Power of Grace

by Tom | Sep 2, 2023 | Power

For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

One was given by or by the way of. Moses delivered the law. The other came by or in the person of. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. God’s grace is the power behind answered prayer.

You are far more than who you have come to believe you are. You are one body one nation a royal priesthood a peculiar people with authority and power. But your actions are predictable worldly and without power. Spread out across the earth; you were raised up to tend this place to bear much fruit and to fill the earth with God’s glory – this is your call to life, every one of you, not for just some.

And the way to that – to restore that to bring revival is through prayer. It is crucial to this revival on a global national local church and personal level. The Scripture says “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Only when you know your Father’s mind on the matter should you or can you move and then with all the assurance that you do so with authority and power you have been given.

Before I can get into discussion and prayer I need to talk to you about the grace OF God. The law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. One was given by or by way of the other came by or in the person of. God’s grace is behind the power of answered prayer. YOU PRAY AND GRACE DELIVERS. Grace, the favor of God, merited or not, first comes to us in answer to the most important of our prayers; that Jesus would become Lord and Saviour of our lives. Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men.” Without the grace of God, your prayers have no effect; yet the grace of God in prayer can move mountains. The grace of God is the glue that binds our prayers to answers from above.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16b. So what is this grace of God that makes for effectual answered prayer? The dictionary defines effectual as successful in producing a desired or intended result authentic or binding. It further defines fervent as having or displaying a passionate intensity hot burning or glowing.
For prayer to be effectual it requires faith; To be fervent it requires love and compassion. And so effectual fervent prayer demands the love and faith of God and this is His grace. The grace of God is the combination of the love of God and the faith of God.

God must hear from heaven and move on earth. and he does so in three ways.

1. God’s direct love can be summed up in one sentence we all know well: “For God so love the world that He gave His only be gotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life.”John 3:16

God look down on the plight of man and His love for His creation moved His heart to action – to send his only Son Jesus. And He had unwavering faith that no matter what He gave Jesus to do it would be done in full obedience even unto the cross.

2. The love and faith of God towards you is expressed through Christ Jesus: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans 8:38-39. And here is an example of the faith of God for you expressed in Jesus.
   Starting with the book of Mark chapter 6 verse one “And he went out from thence and came to his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the Sabbath day was come he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished saying From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter the son of Mary the brother of James in Joses and of Juda and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them A prophet is not without honor but in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching.  And he called unto him the twelve and began to send them forth by two and two; And gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey save a staff only; no scrip no bread no money in their purse: but be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said on to them in what place soever ye enter into an house there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear you when you depart thence shake off the dust under your feet for testimony against them. Verily I say unto you it should be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. And they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.”Mark 6:1-13. And so the apostles went out with the authority and power and in the grace of God and did all that Jesus commanded them. And we pick up in verse 30 with “And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus and told him all things both what they had done and what they had taught. And he said on to them come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while: for there were many coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert please by ship privately. And the people saw them departing and many knew him and ran afoot thither out of all cities and outwent them and came together onto him. And Jesus when he came out saw much people and was moved with compassion towards them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent his disciples came on to him and said this is a desert place and now the time is far passed: send them away that they may go into the country round about and into the villages and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said into them Give ye them to eat.” Mark 6: 30-37a. And so here is something exciting. In verse five it says “he could there and do no mighty work.” It does not say he would not it says he could not. And so what Jesus could not do he gave to his disciples to do. And they returned unto him rejoicing and recounting all that they had done. Picture that six sets of disciples gathered as one group sharing amazing stories of what Jesus did through them. And the very next thing he says to them is YOU feed them. It says Jesus was moved with compassion (the Love of God) and the faith of God in him commanded the disciples to feed the many. Jesus had faith in them. How cool is that?! The faith God had in them expressed through Jesus was meant to give them strength.
3. After Pentecost came and with that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the love and faith of God became an expression meant to be IN you. The same grace of God in Jesus found in the gospel of John is found in you in the same chapter and verse of John’s first letter: 1 John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God because he lay down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 

In here are some other examples that the grace of God is the combined love and faith of God. (emphasis throughout is mine)

Ephesians 3:17-19 “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ which is passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” 

Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given onto us.”

2 Thessalonians 3:5 “and the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

John 5:9-10 “as the Father have loved me so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If you keep it my commandments you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

Finally John 5:19-20 “Then enter Jesus and sayeth onto them verily verily I say onto you the Son can do nothing by himself but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son and showeth him all things that he himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these that ye may marvel.”

And for the grace of God to flow through you Christ must be alive in you:

John 1:17 “for the law was given by Moses but grace and truth became by Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 2:20 “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”

John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean it through the word which I have spoken onto you. Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine; no more can you except ye abide in me. I am the vine ye are the branches: he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit: or without me ye can do nothing. If any man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done onto you. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.” 

If he is not in you you are moving in your own strength; and the result is separation from God.

Matthew 7: 21-23 “Not everyone that says unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them I never knew you: Depart from me ye that work in iniquity.”

The glue of God’s grace in your lives then is your prayer life which moves God to work in you through Jesus and even the belief in his name.

John 14:13-14 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything in my name I will do it.”

John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name he may give it to you.”

John 16: 23-26 “and in the day you shall ask me nothing. Verily verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you.” “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not onto you that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth with you because ye have loved me and have believed I came out from God.”

Your wants your desires as Christians should always have much fruit and glorifying God as the end.

Now that we have established the love and faith of God in the power others grace in your life let’s consider prayer.

PRAYER

The Prayer of Moses (why we should take God’s word to prayer seriously)

Of all the people who should have entered into the promised land it should have been Moses. His prayer life (Relationship with God)And his righteousness were infallible. He even reasoned with the Lord to save Israel from total destruction.

There are many Jewish historians who have discussed the history of why the rock suddenly stopped flowing; giving its water (see numbers 20) then why striking the rock was a problem for Moses and the more in-depth examination could possibly bring another conclusion but we aren’t here for that. And who today would look at the scene and not forgive Moses for being angry with the people and striking the rock– certainly we would expect to God to.

But the scripture says “And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron Because ye believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” Numbers 20: 12 Deuteronomy 32: 51–52.

Because Moses struck the rock (he answer the people in his own strength) and believed not God’s answer to his prayer and didn’t give God the glory (“sanctify me”) he was not able to enter into the promise land; And the fruit he was to bear was given to Joshua.  Talking about Christians 1 Corinthians 10: 4 says of them in regards to them being the shadow in forebear of us “And all did drink the same spiritual drink: for the drink of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ.” 

There are many Christians today who when hearing God’s answer to their prayer in his undeniable proof’s still choose to deny him the glory and choose rather to strike their own problems with their own strength; “And I will profess on to them I never knew you calling depart from me ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7: 23. The answer to all of your prayers your needs your wants should always have the focus of bearing much fruit and glorifying God.

The Prayer of Zacharias

The Gospel of Luke chapter one tells of the birth of John the Baptist. Now the scripture says that Zacharias was a priest and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before God. They had no child and were stricken in years; they were old according to man’s standards.

And on the day that was his to burn incense in the temple an Angel of the Lord appeared on to him and said “Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shell bear the son and thou shall call his name John.” Luke 1:13b. And what will be the result of his obedience to God’s answer? “And thou shall have great joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.” 1:14.

And why would they be happy? Not that they would have a child in their old age; but because both had royal lineage and were righteous in the eyes of God and it is said that the first male child that is born is sanctified unto God. So they would have prayed in their youth that God would give them a boy that they could dedicate to the service of God; who would follow in Zacharias’ footsteps. And the Scripture confirms their prayer “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and drink neither wine nor strong drink (err); and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.” V15-16.

John as we know would go on to bear much fruit and glorify God; and bring honor to his parent’s prayers. But the angel of the Lord penalized Zacharias “And the angel answering saith unto him I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.” Luke 1:20. And when the day came to name the child Zacharias’ “tongue was loosed and he spake and praised God.” 1:64b. and furthermore Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied 1:67-79.

Do not think that if you disbelieve God’s words in your life and rather than moving in your own strength do nothing that God will not lift His hand from you or bind you until you accept His promise to you. Many Christians are today sick suffer mental and emotional  torment  because they did not believe God and act on His answer to their prayers.

But God says repent accept my Grace and you will be healed. You will have much joy and many will rejoice with you and you will bear much fruit and glory.

I wear a cross. It’s a gift. It isn’t flash; it isn’t made of gold or silver or wood. But Jesus is on it. Every prayer to me is as important as my first- the one that brought Jesus into my heart. His gift to me on the cross. And it’s a daily reminder of the grace of God.
Have you denied God a gift He’s given you? Here’s something to know James says “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.” 1:17. I really like that verse. What God has for you is good and perfect– starting with His son. And with no shadow of turning. Even the width of a human hair is enough to cause a shadow. What He gives you is perfect and not to be denied.

 Prayer of Ananias

It was early days in the birth of the Christian nation and churches are growing throughout the region of Jerusalem– and so is hatred of it. The first recorded casualty is the disciple Stephen in Acts 6-7. Present at the stoning of Stephen only one other person is named “Then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feed whose name was Saul.” 7:57-58. And the Scripture continues “As for Saul he made havoc of the church entering every house and hauling men and women committed them to prison.” 8:3. “And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went unto the high priest and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues that if he found any of this way whether they were men or women he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” And permission was given and off he went. And on the way he encounters Jesus. 9:3-8.

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me?

Act 9:5  And he said Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him Arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Act 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless hearing a voice but seeing no man.

Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened he saw no man: but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

 Enter Ananias: 

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision Ananias. And he said Behold I am here Lord.

Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him Arise and go into the street which is called Straight and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for behold he prayeth

Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight.

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said Brother Saul the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized.

Notice the two reactions to the Lord. Saul doesn’t know Jesus “And he said Who art thou Lord.” v5 but Ananias is a man with a strong prayer life. He knows Jesus’ voice “…and to him said the Lord in a vision Ananias. And he said Behold I am here.” v10.

Ananias would have been praying for God to do something on behalf of the believers in Damascus verses 13-14.

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But what would he have been praying for? Would he ask the Lord to kill Saul on the road? To turn him away to find some other way of preventing Saul from carrying on with his plans? But Jesus answers Ananias in a way he wasn’t expecting- He had a plan to use Saul to bear much fruit and to glorify God:

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

And Ananias does exactly what he is told:

Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said Brother Saul the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized.

Note how Ananias greets Saul when he meets him for the first time “Brother Saul.” v17. Imagine how that must have sounded to Saul (and anyone else who was there). No condemnation no hatred- just grace; love and acceptance. Welcomed into the family of God. And Saul was in Damascus certain days taking strength there. I believe that Saul and Ananias became very close; and I believe that Ananias shared in Saul’s fruit and glory because of his obedience to God’s answered prayer.

When we look at the story it’s clear that the grace of God was alive in the heart of Ananias. The love of God for the believers mixed with Ananias’ fears moved the faith of God to send Jesus with a wisdom not expected. And Ananias doesn’t respond with disbelief he simply expresses his concern for the believers he loved. His prayers aren’t just met; they’re exceeded. Saul would be changed repentant and bold- he would become an Apostle of fruit and glory.

The Power of Grace

Called a nation out of bondage
Sent Prophets
Gave birth to a virgin
Performed miracles
Cleansed Lepers
Gave sight to the blind
Raised the dead
Gives witness of the Messiah
LOVES YOU TODAY!

The Coming Revival

There is a lot about Christianity today that grieves the Holy Spirit but nothing more than the approach to grace truth and prayer. The coming revival is dependent on a renewed repentant Christian life; and that begins with prayer.

Today Christians approach answered prayer as though the gift is delivered by Santa Claus instead of Jesus Christ the Son of God. They act as though the gift of God can be accepted rejected regifted or put on a shelf or in a drawer never to see the light of day.

And so many people do not experience the power of prayer. Why? The Scripture says “Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it on your own lusts.” James 4:3.
You do not ask for the opportunity to bear fruit and give glory to God. And this is the prayer life of most Christians today. Prayer if you can call it that unwilling to seek fruit and to glory God.

For this revival to work IN you (for you) and through you (for others) you will need to be as Ananias. Willing to accept whatever God has given you. His wisdom grace love and faith IN YOU is beyond human measure. He will move in ways you may not understand but it’s for His glory. Come as little children- and be amazed. I can’t tell you enough how much your Heavenly Father loves you. How much faith He has in you. How much GRACE he wants to give you. YOU ARE SPECIAL.

This revival is all yours.

i-CH

If the Love of God is not in you God can do nothing for you. If the Faith of God is not in you God can do nothing through you.

Power of Faith

by Tom | Sep 2, 2023 | Power

Power of Forgiveness

by Tom | Sep 2, 2023 | Power

The power of forgiveness is demonstrated in the Gospels as the literal separation of sin from the sinner. There was a miraculous physical manifestation; they were instantly healed. Lepers were cleansed, the blind regained sight, the deaf could hear, and the lame could walk. In every case of healing that Jesus met, the miraculous power of God worked. Their sins were forgiven (LITERALLY REMOVED) and the evidence was obvious to everyone. Both Matthew (9:1-8) and Mark (2:1-12) give an account of the same event when a paralytic man is let down through the roof of the house because there was no other way in. But Luke’s account (5:17-25) as a physician, brings us the story with more depth and clarity, adding something that Matthew and Mark miss. In verse 17 the word power derives from the Greek word dunamis or spiritual miraculous power. This is the power that comes from God alone. Power that can move mountains, that can heal the sick, and casts out demons. In verse 24 the word power here comes from the Greek  exousia which means authority and jurisdiction. Read it for yourself with an emphasis on the meaning of these words. The spiritual miraculous power of the Son of God was present to heal them, and the Son of man had authority upon earth to forgive sins. When Jesus commanded the sick man to get up and take his couch and go home, active miraculous and authoritative power was sent forth, and the effects of sin on the body were removed, and the man was free to do as he was told.

“the power of forgiveness is demonstrated in the Gospels as the literal separation of sin from the sinner. They were instantly healed.”

My Testimony:

Note: Not all of the details are necessary to tell this story and they have been omitted. In 2000 my young sister died from bile duct cancer at the young age of 40. Although her physical battle lasted about 5 months, what took her from us was the festered un-forgiveness she held for our father for most of her life. It was a bitterness that consumed her and destroyed her own marriage as well. I labored for more than 20 years to try and get the two of them together again, and hoped that she would forgive him. In the end, even though she couldn’t bring herself to forgive him, the short time that they had together was beautiful. But that’s not enough, and it isn’t the end of the story. Just 3 years later our father died of the same disease. The doctors said that this form of cancer is rare, but that two people in the same family should die of it in such a short span was unheard of. I was living in North Carolina at that time and travelled to Upstate New York a few weeks before his death to spend some time with him. He was a broken man; unable to forgive himself. He blamed himself for his daughter’s death and everything that had ever happened between them and the rest of the family. He asked me to forgive him for all he had done to me (“whatever it was” he said) and I talked with him about it all and tried to get him to accept Jesus. But he had been brought up in a Catholic household; they were not firm believers and he felt that based on all of his understanding, that he had all he needed. I asked if I could pray for him and he agreed. I said that I forgave him for what he felt he had done, I cursed the cancer and prayed for a complete healing. At the time I was unaware of the power of forgiveness and the next morning I went home, and he went off to his doctor’s appointment. He phoned me a week later and said that the doctor did some tests and reported that there was a small reduction in the tumor that was unexplained and hopeful. But my father couldn’t accept my forgiveness- he felt he was unforgivable and within weeks he died a very painful death. At the time I was in ministry school and when I returned home I talked to my teachers about what had happened. One offered up a truth I did not know. Bile in the Old Testament is synonymous with bitterness.

There was a physical manifestation tied to the sin that only forgiveness held the prescription for-but I didn’t see it and so I didn’t recognize the power given to us through the Holy Spirit to overcome it. Shortly thereafter at the urging of family and friends I went to my doctor for a consultation. Unfortunately I was told that my regular doctor was overseas on an extended vacation and I was left to see one of his fellow doctors instead. We discussed my family history and what had happened with my sister and dad. He recommended that our first step would be an x-ray of the liver and ducts and he scheduled an appointment. A few weeks later I went back for the results and they were clear- I had the same disease. A CAT scan was arranged as a follow up to determine the extent of the issue. I resumed school as the new year began and one evening at a worship service I shared all that had happened with a group of friends. One immediately declared that we were going to pray. While they laid hands on me and prayed I closed my eyes and silently prayed that in the name of Jesus my Heavenly Father would forgive me of any bitterness I might have held over my dad and the family history. I only recall a feeling like a gentle electric shock through me followed by an incredible peace. My friends reported feeling knocked back and witnesses saw at least one knocked back a few feet. The next day I had the CAT scan test and a follow up with my own doctor was scheduled for another 3 weeks out. He could not have known anything from the start as he was away when I first went to see him. On the day of our appointment, I waited while he reviewed the original x-ray and the CAT scan results. He looked at them for what seemed like a very long time. Finally he said to me “Well Mr. Hartley; I don’t know what happened. The x-ray is very clear that there is evidence of a mass. But the CAT scan is completely clear. I don’t know what to say.” I told him “I know what to say. I was a completely healed by God.” I had experienced the power of forgiveness. What happens today when forgiveness is given misguidedly? Sometime later the sinner has come to some form of effect; disease, death, or relapse, and we say “Oh poor so and so. Isn’t that sad. A while back I forgave them for such and such. I’m glad I had that opportunity.” We don’t connect the dots. Churches don’t teach about power today (Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5)- and it leaves the door open for the worst. But you will find me doing it. It is a foundational Spiritual truth. Read the life and teachings of Smith Wigglesworth and tell me it isn’t for us today.

GET EXCITED

Here’s something I want you to get REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. In the Gospels Jesus encountered sinners who were experiencing the [after] effects of their sins. He forgave (literally removed the sin from their soul and body) and healed them-after the effects set in. BUT what if we could pray for forgiveness BEFORE the effects of sin take root?! To witness the power of forgiveness first-hand. HOW COOL IS THAT?! We GLORIFY God, bear much fruit, and give someone another chance (I’M A VERY BIG BELIEVER THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES). We rob Satan of the opportunity to take another life. I want to encourage you to consider some of these points (these are my own and I make no claim to knowing everything):

If you are asking for forgiveness- 

1. Forgiveness has to be specific. If you’re just going around asking people to forgive you for anything, that isn’t forgiveness. That’s a guilt trip that Satan is dropping on you and all you end up doing is spreading that. The other party is going to think they have to invent something just to give you false peace. And that isn’t going to give you peace it’s probably going to cause you to think of more people to confront. 2. It needs to line up with Scripture. If you drop a hammer on my foot that doesn’t require forgiveness. That requires an “I’m sorry,” an ice pack, and a beer. 3. You need to be truly repentant. You must be willing to accept the TRUTH that you have sinned against God and against someone else, and you must be prepared to sin no more. (To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness though we have rebelled against him; Daniel 9:9)

If you are offering forgiveness- 

1. Be sure in your heart that forgiveness is needed (see number 1 above). Do not agree with someone if it isn’t right. Ask them what they believe they need forgiveness for and discuss those things with them until you come to an agreement. 2. Be sure it’s Scriptural. You’re involving God and the other person. 3. Be sure that when you have come to an agreement and believe that it’s Scriptural to pray for forgiveness IN THE NAME OF JESUS. This is where the power lies. (Again I say unto you That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19)

The two of you- 

1. Be sure to GLORIFY GOD. (And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God Luke 17:15) (And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. Luke 13:13). 2. Be sure to follow through on whatever God instructs. If it involves money repay it. If it involves property restore it. If it requires reconciliation do it. God’s ways are not our ways and when Jesus says go and sin no more it isn’t against what we perceive only as right wrong or otherwise. It’s God’s ways and sometimes that doesn’t line up with our comfort zone. I believe that the time has come when the Scriptures say there will be a form of godliness in the church that denies the power thereof. I believe that TODAY we can ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us and that HIS power is available to remove our sins and heal us. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

i-CH