Throwing Rocks 5/5/2024

John 8:2-11 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

❓When has God forgiven someone you didn’t want Him to forgive❓❓When has God told you to forgive someone you didn’t want to forgive ❓

💥 The crowning mark (fruit) of being a believer, is the God given ability to love and forgive.   

• Though we don’t like to think so; we would like to think it is more in our conduct.
• I can do good to others on the outside and still hate and despise them in secret.

💥   Having the ability to love like God and forgive like God has to be the work of God within us.

⭐   It’s possible (I guess) to speak in tongues, have the faith to remove mountains, be able to preach and teach all the mysteries of God and still be lost because we do not love as God wants us to love.

Facts about Love:

1.   God’s love is the only thing that makes us Christlike.   (1 John 4:7,8)

2.   Loving God and others is the most important thing we can do in life. (Matthew 22: 34-40)  But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

3.   Without God’s love, we are nothing.  (No matter the measure of status, achievements,      positions, wealth, or fame.)   Even the great good and the sacrifice we have made in the      name of humanity means anything, (1 Corinthians 13:2) 13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

➣  (Our Story)  Text. If we want God’s favor and blessing, it is not what we do, but why we do it.

⭐   With the elections coming up we need to be careful (at all times) not to cast stones at people God doesn’t condemn.

• It doesn’t mean they are not guilty v3) caught in the very act.
• Done wrong and sinned v4) The Word says they are wrong.
• The Word says they that do such things are in big trouble with God.

⭐  But that’s where it stops!

💥    We are not to condemn (ever) those who God doesn’t condemn. (Luke 6:37)"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned." 

The Word teaches us what is wrong and we can condemn sinful behavior, but we cannot condemn or judge the person.  That’s God’s department.

• There is a vast difference between judging the person versus judging what they do.
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  • We are to hate the sin but love the sinner.  (Not what they do)
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    • Just hard to not hate the person that does the sin. 

⭐   If we hated sin and not people, we would be far more focused on eradicating evil actions than doing away with people.

⭐   We need to be careful not to cast a stone at someone the Lord does not condemn! vs7) He who is without sin cast the first stone.    ⭐  It’s our choice! ⭐

What happens when we cast stones at people: v10)     

1.    We destroy someone God wants to heal and restore. …..where are your accusers

2.    We don’t forgive someone God wants to forgive….  Neither do I condemn you

3.    We kill someone when God wants to give life….   Go and sin no more

What does this teach?

1.   Our pretenses are rarely pure. v6) 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. 

• It’s human nature NOT to turn the other cheek.
• Pride is deadly when wounded.  Turns families, friends and loved ones against each other.
• Reaping what one sows is important.  It’s a part of justice.  Even when we repent, we still have consequences we must face.
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  • God says it’s greater to love mercy - do justice - walk humbly with Him.

2.   We are never to judge people.  Matthew 7 1-2)  “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

• It is enough for us to know right from wrong.  Good from evil. 
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  • We walk a fine line between judging actions and deeds rather than judging people.

💥    What keeps us from judging and condemning kids when they do wrong?  (love)

James 4:11-12 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

3.   God’s forgiveness empowers us to forgive others. v10) 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”Matthew 18:33)    33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?     

>   When God forgives us, His forgiveness will cause us to:         

 A.  Realize God has forgiven us the same          

B.  God has forgiven us more          

C.  We can be healed.  Not carry grudges; be restored to others( the man was not)

We become Christlike:

1.  WE ARE NOT TO BE PHARISEE 

>   Condemn, Judge, Legalistic

In conduct. Neither do I condemn you.  (Makes my actions like Christ)

2.  WE ARE NOT TO THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN SIN.

>   Pick up the rocks thrown and throw them back

Restore people and relationships  ( If we allow it to) ( Make my heart like Christ)

3.  WE ARE TO BE CHRISTLIKE.

Not stone to death.

Restore heal 

Send both of them home!

Heal and restore our past.  (Give us peace)  Set free from past pains and wounds. (Makes me Christlike)