From: christlife+noreply@googlegroups.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:58:56 +0000
Subject: [ChristLife] Digest for christlife@googlegroups.com - 4
Messages in 3 Topics
To: Digest Recipients <christlife+digest@googlegroups.com>
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Today's Topic Summary
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Group: christlife@googlegroups.com
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/topics
- When we look back [2 Updates]
http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/4be1f63f40d042ea
- FORGIVE GOD! (Part 5) [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/5bed31166385a639
- "God Chose the Weak" by Joseph Yosuk Lee [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/7768c87caf9034a9
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Topic: When we look back
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/4be1f63f40d042ea
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---------- 1 of 2 ----------
From: Jacob <jninan@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 23 06:07PM -0700
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/11228ef59bb36a6a
Many people are scared of looking back at their lives because that
would bring up painful memories of failures or hurtful treatment by
others. They unconsciously use different mental tricks to prevent
these memories from coming up. What they don't realise is that such
memories work deeply in our mind and distort our attitudes, thinking
and behaviour. Then we can't become the successful persons that we are
capable of becoming. We also suffer from problems that have not only
mental but also physical and spiritual implications. For example,
those who have faced severe insults in their childhood may keep
themselves aloof from people, hoping to avoid further insults. Those
who were harassed by their parents about their performance may live in
fear of coming short of perfection. Those who have been abused
sexually may have a twisted view of life and people.
But we Christians have the unique advantage of being in a position to
deal with the past squarely, get rid of its chains, and go forward
enjoying life and liberty. When Jesus came down to Earth, He
proclaimed liberty to the captives (Lk.4:18,19). This liberty is not
just from the guilt of sin but also from the power of sin (our sin or
sin that is in the world) (Ro.6:14).
Usually the process involves 1) acknowledging exactly what has
happened to us, 2) asking God for forgiveness of our own sin,
3)forgiving those who have harmed us, 4) giving up bitter attitudes
against God for 'allowing' us to go through such experiences, and 5)
receiving the total and unconditional acceptance God gives us. As we
surrender ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit can minister to our
deepest parts.
It takes honesty, sincerity and courage to look at our past hurts just
as they happened. We need to understand how they happened, what roles
we and other people played in them and, if possible, how they have
affected us now. We may need to stop blaming ourselves for what others
have done to us, and at the same time admit what all we have done
wrong. We can then receive forgiveness for ourselves and also forgive
the others.
Many people blame God for what has happened, thinking that He could
have prevented it. But when evil people choose to misuse the freedom
of choice He has given them, they are at fault and not He. If we have
had such complaints against God we can repent now and get a new
attitude towards Him.
The Gospel is that God accepts us just as we are when we go to Him in
our need (Mt.11:28). Messed up ones, oppressed and downtrodden ones
and slaves to sin are all welcome to receive a complete salvation from
Him (1Co.6:9-11). He is an expert at turning things around, making
something good come out of the worst things that have happened to us
(Ro.8:28). He gives us fresh starts in life (Re.21:5). If He could
turn a Mary Magdalene with 7 demons into a saint, there is nothing
impossible with Him (Lk.1:37). When we receive this free cleansing and
acceptance from God, we can lift up our heads, live boldly, and fulfil
His plans for our lives (Je.29:11).
---------- 2 of 2 ----------
From: B A Berean <robert@spreadsheetpower.com>
Date: Jul 24 12:02PM -0700
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/6423196939ee4e1e
I heard a man of God once say...
"God loves us so much that He accepts us just as we are...
but God loves us WAY TOO MUCH to let us stay that way!!!
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Topic: FORGIVE GOD! (Part 5)
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/5bed31166385a639
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---------- 1 of 1 ----------
From: Bayo Afolaranmi <spiritualdigest@yahoo.com>
Date: Jul 24 11:50AM -0700
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/ca8ebcc78a7b344d
Dearly Beloved,
FORGIVE GOD! (Part 5)
"When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I
groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy
on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally,
I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said
to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.' And you forgave
me! All my guilt is gone" (Psalm 32:3-5 NLT).
This is the concluding part of this message. To say that there are no
evil or life challenges is like hiding behind a finger. To say that
people are not angry with God when such evil or life challenges occur
is even worse. People do get angry with God, even the most religious
or spiritual people, when they are faced with unpleasant side of life.
The best thing is to admit this fact and "forgive" God. "You see, if
you harbour anger against your God and do not confess it, guess what;
you are the one who suffers." In spite of the fact that God has not
done anything wrong and He does not need our forgiveness as we need
His. However, since we have been treating Him as if He offends us, we
have to do some things.
"The many Biblical terms translated in English as 'forgive' reflect an
assortment of meanings: to cancel debts; to lay aside or to cast away
sins; to spare, to cleanse, to rescue or to free a sinner." To
"forgive" God means to be reconciled with Him by removing the barriers
that separate us from Him, especially from trusting Him for who He is.
The first barrier is the barrier of silence. Do not remain silent when
you are going through any life challenge. Communicate it to God.
Express to Him how you feel about it, and ask Him to help you pass
through the situation successfully.
The second barrier is the barrier of bitterness. "This is perhaps the
most difficult barrier to get rid of, for it requires us to
acknowledge that we are actually bitter toward God. This is tough for
most of us, for who wants to admit that he has the audacity to hold a
grudge against God?" However, admit that you are bitter about the
situation and let God know how bitter you are.
Another barrier is that of ingratitude. Most of the people that are
angry with God never think of God's goodness over their lives. They
take God for granted when life is pleasant. They consider the good
things of life as normal things. However, when they are faced with the
other side of life, they start questioning the existence and power of
God. If gratitude to God has been our lifestyle, it will be difficult
to be angry with Him even when it seems that He does not care about
what is happening to us. That hymn writer said, "Count your many
blessings one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has
done." In fact, many of the popular hymns were composed by people that
had causes to be angry with God because of their bitter life
challenges, but because they were not blocked by ingratitude barrier,
they could compose inspiring hymns that still glorify God today.
In conclusion, when God gives you a difficult teacher, assignment, or
problem to work through, He wants you to trust Him and spend quality
time with Him. You do not need to be angry with Him or hold any grudge
against Him. He will see you through your life challenges, and you
will soon testify to His goodness in Jesus' name. Amen.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
1. I am so grateful to Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe who gave me the permission
to adapt his book "Forgive God!" in this serialized message. I am
grateful also to everyone that has reacted either positively or
negatively to the message. The book and your reactions have given me
greater insight to the providence and sovereignty of God in dealing
with the problem of evil and challenges of life.
2. If you miss any part of the message or you need a compressed
version of the whole message, write me at spiritualdigest@yahoo.com.
Remember that the message is adapted from a book. I can send the soft
copy of the book to you also on request.
3. My two-week ministry-related visit to Mozambique has been postponed
at the last minute due to a new development on the South Africa
transit visa. Many thanks to all that have been praying for this
journey. Continue to pray with me as I now process the South Africa
transit visa. The reserved return ticket can be rescheduled.
God bless you!
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Topic: "God Chose the Weak" by Joseph Yosuk Lee
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/t/7768c87caf9034a9
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---------- 1 of 1 ----------
From: JosephYLee@aol.com
Date: Jul 23 04:48PM -0400
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/christlife/msg/e008943f617328a3
God Chose the Weak.
by Joseph Yosuk Lee
=======================================================
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of
the world to shame the things which are strong, and
the base things of the world and the despised, God
has chosen, the things that are not, that might
nullify the things that are, that no man should boast
before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus,
who became wisdom from God, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: That, just as it
is written, Let him who boasts, boasts in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:27-31
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Does everyone agree that we are all weak? Does
everyone believe that we are the base things of
the world? Does everyone believe that we are
despised by the world? Does everyone believe
that we are foolish? We all have nothing to
boast in God's presence. We cannot even boast
about our free will because our will as well
as our emotions and minds is tainted with sin.
This is called Total Depravity. My e-mails and
prayers are all filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
If everyone agrees that we are weak, lowly,
foolish, and despised, this is the first step
in understanding that we are sinners. Knowing
that we are sinners helps us realize that we
need His grace.
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