HOLD YOUR HORSES

“GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE OUR JUDGMENTS”

By Jim Wies

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Matt. 7:1,2

"WHO IS WORTHY TO LOOSE THE SEALS?"

In the apostle John's revelation of the throne of God as recorded in Rev. chapters 4-6, He sees a spectacular display of the glory of God, with angelic hosts, intriguing creatures, and the host of the redeemed, worshipping God and declaring His holiness, glory and worth. They were declaring "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

John goes on to describe the vision:

"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it." Rev 5:1-4

John observed that God had in his hand a scroll with seven seals. In the middle of this scene comes a strong angel who asks the question.. "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" The heavens and the earth were searched and John began to weep because no one was found who was able to open the scroll.

The fact was that no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was worthy. No one was able. No one had the right or moral position to be able to open this book and loose its seals. In this scene, everybody was there, but no one moved. Adam, the first man was there, but he didn't move. Abraham, the father of faith, was there but didn't move. Moses, the law giver, was there but didn't make a move. David, the man after God's heart, was there but he was unable. Righteous Daniel was certainly included, but didn't move. The apostles and fathers of the church, the elders and all the people, great and small, were there. The redeemed, which would include you and I, were there, but NO ONE was found worthy to open the scroll and loose the seals.

To better understand what is happening in this heavenly vision, it is important to understand at this point what this book was and what was the nature of the seals.

THE OWNER'S RIGHT TO JUDGE

This scroll was the title deed to creation. It belongs to God since he created all things. But more than that, it was also the owners right to judge, for in chapter 6 we see that out of the first four of these seven seals came the four horsemen of the apocalypse; we see the final judgments loosed upon the earth and it's inhabitants.

Rev 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see.... and behold a white horse."

Rev 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see... another horse, fiery red..."

Rev 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse,"

Rev 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see.. and bold a pale horse."

The seals are awesome and dreadful. The seals are the righteous judgments of God. God is holding this book and the seals, while a strong angel asks the question.. "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" The heavens and the earth were searched and John began to weep because no one was found able to open the scroll, until one of the elders spoke and said: ""Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." And as he looked, he beheld, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb as though it had been slain. (This, of course, is referring to Jesus)

At this point, all of the redeemed in heaven broke into applause saying "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."

The message was clear that Jesus alone, was worthy to loose judgments upon the earth. Why? Because He was the one who laid down his life. He had earned that right because he was slain to redeem mankind to Himself. Only He was worthy to release the 'horses' of judgment.

HOLDING YOUR "HORSES"

Putting yourself into that holy vision, are you ready to claim worthiness to loose the seals? Unfortunately we are, so often, all to ready to rush in where angels fear to tread. We so often do not realize that final judgment belongs to God alone. We so often rush to take up the scroll and loose judgments when we are not worthy to do so and have no authority to do so. In fact, we are told over and over in Scripture not to judge.

GOD WILL JUDGE OUR 'JUDGMENT'.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Matt. 7:1,2

"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things." Rom 2:1-4

"...strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door." James 5:8-9

Paul the apostle understood this when he wrote: "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts." 1 Cor 4:3-5

WE ARE TOLD TO 'BRIDLE' OUR 'JUDGMENT'

The epistle of James speaks very clearly to the issue of holding our tongue and 'bridling' our 'judgment'.

"If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." James 1:26

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:10-13

"For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well."......"So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." James 3:2,3,5-6

"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?" James 4:10-12

Therefore: "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." Eph 4:29-32

It is wise for us then, to do as the psalmist did and ask God to..."Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." Ps 141:3

JUDGMENT VS DISCERNMENT

Someone is bound to ask “what about the other Scriptures that tell us that we are to judge?” A casual look at the English Bible will seem to present conflicting views as to our rights and responsibilities to judge  vs. prohibitions on judgment. The very simple reason is there are actually several differing words translated into the English as judge and judgment. While Scripture tells us we have a responsibility to “discern and assess” the fruit of a persons behaviors, or, for example, that we are to "judge" prophesy, we are also told we must leave final judgment to the one true Judge. A look at the various definitions, and examples of their use in Scripture will help.

DEFINITIONS of words translated into English for judge and judgment:

"JUDGMENT" = "krima": as a final verdict of punishment - the function or the effect of a decision, for or against.

EXAMPLE: Matt 7:1-2 "Judge (to try, condemn, or punish) not, that you be not judged (condemned, or punished). "For with what judgment (condemnation) you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

"JUDGE" = "katakrino" as to condemn - to judge against, i.e. sentence

EXAMPLE: 1 Cor 11:31-32 For if we would judge (anakrino - assess or scrutinize) ourselves, we would not be judged (krino - tried, condemned, punished). But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned (katakrino) with the world.

"JUDGMENT" = "gnome" - as assessment, opinion, or resolve

EXAMPLE: 1 Cor 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (assessment or opinion)

"JUDGE" = anakrino - as assessment, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine

EXAMPLE: 1 Cor 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged (discern or scrutinize) by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge (discern or scrutinize) myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges (discern or scrutinizes) me is the Lord. Therefore judge (to try, condemn, or punish) nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God”.

also...

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (anakrino). But he who is spiritual judges (anakrino) all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 1 Cor 2:14-15

JUDGE = diakrino - as in discernment: to separate thoroughly, i.e. to discriminate, discern

EXAMPLE: 1 Cor 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge (discriminate, discern).

As we can readily see, we need to be careful how we deal with one another and how we throw around our "judgments" of one another.

It is clear from the Scriptures that there is no room in our hearts for judgment that originates from the heart of man. That is, when we judge out of our own carnal thinking, our own natural perspective, or particularly out of our own woundedness, we violate the word of the Lord which states it is not our place to judge.

When someone stands up and speaks a “judgment” in God's name, they need to be sure the words are God originated words. Why? Because God originated words have the power of God Himself behind them. Our careless words are like a lethal instrument, just as a surgeon's knife, that can slay or heal. Accuracy is critical. To speak in Jesus' name is to do so as if you were Jesus Himself. To speak as an oracle of God we MUST be sure that our words are "God originated". That is, we must take care that we are not speaking out of our own "vain imaginations" or evil inspirations. Are we speaking words in agreement with the "accuser of the brethren", or the "Great Intercessor"?

In Conclusion: I once heard a quote that stated "More information will not help, when an "unveiling" is what is needed". God has called us to walk carefully in the arena of judgment, and I am convinced that the Body of Christ is in great need of an "unveiling" of the difference between the "ministry" of discernment vs. the "sin" of judgment. We must be wise and “hold our horses’ when it comes to judging one another and judging other portions of the Body of Christ.

May God help us!

Suggested Resource: Kingdom Power Pack

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jim is a lover of God, and has served as a pastor, author, teacher and itinerant speaker who has spoken at revival meetings, seminars, conferences and churches throughout the USA and Canada, providing training and mentoring on a number of topics including personal prophecy, revelatory gifts, healing seminars, and ministry training. More of Jim's writing can be found on his regular column at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-36621-Phoenix-Supernatural-Christianity-Examiner