HE did it now we must do it…

matthew 18.23-27 (nlt),  therefore, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. in the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.  he couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold — along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned — to pay the debt.  but the man fell down before his master and begged him, “please, be patient with me, and i will pay it all.”   then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

now there may be someone in your life who has really wronged you.  and JESUS in this story is telling some reasons why we are to forgive them.   one reason is because GOD has forgiven me, HE has forgiven you. 

twelve million dollars of debt, completely forgiven but that’s nothing compared to how much GOD has forgiven you. 

listen you owe GOD an awful lot, more than you’ll ever be able to repay.  GOD says, “I’m going to wipe the slate clean and you are completely forgiven.” 

romans 8.1 (ncv), those who are in CHRIST JESUS are not judged guilty.

now here’s the clincher.  GOD expects you to do to others what HE has done to you.  if you want to be forgiven by GOD, GOD expects you to forgive other people. 

just a thought from the front porch…

when you pray expect an answer…

james 4.2 (niv), you do not have because you do not ask GOD. twenty times in the new testament it says, ask, and it shall be given.  the word in the greek literally means, “keep on asking, be persistent, be continual.”

admit, ask and then anticipate.  expect an answer in faith.  you anticipate an answer.  james 1.5-6 (tev), if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to GOD, who will give it to you; because GOD gives generously and graciously to all. but when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all.

if you want wisdom – first you’ve got to ask the right person, then you’ve got to ask the right way – in faith, believing, not doubting.  that means the key to wisdom is prayer, the condition is faith.

have you ever prayed a prayer then later while talking to someone say, “i won’t get it”?  folks, you set yourself up.  GOD says,” if you can’t believe you’re going to get it, don’t even waste your time to pray for it.”  you must pray in faith, believing, thanking GOD in advance.  doubt is debilitating.  it hinders GOD from working in your life.

remember peter?  peter is in the boat one day and JESUS comes walking on the water and peter jumps out and starts walking toward the LORD.  listen if you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.  it doesn’t require faith to stay in the boat.  you’ve got to risk in faith and GOD will take care of you.

he starts walking on the water.  he’s got his eyes on the LORD but all of the sudden he looks down and thinks, “i’m not suppose to be able to do this.”  and instantly he started to sink.  the moment you get your eyes off the LORD and onto circumstance, you’re dead.

just a thought from the front porch…