1 00:00:29,940 --> 00:00:31,460 You really want to know who's really tired? 2 00:00:31,460 --> 00:00:35,540 It's my wife, who is 39 weeks pregnant, and she will be 40 weeks 3 00:00:35,540 --> 00:00:39,500 on Tuesday if she happens to go into labor while I'm preaching 4 00:00:39,500 --> 00:00:40,900 tonight, we have a code word. 5 00:00:41,140 --> 00:00:42,700 It is cookies are in the oven. 6 00:00:42,700 --> 00:00:43,100 All right? 7 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:45,580 So if you hear that randomly, that means I got to go. 8 00:00:45,580 --> 00:00:47,500 I'll give you the points real quickly and I'll leave. 9 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:47,940 All right? 10 00:00:48,660 --> 00:00:50,980 But anyways, it's good to be here with you guys tonight. 11 00:00:51,300 --> 00:00:54,420 If you would turn to your Bibles, to John, chapter eight. 12 00:00:55,060 --> 00:00:56,340 John, chapter eight. 13 00:00:57,710 --> 00:01:00,750 This is a very familiar story, of course, if you know anything about 14 00:01:00,750 --> 00:01:03,470 John, chapter 8, the first 11 verses. 15 00:01:04,750 --> 00:01:08,470 This is when the Pharisees bring in the woman who was caught 16 00:01:08,470 --> 00:01:09,310 in adultery. 17 00:01:10,030 --> 00:01:14,150 And we see some interesting things from these 11 verses that 18 00:01:14,150 --> 00:01:16,430 I think would be a really great help to us tonight. 19 00:01:16,910 --> 00:01:21,710 And if you would, in a moment here, we'll look at verse number 20 00:01:21,710 --> 00:01:22,030 one. 21 00:01:22,110 --> 00:01:24,630 But I want you to put yourself in the story picture. 22 00:01:24,630 --> 00:01:28,590 You're one of the people maybe in the synagogue while Jesus is preaching. 23 00:01:29,070 --> 00:01:34,310 Maybe put yourself as one of the disciples or maybe even put yourself 24 00:01:34,310 --> 00:01:35,390 in the woman's shoes. 25 00:01:36,190 --> 00:01:37,790 Put yourself in this story. 26 00:01:38,190 --> 00:01:41,470 And I think the Lord will use that in a great amount of way. 27 00:01:41,470 --> 00:01:42,510 Let's look at verse number one. 28 00:01:42,510 --> 00:01:46,910 It says, jesus went out, or sorry, went unto the Mount of Olives. 29 00:01:47,390 --> 00:01:50,310 And early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all 30 00:01:50,310 --> 00:01:51,790 the people came unto him. 31 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:54,190 And he sat down and taught them. 32 00:01:54,890 --> 00:01:59,010 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in 33 00:01:59,010 --> 00:01:59,770 adultery. 34 00:02:00,490 --> 00:02:07,050 And when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, master, 35 00:02:07,850 --> 00:02:12,170 this woman was taken in adultery in the very act. 36 00:02:13,050 --> 00:02:16,530 Now, Moses in the law commanded us that such should be 37 00:02:16,530 --> 00:02:17,290 stoned. 38 00:02:17,770 --> 00:02:19,210 But what sayest thou? 39 00:02:20,740 --> 00:02:25,620 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. 40 00:02:26,420 --> 00:02:31,380 But Jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground 41 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:34,180 as though he heard them not. 42 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:40,980 Tonight I would like to talk to you tonight on Casting Stones. 43 00:02:41,940 --> 00:02:42,740 Let's pray. 44 00:02:43,860 --> 00:02:46,980 Lord, I want to thank you so much for you giving me this message 45 00:02:46,980 --> 00:02:47,660 tonight, Lord. 46 00:02:47,660 --> 00:02:49,860 It spoke to my heart in a great way, Lord. 47 00:02:50,510 --> 00:02:54,350 And Lord, I pray that I wouldn't just preach to the congregation 48 00:02:54,350 --> 00:02:57,750 here, Lord, that I'd preach to myself and that you would take over 49 00:02:57,750 --> 00:03:01,590 my words, Lord, and that it would be your message and not mine, 50 00:03:01,590 --> 00:03:01,870 Lord. 51 00:03:01,870 --> 00:03:03,150 Hide me behind your cross. 52 00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:06,030 I pray, Lord, this in your holy name. 53 00:03:06,350 --> 00:03:06,990 Amen. 54 00:03:07,870 --> 00:03:10,830 Have you ever found forgiveness from somebody? 55 00:03:11,310 --> 00:03:12,110 Sure we have. 56 00:03:12,670 --> 00:03:15,790 Maybe you've also been the one to forgive somebody. 57 00:03:17,150 --> 00:03:18,430 Maybe it was right away. 58 00:03:18,510 --> 00:03:24,470 Maybe it took some time, but we all have experienced the circle 59 00:03:24,470 --> 00:03:27,150 of forgiveness in our life. 60 00:03:28,190 --> 00:03:33,630 The problem is, is that many Christians become numb to the experience 61 00:03:33,950 --> 00:03:36,270 of forgiveness and forgiving others. 62 00:03:37,230 --> 00:03:41,550 The Bible is clear that we are to forgive our debtors while God 63 00:03:41,710 --> 00:03:43,150 forgives our debts. 64 00:03:44,370 --> 00:03:49,570 Unfortunately, this problem has stemmed from unholiness and self 65 00:03:49,570 --> 00:03:53,010 righteousness practiced in our life. 66 00:03:54,370 --> 00:03:59,050 I remember as a teenager, I was a young teenager, I was maybe 67 00:03:59,050 --> 00:04:00,810 probably 14 if I remember correctly. 68 00:04:00,810 --> 00:04:03,730 And there was a person that started coming to our youth department. 69 00:04:03,730 --> 00:04:06,370 I won't say names, I won't say if it's a boy or girl. 70 00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:10,650 At least I'll try not to, just to try to keep it the situation private. 71 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:16,170 But they did not normally come to our church during this time. 72 00:04:16,890 --> 00:04:19,370 My youth pastor was Brother Jesse Latta. 73 00:04:19,610 --> 00:04:22,610 And we had every once in a while, every year there would be 74 00:04:22,610 --> 00:04:25,450 some kids that would come in and out, maybe from, you know, different 75 00:04:25,609 --> 00:04:30,210 churches, maybe not of similar faith, but not quite the same. 76 00:04:30,210 --> 00:04:31,810 And you know, that wasn't a huge deal. 77 00:04:31,810 --> 00:04:36,130 We were happy that they were there and unfortunately my pride 78 00:04:36,130 --> 00:04:37,290 took over in one moment. 79 00:04:37,290 --> 00:04:42,090 And this person posted on social media, they posted that they 80 00:04:42,090 --> 00:04:47,490 were at their other church and in my self righteousness I commented 81 00:04:48,290 --> 00:04:49,730 something that wasn't very nice. 82 00:04:50,610 --> 00:04:55,330 Unfortunately, I thought that I was being righteous in the moment. 83 00:04:55,890 --> 00:05:00,050 I was calling them out on their sin, I was calling them out 84 00:05:00,290 --> 00:05:05,170 on their, on their lack of faith or their lack of spirituality. 85 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:10,860 And come to find out that cut deeper than I expected it ever would. 86 00:05:12,460 --> 00:05:14,860 And that person stopped coming regularly. 87 00:05:16,540 --> 00:05:21,260 And it was my fault and I'm ashamed of it. 88 00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:27,340 Do you often find yourself casting the first stone? 89 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:37,110 I have tonight three ways to avoid casting stones. 90 00:05:38,950 --> 00:05:45,030 Number one, avoid looking for the opportunity to. 91 00:05:46,470 --> 00:05:49,590 In verse number one, it says, Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives 92 00:05:49,590 --> 00:05:50,350 early in the morning. 93 00:05:50,350 --> 00:05:52,070 He came again to the temple, right? 94 00:05:52,550 --> 00:05:54,710 He's sitting there, he's preaching to the people. 95 00:05:54,870 --> 00:05:57,520 This is a very, you know, serious time. 96 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:02,400 This is a time of quietness and a time of God's word. 97 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:08,440 And the Pharisees, we know them, we know how spiritual they 98 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:13,520 are or the lack thereof, how spiritual they at least think that 99 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:14,000 they are. 100 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,840 And that comes and basically bites them on the foot more times 101 00:06:19,840 --> 00:06:20,640 than you can count. 102 00:06:22,170 --> 00:06:25,770 And it's amazing that they come and bring this woman before 103 00:06:25,770 --> 00:06:26,490 Jesus. 104 00:06:27,050 --> 00:06:28,650 They're trying to trip him up. 105 00:06:29,530 --> 00:06:32,730 They're trying to say, I wonder if we can get him on this. 106 00:06:33,850 --> 00:06:39,850 Moses law says that if you're caught in adultery, you are to be 107 00:06:40,250 --> 00:06:45,210 stoned and even a little more Crazy, this, that. 108 00:06:45,210 --> 00:06:48,090 Not a lot of people notice this, but the Bible says right here 109 00:06:48,590 --> 00:06:52,550 that when they're talking to Jesus, it says, master, this verse 110 00:06:52,550 --> 00:06:52,990 number four. 111 00:06:52,990 --> 00:06:56,590 Master, this woman was taken in adultery. 112 00:06:57,230 --> 00:07:03,870 In the very act they caught her red handed. 113 00:07:04,110 --> 00:07:10,430 In other words, not to be crude tonight, but were they looking 114 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:10,990 for it? 115 00:07:13,230 --> 00:07:14,190 Were they waiting? 116 00:07:16,610 --> 00:07:19,010 They managed to catch her in the act. 117 00:07:21,250 --> 00:07:24,130 There's a good possibility that when they brought her before 118 00:07:24,210 --> 00:07:27,010 Jesus, she may have not been decent. 119 00:07:29,090 --> 00:07:31,250 They've embarrassed her, they've shamed her. 120 00:07:32,530 --> 00:07:37,250 They're coming in and interrupting the synagogue preaching. 121 00:07:39,010 --> 00:07:42,530 They're thinking, we've got Jesus now because we're acting on 122 00:07:42,530 --> 00:07:43,490 Moses law. 123 00:07:45,210 --> 00:07:46,970 She should be stoned. 124 00:07:49,210 --> 00:07:51,610 I love what we're going to get here to a moment. 125 00:07:53,130 --> 00:07:58,370 But isn't it amazing how the people looking to cast stones will 126 00:07:58,370 --> 00:08:02,970 often find the words in the Bible to fit their narrative? 127 00:08:04,410 --> 00:08:06,330 We have to be very careful of this. 128 00:08:06,970 --> 00:08:08,450 I have to be carefulness. 129 00:08:08,450 --> 00:08:14,500 I cannot take God's word and apply it to my belief. 130 00:08:15,380 --> 00:08:20,740 It's that I need to take my beliefs and apply it to God's word. 131 00:08:21,380 --> 00:08:25,500 I need to align with God's word, not God's word aligned with 132 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:25,860 me. 133 00:08:25,939 --> 00:08:26,820 In other words. 134 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:31,940 And too often, especially Christians, they will take verses 135 00:08:32,100 --> 00:08:33,220 and twist things. 136 00:08:34,740 --> 00:08:38,920 It sounds good, that's the right words. 137 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,440 But it doesn't come across the same way. 138 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:50,200 Unfortunately, Pharisees have been twisting God's word to fit their 139 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:50,840 narrative. 140 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,760 And right here the Pharisees were looking for it, right? 141 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,320 They're looking for the moment to catch this woman in the mat to 142 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:02,840 bring her before Jesus. 143 00:09:05,580 --> 00:09:08,460 How you say, how does this apply to me? 144 00:09:08,460 --> 00:09:14,220 Well, have you ever called someone out wrongfully? 145 00:09:16,060 --> 00:09:19,099 No, I'm not saying you're going to somebody and you're saying, 146 00:09:19,099 --> 00:09:22,300 you know, hey, this is something that I'm concerned about 147 00:09:22,300 --> 00:09:24,380 and I'm concerned for your soul. 148 00:09:25,180 --> 00:09:26,300 That's not what I'm talking about. 149 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:32,950 How quickly are you to judge someone that maybe is a newer Christian? 150 00:09:35,670 --> 00:09:37,670 Maybe they're just getting kind of the swing of things. 151 00:09:39,030 --> 00:09:42,630 There's something that has plagued our churches across America 152 00:09:42,630 --> 00:09:48,830 and that is this holy, the self holiness, self righteous way 153 00:09:48,830 --> 00:09:55,940 of thinking that we need to hold down the standards now. 154 00:09:55,940 --> 00:09:58,140 We are the ones that are supposed to speak up. 155 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:01,900 Oh, he came wearing a T shirt to church today. 156 00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:04,700 Did you see her skirt? 157 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:05,980 Her skirt was way too short. 158 00:10:08,700 --> 00:10:09,100 How. 159 00:10:09,180 --> 00:10:12,140 Why did they bring their kids in basketball shorts? 160 00:10:13,260 --> 00:10:15,100 Did they not have anything nicer to wear? 161 00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:17,020 I know, I'm just picking on the clothes now, but this is our 162 00:10:17,020 --> 00:10:17,660 examples. 163 00:10:21,030 --> 00:10:25,590 I'm sorry, I cannot Picture Jesus Christ saying those things. 164 00:10:28,230 --> 00:10:30,550 Aren't we supposed to be like Jesus? 165 00:10:31,590 --> 00:10:36,550 Are we supposed to follow in his steps, align with what he says? 166 00:10:38,550 --> 00:10:39,670 But we don't. 167 00:10:40,950 --> 00:10:45,510 We try to align what Jesus says with what we believe. 168 00:10:47,430 --> 00:10:51,830 We like to take God's word and say, nope, this is how it works for 169 00:10:52,150 --> 00:10:52,550 me. 170 00:10:53,030 --> 00:10:55,990 Not what is God's word actually saying? 171 00:10:57,350 --> 00:11:00,910 And you see the Pharisees, they were caught, ran, headed by 172 00:11:00,910 --> 00:11:01,190 Jesus. 173 00:11:01,190 --> 00:11:02,150 We'll see that in a moment. 174 00:11:02,870 --> 00:11:08,070 In Proverbs 17:9, it says, he that covereth a transgression seeketh 175 00:11:08,230 --> 00:11:08,630 love. 176 00:11:08,630 --> 00:11:14,600 But he that repeateth a matter separateth their friends, separateth 177 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:15,200 very friends. 178 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,800 Matthew 7, verses 1 through 5 says, Judge not that ye be not judged. 179 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,440 Now we can twist that, say, oh, you're not allowed to judge. 180 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,640 But here's the kicker right here in verse number two, it says, 181 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,880 for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. 182 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:37,390 And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 183 00:11:38,750 --> 00:11:43,830 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, 184 00:11:43,830 --> 00:11:48,990 but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 185 00:11:49,310 --> 00:11:53,350 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote 186 00:11:53,350 --> 00:11:57,150 out of thine eye, and behold, a beam is in thine own eye. 187 00:11:57,950 --> 00:12:02,880 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and 188 00:12:03,110 --> 00:12:09,390 and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out 189 00:12:09,390 --> 00:12:11,830 of thy brother's eye. 190 00:12:15,190 --> 00:12:20,230 Unfortunately, this woman was caught in adultery. 191 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:22,470 She was doing wrong. 192 00:12:23,670 --> 00:12:25,350 She did break God's law. 193 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,240 But how often do people break God's law? 194 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:42,960 Especially according to the Old Testament standards that they 195 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:43,840 didn't get caught. 196 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,080 Do they still die? 197 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,160 I believe that God dealt with them, sure. 198 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,840 But I also believe that there was still forgiveness during that 199 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,720 time to God's nature. 200 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:07,400 And we're quick to even in the New Testament age, we are under grace. 201 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,480 That does not give us a free ticket to act the way that we want 202 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:11,800 to. 203 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,280 But we should be administering grace to others. 204 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:19,880 We are quick to snap back. 205 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,120 We're quick to react. 206 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,400 In other words, we're very fast to pick up a stone. 207 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:36,720 So number one, avoid looking for the opportunity. 208 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:44,480 And number two, avoid ignoring your own conscience. 209 00:13:46,010 --> 00:13:52,130 In verse number seven, it says, so when they continued asking 210 00:13:52,130 --> 00:13:59,370 him, he lifteth up himself and said to them, he that is without 211 00:13:59,690 --> 00:14:04,890 sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 212 00:14:06,010 --> 00:14:08,970 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 213 00:14:09,450 --> 00:14:15,310 And they which heard, being convicted by their own conscience 214 00:14:16,590 --> 00:14:20,630 went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, probably because they 215 00:14:20,630 --> 00:14:22,910 had more sense even unto the last. 216 00:14:23,470 --> 00:14:25,550 And Jesus was left alone. 217 00:14:25,790 --> 00:14:28,670 And the woman standing in the midst. 218 00:14:30,110 --> 00:14:32,350 The Pharisees have everyone fooled here. 219 00:14:33,870 --> 00:14:36,190 They're the religious ones coming in the building. 220 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,040 They set the standard for everyone else. 221 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,200 If you don't align with what the Pharisees were, then you just 222 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:46,200 weren't making the cut. 223 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:49,640 They had everyone fooled. 224 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:55,480 Their self righteousness got in the way of their own consciousness. 225 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,120 They never once considered the sin in their own lives. 226 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:07,530 When they took this woman, how come they didn't take the man with 227 00:15:07,530 --> 00:15:07,810 her? 228 00:15:12,530 --> 00:15:16,330 If she was truly caught in adultery, why didn't they take the 229 00:15:16,330 --> 00:15:17,010 man with her? 230 00:15:17,970 --> 00:15:20,530 There's a few arguments on why that was. 231 00:15:22,770 --> 00:15:24,370 Was it because it was one of them? 232 00:15:26,770 --> 00:15:30,940 We don't know was one of their buddies? 233 00:15:31,420 --> 00:15:32,140 It's possible. 234 00:15:34,780 --> 00:15:39,700 The most clear answer is that they could manhandle her into Jesus. 235 00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:42,780 That was basically some of the bottom line there. 236 00:15:44,620 --> 00:15:46,620 They could force her before Jesus. 237 00:15:47,260 --> 00:15:48,300 Way easier for them. 238 00:15:49,820 --> 00:15:55,260 It also makes Jesus look worse by casting punishment onto a woman. 239 00:15:55,650 --> 00:15:56,850 There's some people that believe that. 240 00:15:58,530 --> 00:16:00,850 You see, the Lord knows the sin of all. 241 00:16:01,410 --> 00:16:03,330 I like right here what it says in verse number six. 242 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:07,410 But Jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground 243 00:16:07,410 --> 00:16:08,770 as though he heard them not. 244 00:16:09,410 --> 00:16:10,450 What did he write? 245 00:16:11,330 --> 00:16:12,130 I don't know. 246 00:16:14,450 --> 00:16:17,850 A lot of people speculate and there's probably good evidence for 247 00:16:17,850 --> 00:16:18,130 it. 248 00:16:18,530 --> 00:16:22,910 He wrote each of those men's names down and the sand in the dirt 249 00:16:23,470 --> 00:16:26,910 and the next to their name, their sin. 250 00:16:31,310 --> 00:16:34,470 If I was one of these men, Jesus would have knelt down in the 251 00:16:34,470 --> 00:16:41,550 sand and said, noah Day did this at 9:00am this morning, did 252 00:16:41,550 --> 00:16:43,630 this at 3:00 clock this afternoon. 253 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,120 Maybe even some of them had also committed adultery. 254 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:52,280 We don't know for sure. 255 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:53,960 We can't be dogmatic about it. 256 00:16:55,800 --> 00:17:01,560 But how quick they were to cast judgment on this woman and to 257 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:03,240 catch Jesus. 258 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,480 We've caught him, we've tripped him up. 259 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:08,840 This is when he falls. 260 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,560 You see, we actually do that with God every single day. 261 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:17,860 I got away with sin because no one else saw it. 262 00:17:20,980 --> 00:17:23,300 No one else knows what I did today. 263 00:17:24,580 --> 00:17:27,220 It's good, God will forgive me. 264 00:17:27,220 --> 00:17:27,940 It's all good. 265 00:17:28,980 --> 00:17:32,100 But heaven forbid if my spouse did the same thing. 266 00:17:33,540 --> 00:17:36,580 Heaven forbid if my child does the same exact thing. 267 00:17:38,580 --> 00:17:42,180 How often as Christians are we so quick to pick up a stone? 268 00:17:45,309 --> 00:17:48,389 And the problem is, is that we have silenced the Holy Spirit in 269 00:17:48,389 --> 00:17:48,829 our lives. 270 00:17:50,429 --> 00:17:58,149 We said, I'm good enough, I don't need my conscience, I'm holy 271 00:17:58,149 --> 00:18:02,269 enough, I am self righteous enough. 272 00:18:04,189 --> 00:18:06,949 And we may not be saying Those exact words in our mind. 273 00:18:06,949 --> 00:18:13,410 But I do believe that even I myself have a problem with convincing 274 00:18:14,690 --> 00:18:15,970 my own self of this. 275 00:18:20,530 --> 00:18:21,970 The Lord knows all sin. 276 00:18:23,490 --> 00:18:27,650 Nothing, and I mean nothing, is hid from God. 277 00:18:28,690 --> 00:18:32,170 We fool ourselves into thinking we can hide our own transgression 278 00:18:32,170 --> 00:18:32,770 from the Lord. 279 00:18:32,770 --> 00:18:35,250 Have we truly given ourselves to the Lord? 280 00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:40,250 And if our emotions control our actions, if our wants control 281 00:18:40,250 --> 00:18:45,970 our actions, if our fleshly, worldly desires control us, rather 282 00:18:45,970 --> 00:18:53,610 than God's Holy Spirit, God gives us his spirit to utilize. 283 00:18:54,810 --> 00:18:58,330 It's supposed to empower us to fight against the sin. 284 00:18:58,970 --> 00:19:00,330 But we've silenced him. 285 00:19:02,020 --> 00:19:05,060 In fact, churches across America have silenced him. 286 00:19:08,020 --> 00:19:09,060 It's a shame, really. 287 00:19:11,220 --> 00:19:16,660 Imagine how much more could be done for Christ if the Holy Spirit 288 00:19:16,660 --> 00:19:17,860 had a hold of our conscience. 289 00:19:22,660 --> 00:19:27,060 Too often we do not let God's word influence our decisions. 290 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:34,040 We would rather act on our own opinions, selfish desires. 291 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:35,040 How about this one? 292 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:36,120 This is a problem for me. 293 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:37,000 Pride. 294 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,440 Unfortunately, I have an issue with pride. 295 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:46,680 I'll admit that tonight. 296 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:47,720 I do. 297 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,040 I have a pride problem. 298 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:56,230 I have a major pride problem because I like to use things for 299 00:19:56,230 --> 00:19:57,670 my own self gain. 300 00:19:59,430 --> 00:20:02,470 Use situations to make myself look better. 301 00:20:04,630 --> 00:20:08,630 So I get praised, so I'm loved more. 302 00:20:09,830 --> 00:20:10,790 It's foolish. 303 00:20:12,870 --> 00:20:18,070 Psalm 139, verses 23 and 24 says, Search me, O God, and know 304 00:20:18,070 --> 00:20:18,710 my heart. 305 00:20:19,750 --> 00:20:21,830 Try me and know my thoughts. 306 00:20:22,630 --> 00:20:23,910 Have you ever prayed this before? 307 00:20:25,910 --> 00:20:28,550 I have when I was younger. 308 00:20:29,270 --> 00:20:30,750 And it's hard, I have to admit. 309 00:20:30,750 --> 00:20:35,470 It's hard for me to pray this again and see if there be any wicked 310 00:20:35,470 --> 00:20:39,030 way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting. 311 00:20:42,390 --> 00:20:46,390 Too often I have left my own spirit, lead me rather than God. 312 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:54,680 In Romans 2, verses 1 through 3, it says, Therefore thou art inexcusable, 313 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:55,360 O man. 314 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,200 Whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest 315 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,640 another, thou condemnest thyself. 316 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,720 For thou that judgest does the same things. 317 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,950 There's been a lot of times I've been quick. 318 00:21:15,190 --> 00:21:16,750 I'm gonna embarrass my wife here tonight. 319 00:21:16,750 --> 00:21:21,510 I've been quick to call my wife out on something that bothered 320 00:21:21,510 --> 00:21:23,670 me, that made me upset. 321 00:21:25,910 --> 00:21:29,270 And then she took a step back and said, but you did this. 322 00:21:31,430 --> 00:21:36,310 And I have to be silent because I'm just as guilty. 323 00:21:37,670 --> 00:21:41,740 In fact, I was probably even more guilty, come to think of it. 324 00:21:42,860 --> 00:21:44,700 And that's what that verse right here means. 325 00:21:44,700 --> 00:21:49,580 It means that if we're super quick to condemn the sins of others, 326 00:21:51,660 --> 00:21:53,420 we're really just condemning ourselves. 327 00:21:59,260 --> 00:22:03,020 Verse number two, it says, but we are of Romans, chapter two. 328 00:22:03,820 --> 00:22:07,220 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth 329 00:22:07,220 --> 00:22:09,700 against them, them which commit such things. 330 00:22:10,500 --> 00:22:14,580 And thinkest thou this, O man that judgest them which do such things, 331 00:22:14,580 --> 00:22:20,740 and doeth the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 332 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:26,020 You think you've gotten away with it? 333 00:22:29,380 --> 00:22:33,260 Unfortunately, God's judgment has come on my life more times than 334 00:22:33,260 --> 00:22:36,500 I can count, more times than I'd like to admit. 335 00:22:38,660 --> 00:22:42,820 Yes, God has provided he loves me, but he chastens me. 336 00:22:44,340 --> 00:22:46,900 He puts me back on the right track a lot of times. 337 00:22:47,220 --> 00:22:49,780 And sometimes he tries and I don't let him. 338 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:53,140 This is my pride. 339 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:04,530 But you that are very quick to judge, you better be very careful. 340 00:23:08,770 --> 00:23:14,530 Number one, avoid looking for opportunity to cast stones. 341 00:23:16,370 --> 00:23:21,490 Number two, avoid ignoring your own conscience. 342 00:23:23,250 --> 00:23:30,640 And number three, avoid standing in the way of God's restoration. 343 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,120 Look at verse number 10 right here. 344 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:39,120 When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw no one but the woman, 345 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:46,400 he said to her, woman, where are those thine accusers? 346 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:49,680 Hath no man condemned thee? 347 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:53,360 She said, no man, Lord. 348 00:23:54,810 --> 00:23:56,250 Jesus comes to this woman. 349 00:23:57,610 --> 00:24:00,250 I imagine the room's gotten silent at this point. 350 00:24:02,810 --> 00:24:06,810 I imagine that when those Pharisees and scribes cleared out, 351 00:24:07,530 --> 00:24:11,490 it was silent for a second and Jesus stood up. 352 00:24:11,490 --> 00:24:16,410 And he looks around anyone else left, walks over to the woman, 353 00:24:17,450 --> 00:24:20,090 says, where are your accusers? 354 00:24:24,510 --> 00:24:28,710 May I remind you tonight, Jesus, because of what he did for 355 00:24:28,710 --> 00:24:35,230 us on the cross, constantly asks us the same question, especially 356 00:24:35,230 --> 00:24:36,110 if you're saved. 357 00:24:36,190 --> 00:24:37,790 Where are your accusers? 358 00:24:40,110 --> 00:24:41,550 Because I paid for it. 359 00:24:43,870 --> 00:24:45,430 That is what Jesus says here. 360 00:24:45,430 --> 00:24:47,310 Where are your accusers tonight? 361 00:24:47,900 --> 00:24:49,900 Have you let others tear you down? 362 00:24:49,900 --> 00:24:52,460 Have you let yourself tear you down? 363 00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:58,380 God's here saying, Jesus is here saying, where are your accusers? 364 00:24:59,340 --> 00:25:03,340 Where are the ones that are tearing you down because I paid for 365 00:25:03,580 --> 00:25:05,980 you with my own blood? 366 00:25:07,180 --> 00:25:09,100 Where are your accusers tonight? 367 00:25:10,060 --> 00:25:12,220 Do they have a say in your life? 368 00:25:13,110 --> 00:25:15,030 Do they have a hold of your actions? 369 00:25:20,310 --> 00:25:21,350 Verse number 11. 370 00:25:21,510 --> 00:25:22,910 She said, no man, Lord. 371 00:25:22,910 --> 00:25:30,710 And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee, go and 372 00:25:30,710 --> 00:25:31,590 sin no more. 373 00:25:33,350 --> 00:25:37,350 When the Pharisees were out of the way, it was just Jesus and her. 374 00:25:37,350 --> 00:25:44,890 The noise was gone, the so called, the prosecution was gone. 375 00:25:46,410 --> 00:25:48,730 Jesus did not condone the sin. 376 00:25:48,730 --> 00:25:50,690 As you can see here in verse number 11. 377 00:25:50,690 --> 00:25:52,250 He said, Sin no more. 378 00:25:52,570 --> 00:25:53,850 He didn't condone it. 379 00:25:54,010 --> 00:25:57,410 You know, there's some Bible translations that they've taken this 380 00:25:57,410 --> 00:26:00,850 story out because they were worried that it would be a way that 381 00:26:00,850 --> 00:26:04,970 people would manipulate for to get away with adultery. 382 00:26:06,270 --> 00:26:07,230 That's ridiculous. 383 00:26:08,030 --> 00:26:10,590 Because Jesus does acknowledge the sin. 384 00:26:10,590 --> 00:26:12,990 He says, go and sin no more. 385 00:26:13,870 --> 00:26:18,670 The sin was not okay, but I paid for that sin, and I'm going 386 00:26:18,670 --> 00:26:19,630 to restore you. 387 00:26:20,270 --> 00:26:21,670 Jesus did not condone sin. 388 00:26:21,670 --> 00:26:23,790 He called the sin what it was. 389 00:26:24,670 --> 00:26:27,390 He did not excuse her actions. 390 00:26:27,790 --> 00:26:28,710 Let's make that clear. 391 00:26:28,710 --> 00:26:30,110 It was not excused. 392 00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:36,040 He had every right to pick up a stone. 393 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:38,600 He's God, after all. 394 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,320 If we truly believe he is the Son of God, he had every right. 395 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:43,840 And when he stood up and those Pharisees were gone, he had every 396 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:48,520 right to pick up a stone and to cast judgment and to cast execution. 397 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:51,720 Maybe Jesus did. 398 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:52,280 I don't know. 399 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:53,080 Does the Bible say. 400 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,040 But we could be creative. 401 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:55,640 Maybe he did pick up a stone. 402 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:56,220 Maybe. 403 00:26:56,290 --> 00:27:01,250 Maybe when he's asking her these questions, where's your accusers 404 00:27:01,250 --> 00:27:01,650 now? 405 00:27:02,610 --> 00:27:04,290 And she says, no, man, Lord. 406 00:27:04,770 --> 00:27:07,250 And he says, neither do I, and just drops the stone. 407 00:27:12,289 --> 00:27:14,770 There's a lot of people, unfortunately, in this world that 408 00:27:14,770 --> 00:27:17,570 believe that they cannot be restored back to Christ. 409 00:27:20,290 --> 00:27:23,370 I talked to individuals out still winning in California when 410 00:27:23,370 --> 00:27:23,730 I was. 411 00:27:24,820 --> 00:27:27,420 And I remember this one woman I had a really good conversation 412 00:27:27,420 --> 00:27:27,740 with. 413 00:27:27,740 --> 00:27:30,740 She was kind of doing some things in her garage and her husband 414 00:27:30,740 --> 00:27:31,140 was there. 415 00:27:31,140 --> 00:27:35,740 And we were just talking, and I was asking her, have you ever accepted 416 00:27:35,740 --> 00:27:36,900 Christ as your personal savior? 417 00:27:37,060 --> 00:27:38,900 Have you ever made a decision like that in your life? 418 00:27:38,900 --> 00:27:40,580 Would you like to know more about that? 419 00:27:41,220 --> 00:27:45,300 And she says, well, yes, but I don't understand how God can forgive 420 00:27:45,300 --> 00:27:47,700 me of everything that I've done. 421 00:27:49,550 --> 00:27:50,750 I'm too far gone. 422 00:27:52,830 --> 00:27:53,670 May I ask you that? 423 00:27:53,670 --> 00:27:55,870 Was the thief on the cross too far gone? 424 00:27:58,270 --> 00:28:01,150 Was Paul the murderer too far gone? 425 00:28:03,550 --> 00:28:05,870 Are you too far gone tonight? 426 00:28:08,750 --> 00:28:11,630 And Jesus is here to say, you're not. 427 00:28:13,230 --> 00:28:15,360 You are not too far gone tonight. 428 00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:20,470 She was forgiven and restored. 429 00:28:21,270 --> 00:28:25,590 Jesus told her to move on, move on from your sin. 430 00:28:26,470 --> 00:28:29,510 This is a problem with a lot of Christians, that they'll get into 431 00:28:29,510 --> 00:28:32,790 this habit of asking forgiveness constantly and constantly 432 00:28:32,790 --> 00:28:35,830 and constantly for the repeating sins in life. 433 00:28:36,070 --> 00:28:39,790 And then they finally come to the point of saying, the problem 434 00:28:39,790 --> 00:28:40,990 is not that I'm not getting forgiven. 435 00:28:40,990 --> 00:28:42,790 The problem is I'm not moving on from it. 436 00:28:45,260 --> 00:28:47,820 I wonder what would happen if we had a world of Christians that 437 00:28:47,820 --> 00:28:51,980 just moved on from their sin, that truly left it at the feet of 438 00:28:51,980 --> 00:28:57,020 the cross, the cross where Jesus paid for that sin and said, 439 00:28:57,340 --> 00:29:00,380 that does not control me because Christ is mine. 440 00:29:02,220 --> 00:29:03,340 I wonder what would happen. 441 00:29:07,180 --> 00:29:10,310 Jesus gave her a second chance. 442 00:29:12,550 --> 00:29:15,830 And right now, tonight, God is giving you a second chance. 443 00:29:16,790 --> 00:29:20,430 He's giving you a second chance on casting judgment, and he's 444 00:29:20,430 --> 00:29:23,110 giving you a second chance on if judgment has already been cast 445 00:29:23,110 --> 00:29:23,670 to you. 446 00:29:24,630 --> 00:29:26,470 You have a second chance tonight. 447 00:29:30,310 --> 00:29:33,190 Is this not God's will for us Christians? 448 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:39,560 We are to encourage each other to defeat sin and draw closer to 449 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,760 the Lord and restore the person. 450 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,400 But the problem is our self righteousness gets in the way of 451 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:47,680 God's restoration. 452 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,440 Restore the person, condemn the sin. 453 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:03,190 Let's let God be the ultimate judge and let's let him deal with 454 00:30:03,190 --> 00:30:03,790 his children. 455 00:30:04,990 --> 00:30:10,350 Let just let us be a love and support to them being an encouragement 456 00:30:13,710 --> 00:30:16,590 care for the soul as Christ cared for yours. 457 00:30:21,870 --> 00:30:26,990 In Ezekiel 33:11 it says, say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord 458 00:30:26,990 --> 00:30:32,600 God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the 459 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:34,880 wicked turn from his way and live. 460 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:41,680 Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O 461 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:42,960 house of Israel? 462 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:49,680 Galatians 6:1 says, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, 463 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,600 ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit 464 00:30:54,600 --> 00:31:00,510 of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 465 00:31:02,750 --> 00:31:09,910 We need to not be on the hunt to condemn, but be on the lookout 466 00:31:09,910 --> 00:31:10,750 to restore. 467 00:31:13,630 --> 00:31:20,990 Micah 6:8 says, he has showed thee, O man, what is good, and what 468 00:31:20,990 --> 00:31:25,700 doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy, 469 00:31:26,260 --> 00:31:31,140 and to walk humbly with thy God. 470 00:31:33,380 --> 00:31:40,460 James 2:13 for he shall have judgment without mercy that hath 471 00:31:40,460 --> 00:31:48,100 shewed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 472 00:31:51,150 --> 00:31:56,110 Avoid looking for opportunities to condemn. 473 00:31:56,750 --> 00:32:01,310 Instead, look for opportunities to uplift, to help, 474 00:32:01,710 --> 00:32:04,110 to forgive and encourage. 475 00:32:05,469 --> 00:32:07,230 Go to the brother you see falling. 476 00:32:07,230 --> 00:32:11,310 Go to that sister you see stumbling and say, hey, I'm not condemning 477 00:32:11,310 --> 00:32:11,630 you. 478 00:32:11,710 --> 00:32:13,630 I'm here to help you. 479 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:21,840 I see the path that you're going down and it's contrary to God's 480 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:22,120 word. 481 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:31,920 And I love you enough to help you, not to shun you, not to cast 482 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:32,680 you aside. 483 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,040 Avoid ignoring your own conscience. 484 00:32:41,250 --> 00:32:49,130 Instead, ignore your fleshly reactions and surrender to the Holy 485 00:32:49,130 --> 00:32:49,890 Spirit in your life. 486 00:32:54,210 --> 00:32:55,170 Stand aside. 487 00:32:57,570 --> 00:32:58,010 Sorry. 488 00:32:58,010 --> 00:33:00,610 Avoid standing in the way of God's restoration. 489 00:33:02,690 --> 00:33:09,850 Stand aside and let God work in the hearts of others so that he 490 00:33:09,850 --> 00:33:10,730 may restore them. 491 00:33:13,290 --> 00:33:17,930 Unfortunately, there's too many Christians even in churches 492 00:33:17,930 --> 00:33:18,250 today. 493 00:33:21,290 --> 00:33:24,250 They got in the way of God restoring someone else in their life. 494 00:33:26,970 --> 00:33:32,890 They stood in the way because they had the stone in their hand. 495 00:33:36,430 --> 00:33:40,110 How foolish can us Christians be? 496 00:33:41,950 --> 00:33:43,230 How foolish can I be? 497 00:33:46,190 --> 00:33:51,950 Before you pick up the stone, remember the mercy God showed you. 498 00:33:54,910 --> 00:33:57,470 Don't look for an opportunity to condemn. 499 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:02,080 Don't ignore your own conscience and don't stand in the 500 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:04,680 way when God is trying to restore somebody. 501 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:11,320 We can call sin what God calls it without becoming an executioner. 502 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:19,840 Our responsibility is to speak truth, extend mercy, and point the 503 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:21,720 sinner toward restoration with Christ. 504 00:34:26,450 --> 00:34:32,610 As the musicians get ready tonight, I have too often caught 505 00:34:32,610 --> 00:34:33,650 myself doing this. 506 00:34:35,010 --> 00:34:42,730 Whether it was to somebody's face or behind their back, I was 507 00:34:42,730 --> 00:34:44,370 quick to cast my stone. 508 00:34:46,370 --> 00:34:47,290 Oh, it feels good. 509 00:34:47,290 --> 00:34:52,060 In the moment I won, victory is mine. 510 00:34:55,740 --> 00:34:59,340 But instead it leaves your brother or sister bruised and bloody. 511 00:35:07,180 --> 00:35:09,580 Do you feel like you're too far gone from God? 512 00:35:10,940 --> 00:35:11,740 Because you're not. 513 00:35:14,540 --> 00:35:16,440 Jesus wants to restore you tonight. 514 00:35:20,030 --> 00:35:22,190 With every head bowed and every eyes closed as we all stand. 515 00:35:24,430 --> 00:35:26,110 This altar is open for you. 516 00:35:27,630 --> 00:35:30,590 Maybe there's some things in your life you need to get right tonight. 517 00:35:32,590 --> 00:35:35,150 Maybe you've been quick to cast judgment. 518 00:35:38,110 --> 00:35:40,830 Maybe judgment has been casted quickly on you. 519 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:43,720 Bring it to the Lord tonight. 520 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:45,960 Laid out this altar. 521 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:46,680 Let's pray. 522 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:49,080 Lord, we thank you so much for this evening. 523 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,640 Thank you so much for the message, Lord. 524 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:57,160 Lord, I pray that this time invitation would be a blessing and 525 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:58,720 that others would restore to you. 526 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:00,240 Lord, we love you. 527 00:36:00,240 --> 00:36:01,320 In Jesus name I pray.