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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. Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (KJV)
The way that we are able to hold our peace is when we let go and allow the Lord to do the fighting for us. Our fleshly human nature has a tendency to add fuel to a fire that the enemy has lit because it gets hopping mad and begins to imagine all that it is going to say and do to justify itself and make things right in its eyes; which we already know that the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God. Now if we have placed our flesh in subjection to the Spirit, allowing it (the Spirit of Christ) to rule and reign, we are able to extinguish with the living waters the fiery dart left by the enemy. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 2Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (KJV) Obedience is better than sacrifice (having to ask for forgiveness). So my beloved brethren, hold your peace; fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life, and let the Lord fight for you to the end so that in all things you can boldly say the Lord is my helper, my redeemer, my strength, my fortress, and my Rock. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Colossians 3:15-16 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (KJV)
So what is going to keep the peace of God working in you; no I am not talking about once in a while, but rather on a daily basis? If something is not peaceable then it is not of God, and definitely not something that you should continue in. Do take notice of the fact that the word of Christ needs to get into the heart Church, before it moves to the mind. Many think that they need to memorize scriptures, which the reality is, that it is backwards and not going to keep one moving forward in their walk with the Lord. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV) The word ‘careful’ refers to being anxious; similar to a runner jumping the gun. Those that wait upon the Lord will experience a peace which begins in the heart, then it will unscramble all those other carnal ideas that you thought would work. Again Church, this peace, the word of God, needs to get to the heart first which will then renew the mind. Some get this process reversed thinking that if they hurry they can chase down a blessing, which is just what the enemy desires to see God’s people doing. 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) Now after a forty day fast the enemy took a shot at our Lord, trying to get Him to feed the carnal man first. Has the enemy ever tried to get you to go after something other than what God had intended? Do take note of the fact that the enemy wasn’t seeking a chapter and verse where this word was written in the Bible, rather he was checking to see if it was written somewhere else that would make it effective. Psalms 40:7-8 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, (8) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (KJV) You know, when the enemy comes knocking on your door today he is asking the same question, what and where is it written? For those that know who they are in Christ they will be able to give the appropriate answer that will cause the enemy to flee, as well as keeping the peace of God working within. Acts 19:14-16 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. (15) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? (16) And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (KJV) Well this sure doesn’t sound like a peaceable conclusion to the matter, and as we see it was the enemy that prevailed. Trying to imitate others or reading scripted versions of someone else’s account will not work the way that God intended. Hebrews 8:9-10 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (KJV) The Bible says that if we resist the devil then he would do the fleeing, not the other way around. However, it is vital that you get this Word into the heart so that you know how effective it really is, and how much more peaceable as well. God bless dearly loved and let the peace of God rule in your heart today being one of the few peace keepers in all sincerity and truth; as well, have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (KJV)
Colossians 3:15 [Rule in your hearts] Brabeuetoo (NT:1018). Let the peace of Christ judge, decide, and govern in your hearts, as the brabeus, or judge, does in the Olympic contests. No heart is right with God where the peace of Christ does not rule; and the continual prevalence of the peace of Christ is the decisive proof that the heart is right with God. When a man loses his peace, it is an awful proof that he has lost something else; that he has given way to evil, and grieved the Spirit of God. While peace rules, all is safe. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary) Colossians 3:15 Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts, for you were called to this state as members of one body. And practice being thankful. (Williams New Testament Translation) When there is peace all things are done decently and in order because we have kept our heart diligently and we have let our words be few. If you remember when the Lord was reviled He reviled not in return; when He suffered, He threatened not; instead He committed Himself unto God who judges righteously: this is where He had peace so that He could continue to hear clearly the counsel of God in and through all that came against Him. As well for us, it is casting all our care unto God and allowing Him to take care of our issues of life, remaining in His peace regardless of the external circumstances. Yet how often do we let our peace be stolen by the cares and concerns of this life, and what others may do or say? When we don’t get entangled in the affairs of this life it is easier to let the peace of God rule and reign in our hearts; we allow Him to do so much more when we remain in this state of heart and mind. It is when we step out of His peace that we have trouble in the flesh. So again I encourage you, my brethren, that regardless of what others are doing or saying please remain thankful and grounded in His peace, and let it rule and reign in you this day and continue to keep our heart and mind in Christ Jesus. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
The carnal mind is against God, and will lead you in a way in which there is no peace of mind; it will have you operating in the past, and in fear and doubt of the future, the imaginations and the unknown. But you have been given the mind of Christ and know all things; now if only you would operate more in that state of mind than in your carnal mind. This is a reminder for each of us within the body of Christ, because as we all know, if we don’t keep the flesh in subjection to the Spirit we can very easily find ourselves operating in the state of mind which is against the wisdom and knowledge of God. And the only place in which we will find peace is in Christ, and operating in that wisdom and knowledge which is given unto us. So let’s give the more earnest heed to the things of God and all that has been opened up and revealed unto us as well as asked of us, and less to the things of this world and those outward circumstances which try to dictate our thoughts. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: (KJV) Dearly loved brethren I leave this peace of mind with you, with man nothing is possible, but with God all things are possible. God is able to do above and beyond what we could ask or think, if we let Him; if we set aside the fear and doubt, the imaginations, and trust in the Lord with all our heart. God bless and let the peace of God rule and reign in your heart and mind this day. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peaceI give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) |
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