FORGIVEN: Now Is The Time

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Listen to FORGIVEN by Crowder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUiwA1JNDig

As I drove to my Bible Study Fellowship this morning, this song slammed into my heart. My responses to the John 19 lesson fresh in my mind, I listened to these lyrics, picturing Jesus's Crucifixion with a fresh perspective.

SLAM! Right between the eyes. Crowder's lyrics hit me with the facts:

I held the nails.
I pounded MY SIN upon His flesh hanging from the Cross.
I fell to the ground with a hammer in my hands.
My lips once denied God, even in their silence.

My mind returned to that time, to that season of life, when God came down to me in the middle of a massive mess created by disobedience and unbelief. He lifted up my chin to gaze upon HIM on that very Cross where He hung, bearing every one of my horrible sins. Bearing the sins of others who hurt and shamed me. Bearing the sins of the broken world that could care less about Him hanging there, beaten and bloodied for their cause. Jesus looked down upon me from that cross, arms open wide, and cried: FORGIVEN! IT IS FINISHED!

I felt His Spirit take up residence inside me, and my life has not been the same since--no turning back! A fire burns inside of me to know and love God more and more every single day. The fire heats up my testimony and sparks me to share God's love everywhere I go. I know how much I have been forgiven, and the weight of it overshadows any intellectual doubts that arise. Even when I wrestle with my finite ability to grasp the infinite grace, goodness, and mercy of God, the reality of the knowledge I cannot escape pins me to the solid ground of faith in Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends, if you have not nailed your sin to the Cross, not crucified your fleshly and worldly desires, not asked God for freedom by His gift of forgiveness, THIS IS THE WEEK! Wait no longer!

Give it all up, Girlfriends; all the striving, all the searching, all the seeking. Give up the appearances, the appeals, the aspirations to conquer the world. Jesus already did the work. He conquered and brought His Kingdom down so He can give it you without worry and with peace. He suffered and died so YOU DON'T HAVE TO! He wants to give you freedom and new life, one without fear, guilt, shame, or lies. Yes, you will have to give up your sin, but what you gain is eternal glory and the unconditional love of the Father. You join forever the family of God, the Creator of the Universe and Sustainer of all life.

Do not be fooled into believing you are without sin. Do not think you have it all together and don't need God. Nor should you believe you need to have it all together before you can go to God. We all have fallen short of the holiness and glory of God--successful or struggling, solid or shaky, shining brightly or silently suffering--it does not matter. The only place your life matters is in God's economy, in His Kingdom. This world and all you have or have done will fade away. You will die. But will you LIVE? Girlfriends, CHOOSE LIFE NOW! Jesus conquered death on the Cross and rose from the tomb so that we can start eternal life now. Right now. Today.

I pray you will listen to this song and feel the conviction I felt this morning. Yes, I want you to feel guilty so that you can be set free! I want you to pick up that hammer and nail your sin to the cross. I want you to fall down in submission at the foot of the Cross, then look up and see His arms open wide for you. I want you to die with Him and come back to life with His Spirit living inside you, so that all of us Girlfriends can enjoy eternal life together, now and forever.

Girlfriends, what are you waiting for?

He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

Lyrics to Crowder's Forgiven:

I am the one who held the nail
It was cold between my fingertips
I have hidden in the garden
I have denied you with my very lips

God I fall down to my knees
with a hammer in my hands
You look at me
Arms Open

FORGIVEN. FORGIVEN. Child there is freedom from all of it.
SAY GOODBYE.
TO EVERY SIN.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN!

I have done things I wish I hadn't done
I have seen things I wish I hadn't seen
Just the thought of your AMAZING GRACE
I cry JESUS, FORGIVE ME.

God I fall down to my knees
with a hammer in my hands
You look at me
ARMS OPEN

FORGIVEN. FORGIVEN. Child there is freedom from all of it.
SAY GOODBYE.
TO EVERY SIN.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN!

I could've been six feet under
I could've been lost forever
Yeah I should be in that fire
But now there's fire inside of me

Here I am a dead man walking
No grave gonna hold God's people
All the weight of all our evil
Lifted away, Forever Free.

Who could believe? Who could believe?
FORGIVEN. FORGIVEN.
You love me even when I don't deserve it.
FORGIVEN. I'M FORGIVEN.

JESUS, YOUR BLOOD makes me INNOCENT
So I will say goodbye
to every sin
I AM FORGIVEN.
I AM FORGIVEN.

Good Friday

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all. 

Isaiah 53:3-6 NIV

Girlfriends, we are in the holiest week of the year, and today is GOOD FRIDAY. In my heart, I ask myself what is so good about a man full of love, devotion, compassion, empathy, and caring being beaten, tortured, crucified, stabbed, killed, and thrown into a cave? I can think of a lot of words to use as a prefix for this day but "Good" would not have been one of them.

For me, this day begins as one of sorrow and sadness as I envision the sins of the world--past, present, and future--cast upon an innocent man hanging from a wooden cross by nails through His hands and feet. A guiltless man dying for me--for all of humanity. His blood purchased for me what I could not earn, an eternity in the presence of God. It saddens me to know that I contributed to Christ's suffering and pain. Who am I to deserve this priceless gift of grace?

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7 ESV

This gift of grace puts the "good" back into Easter Friday. Only a good, loving, merciful God would make such a sacrifice for disobedient, selfish, and trespassing people of which I am one.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Only a God of understanding would submit to the hands of evil to suffer the atrocities of this broken world in order to be a living example to us of overcoming adversity, finding strength, and gaining everlasting peace. Only a good God would offer us a choice, knowing fully well that we may turn away from His provision and choose death.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 ESV 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 ESV

As Good Friday progresses, I begin to feel the "good" in the day--the goodness of my God, my Savior, my Jesus. The goodness of the hope His death offers to a beaten, battered, broken world and me living in it. By one man sin entered the human race and by one Man sin is forgiven for each human who comes to the foot of the cross humbly seeking restoration and salvation. That is the Good News of Good Friday!

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—Romans 5:12

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15-17

Girlfriends, I pray you will meditate upon the meaning of "Good" in this Friday for you. Weep if you feel like weeping; cleanse your heart with tears of sorrow and grief for the suffering of the Beloved One sent to save you. But ladies, let that water wash away the debris and walk toward the place where glory will be revealed by the Resurrection in three days! Soon, my dears, soon our mourning will turn to celebration, for the grave in which Christ was laid could not hold Him. Good is about to turn into Great...a great day for all of creation!

Love you all!

Viruses

"O Lord, you will keep us safe

and protect us from such people forever."

Psalm 12:7

 My Idea

Well, once again, I sat down to write to you, my friends, with a topic in my mind. And once again, God has stepped in and said, "No-No--not your idea, but Mine!"

Now, I am not going to reveal my original plan because I want to try again later this week, but what I will tell you is that in my research stage, I contracted a virus. "Contracted" may not be the correct word since I chose to download the program that introduced that little bugger to my laptop. Suddenly, ZoneAlarm sprung into action, scanning and isolating the virus, asking me to perform an operation to erase it. Whew! Safe and sound--this time. I have not been that fortunate in the past.

As I sit here typing, I cannot help wishing for a ZoneAlarm anti-virus program for my bodily systems as well as my computer. Apparently, I contracted a virus while on vacation in Florida, and this time I think "contracted" is the right word. Somehow, this annoying illness entered my body and began wreaking havoc. I feel pretty good if I do not move or breathe! I wish I had the capability to isolate and eradicate the germs in the quick and efficient manner that the technology age employs. Alas, I will likely suffer through a few more days of misery until the normal process runs its course.

 

Viruses

 

"Suffering" and "misery" are such unpleasant words often associated with viruses. To understand why, let's go to dictionary.com for the definition of virus: (Definition #1) "an ultramicroscopic... metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts." So, a virus is an infection replicating within us--miserable. (Definition #2) "a segment of self-replicating code planted illegally in a computer program, often to damage or shut down a system or network." Now, a virus is also an infection replicating within our electronics--more misery. (Definition #3) "a corrupting influence on morals or the intellect; poison." Ah, a virus is ultimately poison attacking the center of our being--total misery. Is it any wonder we are suffering?

 

At first glance, viruses appear to be at the root of suffering, sneaking their way in and taking over the host; however, the truth is that viruses are just tools used by Satan to perpetuate His plan. Satan tries to pull us away from God through misery and suffering. Make no mistake, only evil lies behind viruses as they are employed in an attempt to weaken and destroy our love and trust in God. 

Consider the first virus implanted on earth, the one Satan ambushed Eve with in the Garden of Eden. He infected her mind with prideful thoughts and doubt which have been replicating themselves in man ever since that day:

 

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”Genesis 3:1

“You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman.“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5

 

This virus, this sin stain for all mankind, came to us via choice by Eve and Adam, yet they did not create the infection. Just as I chose to click the mouse and download an enticing program, I allowed entry of the virus into my computer; however, someone else full of malice created the infection for the purpose of evil. So too Satan authored the virus that attacked our first parents, and He has been at it ever since. 

Virus Protection Plan 

The Good News is that God sent Christ to earth to live, teach, die, and raise to new life so that He could be our Savior, our Victor over sin, death, evil, and yes, viruses. Jesus is my personal "ZoneAlarm Anti-Virus Protection!" And guess what, the cost of His program is FREE! Yes, free, because He paid for it with His blood upon Calvary. Just as I can choose activity that allows viral access, I can also choose to block them with the presence of Christ and the Word in my life and my heart. 

 

Our victory over the suffering and misery caused by Satanic viruses is through Jesus Christ. When our Lord Himself was tempted by Satan, He used God's very Word to isolate the lie and destroy it:

 

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him" Matthew 4:1-11 NIV

 

Girlfriends, you and I need to model Christ. When you feel assaulted by evil, when the virus of Satan is infiltrating your system, activate your virus protection plan and delete evil with the Word of God. 

 

Name the poison, recite the remedy, and live it out daily: 

 

Impatience: 

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Anger:  

"Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9

Pride:

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Greed:

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Psalm 119:36

Forgiveness: 

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15

Ladies, I pray today that you have accepted the Virus Protection Plan offered to you by Jesus Christ. He gives freely to everyone, while we are still sinners, and pardons. Ask His forgiveness and be made new. Live under His umbrella of security with full access to the weapons against evil.  Give misery and suffering the boot and replace them with joy and peace. Why wait? Do it now. Viruses are lurking everywhere but our God has victory! Amen!

Forgiveness

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Forgiveness.

As He does when I am supposed to pay attention, God has been repeating this word throughout my week. I attended a church in St Louis over the weekend, and I will bet you can guess the topic of the sermon: Forgiveness. I listened, nodded my head, but felt no conviction. Then, I turned on the radio in the car to hear Sanctus Real singing, "Well the past is playing with my head and failure knocks me down again-I’m reminded of the wrong that I have said and done, And that devil just won't let me forget..." (lyrics to Forgiven) OK, God, is there something you are trying to tell me here? My ears are tuned. Finally, I opened an unknown email only to discover the author is a former schoolmate who divulged that I had caused her pain years ago. Forgiveness just became incredibly personal.

Forgiveness.

 I have heard this word from the time I was a small child, reciting the Lord's prayer: "...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..." (Matthew 6:12) From my mom, I was taught that I was to ask for forgiveness (tell your sister you are sorry) as well as extend it (tell your sister 'it's ok'.) Yes, that is a silly example, but isn't that how it all starts? From your own experiences, which do you think has been harder? Seeking forgiveness? Offering forgiveness?


I forgive you.

As a woman who survived a Nazi death camp, after watching both her father and sister die, Corrie Ten Boom wrote, "“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” (Clippings from My Notebook.) Can you imagine the depths of her soul to which she traveled to find her forgiveness for those men who caused her unfathomable pain? Have you been, or are you now trying, to get to that place in your own heart?

Luke 6:37 (NIV) instructs us "...Forgive, and you will be forgiven." We know the will of God is that we forgive one another as our key verse for today states. The application of our knowledge seems often to be the sticking point. 

Today, Girlfriends, I pray you will open your hand and grasp that key that Jesus offers you, and then do as Corrie ten Boom says: Unlock the door of resentment, take of the handcuffs of hatred. Extend your forgiveness and be set free. By not doing so, you are in effect allowing that person's words or actions to hold you hostage. Don't think you can bring yourself to it?

Well, Corrie ten Boom found herself in that exact position in a church in Munich in 1947 when approached by a guard from the camp where she had been held, where her sister had died. The man walked up to her, held out his hand, and told her that he had become a Christian. He knew his sins had been forgiven by God, but he asked her, "Will you forgive me?"

Of this experience, Corrie wrote, "“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.” (The Hiding Place) Corrie ten Boom forgave him right then.

Will you forgive me?

We don't have the advantage of also reading the thoughts of the guard Corrie forgave that day. Yet, I ask, can you empathize with him? What courage did he muster to ask forgiveness of a woman whose dignity he stole? To whose sister's death he contributed? Of whose life he forever altered? Furthermore, from what pit of hellish control by Satan had he escaped to seek and discover for himself the life-saving forgiveness of our Lord and Savior? Have you visited such a place on your life's journey? I pray, my Girlfriends, that you have sought and received God's forgiveness through repentance. He will wash you clean; your sins will be cast to the bottom of the sea. If you have not come before Him, I pray you will do so now. 

Finally, like this guard, do you need to seek forgiveness from someone you have sinned against? Yes, God forgives you. In return for His loving kindness, set your pride aside and apologize to your earthly brothers and sisters whom you've wounded. Perhaps they will forgive you; maybe they will not. Pray to the Lord and release to Him what only He can do. 

As for me, I responded to that email I received. I sincerely apologized for any pain I caused and asked to be forgiven. I was not a Christian as a teen, and I confess to selfish, jealous behavior. My soul knows God has forgiven me; I can only pray this person will too. But I also have another prayer, which is for God to work on any unforgiveness I am holding tightly in my heart. That email, and the desire to be forgiven for something I honestly regret, reaffirmed the peace and love forgiveness fosters. Am I robbing someone of that experience today? Are you? Girlfriends, let us all pray: to release others, and to be released ourselves, from sin--past, present, and future. Amen.

May the peace of Christ be with you all!