First Forgive – March 4, 2009

First Forgive

Mark 11:22-25

Jim Stephens

03-04-09

 

Scripture:

 

22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”  (Mark 11:22-25 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

Jesus made a simple statement to a fig tree because he was disappointed it didn’t have any ripe figs when he was hungry.  Within twenty four hours the tree was dead – withered from the roots up.  Peter saw the dead tree and got excited about the power of Jesus’ words.  Jesus said, “You can do this.  You can do this if you really believe.  And you can pray for anything and it will be yours.  It will be yours if you really believe.”

 

When I read this story, I want to organize Jesus’ statement into a set of action steps and start moving mountains and getting stuff I need.  But read further.  Jesus said, “When you’re praying, really praying, you’re in contact with God.  He will probe your heart to see if you’re clear of grudges, offences, pettiness, self-centeredness, and wrong motives.  If you’re not clear of that stuff, the priority shifts to forgiving offences and canceling grudges and checking your heart and getting clear with others so you can be clear with God.”

 

Then I think, “This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.  I just wanted a button to push or a faith-phrase to say so I could get my mountain moved and my prayer-answer out of the heavenly vending machine.  I’m not sure I’ve got time for this!”  Does that ever happen to you?

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I want to be a man of faith – a mountain-mover and results-getter.  But I also want to be a man of noble character, a man who readily forgives offences until I get mature enough to not even be offended in the first place.  Is there any way to move a small-to-medium sized mountain or two and get some medium-sized prayers answered while I’m on the way to becoming a man of real faith?  Amen.

This Sin – January 31, 2009

This Sin

Acts 7:59-60

Jim Stephens

01-31-09

 

Scripture:

 

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. (Acts 7:59-60 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

What a waste!  What a tragedy!  Stephen was such a good guy!  Because he was full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), he was chosen as one of the original seven administrator-overseers for the church.  Because he was full of God’s grace and power (Acts 6:8), he performed amazing signs and miracles among the people.  Because of the jealousy of rigid, small-minded religious people, he was quasi-legally murdered by a religious mob.

 

And then because he was such a Christ-like man, he asked Jesus to receive his spirit in death, just as Jesus had asked his Father to receive his spirit in death.  And just as Jesus had prayed that his murderers not be charged with their crime, Stephen died with a prayer on his lips that the stone-throwing mob not be held guilty of the sin they were committing as they killed him.

 

Rambo would have pulled the pin on his one remaining grenade and thrown it into the mob and they would have died with him.  Sort of Samson-like.

 

Application:

 

I’ve been a Christ-follower a long time.  I’m serious about my faith.  But all it takes is one story like this to remind me how far I have to go and how utterly dependent I am on God’s Amazing Grace.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please forgive me for the pettiness that makes me keep track and makes me want you to keep track of all the little things people do.  Will you help me get to the place where instead of being angry or hurt or offended and then eventually forgiving, I can say, “Father, don’t bother to put this one on the books.  They don’t realize what they’re doing.  Let’s let it go.”  Could I get there?

God Did It – January 18, 2009

God Did It

Genesis 45:5, 8

Jim Stephens

01-18-09

 

Scripture:

 

5 But don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 8 Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counselor to Pharaoh—manager of his entire household and ruler over all Egypt. (Genesis 45:5, 8 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Joseph had spent thirteen years as a slave or a prisoner because of what his brothers had done to him.  Now he had ruled as Governor of Egypt for nine years.  There’s a clue to the health of his spirit and soul in his naming of his first-born son Manasseh (God has made me forget my hardships).

 

Three things here that speak to me deeply:

·        Joseph kept his soul healthy by forgetting his past hardships and living in the present.

·        Joseph did not desire revenge on his brothers.  He didn’t even want them to feel guilty!

·        Joseph saw God in control of his life, even when others betrayed him.

 

Application:

 

·        I too will live my healthiest and most productive life if I forgive and forget past offenses and injustices and live fully in the present.

·        Jesus said, “Forgive and receive forgiveness, give and receive blessing, release others and be free yourself.”  That’s what I must do.  No revenge and no regrets.

·        I choose to see God alone as the one in control.  There is much that neither I nor anyone else can control.  God has brought me to where I am today.  I will trust him and thank him.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, thank you for the grace of forgetfulness.  I believe that you are in control of my past, my present, and my future.  I release from judgment anyone who has wronged me and I look at today and tomorrow as filled with the grace of my loving Father God.  Amen.

 

This Sin – October 17, 2008

This Sin

Acts 7:59-60

Jim Stephens

10-17-08

 

Scripture:

 

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. (Acts 7:59-60 NLT)

 

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).  (Acts 6:5 NLT)

 

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.  (Acts 6:8 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

What a waste!  What a tragedy!  Stephen was such a good guy!  Because he was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, he was chosen as one of the original seven administrator-overseers for the church.  Because he was full of God’s grace and power, he performed amazing signs and miracles among the people.  Because of the jealousy of rigid, small-minded religious people, he was quasi-legally murdered by a religious mob.

 

And then because he was such a Christ-like man, he asked Jesus to receive his spirit in death, just as Jesus had asked his Father to receive his spirit in death.  And just as Jesus had prayed that his murderers not be charged with their crime, Stephen died with a prayer on his lips that the stone-throwing mob not be held guilty of the sin they were committing as they killed him.

 

Rambo would have pulled the pin on his one remaining grenade and thrown it into the mob and they would have died with him.  Sort of Samson-like.

 

Where’s the satisfaction in “Lord, Don’t charge them with this sin!”  Who’s going to pay?  Jesus paid – for this sin and for all the others.

 

Application:

 

I’ve been a Christ-follower a long time.  I’m serious about my faith.  But all it takes is one story like this to remind me how far I have to go and how utterly dependent I am on God’s Amazing Grace.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please forgive me for the pettiness that makes me keep track and makes me want you to keep track of all the little things people do.  Please forgive me and please help me.  Is it possible you could help me get to the place where instead of being angry or hurt or offended and then eventually forgiving, I could just say, “Father, don’t bother to put this one on the books.  They don’t realize what they’re doing.  Let’s let it go.”  Could I get there?