MATTERS OF THE HEART: UNSCRIPTED
The Matters of the Heart, Unscripted Forum was held on Thursday, February 22, at Berean Christian Church Gwinnett where Dr. Kevin B. Lee is the senior pastor. It was well organized, professional and excellently executed! The Creative Team of Berean are an amazing group of Spirit-filled women who have a heart for others. They know and understand that there are matters of the heart that go undealt with each day. The audience asked many interesting and thought-provoking questions that were answered with true Biblical responses. As the word says, Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). The forum was AWESOME! I look forward to the next one!
The Holy Spirit gave me the Declaration on Un-Forgiveness and Humility to share with you.
One of the questions asked was if someone hurts me, I know I must forgive them, but do I have to have them in my life? . . . even a boyfriend that cheated on me?
That’s a tough one, right? We often think it is okay to not forgive someone if they have mistreated us. Even more so, we don’t want to have anything to do with that person. Then we get to a point that we can forgive them, but we don’t want them in our lives. Have you really forgiven them? When I think of this, the Holy Spirit reminds me of what Jesus did for me. He does not pick and choose whom he will save. He does not say I love her or I love him because he is this way or that way. God loves us period. He sent his son Jesus to show us what his love looks like and what it sounds like.
Let me share a real-life story with you . . .
Some years ago, a young man who was on drugs and was totally out of money. For clarity, let’s call him John. John had no money for food, and no money for the most important thing in his life at the time, drugs. So late one night he decided to rob a convenient store. In the process of robbing the store, John became anxious and shot and killed one of the male customers. For clarity, let’s call him Steven. John fled the scene of the crime but was caught a few days later. John was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Watch this . . . Steven’s father visited John once a week for the entire 10 years that he was in prison. When John was dismissed from prison, Steven’s father picked him up. He took him to his home. He escorted him upstairs to Steven’s room. He had new clothes for him on the bed. He allowed him to stay as long as he needed to until he was situated with a job and his own place to live. John represents us . . . Steven represents Jesus . . . Steven’s father represents God.
I know some of you do not understand this kind of love and forgiveness. This is however, an example of the love and forgiveness of Christ. Some people have done much less to you but you are still, 1, 5, 10 years later holding anger, bitterness and un-forgiveness in your heart towards these people. Think of this . . . when God forgives us, he does not say I want nothing to do with you. He does not say go away from me. No, he says that nothing will separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). He says that I am always with you even till the end of time (Matthew 28:20). We must choose to love and choose to forgive. We can only do it if we ask God for a willing spirit to sustain us (Psalm 51:12). We can only do it if we die to ourselves daily and see the bigger picture of God’s Kingdom. (Galatians 2:20-21). I want to love like that. What about you?
The forum was on un-forgiveness and humility. Two verses in the Bible that stands out, one for un-forgiveness is judge not and you shall not be judged; condemn not and you shall not be condemned; and forgive so that you will be forgiven. God gives opportunities daily to practice this in our lives with family members, friends, enemies, neighbors, and co-workers. Don't miss the opportunity! The Bible ask the question, who is perfect among? Not one, no not one because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
And two as far as humility. . . Don't grow weary for well doing because in do season you shall reap if you don't faint and loose heart! Jesus is the greatest servant of all. The word says that He came to serve and not be served. Where are you on serving ours? What does your heart look like when you serve others? Is it black and filled with begrudge or is it red and full of the light of Jesus?
We cannot live this life that mimic's the life and love of Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we owe no man nothing but to love him with the love of Jesus. Are you loving that way? Loving like Jesus brings power to our lives. It relinquishes the weight that we have from judging, condemning and un-forgiveness.
Save the date May 20! We will have an outreach where we go into the community and show the practical love of Jesus!
Please read bi-monthly blog/C2L Lesson on the Createdtolove.love website.
Make only His name glorious! I love you all with the heart of Jesus!”
