Forgive and Forget!

Read this little story, and it made me think…

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never even heard of the incident. “Don’t you remember it?” her friend asked. “No,” came Barton’s reply, “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”

Luis Palau, Experiencing God’s Forgiveness, Multnomah Press, 1985

Jesus commands us to forgive, but then what?

Matthew 6:14

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15

but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiveness is a choice, but how do we move past the horror of what the other person has done?

Clara Barton figured it out, with a strong, disciplined mind.

She refused to allow the wickedness others did, to occupy her thought life.

We are all pressing towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, or should be. This world is not our home, heaven is.

What happened yesterday, or yesteryear, cannot be allowed to dictate what we do today.

I like the way the apostle Paul said it:

Philippians 3:

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Here it is Christmas again, and families are getting together again. There are those that are ‘stuck like chuck’ in their traditions and who would hold you emotionally hostage to your past failures, or the brutality of what they have been allowed to do to you.

Forget it!

 

Act differently, and refuse to lower yourself to their level, no matter what they do.

It’s going to take the power of God to do…

Let’s pray:

‘Father, as I gather with family and friends this holiday, I refuse to be defined by my past, or theirs. I choose to forgive and forget their wrongs, and I choose to receive Your grace and strength, to not allow them to drag me down into their mess and guilt trips. I ask this, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!”

In his book. Lee: The Last Years, Charles Bracelen Flood reports that after the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss. After a brief silence, Lee said, “Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it.” It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root and poison the rest of our life.

Michael Williams

 

Mountain Moving Faith! USE IT!

Speak to Your Mountain!

This is a message, I first preached, over 10 years ago. I have edited it some, to make it easier to read, but it’s truths have never changed! They are eternal! I have changed, and my understanding of these things has deepened, as I have grown in character and the fruit of the spirit, yet I am still a faith preacher, and God is still only pleased, by faith!

I have learned over the years, that faith works by love, and that love is an action. To make any of what I am about to teach you actually work, you need to believe, act, and first speak and live:

The love of God, shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit, is Jesus, loving people through us. This is what we must do, to be actually living the love of God:

1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; 5 it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs 6 or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! 7 Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. 8 Love will never become obsolete.

In one version, verse 8 reads: Love never fails.

If you determine to walk in love, no matter what, you won’t ever fail either.

If you have true faith in God, you will be full of love, for God is love, and whenever we authentically meet with Him, He meets with us, and fills us with His love, so that His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

“The fruit of faith is love, and the fruit of love, is service’ Mother Theresa

If you think about it, Jesus commanded us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, preach the gospel, visit the sick and the prisoner, and overcome evil with good. These actions of our faith, are only possible from a living vital relationship with an Almighty loving God!

In order for the rest of what I must teach on faith, the muscle of God in the earth, you must be:

1. Established and walking in the love of God.

2. Committed to doing the Will of God

3. Calling those things that be not as though they are.

4. Speaking to your mountain!

Let’s look at our decision to commit to doing the Will of God.

Now most of us who have been on here know that I am committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In previous lessons and blogs, we have looked at the concept of Lordship. That is, if Jesus is our Lord, we need to do what He says. It is clearly established from the Word of God, that we need to seek Him first. How you meet with Jesus, first thing in the morning, may differ for each person, but seek, is an action word, and whether you are a prayer, praiser, or studier, we all need to seek Him first, every day. Like the Nike ad, as far as putting God first goes in your life ‘Just Do it!”. Establish your morning watch.

We have looked at whether or not Jesus was Lord of our time. We introduced you to Mr. Tel E. Vision, and told you that most North Americans spend 2-1/2 hours each day glued to the tube. Finding now, that as I look at my time, Social Media can also become a distraction…It is a great ministry tool, but like anything, the question is ‘What am I doing with my time spent on the internet’. The Scripture is clear, that we are ‘to redeem our time’

Take that time, and put it into praise and worship, prayer, reading your Bible or listening to it on cassette, or simply changing the station and watching some good solid Bible teachers, or other fine television ministries instead of the sit-coms and soaps, and watch your life change!

In previous lessons, we looked at our vocations. Our jobs. Making Jesus Lord of our employment and doing our work unto Him, so that we could receive the promotions, raises, and better jobs that He has for us, remembering:

Psalms 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

God wants to promote us, to place us in positions of greater effectiveness for the kingdom of God. Yet He judges your heart attitude, not just your outward performance. Seems He first judges our faithfulness and character, then promotes:

Proverbs 28:20

A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Yet, I am a faith preacher, and we are going to get back over to looking at faith here in a couple of minutes.

Yet, I need to make sure ‘seek ye first’ is working in your life, or you are not in position to have all these other things added unto you.

Isaiah 1:19 (KJV)

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

2. Commit thy way unto Him:

Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Now, many of us are determined to live for Jesus, and to walk with Him every day. Before I preach faith to you, I need to talk about commitment.

Commit: Oxford Dictionary says

1. To do, to perform

2. To entrust for safe keeping.

3. To pledge, to bind with an obligation

Today I need to preach for a commitment. Many of us take Jesus as our Saviour, but how many of us are committed to making Him Lord of our lives? You see the first definition of commitment is to do, to perform. We need to do what He says, both in the written Word, and in the hearing of the Holy Spirit.

Henry Ford said it this way, “You can’t make a reputation on what you are going to do.”

I still like that quote by Will Rogers, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Helen Keller, you remember, the lady who lived her life blind and deaf, said this: “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.

I get really frustrated with people who refuse to move on in their lives. Why? I remember visiting CHEO (The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) and seeing the receptionist there, who was a quadriplegic, answering the telephone with his headset, and operating his computer with a mouth stick. He was cheerful and happy, and doing a great job. Yet, I see people that can walk, see, talk and learn, yet who refuse to invest their lives in anything, and it ticks me off. Look at Nick Vujicic, if you want to see what a man with no arms and no legs can do! He is a husband, father, adventurer, and incredibly gifted public speaker.

Self Pity is from hell! Why? Because it mocks God’s power. It says that the God we serve is not big enough to help us move beyond our own little world. It is blasphemy in light of what Jesus died to provide for us.

“Winners are just ex-losers who got mad”, Van Crouch

The second, is easy, we have entrusted Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to save us, and to take us eternally to heaven to live with Him. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. More than a children’s bedtime prayer, it’s our eternal security. Yet, before I preach here a bit, I need to talk about our pledge, our obligation. You see if we decide to commit to the Lord, we make a solemn pledge to live for Him. We bind ourselves to the plan of God, determined to die if necessary rather than fail in it.

I pray for you every day:

Colossians 1:9-12  (KJV)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

I desire that you might KNOW the will of God, and understand it.

I pray that you DO the will of God.

I pray you INCREASE in the knowledge of God.

I pray God grant you STRENGTH, to endure joyfully all the challenges this world throws at you.

I pray you remain humble and GRATEFUL, as He shows you your inheritance, and who you are by royal decree and privilege. (We a king’s kids!)

Many of us have been tossed to and fro by every wind of the Media, and teaching that comes across our path.

Why?

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We need to recall the plan of God. We need to plead the Blood of Jesus over our homes and families. We need to tell others the great things God has done for us, for our testimony is a weapon of war enforcing Satan’s defeat. Yet, look at the final part of this verse, ‘loving not our lives unto death.’

I heard a minister say it this way. If you have received a promise of God, and you are determined to believe it, stand upon it, unto death if necessary, you won’t be standing very long. There needs to be in the heart of every Christian the willingness to die rather than compromise the Word of God. If you want to read a few stories along this line, pick up a copy of ‘Foxes book of Martyrs, many have paid the ultimate price for our faith.

Freedom is not free, and I am prepared to live for Jesus, beyond death if necessary: you cannot threaten a true Christian with heaven!

Yet, I’m not going to die, for it is written: ‘With long life, will He satisfy thee!’ I will live and not die, and declare the glory of God! Seems, as a warrior, I am more use to Him, here, in the earth, than up in heaven!

This type of commitment to truth, will cause true Bible faith to produce anything you need in this life.

A missionary society wrote to David Livingstone and asked, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you.” Livingstone wrote back, “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

Good News Broadcaster, April, 1985, p. 12

The Bohemian reformer John Hus was a man who believed the Scriptures to be the infallible and supreme authority in all matters. He died at the stake for that belief in Constance, Germany, on his forty-second birthday. As he refused a final plea to renounce his faith, Hus’s last words were, “What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood.”

Source Unknown

Some of us need to make a fresh commitment to Him today. Sure He is still the Lord, but He has not been YOUR Lord for quite some time. You haven’t sought Him and obeyed Him like you need to. We are going to do that publically now, so that you qualify for the rest of this teaching:

Let’s Pray:

‘Jesus, I know you are the Lord, yet today, I ask You to become my Lord. Show me Your way, and plan for my life, and give me courage and grace, to live for You, without compromise, all the days of my life, Amen’

We are talking about faith here today. It is going to take commitment. Let’s look at a couple of classic faith Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Jude 1:3 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.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Revelation 17:14

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Faith has a voice. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

2 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

Notice here, that as we abound in faith, we also abound in utterance, because again we see, that faith has a voice!

Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

3. Let’s look at ‘Calling those things that be not as though they were’

Certain things belong to us from the Word of God.

Some of these include: healing, direction, comfort, provision, wisdom, supernatural favor from heaven with people, protection, encouragement, and deliverance.

How I wish these things were automatic if you simply followed Jesus! Some of them are, but most require violent faith to actually appropriate and receive.

If you want to receive healing, you need to know that Jesus took stripes in His body that your body be healed.

If you want divine direction for your life, you need to believe that the Holy Spirit actually wants to show you your future:

John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

You need to know how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, how to recognize the inward witness He provides, how to recognize the peace of God leading you in your heart. I wrote a seven part teaching entitled ‘Knowing Your Future’ in my book, ‘The Parable of the Sower’.

 

Here is an excerpt:  https://chrisaomministries.com/2013/11/21/your-future-revealed/

Or here, on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Parable-Sower-Christopher-Walsh-ebook/dp/B00E9I9H1M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1384288775&sr=1-1&keywords=The+parable+of+the+Sower+Christopher

If you are lonely or discouraged, and you need the comfort and strength of the living Holy Spirit, then call to your remembrance: Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Matthew 6: 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

A little faith will get you a little provision, yet if you are going to prosper in God financially, you are going to have to tithe, give offerings, exercise stewardship, and then use your faith to work and aggressively to reap.

Don’t know how to do something? Ask God.

He will give you supernatural wisdom.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Don’t know how to deal with a person, who is not a Christian?

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

God couldn’t ask you to walk in wisdom towards sinners, if He did not provide that wisdom you need for you.

How about favor? There is supernatural favor to be received from heaven, simply by asking for it. Esther fasted and prayed, and asked God for favor from the king. God gave it to her. Nehemiah prayed as asked God for favor with the king. God gave it.

Like Jesus, God expects you to Luke 2:52 increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Psalms 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 5:12 (Douay) (5-13) For thou wilt bless the just. O Lord, thou hast crowned us, as with a shield of thy good will.

Because you have been made righteous in God’s sight, you have the right to ask Him for supernatural favor with people. Glory! See if that doesn’t help your business and family life!

Protection: Read the 91st Psalm. You are a child of faith Gal 3:7-9 declares, that the blessings of Abraham are yours. As God was for Abraham, so He is to you. He is your shield and exceedingly great reward. Gen 12:1

Deliverance: Ps 91: 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

When the day of trouble comes to your life, if you serve God. He will deliver you!

Now, these are things we need to be in faith about, every day. Deliberately pleading and possessing the promises of God, before His throne. We need to press into God for them. These are things that if they are not happening, need to happen, and they will if you believe and obey God. Each day, I call for these things into my life, whether I feel like it or not. I believe God’s Word on purpose. So should you. This is how we call those things that be not, as though they are.

These things have been freely given to us, but they must be received, by faith.

Ephesians 6:16

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Notice here, that the shield of faith does us no good, unless we actually take it!

4. Now, let’s talk about mountains.

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Let’s look at a couple of versions of this:

Mark 11:22-25 The Voice (VOICE)

Jesus: 22 Trust in God. 23 If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. 24 So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will.

Mark 11:22-25 Amplified Bible (AMP)

22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].

23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.

24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [a]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

Remember, faith has a voice. You need to discover what are the roadblocks in your life, and then call them what they are, mountains. You need to command them to move. Your mountain needs to hear your voice. Your voice is your address in the realm of the Spirit, it is the place God delivers your personal blessing to.

Do you have problems in your life that never have seemed to go away? They do not mean that you are not a royal heir, a child of the king, and that you are out of the will of God. Satan is still alive, and not in hell yet (tick, tick, but his time is running out!) and whether you like it or not, he is opposing the plan of God in your life. He sets up roadblocks that only the power of God can move, but hear this. If you do not speak to them, they will not move.

Some may say, “I heard that before, and I tried that, and it didn’t work”

Well let me tell you something about mountains. I have my CIL blasting ticket, that I took as part of my commercial diving training.

Ever seen a road crew build a road?

Pastor Kenneth Hagin(Jr) gives the following testimony that bears repeating:

“Ever watched a road crew remove a mountain so they can put in a road? It’s a big job. It doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes days and weeks to bring that mountain down to size.

I remember as a child, traveling with dad back and forth to California holding meetings.

I remember seeing those road construction crews out there blasting their way through the sides of mountains.

They literally blew up a mountain, piece by piece.

All the traffic was stopped on that stretch of the road, and we had to turn off our radios and two-way equipment because the road crew was getting ready to blast. They’d drilled into the mountainside, and now they were getting ready to set off the charges.

Once they pushed the button on that detonator, you could see rocks flying everywhere. It looked like a volcano going off. Some of the small fragments even came sailing down on top of the cars, that were parked quite a distance from the mountain.

Then the workman would go back to the mountain site, clean up the rocks and debris, start drilling again, and pack the mountain with dynamite again. Then they would set off another blast, and it would cause the mountain to crumble some more.

After a few days, they had blasted out of their way what had seemed to be an impenetrable mountain. What was once a mountain of hindrance was reduced to flat land, and the road crew would go back in and start laying roadbed.”

That’s the way it is in the spiritual realm when you start quoting God’s Word against the mountains in your life.

When you quote God’s Word in faith, and authority, you are setting off the detonator of a powerful blast of God’s power that is demolishing your mountain, piece by piece. That’s why you can’t give up after quoting a few Scriptures one time.

As you faithfully quote the Word, give the Word time to work on your problem. Many times these mountains in your life are not going to leave, overnight. Some of them took years to develop, and are bigger than you think. Ever seen a ship, a tanker go by?

It’s moving, but it is so big that it takes a long time to pass from view. Yet, if you keep your confidence in God’s Word, and diligently quote it over your problems, they will leave.

I heard a minister say: ‘When you speak to your mountain, it begins to move. However, you may be unaware of just how big the mountain is, and how long it took to develop in your life. It’s moving, powerfully out of your way by the hand of God, but it may take some time to disappear from view”

Today, we are going to blast a few mountains in our lives, according to the Word of God, but first of all let’s pray:

‘Heavenly Father, I thank you that your Word declares that I have the authority to speak to the mountains in my life. Therefore I exercise my rights and privileges according to Mark 11:23.

Father, your Son, my Lord Jesus said that if I would speak to the mountains in my life, that are hindering me, and not doubt in my heart, that they would be removed. So, as I stand before your throne today, I ask you Holy Spirit to grant me wisdom as to the mountains in my life, and in the life of my church, now.’

Now, I am not going to pretend that I am the Holy Spirit. As He shows you what the obstacles are in your life, give them a name, and command them, in violent faith, to MOVE, in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ!

They gotta go!

(name) move! Repeat

Jesus is still a friend of Sinners…

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Luke 15:1 ¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus loves you! This is the message, this is the truth. The only thing you really need to do to go to heaven, is recognize you are a sinner, and ask forgiveness. The only people that Jesus has a problem with, are those who think they need no help.

Pride in God’s sight, is not a puffed out chest, and haughty attitude, it is simply thinking that you can live life without Him, doing your own thing, and ignoring Him, and His Word.

This is pride, when you see something in the Word of God, and then deciding you have a better idea. A walk with Jesus is a love walk, a journey into truth, never a destination. He is looking for a relationship, that ever deepens with time…

Reminds me of a story: I remember one time I was asked to visit an inmate during my weekly prison visitation when I was pastoring. I was escorted into maximum security, then into protective custody, where the prisoner was brought to see me, through glass in handcuffs and leg-irons. The man was a small skinny guy, about 140lbs, with short hair, and piercing eyes. I remember thinking: ‘Wonder what this guy is in here for?”. So I told him that Jesus loved him, and had a plan for his life, and that sometimes we get drunk or high and do stupid things, but Jesus understands, and will forgive us if we ask Him. This man looked me straight in the eye and said: ‘I know exactly what I did. I wasn’t drunk or high!’

When he said this, the hair on the back of my neck prickled up, and I suddenly knew I was in the presence of a very dangerous man. Out of my heart, I said: ‘Good! At least you know you are a sinner, and Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for sinners. If you have enough guts to face Him with your sin, He will forgive you, and give you a clean heart, and a fresh start.”

Very somber, serious words, to what turned out to be a very serious and brutal man. I watched my words register on him, and he was ticked off at me, and the guards came, and the visit was ended.

After I got out of the facility, I immediately called the addiction counselor that had asked me to visit this man, to discover that everyone else in their community was afraid to visit him, because he had horribly cut up a teenage girl with a knife, and the girl had somehow lived, and was presently in intensive care, fighting for her life. The counselor asked me if I would be willing to visit this man again, the following week. I told them I would pray about it.
Next day, someone shoved a newspaper in my face, with this man’s picture on the front page, the Media glorifying the horror of what he had done, and the life and death drama of the young girls life hanging in the balance in intensive care.
At first I was frustrated and angry, feeling like I had been shoved into a brutal situation, that I felt really unqualified for, then I began to pray, and realized God had not only allowed it, but orchestrated it, and was asking me to go visit this man again, the following week. I called the prison chaplain that oversaw my security clearances, and told him what had transpired, and asked him to try and keep this man alive until the following week, and to get him a Bible in his language.
We organized a 24 hour prayer chain for the wounded girl, and for him, that he not go to hell. God did a miracle! The girl was miraculously healed, and some top plastic surgeons donated their time, and when the girl eventually came out of the hospital, some time later, you would never know how horribly she had been disfigured.

When I went back the following week, there was a new man on the other side of the glass! He had given his life to Jesus, and was proudly holding up the new Bible the chaplain had given him. Turns out this man had been raised as a first nations hunter, and all he knew was killing and butchering animals. He had broken into the families house where the girl lived thinking there was no one home, and when he found the girl there, he did what he did with a knife, quickly. Makes my stomach turn to think about it, but God forgave Him!

As the court system performed its inexorable course of justice over the next 18 months, the man was sentenced to 12 years, with no parole. I visited him for the time he was on trial, and watched him receive ministry and grow weekly in the grace of God, as the prison chaplain integrated him into several small group Bible studies.

Amazing grace, Jesus left the 99 and found the one lost sheep. The one all of us had written off, the one none of us ‘ministers’ wanted anything to do with. Love never fails, and mercy triumphs over judgment. This is the love of God, finding the sinner and the victim both at the foot of the cross, receiving forgiveness or healing, as Jesus, King of Love makes wrongs, right, by His mercy, grace, love and power. This is the kingdom of God in action, this is love!

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, I need you to forgive me, and help me to forgive those who have done me wrong. You have seen the atrocities I have committed, the betrayals, lies, and breaches of trust, and you have seen the horrible things that have been done to me. Forgive me, heal me, find me Jesus, because I have lost my way in life. I need you Lord Jesus, help me, Amen’

Forget it!

Forget it!

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never even heard of the incident. “Don’t you remember it?” her friend asked. “No,” came Barton’s reply, “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”

At this Christmas time, how well bitter waters would love to flow.

As families get together, and old friendships are renewed, how easy it is to remember past hurts, injustices, and wickedness that occurred, often years before. Time does not heal old wounds, forgiveness, prayer, and the love of God will.

You need to let some things go. You must forgive, and release those who betrayed you, It is time to move on. That was then, this is now. Let it go. There is joy and peace in it for you, even if they have not changed, and are still into the foolish wickedness that they did to you. Don’t become a door mat, and allow them to do it again, but don’t hold them hostage in your mind either, it only poisons you.

Let’s pray:
‘Father, I forgive my friends and family for all of their wickedness against me. I choose to forget what they did to me, and to move on. Cleanse me, heal me, wash me from the filth of this, and deliver me from bitterness, in your name I pray Lord Jesus,Amen’

Prisoners of Hope!

Prisoners of Hope!

As I read the 105th Psalm, I saw:

Ps 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

Ga 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Ps 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
I wish to focus on v19 ‘Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.’

Joseph had a dream from God as a young man, and it was authentic. He would become the prime minister of Egypt. He believed that word, and then all hell broke loose against him. Instead of his brothers rejoicing and participating in his development willingly, they beat him up, threw him in a well, and sold him into slavery.

Then, as God promoted him as a slave, he was falsely accused, and thrown into prison, and God was with him. Then, the chief cup bearer for Pharaoh and the baker ended up in prison, and Joseph’s gift of dream interpretation ‘read their mail’.

Looked like, finally Joe was headed for freedom, but nope, not yet…There was a set time appointed by the Father for Joseph, and his life was on hold, while Egypt was being prepared for his leadership.

I love this verse. Joseph had a word from God!

Yet the very word he had received, tried him!

He had to believe he had heard God, no matter what the circumstances looked like…

Was Joseph trying the word of God?

Nope, the Word of God is already tried.

Ps 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

So the word of God is already tried, God is holy and cannot lie.

It is us that need refinement, and in believing a personal promise from God, when every circumstance is against us, that provides that refinement.

Now, Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is a heavenly substance, and after we have believed we received, then what?

Then there is Bible hope.

In order to understand true Bible hope, I quote Kenneth Copeland:
“ If you look up the Greek definition of the word hope, you’ll find it means “to be intensely expectant, to be confidently looking forward to something you fully expect to happen.”

You can see this kind of hope in action in Philippians 1:19-20. There, the Apostle Paul says, “I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope…” For emphasis, Paul used the two Greek words there that mean earnest expectation. In other words, he was saying to them, “This thing is so inevitable I’m just burning up with expectancy!”

This sheds a brand new light on this wonderful verse brought before us pastors Terri and Steve Spanish from Victory Christian Center here in Tulsa, OK.

Zec 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

When pastor Terri uttered those words, they literally leaped off of the page for me, under the illumination of the Holy Spirit!

Here is what I saw, clearly that night!

It is only after we have believed we received, that we need Bible hope. Hope is the total, passionate expectation that which we have believed, will surely come to pass.

The very word from God that we have believed, is what makes us a ‘prisoner of hope’. We see clearly by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the vision of God for our lives, and no matter what the daily circumstances scream, we are captive to the vision. We have believed we have received, and each day, we fully expect that today is going to be the day it comes to pass!

This captivity, this heavenly vision, this faith in action, is what empowers us to:
2Ti 2:3 ‘endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’

It empowered the apostle Paul, when he cheerfully proclaimed the gospel in chains:

Ac 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force!

We are in a war, it is the fight of faith! To believe when it looks impossible, because faith makes the impossible, possible, in fact, inevitable!

When we have authentically heard God, that which He has spoken, tries us, refines us, forces us to grow, to discipline ourselves, to get equipped, trained, fit for service.

I believe this is what sustained Nelson Mandela through his years in prison, before becoming the first black leader in apartheid South Africa. God raised him up, through hardship, to be a vessel of great wisdom, compassion, mercy, strength, and forgiveness, in prison. I believe he knew he would be President for many, many years before it happened, and that this inward knowing was his faith in operation, and that this word from God, tried him, just like it tried Joseph.

How about Martin Luther King? The words, ‘I Have A Dream!’ have been a battle cry against racism here in the United States since he rallied this nation to confront this great evil. He died for what he believed, yet his work is immortal, and still goes on today, for there is power in heavenly vision.

Think about President Abraham Lincoln: his repeated failures, yet, one of the greatest Presidents to ever live: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/…/education/failures.htm

As Paul Harvey says, ‘now for the rest of the story!”

Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

Both yours and mine days of promotion and prominence will indeed come to pass, as we move forward in obedience to Holy Spirit, after we have believed we received.

Heaven is on its feet, the great cloud of heavenly witnesses, watching our course with joy, eternal testimony being written on parchment of time, we call, history.

Indeed it is HIS story, written in eternal record for all the universe to see, when we victoriously serve Jesus in this life!

Let the process have its work in you, remember, we never try the Word of God, it is trying us!

Let’s Pray:
‘Father God, I ask for confirmation, strength, encouragement, and fresh revelation of the vision for my brother or sister today. May we walk out, without compromise, the heavenly vision, and come out of this trial, perfect, entire, and lacking nothing. We ask this Father, in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Forgive! There is incredible power in it!

Got Authority?

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Love these verses! May they jump off the pages and become Rhema, alive, to you!

Hear Jesus, speaking as He always does, like in Isaiah 6, ‘Whom Shall I send?’ saying to you: Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Now, in the Holy Spirit, led of the Holy Spirit, I give you authority, as my regent, my ambassador, to forgive sins! Act as I would act, do as I would do! Speak truth, work miracles, show mercy, forgive!

John 17:18

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world

This verse has changed my life, and I have seen many, many miracles, as I have proclaimed to people, to territories, under the anointing of the Spirit: Jesus forgives you, so I forgive you! I release the power of His forgiveness and redemption into your life, or the life of this region.

As I have done this, God has performed tremendous acts of power for His glory!

Now, you go and do likewise!

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, I receive the Holy Spirit today. Fresh breath of God, wind of Heaven, breath upon me, renew, empower, equip, flow through me, afresh and anew today. Father, lead me to those people and places that need your forgiveness today, and may they receive it, through the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, operating through me. Amen!

Backstabbers!

Backstabbers!

Ps 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

Ever felt like the psalmist? Betrayed, treacherous people, who smile to your face, but plot your destruction behind your back? They say one thing to you, but do quite the opposite! If you are any kind of red blooded human, I’m sure you felt like David, and minimally wanted to settle them down with a good old fashioned school yard brawl.

Well, there is a higher road than this, the way.

His name is Jesus, and His way is love. To forgive them, bless them, and to pray for them.

It is one thing to tell God on them, and tell Him how you feel, and cry out for His protection and vindication, but then LOVE THEM!

Brutal word huh?

Mt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Only God can give love like that, grace to overcome evil with good. To do this, with treacherous, backstabbing, enemies will take guts and courage, that comes not from this world.

If you are like me, may take you a bunch of skipped meals, countless hours over in the Holy Ghost, tears at a depth you did not think you could go to, and months and in some cases years of anguished prayer over people that have continually done me wrong.

As a Christian, I gave up my right to hate, I have a right to one thing, the cross!

Can’t be around them, but they cannot stop my prayers! I write their names on my daily prayer list, and I pray for them, until all anger, rage, hatred, and murderous thoughts have finally been replaced with the love of God shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit.

You will get a wonderful understanding of what a living sacrifice is, in dealing with these people, and need to guard your heart around them, but love never fails!

Religion won’t do this, it takes an encounter with the living God!

One day, the final victory, is when they turn from their sin, and accept Jesus, and make heaven….

God has eternity on His mind! He knows the depth of degradation these people live in, their sin, and longs to forgive them, if they would repent.

Because you decided to love….

Love is the Victory!

Lets Pray:
‘Father, I hate backstabbers, gossips,treacherous people! You see what they are doing to me, and have done, and would continue to do, if I allowed them. By faith, in your authority, I stop their tricks, traps, and wickedness, and close every door to them and their betrayals. Father, I need your help to love them. To forgive the unforgiveable, because they are still doing their evil! Father, pour through me your love, your grace, your mercy, your forgiveness, and cause me to see them through the eyes of Your love. Place your love in my heart for them, and allow me to pray for them, that they might make heaven, not hell, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Love plays no favorites….

Love Plays no favorites…

Romans 5: (AKJV)

⁵ and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The foundation of everything in the Christian faith is the love of God. It is a spirit-led existence, never designed to be walked out in our own strength, it is the Holy Spirit in us, shed abroad in our hearts, that shows the love and grace of God to this fallen world.

Our faith only works by love, and as we shared yesterday in service, one of the fruits of the love of God, can be immediately shown, in the way we treat people. Whether rich or poor, clean or dirty, we must not be a respecter of persons, we must love…

Absolutely impossible in our own strength!

Read with me a couple Scriptures if you would:

Acts 10:34

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

1 Peter 2:17 [

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Proverbs 24:23

These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Proverbs 28:21

To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

James 2:1

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

God is no respecter of persons, nor should we be. We cannot be one way when we are with our wealthy, intellecully success friends, and then act another with the poor, the broken, the street person, the homosexual, the muslim, the pervert…

He loves people, and as long as they have breath in their body, is doing the mission of Jesus, to seek and save the lost….

So should we be!

Yet, fear raises it’s ugly head: ‘How can I share Jesus with an openly gay man that is hitting on me?’ ‘How can I even speak to muslims? Are they all trying to take over the world?’

Not that any others of you have asked yourself these questions….

So last night, my pastor friend and I led the openly, and flaboyently homo-sexual waiter at Denny’s to Jesus, then sat with him, as he poured out his heart, his struggles, and his brutal trauma with us while we ate supper. Not judging, not condemning, simply listening, encouraging, and praying with Him…”

Thought about the Muslim families sitting next to us at Panera bread during our business meeting on Saturday, and dreamed about how to bridge the huge relational gap, to reach out to them…not sure yet how I will do it, but I will love them, and share Jesus love with them, somehow…

No respecter of persons….

This is the love of God working and maturing in our hearts…

Jesus loves people, not just church people, but all the people He created, and His desire and wish is that none should perish.

You know, I have watched certain ministries, that really miss this idea. They have their ‘clique’ of people they run with and network with, but unless you are ‘one of them’ or in their circles, you are shunned, distained, or openly spoken evil about.

In my life, this has been brutal emotionally, yet awesome in the way it has forced me to see, to understand, to love, and to carefully decide to build my life, family, ministry not on who I know, but rather upon the Word of God, and faith in Jesus.

This love walk is the most important thing we can ever learn, for it is love that never fails…

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, please forgive us for knowingly, or unknowingly being a respecter of persons in either our judgements or in our treatment of others. Lord Jesus, fill us afresh with Your love! Holy Spirit, be stirred up in our hearts, and love the people around us, through us. Amen!’

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Jesus Heals!

Healing of Trauma, Memories, Abuse, and Atrocities

Pr 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Some years ago, I read a book called ‘Healing the Damaged Emotions’ by a man named David Seemans. He was talking about the affect that trauma and deep sin had on a person, and how Jesus, set the person free. Many of us have been affected by horrible atrocities, I pray Holy Spirit make this alive today, and set you free!

John 21:15 ¶  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

We recall that Peter had deliberately denied Jesus three times, and the third time, had called down curses upon himself. Peter at that point in his life had actually denied the Lord,  but we are to see, the Lord did not deny him.

I believe that God was interested in not only meeting with Peter, but in restoring Him. Just sweeping Peter’s denial under the rug, would not have strengthened Peter, and restored his confidence in himself and the Lord.

Here’s what I believe happened that day:

Jesus had cooked a breakfast for the boys on the beach, and was with them in His love and glory. He had risen from the dead, and He loved them. These were His leaders, that He was about to use to build His glorious church upon. Peter, was about to become a bold apostle, but first he needed to be restored, in his emotions and memories, or satan would surely find a moment of fatigue or weakness, to beat him up for his failure and betrayal of the Lord, and divert him from providing the strength needed to keep the church moving forward with clear direction.

Jesus comes to Peter, and stands before Him in His love, power, and glory, and gently says to Peter: ‘Do you love me?’ At that moment, I believe Holy Spirit brought to Peters rememberance, the memory of the first time he denied Jesus.

Let’s look at Marks account in Mark 14:66 ¶  And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

67  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

68  But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

69  And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

70  And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

71  But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

72  And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

On a dark, horrible night, not too long before, in the last time Peter saw Jesus alive, there was another fire, that Peter warmed his hands at. In the cold darkness, Peter denied His Lord.

Now, we have Jesus, standing before Him, loving him, in front of another fire: A warming fire, in the light of day, filled with joy, laughter, and loving fellowship.

It has been said by people that have faced horrible atrocities, or who have committed them, that simple circumstances can trigger memories deep within ones subconscious.

I remember the time I toured the prayer tower at Oral Roberts University, and they had a walk through story of Oral Roberts life depicted. As we walked through, the presence of the Holy Spirit was very evident, and in our tour group was an older couple in their seventies. At the end of the tour, they prayed for us to receive Jesus, and this older gentleman turned to me, and said, ‘Son, what are you going to do with your life?” I said, “I am going to preach the gospel around the world!” He began to explain:

“Do you think there is any hope for me? I told him that Jesus loved him, and that He had only died for sinners. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and that Jesus would forgive him, no matter what he had done.

He went on to tell me of the horror of Viet Nam, how as a young man, they had served there, and how he initially cared deeply about the Vietnamese people. When they went in to occupy a village of the Viet Cong, US soldiers would save their chocolate from their rations, and would give it to the children of the village, and would love on them. The enemy figured out this soft spot in the US troops, so began sending children out to meet the troops, strapped with grenades. This man saw a company of his friends blown up by one of these child suicide bombers. New orders came from his commanding officer, when they occupied a village, shoot everything that moved. They were in the jungle, and they were scared. Yet, they followed orders, and killed many women and children.

Now, this man had been back in the US, for over 30 years. His children had grown, and he would have them over for family dinners on holidays. Yet, sometimes, his grandchildren, would come toward him, with arms raised, wanting to be held, and he would black out, and after he was restrained, would discover that he had gone into a killing rage, and had broken up furniture, punched holes in walls, and did not remember doing it. He looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said, ‘Is there any hope for me? When I see my grandbabies, I still remember the horror of killing all those little children in Viet Nam, that would come out of the village, arms raised, expecting chocolate.”

I felt like I had been sucker punched at the moment, with the wind knocked out of me, but I did manage to squeak out a prayer, and to pray for the man.

I was deeply troubled by this, and sought the Lord, for some time. Began to do a Bible study, on the English word, ‘mind’, trying to find something in the Word of God, that would help this man.

Seems there are twelve different Greek roots, for the one English word we call ‘mind’. Many refer to ‘sub conscious reasoning’s’, or ‘thoughts and intents of the heart.’

The Lord graciously gave me:

Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

In the Old Testament, the blood of bulls and animals could provide an offering for the outward punishment for sins, in Jesus, His blood will cleanse not only the outward affects of sin, but even our deepest memories, reasonings, and trauma’s. I prayed for the man, and I know God set him free.

Some have said, well if someone kills a child, or is a pedophile, did not Jesus Himself say:

Mr 9:42  And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

I am not making light of sin, just making much of the cross of Jesus. As a father, if someone was to attempt to hurt one of my children, or they were attacked by a pedophile, I would kill them, and rid the earth of them.

Yet, God is greater than me, far, far greater.

King David committed genocide, and killed men, women, and children in his raids, when he was running from Saul.

1Sa 27:9  And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

1Sa 27:11  And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

I believe there were earthly consequences to David’s actions:

1Ch 28:3  But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

He didn’t get to build the temple. Yet, he found eternal life, and lives forever with God in heaven.

Yet, at the end of his life, God said:

Acts 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

I take great comfort in this verse. If God can forgive David for genocide, murder, adultery, and still use him, then there is hope for any of us. Jesus died upon the cross for all sin, not just the socially acceptable ones.

In light of eternity, this is the way you can be remembered, a man after God’s own heart!

Though I have never killed anyone, God has done a deep work in my life, and as painful as the journey has been, I would do it all over again, to experience the wonderful peace of mind that I presently experience. No more nightmares, depressions, fits of rage, because the very traumas, wounds, and abuse that caused that behavior have been healed by the power of God.

I think about it this way: When we accept Jesus, and become born-again, He literally comes to live inside of us, and old things pass away, all things become new. We now have the power of almighty God living on the inside of us, to overcome sin, and our sinful tendencies. The best illustration of this is of a roaring lion: When I first became a Christian, that roaring lion of sinful desire got placed in a cage, and could no longer control my life. He still roared, but he was in a cage, and I did not have to yield to his tyranny, the bars of the Word of God and Holy Spirit, gave me grace and power to not sin! Yet, the desires were still there, warring against my will, trying to get me to sin.

As I walked with God, and Holy Spirit has gone deep within my soul, and grown fruit of the spirit within, there came days of victory in my life, where the lions of various sinful desires got killed. The cage was no longer needed, because, I was free!

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool

Let’s get back to Jesus restoring Peter:

I believe that we can only receive truth that sets free, in the light of His love.

Pr 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Here we have a shameful Peter, confronted by our loving Jesus.

He knew what Peter did, He was there.

He knows what you have done too, He was there, and saw it all.

Peter, do you love me? I believe at that instant, Holy Spirit brought Peter back to the memory of the night of Jesus betrayal. The fire, being the element Jesus used to trigger Peters memory. Peter, hung his head and said, ‘Lord, you know that I love you.” I believe a miracle occurred in that instant, that Holy Spirit not only gave Peter a revelation of Jesus forgiveness and total acceptance of him, but that in that instance, Peter faced truth, and went free! He lifted off of Peter all the trauma, shame, guilt and fear. Jesus said, ‘Go feed my lambs.’

Yet, Jesus was not done yet. Again, he gently probed, Peter, do you love me? I believe the same dynamic occurred, and Holy Spirit brought to Peter’s remembrance, the second denial, and again, Peter received God’s love and truth, and in the mercy of God, Peter received truth, and this iniquity was purged from his mind.

Now, Jesus probes again. Not only bringing to Peters remembrance the third, most passionate denial, the one that should have got him killed, but probably, the very motives, reasonings, and thoughts inside of Peter, that caused him to do it.

Again, after Jesus says, ‘Do you love me?,’ Peter receives Jesus love, and affirmation, and again, Jesus commissions him to feed his sheep. Peter now had some more food for God’s sheep, at a very deep level.

This is why I could preach good news to the perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda, boldly proclaiming over the radio to the one million people listening:

Matthew 4:16

The people who sat (dwelt enveloped) in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the land and shadow of death Light has dawned.

Yes, the darkness of genocide was great death in the land, but the glorious light of Jesus love has come to Rwanda, healing the deepest, sickest secrets, and bringing God’s grace to forgive the unforgivable. He who did it in Rwanda, will do it for you, too…

Now, let’s pray:

‘Father, you know us. You know what we do, but why we do it. Today, I am asking for a deep revelation of your love that will allow me to face and receive your forgiveness and healing for not only what happened to me, but more importantly, for the wicked, crazy things I have done. You were there when they happened Father, yet you love me. I have tried with drugs, sports, academic pursuits, and many other things to keep running from my pain and shame, but I am so, so, tired, and know not how to proceed. Reach deep within me, and set me free, and show me what you have for me to do for you. I see how my pain has blinded me from you, for oh so long. Take it away Father, make me whole, in Your name Lord Jesus and in the power of Your name, Amen.’

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Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!

Forgive – Forgiveness, the lost art….

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Forgiveness

Some years ago, I taught a 26 lesson course on the Lord’s prayer I entitled, ‘Foundations’. We talked about Spiritual Warfare, and knowing thy enemy.Yet remember the Lords prayer:

“‘Our Father who art in heaven in heaven, hallowed be your name,

 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory, forever and ever.

We spent many weeks learning who our heavenly Father is. We spent several weeks discovering Redemptive Realities, and what your daily bread is, as a child of God.

Understanding forgiveness is something so fundamental, and important to your success in this life, that all of eternity is hinged upon it.

Our topic today is forgiveness. Without forgiveness, none of us can approach our holy God.

We understand that Jesus died to provide for us access to the throne of God, it is because we are forgiven, that we must forgive. Read with me if you will, this passage of Scripture.

(Mat 18:21 NIV)  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

(Mat 18:22 NIV)  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

(Mat 18:23 NIV)  “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Who is this king?

Why king Jesus of course.

(Mat 18:24 NIV)  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

Like this man, all of us owe a debt to God, we can never repay. No, all the good works in the world will not cover up even one sin, for God can tolerate no evil in His presence. Yet, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from the deepest evil we can imagine.

(Mat 18:25 NIV)  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

(Mat 18:26 NIV)  “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

Each of us have found ourselves in this place. On our knees before the judge of all judges, the king of all kings, pleading for our very life. Asking for mercy, simply because we suspect He is a good God, that He might forgive us.

(Mat 18:27 NIV)  The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Sure enough, we see the heart of our loving savior and merciful lord here. Each of us have found mercy in the sight of our God, and had our sins forgiven, and have been released from every debt.

Whom God has justified, what man shall condemn?

(Mat 18:28 NIV)  “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

Yet, look at the behaviour of this wicked servant. He did not understand the magnitude of what had been done for him. His lord had forgiven him, as an act of benevolence unparalleled in all of history. This man had been forgiven, yet had not forgiven himself yet. He did not grasp the purpose of his being forgiven. Having received mercy, we are to show mercy for it is written:

(Mat 5:7 NIV)  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Yet, how many of us are like this man, having obtained mercy from God, yet unable to let go those who owe us something. Especially if there is money involved. We cannot serve God and money. Let’s continue reading this story.

(Mat 18:29 NIV)  “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

(Mat 18:30 NIV)  “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

(Mat 18:31 NIV)  When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

Notice here who told on this wicked servant. Other servants. When a Christian chooses to sin, other Christians are well within their rights to take their case before God, our heavenly king.

(Mat 18:32 NIV)  “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.

(Mat 18:33 NIV)  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

(Mat 18:34 NIV)  In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

I want you to see this. Unforgiveness will produce torment in your life. When you choose not to forgive, you go into bondage. You get turned over to the tormenters.

(Mat 18:35 NIV)  “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

You must see this, not only did this wicked servant get delivered over to the torturers because of his unwillingness to forgive another, but it looks like the man who owed him also went with him. Your unforgiveness not only will put you in bondage, but puts the one you hate into bondage with you.

If they get right with God, they will go free, but you will stay in torment. Why,? Because your unforgiveness is a sin against God, and God will hold you accountable for it.

In fact, you can eventually end up in hell over it.

Let reread this passage from Matt 6, where Jesus gives us the Lord’s prayer.

9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

We are commanded to forgive others. If we will not, God will not forgive us. Forgiveness is an act of our will. Not matter what they did to you, you must obey God and forgive them. God will deal with them on your behalf, only after you forgive.

Just to Show you how important forgiveness is to God, I’ve listed some verses on it below.

Forgiveness:

(Mat 26:28 NIV)  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

To forgive you cost Jesus His very blood.

(Luke 1:77 NIV)  to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

(Luke 24:47 NIV)  and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

(Acts 2:38 NIV)  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is only after you are forgiven, that you can receive the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 5:31 NIV)  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

(Acts 10:43 NIV)  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

(Acts 13:38 NIV)  “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

(Acts 26:18 NIV)  to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
(Eph 1:7 NIV)  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

(Col 1:14 NIV)  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

(Heb 9:22 NIV)  In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

There is no other religion on the face of the planet that can give the guarantee Jesus gives. If we accept His sacrifice on the cross on our behalf, we are forgiven of our sins, before a Holy God.

Notice that these verses above deal mainly with our forgiveness before God. Yet, He commands us to forgive.

Col 3:13  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matt 6,

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

14  For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

• But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Mark 11

22  “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

23  “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

• And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

We believe the faith message on purpose. Yet, faith worketh by love. Forgiveness is part of our love walk. This verse is standard faith food. Notice that our unforgiveness will hinder God from answering our prayers.

Luke 6

37  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

• Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 17:1  Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.

2  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

3  So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

4  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

5  The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

• He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Bitter-Root Judgements and Expectancies

What you believe determines what you have, and who you are. If you, deep within yourself, know God loves you, then you believe that something good is going to happen to you, and you are an optimist. These people are great to be around because no matter what happens, they are always looking for a solution, and finding it. Yet, the negative is also true, if you, deep down, believe you are a nothing, a nobody, and that bad things are always happening to you, well, except for the grace of God, that’s all you will ever experience in life. Yet  “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12. The good news is that God does heart surgery on us to change the way we view ourselves, and the way we think.

Let’s look for a minute on how these negative thought patterns can control us. Let’s say you had a rough childhood, and no matter how hard you tried, people bigger than you beat you up, or mistreated you. If you don’t know God, you don’t know enough to forgive them, and to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”, as Jesus teaches us in Matt 5:44. So, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, this pattern develops in your life. People hurt you. You judge them, and the very thing you judge them for begins to come back upon you for it is written, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matt 7:1. This is not some theological premise, but rather, spiritual law. When you judge another, the judgement you give them comes back on you. The problem is, if the process of them hurting you goes on long enough, you become bitter, and deep within yourself you develop what is called a bitter-root expectancy. Rage. That is why the Scripture says: “ See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” Heb 12:15. This root within you expects the worst to happen to you, often subconsciously. Well, these are easy to discover in your life, because you simply have to look at the patterns of negative behavior that seem to continue. The way of escape is the same. Forgive all those that have hurt you, and decide to kill this negative cycle in your life. How? By putting it to death on the cross with Jesus. When He died, it died, and you get to go free. Heart surgery. Free on the inside.

Ex 15:23  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. (Marah means ‘bitter’ in Hebrew)

24  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

See this in the Old Testament. They came to a place of bitter waters. Moses cried out to God for help. God showed him a tree ( a shadow and type of the cross), that made bitter waters sweet, and God revealed Himself here as Jehovah Rapha, the Great Physician, the Lord that healeth us. God cares about the pain people inflicted on you, but you have only one choice as a Christian, and that is to get healed.

Hebrews 12:15

looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

10  If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven–if there was anything to forgive–I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake

in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2 Corinthians 2:11

lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices

One of the tricks, traps, and snares of satan is to get a person to hold a grudge, that he might have God Himself deliver that person over to his tormentors!

Jesus did it, as a man operating in the authority of a man under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in his earthly ministry.

You can too. Why? Priests in the Old Testament offered up sacrifices for sins.

(1 Pet 2:9 NIV)  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

It is part of the high priestly ministry of Jesus, and you are part of his body, an ambassador, acting on his behalf in the earth. You act like he would act if He were here in the flesh. Would He forgive? So should you, for He has given you legal authority to act on His behalf. As He was, so are we in the earth.

Luke 5

17  One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.

18  Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.

19  When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22  Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

23  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

24  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

25  Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

• Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

There will be times in our lives that we will ask God to forgive people their sins, and He will hear, and will forgive them on our account.

Today, I give you a homework assignment (5 Questions)

1. Come clean with God. Ask Him to show you all the things you’ve done that offend him, and ask Him to forgive you.

2.         Come clean with others. Ask God to show you all the people who have hurt you, and forgive them. I had to make a 21 page list, forgive them, then burn the list

3.          Come clean with yourself. Ask God to show you all the areas of your life where you are beating yourself up, and forgive yourself

4.      Ask God to show you any bitter-root judgements and expectancies you have made, and that are still operating in your life. By faith, kill them, by placing them on the cross where Jesus died for you. If they seek to operate again in your life, recognize them, and stand against them. Determine to be the best person you can possibly be.

5. Ask God to show you other people that are caught in this trap, and pray for them. There will be healing in it for you. (Job 42:10 NIV) After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

• But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In the KJV this verse says the Holy Spirit will bring all things to you remembrance that I have taught you.

God will help you with this.