To the Point
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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Oh, how Satan has gotten so many tied up in so many ways; and they do not even realize they are tied up. I hope we can agree salvation is based on forgiveness. Jesus paid the price for us, but the ultimate point is forgiveness, forgiveness of our sins. Here are a few verses to consider: Mark 11 (KJV) 25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. {Salvation is God forgiving us our sins, so we can enter eternal life with Him. Mark 11:25-26 is saying we cannot be forgiven until we also forgive} Colossians 3 (KJV) 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Did you know true forgiveness is only when you have forgotten that which needed to be forgiven? If You continue to think about it because it still bothers you, then you have not forgiven whatever it is. This not only holds true in forgiving others but in forgiving ourselves as well. We have the most problems in forgiving ourselves. We have the most problems forgiving ourselves.
If God can forgive you of your sins and forget them as if they never happened, why do you hold on to them? If God forgot them, because you repented and never did it again, why would you want to REMIND him of the same sin? Remember the word "repent" means:
To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it. To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.
A synonym for "repent is "reform". If you are reformed, you are made new. This can only be done by the power of God in your life. Do not reject the gift he freely gives you. Forgiveness is a gift and all that is required of you to get a gift is receive it.
Acts 11
16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 26
18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Why do we have so much trouble forgiving and letting go? 2 Corinthians 10 (KJV) 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; Paul said it best above, casting down imaginations. So what does he mean?
17. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
There is no such thing as an original thought, and if you are very honest with yourself, you will realize it. Every thought you have had or will have has already been thought before you were born and will be thought again. So, what is the big deal and how does it relate to with what Paul said? Our thoughts only come from one of two sources:
The source of forced thoughts is from Satan. That is correct…Satan is forcing thoughts on us 24/7. Have you ever had a thought or said anything only to wonder, "Where did that come from?" That is because that thought was one Satan was pushing on you; trying to get you to blow it. On the other hand, there is only one way to get the thoughts of God over those of Satan; that is to seek them.
Before I share how and why that is, we will delve further into what Paul said.
Once you invest the time needed (about an hour) to really think about this next part along with II Cor. 10:5, you will start to see the light.
Think of what God has done for you. He sent His only begotten Son into the world. That alone was a big deal. That is comparable to going from living in a palace to the worse place on the earth…multiplied by 1000. Then Jesus had to tolerate mankind for thirty-three years. During His three-year ministry He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead; and still mankind yelled, "Crucify Him!" That was not all that happened to Him:
As disgusting as the above sounds, understand that it is watered down…more than you can imagine.
Remember, the same people He healed, fed, and blessed yelled crucify Him and give us Barabbas (the murder/rapist/thief) instead. Besides this, Peter, one of His Apostles, even denied that he knew Him…3 times. On the third time, Peter even cursed Jesus.
Jesus endured all of this
START HERE
Luke 23 (KJV)
34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus said, "Forgive them" How hard would it be for you to say that after 12 hours of abuse?
More importantly, if you do not forgive, will it change anything? Yes, it can change where you go in the next life. The person you do not forgive could come to know the Lord and make it, while you blow it holding onto something that only serves Satan. Unforgiveness never changes the situation that caused it; but it does serve Satan well. Who do you think keeps bringing up the thought of what you forgave; so, you can dwell on it? If you said, "Satan", you would be correct.
You have two choices:
Which is your choice?
James 4 (KJV)
7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Matthew 17 (KJV)
18. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Notice that when Jesus rebuked the devil, it departed and the child was well. The same is for us in all areas physical, spiritual or soul (mind, will and emotions).
It is up to us. The difference is - we do not need Jesus here to do it for us; we can do it ourselves.
John 14 (KJV)
12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
It is sad that so many will not listen. They would rather dwell on the problem, get into self-pity, and go down the tube; rather than kick the one truly responsible for it all. That is correct. The person you are blaming is not totally at fault. That person had to get the thought to do it from somewhere. It came from Satan; Satan knew he could use this person to get to you.
{When you truly forgive the person, you are telling Satan you are on to him}
Why do you think Jesus told us to never judge? From judging will come un-forgiveness; and from un-forgiveness, Satan is only one step away from having you for eternity.
Matthew 7 (KJV)
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Do people think they are more than Jesus? They do when they judge, because Jesus did not come into this world to condemn (judge) but to save (John 3:17).
One of the biggest problems we have in the church today is legalism, which is in itself a form of judging. Legalists believe in the Law but forget the love and spirit of the word of God. They are so caught up in the Law that they miss the entire point of the Law. Mattempting to follow the Law of the Old Testament is one thing. However, they make Law out of the Spirit and love of the New Testament.
Revelation 22 (KJV)
18. 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.
Anyone, who has to justify or rationalize what they believe, is already in trouble.
How do you know these people? They will judge people and condemn them. I know a person who is so obsessed about gays that this person cannot see straight (no pun intended). To them, gays are of Satan and that is all there is to it. The problem is they forget what Jesus said on the cross, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do". Instead of judging and/or condemning, they should pray for them and love them. Remember, it is not the person but the act that is the problem.
We have all been caught-up in the lies of Satan and have encountered something wrong; but do not see that condemning others will not change them or the situation. If anything, it will drive them (those being condemned) further from God. Now, the person condemning or judging is also working for Satan.
Remember we do not judge or words judge us.
Matthew 12 (KJV)
36. 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.
Yes, there are acts of sin and acts that are wrong, but it is not up to me to judge. It is between them and God…not between God, them, and I. No, I do not condone or defend acts of sin, but I know the idea is to help them to overcome, not push them deeper into it.
Many are teaching wrongly. They expend more energy trying to stop the person or change them than they ever do on finding the truth from God. A long time ago, I was one of those teachers, so I know of which I speak. Now, I have some after me (judging) as well.
What do I do about them? Prayer is the answer. I do not answer those judging me, because getting into an endless debate would only take away from the time I could use to help another. Only God can help those judging to see the truth; all I can do is pray and seek God's guidance.
On occasion, I have been wrong. That is the reason I spend an excessive amount of time (sometimes longer than most do in the entire Bible) to be sure I have not missed a point. The methodology I use:
God will have His day, and His wrath will pour out. However, He is not a God of wrath but of Love. He has spent thousands of years trying to save us all so that when His wrath comes we will not be here.
God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.
2-25-04 H.O.M.E.