Dividing Brothers Hinders Personal Revival — Alan Martin

The Need for Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

Want to just share with you from the scriptures how I believe the Lord Jesus opened to me the scriptures. Because God will not hear us. It's if we come in with unclean hands and Impure hearts. They're smarter in the medical field.

They do not rush in in a panic. When it's serious, they make sure every germ in the room is gone. They make every effort. God didn't even send Isaiah out. He didn't even ask who will go until he had touched Isaiah's lips with the coal on the altar.

Then he asked I I'm sure Isaiah would have volunteered Before that. But when God sent the Savior to the world He sent a man without who knew no sin and the reason he was able to do that is he never said he was pure and completely broken and submitted.

And there is an area where I saw in my life and I see it in the lives of Very serious brothers like you and I that Much of our seeking and crying out leads to judgments and fights. So By the Lord's grace, I just want to take you through what I believe how he opened up the scriptures to me granting me repentance.

Receiving Weak Believers Without Disputes

Turn with me a moment chapter 14 just gonna take us through it just like He did with me 14 verse 1 now the one being weak in faith received but not unto. This doubtful disputations this word this this disputation what it means is to Separate thoroughly, you know when you make an incision you're cutting something open when you make a decision.

Inside you're still you're still cutting two things and and putting apart and this same word Diacrino is found in Acts chapter 15 if you want to go there in Acts chapter 15 verse 9 where Peter is Relating about when the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit and he said God who knows hearts Bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit In the very same way he gave to us, but he put no difference Between us and them that's the same word there's these doubtful disputations happen when we put a difference between a devout brother and God is putting no difference there.

We create a Situation and what it leads to is it goes on to say in there in Romans? You know one eat one eat one does not eat. Well, the one eating is in danger of Despising all it really means is make light up.

Make light of the one who doesn't eat and the one who doesn't eat he's in danger of judging making a separation making a difference between the one that does that. That is eating these things. And it's and it says but I want to read the verse the one eating.

The one not eating let not despise and the one not eating the one eating let him not judge for God has Already received them. You know what? I saw the Lord showed me Lord immediately took me to the parable of the prodigal son.

But it's not about the prodigal son. The parable was supposed to be about the elder brother after the father was already Hugging and kissing the son the older brother is outside asking questions. He still got questioned about who this person is.

What did he do to your name? What has he been doing to your kingdom? Who was he with? How how can you be in there celebrating? He and it's the imperfect tent in the creek he's continually outside asking questions when the father Has already received them and if we have that kind of attitude in our heart We can cry out from now to forever and we will not be hurt.

None of us in verse 7 of this chapter. It says none of us lives to himself alone. None of us dies to himself alone. Whether we live we live to the Lord whether we die we die to the Lord to whether we live or die.

We are the Lord for this reason Christ died. It was made Lord of both the dead and the living. So then you why do you discriminate between your brother? Why do you put a difference between you and your brother?

Or why do you why do you make light of your brother for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ? It's written as I live says the Lord to me. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God so then each of us We will give an account of ourself to God.

Okay. Stop therefore no longer never again put a difference between you and your brother. There is a difference between our brothers and the world. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers but in the family and Among the brothers we should not be putting a difference where God our father and it says therefore no longer.

Never again. He that has suffered in his flesh has ceased from sin and it's time. We arm ourself with this attitude. I will not put a difference between my brother whom my Lord has received. Because what that does is that puts a stumbling block in front of them.

Diotrephes and the Harm of Slander

It's what that does. You know what this looks like. What does this look like? How do you recognize whether this is happening turn with me to third John? This is where the Lord took me next. I Want to say where I believe the Lord took me next that word is so thrown around nowadays third John.

Remember him there's a name in first John. He's famous for all the wrong reasons. His name is Deatre Peace. Verse 9 I wrote to the church, but the one loving the preeminence Theotrophies, how do you know he's loving preeminence?

Because he John says he does not receive us and he doesn't receive the brothers and those who those. Those in the church who want to receive the brothers he hinders them. Now, what's he doing to hinder these brothers?

Well, the key is is in receives receives here is the Greek word epi decam. I it means he's not fully Welcoming and the key is a P. Yeah, are we that way? He's a sweet brother, but. Yeah, they've got a neat church over there.

But oh, yeah, he's a believer sincere. But. But so it says John says verse 10. So on account of this if I come I will call to mind the works which he does. Now, what are the works which he does? Do you see it there?

What works does he did do? He he's slandering us with evil words. The word here for evil pulling a Ross. It's it's a word that hat talks about the effect the effect of his words. Have an evil effect. You know what?

You know what evil? Words really are there any words that are unwholesome. Brothers and sisters let No, and wholesome talk proceed forth out of your mouth, but only what is good for the edification of the here and ministers grace.

I'm not really interested in the detail of the word. I want to know it. What effect is the word having on the here and you know what the word is used for slandering? It's the Greek word flu or Rome and it it's it means To bubble up or to boil over and let me show you a place where it's used in the New Testament.

Gossip, Comparison, and Evil Speaking

Turn to first Timothy chapter 5. First Timothy chapter 5. This is used of women young young widows actually. First Timothy chapter 5 verse 13. But hold on ladies. You're gonna get you some big relief here this idea that gossip has to do with With women is about to be shot down.

Here it says that these young widows it he refused to put them on the list there in verse 11. Because you know what if when they grow wanted against Christ. They desire to marry and they they they incurred judgment because they've broken their first fled and first fled.

And then he says verse 13 and besides they learn to be idle. Wondering about from house to house and not only idle but also gossips. That's the word here gossips busybody. Saying things they ought not.

Now what do you think a young widow who's going from this house to this house to this house and this house and Bubbling over with information is saying that she ought not. How about just comparing this house?

To this house. Well, they do it this way. Well, they do it this way. Well, they do it this way. Those who compare themselves? among themselves are Not wise and this is what deocracies is doing. He's just Not fully receiving the brothers.

But and here's this there's something a little bit more about evil speaking than just content. It's not just the details and what a person did saying it's the direction. They're speaking from look with me in James chapter 4.

This is something that I wish I would have had a godly brother come alongside and Slap me upside the head and show me this Let a righteous man smite me you know, there's a there's a speaking that says a piercing of a sword in there and I It's gonna take the rest of my life for the reputation of my repentance to outpace the damage my own tongue.

I'm being honest here here in James chapter 4. Do you see it verse 11? What what's the direction that is wrong? Regardless of the of the factual accuracy of the detail. What direction is it? It's against Do not speak Against, you know the same word kata lalaite.

It means kata lalaito to speak against in first Peter chapter 2. It's called evil speaking. That's how it's translated and it says put away all evil speaking and Malice and slander and envy and clamor of every kind and then crave the pure spiritual.

Because you mix the pure spiritual milk of the word with this kind of evil speaking against Another and here here's here's the thing too about this word another brother. There's two words for other in the Greek.

There's a loss another of the same kind and at Ross another of a different kind here. It's another brother. What kind do you think it is? What word do you think it's a loss or at Ross here? What do you think?

It's all Do not speak against another brother of the same. Because he said if you speak against your brother You were speaking against the law and judging the law and if you judge the law You're not a doer of the law.

You are a critic a that's the idea. You're a critic of the law. You're a judge of the law and there's only one lawgiver who is able both to save and destroy. But who who are you to criticize or judge or evaluate or discriminate against your brother?

Who are you? What would cause a person to be able to think he has the ability to do this to put a difference? Where God places no difference. What would cause what would cause a person to be able to think to do this?

Wouldn't it be that he thought he had the ability to do so? Where does that come from look with me in First Corinthians chapter 8 and see Paul warned this. Where does this come from this tendency that we fall too easily in First Corinthians chapter 8 now Paul says now concerning things.

Offered idols. We we know that we all have knowledge. But what does knowledge do y 'all? It puffs up but love edifies and if anyone thinks he sees his idol to perceive he does not get Agnostic. Oh, he does not it.

He does not know by experience if anyone thinks I can see clearly he does not yet Experientially know as he ought, you know both of these words I know and know or in first Corinthians 13 verse 2 if I have the gift of prophecy and I can perceive I know all mysteries and I have all knowledge.

Agnostic, oh, but I have not love I am. Nothing you want an example of someone who has who could perceive all mysteries and have all knowledge. But did not have love his name was Solomon. The the perception and the knowledge he had really came into great use when he built temples to Molech and Chemosh and Ashtoreth without love.

Because his his wives turned his heart away from the Lord and his heart was not fully devoted under God as it was before. But he still had his perception and his knowledge well intact. It's not surprising.

Didn't Jesus say? Well before I go there, but it says knowledge puffs up love edifies. It's it's if you think you see and you think you know. You do not know as you ought but it says but if anyone loves God this one has been known of him.

So what does it take to be known of God? To be loving. Now think about this if you don't have love. But you have ability perception and knowledge you can build Churches. What do you think these guys are building them with?

They know how it works. They've got perception into the human personality. They've got knowledge of what people want. Do you know what they're missing? Love and. That's why the Lord can say it's easy to talk about them.

Knowledge Without Love Puffs Up

Let's talk about it the Church of Ephesus. You know, you can test false apostles. You enduring hardship for my name you're doing more now than you were at first, but I have this against you. You have left.

It's not lost. You have left your first love and knowledge without love. Is you can know about revival? But if you are praying outside of the baptism of the love of Christ. Watch out what you might be able to do with that in a group of people.

It's a dangerous thing look in Colossians, you know, where does it. Colossians chapter 2 is you're turning their knowledge puffs up. Fusioi puffs up. What what part of us does knowledge puff up? Where does it puff up?

We need to understand this now. Colossians chapter 2. Colossians chapter 2 verse 16. Now, let's look verse 18. Let no one rule against you desiring to do so in false humility in the worship of angels.

Intruding into things which what isn't it interesting? What's the intruding into things he has not seen? Vainly being puffed up where where is he puffed up in his carnal mind? What do you think the carnal mind is puffed up with?

Knowledge. It's interesting. It's knowledge that he has not seen. How can that be? How can you how can you have knowledge that you have not seen? There's a way Jesus says the Son does nothing. But what he sees the Father if you're only doing what your carnal insight Has given you the ability to see without the Spirit of God.

It will pop you up and what it leads to is it what it warns about in verse 18. Let no one rule against you. You know what the word is umpire and referee. You know what umpires referees are. They are the guys who are rule experts.

There they can't even play the game themselves. Sometimes they're there the guys on the field or professionals, but they're experts in the rule and. What it says here is net let none of these let none of these people who were puffed up in their carnal mind.

Making differences between people rule against you disqualifying you for the price. There is one rule among brothers of the same kind and Paul in this very same book said because you know an umpire. There's one rule that must rule because an umpire and a referee really comes in handy when two People see something from a different perspective.

The umpire has to make the decision. You know what the umpire is supposed to be for brothers of the same kind the body of Christ let the peace of Christ as members of one body we recall to. And if that's not what's making the ruling watch out to see if it's not some zealous carnal puffed up man and Who's lost?

Connection from the head. Because you know how the head you know how someone's connected from the head. The whole body gets joined together. Not separated into different parts, that's how you can tell.

Divisions in the Corinthian Church

And you want to see this another picture of this carnal mind at work. Turn with me to 1st Corinthians. Paul mentions. It's in 1st Corinthians chapter 4. This was the problem in the Corinthian Church. 1st Corinthians chapter 4.

Let's just take verse 6 and 7. Now these things brothers I've transformed to myself and Apollo's because of you in order that you may learn in us. Not to think beyond what is written. Puffed up in behalf of one.

Kata against the other and here guess what other is at Taras. Because see when you are against someone you have to make them the other of a different kind. Then you can be against them because you are doing the work and here Apollos and Paul.

We are warned and there's a grave warning for us here and I want it. It's Here in the verse if you could see it in the original language. It's beautiful not to think beyond what is written actually in the original.

It's not beyond what is written to think who pair what is written to think. Normally when who pair and to think is put together who pair think to think above. It's translated pride. The only thing separating it here is the word it is written.

Everywhere else in the New Testament when you begin to think above what God thinks He calls it and when you when you place a difference where God has placed no difference you are puffed up in your carnal mind and You are.

And you're not operating in the spirit. That's why verse said verse 7 says for who makes you to put a difference. See if you do Krino the same word in Acts 15 9 right here. Who makes you to put it if God has not put a difference between brothers of the same kind?

He has not given you the assignment either. I know that's me. I know. Asked me how many times I've repented of that Lord, is that some more ashes becoming beauty? I hope so. Back up with me also in 1st Corinthians 3 this he puts it this way in 1st Corinthians chapter 3 brothers first one I I was not able to to speak to you as to a spiritual people but to a carnal as to babes in Christ.

I gave you milk to drink not solid food because you were not able indeed. You're still not able because you are carnal. You know what, you know, how you know, you're carnal as a church. That there is divisions among you signs.

Sign you can't have sighs and that someone has been putting a difference between people of the same kind. That's how you make signs. For where there are in the end. See strife the reason I'm calling it stripe because I understand the Greek word.

It just means Sides you see down in. I'll point that on in a minute, but it's clear division is you stand apart, you know I said literally what the word means if there are sides that are standing apart.

You are carnal. You see that's the difference between a holy man of God and a Pharisee. I know I was a Pharisee. I can say like Paul. I Tasted the Pharisee. I walked as a Pharisee. I was a Pharisee a Pharisee.

Here's the difference between a man holy. He is set apart under God and a Pharisee is a separated one from men. I spent enough time separating myself from men because I placed a difference where God. It was not holiness into the Lord.

It was my own carnal mind puff of creating divisions and the Spirit of God was not with me. And he was not hearing me and here all they said here that I am of someone other than Christ and Here they only had one person between them in Christ.

Think about that. He called it carnal just saying I am of think about what you hear now. How long is the spiritual pedigree we give now? Well, you know I came from and from and he came from and he was a disciple of and It's carnal just to have any one man.

You think Jesus said for no reason call no man? Isn't that what it means to be of someone. We're not to do that. I told you that the word strife it means sides. Look in 1st Corinthians chapter 10. I'm sorry 1st Corinthians 1 verse 10.

Excuse me 1st Corinthians 1 verse 10. When we're putting Differentiations between brothers. We're creating signs. I appeal to you brothers in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to think what or to speak what?

The same you see it the same. To speak the same all speak the same that there be no divisions but that you be completely restored in the same mind and the Same purpose you can't have the same mind the same purpose and think the same when you are putting Differentiations where God has placed none and it says that there be no divisions.

Here is the word schism, you know where schisms begin they begin with isms. And I just recommend it for the body of Christ just from a brother to please forsake all isms. Forsake them. Why describe yourself with an ism of any kind.

It's only going to produce a schism and it goes on down to say in verse 12. Now I say this that each one of you says I'm a Paul and I'm a Paul or I'm a Cephas and I'm of Christ. He asked in verse 13 has Christ been divided the the word for their For fights is Erudite.

The word for divided is meredith. The only difference is one letter M. M is M is in the division the meridian. You've heard of them the prime meridian comes from this Greek word meredith. Erudite is just erudite like a contest, you know, it takes two can't walk together except they be degree.

We are know that but they're also said to get fight together except they be disagreed. It takes two to quarrel and you must have a division if you're going to have a Contest and a contest a contest stunts and you're contesting against each other.

But Christ has not been divided. This word for meridian was used in the Septuagint over and over and over again is what they did with the spoils after. They won a battle. You want to see that in the New Testament turn to Colossians chapter 2 book with Colossians chapter 2.

Colossians chapter 2. Paul's trying to spare them. It's already going on in the church and he says be well, let's read verse 6 as therefore you see Christ Jesus is the Lord so walk ye in Him. Not an ism having been rooted and being built up in him being established in the faith.

Just as you were taught and abounding in it with Thanksgiving and be where less anyone will be capturing you. Capturing you literally means from the Greek word to carry you off as a prize after battle.

That's the result of schisms in the church. People wanting to boast in their fleshly mind. That you agree with Them and it's a carnal work. It is not a work of the Spirit. I want you to notice something there's gonna be there's a key here that Paul begins to try to make clear to those He's writing.

Paul was such a man of God. He had such wisdom. I just want to understand what he's trying to warn us in verse 8 beware. Lest anyone we will be capturing you through this love of wisdom and this empty Deceit, you know what empty another word for empty deceit is puff up vain.

Worthless, but what is it? According? What is this love of philosophy and this empty deceit according to? It's according to the tradition Man. It's always going to come from it and Paul is going to begin to do something and we're gonna ask you to turn to Titus.

Traditions of Men Versus the Spirit

And you're gonna see what this traditions of men begin to look like and he's going to begin to make a contrast. You know, that's how we know things. We know things by comparing them. Hot only has meaning because you understand what cold is.

Rest only has meaning because you understand what it means to be worn out. Good only has meaning because you are contrasting it and comparing it to evil. So the work of man producing these Differences and divisions and schisms putting differences where God has not put them is set in Contrast to the work of the spirit.

Watch that and say look in Titus chapter 3. Titus chapter 3 verse 8 start there. Faithful is the word and concerning these things. I want you to strongly affirm so that you may take thought unto Good works to maintain good works for those who haven't believed in God.

These things are good and profitable to men but foolish speculations or disputes and Genealogies and strides and legal quarrels of void they are unprofitable and Useless. So you see something he just said we're good and profitable to all These things that come from men these foolish speculations these genealogies these strides and these legal battles.

They are what men are doing. They're not good and profitable. They're unprofitable and useless. I Want you to strongly affirm the things that are good and profitable to all what were those they're back at the birth of the chapter Chapter 3 verse 1 remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities to be obedient to every Ready under every good work and to do up to blast theme.

No man. You ever seen that before? We know a lot about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. We're not supposed to do that. The scripture said we're not supposed to blaspheme another man. That just means injure with your speech.

You're not the blaspheme and you were to be Uncontentious. No brawler. I believe it says in the King you were to be gentle. This word gentle is intensive. It has the the Greek intensifier at P in front of it and I case at P I case I K Ico means to yield it means faint it means pliable.

So to be fully pliable. This is what Paul uses in in Philippians chapter 4 and let your forbearing spirit be made known to all men and Here it's let let you fully forbearing spirit be made. No. It's also used in the passage of wisdom from above is first of all pure then peaceable and then This word Yielded Fully yielding it's going to take the rest of my life for my zealous carnal Pharisaism and those that knew me it's going to take the rest of my life from my walk of repentance.

For my forbearing spirit to become known to all. Either there's skeptics out there. Some of them may be watching you right now on on Streaming That knew me and do not want anything to cry with to do with Christ because of me.

Blasphemy, no one be completely uncontentious to be fully gentle demonstrating all meekness to all men. Where do you get these qualities from? Only the Holy Spirit. You'll never get these from traditions of men.

This is no working according to men. Look at just just real quick a quick purveyance, please of the these back in the third chapter verse 9 these things that come from men. I Do not want to spend too much time with them.

But I do want to just touch upon the Holy Spirit forbade me to go into details on these. I felt a check to do that. But I wanted you to understand how to recognize them the first in verse 9. We are that are that are completely unprofitable and few in futile or foolish.

Disputes the Greek word for foolish is morass and the Greek word for disputes is a thesis. It really means seekings in its most literal translation and what it I search for. What's the best English word for this that I came up with it?

At least it works for me. It's fixation. These these morose fixations and what a Fixation is something that a person becomes so focused about and so consumed about and so thinking about that it becomes his issue.

Because it's always what is issuing out of him upon other and you know. It's a fixation because he's going around trying to fix others with his issue and It what it produces is a morose. Dispute morose is that it's the same Greek word where it says if the salt has become.

If it's lost its savor it. One of the better ways to translate it in English is insipid. It's dull. It's without life. It's without vitality. It's meaningless. It's powerless. It doesn't attract anyone's attention.

It it doesn't make anyone thirsty and The other place it's used in a very dangerous way is that there were ten virgins. Five were morose and fine for wise. But they were virgins waiting for the Lord expecting him to come and can you see five?

Virgins without the Holy Spirit and full of the doctrines of men waiting for Christ. And they don't discover it to the hour when they need light. So, what do they do? When they need light and they have no oil they do what where they got all the rest of their Information from they turn to men and ask it from them and they at this time they say no.

Go get it on your own serious beware of men fixated on issues. That only caused to put differences between brothers of the same and the other thing is genealogies. We touched upon that. You know what a genealogy is.

It's a study of origins. I Thought that's simple. I am of Christ. I was born from above. God is my father. Christ is my brother. Where's my pedigree? That's it. I've got a lot of brothers and sisters at the large family.

That's the only thing I'm concerned about. When it's a brother of the same kind. Be careful, we've talked about strife strife. To have strike you must have a contest to have contest. You must have contestants to have contestants.

You must have two sides against each other. From men. It's not a work of the Spirit. You know how All the work of the Spirit is in accordance with the will of God and it was his will to bring all things unto One he destroyed the barrier the dividing wall of hostility because his purpose was to make in himself one new man out of the two thus making Peace and sides don't make peace.

Men putting differences where they have not placed by God make sites and. It's an unprofitable and useless procedure and the Holy Spirit is not in it regardless of the amount of zeal and passion you might be witnessing in the person and the last thing is I'll touch upon a little more.

It's legal fights. I want to say that for a moment. I'm going to talk more about what that is in a minute, but I want you to notice in verse 10. Who who is it that we are to reject verse 10, but a heretic?

Reject after the first and second admonition. Knowing that he's such a person has been perverted sinning. They are self-condemned. Do you know what a heretic means? Do you want to explain what a hair ticket?

The word heretic comes from the Greek word hereto to choose. Here's what a heretic is. He's a person asking you to choose sides when God has not and what does it say to do to him? After the first or second admonition you try to admonish him.

Then it says reject, you know, you know what reject means all it means is a bit. Please excuse yourself. That's all it means. Same word when they used when The king sent out his servants to go invite people for the banquet.

They said now, please be excused when I find a person that's just trying to make Christian brothers choose aside. I just excuse myself. I'm not the quarrel. Look what says it Second Timothy. See this.

The same stuff is in Second Timothy. Look real quick. Second Timothy chapter 2. Same same thing the same Comparison and contrast are right here in Second Timothy chapter 2. First 22. But youthful lusts flee and pursue righteousness faith love and peace with the ones calling on the Lord out of a pure heart but foolish and unlearned.

Disputes the same word these foolish and unlearned fixations. Excuse yourself. Timothy knowing here's what they bring forth. Fight not only are they completely unprofitable and they're useless. They bring forth and a bond servant of the Lord must Not he must be kind to skillful at teaching and He must forbear evil.

That's what really what the word is. He must be able to bear with evil. A bond servant of the Lord needs to learn in meekness. Instructing the ones that oppose themselves if perhaps that God may grant them repentance and lead them unto a full knowledge of the truth that they may regain their senses and Escape out of the snare of the devil having been taken captive to do the will of that one.

And you know what? The will of that one is and why it's so important that a bond servant of the Lord not must not strive. He must not fight. He must in meekness instruct those because the the work of the evil one is the Accusation of them and a bond servant of the Lord must learn how when when someone has been taken captive.

And he's coming against one of the Lord's brothers. He must deal with it skillfully. When it's another brother the same kind. Now I mentioned that These legal battles. I didn't cover that but I want to cover it now in first Timothy chapter 1.

Legalism, Law Teachers, and Self-Righteousness

In first Timothy chapter 1 legal battles are particularly difficult to deal with and. And I believe by the grace of God you're gonna see what I was shown by our Lord in first Timothy chapter 1. Let's start with verse 3 just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus traveling into Macedonia.

That you should command certain ones not to teach differently at Taras. But our teaching should not lead to making differences. Nor to pay attention to miss Genie and you'll miss our their sayings. You know what a saying is, you know what a myth is a myth is something made up in the mind of man.

That didn't come from the Holy Spirit. That's all it is. And it can have the Lord told me all over it. Jesus told me. Jesus showed me the carnal mind is puffed up with all kind of things. It hasn't seen it's a myth.

If it's not the work of the Spirit to bring men unto Christ beware. Nor to pay attention to myths or Endless genealogies, what do they cause? Disputes these same fixations rather than the edification of God the one by faith.