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Living By Faith
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FORGIVENESS BRINGS BLESSING

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Life is not always fair, but God is good. Jesse Duplantis

As you study the book of Job in the Old Testament, you will notice that God turned his captivity when he prayed for his friends. Job’s friends were really his critics. God can turn your captivity, too, if you will pray for your critics and ask God to bless them.

In Genesis chapters 37, 39 and 40, we find the story of Joseph. Even in prison, Joseph kept working as unto the Lord, and he never got bitter. God not only brought him out of prison, but He also made him ruler over all of Egypt. 

Offense is sure to come, but we have to guard against it. What the devil means for evil, God will turn around for our good when we choose to forgive!

Confession: I will love my enemies and bless those who curse me. I will do good to those that hate me and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute me.(Matthew 5:44) As I pray for my critics, God is turning my captivity just like Job! What the devil meant for evil in my life, God is turning around for my good. I am blessed because I chose to walk in forgiveness!

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NO MORE PARALYSIS

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. (Luke 5:20)

God is always propelling us forward. Mark Hankins

In Isaiah 43:25-26, God’s promise says that He blots out our transgressions and will not remember our sins. This promise of forgiveness and faith in His Word opens the door to God’s goodness.

The story of the man with four crazy friends in Luke 5:17-26 is one of my favorites.  “When Jesus saw their faith,” He told the man with paralysis, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”  Jesus spoke to that man’s deepest need. If Jesus calls you forgiven, you are totally forgiven and released from the condition and consequences of sin. You are redeemed.

Jesus then told the paralyzed man to “Arise!”  The man got up totally healed of all paralysis. This miracle caused the religious leaders much trouble. The rules and regulations of religion have paralyzed many people. However, when you get in the presence of Jesus, forgiveness and restoration are freely given. What a wonderful Jesus we have who forgives and heals!

Confession: I am redeemed! Isaiah 43:26 says to put God in remembrance of His Word. This promise of forgiveness and faith in His Word opens the door to His goodness in my life!

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ALL IS FORGIVEN

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. (Isaiah 43:25-26)

Never look back if you want the power of God in your life. Smith Wigglesworth

In Earnest Hemingway’s short story, “The Capital of the World,” he tells the story about a father and his teenage son who lived in Spain. Their relationship became strained and eventually shattered when the son ran away from home. The father began a long journey in search of his lost and rebellious son. Finally, as a last resort, he put an ad in the Madrid newspaper. His son’s name was Paco, a very common name in Spain. The ad simply read, “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the Madrid newspaper office tomorrow at noon. All is forgiven. I love you.”  The next day at noon, in front of the newspaper office, there were 800 “Pacos” all seeking forgiveness.

God is in the forgiveness business. His forgiveness includes the total erasure from His memory that sin was ever committed. He does this for His own sake so that He can bless us the way He wants!

Confession: I believe that God has forgiven me. If God does not remember what I have done wrong, then I will erase it from my memory as well! (Psalm 32:1)

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THE PEACE OF GOD

Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them.  (Psalm 119:165)

Remember-forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice! Mark Hankins

The word offense means a place of stumbling; something that trips you up. When you love the Lord, the peace of God is yours, and you decide that nothing is going to trip you up. Jesus said the amount of forgiveness you dish out is the amount you will get in return. (Matthew 7:2) Therefore you ought to dish out as much forgiveness as you can, because you’ll probably need it!

Be careful not to judge others when you see them fall in a certain area of life. Don’t say, “I would never do that,” because in six months, you’ll do something worse than that! Jesus said in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”  Then He said, “Stop criticizing others.”

We don’t live in a perfect world and we never will. People will always make mistakes; you will too. So you may as well go ahead and forgive others! I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 13. Then draw the love line out and walk on it!

Confession: Love (God’s love in us)…takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong. (1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP)

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GUARD YOUR HEART

Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs4:23 NKJV)

Watch out for unforgiveness as if it were a rattlesnake! Mark Hankins

Jesus said, “When you stand praying, forgive.” (Mark 11:25-26) This means while you are standing in prayer, you can quickly make an adjustment in your heart. People often let things eat at them for years and years, but you can make a decision to forgive right now. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s a choice. You may still have feelings of hurt, but the decision has been made! You can forgive by faith.

Faith is of the heart; therefore unforgiveness is a disease of the heart. That spirit will get inside of you and make your heart callused so your faith won’t respond or work properly. Then you will get cynical, and you won’t be able to receive from God.

Unforgiveness – offense and bitterness – is the primary thing you have to guard against. You must watch out for unforgiveness just as if it were a rattlesnake. When you see it come around, avoid it!

Confession: I stand watchful and ready to quickly forgive. For thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalm 86:5)

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