Growth? What Growth? (By Jonathan Dodson).



The word “grow” is used for all kinds of things. We talk about growing our gardens, growing our savings, growing our leadership, the growth of our children, the growth of our business or ministry, and even our own spiritual growth.

The Importance of Growth

Spiritual growth also is a pervasive theme in the Bible. Adam was created to grow in his love for God and for Eve. Israel was commanded to grow into a holy, worshipping multitude (Gen 48:16). The prophets rebuked and praised Israel for their failure and success in growth (Isa 17; Jer 12). Jesus compared our growth to seeds that bear thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold (Mk 4:8). Peter commands us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18).
Spiritual growth is clearly a biblical theme. But how do we grow? Spiritual growth can be difficult to detect, frustrating to foster, and even painful to experience. When we place our growth in the context of messy relationships and demanding work, it gets even harder.

The Difficulty of Growth

A demanding deadline or an unsympathetic friend – often these situations are seen as obstacles to spiritual growth. As it turns out, God created us to grow in and through tension in our relationships with others. We are meant to grow through adversity, which often occurs in community.
In Ephesians, Paul reveals the communal nature of spiritual growth when he writes: “Rather, ​speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ​from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph 4:15-16). Spiritual growth happens when we are speaking the truth in love to one another. But even when we are doing this, it can be very difficult to detect growth in our own lives.



Why Aren’t You Seeing Growth?

How do we know if we are truly growing into the full stature of Christ? Here are five reasons we may not be seeing the spiritual growth we want.
Feelings can be misleading. Just because we don’t feel holy doesn’t mean the Spirit isn’t making us holy. Feelings aren’t an adequate barometer of spiritual growth, but the gospel always leads us into growth.
We have trouble seeing incremental growth. If you checked the growth of an orange on a tree each day until it was ripe, you would not perceive its change; however, if you checked it only at its inception and conclusion, the growth would be obvious. You can grow without seeing it. More often than not, the Spirit grows us in increments, not leaps and bounds.
Spiritual growth is relative but real. Depending on the person and season, spiritual growth may be fast or slow. Some of us have sinned so much that the deeply ingrained patterns of believing lies instead of truth slow down the progress of faith. On top of this, we may have emotional, physical, or psychological conditions that make it more difficult to grow.
The church family doesn’t encourage one another enough. As the church, it is important that we point out and celebrate growth in one another’s lives. But we are so individualistic, proud, and insecure that we rarely celebrate growth in another person’s life. Making a habit of pointing out growth in others may help us see God’s hand in our own lives.
God is using trial and temptation to grow us. Just because growth is hard, doesn’t mean that it isn’t happening. Trial and temptation are often signs of God’s work in our circumstances to draw us away from the fleeting promises of sin into the sweeter promises of His grace.
How do we grow? Very often it is incrementally and relatively, in community and through difficulty. If you don’t see spiritual growth, don’t despair. Consider these five factors; pray through them, asking God to encourage or correct your self-perception. And remember that difficulties in work and relationships aren’t obstacles but opportunities to receive God’s appointed grace for our spiritual change.

We Love Close Calls… Until They Happen to Us ( By Kirk Franklin).

 

View image | gettyimages.com

One thing you can definitely say about this NBA championship is that it has been a nail biter every step of the way. The overtimes, the last minute shots, the injuries, the titans of the game showing up to carry the weight on their shoulders, all of this has made this championship one that will go down in the books! If it was a sleeper, where one team dominated the whole series, we would’ve turned it off around the second game. Because what we crave is “close calls.” The drama of not knowing what’s gonna happen next drives our attention and energy. The adrenaline created while watching the game causes our hearts to beat faster and faster as we watch the clock and the court at the same time, wondering who will walk off the court as winners.  The excitement even continues the next day around water coolers and lunch breaks about what happened the night before. But the stories of “the unexpected” are what make the games so dramatic.
The only time it doesn’t is when it’s happening to us.
It’s cool for the court, but not cool for our personal lives. We don’t enjoy sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see if God will show up with a healing or a financial break through at the last few seconds left in the quarter. It drives us crazy when the uncertainties of life can’t be planned or seen in the future so we can prepare. The close calls during other peoples’ games are enjoyable… but not the close calls in our own.
Paul talked about it in 2^nd Corinthians. He said that when he was shipwrecked and even despaired life, he thought what he was facing was the end. He said he could smell death knocking at his door. The close call caused him to prepare for the worst. But he flips the script in a way that can help us in our over time-nail biting moments.
1.  He said the close calls he faced happened so he would not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead.  Basically close calls force you to look up. They force you to run to God instead of jog.
2. Also, they force you to participate in your own recovery. They make you active and not passive. There are things you learn to do for yourself that you would have never learned if the pressure wasn’t turned up. The couch potato in you is killed.
And here’s the one we don’t realize at the moment:
3. We’re creating highlight footage.
See, everybody may not be able to watch the game while it’s happening, but there are sports channels dedicated to giving you the best of the best moments from the game everyone has been talking about. That’s what the word does for us as well. We were not there to see Paul’s face during these difficult moments where he despaired even life, but because of what he went through and what was recorded in the sacred manuscripts, we now have the highlight films we can go to, so we can point to the ups and downs of other players in the game of grace, so that we’re not alone in ours. If God did it then, He most certainly can do it now. They give us hope.
And guess what family, your journey is footage for someone else as well.
When God brings you through this one, like He did the last one [remember?!] you’ll be able to stand around the water cooler and tell your nail biter. About how just as the clock was winding down, and it looked like your game was over, just when the papers to the twenty years of marriage seemed to be lost in overtime, God blocked the shot! Don’t be discouraged my friend, your close call will be tomorrow’s testimony.

So-Called Same-Sex Marriage—Lamenting the New Calamity. ( By John Piper).



Jesus died so that heterosexual and homosexual sinners might be saved. Jesus created sexuality, and has a clear will for how it is to be experienced in holiness and joy.
His will is that a man might leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and that the two become one flesh (Mark 10:6–9). In this union, sexuality finds its God-appointed meaning, whether in personal-physical unification, symbolic representation, sensual jubilation, or fruitful procreation.
For those who have forsaken God’s path of sexual fulfillment, and walked into homosexual intercourse or heterosexual extramarital fornication or adultery, Jesus offers astonishing mercy.

Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

But today this salvation from sinful sexual acts was not embraced. Instead there was massive institutionalization of sin.
In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States of America has ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriage.
The Bible is not silent about such decisions. Alongside its clearest explanation of the sin of homosexual intercourse (Romans 1:24–27) stands the indictment of the approval and institutionalization of it. Though people know intuitively that homosexual acts (along with gossip, slander, insolence, haughtiness, boasting, faithlessness, heartlessness, ruthlessness) are sin, “they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:29–32). “I tell you even with tears, that many glory in their shame” (Philippians 3:18–19).
This is what the highest court in our land did today — knowing these deeds are wrong, “yet approving those who practice them.”
My sense is that we do not realize what a calamity is happening around us. The new thing — new for America, and new for history — is not homosexuality. That brokenness has been here since we were all broken in the fall of man. (And there is a great distinction between the orientation and the act — just like there is a great difference between my orientation to pride and the act of boasting.)
What’s new is not even the celebration and approval of homosexual sin. Homosexual behavior has been exploited, and reveled in, and celebrated in art, for millennia. What’s new is normalization and institutionalization. This is the new calamity.
My main reason for writing is not to mount a political counter-assault. I don’t think that is the calling of the church as such. My reason for writing is to help the church feel the sorrow of these days. And the magnitude of the assault on God and his image in man.
Christians, more clearly than others, can see the tidal wave of pain that is on the way. Sin carries in it its own misery: “Men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:27).
And on top of sin’s self-destructive power comes, eventually, the final wrath of God: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5–6).
Christians know what is coming, not only because we see it in the Bible, but because we have tasted the sorrowful fruit of our own sins. We do not escape the truth that we reap what we sow. Our marriages, our children, our churches, our institutions — they are all troubled because of our sins.
The difference is: We weep over our sins. We don’t celebrate them. We don’t institutionalize them. We turn to Jesus for forgiveness and help. We cry to Jesus, “who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
And in our best moments, we weep for the world, and for our own nation. In the days of Ezekiel, God put a mark of hope “on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:4).
This is what I am writing for. Not political action, but love for the name of God and compassion for the city of destruction.

“My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” (Psalm 119:136)

Why Bad Things Happen to Good People (By Becky Dvorak).

 

Do you wonder why bad things happen to good people? Jesus gives us the answer to this question in Scripture.

1. In this world you will have tribulation, meaning difficult times.

Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."

Tribulation entered into our earth when Adam and Eve decided to rebel against God and His ways. This original sin opened the door to Satan and his evil ways and allowed corruption to enter into our world and into the human body as well.

Did you notice that in the midst of difficulties, Jesus says to be of good cheer? This does not mean that we are to be happy because we are facing hard times, but because of what He does for us at Calvary we can walk in victory despite the hardships.

God did not create people to suffer, but sometimes we do suffer because we live in a fallen world.

So, if it is not God's plan for people to suffer, then who is responsible?

2. Satan comes to steal, to kill and to destroy.

In John 10:10, Jesus clearly describes Satan's intentions, " The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

God is not responsible for all the evil that is happening around us, Satan is. And the devil is bent on our destruction. Jesus calls him a thief, who comes to steal God's blessings from us.

According to Deuteronomy 28: 1-14, what are God's blessings that he tries to steal?

• Our identity in Christ.
• Our spiritual authority in Christ.
• Our dominion on this earth.

Divine favor.

• The Lord's good treasure that has been given to us.
• The blessings of children, good harvest, and an increase in livestock.
• Our daily needs being met abundantly.
• Safe travels.
• The blessing of our work and the fruit of our labor.
• Our finances.
• Good weather.
• Divine protection from our enemies.

In 3 John 1:2, a prayer is recorded that reveals God's heartfelt intentions for His people. "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, even as your soul is well."

When the Word of God is our standard we can discern why things are happening in life and who is responsible. If the situation is good and perfect then it comes from the Father up above, see James 1:17. And if a blessing in life is being stolen from us, like the life of a loved one via premature death from sickness, disease, a tragic accident or incident then we know that Satan is the one responsible for the tragedy.

Knowing these two reasons why bad things happen to good people help us in the healing process.

culled from www.charismanews.com

Scriptures Of The Day: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22".

The Dedication of the Temple

¹When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

² The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.

³ When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”

⁴ Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.

⁵ And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God.

⁶ The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

⁷ Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
⁸ So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt.
⁹ On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more.
¹⁰ On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.

The Lord Appears to Solomon

¹¹ When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace,
¹² the Lord appeared to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.

¹³ “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,

¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ¹⁵ Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

¹⁶ I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

¹⁷ “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws,

¹⁸ I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’

¹⁹ “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them,

²⁰ then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

²¹ This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’

²² People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them."

WHEN THE FOUNDATION IS BROKEN, WHAT HAPPENS?

 The leading world power America has been having series of issues that are as a result of disobedience. Lately, it was a popular man Mr. Jenner who transgendered into a woman. He lost his identity and the world celebrated it. Also, the terrible issue of the Charleston shooting where 9 blacks were killed and lastly the gay marriage approved by the Supreme Court. These are some of the  negative things that  have been happening to this great nation known as God's own country. The foundation of the nation was God and the founding fathers founded the United States of America on the principles of God's kingdom. Now, the children of that nation have forgotten their roots and source. They have become so powerful that they have forgotten God and his principles. No wonder the evil trend lately  in that nation. The bible says in proverbs 3:11 that If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

They have become so powerful, successful, independent and rich that they think that it was their wits, education, technology advancement, man power, strategies, military and so on that have brought them this far. They have become well fed and successful that they have forgotten God and they have gone all the way to serve other gods. They claim to know history but the recent  ruling by the Supreme Court shows that they have either forgotten their history or they don't know their history. What is happening to them lately reminds me of  2 Chronicles 12:1-8. It says “
1 Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him.

2 And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord,

3 with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt— the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians.

4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.

5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’

6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The Lord is righteous.”
7 Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish my service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”

When Rehoboam became established, he forsook (forgot) God. God almost destroyed him as promised in Deut 8:19 which say, “If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed". Many people have walked this path and they were burnt and destroyed.

In many public places and schools in the USA, the bible cannot be read and praying and preaching to people is against the rules of some schools even at free or break time. The society is gradually getting rid of God with their actions and they are trying to establish humanism and promote the works of satan.

Deut 8; 10-18 says:  ¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,
¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,
¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
¹⁵ He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.
¹⁶ He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

We should take a cue from many superstars who started in the church as choristers and later decided to go solo. They later became advocates and prophets for the walks of darkness. Most of them ended up in terrible ways. Some died mysteriously, some became drugs addicts, some had shattered homes and a few became so broke and bankrupt. These are some of the ways nations, people, companies, families and so on have been destroyed for turning their back on God when they became comfortable as stated in Deut 18:19.
This is applicable to all nations, people of the world, families and companies. If you started with God, why not continue with him? In him you have wealth, deliverance, security, salvation and so on. But when you decide to leave him, you may become rich and wealthy but the wealth may bring you destruction, troubles, issues and you will not have total security because no matter what kind of physical securities and tools for securities you have, when the devil invades your life, they cannot protect you. God is the only one who can give you genuine and permanent security.

Pro 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”. This is the reason why many people and nations are turning their back on God. They fill they have arrived and it was their power and strength that have produced wealth for them. They also think that they can do without God and his commandments. Whereas it has been God all the way who has been their source and sustainer because he is the one who gives power to create wealth. Pride brings destruction and anyone who has it will be humbled by God. When Prophet Shemaiah came to tell them of God’s judgment on them, Jeroboam and the Elders humbled themselves, God forgave them and he did not destroy them. If we all will humble ourselves and ask God for mercy on us and America, God can have mercy on us, our jobs, businesses, nation and the USA.

2 Chronicles 7;14 says, “¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land

.

This is the position we all should take. We need to humble ourselves, pray and seek his face for mercy, turn from our wicked ways if we want God to hear from heaven and heal our nations and every one of us.  Wilson Ileogben

Supreme Court In America Backs Gay Marriage.



In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court ruled the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment requires all states to license same-sex marriages in the US. Justice Kennedy wrote the majority opinion.

The case, commonly known as Obergefell v Hodges, challenged the definition of marriage in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee as “a union between one man and one woman,” under the 14th amendment to the US Constitution, specifically the provision guaranteeing equal protection under the law.

“The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State,” the majority of judges ruled, terming marriage a "fundamental right."

"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. ... [The challengers] ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right," says the majority opinion, as cited by SCOTUS blog.

Among the four judges that opposed the ruling was Chief Justice John Roberts. He read from his 29-page dissent from the bench, the first time he has ever done so according to court observers.

"If you are among the many Americans - of whatever sexual orientation - who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision,” Roberts wrote. “Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.”

The decision upends millennia of history and guts the rule of law, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling on same-sex marriage this morning, voting to redefine marriage and strip states of their rights to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
American Family Association says the ruling is a blatant rejection of the rule of law and a direct threat to religious freedom.
"This morning's ruling rejects not only thousands of years of time-honored marriage but also the rule of law in the United States," said AFA President Tim Wildmon. "In states across the nation, voters acted through the democratic process to protect marriage and the family. Yet, courts around the country chose to disregard the will of the people in favor of political correctness and social experimentation. And we witnessed firsthand the consequences, as individuals were repeatedly targeted by the government for not actively supporting homosexual marriage. Sadly, our nation's highest Court, which should be a symbol of justice, has chosen instead to be a tool of tyranny, elevating judicial will above the will of the people.
"There is no doubt that this morning's ruling will imperil religious liberty in America, as individuals of faith who uphold time-honored marriage and choose not to advocate for same-sex unions will now be viewed as extremists. But to the Court, we send this unequivocal message: We will continue to uphold God's plan for marriage between one man and one woman, and we call on all Christians to continue to pray for the nation, and for those whose religious liberties will be directly impacted by this ruling."
In the years leading up to the landmark SCOTUS case, voters in 31 states had acted through the democratic process to uphold marriage and the family. Yet, same-sex marriage was legalized in 36 states, due in large part to overreaching judges who chose to disregard the will of the people and cater to those who advocate for homosexuality.
Nationwide, according to the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg, just over 3.3 million individuals voted for same-sex marriage in three states—Maine, Maryland and Washington State—compared to more than 41 million who voted for marriage protection amendments or bans on same-sex marriage in 31 states—a ratio of more than 12 to 1.



Scriptures Of The Day: " Matthew 18:1-35".

 

Matthew 18

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Causing to Stumble

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Dealing With Sin in the Church

15 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[i] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”



INITIATING RECONCILIATION.

One of the most difficult things to say is “ I Am Sorry”. This is one reason why many of us are having challenges in life, offices, and families. Relationships and partnerships have been destroyed and some are going through pains because someone felt there was no need to say sorry and others can’t say “sorry”. A good sign of spiritual maturity is when a person always initiates reconciliation when there is a conflict. Issues, challenges, conflicts, misunderstandings and arguments will always come but we should not let them destroy our lives, friendships, homes, businesses and so on through pride.

Some time ago, on my way to the office, I told myself that I would put my colleagues in their place and I would give “it” to them if they stepped on my nerves that day. I was ready for them and tired of being gentle with them. For some time, the ladies I was working with (I was the only guy in my department) were getting on my nerves. I was accused and insulted with fingers pointed at me several times. There was a day I almost almost lost my cool but I had to hold it. So on my way to the office in the bus, I flashed back to what happened the previous day in the office. I was accused of saying something to my boss when she asked me concerning an issue. When my boss left, the ladies insulted me and one pointed a finger at me.  I became so angry and infuriated in the bus that I told myself I would give it to anyone who got on my nerves that day. At this point in time, I heard a voice say within me that I should apologize to them. I hesitated because I felt I was not wrong. But I later gave in to the voice. When I got to the office, I apologized to them though it was not easy for me to do it. One of the ladies was agape and surprised because a married man who was older than them stood up, admitted his fault and apologized to some ladies who were not married and younger. That singular act brought peace, changed everything and made us united again as a team in the office.

The above experience is one of several experiences I have had and I had to initiate the reconciliation which brought peace to my heart, helped my friendship with many and my walk with God. However, I have not  always apologized to the people i have had conflicts with. There were times I ignored the voice and followed my emotions. But as Christians, we should always take this position of initiating reconciliation when there is a conflict between us and others.  This was the position our lord took when we messed up and sinned against him. He didn’t say that we were the ones that sinned against him and we are supposed to come to apologize to him like many of us say. Instead, He left his throne to save us and reconcile us back to himself. He took the lead to initiate the reconciliation. This is worth emulating.

Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.

2 cor 5: 18 and 19 says,”18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation”.

We all should take this position as Christians wherever we are so that we can win more people to Christ Jesus, live at peace with all men and not to give the devil a foothold in our lives and homes. We don’t need to keep waiting for people to come to apologize to us. We just have to take the bull by the horn by initiating the reconciliation. The more we wait for the other person to apologize, the more the devil makes the issues worse. What we will suffer will be minimal if we apologize or reconcile on time compared to allowing the situation to become bigger and linger for days. Despite the fact that we were the ones who sinned, Christ came to seek us and initiate the reconciliation. I know it is painful to apologize when you are wrong and right, but the results it will give you for apologizing will exceed the issue and pains in your heart.

Matthew 18:15 say, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Also Matthew 5:23-24 says, “²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

When you initiate reconciliaition a times, the other person may not accept you well and may turn you back or insult you. If you have ever experienced it before, you will know how painful and embarassing it is when you make an effort to make peace with someone else and he insults you the more. This should not stop you from still going to anyone else if there is a conflict to make reconciliation with him. Also, many of us claim to be spiritual but if you keep malice, then think again. If you hardly apologize when you go wrong or seek to initiate reconciliation after a bad experience with a brother, then, are you spiritual?  Christ has set precedence for us all.  Your ego or pride cannot be compared to eternity. If we seek the will of God more than our feelings, pride and ego, more people will run faster in the race we are running, more souls will be won and those who are backsliding because of offence will be won back. The ways of God are different from ours.

Finally, Saying I am sorry is not a weakness but strength. It actually shows that you value your relationship, brother, friend and loved ones more than your pride. If you wait for her or him to call and apologize, you may not see him. You should also realize that time is not on our side for blame game and having grudges in our hearts. The earlier, the better.  Wilson Ileogben

Scriptures Of The Day: "Galatians 6: 1-18".

Doing Good to All

¹Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

⁵ for each one should carry their own load.

⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

 ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹ See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

¹² Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.

¹⁴ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.