Biting And Devouring One Another For The Sake Of Correctness ~

October 23, 2018

I have been praying so much lately that when the enemy shows up around me, that he will find nothing within me to adhere to and that I will have nothing to feed into his desires to grow his assignment here on Earth as accuser of the brethren.

I keep asking myself – Who? What am I aligning with?  Knowing at any weak moment I could and do fall prey to the enemy’s devices of discontent so that when he shows up in my weakness he feeds that discontentment and I come into agreement with him against the situation the Lord has me in or another person or thing that seems to be against the Lord’s will for my life.

I have been so busy lately with the Lord in purging even the deepest crevices of my heart, those things hidden way down and ignored, those things which if I just didn’t think about them they do not exist.  But in truth just because someone or something has departed from our lives, does not mean the frustrations they brought departed at the same time.  The truth is they leave fragments of shattered promises or hope within our hearts that can only be sealed by the Blood of Jesus and if we do not fully forgive, release and bless that one…  Well, the pain within us becomes more obvious through our words and actions than we would like to admit.

This is how the enemy is working feverishly within the church today…  This is what was written about so long ago – brother betraying brother, things like that are manifesting everywhere now as the love of many, way too many, is growing colder and colder.

I believe we can all agree…  The enemy has come into the church and has found many things within that he can use to prompt us to agree with him to the point love is not covering us, one another or a multitude of sins.  The past month I have needed so much clarity and direction that only the Lord could provide.  I still cannot figure most of it out, but I have been diligently in prayer and study and wanted to take a little bit of time today to share with you what He has shown me.

Just like in all studies…  This begins with my heart first and I share with you as my family in the Lord.  The Word tells us to “Judge our own hearts” and in this study I have been constantly judging mine.  As I share, remember I am not judging yours – only sharing what He gave me and instructed me to not agree with on any level, lest I too fall into temptation.  That is the premise of why I want to share with you today what I am about to share regarding…  BITING AND DEVOURING ONE ANOTHER.

  • A few weeks ago the Lord gave me a stern warning for those who are “leaders” of any kind proclaiming Jesus is Lord. It really gave me pause…  Because I do not want to be weighed in the balance, found wanting.  He showed me a measuring rod going out on the heads of those who lead others and warned me of a woe going out on their heads for going against Him in anyway, especially for provoking others to be a child of wrath and not walking in love.  He showed me how they themselves were leading others to be just like themselves and if the enemy found placement in them, he would in turn find placement in those who follow and collectively they gathered of one heart and mind in either love or hate.  He showed me whatever was within was the commonality that they shared and when either Jesus showed up or the enemy showed up, whatever was within was found inside.  I still have the most severe warning for all leaders right now I shudder because this woe He gave me is eminent if they do not repent immediately.  This is why I have been very isolated and quiet the past few weeks…  I had to search my own heart and when He releases me I am going to share what He showed me as a stone of stumbling block within my own heart.  Not today, but I surely will as I do not mind to be used by Him in such a way as an example of how not to be.
  • All this division in the Worldly Church today is heartbreaking to Jesus. I know this for two reasons.  One being He showed me there is no division whatsoever in His Church Bride and two because people have given love a backseat for the sake of vanity and being right.  Jesus is heartbroken over this, I pray you can hear me and most importantly that you can hear Him.
  • Like with most teachings a manifestation of what is being taught is granted by the Lord, the same is true, especially today. It all started with a word I got in my Spirit over a month ago and I really did not know what to do with it – so I wrote it down and set it aside and yet He kept bringing me back to it.  He just gave me the Scripture two days ago and opened my eyes to what He was actually telling me.  It is a sad story really…  But if we share the heart of Jesus, we too are grieved when the Holy Spirit is grieved.

This is the word He gave me ~

We want others who have hurt us to pay for their own sins, while we ourselves are exonerated fully for ours.

For a while I told everyone I could those captivating words, but it never really seemed to resonate with them like they did me.  Oh the gravity of those words, the denial of mercy upon another while we ourselves with both hands opened fully receive the mercy offered at the cross.

In religious attire we selfishly declare…. YOU have the greater sin than me and therefore you must be exposed and put to an open shame from your drastic deed while I remain hidden under the blood for the minor atrocities I have committed.

I held onto this word for a very long time…  But today I am released to share.  It was only after He gave me the Scripture in Mathew 18:21-35 that He has allowed me to teach on this.  I really needed my own heart purified and cleaned in order to not drag tainted flesh into what I am about to say today.

I already know those who are participating in biting and devouring will not hear me, they boldly declare they do not listen to me and haven’t for so long a time in their hurtful emails.  The reason I am sharing with you today is twofold.  One, you can cautiously examine your own heart to see if you too are provoking or if by any chance you are being tempted to come into agreement with the accuser of the brethren so that you can be purged in that he find nothing in you and as a result when Jesus comes all He finds within us is an image of Himself.

Once again ~ The word I received was…

We want others who have hurt us to pay for their own sins, while we ourselves are exonerated fully for ours.

I am trying to decide whether to talk about the elephant in the room or just get into Mathew 18.  I think I will do both and see where the Spirit leads.  This is a conversation I have been avoiding to be honest, I do not like contention whatsoever, but the Lord has laid it on my heart as a vessel of love to bring light to the darkness without partiality.

As a demonstration of the Scripture I am going to use the recent contention with COT, another ministry and those who lay in the crosshairs crying out to the Lord with their heart shattered when self desires its way and satan enters in, using one against another.

I just need the Lord to give me boldness to address this whole situation as a parable for His word and glory.

If you have been a part of the recent division I ask you to please hear my heart today and reconsider what you believe to be the Lord directing you on what to say and do and if you are one caught in the crossfire of all that has gone on, I pray it will give you encouragement and wisdom to walk in love and mercy for a day that is surely coming in which it may be all that you potentially have to get you through.

As a reminder, we do not need to pick a side as long as we are on Jesus’s side.

Let’s get into the Word:

Mathew 18:21-35

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Have you ever wondered how someone could sin again you that many times?  I propose something to you – How about in your mind when you replay over and over in your thoughts what someone did to you?  This could easily add up to that amount and more.  Some of us at times have made it apart of our daily routine to rehash all the evil done to us by our “brothers, sisters, etc…”  In this portion of Scripture Jesus said we must forgive all things, all the time, as many times as it happens when someone does something against us.  Jesus said this because He paid the price for all sin – it is finished, He forgave all and therefore, we cannot hold anything against anyone.

Now the next part is where He gives an example.

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

                If we are in the Kingdom of Heaven we abide by the rule of Jesus, he keeps record of His own and they follow His leading, doing as He did and saying what He says.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

                On the day of reckoning or rather coming face to face with Jesus all our debts are before Him, all our wrongdoings and sin are laid bare before Him out in the open.  Since Jesus paid for it all, we owe Him and yet…  let’s keep reading

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

If Jesus desired He could require we repay everything owed to Him for what He has done for us.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

This servant was so fearful not wanting to lose everything he fell down, worshiped Jesus, seeing how guilty he was, just as charged and he begged – HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Because Jesus is moved by compassion we are released from our prison and forgiven for every single sin and wrongdoing, paying nothing in return as we receive fully what Jesus has already done.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

Some, once they are forgiven themselves tend to elevate themselves and forget how far they have fallen and how dirty they actually were.  When this happens we feel empowered to require those in our midst to PAY FOR THEIR SINS, even though we did not have to pay for ours.  They neglect to see they too are a work in process and totally ignore the fact others are as well. PLEASE NOTE:  This is so interesting because it is directly speaking of “fellow servants” or rather those who you serve the Lord with.  Very timely indeed given what has recently transpired.

29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

So the one who was forgiven went to the one he was serving with demanding something of him because he thought he was guilty.  When this happened the one accused fell down at his feet (just as he had himself to Jesus earlier) and asked for him to be patient with him and he will repay what was lost or stolen or rather what HE THOUGHT WAS OWED TO HIM.  He needed the same PATIENCE that was given to him as he too was a work in progress.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

But the servant refused to offer compassion and patience to his fellow servant and cast him into prison after he, himself, was forgiven of all debt.

31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

There were other fellow servants sitting back observing all that was going on and were very sorry and heartbroken and because it grieved them so they went to Jesus in prayer in their heart and cried to Him.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Jesus called this servant wicked who was forgiven for all his sin.  This servant did desire Jesus by the way.

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?

Jesus told him you should have had compassion on your fellow servant because I had pity on you when it was time for you to pay for your own debt of sin.

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Jesus was fiercely angry at this servant even to the point of calling him wicked.  But look what happened… He was given over to demons to torment him until all his debt of sin was paid for.  He basically was reaping no mercy because he had shown none.  We can only imagine what he reaped due to his lack of sowing of compassion, love and patience.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

This teaching in so important because this is what the Father will do to us, if we do not FORGIVE in action every time our fellow servants do something we do not agree with that hurts us…  A trespass. 

I am wondering if we know what it is we are even supposed to forgive?  What it means to be merciful?  What it means to be like Jesus since He did not come to condemn anyone of anything?

Do we actually think He should expose and put us to an open shame every single time we lead someone astray with our mouths?  Or speak His word out of context? Or have secret sin if only in our thoughts?

The truth is many cannot know the truth of another because they do not love enough to cover them rather than uncover them.

I know many things about many people that I would never ever utter publically about them.  Why would I do that anyway?  They do not answer to me, they answer to One, Jesus.

I don’t care who you are… We all have sin still in our lives that Jesus is patient with, showing mercy at every turn, that we do not want put in open display before the day of reckoning and completion.  Who are we to demand the day of reckoning of another when we ourselves claim our sins are covered by the Blood of Jesus?  When we do this we are certainly on the most dangerous of ground….. we are that wicked servant spoken of in what we just read.  We are very close to be fully given over to demonic torment for the way we have tormented another.

What I am about to say may sound a little harsh, but I must be obedient to the Lord on High, giving answer only to Him.

You see there are some of us who simply sit behind the scenes calling out to the Lord Jesus on High to intervene and remedy this situation.  We are on no one person’s side, but rather just pray continually that love, mercy, grace, wisdom and forgiveness have its perfect way.  We truly do not want to see anyone harmed or scarred in the process and desire everyone put aside their differences and operate out of a place of love.  We are the ones who are stumbling because of the vendetta of your offense.  We are the ones who have nothing to hide, because we hide nothing.  Our hearts are breaking as the little ones who have loved you and followed you and now you cannot hear us anymore due to the desires of your minds that are overriding all mercy and forgiveness through your shouts of anger.  And what saddens us most is how you are drawing away our brothers and sisters who we consider fellow servants in that because we will not take a side and you have, we too have become their targets of dissention.  Our hearts are breaking because you cannot hear our “I love you’s” over the spirit of offense whispering in your ears.  We beg of you, to please lay your weapons down towards one another, to lay down all pride which forges you to put to open shame one who we deeply love and just come together in unity to serve Jesus with us, not against us for we are not your enemy.  There is a time coming in which we will need one another, because Jesus and one another is all we will have.  We have severe fear and reverence before the Lord, knowing if we cannot submit to His ways now a greater tumult is inevitable in which we truly are forced to appreciate and love one another just as He has commanded us to do so. So please stop being angry and sinning, you are hurting not only us, but Jesus too and if He were here, He would say to lay your sword down or you will surely die by it.

So this is my constant prayer, as well as it is the cry of the heart of many I believe, considering the emails I am getting.

The Word tells us the Lord hates it when those sow discord among the brethren.  In His Word He never gives reason to sow this discord.

We pray all the time for the Lord to forgive us when we trespass against Him and yet we attempt to hold one another accountable when they trespass against us.  We pray for mercy and yet withhold it from others, Lord forgive us.

The Lord was showing me how we can have much knowledge about someone or something, but wisdom comes in only by understanding what we are to do with what we know and have been shown.  Quite often the Lord will only reveal to us the truth of another to what capability we have within us to love them.  On the other hand, the accuser will reveal knowledge about someone to provoke us through pain and hurt.  We need to follow the constant leading of the Holy Spirit to know the difference because it is surely impossible that offenses not come.  Amen.  I for one, will not be used as a source of fuel to build a case against anyone ever.  I stand with my Lord against such tactics and need to likely remind anyone who is planning to use me in such a way that you are not to touch God’s anointed or do His prophets no harm.  In full submission I lay at His feet, knowing already that even if He slay me, I love Him and receive Him as my Beloved.

So today’s teaching would not be complete if we did not go over Mathew 18 on how to deal with differences, keeping them inside the Church.  The brethren are told never to go to law with one another but reason together in all differences.

People have always had struggles amongst themselves even back to the time of the disciples when they would boldly declare they follow Peter, Paul, etc…  The real issue here is that Peter and Paul and the others did not encourage that sort of behavior, but rather served as an example knowing Jesus was the Head of His Own Body, in that competition and strife was not welcome nor allowed to operate.  As long as the disciples stayed in unity and love…  So did those under them who followed suit.

Mathew 18 is basically a step by step guidance on how to address a situation when a brother trespasses against YOU – YOU PERSONALLY.  This is not about preaching false doctrine, leading others astray and all that other nonsense.  This directive in Mathew 18 is how to deal with one of the brethren who trespasses against you personally, which we will go over in a bit.

But first, so just what is a trespass?

To keep it simple – a trespass is a wrong doing

It means to injure, annoy, inconvenience someone, a violation of any law – civil or moral, to offend someone or even God Himself, to go against the Biblical Word.

The Bible even teaches us to make amends with one another before coming before Him or He will not receive whatever it is we are offering up to Him – prayers, worship, works, etc…

Mathew 6:14-15 says ~

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

So it seems, just as sure it is we shall be offended, we must not hold that offense against anyone or we will too remain in an unforgiven state.

And to be honest, I really don’t even know what to do with all that?  I too struggle at times from all the heart pain inflicted upon me since birth, up until recently the cards seemed to be stacked against me, so to speak.  I am sure some of you feel the same way.

We must keep our hearts and eyes focused continually on Jesus, trusting that in time He will wipe every tear and put our hearts back to pieces as He mends them complete in Him.

Before we go into Mathew 18 I have to tell you a little testimony of mine.  A few months ago as I was struggling with something I reached out to a very popular female Minister and to be honest I was shocked that within a matter of minutes I found myself on the phone with her.  I kept thinking this has to be the Lord, because never in my wildest imagination did I expect a response right away, let alone a phone call.  I actually talked to her a couple times.  The main reason I even reached out to her was I needed some female guidance from what I would call someone over me in maturity, someone without partiality who was not involved in any way with what I was going through to avoid the flesh and such, plus I needed my discussion to remain confidential since on a personal level she did not know me and I do not know her.  Well anyway, it wasn’t long into our talk that I began to see clearly her wounds that were unhealed.  She just kept telling me that I am way to “Mercy motivated and to get out while I can…”  Now, I kept trying to wrap my mind and heart around what she was saying because in the mind it made perfect sense and yet in my heart I just could not reconcile fully what she was saying.  She continued to reveal to me some of her personal life pains and how she finally just had to run…  Anyway, that is not the point.  The point is I kept trying to separate my heart from me and how the Lord created me to be or rather to replace my own personal identity with the pressure and will of someone else or many in this case.  And I just could not seem to do it.  None of what they were saying to me made sense in my heart, only in my mind so internally I knew I must not be moved and do nothing but sit still and wait upon the Lord.  He kept telling me this too shall pass, just like all the other times you have been deeply hurt and that only He is my Savior and Master.  So I waited, things got worse and I waited and things kept getting worse, so I am waiting… Things are not better EXCEPT… sometime in all this quiet waiting and seeking Jesus in one sentence He spoke into my heart and this is what He said…

“I made you in the image of Me, do not let man tell you what to be like or who to love.  Do not let man tell you not to be mercy motivated because I was mercy motivated too, so much so it was for mercy’s sake I hung on a tree, they just do not know this yet and if they loved Me they would love who I love, which is everyone.”

And in one moment… all the chaos and fretfulness of not knowing what to do vanished.  In an instant I was settled and complete internally and at rest.  I maybe one of the most misunderstood humans on the face of the Earth – but I rejoice in knowing my Jesus understands me because it is His love I love another with and not my own.

Some of you are very similar to me, please do not let anyone tell you who to be.  Remember who you were before the World told you who you should be.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made, a Heaven sent creature to spread love and light into a fallen World, you confound the wise and make grown men cry, as you wipe the tears of a baby’s desperation.  You carry the fallen and lift up the weak, you are an overcomer with Him and a hot mess on your own.  You may stumble and fall and yet your door is always open to the 1 set before you. You are wronged, unbraided and sometimes a little tangled in sin and yet you always have time for a heart that needs comforted.  You are moved by mercy because you need it most and you forgive more as He has forgiven you for much.  You realize you were truly bought with a price of the highest degree as it cost Him His life and just Who would do such a thing for a dirty rag like me?  You know you are naked, broken and bare so there is no point in pointing the finger to another because you realize one simple truth…  It isn’t the saved Who need a healer – it is YOU and it is me, all of us because none of us have  yet been raised up incorruptible.

The Lord’s grace (patience) is sufficient for every single soul on Earth.  We often are partial in who we show grace to, the Father isn’t.

WEAR YOUR HUMILITY AS A CROWN ~

You really cannot make this stuff up… But you will not believe this, yet I promise it is true.  Just as I thought I was almost finished with my notes for today’s study I felt the Lord remind me of how He instructed his disciples to work out their struggles as well as for all those who followed after Him.  I remembered it was in Mathew somewhere like Chapter 15 or something and as I began to search for it, lo and behold… Guess where it is?  Mathew Chapter 18!  Yes, it is before what I was studying earlier about the wicked servant…  I am still in awe at our Lord’s majesty and His ways.  Tatum can verify what I am saying is true because as I was talking to her on the phone I told her I am almost done with the teaching but the Holy Spirit laid upon my heart it would not be complete unless I have instruction by the Word on how to handle when someone hurts you.  So here we go… Because now more than ever I am starting to grasp how important this is for us to understand.

Let’s start at the beginning of the Chapter, since we already covered the end of it, we will do this a little backwards today.

Mathew 18 ~

This is kind of cute how it all starts out because I often wonder exactly what conversation the disciples were having that prompted them to ask Jesus, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?”  Isn’t that just a riot – like us – they probably each secretly wanted to be the greatest among all of the Father’s children.

You remember what Jesus did?  He called a little child and put him right in the middle of all them and said, “Unless you become converted (changed) and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”

Do you know what converted means in this sense?  Being humble

Jesus said, “Whosoever shall humble themselves as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.”

Humility = the opposite of pride

Children may be a lot of things, even full of folly and yet…  They are humble, as Jesus said.  The same should we be.

Jesus said also, “If you receive a little child in my name, you receive Me.”

If we think of this in depth – I would receive you, you would receive me, we would receive one another for one reason only – each of us belong to Jesus.  Isn’t that just amazing?

He does give a stern warning about what happens to those who offend one of us who belong to Him, as a child, humble.  This is what Jesus said to everyone listening to His word, then and now:

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Goodness gracious, that is a frightful thought and my concern is we have heard it so often we begin to take it lightly.  Those who offend are in much more danger than those who are offended.  One sure truth is that those who belong to Jesus for real, when offended they call out to Him in their time of need knowing He is the only answer to all our troubles.

The next verse I believe we are witnessing increasing today in the World we live in…  Jesus said, “Woe unto the world because of offences!  (seems like a tumult to me, just sayin) He said, “Offenses need to and must come BUT WOE to that man by whom the offence come.”  Do you mind if I share why it is so bad if an offence comes through you?  The Holy Spirit revealed to me a woe comes on you because you are being influenced by evil to offend someone.

Let’s picture this…  The offended who belong to Jesus go to Him when hurt, those who offend others are being influenced by evil to harm a little one….  This reminds me of when the parents are late coming home the children get antsy and begin to fight or…  If people believe Jesus has delayed His coming, they will start to smite (inflict pain upon) their fellow servants.

Next the Lord tells us whatever body part is being used to cause pain on another (feet, hands, eyes) because it is better to enter into the kingdom maimed than to keep that which offends you to the point of lashing out that you would end up into hell’s everlasting fire.

Side Note ~ I personally believe just like Israel becomes a trembling cup to those who have come against it, we too will be a cup of trembling to those who have come against us.  We are grafted into the Branch being Jesus so there is no true separation between Jew and Gentile in the Body of Christ.

Jesus warns us to take heed that we do not DESPISE not one of these little ones, because their angels in Heaven do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.  This is scary because we could simply just not like a child that belongs to Jesus and slip in our intentions towards them and perish.  This is just very serious and I pray just because we have heard it so much that we not forget to receive the severity of the Word at hand.

The next verses tell us the Son of Man (Jesus) is come to save that which is lost to the point he will leave all 99 of His sheep to track down just one lost sheep and that HE REJOICES MORE OVER THE LOST ONE THAT RETURNED than He does over the 99 that never did go astray.  Isn’t that just astonishing???  Wow

Now verse 14 brought me so much peace, I pray it will you too…  In verse 14 it says, “Even so IT IS NOT THE WILL of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”  Whew – Did you get that?  It is NOT THE FATHER’S WILL that we perish – in other words, we won’t perish as long as we keep surrendered to Him.

So the next few Scriptures are why today’s message would not be complete… But I had to get it into context as to the extreme the Lord goes to for RESTORATION.  Verses 15-20

Many of you are very familiar of these next instructions BUT please hear my heart on this, the Lord showed me distinctly without a doubt IF your primary goal is not RESTORATION then it is very dangerous to even take the next steps without a humble right heart, full of love.  If we get outside of God’s will in this we become the ONE BRINGING OFFENSE upon another and are uncovered at that point and like we just read… influenced by evil.

We already talked about “trespasses” so when that happens to us, we are blessed to have instruction on how to handle such things in our daily lives.

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Reminder – This is if YOUR BROTHER in Christ does something, not someone who is not a believer

We are to go to the person privately and if he hears us we have gained our brother back (we do not go to other people and he must HEAR us which means listen and receive what we shared)

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Now if that does not work, you ask one or two more witnesses for Jesus to go with you (hopefully to encourage the one lost, not to gang up on them just like the Lord goes after us when we stray)  These people who go with you are not to give witness to your offense but be a witness to Jesus for reconciliation. You see we have had this so backwards in the past.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Lastly, if he will not hear you, then it is appropriate to get the whole church involved to attempt to reconcile him BACK TO JESUS so he is your brother again.  This is not about us – this is about the other person being lost, drifting and needed brought back to Jesus – then we will retain him as a brother.  Sadly if he will not turn from his wicked ways it says to no longer consider him a part of the Body of Christ, he is lost.

Then I loved how Peter then asked… How often do I have to forgive my brother when he offends me?  So now we have come full circle to right where we began.

Forgiving one another when it is easier to accuse, laying our desires down for one another, showing patience while we each grow, giving mercy instead of criticism, repaying evil with love and so forth; knowing fully all that we do to one another GOOD or BAD we are actually DOING IT UNTO JESUS.

Just one last point before I close today…

Please, please before you proceed in any fashion be 100% sure YOU HAVE THE FULL TRUTH, not just facts that lead to the truth BUT THE FULL TRUTH or else it places us individually into a very dangerous situation.  Consider this— If you are willing to gamble your own eternal position in the kingdom without a shadow of doubt what you are saying about a brother or sister in the Lord is truth then by all means do as you are being lead.  But keep in mind, if you are accusing them with your measurement of truth rather than theirs and they are not guilty in the Lord’s sight, only yours… just like the 1 Jesus left the 99 for they will be saved while you perish.

1 John 4:20 tells us – If a man say I love God and hates his brother he is a liar.

The Lord has given us an excellent opportunity to store up some mercy for in a future time to come in which we are surely going to need it.  He has in His ever present mercy shown us patience while teaching us to be patient with one another because we all are a work in progress.  Anything done with anger, strife, contention is derived from hatred and perceived by many who are watching.  We must always ask

We have barely scratched the surface on biting and devouring one another and will go deeper into this opportunity for repentance in our next study as He is teaching us to stop swallowing a camel of our own sin while straining the gnat of those who belong to Him as our brothers and sisters.

 

I am going to share today something Sister Jodi wrote yesterday which really blessed my heart and then we will pray.  But, first I want to remind us what Jesus said to those who were feeling a little aggravated in how some other disciples were ministering to their flocks differently than they were…

Mark 9:40

But Jesus replied, “Do not stop him. No one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me. 40Forwhoever is not against us is for us

 

Wow…  What an instruction that is…  Jesus said – DO NOT STOP HIM, that those who perform a miracle in MY NAME will not speak evil of ME.  Whoever is NOT AGAINST US, is FOR US.

Just because someone has a different method than us personally, if they too are speaking Jesus is Lord, they will not speak evil of Him – you see it is ALL ABOUT HIM, they may speak evil of us, but what is most important is that THEY NOT SPEAK EVIL OF HIM.  He then sets all peace in place and settles all matters of contention and strife in just a few words like only Jesus can do —  He said, WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US.

The same is true that who is AGAINST US IS NOT FOR US.

And that is all I am going to say about all that right now.  I just pray the Lord purge our hearts from being AGAINST ANYONE, ever.

?Let us pray of one accord…

Heavenly and mighty merciful Father in Heaven.  We thank You for this opportunity to gather together in Your Name for Your Glory today.  Lord we just ask Your forgiveness for times when we have not shown others mercy and expected more out of them than what You require of us.  We surrender all to You Lord, as the Great I am, full knowing and fully leading Your children Home.  Please continue to open our eyes to the truth of how we fall short and blind our eyes to the shortcomings of our brothers and sisters.  Do not let our love run cold Lord, save us from the snares of agreeing with others for the condemnation of the brethren.  Deliver us and purge us Lord from all iniquity so that our heart reflect the Image of You and not ourselves.  We petition You to make us whole in that when the enemy comes knocking on our doors that he may find nothing in us to carry our his will here on Earth.  We pray Jesus that You continue to pull us back from the edge of death in times we wander away from You.  Our souls are in Your hands Lord for the molding into Your image and we honor You for teaching us how to die to self so only You remain. 

Lord we lift up those we love who are caught in the snare of offense.  We humbly ask You to show them the height and depth of Your love, we thank You Lord for chasing after those who have gone astray just as You chase after us in our time of need.  We trust You Lord to be the designer of our faith and the faith of others, that only You can save Jesus as Your mercies are new every morning.

In unity we submit to Your will, Your love and to walk in forgiveness to the best of our ability from this day forward.  Bring Heaven to Earth Lord, change hearts, changes Nations as Your perfect will is done.  Deliver us Lord in our time of trouble, healing us and making us whole.

In Your Precious and Mighty Names we pray as one. Amen

May the Lord Bless you in His Love,

Angela ~ Marked By Heaven?

3 replies
  1. Deanna Rivers
    Deanna Rivers says:

    What a blessing! Its been awhile since I came to ROF. It pressed upon my heart to come read. Words I am sure came from the holy spirit as this whole message is exactly what I’m in need of. Ill continue to pray and study. Thank you.

    Reply

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