“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
Today, we are going to bring up a subject that has been talked about by many preachers and teachers over the years. I don’t believe anyone reading these devotionals have not heard some kind of sermon on forgiveness in their life. But, coming as close to the end as I believe we are, this age old, often discussed topic, many don’t take to seriously will become one of the most important things to have and to give.
I think our scripture reference speaks for itself, don’t you? How much plainer could Jesus have gotten than this statement? If you hold back your ability to pass forgiveness on to someone who has done you an offense, then your many trespasses you have probably in your life are simply, not forgiven. There are many aspects of forgiveness we could touch on, but I want to focus on just this facet of it for right now. We seem to have, in the body of Christ, the biggest problem with this side of forgiveness. And we as, as representatives of Jesus on earth, trip up on 2 points specifically with this giving forgiveness to others:
1. Giving “forgiveness” to the other means not only forgiving the wrong done, quite a huge act for us, but forgetting the transgression took place at all in our minds!
I know you have heard by many teachers forgetting the offense is impossible, but have we forgotten with God, All things are possible? With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can totally forget the wrong done to us. Instead, we seek to build a shrine in our minds to the offense, and visit it daily to offer sacrifices of self pity and “woe is me” so we can hold on to being the “victim” and blame everyone else but ourselves for our predicament. Hear me, you must not only forgive the person, but you must forget as well. Otherwise, the enemy will continue to have a stranglehold on your life. Let the thing go.
2. Giving forgiveness means you not only forgive them, but you “accept” them back into the family again.
This portion of forgiveness we trip up on the worst in church. We are quick to judge a brother or sister unforgivable. But even if we somehow make that quantum leap of forgiveness, we quickly make this statement; “Well, I forgive him/her, but I don’t want to ever see them in my home/church again!” You might as well stay in your rebellious state, when you make a statement like that. This is the same problem proposed between the prodigal son and his brother. Luke 15 and verse 29 records these words; “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”. We are all familiar with this story, but simply, the other son was angry that the father accepted him back in the house, and restored his place, not that he forgave him for leaving.
How many times have you thought a sister or brother, who fell into offense, should be forgiven, but not allowed to ever come back in the fold? Dear saint, if you have thought that, may God have mercy on your soul! A repentant brother or sister, who has made things right, has every right to be restored back into your church, your family, and any where else they once stood. It is a good thing God doesn’t think that way, or you probably wouldn’t have your nice cushioned seat in church last Sunday. God help us to restore true forgiveness back into the body of Christ. I believe those who refuse to do this; will find their self lost, on the way to Heaven in these end times.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
IS TRUTH IMPORTANT, REALLY?
"For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me." (Romans 7:11)
Deceived, that is a most powerful word. Webster’s dictionary defines this word as one who uses lies and half truths to pull or entice one away from the truth. It says that one does not use a “flat out” lie to beguile one off the right path, no, it is much more subtle. They use part truth – part lies, something sprinkled with just enough truth to not sound stupid or crazy, with just enough lie in it to do the job and lead you astray. This is one of Satan’s main weapons, proven to work well for him, against the children of God.
You see, Satan doesn’t spend a lot of time on elaborate tricks and schemes against unbelievers and the backslidden; he already has those and can work those people like puppets on a string at will. But to a Holy Ghost filled, Bible trusting, Jesus centered Christian, he must manipulate, beguile, and pervert or deceive the truth of the matter to get you off course. As long as you are trusting Jesus completely, and walking in his commandments, you are in a place where the wicked one cannot harm you. He has to pull you out of that protected place in Jesus, to be able to touch you. The Bible records this; “Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” There is a place you can stay in, that the wicked one cannot destroy you.
Contrary to modern preachers and teachers, this “place” in the almighty doesn’t mean you cannot be tried by the enemy. You will still feel temptations, you will still see and hear and feel the enemy trying to pull you off course. But the glory of it all is this, THAT IS ALL HE CAN DO!!!
When you stay in the protection of God, all he can do is present, try to make you come out of the shadow. Beloved, the secret place has been revealed, and that place is in Jesus Christ and his teachings. His truth, what he taught us to do, and how to act is what keeps us safe, protected from the half truths and deceptions that poison our soul and destroy our walk with God. Truth does matter! Jude chapter 1 and verse 3 declares this; “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” What Jude was saying here is it is of the utmost importance that we contend (fight to uphold and declare) the truth delivered to us from the Lord and his Apostles. Why? Because it is this truth, the truth of the Bible, that protects us from deception, from the wiles of Satan, and keeps us on the road to Heaven.
What do you believe in? Is your preacher the only Bible you digest? Have you read your Bible from cover to cover, praying and fasting to know and understand the deep truths that protect your soul? Is truth important? Proverbs 23:7 says it best; “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” What you believe is truth will govern your life; it is what you will live by. I challenge you, read your Bible, put what you know and think is right to the test, see if it stands up to scripture. I believe you will find things are not going to happen the way you thought they would.
Deceived, that is a most powerful word. Webster’s dictionary defines this word as one who uses lies and half truths to pull or entice one away from the truth. It says that one does not use a “flat out” lie to beguile one off the right path, no, it is much more subtle. They use part truth – part lies, something sprinkled with just enough truth to not sound stupid or crazy, with just enough lie in it to do the job and lead you astray. This is one of Satan’s main weapons, proven to work well for him, against the children of God.
You see, Satan doesn’t spend a lot of time on elaborate tricks and schemes against unbelievers and the backslidden; he already has those and can work those people like puppets on a string at will. But to a Holy Ghost filled, Bible trusting, Jesus centered Christian, he must manipulate, beguile, and pervert or deceive the truth of the matter to get you off course. As long as you are trusting Jesus completely, and walking in his commandments, you are in a place where the wicked one cannot harm you. He has to pull you out of that protected place in Jesus, to be able to touch you. The Bible records this; “Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” There is a place you can stay in, that the wicked one cannot destroy you.
Contrary to modern preachers and teachers, this “place” in the almighty doesn’t mean you cannot be tried by the enemy. You will still feel temptations, you will still see and hear and feel the enemy trying to pull you off course. But the glory of it all is this, THAT IS ALL HE CAN DO!!!
When you stay in the protection of God, all he can do is present, try to make you come out of the shadow. Beloved, the secret place has been revealed, and that place is in Jesus Christ and his teachings. His truth, what he taught us to do, and how to act is what keeps us safe, protected from the half truths and deceptions that poison our soul and destroy our walk with God. Truth does matter! Jude chapter 1 and verse 3 declares this; “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” What Jude was saying here is it is of the utmost importance that we contend (fight to uphold and declare) the truth delivered to us from the Lord and his Apostles. Why? Because it is this truth, the truth of the Bible, that protects us from deception, from the wiles of Satan, and keeps us on the road to Heaven.
What do you believe in? Is your preacher the only Bible you digest? Have you read your Bible from cover to cover, praying and fasting to know and understand the deep truths that protect your soul? Is truth important? Proverbs 23:7 says it best; “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” What you believe is truth will govern your life; it is what you will live by. I challenge you, read your Bible, put what you know and think is right to the test, see if it stands up to scripture. I believe you will find things are not going to happen the way you thought they would.
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