April 22, 2005  FORGIVENESS: A DECISION, NOT A FEELING

 

I know...it's been 10 days since my last posting. Life has been really, really hectic the past couple of weeks...out-of-town professional training, online class, new multimedia projector at church that I am having lots of fun learning, plus the daily responsibilities of family life--you get the picture. But then, your life is probably like that, too. I've been reading my Bible, but having time to actually post something here--well, it's eluded me.

 

What's on my mind most recently is a topic on which I will be sharing at a retreat this weekend: Forgiveness.

 

There are two parts to forgiveness: extending forgiveness and receiving forgiveness. This is an integral part of Christian life, the most basic tenet of our faith.

 

Extending forgiveness.

 

I'm of the opinion that the Bible speaks most clearly for itself. So read these scriptures and see what you come up with:

 

Matthew 6:12-15; Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 6:37; Mark 11:25-26; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 19:11; Proverbs 20:22; Proverbs 21:21; I Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 John 4:7-12, 19-21.

 

Bottom line: if you want to be forgiven, you must forgive. MUST. It's a command. Our Father IS love, and we are His children, so walking in love/forgiveness should be our major characteristic.

 

Easy? Not hardly! Possible? Most definitely!

 

Romans 5:5 says the love of God has been poured out in our hearts. We have HIS love in our hearts. and Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthen me!" (emphasis mine) 1 John 5:3-4 says that God's commands are not burdensome or grievous. In other words, it's not something too difficult to do.

 

Receiving forgiveness.

 

Maybe the problem is not what someone else has done to you, but what you've done to someone else. Now you feel bad about it. You've repented, but find it difficult to forget or forgive yourself. Look, if God forgives you, who are you to say otherwise?

 

First, we must realize we have sinned. Then we must confess the sin. Failure to confess sin or failure to release those who've sinned against us affects all areas of our lives, leading to disease and infirmity.

 

I read an article about forgiveness by Rick Warren in this month's (May, 2004) issue of Ladies' Home Journal. He said,

“When you hold on to your anger and resentment, it perpetuates the pain long after the offense. Resentment hurts you more than anyone else. You’re unable to get on with your life because you keep reviewing what happened in your mind. For this reason, learning to forgive is absolutely essential to healthy living. It’s the only way to find freedom from past hurts.”

An article in the September 27, 2004 issue of Newsweek was titled: “Forgive and Let Live: Revenge is sweet, but letting go of anger at those who wronged you is a smart route to good health.”

Remember, forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling.

Ron Luce in his book Quit Playing With Fire said, “It may take weeks or months before you feel any different about the person who hurt you. Don’t be discouraged. God’s Word has the power to heal your broken heart. It never fails!”

Kenneth Copeland said, “Forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces in existence. To walk in forgiveness is to walk in victory! For me not to forgive would be to dishonor the blood of Jesus. God honored that blood and forgave me in the face of my sin, so even as He has forgiven me, I forgive others.”

Remember there is nothing you have done that is too big for the blood of Jesus. Honor that blood--receive forgiveness! Honor that blood--extend forgiveness.

We really have no choice.

April 12, 2005  SIGNS FOLLOW BELIEVERS

 

Well, I'm back in the book of Acts. I had gone over to Psalms for a little bit--I find such encouragement there. But I need more than that. I need instruction, correction, and reproof so that I may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

So anyway, I notice in Acts 8 that after the stoning of Stephen, great persecution of the church began and they were "scattered abroad." I also notice that they preached the word wherever they went.

 

Here's what stands out to me today from this chapter is verses 6-8:

 

⁶When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.

 

I think of this frequently. Jesus left His disciples (which includes us) with what we have so eloquently termed "The Great Commission." People who don't think proclaiming the Gospel includes speaking in tongues and laying hands on the sick and seeing them healed use Matthew's account:

 

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Others use Mark's account:

 

¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

 

What's neat about Mark's account is that after Jesus ascended, they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord confirmed the word with accompanying signs.

 

Jesus Himself said we would do the things He did, and greater. He also told us in Acts 1 that we would receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon us and we would be His witnesses. He himself did not miracles until after He was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit "descended" upon Him "like a dove."

 

So what is my point? We are to preach the gospel. That is, we are to tell others about the saving power of Jesus. A good tool to get people's attention is miraculous signs.

 

Perhaps it is best said by a popular Christian song sung by Casting Crowns (lyrics by Mark Hall):

 

"But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way."

 

April 6, 2005  I WILL

 

I listen to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying through His Word, through the mouth of His prophets, and through His Spirit in me—for they all agree, you see. (What is spoken through the prophets and on the inside of me must agree with God’s Word.) Let me share what is daily on my mind.

 

In February, 2003, Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin spoke a word of the Lord by the Holy Spirit—a prophecy. (He has since joined the Lord in Heaven, having lived a long, fruitful life.) He talked about the years 2003-2006. You can view the full prophecy here, on Kenneth Copeland’s web site. But notice particularly what he said about 2005:

 

“What about 2005? Will time last or will it cease? 2005—oh my! A year of judgment. Judgment. If we judge ourselves, we'll not be judged. But when we are judged, we're turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

There'll be judgment in the individual realm. There'll be judgment in the family realm. There'll be judgment on the national level. A day of sternness. A day of discipline. A day of correction.

But the end of the year will be glorious. Amends shall be made. Many shall judge themselves. Nations will turn to God. And it'll end in a glorious manner.”

 

Likewise, at the end of 2003, Kenneth Copeland prophesied that 2005 would be a year of overflow.  How much overflow depends on how much you sow.

 

These two prophesies agree. What you sow, you will reap. Sowing judgment of others while not judging yourself? You will reap judgment. (Not good.) Sowing judgment of yourself—that is, walking in love and complete and total forgiveness? Reap love. Reap overflow of God’s blessings.

 

That reminds me of what God said in Deuteronomy 30:19: "I set before you this day life and death, blessings and curses. Therefore, choose life."  The choice is not difficult. Following through, however, may be VERY difficult. But the only choice for overflow of blessing is walking in love. After all, that is the greatest commandment. If you do that, you are doing the rest.

 

I choose to do it. I choose life and blessing. OVERFLOW of blessing. It is MY choice, after all. God leaves it up to me. I must do what it takes to put myself in a position to receive what He wants to give me. I WILL.