Read Matthew 6:9-15
Forgiveness is the right way, yet it is the hard way. When someone wrongs us, it hurts. We want to "pay" them back for that, NOT forgive them. It's just the way we are - - it's our carnal nature. But, that carnal nature must be defeated. And that is only possible with the help of God.
Matthew 6:15
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 18:21-22
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Luke 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
We all know there are many, many more verses in the Bible on forgiveness, but those are just a few that have been going around in my mind.
These Bible verses show that if we will not forgive others, God won't forgive us. And, we are to forgive others not only once, but as many times as someone does something wrong to us. That is hard, and looks impossible, but
"The impossible is possible with God."
If we have trouble forgiving someone, we ought to go kneel down, tell God, and ask Him to help us. If we go to Him in faith, James 1:5,6 says
....let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
These verses are talking about wisdom, but I think we can use them here too. If we ask God, having faith, strong faith, then He will help us forgive others. Because, that is His will for us.
Many times I find myself having to forgive others who do wrong to one of my friends or family. In fact, it's more that that usually bothers me, I think. If someone does something wrong to someone I love dearly, the battle is on! Forgiveness must come, whether I feel like it ought to, or not. God will "pay" the wrong-doer back for what he did, not me. That is God's place, not mine.
Forgiveness is a big part of non-resistance. That's why we use non-resistance every day.
Read Genesis 1-2
Even though we may be Christians,satan often tempts us about our faith in Christ.
that show He is the one and only God. He is "King of kings and Lord of lords"! :-)
1) If God were not real then I do not believe neither we nor the earth would exist.
Genesis 1:1 says,"In the beginning GOD created the heaven and earth." Some people
would say this is not a proof at all because we "don't know if the Bible really is real
."But,if that were the case,then I suppose I evolved from a ape! No, I believe the Bible.
Not only did God create man in the image and likeness of Him (see Gen. 1:27) He also
made the whole earth and universe in only 6 days.Anyway,back to my first point, we can
know there is a God by looking around us.To me,everything seems to praise God- Our
Maker. If God was not real,our solarsystem would probably all have collapsed by now.
According to evolutionists,the earth is billions and billions of years old...I think if that were
true (as I said) we would not be here. It is only by the grace and mercy of God the
sun is where it is,because if it were closer to the earth we would burn,and if it were
farther away from the earth we would freeze.It's not just the right distace from
the earth just by "chance",it is a real miricle from God!
2) If God were'nt real I would not have this peace and joy that I have since I
accepted Christ as my Savior. Definantly not! I believe this is one of the biggest proofs
to me.I did'nt have peace or joy before I accepted Jesus and let Him come live
in my heart.I had torment and hatred in me.Real peace and joy cannot come from
the world. I also know I don't have peace because of my imagination.....I can't
imagine myself into peace,joy,or love. It does not work.Psalm 23:5 says,
"........my cup runneth over.." with PEACE AND JOY FROM GOD!!!
3)If God were not real I would not have victory over satan's temptations. I started
over in my Christian life in December.I had wandered away from God without
even realizing it. Our minister and his wife helped me see why I could not find victory
over all of my horrid temptations."Have you been having your personel devotions?"
Phil questioned me. "N-no." I admited. That is where I had gone wrong.... I had
tried to do everything in my own strength.After they had prayed with me,I had joy
and went home.And those temptations...they came home with me, but what also
came with me was power from the Lord Jesus to overcome them. I have
never stolen any of my siblings things again,though I was tempted.Can I do that
without God's help? No! I had tried that before and it did not work! So that is
another one of my proofs from God.
4)If God was not real where does "the power of prayer" come from? Why do
I feel so peaceful after praying to God? Ha! If God were not real I suppose
our prayers would be spoken to the air.I suppose I would just be speaking
to myself. Do you feel good after saying something out loud to yourself?
I don't,it makes me feel bored...I AM TALKING TO MYSELF! I do not find
satisfaction in that.But, when I say something to God, now that makes me
feel happy and peaceful. We would not recieve anything from prayer if God
were'nt real. Am I making sence to you?I mean,that "power of prayer" would
not exist if God did not exist. There would be NO power at all.I would NOT feel
peaceful at all if He did not exist.
5) If God were not real I would not hear the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.
No,I don't really hear a voice,but if you are a Christian,you'll know what I mean.
It is more of a voice in my heart-Jesus does talk to His children.John 14:16
says,"And I will pray the Father,and He shall give you another comforter,that
He may abide with you forever." That "Comforter" Jesus mentions is the Holy
Ghost. Also,let's read verse 17," Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot
recieve,because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him:but ye know Him;for He
dwelleth in you."And also verse 26,"But the Comforter,which is the Holy Ghost,
Whom the Father will send in My name,He shall teach you all things,and
bring all things to your remembrance,whatsoever I have said unto you."
You see, the world cannot understand the "God speaks to me" because
the Lord is invisible. That is why they DO NOT believe there is only one real God.
They feel they need to see Him,otherwise He is not real.One poet stated in his
poem that if God were not real,neither was the brain, because you can't see it!
6) If God is not real then why are the things He said would happen
in the end times happening? This is not just "chance" either.Christ said in
Matthew 24:5, " For many shall come in My name and decieve many." Has
not this happened already?I have heard of several men who said "I am
Jesus"-were they?Obviously not! They did not take their followers to
heaven,as Jesus told us He would.1 Thessalonians 5:2 says, " ....the
day of the Lord so cometh as a theif in the night." Did these men? No,
they were born on earth,grew up,and died. When Jesus comes again
that is not how He is going to come. He will just appear,many men will
not be ready.What about the other prophesies in this chapter of Matthew?
"Nation shall rise up against nation.." Look at World War 2, Hitler told all
Germany that if they conquered the whole world,they would rule it all.
"Peace! Peace!" That is what everyone heard,what they wanted. Many people
today are being persicuted and killed for Jesus' Name's sake.Read through
that chapter sometime on your own,many, many things mentioned there are
being fulfilled,and WILL be fulfilled.
7) If God is not real how do the bad things that happen to us turn out
for our good? Romans 8:28 says, " And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God..." Lets say you have a good friend,then you
two get into a bad fight and your friend says she's not going to be your friend
any more. Then when you get older you meet someone that had something
simialure happened to them.You can help them from your experiance
and be their friend.God can use any bad thing that happened to us and
turn it out for our good."With man this is impossible,but with God all things
are possible."
8) If God is not real the seasons would get all mixed up.
Genesis 8:22 says, " While the earth remaineth,seedtime and harvest,
and cold and heat, and day and night shall not cease." Well? If God were
not real this promise would not continue to be so-it never would have
been. God is in control of all things.It is evident He is real.
9) If God is not real neither is the Bible.But God is real and therefore
the Bible is too.Psalms 68: 11 tells us, "The Lord gave the Word:great
was the company that published It." and 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 says,
" All scipture is given by inspiration of God,and is profitable for doctrine,
for reprrof,for correction,for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God
may be thoroghly furnished unto all good works." The Bible is God's Word
and is ALL truth!
10) If God is not real then where will we go after we die? If God is not
real,neither is heaven or hell,so I suppose we had better enjoy life
while it lasts, for when it's over- well,we'll die like animals.No! No!
This is another proof God is real, we won't just die and that will be the
end,there is ETERNITY after this! We need to prepare for eternity! If you
were to die tonight,would you go to heaven? We need to repent of our
sins and follow Christ while we are younge. There is no telling when we
die.Pray for others that they will accept Christ and follow Him. There is
"power in prayer" !
Read Ecclesiastes 12
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh,when thou shalt say,I have no pleasure in them."
Ecclesiastes 12:1
Are we following Christ in our youth?To remember our Creator means to think of
Him,not forget His commandments, and to be ready to say "no" to sin. Are we really
doing this? Many times I find myself slipping. We need to remember the Lord all
throughout our life. Let's keep Him first!!
It is important to remember our Creator while we are younge so we will not have
regrets later in our life,so we will be more useful to God, and because we don't know
when we may die. There are many more reasons than this.These are just a few.
Please remember your Creator in your youth! It is so important that we do. And
let's pray for those who are'nt following Him at this time......Let's remember the
Lord and work for Him! It's easier to overcome our bad habits in our youth,
and create good one's. May the Lord bless you!