How to Warn and Rebuke

June 26, 2020

HOW TO GIVE WARNINGS, ADMONISHMENTS, REBUKES

ADMONISHMENTS ARE NOT PROPHESYING

There is a misconception about prophesying in the NT. Scriptures says that the law of the OT was fulfilled through one word, and that is love. When we prophesy under the new covenant of love through Christ Jesus, the wordage is full of love and good fruits.

Gal 5:13-15 NKJV

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Rom 13:8-10 NKJV

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law .

James 2:8-13 NKJV

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Mark 12:31 NKJV

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment . And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The scripture says that to prophesy is to build up/confirm, invite/entreat, and comfort/encourage. That is a simple and exact definition.

1 Cor 14:3 NKJV

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Some think that prophesying can be full of angry rebukes, judgments, warnings and corrections. The Lord does give strong words, but usually not in anger, always in love and not through prophesying. Instead, these are called Admonishments and are delivered differently.

Scripture says when we admonish, we are to gently rebuke or warn. An admonishment is from a brother to the brothers. (As opposed to prophesying, which is a love letter from God to His people.) An admonishment carries a concern for something that has gone awry that is no longer according to scripture. In contrast to building up through a prophesy, admonishments are used to tear down. However, notice that even in admonishments, they are carried with only gentle reproof and mild language.

GREEK

ADMONISH: To caution, reprove gently, mild rebuke or warning

2 Thess 3:14-15 NKJV

And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish {3560} him as a brother.

Col 3:16-17 NKJV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing {3560} one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

ADMONISH

noutheteo

NT:3560 noutheteo (noo-thet-eh’-o); from the same as NT:3559; to put in mind, i.e. (by implication) to caution or reprove gently:

KJV – admonish, warn.

NT:3559

NT:3559 nouthesia (noo-thes-ee’-ah); from NT:3563 and a derivative of NT:5087; calling attention to, i.e. (by implication) mild rebuke or warning:

KJV – admonition.

The only time Jesus strongly rebuked with anger, was directly to the religious when He overthrew the tables at the temple, but He did not speak to His sheep that way.

When the Father corrects His children it is without condemnation. He is very matter of fact. He tells what is wrong and what is right, that we reap what we sow, etc. But when He tells us these things, He does so without the use of condemning adjectives and angry words. Everything He says and does is tempered through His love. Even in the worst judgments, it is allowed through His love, in hopes as a last warning to save those from hell whose hearts are still searching.

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REBUKING ELDERS

Scripture tells us that we are not to rebuke elders. This applies for those who are older than we are, and it also applies to those who are elders in the church. So how do we issue a warning or correction if we are not to rebuke? Scripture says through the gift of EXHORTATION, which is through calling and inviting others to adhere to the Word of God.

1 Tim 5:1-2 NKJV

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

1 Tim 5:17-20 NKJV

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

TO EXHORT – To implore, bring solace, invite, entreat

In the Greek, prophesying through exhortation means to implore and it comes from a root word meaning to call for or invite, perhaps even pray as in pleading.

TO EXHORT – Greek

paraklesis

NT:3874 paraklesis (par-ak’-lay-sis); from NT:3870; imploration, hortation, solace

KJV – comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.

NT:3870

NT:3870 parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh’-o); from NT:3844 and NT:2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (byimploration, hortation or consolation)

KJV – beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

NT:2564

NT:2564 kaleo (kal-eh’-o); akin to the base of NT:2753; to “call” (properly, aloud, but used in a variety ofapplications, dir. or otherwise)

KJV – bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-) name (was {called}).

Other scriptures using the same Greek word, “To Exhort.”

Luke 2:25 Luke 6:24 Acts 4:36 Acts 9:31 Acts 13:15 Acts 15:31 Rom 12:8 Rom 15:4 Rom 15:5 1 Cor14:3 2 Cor 1:3 2 Cor 1:4 2 Cor 1:5 2 Cor 1:6 2 Cor 1:6 2 Cor 1:7 2 Cor 7:4 2 Cor 7:7 2 Cor 7:13 2Cor 8:4 2 Cor 8:17 Phil 2:1 1 Thess 2:3 2 Thess 2:16 1 Tim 4:13 Philem 7 Heb 6:18 Heb 12:5 Heb13:22

English synonyms for the word Exhort: Urge, persuade, sway, promote, prevail upon, press, peptalk, encourage, animate, stimulate, impel, instigate, inspire, provoke, rouse, hasten, recommend, caution, warn, alarm, enjoin, entreat, charge, impress, preach, lecture.

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JESUS’ EXAMPLE OF DECLARING A WARNING AND JUDGMENT

Matt 23:37-39 NKJV

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'”

Listen to Jesus’ heart. It is filled with lamenting and longing. In this first part, He is gushing His groaning over whom He was sent:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings….

It states their behavior as a fact, but it is surrounded by yearnings and longings as a mother who yearns for her children when they are separated from her. You know the love of the Father when you hear His exclamation!

The next 2 statements is the warning: “but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.” This fact was not in anger, simply stating the truth of their behavior and consequence.

The last part is a judgment prophesy: “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'”

This was the Father’s decree that Israel had her chance to receive the Messiah and because of their rejection of His beloved Son, they would not get to see Him literally on the earth, as they expected until after He sends His children in Jesus’ stead.

Jesus knew Jerusalem would be destroyed when He lamented over her. Just think of all the mud slinging rebukes Jesus could have said to them, for thousands of years of not listening, hardened hearts and rebellion. And yet He simply said, you won’t see Me until you can be thankful others whom I will send.

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WARN-er

One of the things I have noticed about my calling is that the Lord has made me a warn-er. (sandy WARNer) I have learned that it is very hard to properly divide God’s Word of truth, give warnings to His children, without His Father’s heart full of His love for His kids.

I have also learned that if a person prophesies judgment, they receive it in return; if a person points a finger to blame, it returns to them the same. If they condemn, condemnation will return to them. Those are simply scriptural promises.

It is a very, very scary thing to prophesy in the Name of the Lord, representing Him as His ambassador. It is a very fearful and awesome responsibility to spank God’s kids. Teachers/ leaders receive a stricter judgment and must give an account for whom they watch over.

James 3:1-5 NKJV

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers , knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

Heb 13:17 NKJV

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Luke 16:2 NKJV

So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’

2 Cor 5:10-11 NKJV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

When I receive a true warning from the Lord, I try to earnestly pray over what I have heard/seen. Maybe it can be covered in prayer and not passed onto the children. Waiting for confirmations is important too.

What I try to do is turn the warnings that I hear from the Lord into His divine pleadings and yearnings, because I truly know His heart is just like a Mother over her children. The stronger the warning, the greater is the tempering in loving Words for repentance and change. When the Lord issues warnings of judgment He provides ways out of the problem which are intercession to stand in the gap, and repentance.

Another thing we need to learn is how not to prophesy our own soul’s emotions which are not scriptural. We are to behave in prophesying exactly how Paul admonishes us to behave as Christians. When we prophesy with anger and bitterness we defile those who listen.

Col 3:8 NLT

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Col 3:12 NLT

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Heb 12:15-16 NKJV

…looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Instead we prophesy out of the fruits of the Spirit:

Gal 5:22-23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Below is a place where Jesus felt anger, but instead of turning His anger toward them, He spoke the Word. He was so grieved and that came from knowing the Holy Spirit and the thousand of years man has resisted Him. He overcame the evil trap by having compassion on the man and healing him.

Mark 3:1-6 NKJV

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

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SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO SPEAK WARNINGS

Share the dream or vision as you saw and heard it, instead of trying to re-verbalize it as a Word from God. That way you don’t write anger into what you saw. You are merely sharing what you saw and not trying to express possibly misunderstood emotions behind it. (Watchman write the vision)
Share the warning as a Word of Wisdom. (Gift of the Spirit)
State logical facts from scripture that it is just and fair to receive consequences for our actions. (Quote Scripture)
Make an urgent call for intercessory prayer and repentance. (Intercession)
Turn the concern into an personal admonishment for the brethren and not try to speak it or write it as a prophesy in His Name. (Admonishment)
Share the warning as an urgent invitation to change. (Exhortation.)

I BESEECH YOU

Eph 4:1-3 NKJV

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, BESEECH you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

parakaleo

NT:3870 parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh’-o); from NT:3844 and NT:2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):

KJV – beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.