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Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus, part of the growing repentance remnant, cleansing as His Bride, getting ready for His soon return as our Bridegroom-----
Luk 24:47
And that repentance and remission (forgiveness) of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Besides Repentance - Forgiveness is one of those very "touchy" points in our Christian faith that many believers try to bypass as best as they can. Yes, we all want the Promises in the Word, and we all want to see the Signs, Miracles and Wonders happening in our daily lives...
But when we hear about Repentance and Forgiveness - then we tend to shy away from it, and skip those scriptures - and rather move on to the promises again - which gives us hope, and is a definite anchor for our Faith.
But, like James wrote in James 1:23-24 that we need to become "Doers" of the Word, not just "hearers" - which literally means DOING ALL of the Word (the Scriptures), and not just be selective of which scriptures we want to pick that suits us.
And if we read the scriptures and start to study them, we will see that God has chosen that Repentance and Forgiveness should be very much a part of the scriptures throughout the Old and New Testaments - it is a major requirement for us to be saved and be able to walk in His Righteousness! There is just no getting past any of it.
So let's look at Why is Forgiveness then so important - and why we as believers just absolutely have to put in that effort, and take the time to push through those difficult situations in our lives and we just can not avoid it... especially when we have to face all those painful memories from the past we really just want to forget about, and move on - and not wanting to face it - let alone having to deal with it all over again - or just want to block certain people out of our lives - and not wanting to deal with the ones that are difficult, causing us so much pain and hurt...etc.
Now, when we study the scriptures further we will see that there are 2 sides to Forgiveness:
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The First is: God forgiving us our sins,
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And Secondly, because of God's forgiveness, it has now become a requirement that we must also forgive each other's sins (trespasses).
And if we look at Matthew 6 & 18 - we'll see that these 2 parts are very much interlinked with each other.
But let's first look at the first part - God's Forgiveness for our sins / trespasses...
Mark 2:1-12 gives us a little glimpse of the depth and the importance of forgiveness. 'Cause, when the friends of a man sick of the palsy (a condition characterized by paralysis or weakness of muscles, often accompanied by tremors or other movement abnormalities) brought him to Jesus, lowering him through the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching - the first words Jesus spoke to him was "Son, your sins are forgiven". He could have said anything - even suggested that he must repent - but instead Jesus spoke forgiveness over the man.
Now if we read the rest of the story - we will see how the people that were listening to Him were shocked by His words, as that was definitely not what they expected from Jesus at that moment !! Cause the Jews at that time, believed that only God can forgive sins. Man can not forgive anyone else. They thought that we can only execute judgment over each other - based on the Law of Moses - but no one can be forgiven. If you were guilty, and the law said you must be put to death, then there was no mercy further - and no one was pardoned of their crimes.
Like the story of the woman that was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) - they had every reason to stone her - as that is what the law said. That is why Jesus didn't argue with them, nor tried to convince them not to throw the stones at her.
But instead Jesus said in verse 7: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". Which caused the crowd to become "convicted by their own conscience" (Verse 9) and so they just left one after the other... That conviction they experienced, made them realise that they also deserve to be stoned just as much as she did, and it was no use trying to convict her.
Then, keeping that in mind - if we go back to Mark 2 again - And looking at verses 9-11 - we'll read Jesus' response to the people's remarks - which actually gives us a deeper insight as to "WHY" Forgiveness is so important. He said "What is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way.... "
Really meaning that Forgiveness and our "Healing" are going hand in hand. As it literally means that if we can receive our forgiveness from God, we can also receive our Healing from Him - as now that God has forgiven us, He can now also heal whatever sickness, pain or disease we have. 'Cause without His Forgiveness for us, there can be no healing for us either!!
For it is by God's MERCY that we are forgiven, as it is because of His Mercy and His Love, that Jesus was willing to suffer and die a gruesome death on a Cross, and shed His Blood that day on Golgotha.
And Isa 53:5 says that it is "...by His stripes we are healed". That word "healed" in the Hebrew - actually means "Being made whole again". In other words we are being restored and set back in our place of complete strength and full health - having abundant LIFE (John 10:10, John 3:16) - and thus all fear of death is removed (Heb 2:15) (which is what sickness brings us - 'Cause with any type of sickness we stare death in the eyes 24/7.)
And Now: Speaking of MERCY - that is why the Blood had to be poured over the "Mercy Seat" which was on top of the Ark of the Covenant - on the Day of Atonement - by the High Priest - only once a year - when he was allowed to go behind the veil into the Holy of Holies - and so make atonement for Israel. (See for example Lev 16, which is also further explained in Hebrews 8 to 10 - which is too much to go into now).
And so the BLOOD on the MERCY SEAT is what tells us - of the Preciousness of His Forgiveness for our sins - and what it COST Jesus, so He can forgive us!
And thus one of the 7 words that Jesus spoke on the Cross, and which is recorded in this very important scripture in Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
If Jesus did not pray / request that from the Father at that very moment on the Cross, He would have failed the whole reason for His suffering and even His death on the Cross. That was the very moment Jesus Interceded for us (Isa 53:12) as the human race starting from Adam and Eve, right through to you and me today and even for those still coming after us, until the day He comes again...
THUS: Without His Forgiveness, flowing out of His MERCY - we can not be Healed!
And thus it is so important to RECEIVE our Forgiveness from God - as we often pray as part of a general prayer "Lord, forgive us our trespasses, forgive us our sins..." not really thinking about it any further...and we hardly ever take a moment during our times of prayer to think about what am I praying/ saying...
Instead - We really need to stop at that moment - and also thank God for His forgiveness for our trespasses - looking at our every individual mistakes, wrong behaviors, words, sinful deeds, rebellion, fears, stubbornness, wickedness, deception, etc...
As it is through taking that time of really Thanking our lord, Jesus and our Heavenly Father that He forgave my every sinful word and deed - whether it was said or done knowingly or unknowingly - that we also start receiving His Forgiveness !
And then that is when the realization hits us in the heart and mind - that "I am really forgiven - and that I don't have to walk with that underlying "guilt, fear or shame" anymore... But I can actually let go of it all - and I can walk away from that moment I'm so ashamed of....not having to carry that burden with me anymore..."
And when we get to that place - we will experience a weight falling off our shoulders, and even see healing happening in our bodies. And in some cases, we will find that even Relationships and our Financial frustrations and struggles will be restored again.
Hallelu'Yah !!
And now, with all this understanding in mind, it now brings me to the second part of Forgiveness I mentioned earlier !!
We need to now forgive each other's trespasses as well !!
Which brings me to Matt 6:12, 14-15 as well as Matt 18:21-35
In Matt 18 Jesus gives us this parable - of the servant who owned his master, the king, a great deal of money, and when his master called him, and asked to pay his debts, the servant profusely begged for mercy - as he just couldn't pay his debts to his master at the time. And this, Jesus said in verse 27, that the "king was moved with compassion - and forgave him his debts."
Which I'm sure you can now also relate with the First Part of forgiveness I shared above... and see that the king is a Parallel to Jesus being the King of kings and the Lord of lords..., and that the servant, is you and me...
But then the story doesn't end there...instead it continues in Matt 18 - where Jesus then tells of this very servant meeting one of his fellow servants, who also owed him some money - but which was much less compared to what he owed the King...
And this servant insisted that his fellow servant must pay up now of what he owed him, which the fellow servant also begged and asked for mercy, as he couldn't pay up what he owed either.
But now here is the crux of the matter - that instead of showing mercy to his fellow servant - he was merciless - and instead - ordered for his fellow servant to be locked up in jail, until he could pay - which will probably be never, as there is now no chance he will be able to pay his debts - as he wouldn't be able to work anymore...and thus would be sitting in jail forever and a day...
And when this word got to the King of what happened, he called this hard and merciless servant - and asked him: (verses 32-34) "... ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him."
And at that moment - all his past forgiveness that this servant received from the King, was revoked - and instead - he was treated exactly the same as he treated his fellow servant...
And that is what Jesus meant in Matt 6:12, 14-15, when He taught on the "Our Father" Prayer...
Matthew 6:12, 14-15 NKJV
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.....
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
And that is WHY Forgiveness is so important for us as believers - or should I rather say - servants of the Most High God !!
We just can not afford to take our forgiveness that we receive from Jesus lightly, and still treat our fellow brothers and sisters (or rather servants of God) with harshness, and refuse to forgive them - cause in fact what we really do then is - we REVOKE our very forgiveness we've received from Jesus - and that guilt that was hanging over our heads, will then be judged accordingly, and everything we fear - will actually come over us !!!
Meaning - God will judge us, according to how we judge, and how we treat each other. And if you read the rest of the sermon on the mount - from Matt 5 to 7, you will see a couple of examples where Jesus clearly teaches us - that the "way we measure - we shall also be measured" (Matt 7:2) and "what we want men to do to us, we must also do unto them" (Matt 7:12) !!
Meaning: our Righteousness as Believers - needs to Exceed the Righteousness of the world - and we thus just can not do as we wish anymore, and follow the worldly ways. We have to be better, if we want to be partakers of the Kingdom of God!!
Matthew 5:20 NKJV
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Now I know - this is a heavy message - and we all fall very much short of the depth of this requirement - and we are being tested by others sometimes to a point where we just have to break away from those relationship for our own sanity and survival - and sometimes even have to go so far as blocking that person out of our lives.
Now, Looking at the scriptures - and the message above - I'm not saying you must just go back to those abusive relationships, and just become a "punchbag or a floormat" for others to use and abuse you as they wish - and you're not allowed to stand up for yourself.
If you know the power of true humbleness, their abuses won't harm you, but until you do, you can not allow others to just walk all over you. You first need to get away from it all, and get healed, and learn to know who you are in Christ, and the Power of God's Love - then you will be able to handle any form or type of abuse in the right way, Jesus intended for us to live. Thus, do not let any guilt drive your choices to stay in any abusive relationship.
But, what I am saying is - like Jesus said - as far as it is possible, try and make right with your adversary - Matt 5:25 (i.e. those who are opposing you, hurting you, walking all over you, even might have abused you in whichever way), but if they do not show true repentance, and are asking for forgiveness, and really showing through their words and actions that they truly want to change, you can step back, and I believe, even break with that relationship.
BUT: In order for you to still ensure that you still keep your forgiveness from God in tact, and so keep your healing and walk in the Peace of God, not having to fear His judgement, make that choice today to forgive each person that hurt or harmed you in whatever way they did - regardless of how they hurt or harmed you.
Cause compared to the suffering that Jesus went through on the cross for each one of us, we just can not compare the hurt and damage others did to us, and think that hurt and pain is worse than what Jesus went through. There is just no comparison to His suffering, and what He had to go through in order to forgive you and me!
Thus, choose today to forgive, and let go of all the judgement, the bitterness and pain and disappointment you have in your fellow brother or sister, and release them from all their guilt - regardless of if they choose to actually repent or ask for forgiveness or not. Instead let them go - and set them free. Don't hold anything against anyone. Don't put them in a "spiritual jail". Instead, let them go.
In that way we also open the door for our Lord's Holy Spirit to start working in that person's life - and who knows - maybe, just maybe, one day in the future they will actually come to a point of insight and of true repentance of their wrong behavior.
And just maybe, they will come back to you, to ask for forgiveness as well...
And if you are reading this newsletter today - and you know of anyone you have hurt in the past, first of all Repent now before God of every wrong you did, and ask Him for your forgiveness. Then choose to RECEIVE His loving forgiveness for you...
And then, take the next step and go to that person, and go and ask him/her for forgiveness as well. They may, or may not, choose to forgive you. If they don't it is ok - just forgive them and let go of your guilt and shame you carry - and start praying for them to also come to the realisation of the importance of forgiveness - until God works in their hearts, and truly brings healing to those relationships.
But just hiding away, keeping quiet, keeping it all bottled up, not dealing with the situations, just doesn't help. You will carry that guilt over your head and you will never know if that relationship could have been restored or not. And the chances are, that unforgiveness will cause you so much hurt and pain, and might even cause sicknesses in your life...
And if a person passed away already - then just release everything in God's hands - and pray like Jesus did - and just ask our Heavenly Father to forgive them and not to hold anything against them, and to also forgive you, and heal you of your wrong behavior - setting you free from the bondage of the pain from the past...etc..
And then: LET IT GO !! Don't carry the guilt any longer with you.
And lastly to show that you have repented from all your wrong behavior in word and in deed, and that you have received God's forgiveness for your life - then choose to not behave that way anymore, do not speak like you did before, and choose to live a way that is glorifying God from now on - becoming a better person!
And 1 John 1:5-10 will come into effect in your life: "He is faithful and just to forgive you - and cleanse you of all unrighteousness !!" (Verse 9)
And my prayer for you who are reading this message, and that chose to be a doer of the Word today...: "May you experience the true depth of God's Mercy and Receive His forgiveness for you, and may He also bring you healing and deliverance from all past guilt as well as hurts (experienced or caused), and may everything concerning you including relationships be restored in your life, and may you live a long healthy life, filled with God's Goodness and Blessings in your life !!"
May God Bless you in abundance !!
Your sister in Christ
Susan Hammer
South Africa
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Even though NDR did not reach its goal by June 30 in the GIVE 12 Project-- not quite 45% was raised---a breakthrough happened! Some new donors came aboard, some current donors made new monthly commitments, and --having checked with the LORD our Provider---therefore we are extending the campaign through August. The goal is to raise nearly $70,000 to continue to support repentance-preaching ministers (whose testimonies we will continue to share), who are accomplishing major Holy Spirit-based results, bringing hundreds and hundreds each week into Jesus' Kingdom. The new name of the Project is "Invite one to One." We are praying for our current donors to witness "fruit worthy of repentance" to others, sharing why they support NDR, inviting even one other person to participate now in this work of the Lord to spread His Gift of Repentance.
Please continue to sow into this mighty move of God - and do not get weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not... (Gal 6:6-9). Your donation of whatever amount the LORD places on your heart to give towards His MOVE of Repentance continues to bear fruit !
REMINDER
Please join us this coming Saturday - July 19
@ 12noon EST / 9am PST / 6pm CAT
as we will be Praying and Repenting for the DRC-the Congo
Due to security reasons - You are welcome to register below - or - Register on our website in order to receive the Zoom details in time for the call..
Thank you for listening to the LORD and for your obedience.
May God Bless you in abundance as you sow towards His Kingdom!
God bless you,
Pastor Jeff
Pastor Jeffrey Daly
National Day of Repentance
www.globalrepent.com
pastorjeff@repentday.com
Box 246 Middletown CA USA. 95461
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