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| Need Your Prayers! |
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I was doing a Bible study in one of the smaller assemblies of our church for almost 5 1/2 years. That is a pretty long time! Then suddenly it was stopped. I had been preaching from the Book of Genesis from Chapter 4 till the end. I came to the end of Chapter 49. 'The last frontier is the frontier of forgiveness.' That is where Jonah fell; that is where we all fall. I said, 'Lord, how can I preach forgiveness? There are some who have done me grievous hurt. How can I forgive them?' I admitted my failure. It is so very difficult to forgive. Then what happened? One of the elders in our church, who had been recently appointed there, suddenly stopped the Bible Study! I was stunned. The small assembly where I was preaching was upset also. They were happy with the Bible study. But the Lord told me to submit. I said, 'Lord, this is unfair! This is unjust.' The Lord said, 'Submit.' So I stopped going. I submitted to the elder. But to add insult to injury, he stopped my ministry to the assemblies on Sunday. He stopped my ministry for 6-7 Sundays. I said, 'Lord, how can this be? Isn't he [that elder] going too far?' Well, by the intervention of other senior responsible brethren in the church my ministry was restored. But even now that elder is against me. For no reason at all! Even now he wields considerable authority. He is like a Diotrephes. Others cannot oppose his authoritarianism. Now I have a problem. How do I forgive this person? Once again he has started to stop my ministry. I am praying. Lord, You must intervene. Lord, do something. Today I felt burdened to tell the members of MyChurch to pray for me. The Lord went through the terrible agony of the cross. We find it difficult to go through tests like these. The Lord knows our weakness. It is really difficult to forgive. Pray for me. |
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| To add a comment to "Need Your Prayers!" |
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| February 15, 2008 |
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| Fortunately I'm not at work right now, as I just read this for the first time. I'm going to log off now and go on my knees... |
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| February 15, 2008 |
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Lot of prayer is needed, because this man has developed an aversion to me. He feels threatened by my ministry. He wields a very dangerous and unhealthy power. Thank you, Mike! |
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| February 15, 2008 |
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| Trust me I'll be praying for you friend. Could this be a Iron sharpening Iron thing? |
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| February 15, 2008 |
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| No, it's not 'iron sharpening iron'. But God must be teaching me something. Joseph had to learn to forgive his brothers. I think this elder has a serious psychological problem. He is totally overbearing and legalistic. I need to pray to the Lord to solve this impasse. |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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| What Satan means for harm, God will use for good. I have been in the ministry for 23 years and have seen what I thought would be a 'back-wards' way of doing something, but God did not think so. First, I am praying. Second, you know from your ministry and walk with God that He will take care of this how He sees fit. Third, I see that this could be a perfect example of what you were preaching about. It can be somewhat easy to forgive at times due to how we have been offended. Just like you mentioned at the beginning of your blog: The Lord went through the terrible agony of the cross but I see a greater lesson, look at how Jesus was striped, humiliated, beaten, beaten almost to death. He then said after they nailed Him (our pure, holy, savior) to the cross that He did not deserve, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'. There is two parts into this one simple phrase. 'Father, forgive them' which God could be using as an example to what you were preaching. The second part to this phrase Jesus spoke is 'for they know not what they do' this situation could simply be a learning experience for the Elder or church. God has also used situations like this in my life and a greater outcome came than what I ever dreamed possible. Worship the Lord until peace comes to you and then stay in that peace. God knows and loves you no matter what. Be Strong. Praying and Love~ |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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Almighty God! our Heavenly father!! We as a family pray for our brother here who needs your support as he is forgiving his 'elder' who is becoming his stumbling block. We thank you Lord for the lesson that you are teaching all of us who have read the blog. It is a reminder for each and every one of us that we should be humble and we should forgive others. You have taught us to love our enemies. Thank you for teaching us to love one of our brothers by forgiving him. Help this brother to bear with all the situations which he has to face. At the same time speak to the 'elder' so that he will do only your will. Help us to stand with 'Procyon' at this time of trouble. We support him with our prayers to you for this Lord. We ask all these in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!!! |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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| I agree and stand with Ragland, and also thank you Father for the lesson this is teaching all of us. You are so good to us Lord. |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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Thank you, brothers and sisters, for all your prayers. Cheryl, it is tough. Because we have never had this kind of experience in our church before. Does this 'elder' have a psychological problem; is it jealousy or insecurity? Or is he blinded by the enemy? I need grace to go through this. But I am encouraged by these words: God has also used situations like this in my life and a greater outcome came than what I ever dreamed possible. Worship the Lord until peace comes to you and then stay in that peace. God knows and loves you no matter what. Be Strong. |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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Paul, I need to meditate on that verse from Proverbs. But all said and done, I am going through a painful situation and I need lots of 'endurance'. Besides, I knew when I was teaching from Genesis that I was going to enter the very difficult area of forgivenss. And I wondered how the Lord would teach me this in a practical way. Well, He is doing it now for the last six months! Joseph forgave his brethren. But that forgiveness didn't come overnight. He went thru some deep experiences. And if you read Genesis carefully, you will notice that 'Joseph wept' seven times! Joseph had crossed the frontier of forgiveness, but many of us have yet to reach it. |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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Procyon, oh I can't wait to see what God is going to do in this! Count it all joy~He is at work!
I feel like I need to pray over you......... to 'Be Still and Know that I am God'
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| February 16, 2008 |
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| sorry..I meant to add, read my testimony, it starts with witchcraft on my homepage. God works in mysterious ways. |
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| February 16, 2008 |
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| Praying... |
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| February 17, 2008 |
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I was always taught that the best remedy is to pray for the ones who hurt you. Because they are doing it for a reason; and in that, they need prayer. You are blessing them. And relieving your burden. |
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| February 17, 2008 |
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Robin, ministry can be an idol. I am not upset that my Bible study was stopped; besides, it had gone on for 5 and a half years! The issue is forgiveness. We think we can forgive easily. Not so. The elder not only stopped my Bible study ministry and my regular Sunday ministry, but somehow has been vindictive towards me [I feel that he has serious psychological problems! The 'flesh' in us does not disappear overnight, when we become members of the church. It takes a lifetime to learn meekness. Not only that 'elder', but I too have to learn 'meekness'. On one side, yes, there is God's glory, but on the other side, we must learn humility. God uses a variety of methods to teach humility. It is not easy to go to our deaths with a song in our hearts and a smile on our lips. It is not easy to forgive. We may say that we will forgive, but we will never forget. |
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| February 17, 2008 |
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| Joey and Lara, thank you. I need to pray for that elder, and I also have to bear the test that God has given me. Either way, I need to pray more. |
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| February 21, 2008 |
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It is truly hard to forgive. We all go through trials and tests. There is a way that makes it easier for me. I try to think of them as The Lord thinks of them. He died for all of our sins. If you look at them in the light of eternity sometimes it helps. I know it is hard and I admit that I still struggle.
I pray that you will forgive him and survive this test. When something is taken away it usually means that after we are tested, something great will come along. Something the Lord has planned for you to do or a release in your heart over the matter.
Be strong in The Lord. He knows your heart and your every tear.
Forgiven. |
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