Judgement vs Warning
Julian Adams • September 16, 2018
As a follow-up to last week’s VLOG, should prophets give words of judgement, Julian shares the difference between words of judgement and words of warning.
– TRANSCRIPT
So, I wanted to give you guys a quick follow up on last week’s vlog around judgment words and warning words and what the differences are between them. As I spoke about it last week, Jesus took on the weight of the sin upon Himself so we no longer need to worry about the judgment of God because all that was needed to satisfy the requirements to deal with sin has now being dealt with. In other words, for God sin is non-issue in the way that we understand it to be an issue because already sin has been paid for. That means the prophetic is now filtered through who Jesus is in the display of His goodness on the cross. It means that judgment words, which deal with our past, deal with our past sins, deal with our future sins, deal with our present sins, God has already spoken one final word and that was in the person of Jesus. We now find that all of His promises in Christ are yes and amen rather than judgmental.
Now having said that, God does tell us about things that might be difficult. He does prepare us for future events that might be really hard for us to walk through. Here’s the beauty of God’s goodness though, the prophetic doesn’t deal with our sinful past, it deals with our future and the revelation of God’s heart concerning our future. And so, sometimes God might know that there are going to be some things that might be really difficult and so He releases a warning word. He releases a word connected to the future that helps us prepare now for what’s about come. He also release His words over nations and over particular situations that are warning-driven in connection with the heart of those people calling them to change, calling them to turn from their ways, not because God is actively pouring out punishment, not because God is actively pouring out judgment, but because sin always comes with pain. And so, God most often will tell His people, “Turn from those ways. Walk away from that sinful attitude, that sinful behavior,” not in order to bring judgment, not in order to bring difficulties, but to do the exact opposite. To stop us from having to walk through that pain, to stop us from having to walk through those difficulties.
Now, when it comes to natural disasters, sometimes God will warn us not because He’s actively allowing, or orchestrating that natural disaster, but because He’s inviting us to partner with Him to pray. We get the opportunity of stopping natural disasters. You see this in the way that Jesus deals with storms. We get the opportunity to engage with heaven, say, “Hey, Lord, we don’t want this to happen.” And then when it does, and we don’t always understand why God would allow these things to happen, we still get to partner with heaven because we’d been warned in order to bring release and relief to some of those places.
So, God is not judging people with natural disasters. God is not judging people with hardship. God is not wanting to expose sin in order to make us fearful of Him, but exactly the opposite, to invite us into a love relationship with Him so we get to feel His heart concerning those things. Never, ever discounting the cross. Never, ever putting the cross to one side, and in so doing, release judgment on someone. No, no, no. He’s saying, “The cross has spoken.” So, turn that way, turn towards Jesus. Look at what He’s done for you so that you get to live in empowering grace and overcoming victory because of His goodness.
If you want to grow in the prophetic, it doesn’t begin with what you say. It begins with what you see. The prophetic is rooted in perception. Not just natural insight, but spiritual awareness—what Scripture calls “the eyes of your heart.” Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened so they could truly see what God was doing. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18) God isn’t distant or withholding. But if we’re going to hear Him clearly, we have to see differently. We need Heaven’s perspective. And that means learning to quiet the noise, tune into His voice, and let Him train our inner vision. You don’t need to wait for a dramatic vision or audible voice. Often, God speaks through a nudge. A mental picture. A scripture that lingers. A sense of burden or joy that feels holy. These are the first signs that your spiritual eyesight is awakening. But it takes time. It takes attention. It takes trust. Just like physical muscles grow with use, your spiritual senses grow as you spend time with Him—not just talking, but listening. Not just asking for answers, but asking for His perspective. You were never meant to live according to what the world says is true. You were meant to live by every word that flows from the mouth of God. A Prayer for This Week: “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Teach me to see what You see—not just in others, but in myself, in my circumstances, in the world around me. Give me clarity and confidence to trust Your perspective more than my own. Amen.” This week, pay attention to what you notice. The way you see is often the way He speaks.
In this live session, Sean Smith and Julian Adams share their prophetic perspectives on 2025, offering honest reflections on what they sense God is doing across the earth. With hope and expectancy, they discuss the spiritual landscape ahead and how we can prepare for what’s to come.
We are living in a world of dramatic change. The relentless pace of development often leaves us breathless and exhausted. The demand for innovative ways of communicating, inventing, and staying ahead of cultural trends can feel daunting and demoralizing. It can push us into a space where we find ourselves trying to copy rather than be authentic, to imitate rather than create. This pressure can lead us to believe that we need to be more creative, and that our individual stories do not matter. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your story, no matter how small, matters and is powerful. One of the remarkable aspects of ancient manuscripts, like the Bible, is that they tell the stories of individuals whose lives may seem small and insignificant. Yet, God chose to make their lives a memorial of what He could do with a life that the world deems insignificant. The incredible power of the gospel is that it changes lives one at a time. God is as interested in the individual story as He is in redeeming the cosmos. The aim of the gospel is not just dealing with personal sin; it is about restoring individuals to a relationship with a kind Father. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis beautifully said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Justification addresses our standing before God, but our adoption invites us into a relationship with the Father. It allows us to partake of who He is and to live in a place of deep joy from who He is. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Many of us forget that the work of salvation has turned this verse around. Through Jesus, we have been restored to the glory of God. One description of the word "glory" refers to the divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, and splendor. It is the revelation of God's intrinsic worth and beauty. Do you see that? We have been restored to His divine quality, splendor, and beauty. In a world where it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd, remember that your story is significant. Your experiences, your journey, and your voice matter. Embrace the unique narrative God has given you and let it shine. You are not just a spectator; you are a vital participant in God's grand story. Your authenticity, creativity, and individuality are valuable. As you navigate the rapid changes of our world, hold on to the truth that your story has power and purpose. God sees you, knows you, and has a plan for your life that is uniquely yours. Let us celebrate the beauty and significance of each individual story, knowing that together, we contribute to a tapestry of divine splendor and glory.