The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? - Proverbs 18:14
Capacity Increase in the pursuit of God is essential for fulfilling the reason for our existence. It takes a free spirit to have consistent walk with God. The Psalmist expressed his heart cry to God as he declared:
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. - Psalms 51:12.
One of the essentials for fulfilling divine mandate is the joy of Salvation. Our joy is not complete until we have divine pillar of the free spirit. Every pilgrim must cry out with passion, "Lord, uphold me with your free spirit!"
A poisoned spirit is not free, it is a spirit in the cage. A man suffering from poisoned spirit will always have problems of relationship, such man will be restricted in progress in life. One of the serious symptoms of a poisoned spirit is:
1. Unforgiveness: The human's heart is customized to have feelings of affection towards another person. When the heart experienced demonic blow, it has tendency to respond in form of holding grudge against the person he is ordained to have affection for.
The act of unforgivingness is like a man eating poison and aspect another person to die. Offence is inevitable in the journey of life. One of the emphasis in Jesus' teaching is the issue of Forgiveness. Lack of it can block our heavens and make us worthless before the throne of grace. Here is divine injunction on handling offence:
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
By Jesus' perspective on relationship, offensive relationship is possible, but who ever make himself a cause of rift is condemned by divine judgment. It is better for him to die than to cause men of little faith to fall off the grace. The issue of offence may be handled softly if only the victim recognised his error and desist from further act. But in most cases, the reverse is the case. In whatever situation, Jesus has answer for every dealings.
Handling offence is very essential for effective relationship. Jesus recommended to his disciples;
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. - Luke 17:3
It is expedient for every individual to watch his relationship and takes care of himself. Jesus presented the issue of offence as a conditional experience that should not be common, but may likely happen.
If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him..
By Jesus' standard, you are not permitted to hold any grudge against your fellow brother. If he mistakenly or intentionally sins against you, your responsibility is to point out his error and possibly express your displeasure. But you must rebuke him in love, lest you to your rebuke to assault against your fellow brother whom Jesus died for. Hence,
and if he repent, forgive him.
Forgiveness has root in repentance. A person who needed true Forgiveness must prepare to exercise genuine repentance. Are you a victim of errors, take the first step of returning the Lord with repentant heart. Then, go to the person your action wounded today and repent of your sin. When the Lord shows you mercy, you will found favour before the one holding you in bondage.
The hard side of forgiveness is in dealing with habitual offender. It is very easy to render Forgiveness to a person who does not make himself a perpetual offender. Despite the recurring levels of the offense, Jesus says:
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. - Luke 17:4-5
Here is Jesus' principles of seven times fold forgiveness. This is a kind of perfect forgiveness a mortal man could ever offer his companions. This may sound foolish, but it worth Embracing to have peace with God. You may not understand what it takes to forgive until you have Encounter with nasty person who is prone to making himself a channel of hurt to another man's life.
It takes increasing faith to bear with frequent offense. We must allow the Holy Spirit to help our heart and heal our wounds. The key to exercising seven times fold forgiveness is divine tolerance. We are called not just to have relationship with the humble, but even with the unbearable and unlovable ones.
In one of our online studies, one of the participants raised a big question:
"Sometimes, offence could be deliberate, hence the offender didn't ask for forgiveness. What shall the we do to forgive?"
Dealing with an adamant person who sees no need for forgiveness can be disheartened. We need to understand that, waiting for someone to ask for forgiveness may be a futile effort. If you want to make peace with God, you must forgive.
The Two Essentials to Perfect Forgiveness
Divine Input - God must sensitize you for a need to forgive. Since forgiveness is the nature of God, you cannot say you are a child of God without His Spirit stirring you to let go of wrongs.
Human Input - Your input to effective forgiveness is your response to God by your decision to forgive.
When God sensitizes you, there is no need to wait for your offender to come up for apology before you agree to forgive. Forgiveness is easy when you resolve to release the offender from your heart. Offering Forgiveness to the offender will give you deliverance from poison.
One of the crucial parts of Forgiveness is the issue of forgetting the matter. To forgive and forget about the pain of the wound caused by the offense is not human, but divine. When we allow the presence of the Holy Spirit, we shall have less offensive encounters.
Hence to stand out as winner:
a) Beware of keeping the records of wrong - the devil will use it against your soul.
b) Beware of piling up offenses - You will burst out in a bad way unawares.
c) Beware of poison of unforgivingness - It is a deadly arrow in your inner man.
Unforgiveness can stand as hindrance to prayer.
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
2. Separation by drawing the line of demarcation - Average human being relates freely when relationship is to our favour. It takes a loving and circumcised heart to keep relationship even when it is hurting.
Acts 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
The art of temporary separation of the camp by setting boundaries may look as the subtle way of making peace, but the reverse is most often the case. It may appear as the best option, but the poisonous effect of it can be deadly.
Separating the camp doesn't bring lasting solution, it will rather represses the pain caused by the offense. The matter is most often possibly waiting or the time to revive it again. You may separate camp on issues that can cause damages to life, But you must aspire to come together again, lest the devil takes advantage of you.
Paul and Barnabas separated camp for a while because of Mark. But Paul later valued the relationship with Mark.
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
That person who seems unprofitable today may give you much profit tomorrow. You must resolve to settle the matter now before it is too late.
WEAPONS FOR OVERCOMERS
a. Faith: Our shield - By faith you can guide your heart against poisonous dart of the Wicked. So:
Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
b. Faith: Our Arrow - By faith you can shoot against the Wicked forces and clear them off your way.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
c. Faith Our Victory - By faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ, you can overcome satanic agenda.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Keep fit for fruitful living in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Watch out for the next episode: "The Burden of the spirit"
Revd Dr Nathaniel Tade Obaniyi.
President, Dayspring Vision, Nigeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment