FORGIVENESS

FORGIVENESS

BIBLE PASSAGE(S):  Matthew 6^{13 – 15}, Isaiah 43^{25 – 26}, 1 John 1⁹, Acts 3¹⁹, Isaiah 1¹⁸, 2 Corinthians 5¹⁷,  Ephesians 1⁷, Hebrews 10¹⁷, Daniel 9⁹, Colossians 1^{13 -14},  Psalms 103¹², Numbers 14^{19 – 21}, Micah 7^{18 – 19},  Matthew 6^{9 – 15}, Mark 11²⁵, Matthew 26²⁸.

Matthew 6^{13 – 15}:  ¹³“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thou is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever Amen.                                                                                   ¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you.                                                                                ¹⁵ But if ye forgive men not  their trespasses, neither will your heavenly father forgive your trespasses. 

We are often betrayed and hurt by people we trust and love most.  This will bring about a bitter disappointment and experience. 

Some people use to say ‘I have forgiven him/her but I will never forget.’  Not forgetting will be holding a grudge and there will be no peace of mind.  If we are not careful, we will end up committing murder.  That was why David McArthur wrote: “Many people are afraid to forgive because they feel they must remember the wrong done or they will not learn from it.”    In the same vein, Sara Paddison said “Since forgiveness isn’t coloured with expectations that the other person apologize or change, don’t worry whether or not they finally understand you.  Love them and release them.  Life feeds back truth to people in its own way and time – just like it does for you and me.”John F. Kennedy said and I quote:  “Forgive your enemies but don’t forget their names.” 

If we refuse to forgive, there will be too much bitterness in us and this will consequently hinder us getting from getting to our next level. Israel Zangwill wrote and I quote  “The past: our cradle, not our prison, there is danger as well as appeal in it’s glamour.”

There was the story once told of what transpired between some senior Pastors in the mission that I belonged.   They were preparing to go for  Evangelism in Osun State of Nigeria (Ilesa area to be precise).  The tracts and all other materials to be used were ready,  permission had been sought and gotten from the founder.  After spending and being spent, one of the  Pastor was now informed about their trip and he vehemently tried to stop them from proceeding on the journey.  The case was then reported to the Founder who instructed them to go and seek the Pastor’s forgiveness.  It was like adding salt to an injury.  Later, an apology was rendered to the said Pastor.  It was in the course of this that he revealed that he was aware that he was a candidate of hell and he was looking for colleagues to take along with him.  Had it been that the apology was not rendered, there will be bitterness, anger and its likes and what would have happened could best be imagined. It was Catherine Ponder who said: “When you hold resentment towards another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.  Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free,”

Unforgiving spirit is like big water, no Canoe, no Boat, no Ship, no Bridge and without a paddle to cross over to the other side.  It hinders and debars one from moving forward.  People must hurt and betray you and you must forgive them and forget their names very quickly if possible.  Refuse to give the devil any excuse to hinder your laughter.  Release people.  Painfully, let go and let God fight.  Then there will be peace of mind.

WHEN YOU FORGIVE PEOPLE, THE GREATEST BENEFICIARY IS YOU.  God bless you as you obey in Jesus Name.

A NEW NAME

A NEW NAME

Bible Passage:   Isaiah 43^{18 – 19} 

 ¹⁸Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old, ¹⁹Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth,  Shall ye not know it.  I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

What is a name?  A name is an identity given to individual or something at birth or at inception.  The Oxford dictionary defines a name as “word(s) by which a person, animal, place, thing and so on is known and spoken to or of”.

A person is addressed by the name being given, which at times have significant impact on the life, situation and at times standards of living of an individual.

When God choose a new name for anybody, it was to give them a new identity, to  let them know they are destined for new and great mission in life.  The New Name was to give them revelations into the divine plan and purpose and also to assure them of the fulfillment of God’s plan.  It may be delayed but it will never be denied.

In the book of Genesis Chapter 16 and 17, God called and promised Abraham that He is going to be great and multiply and a father of nations.  This means that his children will be uncountable, like the dust of the earth, and that to his offspring will He give the land.  Having waited for Gods promised for 10 years and still no child, he listened to the counsel of Sarai his wife and took their maid servant for wife.  But God said the child will come from his loin, his body and not from a servant.  God had to change Abram’s name from Abram (high father) to Abraham (Father of many Nations) Genesis 17⁵.  In the same vein, God changed the name of Sarai (my Princess) to Sarah (Mother of Nations) -  Genesis 17¹⁵ before this promise can come into actualization.  This in essence tells us that it was their former name that was hindering the manifestation of God’s promise.   After the change of name, God’s promise came into fulfillment. 

Also, in the book of Genesis, starting from Chapter 32 through to chapter 35, God had to change the name of Jacob – meaning a supplanter to Israel.  Supplanter is a cheat while Israel means having power or wrestling with God.   It also means “fruitfulness, multiplication and Kingdom are yours”.  When he was still bearing Jacob, he cheated his brother and at a point had to wrestle with God.  But when his name changed, things came easy for him and he later had twelve children that formed the twelve tribes of Israel.

God changed Simon’s name to Peter (John 1⁴²).  Simon means ‘God has heard’ while Peter means ‘Rock’ - dependable. God at times call him Simon and this affects his behavior. 

Also, Jabez was named so because of what the mother was passing through during his birth.  His name means ‘sorrow’ and he was sorrowful until the day he called on the Almighty God and God changed situation and circumstance concerning him.  Things changed for him and the Bible recorded that he was more honourable than his brethren.

We can also see Saul.  He was criticizing Christians, killing and maiming them until the day he met with the Lord on the way to Damascus.  The Lord changed his name from Saul to Paul and he started witnessing.  He was one o the greatest Apostle of his time. He wrote many Chapters in the New Testament.

Until we have our name changed from evil to good, from lack to abundant, whatever evil labels that the evil ones might have given to us have a lot of impacts upon one’s life.

I would like to share with us the story of a family  I once  came in contact with.  The man’s name is Oresanya.  The name means ‘My friend came to my assistance when I was suffering’.  Situations were not favourable to this family.  Things were not working out in their favour at all until one day when he submitted his application to an organization.  The Head of that organization saw the application and decided to personally see him only to realize he was his long time friend and former school mate.  They had attended the same school together and were very close and he had assisted him then.  This friend decided to reciprocate the kind gesture of his friend.   He fixed him up in one of the establishment and before long, he became the Managing Director.  His name had worked or him.  His friend had come to his rescue.  Life became rosy for this family and lack became a thing of the past.

There are some other people that had their names changed either by God or otherwise.  These are Benjamin, whose mother, Rachael, before dying named Benoni, an allusion to Rachel dying (son of my pain), but the father, Jacob changed the name and gave him Benjamin, which means ‘Son of the right hand’.

Another person that had a change of name is Esther. Her former name was Hadassah which means Myrtle.  Her name was changed in the Court to Esther which means Star.  Also, Daniel was formerly Beltheshazzar (Daniel 1^6-7), while Hannaniah was changed and he became Shadrach.  Mishael had his name changed to Meshach while Azariah had his own changed to Abednego.

There is a name change for All believers according to the book of Revelations.  Revelation 2¹⁷.  When we reach heaven, God will also change our name, which will transform from sinful to holy.

There was the story of the little boy who was lost and in the bid to locate the parents was asked for his parents name.  He replied and stated that his father’s name was ‘Stupid man’ while his mother’s name was’ The Foolish woman’.  That was the appellation the parents usually call themselves at home in the presence of the little boy.

What kind of name or label have you given to your husband, wife, children or relatives.  Today, the Almighty will change evil labels and replaced it/them with ones that will glorify His names and give us the needed identity in Jesus Name.