"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles."
Psalm 34:17
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This is Part 2 of a study on Manifested Love: Forgiving others.
Please scroll down and read Part 1 before continuing on with this lesson.
What does the End Days Church and forgiveness have to do with each other?
Everything!
Jesus is preparing each of us to shine with His glory. That glory will be seen in us as He manifests Himself through us.
As our hearts become free and cleansed of past hurts and offenses we can expect the nations to be drawn to the extreme light of a Glorious Church without spot, blemish, wrinkle, unholiness and unforgiveness.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
THE CHURCH: The Operation of God in the Earth
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all …”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
“For in fact, the body is not one member but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14
Jesus gave us a command to love one another. Easy to read that statement but it takes humility and determination to obey it.
The Church of this generation is contending with an enemy—the accuser of the brethren—who is stepping up his strategies to divide the saints by trapping them in offenses with one another.
Definition of Offense:
insult, snub, disrespect, insolence, impudence, rudeness, umbrage, harm, abuse, affront, embarrassment, humiliation, indignity, outrage, slap, attack
Keep your thoughts centered on love for the brethren no matter what.
This is not a time to be touchy with one another and talk disparagingly about each other. Let us not be two faced, sweet in one’s presence, critical in their absence. Remember, we are brethren who are on the same team. Immediately forgive any offenses or differing views on things. Pray and bless…pray and bless!
God forbid that our enemy cause us to be enemies of each other.
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
“But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:13-16
A LOOK AT MAN'S BEST FRIEND
Have you ever seen the hilarious video on You Tube of the “dog that bites his own leg”?
It shows a dog who is laying on the couch chewing on a bone. His back leg begins to move. What does he do? Growling and showing teeth, he attacks his leg, over and over.
Doesn't he realize that biting his leg is biting his own body?
It may be very funny to watch a schizophrenic dog think his own leg is his worst enemy, but in regard to The Church, we can be assured that Jesus does not laugh or approve of members of His own Body who attack and harm His other parts.
“Don’t they know they are one body?”
Saints, let’s forgive quickly…because we love our Savior!
PLANTING KINGDOM SEED INTO THE WORLD
Every time we choose to obey God we plant a seed of love in this earthly realm. And love is the most powerful spiritual force in heaven and earth. Love paves the road that faith moves on. That is the victory that overcomes the world. 1 John 5:4
After all, that’s how our Savior overcame the world and the cross.
What you and I do, how we live our lives, affects other members, and further affects our world.
If we are holding onto unforgiveness we may miss an opportunity to express God’s love to an unpleasant waitress at the restaurant who is going through a divorce or that cashier that has to leave work early because her child is sick.
Unforgiveness will keep us looking inward and isolated instead of releasing God’s love to others.
Jesus said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12
Lawlessness must not abound in The Glorious Church!
THE WORLD: In Need of a Savior
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God …”
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Saints, that’s a list of people that live around us in our communities.
They need prayer. They also need our Savior’s love and redemption. As Ambassadors of Christ, God is pleading through us to them: “Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
Coming into contact with some of these people daily may not always be pleasant.
As intercessors we are more aware of the chaos of darkness. As we walk in the Spirit among the lost, we have an opportunity to shine our light. How?
“Repay no one evil for evil. Do not avenge yourselves... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” See Romans 12:9-21.
"LOVE NEVER FAILS." 1 Corinthians 13
“… even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30
THE CHURCH: The Intercessor
As intercessors who follow the Holy Spirit in praying for The Glorious Church, The Lost and Elected Officials, our hearts must be free of bitterness, past pain and the wrongs that others have done to us.
Those who choose to remain camped in offenses can expect to go down a dark road and end up as a backslider.
Hard words, but true. Unforgiveness is nasty and infects others.
"Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?"
James 3:11
Christians do not have the “right” to embrace offenses and allow the flesh to wear a badge of sympathy to get attention from others.
Jesus died so that we would be healed of sorrow and grief. By faith in Him, release the pain and receive your healing. See Isaiah 53:4-5.
“Wow, that’s hard.”
BE STRONG IN GRACE: 2 Timothy Chapter 2 AMP
“So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus... Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.
“No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him…
“Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David, according to the good news (the Gospel) that I preach.”
Definition of Discipline:
Training, schooling, indoctrination, enforcement of rules, diligence, exercise, practice, preparation, regulated habit, regimen, self-enforced practice, instruction, drill
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CLOSING COMMENTS TO THE GLORIOUS CHURCH
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful!
But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:11 NLT
Praise God! Sow love, Saints!
Read 1 Corinthians 13 in the amplified version often.
If you would like to watch the video of the dog:
go to YouTube.com and type in “Dog Bites Own Leg.”
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PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTIES IN LOVE
The Glorious Church The Lost Elected Leaders
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