Embracing Christlikeness: Discernment, Mercy, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Divine Nature

True Christlikeness is not about imitation but about allowing His nature to transform us from within. This transformation requires a continuous filling of the Holy Spirit, as we cannot achieve these standards on our own. The journey of becoming more like Christ is not about superficially mimicking His actions but about a profound internal change that comes from partaking in His divine nature. This transformation is akin to a tree naturally bearing fruit, rather than having fruit artificially attached to it. It is a process that requires us to seek the Holy Spirit's presence continually, as it is only through His power that we can embody the high standards set by Christ. [00:56]

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to invite the Holy Spirit to bring about genuine transformation rather than relying on your own efforts?

Day 2: Discernment Rooted in Love

While we are not called to judge others, discernment is crucial. It must be rooted in love, as only a heart filled with love can discern accurately. This discernment helps us navigate our responsibilities within our spheres of influence. Discernment is a vital skill for distinguishing between good and evil, but it must be exercised with a heart full of love. Without love, discernment can become tainted by personal biases and fail to reflect divine wisdom. We are called to discern within the areas of responsibility God has given us, such as our families and church communities, ensuring that our judgments are not based on appearances or hearsay but on God's guidance. [05:10]

Philippians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."

Reflection: How can you ensure that your discernment is guided by love and not by personal biases in your daily interactions?

Day 3: Seeing Beyond Appearances

Our senses can deceive us, leading to wrongful judgments. We must seek God's wisdom to discern beyond what our eyes see and ears hear, recognizing our own limitations and the hidden aspects of others' lives. Human judgment is often flawed because it relies on limited perceptions and can be swayed by appearances. To avoid this pitfall, we must seek God's wisdom, which allows us to see beyond the surface and understand the deeper truths of a situation. This requires humility and an acknowledgment of our own limitations, as well as a commitment to seeking divine guidance in all our judgments. [12:26]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you judged someone based on appearances. How can you seek God's wisdom to understand the deeper truth in similar situations?

Day 4: Mercy Over Judgment

God's judgment will be merciless to those who have not shown mercy. Therefore, we must allow mercy to triumph over judgment in our interactions, especially with those we may be inclined to judge harshly. Mercy is a fundamental aspect of God's character, and He calls us to reflect this attribute in our dealings with others. When we choose mercy over judgment, we align ourselves with God's heart and open the door to His grace in our lives. This principle reminds us that our own need for mercy should inspire us to extend it to others, recognizing that God's judgment is reserved for those who fail to show mercy. [35:20]

James 2:13 (ESV): "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience mercy from you today, and how can you extend it to them in a tangible way?

Day 5: Walking the Narrow Way

Entering the narrow gate is just the beginning; we must also walk the narrow way that leads to life. This path requires continuous seeking of the Holy Spirit's power to live out the high standards set by Christ. The Christian journey is not just about making a one-time decision to follow Christ but involves a daily commitment to walk the path He has set before us. This narrow way is challenging and requires us to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance. As we walk this path, we are called to continually seek, ask, and knock, trusting that God will provide what we need to live according to His will. [51:06]

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV): "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure you are walking the narrow way, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, we explore the profound call to grow in Christlikeness. This journey is not about mere imitation of Christ's life, which would be akin to hanging market-bought fruit on a barren tree. Instead, it is about partaking in His divine nature, allowing the fruit to naturally grow from within us. This distinction is crucial as we navigate the high standards set forth in these chapters, particularly the nine right attitudes and the avoidance of eight wrong attitudes.

Today, we focus on the ninth wrong attitude: judging others. As we strive to live by these standards, there is a temptation to judge those who may not be on the same path. However, Jesus teaches us that judgment is not our calling; it is God's alone. Jesus Himself, despite His purity and holiness, chose not to judge others, setting an example for us to follow.

Judging does not mean we should not discern. Discernment is essential, especially in distinguishing between good and evil, and it must be rooted in love. Without love, our discernment is flawed, based on personal biases rather than divine wisdom. We are called to judge only within the spheres of responsibility given to us by God, such as within our families or church communities.

The key is to avoid judging by mere appearances or hearsay, as our human senses are limited and often misleading. Instead, we should seek God's guidance for true discernment. This requires humility and a recognition of our own limitations. We must also remember that God's judgment will be merciless to those who have not shown mercy to others. Therefore, mercy must triumph over judgment in our interactions with others.

Ultimately, the call is to ask God for the Holy Spirit's filling, as it is only through His power that we can live out these high standards. We must continuously seek, ask, and knock, trusting that our Heavenly Father will provide what is good for us. This journey is not just about entering through the narrow gate but also walking the narrow way that leads to life.

Key Takeaways

1. Partaking in Christ's Nature: True Christlikeness is not about imitation but about allowing His nature to transform us from within. This transformation requires a continuous filling of the Holy Spirit, as we cannot achieve these standards on our own. [00:56]
2. **Judgment vs. Discernment:** While we are not called to judge others, discernment is crucial. It must be rooted in love, as only a heart filled with love can discern accurately. This discernment helps us navigate our responsibilities within our spheres of influence. [05:10]
3. The Danger of Judging by Appearances: Our senses can deceive us, leading to wrongful judgments. We must seek God's wisdom to discern beyond what our eyes see and ears hear, recognizing our own limitations and the hidden aspects of others' lives. [12:26]
4. Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment: God's judgment will be merciless to those who have not shown mercy. Therefore, we must allow mercy to triumph over judgment in our interactions, especially with those we may be inclined to judge harshly. [35:20]
5. The Narrow Gate and Way: Entering the narrow gate is just the beginning; we must also walk the narrow way that leads to life. This path requires continuous seeking of the Holy Spirit's power to live out the high standards set by Christ. [51:06]
** [51:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Christlikeness
[00:35] - Imitation vs. Partaking
[01:15] - The Nine Right Attitudes
[01:40] - The Ninth Wrong Attitude: Judging
[02:33] - Jesus' Example of Non-Judgment
[04:23] - Discernment in Love
[06:00] - Judging Within Our Responsibility
[09:10] - The Danger of Judging by Appearances
[12:26] - Humility in Judgment
[19:56] - Hidden Aspects and Motives
[35:20] - Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment
[45:10] - Asking for the Holy Spirit
[51:06] - The Narrow Gate and Way
[58:14] - Building on the Rock
[60:26] - Living What We Preach

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 7:1-5
John 8:15
James 2:12-13

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Observation Questions:

What is the ninth wrong attitude mentioned in Matthew 7:1, and why is it significant in the context of the Sermon on the Mount? [01:40]
How does Jesus' statement in John 8:15 about not judging others relate to His example of non-judgment? [03:15]
According to James 2:12-13, what is the relationship between mercy and judgment, and how does this align with the teachings in Matthew 7? [35:20]
What does the sermon suggest about the difference between judgment and discernment, and how is love connected to discernment? [05:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the sermon suggest that judging others can be a temptation for those striving to live by the high standards of Matthew 5-7? [02:06]
How does the sermon explain the role of discernment within the spheres of responsibility given by God, such as family or church communities? [06:38]
What does the sermon imply about the limitations of human judgment and the importance of seeking God's wisdom for true discernment? [12:26]
How does the sermon interpret the concept of mercy triumphing over judgment, and what implications does this have for personal interactions? [35:20]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent situation where you were tempted to judge someone. How might you have approached it differently with a focus on discernment and love? [05:10]
Consider your spheres of responsibility, such as family or church. How can you practice discernment rooted in love within these areas? [06:38]
Identify a time when you judged someone based on appearances or hearsay. What steps can you take to seek God's wisdom and avoid such judgments in the future? [12:26]
Think of a person you find difficult to show mercy to. How can you allow mercy to triumph over judgment in your interactions with them this week? [35:20]
The sermon emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit's filling to live out Christ's standards. What specific steps can you take to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? [45:10]
Reflect on the concept of the narrow gate and way. How can you ensure that you are not only entering through the narrow gate but also walking the narrow way in your spiritual journey? [51:06]
How can you apply the principle of treating others the way you want to be treated in your daily interactions, especially with those you may be inclined to judge? [49:02]

Sermon Clips

"imitating his life would be like getting fruit from the market and beautiful fruit and hanging it on our barren tree whereas partaking of his life is where the fruit comes out from the tree itself so that's a very subtle danger and we have to be always aware of it i need to partake of his nature and if you recognize that you will always seek to be filled with the holy spirit because the standard is so high here in these chapters" [00:56]

"so to do not judge does not mean do not discern it's very important to discern between good and evil let me show you this verse in philippians and chapter one so that we have a balanced understanding of this in philippians chapter one he's talking about growing in love and love is the greatest virtue and it says here in philippians 1 verse 9 i pray that your love will abound increase more and more more and more still more and more in real knowledge and discernment" [04:23]

"so i have to begin with increasing and abounding in love more and more and then god will give me accurate discernment and so i'm still not here to judge people but i must discern i must avoid people who are particularly if you have a responsibility you have to discern people so where does this line of judging end i mean let's think of are we never supposed to judge any situation" [05:10]

"the lord telling me how he said all your life you have judged by what your eyes see and what your years here now i want to move you out of that realm into another realm the realm of the spirit where you will not judge by what your eyes see or your years here you will take in that information we get a lot of information from our eyes and years it's not that we go around blind and deaf" [12:26]

"you judge by what your eyes see and what your years here and very often it could be completely wrong you could be judging your husband and judging your wife on the basis of something you saw and heard and you may not know all the facts how often we've all done that and uh failure in this area in the past where we have discovered that we've judged wrongly and even perhaps hurt people sometimes" [13:36]

"god's judgment will be merciless in the final day on those who have not shown any mercy to others god's judgment will be absolutely merciless to all those people who have not shown mercy to others shall not be merciful to your husband or your wife when they slip up somewhere make a mistake and you jump down on them and say how many times i've told you this sometimes we can be merciless tomorrow towards our own children" [35:20]

"mercy must triumph over judgment in my mind these are very important verses in relation to what we are studying in matthew chapter 7 a wrong attitude of judging others what does it mean that mercy must triumph over judgment it doesn't mean i have to ignore the failure if i if it's an area where i have responsibility as i said i cannot ignore it but i've got to get rid of this log in my eye this unloving attitude towards that person" [35:20]

"so those are a few thoughts concerning this this passage on judgment in matthew chapter seven and as i said it's those of us who are really serious about the commands in matthew chapter five and six who are overcoming anger and overcoming bitterness and overcoming seeking honor and all that and have come to a good life in christ in the new covenant life we are the ones who are most in danger of judging others who have not come to this new covenant life" [36:20]

"the standard that i proclaim to you is a very high standard and it's a very narrow gate and you can ignore this and just say i've accepted christ and i'm going to heaven that's a wide gate a lot of people are going to destruction that way who don't take seriously the life of christ what i've proclaimed to you is the way to life because it's not only a gate that leads to life" [51:06]

"i receive christ into my life i'm born again that's the gate but that's not the end there's a whole way let us run with patience the race that is set before us that leads to life see this is the problem with so much of bible teaching the two truths and one is ignored and the other is emphasized some ignore the way and say it's the gate brother the main thing is to come come accept the lord accept the lord" [51:06]

"and then relax there are others who say you've got to deny yourself deny yourself every non-christian religions that talk about denying yourself in yoga for example no you begin with the gate you have to be born again and then there is a way that's the balance there is a narrow gate and a narrow way and a good church and a good elder will teach the narrow gate and the narrow way because that's what jesus said leads to life" [51:06]

"so the important thing is that we have a faith that leads to works of obedience that's what james says in chapter two faith without works is dead so please remember that as you read this in one closing word matthew 7 28 and 29 when jesus had finished these words the crowds were amazed at his teaching he was teaching them as one having authority" [58:14]

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Embracing Christlikeness: Discernment, Mercy, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Divine Nature

Day 2: Discernment Rooted in Love

Day 3: Seeing Beyond Appearances

Day 4: Mercy Over Judgment

Day 5: Walking the Narrow Way

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Christlikeness: Discernment, Mercy, and Transformation

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