Forgiveness

1 John 4:20-21
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Many may already be aware of this but Alex Hernandez (New England Patriot's Wide Receiver), received a life sentence for first degree murder of Mr. Odin Lloyd 2 years ago...the sentence didn't come as a surprise to many, but what the victim's mother said in court at the sentencing, was remarkable:

Odin Lloyd's Mother Forgives Aaron Hernandez For Murdering Her Only Son

Ursula Ward (Lloyd's Mother)

"First and foremost I'd like to thank the jurors for all their concerns, helping me with everything - and I thank God for being here this morning. My name is Ursula Ward, Odin Lloyd's mother. Odin was the first born of 3 children; Odin was my only son. Odin was the backbone of the family, the man of the house, and his sister's keeper. We all wore purple today because it is my son's favorite color. I forgive the ones who had a hand in my son's murder; either before or after. And I pray and hope that someday, everyone out there will forgive them also. May God continue to bless us, thank you. We serve an awesome God and we all should remember that; because without Him, we are nothing.”

 Forgiveness is a Key, a Shield, and a Weapon.

There was a conversation between Jesus and His disciples in Caesarea Philippi where He asked, 'Who do they say that I am? The disciples gave their responses, then He made it personal - He asked them, 'Who do YOU say that I am?' Peter pipes up and proclaims that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God! This is powerful revelation right?

Matthew 16:19
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

So we can see here that Jesus reveals some Keys to the Kingdom based on a personal revelation Peter has...understand that there are keys in the Kingdom of God available to you and I, that can be used to unlock doors closed to us preventing destiny, dominion, favor, and blessing...these keys are:

Liberality
Worship
Forgiveness

Forgiveness can open doors that devotion cannot. When you walk in God's forgiveness, you are living in the essence of His nature! It's only natural for God to forgive!!

Forgiveness can shield you and protect you from the wrath of your over-emotional decisions (anger, fury, rage, etc.)...It produces what the bible calls, a peaceable fruit...

Example - David became enraged when Nabal disrespected his army and his services...so much so, that he was on his way to kill Nabal and all his household. Abigail stopped him and showed him the bigger picture! She explained to David that had he pursued his pound of flesh, it would've robbed him from being the king God had called him to be...bitterness and can rob you of your future!

Forgiveness is also a weapon > rather than complain about being done wrong, you can turn things on the devil and in your favor! Daniel could've easily caused a ruckus about the satraps who lied on him about praying and placing him in the lion's den...he chose rather to stay focused on God and allow God to overthrow his enemies, instead of him (Dan. 6) - we all know the outcome of that story.

Can you walk in the forgiveness of God, or are you stuck in your own bitterness and unforgiveness about someone? The problem is, the only person suffering from your unforgiveness, is YOU! Allow God to be your advocate and let forgiveness flow throughout your life.

Mitchell's Plain So. Africa 2015

Mark 16:15 - 'Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every living creature'

My wife and I, along with 2 ladies from our congregation journeyed to South Africa to be a blessing and minister to the Mitchell's Plain Congregation. It was an incredible journey filled with Revival and Adventure!  The Lord did a powerful work in the short time that we were there! We witnessed over 20 people who gave their lives to Christ! We also witnessed several people healed, and 4 people filled with the Holy Ghost! There were 12 new converts in the church who were baptized in water

I'm overjoyed and humbled by how God would choose to use my life for His will and purposes in the earth...Please continue to lift up Pastor Ortiz and his family as they endeavor to do God's will in a foreign land. God has certainly breathed on the congregation and you can literally feel the momentum of the Holy Spirit working in their churches!

Perhaps you are a young man / woman in the Lord - listen, God can use your life and take you places you've never imagined...the World is before you! Go, and do what the Lord wills for you life! He can show you His might in the mountains of South Africa, He can also show you His powerful conversion of your family members and street corners!! I challenge you to call on Jesus and ask Him the same question Paul asked Him...'Lord, what do You want me to do?'

Fully Grown: The Need for Maturity

Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Paul is speaking to a group of individuals he expected more from and yet he was sorely disappointed. He expected more from them, because there are a few things in the kingdom of God that should’ve been conquered by now.

2 Corinthians 8:10-11
10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

He simply states that we should never stop plugging away at our relationship with God or the principles therein.
Once you give yourself to the things of God, nothing should steer you away from it! That’s a sure sign of maturity…the babies always give up and quit…

Another hindrance to maturity is pride!

2 Samuel 22:27-29
27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. 29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

When you’re so full of yourself that you can’t see straight, it’s a sure sign of immaturity! I know this unbelievable what I’m about to tell you, but there are people who no longer come to this church because they are not in the limelight anymore – they run to other churches and become the man! Why? Most churches NEVER seen a real disciple!! When a disciple shows up to a religious church, knowing what we know, doing what we’ve taught – they are the gold standard there; while, being here, you’re just one of the herd!

My friends, if we are to be fully grown, there must be a true investment in the Word!

1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

The second part of that scripture is what I want you to focus on…’I shall know just as I also am known.’

In other words, God knows you just as much as you’re willing to know Him. We are desperately needing to ‘Grow Up’ in the faith > this takes a constant diet of the Word of God…

I get really nervous when people walk in ignorance concerning the Word…

Half of your issues would be resolved, if you would simply refer to God’s Word concerning things…while there’s nothing wrong with sitting down with me and going over things, a lot of the answers you’re looking for can be found in God’s word – go get these answers for yourself.

Matthew 25:9
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

The Legacy of Joshua

Joshua 1:1-3 ‘Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,  “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.’

Judges 1:1 ‘After the death of Joshua…’

The two books of Joshua and Judges begin with two very symbolic pictures in the death of two very symbolic characters. Firstly we read that the events in the book of Joshua occur ‘after the death of Moses’. Moses is forever associated with the law of God , and as such is a picture here showing that entry into the Promised Land can only occur after his death. This speaks to us of the utter stupidity of legalism and trying to live and approach God through the ‘good works’ of the flesh.

Moses had to die, and so do we have to die to our own ability to live the Christian life if we are to proceed on in our journey with God. So who could take them in to the Promised Land and into their inheritance? Joshua, whose name means ‘Yahweh is salvation’ was the man who could lead them in. As Moses is a picture of the law, so Joshua is a picture of both Jesus Himself, and of true faith in the grace and salvation of God. Now one of the first things we read in the book of Joshua is that God had given the sons of Israel the Promised Land, but they still needed to personally place their foot on that land for it to be theirs.

Again this is highly symbolic for our lives as Christians for although God ‘has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms’, like Israel we need to place our foot upon these things by faith to experience the benefit of that blessing.  Now, that is the picture given to us in Joshua… Moses (the law) had to die and Joshua (faith) would take them in. But here in Judges the book starts with the words ‘after the death of Joshua’, and in a very real sense, goes on to portray that which happens when the Joshua type of faith has died.

Judges 2:1-4 ‘The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”  When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they





called that place Bochim.’

Gilgal was to be rallying point - a headquarters if you will, for the people of God to strike their enemies and gain God's promised territory...however, because of rebellion and carnality, it transformed into a place of weeping, (Bochim); this means 'The place of weeping'

Gilgal is incredibly significant to us even today because it was in Gilgal where 1) The memorial stones were established (Josh. 4: 19-24)...2) The knife of circumcision was used on the men AGAIN! Josh. 5: 2-9....3) Spiritual progression was continued...the Passover was celebrated there also (Josh. 5: 10)

So what is your current situation? Do you currently have the benefit of dwelling at Gilgal or, like Israel in the book of Judges, have you moved to Bochim ‘the place of weeping’. Bochim is the place that you end up when you have forgotten to take God into account! It is the place where your eyes are focused on yourself and your situation from an earthly point of view. And that will always be the place of weeping!  But when you dwell at Gilgal the peace of God will fill your heart and mind because you consider yourself alive to God, His very own possession, and little else matters! The creator and sustainer of the universe is also your Father, and He will do what is right! You don’t need to know all the details or constantly question what He is doing, for you know that He his good, and that in love He will work all things for your good.

The Human Will

The Human Will is God-given...it's what separates us from every other creature on the planet. In order for Kingdom Truths and Concepts to resonate in us, our will must be engaged...

Genesis 11:6
6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

What happened? Let’s look at the scripture…

The people are one / One language / Every idea and / or plan couldn’t be prevented by anyone. This confession came from God Himself…He had to confuse their language…language gave birth to their will…

*What you speak will ignite your will > what you propose to do and put into action…*

The Lord said, nothing will stop them once unity and the same language is spoken.
Side note: Whenever we struggle as a church, it’s usually because we are NOT one, and we are all speaking different things; be it about ourselves or each other.**

Luke 9:51
51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face like flint to go to Jerusalem,

We are unstoppable once our will is engaged...but not only that, but whenever we are on the same page, and we are speaking the same language...nothing is impossible.

This can only happen when we surrender our will to God. This is usually seen in the way we treat others. In other words, don't tell me how surrendered you are to Jesus when you treat His people with contempt.

Total surrender to His will also involves devotion and discipline – no prayer life, no calling…I don’t care who you are or what you pretend to be…you’re not called to do anything for God if this part of your flesh isn’t surrendered.


Our will is the most powerful component in our walks with God – once placed in His hands, the possibilities of destiny cannot help but become realized.

Can You Tell Me Why?

Why does God allow Satan and the demons to attack us?

If God is all-powerful, why does He allow Satan to attack us? We are not given all the answers to this question, but Scripture does make certain things clear. First, it is not God's desire for Satan to attack people. Satan attacked Eve in the Garden of Eden in the form of a serpent. Adam and Eve sinned, and all people have become sinful in nature and are likewise open to the temptations of Satan (1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour).

When God does allow Satan to attack a person, there are reasons for it. Job did not see why God allowed Satan to attack him (Job 1:12 - And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.), yet God used the situation to thwart Satan's boasts and to bring glory to the Lord.

Sometimes, God allows temptation from Satan as a test. Even Jesus was tested through temptation by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1-10). Jesus, unlike Adam, passed the test. He said "no" to sin and won the victory.

Another reason God might allow Satan to attack is to build our maturity. Ephesians 6:10-18 speaks of putting on the armor of God to stand against Satan. This requires dependence on God through prayer and the use of the Word of God.

Other times, the Lord allows testing so we can be a comfort to others later. "Blessed be the . . . God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too"

 (2 Corinthians 1:3-5,  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.).

Even when we have no clear answers to explain why God allows Satan to attack, we still have the promise of Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." No matter how severe the attack, we know that "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it).

God's intention is always for our good. At times, He allows Satan to come against us, perhaps to strengthen our faith, to test us, or to prepare us to help others in their time of need. Regardless of the reason, we can stand firm in God's promises, including the promise of 1 John 4:4, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

We are never abandoned. When Satan attacks, God's help is near. James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you".

What Happened?

Job 4:3-6
“In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.
Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees.
But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you.
Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?

Maybe it's me, but it seems to be some sort of weapon specifically formed against God's older saints to render them ineffective. What's scary is, the weapon of choice is so easy to detect, yet, many seasoned Christians are falling by the wayside...what happened?

This weapon is discouragement. Many of God's choice saints are falling into a pit of despair and discouragement, and few struggle to ever get out. They've been simply reduced to becoming the shell of what they used to be...for the life of me, I don't know what happened.

Perhaps it's the culture or the society has evolved into this, 'What's in it for me?', type of mentality; but seriously, people need God's deliverance. 1st Sam 30: 6 - '...but David strengthened himself, in the Lord his God'

I believe if God's people would take a step back and reflect on All that God has done for them, and what He's planning to do, that would change their disposition. Sometimes, we need to remember who we were and where we've come from...sometimes, we get so caught up in the Christian duties, we fail to remember the King of kings...

Doing things for God is NOTHING compared to being with Him! Are you going to take an honest look at your walk with Christ and make necessary adjustments? Or are you simply gonna shrivel up and die because life has gotten a little rough? Our text tells us of a confidence that only God can give through our desire to break free from discouragement.

What we need to do is regain proper priority and perspective on who God truly is...He's the God of second chances, and grace is the means by which He delivers...never forget that.