Don't Take the Bait!

Happy Sunday!

Pastor David Winston preached, "Don't Take the Bait!  Overcoming Offense with Forgiveness!"  His father, Dr. Bill Winston has been preaching on receiving our inheritance and enjoying the Blessing of Abraham.  Do you know when Matthew 5:11 says you are truly blessed?  Just in case you missed it, here it is!  "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."(KJV).   What?  Doesn't being blessed mean no more hard times?  Doesn't blessed mean everything is perfect?  No, when Abraham was blessed it caused others to envy him and want to destroy him!  It won't be any different with you!  When you are blessed spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially their will be enemies sent to take you out!  God is your protector, you never have to fear externally...BUT you must be cautious internally!  Makes sense that Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life."(Amplified).  Just as Love keeps the Blessing active in our lives, offense can lead to unforgiveness that can stall, delay, or stop our breakthrough.

Pastor David said, "Offense is an event, but being offended is a position!"  Let that sink in for a moment!  Even Jesus said, it is impossible to get through this life without something or someone giving us the opportunity to be offended!(Luke 17:1).   But you don't have to take the BAIT!  You can repel offense with Love!  Quickly forgive those that offend you because it is the strategy of the enemy  to keep you from progressing.  John 10:10 says, "The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."(Living Bible).

There are three steps to forgiveness...

1)  Repentance  -  The word repent means to turn away from.  When we repent we stop doing what we are doing and return to God's way of doing and being right.  God's way is always love!  1 John 4:8 says, "But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love."(Living Bible).  We are not discounting the fact that you have been wronged, but we are identifying the source and strategy of the enemy.  We are short-circuiting his ability to block our blessings by choosing to forgive.  Unforgiveness is sin!  1 John 1:9 was written to Christians, it says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(KJV).

2)  Decide to Forgive and Release It -  Colossians 3:12-13 says, "Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind."(Voice).  Matthew 18:21-22 says, "At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”  Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."(Message).  Jesus said we must forgive the same person for doing the same thing 490 times!  It's a decision...a life or death decision...choose life!

3)  Receive Healing for any Pain Suffered - There is a reason we should forgive and forget!  I know what you are thinking, I've thought it myself!  You say, "I can forgive them, but I will never forget!"  That's the trap the enemy wants to get you tangled up in!  Our minds are the battleground!  If you think you have forgiven, you may have said you have forgiven, but the moment the enemy can get you THINKING about the event again...he's got you!  If you don't believe me, do me a favor...tell me what emotions you feel when you think about that event, hurt, or offense?  Does remembering how they treated you bring you joy?  Does remembering what they did to you cause you to love them more?  Does recounting the event and the hurtful words make you want to pray for their well-being?  Be honest!  Pastor David used the example of a woman that has been hurt in a relationship.  That hurt colors the interactions she has with others.  Even though she is happy for a friend that is getting married, she still inserts bits of her offense in the conversation.  She may say, "Girl, all men are dogs!  You can't trust anybody!  You better protect yourself!"   NO, ALL men are not dogs!  If you don't like dogs, don't be a dog catcher! Stop looking for a man where dogs live and play!  NO, you can trust godly people and you can definitely trust God!  NO, you cannot protect yourself!  The Word says, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders’ work is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, sentries do no good."(Living Bible).

When will you know you have truly forgiven?  Great question, so glad you asked!  Pastor David said, "Your Love Assignment is not fulfilled until you can pray for your enemy!"  Not a quick, God bless them prayer...but a prayer you would pray for your closest friend!  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We must develop and maintain the capacity to FORGIVE. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

Love and prayers, Cynthia