Inspired to inspire: THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

Inspired to inspire: THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS: "CHARACTER OF A LEADER PART 2. THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS “We are most like beasts when we kill. Most like men when we judge and condemn. Most ..."

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

CHARACTER OF A LEADER PART 2.

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

“We are most like beasts when we kill. Most like men when we judge and condemn. Most like God when we forgive.”

I believe it’s nothing short of a miracle when a person manages to forgive. It is truly an attribute to God.

True forgiveness means you forgive and forget, and that is the character of God

Forgiveness and Restoration.

2Cor 2:5-10

vs ⁵ If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. Vs ⁶ The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Vs ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Vs ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Vs ⁹ Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Vs ¹⁰ Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, vs ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

To forgive is to act in obedience to God’s will.

Christian forgiveness is far more than accepting an apology. It is putting away vengeful feelings. True forgiveness means not to require or finding satisfaction in seeing someone grovel in remorse and contrition. True forgiveness means finding a means of ending the estrangement and restoring fellowship.

There is no forgiveness without genuine acceptance of the other person as they are...it is joy to accept forgiveness, but it is almost greater joy to give forgiveness.

The power of forgiveness is manifested more when, after we experience God’s marvelous forgiveness in our own lives, we exercise it to others.

Case study

Joseph- Gen 45:4-7, 50:20.. Joseph was mistreated, misunderstood and betrayed. He had every right to be bitter, angry, and resentful. Nevertheless, he responded to his adversity with a positive attitude. He saw God in the situation. Gen 45:  ⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Gen 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

My prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness toward me!  Help me to extend the same measure of Grace to others. Thank you for the ability to forgive that you have put in me through the LORD Jesus Christ. Now help me to exercise it. Help me to become a forgiver and a fragrance of life to others in Jesus name.

May the LORD make me instruments of peace and harmony in my relationships.

Inspired to inspire: The Character Of A Leader

Inspired to inspire: The Character Of A Leader: "It is wise to understand the principles of Christian service before going into ministry. To enter into any service for God without regard fo..."

The Character Of A Leader

It is wise to understand the principles of Christian service before going into ministry. To enter into any service for God without regard for what may be the will of God, without understanding the real principles of Christian service, is not only foolish but also sinful.

There are many obstacles to be overcome and there are many pitfalls to be avoided.

A leader should learn to absolutely depend on God and should constantly trust in the limitless resources of our God

As leaders in the service of the LORD, we face disappointments in our ministry; our relationship with others and even with our own commitment to the work of the Lord but God has made provision of His grace to aid us through it all.

A leader must always recognize God’s Grace is sufficient 2 Cor 12:9. He makes us able to be His ministers. It is not by our own ability.

A leader must be real with him/herself by evaluating his/her motivation, priorities and lifestyles.

A leader must always recognize that he/she has been chosen by God to bear fruit John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last..”

The starting point:-

A leader must recognize that he/she cannot build on any other foundation 1 Cor 3:11-13 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.”

Case study: Nehemiah chapter 3- a record of building the wall around Jerusalem.

As a leader, you must know what you are cut out for/ your mission. He/she must know and understand what God’s will is. To enter into any service for God without regard for what may be the will of God is not only foolish but also sinful.

A leader must have an objective/ goal and must show a warmhearted and enthusiastic spirit to achieve the objective effectively and efficiently.

Nehemiah chapter 3, my attention is drawn to a phrase that occurs four times in this chapter “… he repaired… over against his house.” This is where every real work for God begins- at home. Here is the starting point for everything. A church is not stronger than its homes (a church is made up of families).

As I examine this record of those who repaired near their houses, I am impressed with the significance of their names. In the Hebrew tongue, a man’s name was often descriptive of his character. Let’s look at the four names that are used here in relation to our lives and churches.

1.        Jedaiah- Neh 3:10, his name means “Invoker” (one who calls upon God), meaning his life was founded on prayer. Prayer is an armor and it is very significant in our ministries today. It is important to build the wall of prayer in our own lives.

To pray is to keep in communication with God for you to know His will for you, and for you to thank Him for His blessings and to inquire if He will grant you what you are in need of.

2.       Benjamin and Hasshub- Neh 3:23. Hasshub means an “Associate” and Benjamin means “the son of my right hand” the one who is there to protect. We need leaders who can protect the ministry and the ministers. They also worked together.

3.       Zadok the son of Immer- Neh 3:29. Zadok means “Justice” and that is a connotation of integrity. As a leader you must be faithful to your vows, be it in marriage or at work or even school. Accountability, submission, openness etc such aspects each leader must consider.

Zadok was the son of Immer-his name means “talkative.” There is no known weapon that does more harm in the home than the tongue.

A leader should guard against criticizing the servants of God and pray for them instead.

4.       Meshullam the son of Berechiah also repaired over against his chamber. Neh 3:30. Meshullam lived in his one-roomed apartment alone “his chamber” maybe he felt insignificant. His name means, “Devoted.” Moreover, he is the son of Berechiah meaning, “the Lord has blessed him.” The blessing of the LORD does not depend on whether it is big or little. Sometime some excuses used by people for not participating in the work of the LORD is a feeling of insignificance, helplessness, lack of devotion to the task and rejection.

Every leader must be devoted to the task God has entrusted them with and should not let any excuse be a hindrance.

Note: the wall is continuous, and if there is a hole somewhere, the enemy will breakthrough. Eph 4:27 “leave no room or foothold for the devil.” A leader must ensure that all loopholes are closed up through prayer and in unity of purpose.

Summary

Ø  A leader must know and understand that God has chosen Him for a specific task.

Ø  A leader must have a vision and must take responsibility

Ø  A leader must have a warmhearted and enthusiastic spirit in serving God and the people.

Ø  A leader must recognize the starting point is in him/her and his/her family

Ø  A leader must build a wall of prayer around his life.

Ø  A leader must protect his people/ ministers of God.

Ø  Leaders must work in unity.

Ø  A leader must acknowledge that everyone is significant.

Ø  A leader must build on the firm foundation-Christ jesus.

Ø  A leader must give each man a sense of responsibility for the work for accountability.

Ø  A leader must be able to organize the work for maximum efficiency.

Ø  A leader must know where to start.  Beginning with the spiritual aspect of the work and by consecrating everything to God.

Ø  A leader must be willing to let people try new things - goldsmiths, priests, and perfumers all became construction workers in building the wall around Jerusalem.

Ø  A leader should never disqualify people because of a past of sin and compromise or mistake.

Inspired to inspire: IF YOU WILL OBEY, TRUST AND SERVE THE LORD FAITHFU...

Inspired to inspire: IF YOU WILL OBEY, TRUST AND SERVE THE LORD FAITHFU...: "There is a reward when we OBEY God. Lev 26:3 says, 'if you follow My decrees and are careful to Obey My commands vs 4. I will send you rai..."

Inspired to inspire: IF YOU WILL OBEY, TRUST AND SERVE THE LORD FAITHFU...

Inspired to inspire: IF YOU WILL OBEY, TRUST AND SERVE THE LORD FAITHFU...: "There is a reward when we OBEY God. Lev 26:3 says, 'if you follow My decrees and are careful to Obey My commands vs 4. I will send you rai..."

IF YOU WILL OBEY, TRUST AND SERVE THE LORD FAITHFULLY...GREAT IS YOUR REWARD.

There is a reward when we OBEY God.

Lev 26:3 says, "if you follow My decrees and are careful to Obey My commands vs 4. I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. vs 5. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land."

Obedience is the key to blessing. Anyone who wants to live a prosperous life, he/she must Follow the decrees of God and must be careful to Obey His commands.

Some benefits of Obedience:-

• Peace and safety Lev 26:6
• Victory against your enemies Lev 7-8, Deut 28:7
• God will look on you with favor and make you fruitful Lev 26:9
• You will live in plenty,never lacking as season will keep overlapping Lev 26:10
• God will put His dwelling place among you & will walk with you and be your God Lev 26:11-12
• You will be set above all the nations of the earth & will establish you Deut 28:1, 9
• You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country Deut 28:3
• The fruit of your womb will be blessed and all your possession Deut 28:4
• You will never be in lack Deut 28:5
• You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out Deut 28:6
• Abundant prosperity will be your portion Deut 28:11
• The flood gates of heaven will be opened on your land in season and will bless the work of your hands Deut 28:12
• The Lord will make you the head and not the tail Deut 28:13

Note: the blessings of God add no sorrow.

The key to your prosperity is in Obedience

Regards
Liz

Inspired to inspire: In Quietness!

Inspired to inspire: In Quietness!: "Ex 14:14 “ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still (quiet)” Ex 13:17-14:1-31 narrates Israelites Red Sea crossing experienc..."

In Quietness!

Ex 14:14 “ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still (quiet)”

Ex 13:17-14:1-31 narrates Israelites Red Sea crossing experience. When Pharaoh let the people go, God decided not to lead them through a short road lest they face battles and decide to go back to Egypt. He led them through the desert.

As the LORD leads us through desert experiences let’s be sure that He is with us. He is before us to lead and light up our way, behind us to protect and shield us and beside us to comfort us Ex 13:21.

The LORD is with us and He will allow challenges, trials to pursue us, but that is not to humiliate us but to prove His sovereignty, power, glory and goodness. The LORD has not redeemed us to let us perish in the wilderness.

When the Israelites were about to cross the Red sea, they looked back and saw Pharaoh’ chariots pursuing them. They began to complain and grumble against Moses saying, “Were there no graves in Egypt that you brought us to die in the wilderness..” Ex 14:10-12. It’s very possible to feel fearful when we face various trials but let us fix our eyes on our Redeemer. The battle isn’t ours but His. You and I only need to be quiet and let God show Himself faithful. When we are talking, complaining and grumbling we lose the focus of our redeemer. In Joshua 6, Joshua gave the Israelites instructions: to walk round the walls of Jericho for six days silently. Without raising their voices, without saying a word.. Had they been allowed to talk, maybe they’d have discouraged each other and they’d have given up.

Have you been talking too much? Have you made your trials too big than your God? Have you magnified your problems more than the big God you serve? Are you grumbling/complaining?

You need only to be QUIET.

Luv

Kachel