Monthly Archives: July 2011

July 27, 2011 · 3:31 pm

Forgiveness (Part II)

 Forgiving Others

Pastor Arthur Wilkerson

 

     Some would say that forgiving someone is as simple as going to the other person, stating the incident and saying that you forgive them.  If they say fine then the matter is done.  Well, I believe it goes a lot deeper than the casual attitude of the former statement.  Some would say only God knows the heart and that’s true, but God gave us the Holy Spirit to discern; to know by the Spirit the spirit of another person.  The problem is that most of today’s secular saved and casual Christians don’t know what’s involved in the giving and receiving of godly forgiveness. That being said, I pray that the following will help soften hard hearts and vengeful minds in the Body of Christ of both old and new Christians alike.

     The FORGIVENESS of Others should be a godly act on the part of the one doing the forgiving.  After judging yourself concerning your part in whatever the friction may have been to make sure the you’re clear with God and standing justified wholly, then forgive.   What does this mean?

     First: Remember the Cross; remember that you stand justified with God our Father by the precious Blood of Christ.  Your redemption and sanctification, the grace and favors you enjoy (the Holy Spirit bearing witness) in this life is because Jesus suffered, bleed and died for you (this has to be personal) and that you have not suffered to blood.  When we remember the Cross and our Lord Jesus and  the price that He paid, it takes away the anger we fill towards the other person.  We can almost hear Him saying as He gave up the Ghost; “Father Forgive them”—the clouds of our hellish demands for retribution is eased and we can see clearly what we must do.

     Secondly: We look deep within ourselves, judging ourselves, (remember now, this is not casual Christianity  wherein we say I forgive you and yet can’t stand to be in the same room with that person for thoughts of vengeance), this is soul saving , peacemaking forgiveness, the kind that will cause the other person to repent.  Jesus, before going to Gethsemane said …”the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me” (John 14: 30).  The thoughts we have (unrepented of) are doors where the devil’s agents can enter; where roots of bitterness grow into heart hardening hatred.  If this happens, look what we become, this professing Christian that when judged of God will be found lacking because the Prince of this world found something of himself in you.  So then, 

     Thirdly:  We go to that person and say with a pure heart “I forgive you” for whatever it was that hurt or offended you.  Ask them to forgive you even if you did nothing wrong. It would be wise to have a “Neutral” (not your best friend) witness that your word be established.  This is the act of a peacemaker, a mature Christian that’s being led by the Holy Spirit in the spirit of Jesus our Lord.  Now, whether the person receives your forgiving them or not at this stage is between them and God.  With all godly act prayer and fasting is a must, peace and unity in the body of Christ is a reason to fast.   (All Scripture are taken from the Old King James Bible)

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July 21, 2011 · 9:44 am

Conditional Promises Of God

 

The Promises of God With Conditions

Pastor Arthur Wilkerson

     As we start on these Promises of God with Conditions, I must warn you, First: this will be a long series that will encompass the inward man, his character, and disposition; his soul and spirit, mind, will and emotions.  Paul said we Christians should…”Abstain from the very presence of evil. And (that) the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I (Paul) pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved  blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thes. 5: 22-23).  God’s love is as such for us, that He is concerned about the whole person, not just the person that shows up on Sunday or Christmas and Resurrection Sunday or when they are in trouble and Jesus is the last resort.  Second: This series will focus on God’s righteousness as always, the Words of Jesus and our “Sin Nature”.  And Thirdly: The above two will bring our need for Repentance to a godly sorrow, not that thing we do for appearance sake; and obedience to what has been revealed.

    Divine Constitution:  The “Be Attitudes”; The” Sermon on the Mount” are some of the most profound conditions our Lord Jesus put as criteria for spiritual growth.  They are so profound that for the most part some don’t even apply them in the Christian growth process.  Let’s stop for a minute; we as Christian know that we are Saved, Being Saved and Will Be Saved, right, and that at the onset of the Salvation process we are Positionally placed in the Kingdom.  Pastor, wait a minute yourself, it just don’t take all of that, all you have to do is believe in Jesus and be a good person.  What goes on in my inner person is nobody’s business and I don’t need to know all this stuff.  Ok, again, God said in Hosea that His people are…”destroyed by the lack of knowledge” (O.T. Hosea 4: 6), meaning that you reject God’s Word, because you don’t care enough to read and study so you believe whatever sounds good and fits your flesh.  Paul picked up in Timothy, saying …”study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.(N.T. II Tim 2: 15).  Being filled with the Holy Spirit, will cause you know that the word you hear from someone (degree or not) is a word of spirit and life and you’ll know that this will preserve you spirit and soul and body.  Now, the Divine Constitution of the kingdom of Heaven and the Promises of God with  Conditions that you/I should meet for reward in Heaven are paramount in that Salvation process; though these Promises take in Prosperity and Spiritual Blessings, it is not a free ride and it’s not always the prospering we think.  They do come with a broken and contrite spirit, testing and walking the straight way (the narrow gate).  There are a total of  one hundred and nineteen of these promises.  We want to you at least four of to feast upon..

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Everybody talking‘bout heaven ain’t going.   There will be gnashing of teeth.  The Condition that we must meet first is that of the Human Spirit.  The soul and body will not conform to the will of God unless, (except on the condition that) the spirit is renewed (regenerated).

     When we start to think about being poor in spirit, whether it is in our own spirit or something else, it is not an attractive thought or state to be in, especially in this performance  and prosperity driven society of today, where being the best, looking the best and having the best is status quo.  It is hard to see one’s self as having made it or making it with the word poor attached to anything of  ours.  It must be  bigger  or if it’s small, it has to be faster and  classier, better in every way.   This creates the competition among men,  the striving and comparing one’s self among ourselves (II Cor. 10: 12) which Paul said not to do.   So then, we have a world that’s in strife and unrest,  economies  and companies are failing, governments are being overturned  and you say that to be blessed I have  to be What! Poor in Spirit when I’m trying to get all I can.  I need a God that’s going to bless me without all of that and that’s exactly what some that profess Christ has done, given you a god; Baalim and Ashtoreth. (Pagan God’s mixed with the Gospel of God).

     Where in some Churches, made up of people with the character of the world, they are trying to teach a people to be holy and this can’t be because the teachers themselves have the wrong spirit.  Let’s take a closer look a what Jesus is establishing as the Principle foundation for being blessed, at peace and at rest in this world and the Kingdom to come.  The word Poor as defined means  lack; lest than adequate; inferior in quality.   Poor-spirited means to lack zest, confidence or courage, but not many really use the definitions Humble and Mean (lacking distinction of eminence) .  Let’s face it, in today’s society if you’re poor, you’re nothing.  You’re someone to be used and walked on, to be a ward of the state and pited, but Jesus, He set the blessings and the curses in His Constitution to the lifting up in  equality of those that are down and the bringing down of those that are high.

     To be Poor in Spirit is to be humble and mean, broken and contrite, always realizing that Jesus is greater and there is NOTHING you can have or accomplish that can give you any bragging rights before God.   Character is one key and the disposition, (one’s prevailing nature, Sin Nature) is the Principle foundation of the world and it’s righteousness.  These two, the Principle foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven and that of this world are at war. Man’s prevailing sin nature, will not let him be Humble to the pulling down of strong holds (II Cor. 10: 4-5) in his life (your life) so that he will submit to the will of God.  With the Sin Nature ruling behind the scenes in some Churches and blatant in cities and townships around the world, the seeking of the kingdom of God and His (God’s) righteousness becomes minimal and the power of  God that would truly be unleash against the powers of darkness is not unleashed (Only by prayer and fasting, this takes humility).  Without men humbling themselves before God and bowing to the Lordship of Christ, there can be No true power in the Church.   It is awesome  that the our Lord Jesus starts with the Conditions that will cause a man to strip and empty himself of… the lust of the eye; the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (I John 2: 16) in order to be filled with the image of the glory of God in Christ.   Humility is the corner stone of all the graces which come from God.

     Poor in Spirit says that one has… learned to be abased, and know how to abound: everywhere and in all things  I am instructed both to be  full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Phil. 4:12).  You cannot be instructed by God the Holy Spirit with a spirit of pride and secret coveteousness.  Poor in Spirit says that I will no longer try and save my life (keep the sin nature of Adam), holding on to my will and denying the Cross of Jesus, the Covenant of Grace and the Rules of the Kingdom of Heaven and in the end lose my life.  Poor in Spirit says I will lose my life for Jesus sake and by doing so save my life. … What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose himself, or be cast away. (Luke 9: 24-26)

     The Promise…for thiers is the Kingdom of Heaven.  When the Conditions of our hearts have meet the criteria of becoming poor in spirit (humble), then shall the reward of heaven surely be ours.  When the heart of the servant is prepared with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23) in this world, will we be ready to serve in the Kingdom of Heaven, fully under the Lordship of God in Christ Jesus. Amen  (All Scripture are taken from the Old King James Bible) *

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July 9, 2011 · 4:43 pm

Forgiveness (Part I)

Words Of Spirit And Life:

FORGIVENESS

Pastor Arthur Wilkerson

     As I began to talk about this word “Forgiveness”, I believe that we all understand that it is a great part of the Christian’s walk in Salvation.  To forgive or not to forgive is of willingness on the believer’s part.  Please understand if you don’t already, that, forgiveness is a part of the Judicial processes of Heaven along with Repentance.  These are part of the Divine Constitution (Strong’s Commentary) in the Law of Christ. (Sermon on the Mount) (Matt. Chapters 5-7).  As Leaders, I believe that these processes should be taught in our Churches and should have been taught, and not just skimmed over and covered by grace.  Understanding these will bring about the necessary fear (reverence) that God deserves for His Love, Grace and the sacrifice that Jesus gave on the Cross for man.

    Looking first at the definition of this word forgiveness; Webster defines it as “to give up resentment of or claim to requital for; to grant relief from payment; to cease to feel resentment against; PARDON.

     Divine Forgiveness: According to Unger’s dictionary is one of the most complicated and costly undertakings, demanding complete satisfaction to meet the demands of  God’s outraged holiness.  If this be true, then  I can see why the principles of forgiveness are not stressed in the Christian’s life.  In order to meet the demand to be holy as He is holy, the Christians has to first judge him/herself, and this creates conflict of will, authority and obedience.  We’ll get more into that later.  God was outraged at Adams rebellion and yet He had mercy on him and Eve, God killed a lamb and covered them and took away their life of ease so that man had to toil for his existence in God’s creation.  There was not a man to satisfy God’s anger even up to the flood, wherein only Eight souls were saved and this hurt God, so He set a rainbow in the heaven to remind Him and Grace was set in motion.  (Note:Enoch was taken, for he walked with God. (Gen. 5:22-24).  So then, eight souls, were saved, eight being the number of resurrection and regeneration.  Christ rose on the eighth day of necessity.  The first day of the week, one after the past seven equals eight.  His resurrection brought about a New Covenant as Noah’s did after a dead world.

     One might say; what on God’s creation does this have to do with forgiveness?  Well, I’m glad you asked; God was appeased once and for all by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, thus judicially He could now pardon man, who being born  in Adams image “..a son in his own likeness, after his image;” (Gen. 5: 3) and was estranged from God and with a sin nature.  In this we see how much it cost God in bringing  about a way for man to be reconciled to Him; God forgave and now requires that we do the same with a godly sorrow.  In order to forgive someone it has to cost you something.

 Forgiving One’s Self:  There are those of us who love the Lord Jesus with all of our hearts and we are faithful to the Gospel in the sense of paying our tithe and giving an offering as unto the  Lord; we are faithful in the work of the ministry but never seem to find that place of rest in the Lord.  We find ourselves easily upset, comparing ourselves among ourselves and though we have a working head knowledge of scripture we can never quite get an applicable understanding.  Here’s a couple of reasons you might consider.  One: you don’t have the infilling of the Holy Spirit and Two: there could be doors open in your spiritual life, doors left open through unforgiveness or it could very well be both.

      Not forgiving one’s self is a major breach.  Not being able to forgive ourselves for the wrong doings of our unregenerated past, and even the  after receiving Jesus, committing the same sin over and over again can cause a person to be in a state of Spiritual Depression.  It’s  like a bad computer program running in the background (Thanks Pastor Rosalyn), popping up and disrupting the flow of God in our lives.  It dictates how we see ourselves and causing you not to receive of the Lord what is yours by inheritance.  But , when in the presence of others, we have that Christian smile on and saying …”that you’re blessed and highly favored of the Lord”, when you’re really in rebellion through disobedience.  Without confronting and judging ourselves we become complacent in that sin of guilt and it becomes a way of life unrepented of.

     Pastor, Why do you call it rebellion?  Well, again, I’m glad you asked.  See this with a spiritual eye; Jesus said these words after teaching the disciples to pray, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”. (Matt. 6: 14-15).   Now these passages are for forgiving another person (Coming in the next segment), but these should also be taken personally as a command from God to forgive one’s self as well as others.   Not to forgive yourself is being directly disobedient to God’s Word.   How then is it really possible for you to forgive some else? If you can never conquer the quilt and shame of past wrongs by taking them to the Cross and being washed in the Blood of Jesus, the weight of the burden of sin will be too heavy to forgive someone else.  Here are a few spiritual avenues that will help you get started on the way to real liberty in the Lord Jesus.

  • See yourself as an “other”, realizing the awful price that Jesus paid for your justification and redemption.  Love yourself as a new creature in Christ Jesus then you can love your neighbor as yourself. (II Cor. 5: 17; Matt. 22: 39)
  • See your past as an imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ.  A thing that must be cast down and brought into captivity, even daily. (II Cor. 10: 5)
  • Start to realize that you are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven and that you’re only a sojourner here on earth for now. (I Peter 1: 17)
  • And lastly, know, that as a citizen of Heaven and because you’re in Christ “there is no condemnation” against you. (Romans 8: 1)

I pray that these Words of Spirit and Life will help you walk a more solid and forgiving Christian walk.  (All Scripture are taken from the Old King James Bible)

    

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July 4, 2011 · 6:10 am

Unconditinal Promises

The Promises Of God  (cont.)

 

Unconditional  Promises (Part II)

Pastor Arthur Wilkerson

     We have established that God’s Word is inerrant, that He is incapable of error and in this we should know or reckon that He is Sovereign.  In other words we should know that God is the Supreme Universal Authority in all three person, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He is excellent in all His ways  and He, that cannot lie, Promised eternal life. (Titus 1: 2)

      For those who come to God through the atoning sacrifice that Christ made on the Cross of Calvary, being reconciled to God with the Holy Spirit bearing witness that you are His son and can call Him Abba Father, (Ro. 8: 15, Gal. 4: 6) the Unconditional Promises become privileges of the Kingdom of Heaven.  In  the Unconditional Promises God has said , that…”with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19: 26), and, …”where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty”. (II Cor. 3: 17).  Note: These are promises for those who have become Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and are sojourners in this world, even though the attacks on us are many and continuous.

      Now, you may ask, just what does these promises mean to me in my everyday life?   In all of the episodes  of a Christian’s life,  God’s Promises will bring strength to stand against the Devil.  When in our lives we find ourselves in situations, and let’s face it, sometimes we listen to our friends before going to the Lord, well, well. “with God all things are possible”, though this promise was spoken concerning a rich man getting into heaven because his heart was toward his earthly riches and not toward the things of God.  Seeing this, it would be virtually impossible for him to make it into heaven without a change of heart.  Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

     Well, there are episodes in our lives that seem just as impossible.   This is where as a child of God we have to know that… “there is nothing impossible for God”, when all seems to be lost, when every door has been closed, you have to trust the Word of God explicitly.  When all human effort has failed, you have to know that God controls the hearts of kings and men and that He has mercy on whom he will and that you have access by the Holy Spirit…”for where the spirit is there is liberty”, to the Throne Room of God.  You can enter through the Blood of Jesus and say Father, you promised that nothing is impossible for you to do. And with thanksgiving, being gracious for what He has already done, ask for mercy.   You don’t need an earthly priest to pray for, you have an High Priest sitting on the right hand of your heavenly Father and you’re of a “holy priesthood” (II Peter 2:5) offering yourself as a living sacrifice asking your Father and God to turn your situation around according to His will and purpose and believing (having FAITH) that He will do it.  Have the spirit of David, find your spiritual ephod, put it on and enter into the presence of the Lord.  And see that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh from the Father of lights”…(James 1: 17) (promise), because God Promised to those that are His and “…The Lord knoweth them that are His”. (II Tim. 2: 19) (promise).  And when the Lord comes through for you, give Him praise and glory and magnify Jesus.  It is always good to have someone you trust in the Lord to touch and agree with you in prayer.   (All Scripture are taken from the Old King James Bible) *

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