CUTTING YOURSELF OFF FROM GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2023.

SUBJECT: CUTTING YOURSELF OFF 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:

God does not leave us. We leave Him. He doesn’t stop listening to us. We stop talking to Him in prayer. When in sin, we cease our communication with, and dependence on God. We thus separate ourselves from Him. When in sin, God feels distant from us because we have distanced ourselves from Him. The face of God is toward us to help. But when we turn our back on Him, we walk in the darkness of our own shadow of sin. God cannot look upon sin, for sin is is against who God is. As long as one continues to live in sin, God cannot look upon him or her.

The dictionary definition of sin is "a moral offense or shortcoming, especially from the point of view of religion." It is 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. It is noteworthy that the sins that easily beset us are sins out of wrong emotions. When a Christian is unable to talk to God, it is a terrible condition. When we understand what our wrong emotions do to us, we see how much better it is for us to allow our enemies to get away with their cruelty, even if it is murder, and forgive them, rather than hold a grudge and cut ourselves off from 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 ones who have 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.

When we bear loads of grudges, resentment, envy, hatred, anger, un-forgivenesses, and the likes, we are burdened. The loads of such emotions are very heavy and costly to our relationship with God, because they are regarded as sin. Wrong that is committed against another originates from Satan. Followers of Christ must resist the temptation of Satan. It’s noteworthy that retaliation against those whom Satan used to promote his work is not a Christian principle. 

The Scripture says, "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). A person should not rejoice in the calamity of any person, including your enemy or whoever wronged you. If you do, you are seeking revenge. But vengeance belongs to God. He may lift up the unfortunate over whom one rejoices in order to rebuke the person who has rejoiced over the misfortune of another. 

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. God knows the heart of our enemy, and repays accordingly without needing any helps from us. 

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. God does not answer the prayer that comes from an unforgiving heart. God will judge without mercy the one who has shown no mercy. One should simply do good, and not allow an evil environment to influence his or her attitude. 

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 Your excellent spirit, that I will not succumb to wrong emotions that will cause me to sin against You, so that I will be free from iniquities  and my prayers will be unhindered, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!