God always speaks to our potential. In Luke 19, we read that Zacchaeus, a much-loathed tax collector, was up in a tree trying to see Christ. He was an obnoxious person who had defrauded most of the community. Some say he may have been up the tree because he couldn’t see over the crowd, but I think he was up there for security purposes as well. A crowd that big, full people who hated him-it was just a matter of time before he took a knife between the ribs.
Hiding in trees wasn’t the life Zacchaeus had dreamed of. He yearned for more. He wanted to be loved and accepted. As Jesus walked through Jericho, he had the option to eat with anyone there. Everyone would have loved to have him over for a meal-they would get to meet him, and then brag to their friends afterwards. So, who did Jesus choose? The one man everyone hated.
Luke 19: 5 Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.
That acceptance changed Zacchaeus life. Jesus never prophesied his sin to him, but instead loved him. The fruit of the encounter was immediate.
Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor, I restore fourfold.
Jesus merely filled Zacchaeus need to be loved, and the rest flowed from that.
From one simple positive act towards a loathsome individual the whole village experience the blessing. Money flowed into families that had been defrauded. It was like the whole village won the lottery!
It’s amazing what can occur in a community when we suspend judgment in favor of blessing.
When prophetic people confront someone with their sin, they inevitably will hold on to it. Without grace, the truth is useless. Our calling is to speak to their potential.
It is important that our hearts are exercised in giving grace and mercy. Psalm 85: 10- mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. We need to live within that embrace, so that we can bear fruit according to Isaiah 32: 17-the work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever. This is the very foundation of the Kingdom of heaven: the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit- Romans 14: 17.
Righteousness and peace are two things central to prophetic gifting. Anyone who wishes to speak God’s words must remember passages like James 3: 17-18:
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Hypocrisy is a major pitfall for many prophetically gifted people. The Bible assures us that hypocrisy will be disciplined.
Romans 2: 1- therefore you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; For you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
But do you suppose this, o man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.
When we despise the richness of God’s goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, then we open up ourselves to becoming pharisaical and judgmental.
Judgment has become part of the spirit of this age. The world acts out its condemnation on the news channel with approval ratings. On reality TV people are voted out summarily by others with a vested interest in taking their place. We have poll ratings for everything so that everywhere people can execute their perceived right to judge another.
The justice of God does fall on people. When it does, it’s not a pretty sight. My advice to anyone playing with such a possibility is to stop everything and immediately repent. You don’t want God’s justice to smash down on you. Like a rock falling from the sky, it will crush you. Severe chastisement is not fun, enjoyable, or easy to recover from. Let go of your stubbornness and ask God to soften you to his spirit.
Matthew 7: 1- do you not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged, and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the spec that is in your brother’s eye, but do you not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the spec out of your brother’s eye.
With the same standard we use to measure people, we ourselves will be measured.
A person was stuck in a bad church situation. It was a place where cynicism and criticism were in control. One day, a particular individual came to him and began tearing down other people in the church. Every time he started talking about someone, this person would literally duck beneath him. When he would start attacking someone else, this person would duck again. Finally, the man demanded to know what was going on.
Why are you doing that? He asked.
“That plank in your eye-every time you swing it around, I’m afraid it’s going to hit me in the head, the person replied. He had a strange sense of humor, but he did get his point across.
Galatians 6 6: brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you to will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
People become inconsiderate when they fail to renew their own humility. We can only restore people when we are living our lives in a state of meekness before God. Meekness is not weakness it is strength under control.
Beware lest your truth have wrong companions, such as anger and not grace! If you enjoy putting people straight, you may need to examine your own heart.
Correcting people is an awkward process requiring great love, humility, and the fruit of the spirit. Truth when preceded by grace, will transform.