Pastor Matt 1St of LP July 24, 2016 Freeing the Trapped Matthew 18:15ff

I. Not to Over look Sin II. The Process of helping those Caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You 3 “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.”

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You 1. Looking to yourself so you not be tempted 1 Cor.10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 2. No room for pride (vs. 3) 3. Examine his own work

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You Instead we are coming… 1. in a Spirit of gentleness Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;”

II. Process of helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You Instead we are coming … 1. in a Spirit of gentlenessGalatians 6:1 2. as we would a beloved family member 1 Timothy 5:1 “Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

II. Process of helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You Instead we are coming … 1. in a Spirit of gentlenessGalatians 6:1 2. as we would a family member 1 Timothy 5:1, 2 3. not as an enemy 2 Thessalonians 3:14 “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You B. Go directly to the one caught in sin Mt. 18:15 Set the context – Who is the greatest in the kingdom? Get rid of the things that cause sin Son of man came to seek & save the lost 100 sheep & 1 lost? leave the 99 Not the will of My Father 1 little 1 will perish

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap B. Go directly them Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.”

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap B. Go directly to them 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap B. Go directly to them Brother Sins – miss the mark; didn’t hit God’s perfect holiness Show him his fault – expose, convict, reprove; ALONE = KJV “in private” If he listens to you You have won your brother

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap B. Go directly to them At which time we are to (II Cor. 2:3–11) Forgive Comfort – Reaffirm your love for them Goal = Restoration

II. Process of helping those caught in sin’s trap A. Talk to God about You B. Go directly to the one caught in sin C. Go back w/ 1 or 2 with you

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap C. Go back with 1 you trust NOTE: This is the 1st time you have any right to talk to ANYBODY besides God & your brother who was in sin about this. If someone wants to talk to you about another’s sin… 1st ? – Have you gone to God in prayer about this? 2nd ? – Have you gone to this person 1 on 1?

II. helping those caught in sin’s trap C. Go back with 1 or 2 with you If your brother listens? If he refuses to listen? D. We tell it to the church – If your brother listens? If he refuses to listen? E. Treat him as a tax collector

God wants His church to be pure… “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:27

I. We are not to Over look Sin 1 Corinthians 5:9 “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.

I. We are not to Over look Sin 11 “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one.

I. We are not to Over look Sin 12 “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”

I. We are not to Over look Sin “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.” II Thessalonians 3:6

I. We are not to Over look Sin “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” Ephesians 5:11

I. We are not to Over look Sin Why? Ecc. 9:18 “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.” Leviticus 19:17 'You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.’