C.BOSTIAN          NO CANCELLATION BY CLASSIFICATION PT.3                    12/4/04

 

Psalm 49:5-8 & 15 (KJV)

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? [6] They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; [7] None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: [8] (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)  But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

 

1 Peter 1:18-19 (KJV)     

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

Ps 49:8, 15

For a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth. There is not enough of it in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul, to keep it out of hell... 15 But as for me, God will redeem my soul from the power of death, for he will receive me.

 

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES ON LEARNING NOT TO CANCEL PEOPLE BY LABELLING OR CLASSIFYING THEM AND THUS PASSING JUDGEMENT ON THEM. (INS) WE MUST LEARN NOT TO CANCEL PEOPLE BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, DENOMINATION, STATUS, EDUCATION, CULTURE OR ANY OTHER CRITERIA BECAUSE EACH PERSON IS BORN WITH GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO CHANGE, GROW AND FULFILL DIVINE DESTINY.  IN OTHER WORDS THEY ARE MORE THAT WHAT THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.  THEY MAY CURRENTLY BE A FAILURE IN SOME AREA OF THEIR LIVES BUT POTENTIAL GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO CHANGE AND TURN THAT FAILURE INTO SUCCESS.IN PSA.49 DAVID TELLS US THAT ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD COULD NOT REDEEM A SINGLE SOUL FROM THE TYRRANY OF HELL AND YET GOD HAS SAVED THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.  WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMERATE THAT THIS MORNING BY WELCOMING YOU TO OUR COMMUNION SERVICE.

 

LET’S DO A QUICK REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK:

1. (INS) WHAT DO YOU CALL THE WEALTH THAT’S BURIED IN A CEMETARY?  POTENTIAL.  ITS CALLED POTENTIAL.  NOW, WHAT IS POTENTIAL?   POTENTAIL IS UNTAPPED POWER, DORMANT ABILITY, UNUSED STRENGTH, HIDDEN POWER, UNUSED SUCCESS AND UNDISCOVERED WEALTH. POTENTIAL MEANS POWER NOT BEING USED, YET.  GOD IS A GOD OF POTENTIAL.  THAT MEANS THAT GOD HIDES POWER.  IT EXISTS BUT ITS HIDDEN. SO IF POTENTIAL IS ALWAYS THAT WHICH IS NOT SEEN THEN POTENTIAL IS WHO YOU REALLY ARE BUT NOBODY CAN SEE IT YET.  POTENTIAL IS WHAT YOU CAN REALLY DO THAT YOU HAVEN’T DONE YET. POTENTIAL IS HOW FAR YOU CAN GO BUT YOU HAVEN’T GONE YET. POTENTIAL IS HOW MUCH YOU CAN ACCOMPLISHS BUT YOU HAVEN’T ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING YET.

 

2. (INS) EVERY PERSON THAT IS BORN HAS THE TREASURE OF HIDDEN POTENTAIL TO BECOME ALL THAT GOD MEANT FOR THEM TO BECOME.  I THINK ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST TRADGEDYS IS CANCELLING PEOPLE BEFORE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IS RELEASED.

 

3. (INS) WE CANCEL PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR PAST FAILURES, BUT LISTEN, THEY ARE MORE THAN THEIR PAST FAILURE.  THEY HAVE POTENTIAL TO DO MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE.

 

4. (INS) GOD IS AN EXPERT IN GARBBAGE COLLECTION.  WHAT THE WORLD THROWS AWAY GOD SALVAGES, RESTORES AND PUTS TO USE IN BUILDING HIS KINGDOM.  GOD IS INTO THE COLLECTION BUSINESS NOT THE REJECTION BUSINESS AND SO SHOULD WE BE.

 

5. (INS) LISTEN, WE SHOULD NEVER BE AFRAID OF DYING BUT DYING WITHOUT REACHING OUR FULL POTENTIAL IN CHRIST.  SO DON’T DIE EARLY, DIE EMPTY USING EVERY OUNCE OF POTENTIAL. 

 

6. (INS) WHEN YOU BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE YOUR POTENTIAL YOU BECOME A THREAT TO SOCIETY.  NOW YOU’RE NOT AVAILABE FOR MANIPULATION ANY MORE. PEOPLE CAN’T CONTROL YOU ANY MORE CAUSE YOU’VE GOT A REVELATION OF WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST AND WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.

 

7. (INS) GOD IS LIKE THE INCUBATOR TO MAN’S POTENTIAL.  HE WARMS YOU, HEALS YOU AND LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY UNTIL POTENTIAL IS BIRTHED IN YOU AND YOU DO SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

 

8. (INS) DON’T LET LABELS LIMIT YOU. YOU ARE MORE THAN A LABEL YOU ARE GIFTED BY GOD TO FULFILL DIVINE DESTINY AND DO SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE ON PLANET EARTH CAN DO. SO DON’T LET LABELS RESTRICT YOU AND LIMIT YOU FROM REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL IN CHRIST.

 

(INS) POTENTIAL IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU.  WHAT YOU DO WITH IT IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD!!!

 

WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT TWO ASPECTS OF POTENTIAL: YOUR’S AND EVERYBODY ELSE’S.  BECAUSE EVERYONE IS BORN WITH POTENTIAL WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LABEL PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN CANCEL THEM LATER. (INS) IN FACT, WE MUST LEARN NOT TO CANCEL PEOPLE BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, DENOMINATION, STATUS, EDUCATION, CULTURE OR ANY OTHER CRITERIA BECAUSE EACH PERSON IS BORN WITH GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO GROW, CHANGE AND FULFILL DIVINE DESTINY.

SO THIS MORNING WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW LABELS LIMIT US AND OTHERS FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN CHRIST. SO, LET’S LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THIS MORNING AS WE PREPARE FOR COMMUNION.

 

(INS) Luke 7:36-50 (MsgB)

One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. [37] Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume [38] and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. [39] When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him." (INS) [40] Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Oh? Tell me."  [41] "Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. [42] Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts.  Which of the two would be more grateful?" [43] Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most." "That's right," said Jesus. [44] Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair.(INS) [45] You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. [46] You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. [47] Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." [48] Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins." [49] That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!" [50] He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

 

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY THAT PORTRAYS THE GENUINE LOVE OF GOD TOWRADS THOSE WHO TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS TO WORSHIP AND OBEY GOD.  JESUS WAS INVITED INTO A PAHARISEES HOUSE.  AFTER HE WAS THERE A SHORT TIME A WOMAN FROM THAT TOWN CAME IN TO WORSHIP HIM.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IN THE EYES OF OTHERS WAS THAT SHE HAD A LABEL AS THE TOWN PROSTITUTE.  THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS MARVELED THAT JESUS WOULD ALLOW HER TO CARRY ON IN SUCH A WAY.  YOU SEE THEY PASSED JUDGEMENT ON HER PAST ACTIONS BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE HER HEART AFTER GOD HAD TOUCHED HER. (INS) YOU SEE, THIS TOWN HARLOT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE TOWN WHORE BECAUSE SHE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE AND FULFILL DIVINE DESTINY.

 

IN SHORT I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT WHEN WE PUT PEOPLE INTO CLASSIFICATIONS AND LABEL THEM THAT WE ARE IN FACT SINNING AGAINST THEM AND GOD.  WE ARE NOT CALLED AS GOD’S SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF OTHERS BUT RATHER TO REACH OUT WITH THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD TO ALL PEOPLE BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE OUTCAST AND THE REJECTED.

 

Matthew 5:43-48 (MsgB) 

    "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' [44] I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, [45] for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. [46] If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. [47] If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. [48] "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

 

(INS) DID YOU KNOW THAT Your long term thoughts ABOUT a person are developed in the first 30 seconds of contact?  WE LOOK AT A PERSON AND WITHOUT REALIZING IT ARE JUDGING THEIR DRESS, THEIR SPEECH AND THEIR MANNERISM AND THEN BEGIN TO LABEL THEM OR CLASSIFY THEM IN WHATEVER WAY WE FEEL APPROPRIATE.  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT’S WRONG?

 

Illustration:In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do FOR THEM. After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial, Eliot impatiently said, "Perhaps you have

in mind a scholarship."

"We were thinking of something more substantial than that...perhaps a building," the woman replied. In a patronizing tone, Eliot brushed aside the idea as being too expensive and the couple departed. The next year, Eliot learned that this plain pair had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million memorial named Leland Stanford Junior University, (INS) better known today as Stanford UNIVERSITY!

 

(INS) CHARLES ELLIOT WAS GUILTY OF THE 30 SECOND RULE.  HE SIZED THIS COUPLE UP IN 30 SECONDS AND FORFIETED  A 26 MILLION DOLLAR MEMORIAL.  (LESSON) WHEN WE LABEL  OR CLASSIFY PEOPLE WE ROB OURSELVES OF THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT THEY CAN BE TO US AND TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

John 8:3-11 (MsgB)

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone [4] and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. [5] Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" [6] They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. [7] They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." [8] Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. (INS) [9] Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. [10] Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?" [11] "No one, Master." "Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."

 

HERE IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THE LORD IS TEACHing us how to conduct ourselves in reference to the faults of others. his expressions seem intended TO reproVE the scribes and Pharisees, who were very rigid and severe AND very magisterial in condemning OTHERS THEY LABELED LESS INFERIOR TO THEMSELVES.  ONE OF THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF A PHARISEEICAL ATTITUDE IS TO LABEL OR JUDGE OTHERS WHILE PROUDLY AND CONCEITEDLY justifying themselves. 

 

(INS) Romans 14:10 (MsgB)

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit.

 

Romans 14:13 (MsgB)

Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is.

 

only God has all the facts to judge with perfect objectivity. Jesus said, "Do not judge or you too will be judge." (Matt. 7:1) If anyone thinks they know all the facts about a person they are sadly mistaken - only God’s knowledge is complete. Ask the Lord to help you reserve judgment for the one whose omniscient.

 

(ins) F.B. Meyer, once said that when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances. SO LET’S NOT JUDGE BEFORE ALL THE FACTS ARE IN.  LET’S NOT PUT A LABEL ON ANYBODY.

(INS) Matthew 7:1-5 (KJV)

Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. [3] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? [4] Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? [5] Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

(INS) PICTURE

(INS) Matthew 7:1-5 (MsgB)

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. [2] That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. [3] It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. [4] Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? [5] It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

 

We sometimes JUDGE AND criticize PEOPLE unfairly. We don’t know all their circumstances, nor their motives. Only God, who is aware of all the facts, is able to judge people righteously. John Wesley told of a man he had little respect for because he considered him to be miserly and covetous. One day when this person contributed only a small gift to a worthy charity, Wesley openly criticized him.

After the incident, the man went to Wesley privately and told him he had been living on parsnips and water for several weeks. He explained that before his conversion, he had run up many bills. Now, by skimping on everything and buying nothing for himself he was paying off his creditors one by one.  "Christ has made me an honest man," he said, "and so with all these debts to pay, I can give only a few offerings above my tithe. I must settle up with my worldly neighbors and show them what the grace of God can do in the heart of a man who was once dishonest."  Wesley then apologized to the man and asked

his forgiveness. 

 

(INS) 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

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 looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

 

JESUS SAID, JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED.  WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YOU JUDGE OTHER YOU WILL BE JUDGED.  WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHRISTIAN I HAD A SEVERE JUDGEMENTAL ATTITUDE.  NOT ONLY DID I JUDGE OTHER BUT I ALSO JUDGED MYSELF THE SAME WAY.  IT WASN’T UNTIL I RECEIVED DELIVERANCE FROM A JUDGEMENTAL SPIRIT THAT I COULD EXPERIENCE FREEDOM FROM SELF IMPOSED JUDGEMENT.  NOT ONLY DID I STOP JUDGING OTHERS BUT I ALSO EXPERIENCED A GREATER SENSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN MY LIFE.  A PRESENCE MANIFESTED BY PEACE, LOVE AND JOY.  I WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER.  I DIDN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF THE LORD CAUSE I WAS TOO BUSY JUDGING, LABELLING AND CONDEMNING OTHERS.

 

(INS) THE  MOTIVATION OF MATT.7 IS NOT TO TAKE AWAY THE BEAM THAT IS IN YOUR EYE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR BROTHER’S EYE.  RATHER IT IS GOD’S DESIRE THAT YOU REMOVE THE BEAM THAT IS IN YOUR EYE AND THAT YOU LEAVE THE SPECK REMOVAL BUSINESS TO HIM.  WHY? BECAUSE only God is completely impartial, WE ARE NOT. "There is no partiality with God." (Rom. 2:11) Every person has known and unknown areas of partiality in their thinking. Some people are more willing to acknowledge their bias than others, but perfect impartiality is something only possessed by our Creator and Lord. Ask the Lord for the ability to be slow to speak until you have first sought God’s impartial, objective and Biblical viewpoint.

 

(INS) James 4:11-12 (KJV) 

    Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks 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 you that judges another?

 

(INS) James 4:11-12 (MsgB) 

    Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. [12] God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?

 

 DO YOU SEE THE DANGER IN CLASSIFYING OR LABELLING OTHERS.  IN EFFECT WE ARE SITTING IN JUDGEMENT OF THEM AND CANCELLING THE BENEFIT THEY MY BE TO US AND TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  I LIKE THE WAY THE MESSAGE BIBLE PUTS IT; God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?  THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE LABEL PEOPLE. 

 

I ONCE SANG IN THE S.D. ALSTATE CHOIR AND WE WERE DIRECTED BY JESTER HARRISON WHO WROTE THE LITTLE SONG AMEN.  HE TAUGHT US A NEW SONG THAT HE WANTED TO SING WITH US DURING THE CONCERT.  IT WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

 

(INS)

GOSSIP, GOSSIP EVIL TING.

MUCH UNHAPPISNESS IT BRING,

IF YOU CAN’T SAY SOMETHING NICE,

DON’T TALK AT ALL IS MY ADVICE.

 

JAMES PUT IT THIS WAY, SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.  DO YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE GOOD NEWS THAN THERE IS BAD NEWS.  EVERYBODY’S GOT A “ SOMEONE DONE ME WRONG SONG.” BUT DO YOU REALIZE WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR YOU?  HE’S FOGIVEN YOU ALL OF YOUR SINS.  HE’S BURIED THEM IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA TO REMEMBER THEM NO MORE.  HE’S REMOVED YOUR CONFESSED SINS FROM YOU AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST.  GOD WILL NEVER TAKE INVENTORY ON PAST CONFESSED SIN.  HE NEVER REMEMBERS THEM AGAIN.  HE DOESN’T LABEL YOU BY YOUR LAST FAILURE BUT HE SEES IN YOU THE UNLIMITED POTENTIAL TO BE EVERYTHING HE DESIGNED AND CREATED YOU TO BE.  AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT HE CALLS YOU BY A NAME THAT HAS REFERENCE TO  YOUR FUTURE AND NOT BY YOUR PAST HISTORY.  WE SEE A BROTHER WHO HAS EMBEZZLED FUNDS AND WE LABEL HIM A THEIF.  WE HEAR OF A SISTER WHO HAS HAD AN AFFAIR AND WE LABEL HER A SLUT.  BUT GOD LOOKS BEYOND THEIR LAST FAILURE AND CALLS THEM RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY. GOD LOOKED AS RAHAB, A LAP DANCER AT THE GENTLEMEN’S CLUB,  JUST MAKE IT CONTEMPORARY.  WE LOOK AT THOSE WOMEN ACTING SO NASTY AND SLUTTY AND WE DON’T WANT THEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.  THAT’S WHAT WE SEE.  BUT WHAT GOD SEES IN RAHAB IS THE SEED THAT WOULD CARRY THE WOMB OF THE MESSIANIC SEEDLINE. WOW! SO DON’T LABEL PEOPLE.  DON’T CANCEL PEOPLE.

 

Luke 6:36-38 (MsgB)

Our Father is kind; you be kind.

[37] "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. [38] Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

 

H.A. Ironside told the story of an incident in the life of a man called Bishop Potter. "He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share the cabin with him. After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser's desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ships safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, 'It's all right, bishop, I'll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!'"

 

LET ME SUMMERIZE MY THOUGHTS CONCERNING LABELS. YOU NOW KNOW THAT Your long term thoughts on a person are developed in the first 30 seconds of contact. SO BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.  THE DANGER IN CLASSIFYING OR LABELLING OTHERS IS THAT WE ARE SITTING IN JUDGEMENT OF THEM AND CANCELLING THE BENEFIT THEY MY BE TO US AND TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  EVERY PERSON IS BORN WITH POTENTIAL.  EVERY PERSON IS THEREFORE GREATER THAN THEIR LAST FAILURE.  THEY HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE AND BECOME ALL THAT GOD HAS DESIGNED AND CREATED THEM TO BE.  POTENTIAL GIVES THEM THE POWER OF TRANSFORMATION: THEY HAVE THE INHERENT ABILITY TO GROW, CHANGE AND FULFILL DIVINE DESTINY.  WHEN WE LABEL THEM WE CANCEL THEIR POTENTIAL AND FORFIET A BLESSING. 

 

(INS) 1 Cor. 4:3,5 (MsgB)

It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don't even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. So don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God.

 

(INS) 1 Cor. 4:3 (KJV) 

    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.

 

Psalm 139:23 (KJV) 

    Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

 

(INS) Psalm 139:23-24 (MsgB) 

        Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;

        Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; [24] See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—

            then guide me on the road to eternal life.

 

AS WE PREPARE FOR COMMUNION THIS MORNING DON’T START JUDGING YOURSELF CAUSE YOU WILL BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF AND THAT CAN HAVE REPERCUSSIONS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS.  WHY DON’T YOU RESERVE ALL SELF EXAMINATION TO GOD.  LET HIM SEARCH YOUR HEART AND CONVICT YOU OF ANY SIN THAT YOU NEED TO CONFESS AND REPENT OF THIS MORNING.  LET’S DETERMINE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET LABELS LIMIT OUR OWN POTENTIAL AS WELL AS THAT OF OTHERS. (INS) REMEMBER, POTENTIAL IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU.  WHAT YOU DO WITH IT IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD.