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You Can't Fly Solo
Hebrews 10:24-25 'And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another... ' (NIV)
Only the power and love of Jesus Christ can totally release you and I to forgive others. Yes, people without faith in God can learn something of forgiveness. But when you experience a real relationship with Christ, you begin to experience a dynamic energy that empowers you to forgive in even the most painful situations. You begin to experience the same incredible power that enabled Jesus to cry out on behalf of those who nailed him to a cross. That level of forgiveness is impossible without the power of God's Holy Spirit in your life. Once you accept that Jesus' sacrifice was for you, you experience something you've never known before - a complete release from your debt to God, a full release from you own guilt and shame. One of the biggest reasons why people cannot fully forgive others, is that they feel guilty themselves. But when it comes to forgiving others who've hurt us, we often need help from other people too. Sometimes, it is very difficult for us to go on making the decision to forgive and we need people around us who love us enough to offer their prayers and support. Jesus intended the church to be a community where reconciliation was the order of the day, where people help each other to find reconciliation with God and with other people. He designed his church to be a fellowship of forgiveness where, because we share a living experience of him, we can help each other to overcome negative experiences and reach out for God's future. If you've been hurt deeply, you will need a great church around you, to help you continue to forgive.
Prayer: 'Jesus, I know that you have forgiven me for all my failings. And I know that being right with you makes it possible for me to forgive others. But I also need to have good, strong Christian people in my life, who can help me to go on forgiving. Please place those people around me, Lord.'
© 2003-2004 Mal Fletcher
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Reading your messages serves as gas for the fire of my spirit. You always keep the gospel where it belongs and needed most - the world and secular thought life.
Christo, Bulgaria
Thanks for the message you gave at The Gathering. It was prophetic for this generation and really made me look at some aspects of our culture in a different light.
Caroline, UK
Hey, thanks for the great articles, it is a blessing to read you
Paul, Norway
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