will now raise up judges for MY people who know MY JUDGMENT. They will not just decide between people or issues, but to make things right, which is to bring them into agreement with ME."

Those are the words of Christ given to a minister recently during a visitation of the Lord.  When Jesus appeared to Joshua as the Captain of the Host, Jesus declared to Him that He was neither for him nor his enemies. "I never come to take sides. When I come, it is to TAKE OVER, not to take sides. I appeared as the Captain of the Host before Israel could enter her Promised Land. The church is not about to enter her Promised Land, and I am again about to appear as the Captain of the Host. When I do I will remove all who have been forcing My people to take sides against their brothers. My justice does not take sides in human conflicts, even those of My own people. What I was doing through Israel I was doing FOR THEIR ENEMIES too, not against them. It is because the church sees from earthly, temporal perspectives that she does not see MY JUSTICE. You must see My justice to walk in MY AUTHORITY because RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE are the foundation of MY THRONE."

Heb 1:8 - But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."

The Lion, the Lamb and the JUDGE

When we stand before the Lord Jesus on judgment day we will see Him as both the Lion and a Lamb, the Shepherd and the Bridegroom, but most of all WE WILL SEE HIM AS THE JUDGE. To the degree we embrace Him as the JUDGE here on earth we will not be judged on that terrifyingly awesome day. On that day, the Lord will not so much be wanting us to see the right or wrong we have done in our lives for "all have sinned." He will be wanting us to SEE THE TRUTH because THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE. It will not be a judgment of good or bad, it will be a judgment that will be RIGHT and it will be a JUDGMENT where we know we can TRUST THE JUDGE. It will be both awesome and relieving. There will be no more need of hiding. There will be no more need of carrying secret sins or unhealthy motives around, for in that day it will all be revealed. We can have that ministry in us today! Many who stand before the Lord on that day will suffer loss, not so much because they did bad, but because the things they did here on earth were done to be approved of men. Many will receive reward because they never deviated from the most important thing the JUDGE will deal with us about - OUR DEVOTION and LOVE OF HIM!

Jesus spoke to Rick Joyner in this vision and said this:

"You must remember both my KINDNESS and SEVERITY if you are to stay on the path of life. The TRUE LOVE of God includes the JUDGMENT of GOD.  You must know both or you will fall into deception. This is the grace that I give to my people who will receive it. When you ask for my Grace, that is a request I NEVER deny. "

The Judgment of the Lord Keeps us from Delusion and Deception

Listen to the words of Jesus in this continuing vision:

"The first grace that will keep you on the path of life is to know the level of your present deception. Deception involves anything that you do not understand as I do. Knowing the level of your present deception brings HUMILITY, and I give my grace to the humble. That is why I said, 'Who is so blind by MY SERVANT...' That is why I said to the Pharisees, 'It is for JUDGMENT that I came into the world....to give sight to those who do not see, and to make blind those who see...If you were blind you would not be guilty, but because YOU CLAIM TO SEE, your GUILT remains.' That is why, when I called My servant Paul, My light struck him blind. My light only revealed his true condition. Like him, the church must be struck blind in the natural so she may see BY MY SPIRIT."

Without true righteous judgment we will fall into delusion and error. That is not a profound statement. It is happening today. We cannot continue on this road we're on unless we have a return of the judges to our midst! Judges have the gift of discernment, a spiritual condition that seems to have been mistaken for fault-finding and accusation. Discernment is neither. Discernment is a gift that enables the church to examine, JUDGE, contend, decide, differ, and approve all things FOR THE TRUTH. The truth is not some organization's doctrine or statement of faith. It is not the Catholic Church's interpretation of scripture, nor the Assemblies of Gods, the Southern Baptist Convention, but the only TRUTH that can set man free - UNION WITH THE SON OF GOD, Jesus Christ. Without this gift it is impossible to accurately discern truth in those of the present or the past. Even WITH this gift it is difficult. Until we have been stripped of ALL flesh and self, we will always JUDGE others through distorted prejudices, either positive or negative. That is why Paul warned us NOT to JUDGE before the time. Until we reach heaven, we will never really know what is in the HEART of others, whether they are performing good or evil deeds. There have been good motives in even the worst of men, and evil motives in even the best of men. When we get to heaven, we will be judged both by our DEEDS and our MOTIVES.

1 Cor. 3:13-16 - Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

What is Righteous Judgment? 

Since we have laid a foundation for the need of a return of the ministry of the judge in our midst, let's look at what righteous judgment actually is.  

The church faces a tremendous mandate in these last days. To accomplish this we must have unity. True unity may not mean we all agree on every little thing there is about matters, but its a unity of purpose and a unity of zeal for the LORD JESUS CHRIST. In our pursuit of this we have gotten off into areas that have us not aligned with the TRUTH HIMSELF, the Lord Jesus.

  Righteous judgment is defined as discernment in matters of controversy and a separation between good and evil. God judges among people and their actions according to the standards of His LAW. Judgment can refer either to this process of discernment or to the punishment meted out to those who fall under His wrath and condemnation <John 5:24>. God wants us to judge ourselves so we won't fall under His wrath and condemnation.   The theme of judgment is found throughout the Scriptures. The most important judgment is the final judgment, the ultimate separation of good and evil at the end of history. The precise time of this judgment is appointed by God <Acts 17:31>, but it remains unknown to man <Matt. 24:36>.

We can see a progression of the scope of judgment in scripture;  From earliest times it has been recognized that God Himself is the Judge of mankind <Gen. 18:25>, and that He has the power and wisdom to judge with righteousness, truth, and justice <Ps. 96:13; 98:9>. The final judgment is a task given specifically to God's Son <John 5:22; Acts 17:31> to conclude His work as mediator, deliver His people from sin, and destroy all God's enemies. The Son has given all judgment to HIS WORD. God's role as Judge is reflected in the leadership functions of political officials, who uphold order in society and execute judgment on evildoers <Rom. 13:1-7>. The rulers of Israel bore special responsibility in this respect <Deut. 16:18-19>, as do the leaders of the church today <Matt. 18:17-18>. Believers also have a responsibility to judge matters of wrongdoing among themselves <Matt. 18:15>, but this should always be done fairly and with compassion. Believers are never to take over the task of judgment that belongs to God alone <Heb. 10:30>.

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. 

Hebrews 10:30  - For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 

The Ministry of the Judge - To Bring Us Out of Hiding

As stated before, the reason the Lord wants us to judge ourselves is so He won't have to! When we are judged that day, it will be to bring us out of hiding, out of darkness into light. The Lord so desperately wants to dwell among his people. When He judges us, it's His effort to seek us out. When the Lord asked Adam where he was after the transgression, it was His very first question to man, and it is the first one that we must answer if we are to be fully restored to Him. It was the beginning of God's quest for man. In these last days, the Holy Spirit is birthing a ministry of people who will have the gift to discern where the church is and speak to it. We must walk in the light if we are to bring the world out of darkness. Walking in the light means no more hiding from God or anyone else. It is a freedom to be completely open to others. Until we know or discern the revelation of Jesus as the Righteous Judge and know how to exercise RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT that will never happen. The reason people do not walk in the light is because the church has not been the best of places for people to be free to express their needs openly. THIS IS SOON TO CHANGE in these last days.

The Lord appointed ELDERS in the church to give it both protection and direction. He also gave high standards that were required for those elders who would be given such influence in the church. The elders are the ones in a local congregation that should be above anyone else executing RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT!

     
1 Cor 6:2-12 - Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

The church has been destined to judge both the WORLD and ANGELS. Think about it. In the ages to come, we are going to sit in the ultimate place of authority. But before the church can judge the world and angels, it must first learn to judge itself. For if we judge ourselves, we won't be judged along with the world. In this same passage of Corinthians, Paul rebuked some in Corinth who were suing one another and bringing matters that should have been handled in the church before an unbeliever who would only take sides in a matter. The unbeliever will NEVER be able to speak the will of God over the situation no matter how hard he tries. THAT IS THE CURSE OF THE 21rst CENTURY CHURCH. WE ARE MISSING THE ABILITY TO JUDGE MATTERS AMONG OURSELVES IN THE BODY TODAY! Paul said "I speak this to your shame," that there was no wise man found in Corinth to judge matters between believers. The church sits in the same shame today.

1 Cor 11:31-32 - For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Only Those With Proper Godly Authority Can Minister Righteous Judgment

According to the many examples in the New Testament, there are times when the errors of certain movement or sects must be addressed. The Lord Himself warned His disciples, "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees." Almost the whole book of Galatians, and major portions of apostolic letters, were devoted to correcting mistakes in doctrine or action. The main difference here is that those writing these letters had the AUTHORITY to bring correction.

Much of the reason for so much WRONG JUDGMENT, and even needed correction being given in the wrong spirit or manner, is because of the vacuum that exists because those have been given the authority have refrained from using it. This does NOT JUSTIFY the wrong use of authority, or the presumption of those who try to bring correction to the church without having the authority, but it is understandable. We can even appreciate the courage that some have had in addressing issues that no one else would address, but that still does not make it right. Even worse, it puts those courageous people in jeopardy of becoming stumbling blocks. Paul's lament to the Corinthians applies today:

1 Cor. 6:2-3  - Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? [3] Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

The harvest will come. It has already come to many parts of the world, and, before the end, the Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh. The greatest stumbling block to this final impending awakening is the loss of true spiritual authority among the church. One aspect of the harvest is the separating of the wheat and the tares. The televangelist scandals of the late 1980s and even the 1990s showed us theologies and practices that were rooted out by a move of God's judgment upon His own.

The Motive Of Righteous Judgment Is Restoration, Not Accusation, Nor Exposure; Spiritual Rebuke Is Rooted In Love

Whenever you speak of judging and judgment it is always important to realize that righteous judgment is NOT ACCUSATION! At this very moment, there two kinds of ministry that go on before the throne of God, accusation and intercession. Satan always stands ready to accuse us to the Father and try to bring the wrath of God on us for our failures as human beings. Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God, is ever (and that means right now) and forever making intercession for the saints of God according to the will of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is praying for you! Wow, what a thought. At this very moment, the Son of God in interceding for His chosen in spite of ALL the accusation of the "accuser of the brethren."

Heb 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

JESUS HIMSELF TELLS US TO JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT!  That is the mandate of the New Covenant church - to be a conduit of the Holy Spirit, who has come to COVICT the world of sin, righteousness and JUDGMENT! The TRUE church of Jesus Christ however is not made by stones or wood; It's not the pews or a fancy building or an institution, the CHURCH of the LORD JESUS CHRIST is IN YOU! It's in E! The Kingdom of God cometh NOT WITH OBSERVATION but LO, it is within YOU, Jesus said.

The bottom line is simple. We can spend all our time inspecting fruit off everyone else's "tree" and miss the real mandate from Jesus - to bring back the ministry of the judge which will bring us ALL, not just one or two, into the AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUTH! Some of us who do the most judging want everyone else to line up with us, not the truth. Most fruit inspectors are merely hiding an inner demon of insecurity that wants to make everyone "JUST LIKE US!" That's NOT RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT! The lack of the ability to judge conflict and broken relationships in our midst  have sunk us into a great delusion and moral decay as we enter this new century. Sadly, we are blind to our own need.

Think about it a minute. When has the church in her history ever seen so much divorce? When has the church ever seen so many of her members hurting, wounded, discouraged, backslidden, deluded, hardened, religiously pious yet needing a mighty touch of the Holy Ghost in her midst? When has the leadership of most churches been so opposed to the move of God that many actually fight against what God is doing without thinking twice about it or blinking an eye? When has the church been so blind to its need of Jesus to the point it has become just as deluded and deceived as the church at Laodicea - the worst rebuked church of Revelation 2 and 3?  When has the majority of the church been so embattled with sins of the flesh like adultery, fornication, drunkenness, idolatry, anger, hate, bitterness, malice and envy? When have we ever been at a time when we were so unforgiving and like Corinth going before unrighteous judges to settle issues between Christian brothers and sisters? So callous to the actual needs of a hurting world while we carry on every Sunday business as usual in our churches like nothing is wrong with us.

How can Israel be fighting for her very life against an enemy who has sworn to destroy her and yet most church leadership winks at this because of deep rooted Anti-Semitism that remains unchecked and untouched behind pulpits?? When has there ever been a time the church has just not been interested in the Jewish race and what happens to God's CHOSEN PEOPLE?? When has the church found herself in so much bondage to the world? When has she found herself in bondage to the lust of worldly desires and principles that work well on Wall Street but in Heaven's accounting firm those practices are not only frowned upon but condemned? What will bring us out of this mess we're in? What will bring us to our senses? Will witch hunts of everyone in our pew do the trick? Will looking at each other and making sure everyone knows about everyone else's sin but our own? Who will step forth and be a voice who we can truly listen to that has not been tainted with the world's system of corruption? How do we judge ourselves? What will qualify one to become a "judge" in this last hour to be a voice to keep the church's path straight on the way to eternal life in Christ?

Before reading on, hear this: there is a great difference in judging righteous judgment and judging the law. When we speak evil of our brethren we are judging the law and NO MAN has that right! So get that understanding clear before you read on. The type judge that is coming forth in these last days is not a fault-finder. It is not one who is critical or condemning. It is not one who is biased or prejudiced either. It is one who will have pure motives and the total ability to walk in the anointed, agape love of JESUS without question.

James 4:11-12 - Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judges the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judges another?

  Righteous Judgment is Not Ministered Through Accusation and Slander!

When Israel went astray He would allow their heathen neighbors to conquer or oppress them. This oppression would bring about repentance, which would move the Lord to restore their sovereignty. Usually the way the Lord moved in that way was the anointing of a JUDGE to deliver Israel out of her depravity and lead her into REPENTANCE and TRUTH. It is likewise apparent the church has given herself to repentance. The reason for this? The return of the judges! A sign that this repentance has been real enough to be acceptable to God will be when our sovereignty is restored - when we are able to judge ourselves!

Even though the Lord used the heathen nations to discipline Israel for her apostasies, the Lord would then often destroy those nations for their arrogance. This may shock our human sensibilities, but those heathen nations were still heathen. They still worshipped idols, and they would inevitably try to introduce their idol worship to Israel during their occupation. The same has been happening between the secular media and the church. Much of the Christian media has been turning to the ways of the secular media. That was not the Lord's intent for the discipline, and it will result in even worse consequences if we do not rid ourselves of it.  The Christian media has set themselves up as ACCUSERS instead of showing righteous judgment.

Another issue that has risen in the past two decades is the sobering increase of accusation and slander in the CHRISTIAN MEDIA. There is a line that has been crossed in journalism that has made it one of the primary platforms of the "accuser of the brethren" and a major stumbling block to spiritual advancement. The Christian media is one of the greatest sources of a deadly poison that is spreading destruction, not edification, in the western Church - the spirit of UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.

It is true that the Lord had to use the media because we would not judge ourselves, but the solution to that is NOT for us to take upon the ways of the heathen, but to return to God's RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT as outlined in His word. There is a positive skepticism that wants to believe, like the Berean's displayed when they searched the Scriptures to verify the message of Paul and Barnabas. There is another kind of skeptic that wants to doubt; that wants to see the worst in others because that somehow makes him look bigger, or at least feel better about his own flaws. That kind of doubt is the most tragic and deadly kind. When the chronicles of this earth are read on that great judgment day, we will probably learn that this evil doubt was far more deadly then cancer or AIDS. Great souls rise to even greater heights by lifting others higher, not tearing them down. Righteous judgment lifts men higher. Unrighteous judgment condemns and accuses. Criticism has an appearance of wisdom, but it is wisdom from the dark side, it is the fruit of the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE and good and evil.

James 3:13-18  - Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. [14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. [15] This wisdom descended not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. [16] For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Since the 1960s, the news media of the West, including the Christian media, seems to have been almost completely taken over by this dark side of skepticism. This spirit RIVALS the skeptical, critical spirit of the Pharisees in Jesus' day. Jesus rebuked them often for this declaring that in their judgment, they should judge RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.

A prophetic writer recently wrote,  "It is now almost impossible for a Christian journalist to write an article about a church, a movement, or an event, without at least throwing in some criticism. This is often done by reporting hearsay, or even gossip at its lowest form as fact with the offended parties not even having been contacted for their side of the story. Those who simply pass on gossip are just as guilty of gossiping as those who originated it. All of this is usually done in the name of the people's right to know, or to protect the people from error, but are we really protecting them from error when we commit one of the most serious errors of all by becoming stumbling blocks?"

The Scriptures are shockingly honest about exposing the good and the flaws in even the greatest spiritual heroes, but they were written as history for the sake of INSTRUCTION in the ways of God - NOT FOR THE SAKE OF EXPOSING DIRT. The procedure for addressing sin in Matthew 18 was given to keep us from becoming stumbling blocks. Not following this procedure, especially in the arena of Christian television and journalism where national audiences are touched daily, may have created some of the greatest stumbling blocks to the Lord's own children than any other source. Much more damage has probably come to the church by the so-called heresy hunting than through the heresies they try to expose. There are clear cut lines of accountability given to us all. To whom are these national ministries and magazines accountable and to what standards must they be held? Most of what is written and spoken today through national venue outlets comes very little from the anointing of God but just a natural ability to articulate words. Words have great power. Just ask Germany and the power words played in Hitler's rise to power in 1933. Most of what is written goes WAY BEYOND the level of authority God has placed on the journalism industry. Correction belongs to righteous judges, not biased writers or speakers.

Much of what is done today in the name of Christian television and journalism as well as the heresy hunters lies in the realm of authority given to the ELDERS of the church. By the very meaning of the word, "elder," there had to be a certain degree of longevity in faithful service to the church before one was given this influence. An elder was the highest and most respected office appointed in the biblical, New Testament church. Sadly, most Christian media outlets such as newspapers and cable systems often have no one to be accountable to and simply may never comply with Christian standards for leadership in the church. They can have tremendous influence over people - even more than the most anointed true elders. This is a great tragedy.

Most of the criticism, accusation and division that comes from so-called Christian media influences are those not operating under a true anointing, but on a platform of influence gained by other means. Some received this position by professional training, which cam from schools founded upon humanistic philosophies. It may have the appearance of wisdom and often disguises itself as a vehicle in search of the truth, but in fact is in conflict with the TRUTH HIMSELF. Some were once anointed by God but have been given over to the SPIRIT OF THE WORLD.

The accuser of the brethren is alive and well today in our efforts to judge. In bringing correction to the church, Satan's methods and his goals are obviously quite different than those of Jesus. Jesus through the Holy Spirit  encourages and gives hope. Satan condemns and tries to impart hopelessness. Jesus builds us up so we can handle the correction. Satan tears us down trying to get us to quit. Jesus loves us and wants to bring us to highest place that He can. Satan's goal is destruction. Sadly and surprisingly is how most Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders and movements who brag and boast of their spiritual gifts can be so undiscerning of this. Could it be our JUDGMENT (unfair at that) of others who do not share our similar spiritual experiences have yoked us with an inability to discern the spirits? Jesus said with WHATSOEVER measure we judge others unfairly, it is coming back home to us. We will be judged by the same judgment. When we judge after the flesh we miss the righteous judgment of God.

James give us clear guidelines for judging matters in the church with wisdom from above: We are saved by grace and we need all the grace we can get to make it through. When any of us fall into error or see others fall into error we would be wise to sow grace because whatsoever we sow, that's what we are going to reap. If we expect to receive mercy, we better sow mercy and most of us will need ALL the mercy we can get!!!!

The Purpose of Righteous Judgment

The purpose of judgment is to bring the church into agreement with and into the LIGHT of the TRUTH. Jesus said I AM TRUTH, and those who worship HIM must do so in SPIRIT and TRUTH. Truth is never found hiding in darkness, but one who is sincerely seeking the truth always seeks to remain in the light. Light exposes and makes manifest. Only when we seek to be exposed OURSELVES, not OTHERS, will we walk in the light as HE IS IN THE LIGHT. True fellowship is a personal experience we must encounter everyday with Jesus. This requires us to come clean with complete exposure of our hearts before Him. That is the first prerequisite for righteous judgment - a pure heart.

When we experience the anointed ministry of the Lord's judgment upon us we will feel more freedom and security than we will ever feel in our life. Why? Because knowing the bounds of God's love gives us confidence that we don't have to hide anymore like Adam did when he sinned. There is no longer a need for fig leaves -  the blood of the Lamb is now not only our covering but the power that can set us free from the sin that controls us. Knowing the judgments of God are true and righteous gives us that liberty. As we trust the law of gravity to operate without thinking, we must learn to trust in the Lord's judgment upon our lives the same way. His standards of righteousness are unchanging and are just as sure. In addition, knowing that the things we do, say, THINK, and feel on this earth are open before Him and NOTHING that is COVERED will be hidden, but made MANIFEST on that day, keeps us in a mode of reverence before Him. If we will judge ourselves NOW, then we need not fear what He will say to us in Heaven. He has not come to condemn us, He has come to set us free by the TRUTH of His presence and His word.

The church of the last days must regain its judgment. Sin must not be allowed to rest upon the ministry or the message we preach.

Jesus, Our Example Of How To Minister Righteous Judgment    

•     Jesus Judged Every Situation He Encountered On What He HEARD from The Father  Not On What He Felt
  

John 5:30 - I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: 

John 8:26 - I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

It was normal for Jesus to hear from His Father before he did or said anything. He was in constant communication with the Father from the days of His youth to the time of His earthly ministry. He got accustomed to hearing the voice of God, the Father. As a result, Jesus said His ministry was guided by this great principle and pattern for ministry today: He did what He saw His Father doing:

John 5:19  - Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 

This way of living did not originate with Jesus. It has always been God's ideal for his servants. Over 1400 years earlier, God had taken Moses on a mountain where he showed him a heavenly vision of what the tabernacle was to look like. Then he warned him to make the earthly tabernacle according to the pattern he saw. This has always been the best way to live and to minister - see it in heaven - copy it on earth. It is the essence of the most sincere prayer in the Bible - "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." No one can do God's will on earth unless God first reveals his will from heaven. He reveals, we copy. He initiates, we respond.

Jesus fulfilled this pattern on a greater scale than anyone could have ever imagined. Moses constructed an earthly tabernacle, but Jesus constructed a spiritual one - THE CHURCH, which will never be overcome by the powers of darkness. He did this by following one simple principle of life and ministry - He only did what He saw his Father doing and saying. John repeatedly emphasized this in his gospel. In his humanity, Jesus claims He can DO NOTHING of HIMSELF, so he JUDGES as he hears his Father judge. In short, he does exactly what His Father commands him.

John 14:31  - But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do....

 Jesus did this not out of His deity, but by the SPIRIT OF GOD who rested on Him without limit. <John 3:34> Even the Holy Spirit conforms to this pattern. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit "will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." <John 16:13> Hearing God in order to serve God is the New Testament pattern, even for the Spirit of God and it's the pattern for judging righteous judgment. Jesus listened to God, and then as one empowered by the Holy Spirit, he ACTED and SPOKE and he JUDGED. He passed this same method onto his apostles, promising them He would send the Holy Spirit to empower them. This is how we hear from God today - at least one way - THE HOLY SPIRIT. This has never been toned down in the apostles' writings nor in the life of Christ.

The question must be asked then, if hearing from God is a prerequisite for judging righteously, then how do we know it's the voice of God?  First of all we must know that we serve a God who specializes in bringing to  "light what is hidden in darkness." When Jesus comes again, his judgment will do this on a terrifying scale. Even now He comes to us individually and corporately in the church with a call to do the same today "SO WE WONT BE JUDGED WITH THE WORLD." When God reveals things, He's more interested than just revealing sins. He speaks to us about many things. Sometimes we fail to hear him because he says more than we want to hear. Sometimes we don't hear Him because we are ignorant of the variety of ways in which he speaks. And sometimes we fail to hear him because his voice is drowned out by competing voices that masquerade as God's voice, throwing us into confusion.

Sometimes, the voice of our emotions speak to us. Sometimes the voice of darkness, that is, the devil and his demons, infuse thoughts into our hearts and ears. And then there is another voice that comes from the pressures we feel from family, friends, and others. Sometimes we can mistake these three voices for the voice of God. One thing you can be sure of before God judges. God is always interested in redemption, not destruction. If the voice that is speaking to you is leading you to accuse, you are not hearing from God. If the voice is pressuring you to make hasty decisions on certain matters, then more than likely it isn't God. If the voice is laced with malice, hate and jealousy, then you're hearing from another source. The key is to become so in union with Jesus that you will KNOW the voice you're hearing is from God. Then, and ONLY THEN, will you be ready to judge righteously as Jesus did.

•     Jesus Judged Righteously Because He Did  Not Seek His Own Glory And Promotion 

John 8:49-50 - Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judges

 Jesus never sought his own promotion. That is one reason that He so honored His Father and was able to judge matters like He did. He was not seeking a popularity contest. He was never seeking a place for ministry. The church has lost her reason because we are spending all of our time promoting "THE CHURCH." There is no salvation in the CHURCH! There is no healing "in the church." The source of the Church's life comes from its head - the Lord Jesus. Because we are only concerned about our own promotion it blinds us to the error around us and we remain silent to matters we should be judging. Jesus told the Pharisees they dishonored HIM by seeking their own interpretation of scripture instead of letting the scriptures do what they were intended to do - lead them to an encounter with CHRIST!.
 

• Jesus Judged Righteously Because He Only Sought The Will of God

John 5:30b - and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the well of the Father which hath sent me.

Before we can truly judge righteous judgment, we must be sure we are seeking ONLY the will of the Father in the matter, not our own agenda. This is one of the most subtle traps in the church today. We are always promoting our churches, our programs, our projected attendance figures and goals. Many times in the midst of this we see things happening to oppose this through the fault of others and we become quick to judge and criticize. Some of our most critical attitudes and statements come at a time when we are secretly harboring an unseen selfish motive. Jesus could righteously judge everything He saw because when He ministered, He was ONLY seeking the will of God, not the praise of men.

That's why, 'the Lord is closer to the homeless than to kings.' We only have true strength to judge to the degree we walk in the grace and will of God. He gives grace to the HUMBLE. Nothing on earth or hell can ever penetrate His grace. The wisdom of the Kingdom and the Holy Spirit always rests upon those who go forth to do the WILL OF THE FATHER.

I remember a situation in a church I was youth pastor at in the late 1980s. The pastor I served, who is now deceased, was elderly yet one of the most humble men on the planet. One time in particular we had a serious situation develop over an interracial relationship in the church. The board of the church as well as many others in the church got in such an uproar the pastor was asked to ask the couple to leave the church. Not one time in the entire ordeal did anyone speak up and say, "Are we in the will of God in our dealings with this couple? Are they  following the will of God for their lives?" No one in the entire church, including myself, were close enough to God to hear what He said about it or know His will for the situation. As a result, we basically threw the two out of the church instead of ministering the love and grace of  the Lord Jesus to them. To repeat something I said earlier, this was not an issue where the church was called to take sides - with the couple or with those opposing the marriage. We were called as a church to judge the matter righteously and bring it into agreement with CHRIST. If we would have done that NONE of the parties would have been condemned.

The bottom line is had we asked the couple that question we probably would have not had the uproar. These are areas that God expects us to judge righteously over. When there are disputes, we need to deal with them. We're not to judge or take sides, or condemn, BUT JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. No one cared for the will of God in that couple's life. All we saw was the color of their skin. Now, I'm not advocating or condemning interracial marriages. But the MORE IMPORTANT issue with the two people involved was the will of God for their life. What if God had brought them together for a purpose and our church stood in the way of that by our prejudice. We JUDGED A SITUATION because we were seeking approval from the congregation, not the will of God!! That was NOT righteous judgment and you can never pass righteous judgment on any matter until you know you are seeking the will of God for all parties involved, INCLUDING YOU!

•         Righteous Judgment is NOT based upon the outward appearance of things.

John 7:24 - Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 

Judging matters of conflict  by outward appearance is probably the biggest thorn in the church's side. It is without question that hardest thing in the world not to judge something by the appearance on the outside. Honestly, most of our judgment comes from a religious spirit that seeks to control and manipulate. That spirit has its roots in witchcraft. If you judge others by their actions yet judge yourself by your intentions, then you are judging by outward appearance and by a religious spirit. And most of the church's attitude among its members consist of this criteria.

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 

It is impossible to judge something righteously if we are judging by appearances. When we stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will not be able to hide behind the appearance or facade of things. He will strip us bare of what we are really thinking, what we are really saying in our heart and what we are really doing in the hidden areas of our life. That's a scary thought. That would not be such a scary thought if the church were to be exercising true righteous judgment today.

When we judge, we normally look at surface issues instead of internal ones. If someone is struggling with sickness we automatically think they are sinning. The appearance of what we see with our eyes leads us down a road of serious error sometime. NO ONE knows the heart of another except God. No one can see what is going on underneath the surface as we sometimes act in the church. I believe we need to have church discipline in helping solve conflict between Christian brothers. I believe one reason Jesus told us to go to our brother in private first was so we could get an idea what was below the surface of what we were seeing. Even then we can only go on what our brother or sister tells us. Sometimes we take a positive stance based on what we're told instead of listening to the Spirit. Righteous judgment does not judge appearances. Righteous judgment judges ACCORDING TO WHAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD is saying. You cannot be sensitive to the Spirit of God if you are carnal yourself. You cannot assume that you can just automatically develop discernment if you are never lending yourself to the daily infilling and communion of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will always lead to the one with whom the church has lost touch with - JESUS. 

We have become so disjointed at the Head that we call light darkness and darkness light. We condemn the people we need to be helping the most and praise the people we need to be rebuking. Sound harsh? Probably. But the church applauds that which stinks in the nostrils of God and condemns what is usually closest to the heart of God.  PRIDE is an anathema to God. Man's selfish ego is an affront to the cross of Christ and the sufferings of our Savior. The self-gratification the 21rst Century church has a message that is laced with blessing without any type of sacrifice on the part of the believer.

In addition, much of so-called Christian television has made "movie-stars" out of evangelists who won't even stop on the street corner and talk to a homeless drug addict but will get on television begging for money because his ministry reaches out to the "ghettos and slum" areas of the neighborhood. Gospel recording groups no longer "minister." If you can't produce a guaranteed huge sum of money, they will politely by pass your church. I wonder if Paul, or Peter, would have had the same attitude would half the churches Paul pioneered ever gotten started? I mean most of the churches in Asia Minor (including PHILIPPI) were very POOR, yet they were founded by the biggest name in CHURCH HISTORY ever!!!!!!!!

No matter how you slice the bread honey, its a fact. The church has embraced Hollywood and Wall-Street and Fifth Avenue to market itself to the world. And we cannot mix the world's marketing tactics and the Holy Spirit together and expect God to bless it! Its not getting us anywhere and it's perverting our JUDGMENT!

Hebrews 5:13-14  - For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

Most in the church today appear on the surface to be zealously serving the Lord. Most witness continually to people, teaching, visiting the sick to pray for them. Many are zealous and have a genuine love for the Lord. And believe me when you listen to them on television or read their articles you know just how zealously they are serving Him. They are sure you know. And when men applaud them, they have received their reward for such actions. Others on the other hand are homeless, hurting, wounded and extremely derelict. Many live in cardboard houses at night because there are no shelters provided for them by the church.  If you placed the two classes of people before a congregation and asked them, "which of these two classes of people is the Lord most pleased with?" 10 out of 10 people would quickly say, "the one's zealously serving the Lord." 

On the SURFACE it may appear so. But righteous judgment would see beyond the appearance and say, "the second." Most who are serving the Lord are usually doing so out of selfish motives to be seen or be applauded by men. Those homeless, hungry and in need of our help are usually those who love the Lord so much they would rather die than sin against Him. Many who serve the Lord have probably been raised in wonderful families, which have always known the Lord. Many have grown up in a thriving church, and then attended some of the best Bible colleges. The Lord has blessed them with a tremendous portion of His love and grace. While we may see what they do on the surface, the Lord looks at their heart. Many who have been the most blessed, love the least!

2 Cor 5:8-12 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labors, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

1 Cor 4:3-5 - But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.  5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 In Rick Joyner's The Final Quest, a saint, who incidentally had been a great Reformer and had filled thousands of libraries worldwide with his books,  had been through the experience of the Judgment Seat of Christ where Jesus had laid bare his life before him and revealed the hidden, secret areas of his life that were not aligned with TRUTH. As he was leaving the scene in heaven, Rick asked the saint would he be able to discern history accurately because he had came to this part of heaven. The saint replied:

"You are here because you prayed for the Lord to JUDGE you severely, to CORRECT you ruthlessly, so that you could SERVE HIM more PERFECTLY. This was one of the WISEST requests you have ever made. THE WISE JUDGE THEMSELVES LEST THEY BE JUDGED. The even wiser ask for the JUDGMENTS OF THE LORD, because they realize that they cannot even judge themselves well. On earth you will always see through a 'glass darkly.'  

    And then the Reformer said this about his and his wife's own personal lives on earth:

In parting, the Reformer said:

"Reformation is not a doctrine. True reformation only comes from UNION with the Savior. When you are yoked with Christ, carrying the burdens that HE gives you, He will be with you and carry them for you. You can only do His work when you are doing with HIM, not just FOR HIM. ONLY THE SPIRIT CAN BEGET THAT WHICH IS SPIRIT. If you are yoked with HIM you will do nothing for the sake of politics or history. Anything you do because of pressures or opportunities, will only lead you to the end of your true ministry. If you do not live what you preach you will disqualify yourself from the high calling of God just like we did. You may impact history but you won't impact eternity."

Though this great Reformer and his wife are never identified, their words rivet us when we read them. How much has the church been doing to promote itself instead of CHRIST? How much so-called ministry is actually just efforts to prove ourselves to others, especially those who dislike us or who have rejected us? How much competition goes on among churches and denominations that make anything in the worldly sports arenas PALE in comparison? HOW MUCH OF OUR CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE IS BEING BUILT ON THE FACADE OF A PROJECTED IMAGE that HIDES our true condition before God? When we stand in the presence of Jesus at His Judgment Seat, we will not be able to hide then. The great cloud of witnesses Paul talks about in Hebrews will be present to see every one of us that day and look beyond the VEIL of our projected motives.

When we are there there will be time to repair our prayer lives. There will be no time to repair our broken relationships. There will be no time to say "I'm sorry," for the numerous times we have missed the will of God and caused others to stumble. There will be no guile or hidden motives on that day. Our most DEVIOUS SINS and MOTIVES WILL BE EXPOSED...........That is, unless the church comes back and embraces the ministry of the JUDGE in the last days.

Rom 2:16 - In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

•         Jesus did not judge after the flesh, neither did Paul. 

John 8:15-16 - Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. (16) And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 

Righteous judgment never judges after the flesh, but after the SPIRIT. Sadly, the church so opposes the Spirit of God that once you start operating outside the anointing of the Spirit the flesh is all you are left to deal with. Jeremiah said to lean on the flesh only brings a curse. When we deal in the flesh it perverts our judgment. It causes us to lose our ability to treat fairly ALL the members of the Body of Christ - including the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

• 
  Deut 27:19 - Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen
  Jer 17:5 - Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

What do we mean flesh? Paul said that he knew NO MAN after the flesh. Neither did Jesus. John said Jesus knew what was in man and didn't esteem any man over another. He looked beyond the "image" and saw the spiritual condition. Why hasn't the church of the 21rst Century caught on to this? Because we love to boast in our numbers, our money, our influence and our successes. 

John 2:23-25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

2 Cor 5:16-17 - Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Cor 1:26-31 - For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

Paul takes this same theme up in his writings to young Timothy in describing the people that Timothy should commit his ministry to. He warned him not to make money, prestige or worldly success a criteria for judging character or integrity in a person. He made it clear that those who were rich in this world would usually be those who would cause Timothy the greatest problems.

2 Tim 2:2 - And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

We base our applause in the church today on three things - numbers, money and people. You say well we have to have numbers. The Lord wants us to win souls. Very true. You say well we have to have money to operate. We can't pay our light bill, phone bill, etc. on faith itself. That faith has to bring in the dollars. Very true. You say well people are the business the church is in. That's what we're here for - people. Very true. All three answers are legitimate answers to this statement. However, what has happened is we have let our judgment of matters be distorted by our pursuit of these three things instead of our pursuit of intimacy with God. 

Intimacy with God - not numbers, people or money - should be our highest goal. Most of the church today has a familiarity with God, not intimacy. For this reason we don't know His ways nor the ways of His Spirit. Judas was familiar with Jesus. John was intimate. There is a great difference. 

Part of the reason for this is the reason for this article - we do not understand the severity of God. We only want major in His grace. His judgments are PART of His grace. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was part of His grace. Had He not done what He done, the entire human race may have been extinguished by the sin of those two corrupt cities. Whenever any saint, be it Old Testament or New Testament encountered God, they reacted with more than just an act of respect or reverence, they were concerned they would live through it. John, who was the most intimate with the Lord than any of the disciples, fell at His feet at dead, when he encountered the Risen Lord. The church has lost this and as a result we have lost our ability to righteously judge matters among us.

When Paul came into the churches he ministered to, he wasn't looking for the biggest tithers to go home with and stay with. He wasn't looking for the churches whose membership rolls totaled in the thousands to minister to. He didn't use an agent to book him in the big auditoriums or use a marketing mogul to give him an image to attract the crowds. NO! He said he didn't come to them with words of enticing wisdom and men's doctrine but by the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST! Paul didn't even recognize Peter's influence among the church when he needed to righteously judge a matter in the church of Galatia. Paul confronted Peter and got in his face and said, "PETER, you're wrong!" That's righteous judgment. Paul could do that because he never judged after the flesh, but was led by the Spirit.

• Righteous Judgment Does Not Promote Standards, It Promotes the Truth - The Lord Jesus Christ

The bottom line here is simple. When we judge others we judge ourselves. In addition, when we judge others we are usually judging our own sin that we seek to hide from those around us. I remember not too long ago I met a minister whose trademark sermons always centered on adultery. Every time he preached he would slam his hand down and condemn the ministries of the 1980s who had succumbed to sexual sin. In the summer of 1994 it was learned that he had had an affair with the secretary of his ministry. As a result, his ministry crumbled and he nearly lost his marriage. While condemning the sin in others, he was condemning the sin in himself. TRUE JUDGMENT does not condemn. To be a righteous judge you seek only the will of God and to find the mind of God in a certain situation.

When we judge it is a sign we are measuring ourselves by others. Some ministers use the words of Paul as a guide to everything they do or say. Certainly the apostle Paul was one if not the most important individuals of the entire New Testament. HOWEVER, Paul was only a light, just like John the Baptist, to keep our attention and focus on THE LIGHT, Jesus Christ. We must abide in HIM. By abiding in HIM and only by abiding in HIM will we be able to minister righteous judgment. We will always fall short of the one we look to, but if we LOOK TO JESUS, we will go far beyond what we have otherwise accomplished. When we read Paul's letters, we must hear CHRIST. When we read Peter's epistles, we must HEAR CHRIST. When we hear a preacher or teacher or apostle today, WE MUST HEAR CHRIST. Only when we receive our bread directly from JESUS will our eyes and heart be opened to true discernment that will allow us to judge righteously matters among us.

We can be distracted the most and judge others the most who are actually like Jesus if we do not see through THEM to see HIM! Other in judging others, we are looking at OURSELVES as the criteria for excellence. WE MUST BECOME BLIND, before we can SEE! We must become ignorant, BEFORE WE CAN LEARN! We must admit we have a need before the Lord Jesus can help us. I'm not talking to the sinner here, I'm talking to you born again child of God. Our own reasoning sometimes leads us into direct conflict of the truth we so hypocritically seem to be protecting or claim to be serving. Human reason will always lead contrary to the will of God. And usually a greater anointing provides a greater opportunity or trap for this to happen.

We must put ALL we are and ALL we were before it and DIE on the cross of Christ daily. We cannot think that because the Lord anoints us that He is necessarily agreeing with our ways. True discernment always brings to light those areas that are not in agreement with the Lord. This is a great deception and MANY have stumbled because of it. We have the discernment of the Spirit when we have the MIND OF CHRIST and are in UNION with HIM! What made Paul great in his time was that Paul knew how to distinguish between the weaknesses of his own mind and spirit and the true revelation that came from God. He never confused the two. He was always careful not to judge matters through his own eyes, but through the eyes of the SPIRIT. We must seek Christ as the JUDGE. We will only have TRUE JUDGMENT in the church in this last hour as we seek to draw closer to CHRIST and draw ourselves AWAY from the carnality of the world.

Sadly, the carnality of the world and the pride of life are applauded instead of rebuked. Much of what comes across Christian television is PRIDE. Much of the gospel music industry has made the MINISTRY a job and sing out of PRIDE instead of true Christian service. We must recapture the MINISTRY and the MESSAGE of the New Testament Church. The ministry and message were not laced with PRIDE, they were laced with LOVE. Many who are anointed think they are qualified to judge others because they have gained a superior experience the other person doesn't have. NO EXPERIENCES IN THE SPIRIT make us wise, or a righteous judge. That only comes through abiding in CHRIST. We must never stop seeking HIM. The more we mature, the less we will seek to hide, from God, or from others, so that we can truly walk in the light. When we walk in the light, we are then on the road to become qualified to be righteous judge in this last hour.

A Riveting Example of Appearances - Angelo

Another riveting story from Rick Joyner's "The Quest" is about a homeless man named Angelo. The second man was born deaf. He was abused and kept in a dark, cold attic until he was found by the authorities when he was eight years old. He had then been shifted from one institution to another where the abuse continued. Finally he was turned out onto the streets. To overcome all of this the Lord had only given him three portions of His love, but he had mustered every bit of it to fight the rage in his heart. One day a small kitten had wondered into his path and he started to kick it, but restrained himself, but still shoved it rather harshly out of the way with his foot.

In a vision, the Lord Jesus showed Rick this same man, Angelo, on a throne in heaven.

"Angelo was so faithful with the little I had given to him, I gave him three portions of My love. He used all of that to quit stealing. He almost starved, but he refused to take anything that was not his. He bought his food with what he could make collecting bottles, and occasionally finding someone who would let him do some yard work. He could not hear but he had learned to read, so I sent him a gospel tract. As he read it, the Spirit opened his heart, and he gave his life to Me. I again doubled the portions of My love to him and he faithfully used all of them. He wanted to share Me with others, but He could not speak. Even though he had lived in such poverty, he started spending over HALF of everything he made on gospel tracts to give out on street corners."

As Rick listened to this, he asked the Lord, "How many did he lead to you?" Rick wrote in the book that he was expecting the Lord to say multitudes. The Lord answered "one."

"I let him lead a dying alcoholic to Me to encourage him. It encouraged him so much he would have stood on that corner for many more years to just bring another soul to repentance. But all of heaven was entreating ME to bring him here, and I, too, wanted him to receive his reward. He was faithful with all that he was given, he overcame all until he became like me, and he died a martyr. He overcame the world with MY love. Very few have overcome so much with so little. Many of MY people dwell in homes that kings would have enjoyed a century ago because of their conveniences, but do not appreciate them, while Angelo would so appreciate a cardboard box on a cold night that he would turn it into a glorious temple of MY presence. He began to love everything and everyone. He would rejoice more over an apple than some of My people do over a great feast. He was faithful with all that I gave him, even though it was not very much compared to what I gave others, including you. "

Many people had passed Angelo on the street and called him a religious nut. Some mocked him calling him "one of those 'Elijah's who escaped form the bus station.'" Some even said he was sent by the enemy to turn people off from the gospel. The Lord went on to say this about Angelo and others like him:

"There are many who try to preach the gospel on the streets for wrong, and even perverted reasons. Even so, there are many who are sincere, even if they are untrained and unlearned. You must not JUDGE by APPEARANCES. There are as many true servants who look like he did as there are among the polished professionals in the great cathedrals and organizations that men have built in My Name."

As Rick heard this he wept. As the Lord saw this he came down from his throne and gave him a big hug and a kiss like a father. "He could have imparted that to you on earth, he had much to give my people, but they would not come near him. Even My prophets avoided him. He grew in the faith by buying a couple of books that he read over and over. He tried to go to churches but he could not find one that would receive him. If they would have taken him in they would have taken ME in. He was MY knock upon their door."

Grief stricken now, Rick asked, "how did he die?"

"He froze to death trying to keep an old wino alive who had passed out in the cold. He was a martyr everyday he lived. He would only do enough for himself to stay alive, and he gladly sacrificed his life to save a needy friend. When you give yourself with love it counts for much. Many have given and given but they have not given with love. While on earth he considered himself the least of saints, but he was one of the greatest. Angelo did not die for a doctrine, or even his own testimony, he died for ME."

The church must come back to allowing the Holy Spirit to show us the Angelo's around us. Our pride and arrogance are keeping Jesus outside our churches because we have lost our ability to righteously judge those around us. Wisdom is to see people with the eyes of Jesus, NOT TO JUDGE BY APPEARANCES. This inability has caused us to miss our visitation from those who could have brought us JESUS!

God Has Committed All Judgment to the Son; The Son Commits All Judgment to His WORD.

Even the judge of the earth will not be the judge of our lives in the end. Think about it. The final thought on this message comes from John 12 that says even the Lord Jesus will not condemn us at that awesome time of judgment in eternity. He has committed all judgment to the WORD. It is the WORD that will condemn us and in many cases our own words that will be reheard before the throne that awesome day when our souls are laid bare. When we stand before Him, it seems two things will judge us the most - OUR OWN WORDS and HIS WORD.

Matt 18:11 - For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 

Matt 20:28 - Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

Luke 9:56 0 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

1 Tim 1:15-16 - This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

2 Pet 3:15 - And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

I Jn 4:14 - And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 

In closing, possibly the main reason that the church is so full of unrighteous judgment is because there is no format for righteous judgment in the church. Until the elders take their proper place in the gates, churches will continue to be subject to the judgment of the secular media and heresy hunters, who, regardless of how well-intentioned they are, sow division and unrighteous judgment that is WOUNDING the Body of Christ more than the errors they seek to expose.

The Lord has given mandates to the church that we cannot accomplish without unity. Righteous judgment is one of them. This issue must be addressed by church leaders on every level if we are going to accomplish our mandate for this hour. Unrighteous judgment can be seen as a source of most of the conflicts in the world. Since the church is called to be a light of this world, we should have the answers to the world's problems. How can we help to bring righteous judgment to the world if we cannot even judge ourselves??

Because of the many excesses of the past, or the tendency for some to presume authority beyond their appointed jurisdiction, it is understandable, why others tend to shy away from this difficult issue. However, our continued neglect of this mandate will prove increasingly costly. Until we bring a return of the judges and righteous judgment to the church, then through the church to the world, we will continue to be subject to the unrighteous judgment of the world, and sadly, from our own.

We need correction. There are many areas in the church that are not in agreement with the truth. Righteous judgment doesn't judge after appearances. It doesn't judge after the flesh. It leaves the final say-so in all matters to God. (In other words it doesn't set itself up as the criteria (i.e. - the Catholic Church) In correcting error and matters that need our attention we cannot allow the enemy of the church, the devil, to get brethren accusing and dividing one another. THAT IS NOT RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. It's a great tragedy in the church today that every movement basically persecutes every other movement that has preceded it and those movements who are not yoked with them. To say it again, we need a return of the judge to the church. We need a return of the wisdom of Solomon. We need a return of the humility of Moses. The bravery of Samson. The faith of Deborah and Barak. The strength of EHUD. The mighty anointed ministry of the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE in our midst, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 In closing, Jesus said, "as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." That is His love. His judgment is His love. His judgment is His grace. When we are judged, it is so we will not be condemned by the world or with the world on the final day of judgment. We are the church and we will be a glorious church without spot or wrinkle but we must pray for a return of this ministry. The return of the judges. That's what's ahead of us. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT says to the church!