September 25, 2011 at 11:35pm
Remember Elijah, Jonah... Paul? Elijah hid in a cave, and got forced out by God. Jonah ran to another place, was swallowed, and spit out by a whale, exactly where God wanted him to be in the first place. And Paul? Well, he got it the worst, he was knocked off his "high horse," and could nothing less than the will of God. These first two of these great men of God ran from their calling, and the last, he persecuted the church & denied whom Christ said he was until God decided to use him as an example, to show the redeeming power of His Truth, Grace, Mercy & Love, which we should all live by. We know not what God plans for our lives, but He shows us daily that His will... WILL BE DONE. He tells, "In his heart, man determines his course, but the Lord determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
It is written, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee." - Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV).. Yet it is also written, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)... Therefore, it seems all of our troubles, & battles can be fought and won within. So what stops us then but a spirit of fear? The enemy's way of keeping us in bondage within ourselves... fear of letting the one's we love, and may have previously hurt us, know that we still love them, but are afraid of being hurt again. Well, inevitably, we will be hurt again, if not by that person, then by someone, or something else. But fear not, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)Yet holding a grudge, which is the same as being unforgiving, is not how God wants us to be... "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." - James 5:9 (KJV)
Many say things like, "I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I have to deal with you." That's not forgiveness then, for a grudge is still held. Then that person is unable to get that piece of bread, or something to drink from you out your rebellion to the Word of God. Nevertheless, if both parties don't admit and apologize for the error of their ways, for it's never only one person's fault, then no one can be forgiven, and in that case, both parties are in danger. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matt. 6:14-15 (KJV) Or as the old folks say, "God don't like ugly." We can't be Christians and not love, and deeply care for one another, envy, be jealous of, act mean, ignore, rejoice in another's calamities, or have nasty attitudes toward one another. Because, when we pray, or ask God for something, possessing those ways, and have .001% of doubt, or .001% of fear, not completely trusting that God will work things out for us, then we'll receive nothing from Him... "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:" - James 1:6-9 (KJV)...
Paul says, "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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)... Notice Paul says, "forgetting." He hasn't completely forgotten, but he is holding onto it either, he's moving forward, and it's impossible to move forward holding onto something behind you. Try closing the door behind you, holding onto the knob, move forward. You can't... It's a process of growth, you must let go of what's behind you. Not the person, because you have to forgive them, if you want God to forgive you, but the situation, the hurt, the pain, whatever happened in the past... Many people hold onto hurts from past relationships, and bring them into the next. So what happens? They fail, because they haven't forgiven the prior person, and choose to remain in fear & bondage, thinking that the person is the answer, or the next person will be so different. If you keep having the same issue in every relationship... Honestly, the problem is more than likely, you. But that's the funny thing about love. Oftentimes love hurts, think how much it hurt God to allow His son to die for us, and we still sin. Think how much that love hurt when the lies were told, the flesh was ripped & torn, when the nails were driven through the hands & feet, and the crown of thorns was placed upon the head of Christ. All of those things hurt for our good, and that's what the truth in love does, it heals, for it is written, "Love never fails." - 1 Cor. 13:8. So that person whom loves you may not intentionally hurt you. Yet if it's by the truth, and by the Gospel, (which means absolute truth,) of Christ & the Word of God, then they only aim to help you heal from your past, relieve your pain, get beyond the fear, forgive, and love... But only if you allow them to. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a vessel to get this message to your people, may there be a blessing added to this Word...
It is written, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee." - Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV).. Yet it is also written, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)... Therefore, it seems all of our troubles, & battles can be fought and won within. So what stops us then but a spirit of fear? The enemy's way of keeping us in bondage within ourselves... fear of letting the one's we love, and may have previously hurt us, know that we still love them, but are afraid of being hurt again. Well, inevitably, we will be hurt again, if not by that person, then by someone, or something else. But fear not, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)Yet holding a grudge, which is the same as being unforgiving, is not how God wants us to be... "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." - James 5:9 (KJV)
Many say things like, "I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I have to deal with you." That's not forgiveness then, for a grudge is still held. Then that person is unable to get that piece of bread, or something to drink from you out your rebellion to the Word of God. Nevertheless, if both parties don't admit and apologize for the error of their ways, for it's never only one person's fault, then no one can be forgiven, and in that case, both parties are in danger. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matt. 6:14-15 (KJV) Or as the old folks say, "God don't like ugly." We can't be Christians and not love, and deeply care for one another, envy, be jealous of, act mean, ignore, rejoice in another's calamities, or have nasty attitudes toward one another. Because, when we pray, or ask God for something, possessing those ways, and have .001% of doubt, or .001% of fear, not completely trusting that God will work things out for us, then we'll receive nothing from Him... "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:" - James 1:6-9 (KJV)...
Paul says, "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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)... Notice Paul says, "forgetting." He hasn't completely forgotten, but he is holding onto it either, he's moving forward, and it's impossible to move forward holding onto something behind you. Try closing the door behind you, holding onto the knob, move forward. You can't... It's a process of growth, you must let go of what's behind you. Not the person, because you have to forgive them, if you want God to forgive you, but the situation, the hurt, the pain, whatever happened in the past... Many people hold onto hurts from past relationships, and bring them into the next. So what happens? They fail, because they haven't forgiven the prior person, and choose to remain in fear & bondage, thinking that the person is the answer, or the next person will be so different. If you keep having the same issue in every relationship... Honestly, the problem is more than likely, you. But that's the funny thing about love. Oftentimes love hurts, think how much it hurt God to allow His son to die for us, and we still sin. Think how much that love hurt when the lies were told, the flesh was ripped & torn, when the nails were driven through the hands & feet, and the crown of thorns was placed upon the head of Christ. All of those things hurt for our good, and that's what the truth in love does, it heals, for it is written, "Love never fails." - 1 Cor. 13:8. So that person whom loves you may not intentionally hurt you. Yet if it's by the truth, and by the Gospel, (which means absolute truth,) of Christ & the Word of God, then they only aim to help you heal from your past, relieve your pain, get beyond the fear, forgive, and love... But only if you allow them to. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a vessel to get this message to your people, may there be a blessing added to this Word...
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