Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

INTRO: There is not a pastor alive that does not take time and reflect upon the needs of his church. The things in it that would help it to be better, stronger, more caring, more efficient, more spiritual, etc. What are one of these things that we need at East 38th Street? Having talked to God, I feel I have become aware of a need within our church and other churches that would help us to be more of what we need and what God wants us to have. FAULT FINDERS!

Yes Fault Finders. We need to be painfully aware of what faults are in our church. As a pastor I often see inadequacies in many of our flock. How do I handle these? How do I identify them. What do I do with the faults that I become aware of after I locate them? These are some of the things that I want to address today.

1. How do we identify faults?
1. Watch for misbehavior (non-scriptural behavior)
2. Look for a different look (should not they fit our mold?)
3. Look for different ideas (ours are the only ones that count?)
   
   
2. How do we decide what faults are serious enough for us to spend time searching for them?
1. Bible
2. Talk to the pastor – he will surely know
3. Talk to gossips and busy bodies – THEY KNOW!
   
   
3. How can we be aware of other’s faults?????
1. Watch (keep our eye on THEM!
2. Ask others if they are aware of any…
3. Ask God to help us be a fault finder -- YEA RIGHT!
   
   
4. What do we do once we determine faults exist in our "brethren?"
   
   

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.


1. Pray
2. Pray harder
3. Restore them if possible with meekness vs. 1
4. Help them by bearing their burden vs. 2
5. Teach God’s ways and Word to them vs. 6
6. Realize seriousness of this vs. 7-8
7. Hang in there vs. 9
8. Treat them right vs. 10
9. Tell no one but God
   
   
5. How do we apply this "Fault Finding" to our own life?
   
   

AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!
1. Realize without Christ we are nothing vs.3
2. Take care of self!!! - vs. 4-5
3. Pray
4. Pray harder
5. Seek meekness vs.1
6. Study the Word vs. 6
7. Tell no-one but God!!!!!

 

 

So when we stand before Christ the almighty judge, how happy will we be to carry the badge of FAULT FINDER?????? Is this what he wants of our life?
 

TWO THINGS should come from this….
 

1. If we see any faults keep them between us, God (and the individual if needed).
2. Preferably find our own faults and remove them from our own life and let God handle the other ones!!!!!!!

Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

USE IL #139

Let us be FAULT FINDERS ONLY IN OUR OWN LIFE!!!

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street FWB - 080298am