“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Observation
Peter asks Jesus how many times he is required to forgive someone who sins against him. He suggests seven times, but Jesus says “Not seven times but seventy times seven.”
Jesus then tells a parable about a man who is forgiven a huge debt by a king. The debt is so big that nobody could ever expect to pay it off, but the king forgives him. The man finds another servant who owes him a few thousand dollars and refuses to show the same grace that he has received. The result is that the king rescinds his previous decision and has the man thrown into prison.
Application
Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel. Firstly God forgives us of our entire catalogue of sin. Then he expects us to live out the same grace in our daily lives.
To harbour resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness is to show that we have not allowed the grace of God to deeply penetrate our hearts.
Forgiving other people is hard work. It goes against our human nature to do this. Most of us want to keep a record of wrongs to justify ourselves. The deeper the hurt we have suffered the longer it will take to move to the place of letting go.
God’s commandment is that we must love our enemies, and His kind of love keeps no record of wrongs.
Prayer
Father please help me to respond to your forgiving grace by forgiving those who sin against me. Rescue me from all forms of bitterness. Amen.
Christ died and rose again for this very purpose- to be Lord of both the living and the dead.
Observation
We should accept other believers who are weak in their faith and not argue about issues that are not important. Whether we elevate one day above others or refuse to eat certain foods it doesn’t matter.
What is important is that we accept that other believers are free to honour God in their own way. We must not judge or condemn the servants of the Lord.
We do not live for ourselves or die for ourselves- it is all for the Lord’s glory.
Each person must give an account of their own lives to the Lord.
Application
There are many controversies and disputes among christians, and the internet just exposes us to more ideas that we had not considered previously.
There are people who say that christians must worship on the Jewish sabbath and those who reject any organised gathering of christians. There are those who refuse to eat meat and others who warn against Halal certified products.
This is all very well. As Paul says, each group makes choices out of a desire to honour Christ.
When we condemn other believers because they don’t agree with our choices, or look down upon them as inferior, then we pass from grace to legalism.
It is not up to me to judge the disciplines and practices of other believers. What is important is that I seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness in all things.
Prayer
Lord help me to walk in your ways and to not judge brothers and sisters who follow rules that I disagree with. May we all extend your grace to one another. Amen.
The sermon for September 7th 2014 is now available on the New Life web-site. In this sermon, which is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-20, I talk about the deadly doctrine of “Cessationism”- the notion that the Holy Spirit no longer works in the ways described in Scripture.
Sadly, it appears that Pope Frances isn’t as “evangelical” as we might have hoped
From Charisma News
Pope Francis, Mary Is Not My Mother, and I Am Not an Orphan
Pope Francis leads his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican Thursday. The pope sent a controversial tweet Tuesday that violates Scripture. (Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi )
Pope Francis has been a breath of fresh air for many Catholics seeking greater liberty and a growing concern for conservative Christians who take issue with his comments about homosexuality and other cultural issues.
But the pontiff’s latest statement is sparking an uproar from believers around the world. Pope Francis sent a tweet Tuesday that absolutely violates the truth of Scripture:
“The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan,” Pope Francis tweeted. As of the time I wrote this column it had been retweeted about 4,000 times and many of the responses were unkind.
Some suggested the pontiff is “completely bonkers,” while others asked if he had been inhaling too much incense, and yet another told the Argentine Jesuit to stick with the “peace is good” stuff. It gets worse from there, but it’s not appropriate to attack the man for his unscriptural tweet. It’s more appropriate to share the truth.
Mary the Mother to the World?
First, let’s explore how the pope expanded on his exaltation of Mary. During his weekly address in Rome, the pope positioned the Roman Catholic Church as a “mother” to the world and encouraged Catholics to follow Mary as an example of godly motherhood.
“In our catecheses, we have often noted that we do not become a Christian on our own, but by being born and nurtured in the faith in the midst of the people of God, that is the church. She is a true mother who gives us life in Christ, and in the communion of the Holy Spirit, brings us into a common life with our brothers and sisters,” the pope said.
“The model of motherhood for the church is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who in the fullness of time conceived through the Holy Spirit and gave birth to the Son of God. Her motherhood continues through the church, who brings forth sons and daughters through baptism, whom she nourishes through the Word of God.”
What About Romans 8:14-15?
So, let’s start dispelling this error with Scripture. Romans 8:14-17 shines light on the issue of orphans in Christ—there are no orphans in Christ:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Nowhere in these verses does it make mention of Mary. Rather, we see the Father, the Christ and the Holy Spirit at work in a believer’s life. That’s Bible. If that’s not enough, Jesus Himself stated plainly: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). I don’t mean this in a sarcastic manner at all, but please note that Jesus did not say Mary would come to them, or that He would bring Mary with them, or that Mary is praying for them, or that they should pray to Mary.
There are many issues in the Catholic religion that don’t line up with Scripture, but suggesting that “The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan” is an obvious heretical statement that cheapens our salvation. Christians are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1)—the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Mary was a blessed vessel God chose to bring the Messiah into the world, but Jesus did not exalt her, and neither should we.
Jennifer LeClaire is news editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and author of several books, including The Making of a Prophet and The Spiritual Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Jezebel. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Observation
If another disciple sins against me, I should go privately and point out the offence. If this does not bring reconciliation, I should seek the help of another believer, and when all else fails take it to the whole church.
The sins we forgive on earth are forgiven in heaven. The sins we hold on to will also be held in heaven.
Whenever we meet together and pray in agreement, Jesus is with us and the Father will hear us.
Application
I am often amazed at Jesus’ commitment to unity in the church and our lack of interest in the same topic.
We often approach the Matthew 18 process as a means of punishment rather than a means of genuine reconciliation. What Jesus is getting at here is not so much a pathway to justice as a pathway for forgiveness.
Is this issue that offended me important enough to confront, or should I just let go of it? Do I want to escalate the conflict or will I forgive? Is this really important enough to take to the whole congregation or will I be called out for lacking grace?
When a brother/sister offends me and I can meet with him/her and pray with them with one heart, isn’t that the prayer that moves the Father?
This passage is not just about getting our prayers answered. It is about pursuing love in the church.
Prayer
Lord forgive me for holding on to petty offences and raising my imagined right to be offended above your command to forgive. Amen.
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living.
Observation
We must love our neighbour, for in doing this we will fill every command of the law.
The day of salvation is getting closer. Therefore we must live holy lives. We must take off the old clothes of darkness and put on the shining armour of God’s light. Our lives must be decent and proper, reflecting the fact that we belong to the light.
Instead of all the sinful, fleshly ways of living, we must clothe ourselves with the presence of Jesus.
Application
It is wrong when christians do not live lives that are materially different from their neighbours. Many claim to be born again but their deeds deny this.
Our lives must first be marked by love for those around us. We love people because God first loved them. In doing this we fulfil every requirement of the Old Testament law.
Our lives must also be marked by holiness. We have been “called out” from the world, living in it but set apart from sin.
We must “clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ”, allowing His love, His holiness, His grace to lead every aspect of our lives.
Prayer
Lord you have called me to a high path, a way of living very different from the world. Please help me to live a life that is honouring to the name of Christ. Amen.
“But the blood on your door posts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Observation
The Lord gives the people of Israel the instructions for celebrating the Passover.
As a permanent part of their annual life, the Israelites are to celebrate the Passover. They are each to take a special lamb, care for it and then slaughter it at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and smear it on their door posts.
They must be dressed ready to travel, for the Lord will strike down every first-born son in the land, except for those houses marked with blood.
Application
What a terrible price the people of Egypt paid for the intransigence of their leader- the death of every first-born son in every family- except those whose houses were marked with the blood of the Passover lamb.
This was judgement against a nation which refused to obey God and placed its economic prosperity above righteousness.
The Passover is also a sign of salvation. We were headed towards death but we have been marked by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for saving me from sin. Thank you for the blood of Jesus Christ which makes any sin clean. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 