#SpeechTherapy | Season 2 | Forgiveness (Part 1)

Hi BCU family!

As usual, you can enjoy the audio podcast (by clicking on the icon below) read the transcript notes or both! Either way, be encouraged by the Word of God and share this with a friend! God bless you!

Welcome to SEASON 2 of #SpeechTherapy!

So in season 1 of #SpeechTherapy, we talked through the contents of the heart, understanding that our heart meditations govern our speech and actions. The lust of the flesh, eye, pride of life, excessive talk and overstatements are all part of what we are in therapy for. This season, we want to dig a little deeper and study some areas that can hinder our efficacy in the Body of Christ, hinder our ministry and turn souls away– areas  that make the words of our mouths and meditation of our hearts UNACCEPTABLE. Recall that “strange fire” from one of our past sessions? We can’t offer any ol’ thoughts, words or actions to God. On that wise, let’s talk forgiveness. Let’s look at Matthew 18:

1) At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2) “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,”

3)And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5)And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7) Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

8)Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

10)Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12) How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13) And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14)Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16) But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

21) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25) But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27) Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28) But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29) And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30)And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31) So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32) Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

We need to break this whole chapter down to understand the magnitude and importance of forgiving. Let’s look at Matthew 18:1.

Starting in verse 1, the disciples asked about greatness…do we do that? Look for that? Or do we have a servant attitude? Is the position you or a leader hold a position of “greatness”, meaning you have are visibly noticed and applauded? Jesus immediately  chose a child (verses 2-5) as a visual for a few reasons:

–Conversion is needful only because our old nature can be puffed up and proud—it wants to be served, admired, be the greatest rather than be humble or serve others.

–The audience at the time regarded children as property and people who should be seen and not heard; people to be cared for; looked after and subject to elders rule. Imagine the disappointment that it wouldn’t be the one who healed the most, listen to the most sermons, sold the most at the chitin’ strut, gave the most money, shouted the loudest or clapped the hardest—it was a child.

Think about the faith and trusting nature of a child. I used to watch Sesame Street as a youngster and my dad watched it with us. In the intro, there was a montage of kids, playing running, interacting– I don’t recall the whole thing, but I do recall the back/profile of a little brown girl with her hair done in three little braids. Anyway, she was playing hopscotch for a few seconds I think and my dad told me “that’s you! Now he likely meant it figuratively, but as a 4, 5 or 6 year old, I didn’t have the presence of mind to rationalize it! I took it literally like any child would. HAAAAAAAAAAA!

You KNOW I cheesed up and was SURE to watch that beginning EVERY time Sesame Street came on to see myself. I believed my dad, trusted his word, never thought …”hmm when was a camera ever outside to film me?” “I didn’t have that outfit”, “I don’t know the tree in the clip”, “when was the last time I played hopscotch?” He told me that was ME! My dad TOLD me it was so, it was SO and I did not question it. You all see where I’m going. That childlike nature in doing what God says and taking Him at His word it what gets us into the kingdom of heaven.

Also, think of the forgiving nature of most children. They are angry about something one minute and off the play with the same kid in the next. We can learn something by that. In fact, Paul said, “brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:20)‬, which ties back to my story. When Sesame Street came on one day, I happened to be watching with my mom. I couldn’t wait to show her me, and when “Blen” came on I proudly told her “that’s me”! Ms No-Nonsense no-spoonful-of-sugar-to help-the-medicine-go-down BLUNTLY told me “that is NOT you.”  Period. [insert blank stare]. I don’t remember my reaction—probably confused, but I didn’t question my dad and if he was “mistaken” I forgave him, because he loved and took good care of me. Now, we know God does not say things that are not SO–my point I forgave my dad—he was still cool to me. That’s what kids do.

This sets us up for some of the coming verses, (specifically verses 6-7)and we as believers need to pay special attention to because Jesus himself said that offenses WILL come. Offenses meaning snares, traps, trap-sticks, stumbling blocks, temptations, entrapment, enticers, obstacles, etc. All these things are considered OFFENSES and some will come from the enemy, old flames, new flames, smoldering flames, you own self and it’s old nature, well-meaning friends, enemies, strangers—like the guy that cut you off this morning, acquaintances like the receptionist that snapped at me for wanting to come get my glasses adjusted before closing time family—yes, mama, popsy, kids, Cousin Junebug, dear, sweet Ida Mae, spouses, significant others, church family, confidants, co-workers—the list can go on. And those offenses can be something as simple as you reacting to a bad attitude, getting in your flesh about a missed deadline, to kids acting up in school, marital issues, being lied on, finding things out at the last minute, your car breaking down—OFFENSES WILL COME. God allows them to teach is to stay in the Spirit and not react in the flesh, the enemy brings them to get you out of Spirit and KEEP you in the flesh. If you stay in the flesh about offenses, it breeds an angry, revengeful unforgiving spirit.

Jesus promises to deal with the offenders—it’s better that a millstone is hung around the neck and they cast into the sea. If they offend and do not repent and get the Holy Ghost, once they leave this world, a “sea” is what they will want. Think of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar in Luke 16. The rich man was tormented so in the flames that he wanted Abraham to have mercy and dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue. How much water is on a tip of a finger? That little bit would have brought him relief, but alas it was NOT to be–not a good ending at all.  While we may be clapping for the impending punishment for the offenders, let’s keep two things in mind:

1)Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him (Proverbs 24:16). God said not to, so we don’t with His help.

2) Let’s check ourselves to make sure we are not practicing offenders mentioned in Matthew 18. The onus is on US. Not THEM.

We do not want to be repeat for practicing offenders. Mind you, practicing or offending on purpose is very different from occasionally stumbling or struggling with something rather than succumbing to it. Again, it’s one thing to mess up occasionally, but choosing to lie on someone, being the marital issue, to have a bad attitude because “you don’t care today”, intentionally, maliciously, willfully, spitefully doing, saying or acting or retaliating, in ways that offend someone (whether or not they “deserve it”) is just wrong.

In verses 8-9 of Matthew 18, whatever the offending part is, hands busy sowing seeds of discord; feet swift to run into mischief or eye that is looking at things it should not,(check out Proverbs 6:12 for details), our job is to cut and pluck–that means take extremes to make sure you are not a willful offender.  Verses 10- 14 of Matthew 18 says God’s will is not that ANY of His sheep perish–He goes after the one. Some of us are that one sheep—we may be saved according to Acts 2:38 and have Jesus down on the inside, yet we may not handle the offenses the Bible way. Sheep, we can’t practice maliciousness, wrath, hatred and such and expect to make it into the kingdom of God. Romans 1:29-32 says so!

29″Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful,

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:29-32).

When you practice offending, it shows the condition of your heart and how closely you are walking with God. Additionally, we are not allowed to retaliate because they “deserve it.”  God says no! Romans 12:19 says, to never avenge ourselves, but leave the path open for God’s wrath, for it is written vengeance is mine, I will repay, requite, says the Lord. And that is a promise–God always keeps His word!

So limp, come with the eye patch, cast—with God’s help, let’s just do what He says so we can make it into the Kingdom of Heaven.

BCU Family, I have to warn you, you will be tested in this area…I know I was and it took every ounce of the Holy Ghost to keep my flesh under subjection! It can be done if we yield to the Spirit like He wants us to do willingly.

On that note, we’re going to wrap up this podcast and Lord will when we come back, we’ll start talking about HOW to handle offenses like Christ wants us to. I want to thank you so much for tuning in and sharing with a friend! God bless you and until we meet again, #StayOnTheWall!

 

Love,

 

BCU

BlenCouragesU6 Comments

God’s lessons from 2015 (Part 2 of 2).

Hey there BCU family!

What you will be reading is the”enhanced” transcript from the podcast, meaning,  you get a little more information in the written account than the audio file. 🙂  Enjoy either format and thanks for stopping by!

We are back with the second and final part of The five (5) BIG lessons the Lord taught me in 2015. Last time, we covered “Promises, promises” and “Appearances can be deceiving,” you can catch up here.  As a side note, I was tested on the the “promises” post.

I agreed to do a project for someone awhile back, and I followed up on it, but the person was a little slow in getting back to me, so I sort of dismissed it.  Of course, at the 11th hour they now want the project which will likely take me many hours to prepare. I started to fuss, but the Lord gently reminded me of what He said through the last post, so with His help, I will take care of it with a cheerful heart. See, I told ya’ll–when I post these things, I am talking to me first–I’ve got to be the first partaker of the fruit! (see 2 Timothy 2:6 for that reference).

So let’s see if we can get to the last three:
3. Happy Holidays?
4. Think outside the circle.
5. Say what?

Click the logo to start the podcast (audio file).

Happy Holidays?

I realize the official Christmas holiday season is over, but some situations occurred that will now have me looking at things in a more compassionate and through the eyes of Christ type way.

A friend of mine working on my computer remarked, “I’ll be glad when the holidays are over. This is a tough time for some people.” Later that same week, another good friend remarked, “the holidays are not happy for everybody.” In the both cases, my friends  had lost an immediate family member and understandably, the holidays brought some sadness. While I wanted say something to make it better, I was led to listen and quietly pray.

Lest you think that grief is unbiblical, take a look at Ruth 1:19-21. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law was making her way back home to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and sons. As the townspeople were asking after her, she said:

“Call me Mara, [meaning bitter] not Naomi, [pleasant] for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the Lord brought me home empty, so why call me Naomi seeing that the Lord testified against me and afflicted me.”

The woman was clearly grieving and said so! Notice the Word does not record anyone responding with familiar platitudes to quiet her down or ease her pain.

Proverbs 25:20 says “as he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that sings songs to a heavy heart.” Nitre was and still is a cleansing agent found in the lakes of Egypt–it is similar to what we know as baking soda. Nitre effervesced or bubbled when coming in contact with something acidic, like vinegar. So think about it–as these folks are mourning their loss, our well intentioned selves can say acidic things like “don’t cry, she would not want you to be sad”, “he’s not suffering anymore”,  “you’ll see her again,” ” she is in a better place”, “God needed her”, “He knows what He’s doing, it was best.” Now with the exception of “God needed her” (for what? God has plenty of resources and once we leave Earth, our work ceases), these sayings may well be true–was that what needed to be said at the time? Are those words really going to comfort someone? As a matter of fact, some of those remarks were said to a revered and  wonderful woman of God who lost her husband. She said, “I know all that, but I don’t want to hear that right now!”

For some reason, we want to hush and rush individuals through the grieving process, and even once the person is otherwise doing fine and gets sad, we want to shoo the sadness away. We are human and losing someone  in the flesh just HURTS and we will miss their presence, especially at certain times of the year.  Don’t get me wrong, it is hard to watch someone grieve–and it is natural and CORRECT to want to comfort the person. God knows what you should say (if anything), and will lead you accordingly if you ask. Proverbs 25:11 says, “a word spoken fitly is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” When you think of what a stunning vision that is, how awesome would it be to speak that way? Yes! Ask God how. And know sometimes, just a listening ear, a quiet shoulder, or just your silent presence can speak volumes.

Think outside the circle

This moment came from a lunch with my one of my best friends, Billie. We were talking about the gifts God has given us and how difficult it can be to operate them among people who know you. Sound familiar? In Matthew 13,  Jesus had just finished powerfully teaching many great parables (the sower, wheat and tare, what the kingdom of heaven was like) to multitudes by the shore. The Word does not record the reaction to the Jesus’ teachings, but I’m thinking the crowds were blessed by it, based on what happens around verse 54. Jesus came home to teach in the synagogue and folk  who knew Him started questioning His wisdom, mighty works they had ALREADY seen Him perform and His family tree.

And they were offended in Him, but Jesus said unto them, “a prophet is not without honor [is honored everywhere] except in his own country and in his own house.” And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:57-58).

Notice, who questioned Jesus–it certainly was not the people outside His “circle”, rather the ones IN the circle. The ones who should be encouraging, believing, praying and standing with you can sometimes be the toughest crowd. I can remember speaking at a function and  looking out on the cold faces of the circle of folks I had known for years, versus the encouraging smiles of the ones who were newer to the circle.

I do not mind saying that did sting quite a bit and it would neutralize me if I let it. This is why  Proverbs 3:5  says we cannot lean to our own understanding (if I did lean on my own, I would have stopped publicly speaking right after that. Thank God for healing me). Rather we are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). If you are Holy Ghost filled, we have the power of the resurrected Christ in us to change the atmosphere no matter how combative it may be. We also need to accept the fact  that in some cases, we may not be well received at all among certain people, and unless God steps in, it will not change. But with the grace of God, we will NOT let that change us or the way we use the gifts God has given us.  Let the account we give have to give God one day have Him respond, “well done, thou good and faithful servant…. enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Say what?

This is more of an observation and gentle PSA. I am a little old school when it comes to sharing certain aspects of what I deem to be private, but it looks like I may be in the minority in comparison to the rest of the world.

With the onslaught of fake “reality” TV,  raunchy tell-all talk shows, dash cams, smart phones and social media, folk seem to think that it is allright to tell, post, video and snap pics of your every waking thought in exchange for 15-minute fame, free therapy, someone to co-sign your wrongness, spreading gossip, likes, sympathy, followers and to be the trending topic of the week whether intentional or not.

I recall a story where a day care provider posted something about not liking to be around lots of kids. YIKES!!! Of course, the post was seen and she lost her job.  Proverbs 29:11 says “a fool utters all his mind, but a wise man keeps it all in till afterwards.” Since we have seen the results of foolishness,  let’s look at wisdom in action.

Mary, mother of Jesus is a prime example. In Luke 2, angels had visited shepherds to tell them about the birth of Jesus and in turn, the shepherds went to see Joseph, Mary and Jesus to verify what the angels said. Once the shepherds saw Jesus for themselves, they “made it known abroad” what the angels said.  Even in all this excitement, the new mom “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (verses 17 & 19).  If the mother of our Savior, King and Redeemer could keep quiet about such an important visitation, how much more should we? We should use discretion on all of our communication, except when Jesus is the subject and good news!

Granted, there are times when we need to talk something out or share information (that is yours to share), and that is where God’s wisdom comes in to lead you to the right person(s),  the medium to use, or to go directly to Him. Proverbs 3:6 reminds us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will direct our paths. Amen? Amen!

Well family, that concludes our series! It was my pleasure to bring you His Word and I am excited for how the Lord will bless us to apply what He says.

May God continue to bless you richly. If this post has blessed you, please let us know by giving a thumbs-up, commenting and sharing with a friend. Thank you for reading/listening and until next post #StayOnTheWall.

 

Love,

BCU

 

 

 

BlenCouragesU1 Comment