Let’s Talk about Judgment
If you have been following me on social media recently then you will see that I have been posting A LOT about the judgment we are seeing and will continue to see in 2022 and beyond. Because of that, I would like to discuss the concept of biblical judgment.
Judgment in Scripture
Judgment is not just for the Old Testament times, but for present times.
“And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’” — John 9:39 NKJV
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” — I Peter 4:17 NKJV
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” — II Peter 2:1-3 NKJV
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” — James 3:1 NKJV
“Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” — Romans 13:2 NKJV
The judgment of God is a very serious matter. And while it is serious, it does not begin in the loud, exposing format we will see increasingly this year.
Why Judgment?
Consider parenting. When a good parent calls their child, they don’t start out in a ridiculously loud, angry voice. They start low, and as their frustration grows at the lack of response, so does their volume and intensity. So it is with God.
He comes to us in a still, small voice.
He sends dreams to us.
He sends visions to us.
He sends messages to us.
He sends sermons to us.
He sends subconscious warnings to us.
He sends admonishments to us.
He sends judging prophets and apostles to us.
BUT WE IGNORE THEM ALL!!
“However I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!’ But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness…” — Jeremiah 44:4-5 NKJV
“because they have not heeded My words, says the Lord, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the Lord.” — Jeremiah 29:19 NKJV
“Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, ‘Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.’ Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.” — II Kings 17:13-14 NKJV
So because we don’t want to hear God in the secret place, because we don’t want to hear Him in the written Word, because we don’t want to hear Him in the preached Word, because we don’t want to hear him from our fellow Believers, because we don’t want to hear Him in the prophesied Word, we have to receive His LOUD and PUBLIC judgment.
Judgment is not the heart of the Father. Yet it is the repercussion on someone who will not yield to the heart of the Father. Either way, His purposes will be accomplished.
The Wrath of God
But we should also know that the judgment of the Lord is not the wrath of God. We (Believers) are not those appointed to wrath (1 Thes. 5:9). Wrath is entirely without the mercy of God. It is not sent for the sake of repentance. Judgment is sent for the sake of repentance—even if it results in the loss of lives. It will be a warning to those beholding the destruction.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” — II Peter 3:9 NKJV
The truth of the matter is that if people were truly sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, then there would be no need for judgment in the Church.
Lord, give us hearts that are malleable to Your molding!
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” — Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV
