CUTTING YOURSELF FROM GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 26, 2020.

SUBJECT: CUTTING YOURSELF FROM GOD!

Memory verse: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11 vs 25).

READ:  Isaiah 59 vs 1 - 2:

59:1: Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 

59:2: but your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

INTIMATION:

We have heard that our confession is our possession—what we say is what we get. But there are times we can't get what we say. These are times when we bear loads of grudges, resentment, envy, hatred, anger, un-forgivenesses, and like emotions. The loads of such emotions are very heavy and costly to our relationship with God, because they are regarded as sin.

The dictionary definition of sin is "a moral offense or shortcoming, especially from the point of view of religion." It is the a rebellion against God's laws, a perversion of heart.  "Sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14 vs 34), as well as to God. Though we may have been dragged into such emotions by wrongdoing to us by another, but these emotions hurt us more than they hurt the one who has wronged us. This is because, if our faith is strong and our prayer is persistent, there is only one thing that can stand in the way of answered prayer (getting what you ask) and that is un-repented sin. 

Isaiah 59 vs 1 - 2 says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, that He will not hear." 

What a terrible condition for a Christian to be in; to be unable to talk to God! 

When we understand what our resentment does to us, we see how much better it is for us to allow our enemies to get away with their cruelty, even murder, and forgive them, rather than hold a grudge and cut ourselves off from God. God knows the heart of our enemy, and repays accordingly without needing any helps from us. The Bible tells us that vengeance is God's business, not ours; "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12 vs 19). God takes vengeance on our enemies because He is just, and because He loves us.

However, an unforgiving spirit is so destructive that we are warned that when God does take vengeance on our enemies, we are not even to be happy that He did so; "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him" (Proverbs 24 vs 17 - 18). 

Once you understand the destructiveness of "getting even," you will be able to ask God to keep you from resentment in all its forms. In Matthew 5 vs 39, Jesus commanded us, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Jesus is suggesting that our response to injustice should not be demanding our right, but to give it up freely! According to Him it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it.

Jesus said in Mark 11 vs 25; "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." Only in so doing that you receive what you ask in prayers.

Study Acts 13 on the account of two God's steadfast servants, both spirit-filled men, Paul and Barnabas in Antioch where they preached and taught. The Gentiles heard and were glad and glorified God, and all those who believed received the Spirit and were ordained to eternal life. The Jews, however, incited the devout men and women against Paul and Barnabas and drove them from the city. They left, and they were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit, and never had any desire for retaliation. The Spirit-filled life doesn't seek revenge but joyously reflects the presence of God within.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of forgiveness that my heart will be free from iniquities, so that my prayers will be unhindered, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!