Wounds. They hurt, they suck, and they rob us of joy. And when a wound is inflicted by another person it is natural to hold them accountable to fix it. But this can lead people to ruin. What if they never ask for forgiveness? What if they never 'make it right'? How can we forgive when they refuse to acknowledge what they did against you was wrong?
Answer; we go back to the cross, to the place where all our sins (and those of the offending party) were nailed there as Yeshua became sin so He could destroy it's hold on our lives (II Corinthians 5:21). The cross is the one place the devil doesn't want us to be, because he would rather that we take out revenge on one another.
In the movie Stand by Me there is a scene which is an excellent representation of how the devil works in this area. (Great movie, but if you watch it be sure to catch it on tv when the language is edited if you are offended by that)
One of the main characters is telling a story by a campfire. He tell of an extremely overweight boy named David who is made fun of by people in his community. He is at a pie-eating contest and they are all making fun of his weight before the contest begins. As the contest begins and he competes with others eating as many pies as possible, David's stomach begins to growl and make noises so loud that everyone stops what they are doing to look at him. Then, he barfs on the contestant next to him who was especially mean to him (bear with me here, there's a point to this). That grosses out another contestant, who barfs on another, and so on, so forth. It repulses everyone in the audience and soon everyone is barfing on each other.
At the end, David stands in amusement and looks at the scene of utter pandemonium he's created. It was his revenge on everyone for making fun of his weight.
The devil wounds God's creation and entices them to sin. In turn, people wound and sin against each other. And behind it all is the devil grinning with smug satisfaction because of his revenge being carried out. He makes war with the children of God because he was thrown from Heaven and knows the best way to hurt God is to deceive His creation. (Revelation 12:17)
So the next time somebody mistreats you, and you want to strike back rather than forgiving and leaving the rest up to God, remember what the devil wants you to do. And do the opposite.
Wounds. They hurt, they suck, and they rob us of joy. And when a wound is inflicted by another person it is natural to hold them accountable to fix it. But this can lead people to ruin. What if they never ask for forgiveness? What if they never 'make it right'? How can we forgive when they refuse to acknowledge what they did against you was wrong?
Answer; we go back to the cross, to the place where all our sins (and those of the offending party) were nailed there as Yeshua became sin so He could destroy it's hold on our lives (II Corinthians 5:21). The cross is the one place the devil doesn't want us to be, because he would rather that we take out revenge on one another.
In the movie Stand by Me there is a scene which is an excellent representation of how the devil works in this area. (Great movie, but if you watch it be sure to catch it on tv when the language is edited if you are offended by that)
One of the main characters is telling a story by a campfire. He tell of an extremely overweight boy named David who is made fun of by people in his community. He is at a pie-eating contest and they are all making fun of his weight before the contest begins. As the contest begins and he competes with others eating as many pies as possible, David's stomach begins to growl and make noises so loud that everyone stops what they are doing to look at him. Then, he barfs on the contestant next to him who was especially mean to him (bear with me here, there's a point to this). That grosses out another contestant, who barfs on another, and so on, so forth. It repulses everyone in the audience and soon everyone is barfing on each other.
At the end, David stands in amusement and looks at the scene of utter pandemonium he's created. It was his revenge on everyone for making fun of his weight.
The devil wounds God's creation and entices them to sin. In turn, people wound and sin against each other. And behind it all is the devil grinning with smug satisfaction because of his revenge being carried out. He makes war with the children of God because he was thrown from Heaven and knows the best way to hurt God is to deceive His creation. (Revelation 12:17)
So the next time somebody mistreats you, and you want to strike back rather than forgiving and leaving the rest up to God, remember what the devil wants you to do. And do the opposite.
Amen, child-of-Zion! when we are quick to forgive, we short-circuit Satan's agenda. If we make it a habit, he will leave us alone, because we are overcomers in that area and not worth his time and trouble.
I think another thing the devil uses against us is offense. Once we become offended about someone's actions/words/etc, we are in a real danger zone because offense can lead to resentment where it can fester in your heart and grow for years until it turns into unforgiveness.
Jesus said that we should "love our enemies", that is often hard to do and I have to remind myself of that.
I think another thing the devil uses against us is offense. Once we become offended about someone's actions/words/etc, we are in a real danger zone because offense can lead to resentment where it can fester in your heart and grow for years until it turns into unforgiveness.
Jesus said that we should "love our enemies", that is often hard to do and I have to remind myself of that.
That is very true. I think that is why the scriptures say that we should not be easily offended.
__________________
Less Hate, More Frolicking
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The only souvenirs here are bloody knuckles and broken bones.
- Kung Fu Panda
The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.
- Wallace Stevens
To love at all is to be vulnerable.
- C.S. Lewis, "The Four Loves"
What's easy really is often the enemy of what's best and most fulfilling.
-Latteda
Single's Prayer Thread for Anyone in Need: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Yes! Forgiveness disarms the devil in our lives. When we are willing to forgive, we remove that potential foothold.
A while back, I wrote a post entitled 2 minutes and 56.19 seconds;
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That's the magic number. If you sin against me consistently every 2 minutes and 56.19 seconds for 24 hours straight (aka, 490x in one day), Jesus tells me I STILL have to forgive you...
Matthew 6:14-15 (AMP)
14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
First things first. It doesn't seem that the translators of the Amplified Bible draw a distinction between "forgiveness" and "letting go". Indeed, here we can see that "forgiveness" is equated to "leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment".
Second, take a look at what trespasses we are to "forgive". "RECKLESS and WILLFUL sins". No indication whatsoever is given that we're only to forgive people when they don't know any better. In fact, it's pretty clear here that this is talking about people who willfully do you wrong.
Third, as far as I can tell the belief that one must wait for repentance before forgiving is founded on this scripture;
Luke 17:3 (AMP)
Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him.
There are also a couple points here. First, it says if your "brother" sins. This is referring to fellow Christians, not just any ol' body.
Second, it says "if he repents"... but let's take a look at verse 4;
Luke 17:4 (AMP)
And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled).
So here we see that if someone REPENTS 7 times in one day... but hold on a second. If you repent, doesn't that mean to stop and turn from what you're doing? How could one POSSIBLY sincerely REPENT for the SAME sin 7 times in one day? And yet, Jesus tells us that we must forgive them anyway...
Third, the belief that we're not to forgive seems to be based on what the scripture DOES NOT say. It says "if he repents, forgive him". It does not say, "if he does not repent, don't forgive him". And in fact, Jesus tells us to forgive 70 x 7 times in a single day, with no mention of a conditional repentance;
Matthew 18:21-22 (AMP)
21 Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? 22 Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!
So if you sin against me, 490 times, in one day, or rather, if you sin against me every 2 minutes and 56.19 seconds for 24 hours straight, I still have to forgive you, and "let it go".
This corresponds with what 1 Corinthians 13:5 says;
1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP)
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
Love and forgiveness is not the easy choice. It requires us to crucify our fleshly desire to retaliate. Everything in our human nature wants to strike back. But Jesus showed us a better way. We had not yet repented, but God SO LOVED us, that He gave us His Son anyway, "while we were yet sinners".
There is power and freedom to be found in God's Love and forgiveness. When you really grasp God's Love, no one can hurt you anymore. They become powerless to inflict hurt on you. God's Love makes it of no effect. I didn't say people wouldn't still screw you over and TRY to hurt you, but because of God's Love on the inside of you, they won't be able to succeed.
Not only that, but Love and forgiveness will break down barriers, and open up doors to minister to people, and speak life to them that would not have otherwise existed. People will open themselves up to you as they notice a difference...
I believe this is one of the keys to the Kingdom. Forgiveness unlocks doors that have been locked for years. Love destroys barriers and breaks down walls that have been standing in our way for years. Reconciliation can come in the most unlikely of places when we begin to walk in the fullness of God's Love.
__________________ "You're so vain, you probably think this post is about you."
the devil is a clown, dont let messed up people mess up your life, dont let the weak make u weak. dont think in negatives, there is no need to.
if the devil tries to steal your right to live materially, spiritually emotionally healthy, go tell him to soap himself. if u are in abusive relationships, call it quits.
Why would you use a film about someone vomiting on multiple people as a Godly example?
That was just an illustration of what unforgiveness can do to us in the long run. He wasn't exemplifying Godliness in it. He was using an illustration to make his point about the vileness of unforgiveness.
__________________
Less Hate, More Frolicking
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The only souvenirs here are bloody knuckles and broken bones.
- Kung Fu Panda
The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.
- Wallace Stevens
To love at all is to be vulnerable.
- C.S. Lewis, "The Four Loves"
What's easy really is often the enemy of what's best and most fulfilling.
-Latteda
Single's Prayer Thread for Anyone in Need: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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