FORGIVE BEFORE THE HURT (4)

THE BENEFITS OF FORGIVENESS

TEXT: Genesis 50:17-23

As we round off on the series on forgiveness, we shall consider just seven (7) out of the innumerable benefits of forgiveness.

1)      ACCESS INTO GOD'S PRESENCE

Unforgiveness blocks the path into divine fellowship. When you forgive, mercy is amplified over your life and God accepts you (Matthew 5:23-24)

2)      RESTORATION

Job was hurt by his friends, but when he forgave them and God confirmed his forgiveness by his obedience to pray for them, God restored him. If you don't let go the person who hurt you, you have used your hands to lock up the flow of God's restorative streams.

3)      PRESERVATION

Moses was a man who enjoyed divine preservation from the beginning of his life and then ministry to his last day. No devil could touch him; Pharaoh couldn't hurt him; the Amalekites couldn't conquer him: God preserved him! How did preservation work for Moses? He was a forgiver. The same people who provoked him to strike the rod against God's instruction; he forgave them and was ready to sacrifice his name being blotted out from God's book just for them to be saved. This is forgiveness! (Exodus 32:32). When Mariam and Aaron spoke against him and God dealt with Mariam, Moses was there begging for her (Numbers 12:13).

4)      RISING IN LIFE

Unforgiveness is a weight (Hebrews 12:1). When you carry unforgiveness in your heart your life becomes too heavy for lifting. When you forgive, you become light and so you can rise in life. Unforgiveness is a puncture that leaks the virtues of greatness and makes a man alien to God's favour and lifting.

Also, forgiveness demonstrates humility, and humility is the pathway to divine lifting (James 1:9; 4:6).

5)      VICTORIOUS LIFE

The devil cannot access a man's life except there is a loophole usually created by sin, disobedience and negative covenants. When a man lives in unforgiveness it creates a spiritual window into his life via which demons can (justifiably) have free entry and exit.

6)      JOY AND PEACE

Forgiveness is a righteous act that builds up your faith and makes you become more like Christ. It is written: "The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous" (Psalm 118:15a).

7)      HEAVEN AT LAST

Unforgiveness is a sin: it leads to hell. To refuse to forgive is to deny God's nature of forgiveness (in you) which made Him forgive mankind. If for nothing, forgive because it is a requirement for Heaven.

Friend, forgiveness is the way of God and it is the way to go. I pray that God's grace and peace fill and flood your heart. May your heart be established with grace in Jesus' name. Amen.

FORGIVE BEFORE THE HURT (3)

LOVING THE CHRIST WAY

TEXT: John 3:16

Love is the leading way to a life of victory over hurts and unforgiveness. And like I pointed out, it is not just about loving; it is about loving the Christ way. And this is what we consider briefly on SPIRIT’S SWORD DEVOTIONAL today.

The frank truth is that sometimes it sounds foolish telling someone to forgive and let go especially when hurts come from places you least or never expected. Abel was a victim of hurt from Cain, his blood brother, and in death his blood cried out for vengeance. Joseph suffered hurt from his blood brothers, but he forgave. He suffered hurt from Mr & Mrs Portiphar, but he forgave. The Abel and Joseph’s principles are two options for a man, but Jesus defined the right option which Joseph exemplified – forgive and love unconditionally.

What does it mean to love the Christ way?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16a).

1)      It is forgiving people without keeping the records of their wrongs (Matthew 18:21-22).

When you keep records of wrongs, you put yourself at risk of unanswered prayers

2)      It means should there arise any opportunity to do good for the person, you do it. In other words; it is not withholding good from them when it is in your power to do so (Proverbs 3:27). This is love and forgiveness. Indeed, “love is kind.” To love Christ way is to give kindness in exchange for hostility and disappointment.

3)       Don’t wish any evil happen to them because “love thinks no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5c).

When people hurt you, it is ungodly to wish them calamities/misfortunes which in your thought would make them return to apologize to you. This kind of thinking is demonic and can implicate you in destiny and eternity.

4)      It is praying for them and hoping they find God and end well.

If you ever wish someone goes to hell so that they can pay for wronging you, then you are just ahead of them on the way to hell.

Dear friend, if you must overcome hurt and live above unforgiveness, I show you the way to this victorious life – the way of love! You may claim to love God but if you fail the test love, then the scripture says “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 john 4:20).

Peace to you!

Supporting scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8; 1 John 4:11-21

FORGIVE BEFORE THE HURT (2)

TEXT: Ephesians 4:30-32

We started looking at the subject of forgiveness in God's way. It is important to note that we are considering it God's way and not the way of the world because God's way is the best way. Let us consider the way of the world concerning forgiveness.

1) The world keeps bitterness against the parties involved

2) The world won't hesitate to take vengeance at the slightest available opportunity

Now, bitterness and vengeance are like bombs being carried by those who refuse to forgive against those that hurt them. Look at it; bombs can explode at any time and when they do, the person carrying may be more a victim than the person(s) they are meant for. Therefore, to harbour bitterness and vengeance is to be a potential 'suicide bomber'. A suicide bomber is a risk not just to himself but to innocent people around. This is an offshoot of bitterness and vengeance; they make you a danger to humanity and leave you miserable in eternity.
People who choose this way have choosen the way of the world, and 'those in the world cannot please God.' To harbour bitterness and vengeance is to become an ally to flesh - the number two enemy of God after satan. This is why no one who is bitter and seeks vengeance can make Heaven. Vengeance is sin, and so is bitterness.

What are the ways out of these two elements of unforgiveness?

1) Love the Christ way

2) Pray for the 'offender'; pray for his/her good. If you pray for someone you can hardly hate them.

Prayer dissolves that unseen burden that can cause hurts to thrive and yield bitterness. When you pray for them, love flows from inside you and where love exist grace abounds, and where grace abounds, the devil cannot survive.

Tomorrow we shall consider what it means to love the Christ way. Remember, bitterness makes a person a captive to sin (Acts 8:23). You can carry the Bible and preach the word, but if there is bitterness in your heart sin has captured you!

Supporting scriptures: Job 21:25-26; Hebrews 12:15; James 3:13-14

FORGIVE BEFORE THE HURT (1)

TEXT: Matthew 6:14

Forgiveness is a spiritual virtue that flows in directions of hurts. It is the antidote to that deadly poisonous venom called vengeance (which is of the devil). To find the way of forgiveness is to have found the way to happiness and eternal life.

Life is composed of different categories of people driven by several passions. Their passions birth several actions, and where passions are faulty, actions will be hurtful. Some of these passions include: money, fame, materialism, position, lust in the name of love, etc. The offshoots are greed, selfishness/self-centredness, lack of contentment and many more. These people regard not God or man in the pursuit of their passions. And times without number you may just have been a victim, and painfully some of these people do not even look back to see if you are hurt.
Offences, persecutions, wrong allegations, false accusations, disappointments, heartbreaks, etc; these are some of the things that create hurts. Truly, some hurts can be so hot that they leave scars beyond the skin, on the heart.

There are many ways to handle hurts, but I wish to tell you the first way, and it is the way of Forgiveness. Yes, forgive no matter the hurt! It sounds foolish, but it is God's way. If you must find true happiness and end well in Heaven, you must open your heart and let the streams of forgiveness flow. They may not deserve it, but it is not about them; it is about God, and it is about you - your destiny and eternity.

Remember: Unforgiveness is like a little puncture on a large tyre: it is a matter of time, it will become clear you never can go far with it. One thing you may not rule out in 2014 is the truth that "offences will come" (Luke 17:1a). But make up your mind to forgive before the hurt. Maranatha.

Supporting scriptures: Genesis 5::17; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13

ENLARGING THE LITTLE (3)

<<<GOD’S WAYS TO A LIFE OF ENLARGEMENT>>>

TEXT: Psalm 71:21; Isaiah 54:2-4

5) BE A COMMITTED GIVER

Don’t be manipulated by smooth talkers or compelled by desperate money changers turned preachers to give, rather let giving be your lifestyle. Give to God, God’s work, God’s people (the poor, needy, orphans, widows, etc) not just out of search for more but of necessity and obligation. Also, you can give out of compassion, by instruction or through leading. Whichever is the motivation, give!

What you give only leaves your hand; it doesn’t leave your life. It is hard to be blessed if you are not a giver. Though blown out of proportion by gospel-laundering preachers, the principle of giving and receiving is Biblical and of God (Luke 6:38). Your heart of giving is a test of your confession of faith because faith gives!

6) OBEY DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS

“If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11).

God shall be bringing instructions your way; you must obey if you desire increase. When you follow divine instructions you enter divine destiny. You need to refrain from over-analysis of God’s instructions. You may not understand what He is working out by instructing you in a way that looks foolish, but in the end it will be clear God was working out your good. Disobedience cripples progress and causes destiny friction.

The instruction to Naaman sounded foolish but in the end there was healing (2 Kings 5). When the marriage wine finished, Jesus requested for water and they obeyed, in the end wine came forth (John 2: 1-10). Increase comes on the wings of obedience.

7) HAVE A VISION FOR GREATNESS AND HAVE A WORK PLAN

What is your vision for 2014? What are your plans for this year? Which area of your spiritual life are you really trusting God for more grace and increase? What you cannot picture in your eyes and mind, you may not capture with your hands.

Abraham had no child but God gave him a vision of nations. God told Jeremiah He (God) would do exactly what he (Jeremiah) had seen (Jeremiah 1:11-12). It is true that no picture; no future. And when your picture of the future is rooted in scripture, because God is committed to scripture, by extension He is committed to the vision rooted in scripture.

And avoid laziness…step out and work! Overcome sleep and procrastinations…it is time to work. Faith without work does not work!

8) FOCUS ON ETERNITY AND BE HEAVEN CONSCIOUS AND RAPTURE-READY

Nothing should be as important to you as Heaven. There is no earthly position that should count to you as your Heavenly placement. You must put God first and put Heaven first. Don’t pursue earthly things to the point of losing Heavenly place. Any possession that will replace your placement is not worth it.

Finally, you must remember that the true measure of your life is not what you possess here on earth, it is what you possess there in eternity (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:15). Beware of covetousness. And flee away from the desperate desire to have money and be rich; these are elements of the love of money. Always remember that whatever God does not give you, you do not need it (maybe yet). It may take time, but it truly takes God. There is sound of abundance of rain. You shall succeed!

ENLARGING THE LITTLE (2)

<<<GOD’S WAYS TO A LIFE OF ENLARGEMENT>>>

TEXT: Isaiah 54:2-4

1) GOD MUST BE THE SOURCE AND AT THE CENTRE OF WHAT YOU HAVE

Whatever has its roots in God will surely be fruitful in the end. You cannot ask God to bless what He didn’t give you in the first place. A thief asking God to bless the money he stole is invoking curses upon that money and his life, for ‘whatever a man sows, he reaps’ (Galatians 6:7). If he sowed pains in people’s life, he will reap pains in his life, no matter how hard he prays (unless he repents and do restitution).

If the job you have or the little you have came on the altar of compromise and bribery, you will be deceiving yourself asking God to enlarge it. If your source is not God, then your resources cannot be enlarged by God.

2) SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THE LITTLE YOU HAVE

Smallness is not an excuse for ungratefulness. In 2014 and always, you must cultivate the attitude of gratitude for everything (even lack). Gratitude enlarges; ungratefulness diminishes.

When Jesus was faced with little resources and thousands of people, He gave thanks (Matthew 15:36) and five loaves of bread and two fishes fed five thousand people aside women and children. When your ‘thanks’ is full, your ‘tank’ will be full. Emptiness follows thanklessness.

3) LOOK TO GOD AND NOT MAN

“Vain is the help of man” (Psalm 60:11; Psalm 108:12).

Man can only be a channel, God is the source. If one channel decides to close down, God who is the source can channel it Himself or open up another channel (helper) to you. And so, God must be your primary focus for help and increase. Anytime you look up to God, salvation comes close to you (Hebrews 12:2). When Jesus was about to multiply the bread and fishes, He “looked up to Heaven” (Matthew 14:19b). Look to God and rest your hope in Him.

4) UPHOLD THE TRUTH AND RETAIN INTEGRITY

You must put eternity above prosperity. Any increase that comes on the altar of compromise, cheating and corruption is not of God but an organised package from hell to rob you off Heaven. God cannot be glorified in a lie. If you told lie to be blessed and/or receive favour, the devil took the glory for that blessing. And anytime you share a testimony on that, the devil and hell mock God because you lied and glorified the father of lies (satan) and not God.

Any pastor falsifying testimonies and miracles so as to “win” more souls, he is in danger of hell. When the souls are won, there will be joy in Heaven so that the word be fulfilled (Luke 15:7), but the devil takes the glory because it came on the altar of lie and he (satan) is the father of lies (John 8:44). So, though Heaven rejoices, God is unhappy because the devil took the glory meant for Him. And anytime that pastor shares this as a testimony, hell rejoices and mocks because the testimony came on the altar of lie which is the nature of the devil and gives the devil the glory. God only takes the glory when results come on the altar of truth. This is why lying is a grievous sin that sends souls to hell.

ENLARGING THE LITTLE (1)

TEXT: Job 8:7

It is neither a crime nor a sin to have little resources or a little beginning. It can only remain little if it remains in your hands, but when handed over to God and faith in Him, “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation” (Isaiah 60:22a).

It is not unlikely that you are starting out with something little this year and even despised, perhaps a job, career, spirituality, faith, ministry, etc. It may even be possible that there is even no little to mention. The truth is that God can both make something out of nothing as well as enlarge the little you have.

-          The widow of Zarephath had little left and was anticipating death, but God stepped in and both dearth and death stepped out (1 kings 17:9-16). The widow became a mistress (1 Kings 17:17)

-          The disciples had just five loaves of bread and two fishes and were face to face with five thousand men and unnumbered women and children. But Jesus stepped in and multiplication resulted. This may be your situation this year: so much responsibility but so little resources! But, as you stay in God, live for God and trust in God, you shall not be put to shame.

“They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34:5).

-          There was a time in the life of Job that things got so difficult and it seemed his world was coming down crashing. There was no shoulder to lean on; even his wife became a thorn in his flesh. But in the end, “The LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42: 12a).

The beginning of this year may not suggest something better, but God’s word unveils God’s plans:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Beloved, God has a plan with you in mind; God has a plan for your life. You may have suffered many things in the past: sickness, barrenness, depression, joblessness, separation, conspiracy, disappointment, affliction, etc, but they are past now! For as long as your testimony is preserved, your destiny is intact in God. 2014 shall come better and bigger for you in Jesus’ name.