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Matthew 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (KJV)
All this week we have discussed personal responsibility with the Lord; you desire and request a response from the Lord concerning your petitions, and the Lord in turn requests things from you as well. The words of a believer should be spirit and should be bringing forth life; while words of a non believer will keep them in bondage, bound by sin and unbelief. One of the areas that many seek the Lord in is the area of forgiveness; asking the Lord to pardon their transgression and set them free from that bondage. One of the things the Lord requests in return is that you also forgive others, thus loosing yourself from grudges; a root of bitterness not only defiles you, but many times by your words, those around you are getting rained on with your bitter water also. Your forgiveness is a two-way street; so if you truly wish to receive forgiveness from the Father then it is something you need to be willing to do yourself, forgiving others that have trespassed against you. Matthew 6:12-15 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (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. (KJV) Do you feel weighed down at times and sense you are not moving forward in your walk with the Lord? Does it seem like you are being harassed by things from your past, something you just can’t seem to shake? When you have sinned and fallen short, are you as forgiving to others as you desire your heavenly Father to be with you? We basically have a contingency contract with our Father, with what measure you put out is measured back to you; or as some point out these days, what goes around comes around. So the question now is, are you just going for a ride on the not so merry go round; where it seems you end up in the same place and not able to move forward? Your willingness to forgive others can loose you from this bondage and set you free from these petty grudges you have been bound and determined to hang onto. Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (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. (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (KJV) The cloud of witnesses that we are surrounded with is raining down on us in the form of living waters, examples we have in the Bible of those that learned to be overcomers despite the contradiction and shame. How many of these people would have accomplished what the Lord was asking of them if all they did was fight and argue with worldly people, and try to find ways to get even? How far do you think you will progress in your walk if you keep this same mindset? Simply put, by holding grudges you are in essence in a holding pattern yourself until you are ready to let go of these things from the heart so that you can return to the path of life and run the course the Lord desires for you. Let us truly consider someone that endured contradiction, and Lord willing it will ease your wearied mind. Luke 23:33-34 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (KJV) Have you been nailed to a cross and left for dead, this after being beaten and bloodied? Have you been humiliated by a group of people that despised the message of love and hope you were bringing to a fallen dead world? Oh you may be acting like you have been; and these grudges you have been holding onto, do they even begin to compare to what our Lord endured? For those that have or are overweight physically, we all know what a burden it is to carry things around that are unwanted and unhealthy. The more we pack on the more it slows us down and can eventually lead to death if left unchecked. The reason many end up overweight is because they did not closely monitor what they were eating but allowed some unhealthy habits and foods into the temple. Spiritually this is what happens when we hold onto things and allow bitterness into the heart, it is like junk food that clogs the arteries and can stop one in their tracks. Take out the garbage people, and leave it in the dump. Rightly dividing the word of truth so that you can discard the excess spiritual weight that easily besets or harasses you, and run the endurance race that leads to an eternal life with our Father. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (26) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: (27) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (KJV) Have you ever seen boxers? Those that are good at their profession are the ones that are well trained and in good shape so that they can go the distance. Those that are not trained, or haven’t properly prepared themselves, don’t make it in this profession but end up on their backside. Fighters that are overweight have a distinct disadvantage as well, because they will easily tire out and not be able to go the distance. One of the things that will tire a boxer out quickly is swinging and missing into the air, not hitting the target but expelling a lot of energy with no positive results. The same holds true when one listens to the prince of the power of the air, swinging at imaginary targets in our mind and bogged down by bitterness and grudges of things from our past. So what are you meditating on today, right now? Are you in the Lord’s ring being trained up in the things that are based on truth, or are you shadow boxing in the imaginary realm of the enemy? Psalms 19:12-14 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. (13) Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (14) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (KJV) Some of the secret faults that keep a Christian in bondage at times come in the form of forgiveness, or their unwillingness to forgive others. Although it may not be always apparent to the outward man, the Lord sees the inward motive and will not grant forgiveness our way until we are willing to forgive others. Remember, if you allow these things to overcome you then you are brought in bondage to them until you are willing to loose them and let them go. So in order to receive forgiveness you need to be willing to give it; like the word of God says, give and it shall be given. 1 John 1:6-9 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) The darkness the devil wants you to walk in can manifest itself in the form of bitterness, your unwillingness to forgive and forget. It’s when we choose to walk in light that the fellowship is restored again and this root can be pulled out and discarded. Your stubbornness, pity parties, root of bitterness have kept you bound in the realm of the flesh rather than being loosed so that you can stand fast in the liberty in Christ and not entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Today instead of being bound and determined, allow yourself to be loosed in Christ and determined to walk in the liberty and light He has for you. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 5:1-4 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. (KJV)
When reading these verses one needs to understand that the writer John was giving an account of what was taking place at this pool and what the belief was among the people that were gathered around it. John was not giving credence to the fact that an angel was actually coming down from heaven and troubling the water, but his own eyewitness account of what the people were believing. To this day we have many who hold to this same belief. Having watched a documentary concerning this, there are many springs around the world that are considered to have waters that produce special powers, holy water if you would, which many swear by. For every different denomination they have their own watering hole, which shows you where they are at in their walk. Like so many, they look to the outward realm for something to cure their inward sickness, which in the end results with many being left out. These verses in John are an example of many of today’s so called churches and religious organizations who have a bunch of weak spiritually diseased followers waiting for someone or something to come along and get things stirred up. Rather than go to the source, accessing the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, many jump at the opportunity when some so called prophet or evangelist comes to town; someone they think is sent of God who is coming to get things stirred up. John 4:12-14 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (KJV) What well are you drinking from today? Are you looking to the spiritual well of life to find the eternal healing waters, or are you sitting around some stagnant polluted pool of man’s doctrine waiting for something or someone to stir you up? Are you looking to quench your spiritual thirst, or are you still seeking some outside source that many think will provide them some quick fix? The devil would like nothing better than to see God’s people sitting around being idle rather than taking hold of the blessings afforded His people; many are like passengers at an airport, always on standby and never taking off. Psalms 84:11-12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (KJV) God is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t play favorites and all of His promises are there for the taking to any and all that are willing to walk in the Spirit. Rather than sit around all week waiting for Sunday to come so that you can go to some building and wait for someone to get you stirred up again why not spend your time in the word of God seeking the Lord for yourself; building up your own confidence and assurance so that you can get out of your stagnant lifestyle and walk in the newness of life that is rightfully yours. Instead of lying around hoping something will happen, get up and walk uprightly in the Spirit and get back on the path of life. John 5:5-9 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. (KJV) If you notice, the Lord himself didn’t give credence to their belief about an angel showing up and stirring the waters. Neither did the Lord wait around for this so called angel to show up so that he could push this man into the water first. Rather He was able to give the truth to a man that had been afflicted for so many years. The Lord set a perfect example for us of how we should be ready always to give an answer of the truth to those that we encounter who have been caught up with a false belief that something in the outward would bring a healing and restoration to the inward. Only the truth can set one free. And only the word of God is able to provide the healing and make one whole; spirit, soul, and body. Our purpose in life is to point those that we come in contact with on a daily basis to the Father through His Son Jesus Christ so that they can access the One true healer and not be afflicted with the bondage of sin and sickness again. Many of us have spent time in the past afflicted and spiritually impotent; not able to walk a consistent path in the Spirit, but falling short because of sin. But now, having been set free, it is time to get up; arise from your spiritual slumber and sickness, and walk the path of life Father has for you. Walk in the blessing of healing and restoration. John 5:10-11 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. (KJV) Watch out and beware, because just as quick as the Lord gets you back on your feet, the devil and his workers will be right there again to get you to fall back to your old ways. Many today are still so caught up in the letter of the law that they miss the blessing of the Spirit. And rather than continue in the restoration they end up weak and on their backside again; the latter worse than the beginning. So beware of man-made stagnant doctrines that keep many in bondage to physical laws and religious regulations rather than accessing the One spiritual healer that actually makes house calls free of charge, and is available 24/7, 365 days a year. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV) We still see, to this day, many who are weak and sickly because they don’t know the difference and do not take the time to discern what is of God and what is not; and so they end up drinking from polluted wells instead the pure living waters. Many do not take the time to dig deep enough into the well of life to find pure living waters. Instead they settle for easier to reach stagnant pools that are toxic and unhealthy. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (KJV) The sad thing about reading the account in John 5 is that many of those around the pool (as many are still today) were actually believers, those that were seeking the answer. But as so many believers today, many are still being knocked down, ending up on their backside again, because they look and hold to the letter of the law rather than the Spirit to find true life and peace. So be ready Church, that when you get a spiritual 911 call from one of God’s people in distress you can follow the example the Lord gave to the man at the pool and give the right spiritual medicine; to all those that have been miss diagnosed and have had a bad reaction to mans’ doctrinal medicine. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (KJV)
Is there a pure river of living waters flowing abundantly from you, watering and bringing life to yourself and those you come in contact with? It began as a pure river; is it still pure, or has it been tainted with man-made additives that change the texture of it? Did you know that you are going to have to give account of how much of these living waters you let flow through you, and how pure it comes out from your heart? Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV) An idle word is like turning on a faucet and no water comes out; it might make some sounds from the air going through it, but it is not producing the desired results. As our physical body requires water on a daily basis, being that our bodies are made up mostly of water, your spirit man requires a daily dose as well, or it will end up dehydrated and wither away. Our tongue simply put is either bringing forth words of life or it is an unruly evil full of deadly poison, which if left unchecked will have eternal consequences. The seed within you is Christ which is spiritual, and it takes the spiritual living water of the word of God on a continual basis if it is going to grow up and mature. Matthew 4:3-4 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (KJV) What’s the first thing that proceeds from your mouth when confronted with situations of this life? Is it the word of God and what He is speaking, or will you give into the tempter and seek to fulfill the physical need first? Not only did the answer proceed from the mouth of God, but it flowed through our Lord and preceded from His mouth as well, providing the answer God had for that particular situation. How many times when confronted with a need, or someone comes to you with a need, do you let the word of God proceed from your mouth so that it can accomplish the thing that is pleasing to God? It is your words you will have to give account of someday, and if your words and the Lord’s are one in the same, there will be no problem, so make sure before you speak. Matthew 15:18-20 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (KJV) Many get caught up in the letter of the law; being more concerned with carnal washings and making the outward look good, while their inward man is dead and decaying. The word of God came from the throne pure, but somewhere downstream it got polluted, which is what the word defile means, and became unhealthy and tainted. Many lawsuits are filed on behalf of those that live downstream from factories that have tainted the rivers, and allowed pollution and poisons to proceed into the mainstream of the river, and some have caused sickness and death. Someday you to will have to stand in God’s court and give account of any additives or pollutants that you have dumped into the mainstream of your heart and of those around you. So being the fact that it left the throne of God in a pure state, He expects that it will have stayed that way when you give your own personal account before Him. If someone poisoned you or one of your children you would certainly be looking for justice; and that is exactly what will take place someday before the throne as well. So I pray that you checked the water before you turned on the faucet. Proverbs 18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. (KJV) What you allowed into the heart is what is coming out of the mouth; so if you don’t keep a close watch on it, you may find that what was supposed to be watering the crops has been tainted, and is choking and killing the life out of yourself and those around you. Your mouth can either bind the devil or bind the Lord from working in you. Your tongue can either loose you from bondage or keep you snared in the realm of destruction. Proverbs 15:2-4 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (3) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (KJV) Oh but it was just a little joke, I was just kidding around. That’s fine except for the fact that there is not anything the Lord doesn’t see or hear, and I am quite certain His memory is pretty good also. So someday when you go to retell your joke or try kidding with Him, you may find out the hard way that He wasn’t kidding around with you. Basically He is going to ask, what happened to my clear river of life, how did it get so tainted and polluted and what was your part in it? Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (KJV) If you have added your own interpretation to the word of God to make it fit with your way of thinking, just as man has added many chemicals and additives to our rivers and streams, God said He has something to give in return as well. So if you have plagued yourself and those around you with false doctrine, then you have taken away the true meaning of the Word; for which God also said He will take away your part out of the book of life. In conclusion, your words have eternal consequences, so make sure you know what you are speaking before you open your mouth. Don’t get caught up in the mainstream of popular opinions and doctrines of man, but rather go with the flow of the pure river of life, and proceed forward to your eternal reward which is rightfully yours for the taking. God bless; and it would do you good to take some time to study for yourself about the tongue, and see how many times it is referred to throughout the Bible, and how vital our words truly are. Dearly loved, have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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