OVERCOMERS

OVERCOMING A Judgmental Spirit

“Do not judge, or you will be judged “Do not judge, or you will be judged. For the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:1-3 NIV

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:4-5 NIV

What A Judgmental Spirit is WW What A Judgmental Spirit is We ALL make judgments about others We judge their . . . God made us with the ability to make judgments! Jesus was NOT saying ALL judging is bad – Matthew 7:5-6, 15-20; 18:15; Galatians 6:1; Romans 16:17, . . .

What A Judgmental Spirit is WW What A Judgmental Spirit is It’s the habit of judging others unjustly! Judging with a self-righteous attitude – Luke 18:11-14 Judging rashly – John 7:21-24 Judging unfairly – John 18:19-23 Judging harshly – John 8:1-11

Why we should be very careful WW Why we should be very careful We too will be judged! – Matthew 7:1 We will be judged by others But more importantly, we will be judged by God! – Romans 2:1-11; 14:1-12

Why we should be very careful WW Why we should be very careful We will be judged in the same way – Matthew 7:2 With the same “fairness” – Matthew 5:7; 6:14-15 With the same measure – Luke 6:37-38; James 2:12-13

OVERCOMING A Judgmental Spirit WW Take the plank out of your own eye! – Matthew 7:5a Focus on overcoming your own faults! Consider how you would want others to judge you – Matthew 7:12

OVERCOMING A Judgmental Spirit WW Pray for wisdom to see things clearly – Matthew 7:5 Often our judgment is skewed by emotions and misunderstandings – Galatians 6:1-4 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God . . . – James1:5; Proverbs 3:5-6