Proverbs 9:7 KJV “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.”

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Trying to force a mocker or wicked person to accept godly correction is like expecting a man with no legs to walk. He can’t do it. God says those who reprove mockers and the wicked bring disgrace, shame, and abuse to themselves. The man with no legs is crippled physically. If we think we can make wicked mockers accept God’s truth might we be crippled spiritually?🤔

Matthew 7:6 AMP “Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

This is all you can expect when you give God’s word to wicked mockers: they will trample them under their feet, “And turn and tear you to pieces.”😠

Proverbs 9:8-9 NLT “So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. [9] Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.”

The apostle Paul instructed the younger Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:2 AMP “The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to RELIABLE and FAITHFUL men who will also be CAPABLE AND QUALIFIED TO TEACH OTHERS.”

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Romans 5:3‭-‬4 HCSB “And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”

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There’s a saying, “If God brings you to it He will bring you through it.” I believe that saying. No one else knows ALL the troubles you go through, only God. So talk to Him in prayer about them all. Sometimes when you can confide in another person how sweet that fellowship is. They too know what it’s like to go through life’s most humiliating moments, stinky draws and all. Hence they are not looking at you like you’re crazy when you discuss your trials like those who think they’re draws never stink. We haven’t even begun to talk about stinky feet, and how life can be sweet even in the midst of them. This can happen only by the grace of God.😊 He gives us power to endure the worse humiliations. These afflictions actually produce in us endurance, godly character, and a sure hope. This is why we rejoice in the midst of our stinky draws and all.

When life’s smelly moments come your way will you rejoice and praise God in the midst of them? Do you understand why God tells us to do so? Stinky draws and all? (James 1:2-4)

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Hebrews 12:1 KJV “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with PATIENCE the race that is set before us.”

Luke 21:16-19 KJV “And YE SHALL BE BETRAYED both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. [17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. [18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish. [19] In your PATIENCE possess ye your souls.”

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A tired man is writing this article? A man who sometimes feels like he has nothing left to give in the tank. Just like some of you feel at times. Yet when I woke up I know it was the Spirit who said to me, “The finished line is closer than you think.” I believe that’s why the race feels so grueling; we’re almost there, we’re almost home.😂

Have you been betrayed by your closest relatives? And by those who pretended to walk with you in the faith? Some of them had us fooled for years. Have you basically been forsaken by everyone? Parents? Brothers? Sisters? Children? Friends? Etcetera?😳 Then you especially know how tough this race is. Isn’t it interesting how they can so easily discard us? The Lord told us this would happen:

Matthew 10:22 LEB “And you will be HATED BY EVERYONE because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—THIS ONE WILL BE SAVED.”

WHEN YOU CAN’T TAKE ANYMORE

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. WE WERE CRUSHED AND OVERWHELMED BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO ENDURE, and we thought we would never live through it. [9] In fact, WE EXPECTED TO DIE. But as a result, WE STOPPED RELYING ON OURSELVES AND LEARNED TO RELY ON GOD, who raises the dead. [10] And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”

“WE STOPPED RELYING ON OURSELVES AND LEARNED TO RELY ON GOD.”😊 That’s what happens when we can’t take anymore; we learn to rely on God, who rescues us again and again. We get to see miracles. Our enemies don’t experience God like this. And some of our associates have not given everything up for Jesus Christ. Some of them are lukewarm at best. So Satan does not viciously attack them. Hence they never experience God’s protection the way we do. Some of our friends say they want heaven and they also want this world’s witchcraft entertainment. They want God’s protection but they are too afraid to offend anyone with the true message about Jesus Christ. When God separates us it happens sometimes to show that not all who profess Jesus are really His:

1 John 2:18‭-‬19 LEB “Children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But THEY WENT OUT, in order THAT IT MIGHT BE SHOWN THAT ALL OF THEM ARE NOT OF US.”

I know, these are hard words to chew and swallow when they apply to your son or daughter, your mother or father, your husband or wife. Some do come back. Remember the prodigal son? (Luke 15:11-24) Let us hope that God will open their eyes one day.

As we go through life’s challenges and don’t have the familiar faces around to rely on for help it’s ok. God will help us. We will see miracles. He will rescue us again and again. Because you truly serve Jesus the narrow road is tough. (Matthew 7:13-14) But you alo have these assurances:

Romans 8:35‭-‬39 LEB “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or hunger or lack of sufficient clothing or danger or the sword? Just as it is written, “On account of you we are being put to death the whole day long; we are considered as sheep for slaughter.” No, but in all these things we prevail completely through the one who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Luke 21:19 KJV “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

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2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NLT “When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, [11] so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”

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The passage above refers to a man who Paul was telling the church to welcome back with open arms. Why? If you read 1 Corinthians chapter 5 you will find this man had to be excommunicated from the church. Why? Because he was having sex with his father’s wife. Yes. If you have time raed 1 Corinthians chapter 5. Some time had passed since the man had been put out of the church and the Holy Spirit was directing them through apostle Paul to now forgive him:😊

2 Corinthians 2:7-8 NLT “Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. [8] So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.”

WOW!😊 What a loving God we serve! He does not want any to be lost.😊

Psalm 103:10-14 NLT “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. [11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [13] The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

Sadly, there are some professing Christians who are really hard on others. Some have separated themselves or put others out of their churches over things God never commanded. (Jude 1:19) They do not have the Father’s forgiving spirit.😓 They have been outsmarted by Satan! And many of them don’t even know it.

Did you notice in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 the Holy Spirit said forgiving the man who had committed the sin with his father’s wife was necessary, “So that Satan will not outsmart us? For we are familiar with his evil schemes?”🤔 Yes, when we are unwilling to forgive we have been duped by the Devil. Unforgiveness is one of Satan’s schemes. It goes directly against the heart of God.

Matthew 6:14‭-‬15 HCSB “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.”

It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Then why is it so hard for some to forgive others wrongdoing even after being told by God they risk losing everything if they don’t forgive others? Satan has outsmarted them.😓 The deceitfulness of sin is wickedly powerful.

Some professing believers refuse to reconcile, or forgive, and think they have a good relationship with God!😳 It’s as if Matthew 6:14-15 doesn’t apply to them. Even in the face of this scripture and others like it they will justify why they hold a grudge. They have been blinded by the Devil. How sad.😓

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Yes, when we are unwilling to forgive we have been duped by the Devil. Unforgiveness is one of Satan’s schemes.

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Another reason I believe it’s very hard for some to forgive others is they are not conscious of their own sin.🤔 What I mean is they do not realize just how much we all have individually sinned against God. When we truly acknowledge how much we have sinned against God the sins and faults of others against us becomes very small. Jesus put it this way:

Matthew 18:21‭-‬35 LEB “Then Peter came up to him and said, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I will forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven! “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he began to settle them, someone was brought to him who owed ten thousand talents. And because he did not have enough to repay it, the master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and his children and everything that he had, and to be repaid. Then the slave threw himself to the ground and began to do obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you!’ So the master of that slave, because he had compassion, released him and forgave him the loan. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and taking hold of him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back everything that you owe!’ Then his fellow slave threw himself to the ground and began to implore him, saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will repay you!’ But he did not want to, but rather he went and threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me! SHOULD YOU NOT ALSO HAVE SHOWN MERCY TO YOUR FELLOW SLAVE AS I ALSO SHOWED MERCY TO YOU?’ And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the merciless jailers until he would repay everything that was owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts!”

Can we afford not to be forgiving?😳 Is harboring bitter resentment towards others worth throwing it all away?😳 Should we not show mercy to others the same way God has shown mercy to us? (Colossians 3:13) If Satan has outwitted us through unforgiveness be honest to God about it and repent, please. He WILL forgive us.😊 Carrying a grudge is not worth throwing away our eternal soul.

James 2:13 NLT “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”

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Matthew 7:21‭-‬23 GNB‬‬ “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. When Judgement Day comes, MANY will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’ “‬‬‬

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The above verse applies to Church folks, not the world. It is Christians who call Jesus Lord. It is Christians who speak Christ’s message, drive out demons, and perform miracles in His name. On judgment day many of them will be looking for a reward only to hear Jesus say, ‘Get away from me. I don’t know you.’ That’s got to be the most horrible feeling in the world! Because you know what comes next. That’s right, the fire.

Have you ever seen someone so deceived who thought they were right? It’s especially sad for me when that person professes to be a Christian. When we meet God at the judgment will we get a rude awakening? Can you imagine expecting to be rewarded by God only to receive His eternal curse? The above passage should make us test ourselves. If we think this could never happen to us we are already deceived and need to repent. Here’s one reason why many Christians are in danger of hearing those very unpleasant words from Jesus: “I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!”

UNFORGIVENESS

Something someone said or did to us has us so transfixed we choose not to get over it. We then start talking about the sins of the person(s) that offended us. We harp on their faults and shortcomings. This then turns into a habit. We’re now in more trouble than we know and aren’t even aware of it. We know that it’s wrong to highlight other people’s faults but we just can’t resist the temptation to voice our discontent and dissatisfaction for another Christian to another Christian. I ask you, would you want someone shining the spotlight on your sins, on your faults and shortcomings? Of course not. So are we following Jesus’ command to, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” when we keep talking about the sins of others? If this conduct continues over time our heart becomes hardened towards the individual that offended us. Yes, we begin to hate our brother or sister and often aren’t even aware of it. Our enemy the devil is very tricky. By now whatever the brother or sister did to us seems small compared to our problem. And all of this could have been avoided had we obeyed Jesus’ commandment to forgive.

Matthew 18:21-22 NIV “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” [22] Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Luke 17:3-4 NIV “So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. [4] Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ YOU MUST FORGIVE THEM.”

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NLT “When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, [11] so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”

1 John 4:20 NIV “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

There’s a popular gospel song sung by a popular gospel artist, the chorus goes, “I don’t wonna love nobody but you, I don’t wonna love nobody but you, I don’t wonna love nobody, love nobody but you.” Sounds cute? They’re talking about loving God. Only problem is that’s not what God’s word teaches. God says there is no way you can love only Him and not love His children (your brothers and sisters) too. We’re a package deal. You must accept the whole package. Imagine telling a woman you are interested in marrying that has kids, “I don’t wonna love nobody but you. I don’t care to love your children too.” See how well that goes over.

Anyone who says they love God and does not love their brothers and sisters the Bible says is a liar. God says we cannot love only him, we must love His children too, our brothers and sisters.

1 John‬ ‭3:14-15‬ ‭KJV “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
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If something a brother or sister has done has hurt you so bad be honest about it. Also be honest with yourself if you’ve come to realize you haven’t forgiven them. All we have to do is repent guys. God will forgive us. 😃 If we do not repent of this sin believe it or not we are in danger of going to hell because we are not living in love. Jesus said:

Matthew‬ ‭5:21-22‬ ‭GNB “You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ But now I tell you: whoever is angry with his brother will be brought to trial, whoever calls his brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the Council, and whoever calls his brother a worthless fool will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
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HELP THEM

If someone who claims to be a servant of Christ starts talking about how they have been hurt or offended by another brother or sister direct them to the words of their master Jesus Christ:

Matthew 18:15-18 KJV “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

This is how Jesus says to handle the situation. There is a three step process to resolving issues in God’s household; His church. And most of these can be squashed immediately if we follow the first step. If someone has sinned against us step one is to go to that brother or sister just the two of you alone and work it out with a view to reconciling or gaining good relations again with our brethren. Do not go telling everybody in the church first. According to Jesus’ words above we are getting way ahead of ourselves when we do that.

DO WE LOVE JESUS?

How many of us really love Jesus enough to obey what He says about solving issues between brethren? How many of us know that when we obey Jesus’ command in this regard we are keeping Satan out of our churches? And how many of us know that when we don’t obey Jesus in this regard we are inviting the Devil in? What’s interesting is often the person who offended us doesn’t even know they have deeply hurt us. That doesn’t make it right of course. They may in fact need correction so they don’t go around continually offending others. When we handle the situation the way Jesus says not only does the offender get the help they need but we are also freed from the damaging effects of bitterness and unforgiveness. We get healing too. 😊

John 14:23-24 NIV “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

If we’re guilty of not settling issues the way Jesus says let us repent please. Ask God for strength to approach the one who has offended us. And do this with a view toward reconciliation. Don’t approach someone and throw a temper tantrum. Sometimes we can just let things go. There’s no need to talk about it at all. But there are other times we may have been so deeply wounded we need to discuss the matter in the spirit Jesus says. God understands this. And has given us the perfect way to handle it. Let us not allow unforgiveness to cause us to go to hell.

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