Scripture: Romans 14 v 13: "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."
1 Corinthians 8 v 9: "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."
It is a very serious matter in God's eyes when we become insensitive to other members of the Body of Christ. It can be likened to self-harming when equated with 'love your neighbour as yourself'. If you tear others down instead of caring and helping them overcome their problems, you are inviting calamity into your life. The golden rule is "Do as you would be done by".
When we judge one another we need to realize that we are seeing our own faulty nature in them. It comes from a root of pride which refuses to let us see ourselves as we really are, so we project our faults onto others. Romans 2 v 1 says in the very thing we accuse another we proclaim our own guilt. We need to cease judging our brothers and sisters and rather make sure we do not put stumbling blocks in their way.
A stumbling block causes a person to trip and fall. Gossip, backstabbing, and undermining create terrible stumbling blocks. Ezekiel spoke about the stumbling blocks of our iniquity (sins). Our own sins block us from the presence of God and frustrate us as we fail to achieve our goals.
If we love the sinful habits we have and entice others who may be weaker to participate in our sins, which could lead them to being severely hurt or killed by drugs or alcohol or riotous living; then we would be guilty of that harm coming to them. We cannot stand before God and say it wasn't our fault they had a fatal crash. We don't like hearing this "guilt trip" stuff, we don't think we are our brother's keeper.
If you cause others to stumble remember that the golden rule applies - what you do to others will be done to you. So if you have caused a problem by putting a stumbling block in someone's way, repent quickly and pray to be released from the consequences.
Paul says even our liberty in Christ can cause others to stumble. So don't flaunt the power of God everywhere, be led of the Holy Spirit in all meekness. How do we know our liberty is scaring people? I grew up in the Anglican Church, what you would think of as a normal, traditional church. When I had an encounter with Jesus and got born again there was a radical change in me.
Although I didn't live at home being married with two sons, we saw our parents often. The boys stayed with them when we went overseas. They took them on holiday to the sea where both boys caught the flu. We never medicated them always prayed for healing. So when my parents tried flu remedies the boys refused and said they must just pray. That caused all kinds of drama. I was told later to get myself back to normal church!
We are commanded to love our brothers (and sisters) as Jesus loves us. He laid His life down for us and we must become unselfish in our love for one another. Love is not a word its an action; its not romance and feelings, it is allowing God to take you into someone else's pain and taking it on as Jesus did for us.
Sow good seeds of truth, faith, goodness which uplift others; help turn their lives around. While you are busy doing that, Jesus is removing stumbling blocks out of your way and protecting you and yours from harm. So if you are having a sequence of problems, search your heart for where you might have caused a weaker person to fall and walked away. Go back and take responsibility, be the good Samaritan and restore that person back to God.
Big stumbling blocks that prevent the unsaved from receiving the Gospel message are pride and unbelief. Both of these are demonic roots that Satan uses to keep control of a seeking soul. Pride sees no fault in oneself so resists conviction of sin. Unbelief denies the need for salvation. Discern these issues and bind the demons of pride and unbelief in quiet prayer. Block the demons from interfering with those you are ministering to.
Another problem area is if the lost person has been involved in witchcraft or the Occult, including ancestral worship. You need to take spiritual authority over the spirits of witchcraft to break the control this person has willingly given them.
A couple needing a place to stay came back to our home. I discerned witchcraft in the lady. Next morning I asked if I could pray for her. Her husband was present. I was not able to break through. I did notice that her eyes were fixed on his in a trance like fashion. I sent him to make tea. I then challenged the demon. It spoke out of her mouth saying, You are too clever for me, tell this woman to spit me out in the toilet. By the time the tea was ready the stumbling blockbuster h ad been removed.
Now I had to pray for him. In his baggage he had music from Black Sabbath, plus death metal bands. It had to be burned. Purple flames and screams came out of the burning discs. Then I could pray for him. We must remove all hindrances in a Godly way. In Acts 19 books and material relating to witchcraft were burned too. These examples are written for us to follow.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, its hard to fix this if someone I hurt is no longer alive but I will pick up a fallen person wherever I can to make up for that loss. I repent of every stumbling block I have ever placed to trip another. Change me to be a blessing to others in everything I do and say. In Jesus' name. Amen.