NEWS

2. Forgiveness gives us strength to walk through the stages of our life.

& «Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.». (Hebrews 12:1-2).

We are going to have a look at the two sides of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is something, life on Earth would turn into the sufferings of hell without. Every human faces the question of forgiveness time to time. We like the word “forgiveness” when we receive it, but what about when we have to forgive somebody, give something away from yourself? Quite often we are not willing to do so. Though, the true understanding of forgiveness obliges us to notice two sides of forgiveness. Let’s have a look at the verses from Scripture that help us to see them.

The paradox is that most Christians, who discipline themselves in other areas of their life in order to be successful – like job or carrier, do not believe they need to be disciplined in the area of godliness. We are talking about good Christians who are faithful members of the Church of the Living God. These are people who love God’s Word and often are very enthusiastic about the work of God. But because of the lack of discipline they do not reach their potential in God’s Kingdom.

§ Fasting.

«When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterwards». (Matthew 4:2).

§ Solitude.

«Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there». (Mark 1:35).

Elijah was the spiritual father of Elisha. After Elisha closely observed the life of this man of God in his life and saw all the miracles that God performed through Elijah, he understood that the key to Elijah’s success was his love and total commitment to God. So Elisha desired and became hungry for the same anointing and lifestyle of Elijah his mentor. But more interestingly is the fact that Elisha wasn’t satisfied to do just what Elijah did; he craved for the double portion of Elijah’s his anointing.

«All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not fur sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body» (1 Corinthians, 6:12-13).

A disciplined person is always in submission to certain set of rules and order. If you do not have any rules or regulations, if you avoid the word ‘order’, in your life, then you are undisciplined, and you won’t be able to experience any spiritual progress or growth.

Spiritual growth which is related to positive changes in a person’s life is not a heritage meant for undisciplined people. If a person lacks discipline, he will always break and ignore rules and regulations. It does not matter how many sets of rules and regulations he impose on himself for noble purposes, an undisciplined man will break them all as soon as he made them.

So, we get different ideas about changing our life, but these ideas do not come to pass automatically. An idea must grow into a desire. Then as a desire grows stronger, a person makes a decision, and that’s when it gets more serious! But many people stop at this point. The thing is that you must go from a decision to some actions. A decision must turn into actions if you want to see any real changes in your life.

I believe that discipline is one of God’s tools that help us to change and achieve effectiveness in our personal lives and ministry. Every one of us has a dream or a goal for our lives. But however good or grand these plans or desires are, discipline is a necessary prerequisite for these things to come to pass. Many ideas and desires never come true because people lack discipline.

As we have mentioned earlier, God is a God of progress, therefore, He wants us to make progress in our life and grow in our influence. One of God’s instruments of accomplishing this goal is through our ministry. Greatness and influence comes through ministry.