Chastisement Builds the Character of Christ

One of the tests saints most often fail is when God allows offenses to try our faith. Somehow we quickly forget that offenses serve to build the character of Christ. Another fact we tend to forget is that the Father himself ordained the trials we experience. Even when the Lord declares us to be righteous; there will be those whom satan will inspire to do all manner of evil against you. But remember, evil against you may be satan inspired, but it is God ordained. There will be times when your walk of humility will inspire your enemies to bear down on you. They will wax worse with your every righteous deed. However, in such times you must never lose sight of the fact that God, your Heavenly Father, has ordained and allows every evil they may perform against you. Here you must learn to connect the dots. The scripture says the proud will be abased and the humble will be exalted. What better way to prove the absolute certainty of the word, than by allowing your enemy to rise up in pride against you. This is the chastening of the Lord. The question is, “Will you stand in humility regardless of how negative the situation becomes?” Chastisement seeks to bring about a righteous response to that question. God will not relieve you of the responsibility of revealing Christ to your enemies.

NON-FORGIVENESS

There are saints who have corrupted themselves with non-forgiveness, obsessions, pride and self-righteousness. As I was writing this, I realized that it is not the nature of the sons of God to walk in any of the above. However, we tend to go against our nature to maintain our ways and our wants. Those who sit under a True and Sure Word may operate more subtly in these sins and may even attempt to camouflage them with good deeds and a spirit of excellence in natural things. Nevertheless, the soul is corrupt and will not be received by the Father. Instead, He will reveal or bring their disposition out in the open so they are unable to make excuses regarding not being able to see its operation. This is also done that they might come to hate its effect on others. True repentance and submission to God’s word is the only remedy for such a defiled spirit. Forgiveness is to treat your offender with love, kindness and a consideration of their infirmity. As long as you serve them with a long handled spoon, the handle is long enough for you to remember what they did; and never again allow them to get in a position to do it again.

If you come to agreement with God you would experience the impact love has on people who know that you know they are doing everything in their power to destroy you. Sooner or later, they are going to wake up and realize that there is a power working with you beyond that working with them. This is the moment where God can be gloried in the Son. They will see Christ in the perfected love of the saints. But we will never be able to manifest such testimony unless we walk in the faith consistently in the midst of a trial. A great hindrance to forgiveness is judgment. Oftentimes we judge others as undeserving of our forgiveness. We tend to focus on the horror of their deeds or the damage they may have inflicted on us or others. But might I remind you that forgiveness is not only an attribute of God, but it is a power that is unique to God.

Luke 5:21

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Luke 5:24

24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

First of all, forgiveness of offenses is the same as what Jesus did in the scriptures above. Offenses are sins against us. But the sons of God have inherited a great power through Jesus Christ. We too, have the power to forgive sin. However, I am sure the Church does not see the total implication here. Sin is bondage and those who commit sin are bound by the devil. Even the saints who elect to yield their members to him are once again held captive at his will. The offenses they commit against you are merely revelations of their captivity. The Father is allowing you to see the sin for which they are in need of forgiveness.

We are the only ones capable of wiping their slate clean and remove the heavy burden of their sin against others and us. We are the only true intercessors with access to God. We have the power to unlock the door to the kingdom that they might enter therein. It is an opportunity for you to reveal the heart and mind of your God, by dispensing the greatest power of all, His love expressed through the forgiveness of sin. This is the purpose for which we live; the opportunity to reveal the love of Christ to a dying sinful world. To not forgive is to blaspheme the very purpose for which we were saved. Therefore, the chastening of the Lord is severe concerning this issue. He emphatically states that He will not forgive us. That is the punishment for such a crime. Now how is it possible for us to get to heaven without the forgiveness of our Father for the offenses we have laid at His feet?