Podcasts about unforgiveness

Welcome to the Christian Bible Study Ministry podcast. In this episode, we delve into the profound topic of unforgiveness and explore its impact on our spiritual journey. Despite the struggles of life, we are reminded of the boundless grace and understanding of Jesus Christ who calls us to forgiveness. Our discussion is anchored in the Book of Hebrews 12:15, emphasizing the dangers of letting bitterness take root and defile our fellowship with God. We reflect on Jesus' teachings from Matthew 6:12-15, highlighting the importance of forgiving others to maintain our connection with the Divine. Through personal anecdotes and biblical insights, we discover how holding onto resentment can poison our hearts and disrupt our lives. Join us as we learn to throw off the burden of grudges and embrace the healing power of forgiveness, walking closer to God in love and peace.

"He hurt me! How can you ask me to forgive?" "You don't know what they did to me!" Mommas, we get it. It hurt and your feelings may be valid, but the truth is unforgiveness is bondage. It keeps you from walking in the true and complete freedom that was promised to you as a daughter of the King. It's what is holding you back in every area of your life. So today, choose forgiveness. Join us as we discuss why it's important to forgive and how to do it...even when it's hard. · · · At the Life of a Single Mom, our mission is to improve the lives of single mothers and their children by providing support groups, life skills, and projects that promote success in 3 core areas: Parenting, Finances, and Health & Wellness. Join us as we ensure that no single mom walks alone. CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR LOTS OF SINGLE MOM CONTENT! // https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/   JOIN A SINGLE MOM'S SUPPORT GROUP NEAR YOU! // https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/find-a-group/   REGISTER FOR SINGLE MOM UNIVERSITY FOR LIFE SKILLS CLASSES ON EVERYTHING CHRISTIAN SINGLE MOM RELATED // https://singlemomuniversity.com/  *Please note: For a limited time only, we are offering access to Single Mom University FREE FOR ONE YEAR! Visit https://singlemomuniversity.com/apply-for-scholarship and use coupon code PODCAST to redeem your free gift now! · · · CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK! // https://www.facebook.com/thelifeofasinglemom   FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! // https://www.instagram.com/thelifeofasinglemom/    ENJOY OUR FREE CONTENT? Help us make an impact in the lives of single moms today!  // https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/donate/    CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE FOR REALLY COOL SINGLE MOM PRODUCTS. // https://shop.thelifeofasinglemom.com/  · · · All Rights Reserved. The Life of a Single Mom. We do not intend to give formal medical advice on this program. While every effort is made to thoroughly vet all guests on our show, please be advised that an invitation does not constitute full agreement on every subject matter, we recognize future content on websites, social media, and otherwise is beyond our control.

WHAT MADE JESUS MAD? - When Unforgiveness Gets In The Way Matthew 18:21-35 Greg Davis | June 15, 2025

Jesus Delivered Us (8) (audio) David Eells – 8/3/25 Saints, I'm going to continue our teaching on how Jesus delivered us and gave us authority over demons.   I want to begin by sharing this testimony with you by C.J. Set Free From Gossip and Slander by Confession The message called “Addressing Factious Criticism” is one of the best I have heard in a long time. A while ago the Lord revealed to me that I was just the person described in that message. I was controlled by a strong gossiping and slandering spirit. He also showed me that I was a user of “unjust scales.” I would repent of this over and over, but I just kept falling back into these sins. Finally, I got so frustrated that I asked the Lord, “Why can I not get free from these sins?” What He said changed my life dramatically. He said that I would not be free from the spirit of gossiping and slandering until I stood before a body of believers and asked their forgiveness. He explained to me that gossiping, slandering, and using unjust scales are sins against the entire body of Christ. Therefore, they require corporate forgiveness. I was desperate to be set free from this bondage, so I asked the Lord, “Where do I go?” I had been out of the church system since the early ‘90s and did not belong to any group. He put in my heart the name of a church here in the village where I lived. So I went to that church. At a designated open-sharing time, I stood up and confessed these sins before the body of Christ. It was interesting to watch in the spirit how the people were responding to my public confession. At first, there was an uncomfortable, tense silence. It was like they were horrified, which then gave way to condemnation and judgment, that I was confessing my sins out loud before everyone. But I was determined to get deliverance from these strongholds in my life, and I didn't care how embarrassing or humiliating it was for me. So I pressed on and shared God's words of knowledge that He had given me. I then sat down to wait upon the Lord. That pastor stood in front of the church, totally flabbergasted at what I had done, and didn't know how to respond. So he just continued on with the church's bulletin agenda. I felt hurt and disappointed because I was convinced that if I would humble myself before the Lord and His people, He would be faithful and just to forgive my sins. I asked the Lord about this in my heart when an elder in the church stood up. He politely interrupted the pastor and said, “This young woman came here today and confessed her sins before this body and asked for our forgiveness. We, as a body, need to forgive her.” So the pastor requested the assembly to stand and asked, “Do you forgive this woman of her transgressions?” As one, the church responded, “Yes.” The pastor then prayed and thanked the Lord for the example I set. As the church spoke their corporate forgiveness over me, I saw this vision coming down out of lower heaven: a black umbilical cord was attached to my stomach when I saw a huge pair of silver scissors appear and sever the cord. I felt myself literally jerk as the strongholds left. Since that day, I have been wondrously and gloriously set free! For all those out there who know you have a problem with these sins and haven't been able to break free of them, go find a corporate body of Christ and stand before the assembly and confess your sins. He will set you free! I didn't even attend this church, yet God used them. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God: but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you. (11) Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (12) One [only] is the lawgiver and judge, [even] he who is able to save and destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor? (Joh.8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. (35) And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. (36) If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Praise the Lord! You know, it's a humbling thing to stand before a body of believers and confess our sins. Many do not practice this in churches today, but as we can see here in this testimony, it has its place, and this person became free from this bondage and the demons. Now, here's another testimony and a revelation I'd like to share with you about the subtle ways the devil works to deceive us.   Forgiven and Freed From Condemnation by (Name Withheld) One day not long ago, I was sitting on my couch meditating on things. I was wondering why my prayers weren't reaching the throne and seeking why I wasn't having bold power with God. Then I heard a voice say, “Your heart condemns you.” I often remembered David Eells' teaching on (Jas.5:16) Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another that you may be healed. I thought about that verse. I had confessed all my sins after I came back to God about nine months earlier, or so I thought! Then I remembered how, when I had gotten divorced, I felt a lot of anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness towards people who were involved in that process. I would take it out on God. I would curse Him. This is not a sin I'm proud of admitting. I went into an empty room, sat on the floor, and started confessing to God my sin of cursing Him with my lips. I had tears rolling down my face and I felt very ashamed. As I was kneeling down by the bed, I was permitted to hear this conversation that took place between two entities. One was the devil or a demon, saying to another person who was either Christ or His representative, “You heard him. You heard what he did and what he said.” Then, in such a kind and compassionate tone, this person replied, “Well, I forgive him.” I was so humbled! Then the angel of the Lord or His representative came over to me. I couldn't see his face, just an outline of his shape. He said to me, “He will bother you no more.” I perceived that accuser to be a demon of condemnation or guilt. After this happened, I praised the Lord, got up from the bedroom floor and felt great! All week long I have felt great. I've had no condemnation for my past sins and failures. What a merciful God we serve! I deserved all the punishment I was getting. Praise the Lord! We need to be careful not to fall for the devil's tactics. This revelation sounds so much like something we read in Zechariah, where the characters are the Angel of the Lord, Satan, and the one being condemned. (Zec.3:1) And he showed me Joshua (This is also the New Testament name for Jesus.) the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and so he's accusing Joshua, or Jesus. And I've shared with you in the past how the Lord spoke to me that Joshua here, or Jesus, represents the body of Christ. Here we see Satan accusing the body of Christ to the Angel of the Lord, standing at His right hand to be His adversary. (Zec.3:2) The Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee… What did Jerusalem have to do with the body of Christ? The manifest body of Christ is the Bride, and according to the Book of Revelation, that's Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2); this is a parallel here that He's showing us. (Zec.3:2) The Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Praise the Lord that we are guiltless! We are not under the condemnation of this world. We're not under the curse of this world. We've been “plucked out of the fire.” (Zec.3:3) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. Those “filthy garments” represent our unrighteousness, our failure, our sins. They signify our not being dressed up in Jesus Christ. (Rom.13:14) Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]. We come short many times, but we have a Sacrifice, an Offering: Jesus Christ. And because of His sacrifice, the Lord sees us as cleansed. Praise the Lord! (Zec.3:3) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. (4) And he answered and he spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with rich apparel. Remember, that's what the Lord says; He has caused our iniquity to pass away. He will clothe us with “rich apparel,” which is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and manifesting His Word. “Rich apparel” is the manifestation of being the Body of Christ. Praise the Lord! This is God's promise. He says it, speaking the end from the beginning, and it is so (Isaiah 46:10). We believe and stand on it. We …calleth the things that are not, as though they were (Rom.4:17). When we pray, we believe we have received (Mark 11:24). Don't forget that faith is accounted as righteousness. If you look in the mirror and see your old sinful self, there's no righteousness there, no covering, no faith. But if you look in the mirror and see Jesus, then you know that reconciliation is already made. He has taken off our filthy garments and replaced them with His rich apparel. We see it by faith, and when we see it by faith, that faith is accounted as righteousness. And we're told in (Rom.8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. How are we in Christ? We're in Christ by faith. Praise be to God! This is God's goodness. (Zec.3:5) And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of the Lord was standing by. A “clean mitre” symbolizes the renewed mind. The Lord has blessed us with the Mind of Christ. All these things that He's given us, including the Mind of Christ, we first accept by faith, and because we accept them by faith, God brings them to pass. While we're accepting them by faith, even though we haven't as yet seen them manifested, we are accounted righteous. However, if a spirit of condemnation or guilt manages to slip in, it can be a catastrophe because if you have condemnation, you don't have faith. You can't have both faith and condemnation at the same time. I want to share with you that years ago, the Lord showed me a window in my house located right over the head of my bed. It was like a window into the heavenlies, and when I looked through that window, I would see visions. Other people have had dreams about my house or me and they, too, saw that window where there is no window. It was the Lord showing us the supernatural. God said He would open the windows of heaven, giving vision into heavenly things (Isaiah 24:18; Malachi 3:10). Well, I work long hours; I don't get a whole lot of sleep. When the Lord started giving me visions, it was kind of disconcerting being awakened in the middle of the night. And as if He didn't already know, I told Him, “Lord, I need my sleep. I don't get many hours.” The Lord answered me, “Really? Why do you need your sleep? Man doesn't live by bread alone. He doesn't live by sleep alone, either, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4) For a while, I was a little frustrated because I wasn't getting sleep, but then I realized, “Wait a minute! I need what the Lord's telling me at this time of the night, too. I need to hear this.” And I began to enjoy what the Lord was showing me. He would show me revelations or visions, explanations of what was happening in the spirit. He would speak to me and show me solutions for problems, which did not necessarily involve seeing a vision. He would reveal enemy tactics and show me what to do about them. This would happen between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. The Lord had been doing that to me for a long time, when one night, He started speaking to me about demons and their functions. He told me about their doings and some of the problems they bring. He explained how certain demons will open the door for other demons and what they do in people. I jumped out of bed and grabbed a piece of paper and started writing a diagram of what the Lord was showing. He showed me how common it is for the spirit of “self-condemnation” to attack people. From there, the Lord showed me that the spirit of self-condemnation would open the door for the spirit of “rejection.” This spirit of rejection, in turn, would open the door for the spirit of “self-justification”, and this spirit of self-justification in turn, would open a door for the “spirit of retaliation”. Each of these main demons mentioned here has a subset of lesser demons, too, and the main demons open the doors for them. The very first one He showed me was the spirit of self-condemnation, and I think that was because, just a few days earlier, we had received the brother's revelation, which I just shared with you. When the Lord woke me up that morning, I started thinking and meditating on it as I was drawing a diagram. You know, the more you meditate on something, the more the Lord can show and speak to you. Now, there is a time and purpose for condemnation. It has a ministry to people who are willfully disobedient. It has a legal right to them when they're bitter and unforgiving towards their brothers because, in that case, they get turned over to the tormentors. Jesus gave us this parable in (Mat.18:33) Shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. Condemnation is one of those tormenters. Its job is to torment people until they learn to forgive and forget, until they give up their bitterness and anger and so on. Condemnation can come as a result of any kind of willful disobedience. (Heb.10:26) If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins (Jesus doesn't pay the penalty for the curse that willful sin brings. You end up paying for it. You end up getting a “whipping” and these tormentor demons are the ones that carry this out.), but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. The “adversaries” referred to here are in you. There are things in you that don't belong, things that are not friendly to God or the spiritual man, so there is a good ministry of condemnation, but condemnation has no legal right to you when you have confessed your sin to God and forsaken it. Once you put that sin under the Blood of Christ, it's under the Blood. It's a bad ministry of condemnation if you're doing your best to walk away from that sin, yet you still feel condemned, because confessing and forsaking sin has nothing to do with your emotions. It's believing what the Bible says that counts. Learn to overcome your emotions and walk by what “thus saith the Lord.” If God says He's forgiven you when you've confessed your sins, that's what you believe. Don't pay attention to any demonic spirit that says otherwise. If you do listen to some spirit, it's because you're giving in to an emotion. Remember that the devil will try to give you illegal thoughts, and if you listen to them instead of casting them down, it will affect your emotions. Our emotions are supposed to be submitted to your spiritual man and the Word of God in you. We get all out of whack when we fall into sin, and we start being ruled by our emotions, our lower nature, our old man. That's just the opposite of what is supposed to be. You're supposed to be ruled by your spirit, which is in submission to the Word of God. We need to learn not to listen to emotions that are contrary to God's Word, and condemnation is one of those feelings that can come over you. The apostle Paul said, (Rom.7:19) For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise. (20) But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. In other words, “If I don't do the good that I want to do or I will to do, but instead I do the evil that I don't want to do and I don't will to do, then it's not me that does it. It's the sin that dwells in me.” God is separating you from the sin. He's saying, “You're okay, but that sin's gotta go.” This is true because you're not supposed to receive condemnation for failures. If it's failure and not a willful disobedience where you're purposely sinning against God with your will, you confess your sin, and He forgives you. As with failure, the same goes for ignorance. In the Old Testament, according to the Law, you sinned whether you knew it or not, and after you found out about it, you had to bring a sacrifice. (Lev.5:17) And if any one sin, and do any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven. But the New Testament says in (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. This is a good deal! God is not imputing the finer points of the Bible against you, in the event that you don't understand that you're out of His Will. It's like children as they're growing up. They do a lot of things that an adult wouldn't do, but you don't really impute iniquity to them unless they do something you've told them not to do, but they're doing it anyway. They're being self-willed and insolent and arrogant, and that's when you spank them, but normally, if they do childish things, you let that go. That's just the way we train up our children, and that's the way God trains up His children. (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. That's when God imputes sin to you. You're not supposed to be condemned for things that you've done in ignorance or in failure. You're supposed to be condemned only for things that you do wrong willfully. Remember what Paul said, (Rom.7:19) For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise. He did not will to do something wrong. “And the evil which I would not (or ‘willed not'), that I do!” He was lamenting the fact that he was falling victim to something he hated, and God said, “Well, then it's not you that does it, it's the sin that dwells in you. It's the old man.” What do we do with the old man? (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. We reckon the old man's dead and gone. We account ourselves to be dead unto sin, and the Lord does, too. If you reckon it, He reckons it. As Jesus said, (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith, be it done unto you. There is a time for condemnation, but there's a time when you shouldn't receive condemnation, such as when it's a demon coming to take advantage of you because you may not understand that … I have caused your iniquity (That's the “filthy garment.”) to pass from thee… (Zec.3:4) The Lord said that it's already done. He has delivered us. Another demon that the Lord showed me is called “self-justification.” It appears that self-condemnation is almost the opposite of self-justification. With one, you're justifying yourself, and with the other, you're condemning yourself. You would think that a person couldn't have both of them at the same time, but yes, they can, and I've seen it. The Lord showed me that first, there's one other demon that has to come in the middle there; he's called “rejection.” When that demon comes in the middle, it makes it possible for a person to have both self-justification and self-condemnation. After condemnation takes hold, it can open the door to rejection. Sometimes condemnation is a spirit that speaks in your mind, but quite often, condemnation speaks through other people condemning you. If you hear enough condemning, the door can be opened to rejection. Many times, children come into this spirit of rejection when they receive enough criticism and condemnation from others. Rejection is a feeling that God has rejected you or that people have rejected you. It puts a wall between you and other people. Rejection is a nasty spirit that often companies with a spirit called “fear of rejection,” and fear of rejection, basically, is one of those spirits that pushes people around. It makes them do things because of fear, because they don't want a certain thing to happen to them; that thing is rejection. They do things, or don't do things, because they're afraid it might cause people to reject them. They're always being moved by this fear, instead of the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:29,9:10,15:23; Revelation 15:4, etc.) You can't serve rejection or fear of rejection and the Lord at the same time; it's impossible; you just can't do it. A person having this fear of rejection receives a hatred for correction, or “reproof,” as the Bible sometimes calls it. If you try to help someone by bringing correction to them, even ever so gently, like “charming the serpent,” they'll bite you like a serpent. (Ecc.10:11) If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer. Trying to get around the flesh of a person who has rejection in order to help them, without that old flesh rearing up, is very hard to do. They'll strike out at you because they've received that hatred for correction, which is common to people who have a spirit of rejection. After rejection, it's the next demon that's let in. So people with spirits of condemnation and rejection also have this hatred for correction. And boy, is that a trap! If nobody can correct you, you're in for some very big problems! (Pro.15:5) A fool despiseth his father's correction; (That “father” can be your natural parent, or that “father” can be your spiritual father on earth as in 1 Corinthians 4:15, or that “father” can be our Heavenly Father.); but he that regardeth reproof (This is somebody who pays attention to correction and takes it to heart.) getteth prudence. The Bible also says, (Eph.4:31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice… “Let… anger…be put away from you.” (Ecc.7:9) Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. So, this is saying that if you have anger, you're being a fool. If you don't like correction, or somebody laughs at you, and so forth, the next thing that comes in is anger, and that means you're being a fool. So we see that one of these spirits just opens the door to the next, until it's a grievous situation. Hating reproof or correction is a very dangerous place to be. Our Father will correct us because He loves us and wants us to repent for sin. But there are many people who will become angry with God when He corrects them because they don't yet know His love. 1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. There's that “fear of rejection” and not being able to accept correction. But God is treating you as a son. Heb 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. The testimony of the brother I related to you above fell into that trap where he blamed God. In the first part of his testimony, he confessed that he had gotten angry with God, but it's a good thing that God doesn't give us our way. God stops us, putting up roadblocks here and there. He even lets demons come in to hinder us. This is to prevent us from doing something that He doesn't want us to do, or that He won't permit us to do because of our sins. And so, people will get angry. If you're going to bring any form of correction to them, you have to be very careful. You have to really charm the serpent, but even then, no matter how careful you are, sometimes they'll still bite you. You may know people like this, or you may be experiencing this happening in your life right now. You may be wrestling with these demons that are trying to bring you into an ultimate, no-escape, terrible trap of hatred for correction. Father, in Jesus name, we ask that You reveal to the brethren how the demons may be using any of these tactics against them, and as they confess their sins, we know that You hear them and are faithful to forgive them. We thank You for the Blood of Jesus and forgiveness for our sins of failure and mistakes. We command spirits of condemnation, rejection, and the fear of rejection, and fear of correction to go now! You demons no longer have authority over us because we've been forgiven and set free from all the powers of darkness and translated into the Father's Kingdom of the Son of His love! Hallelujah! A person with these spirits we've already mentioned doesn't want to hear correction because correction causes them to feel emotional pain. They read any kind of correction as rejection, which is very painful to them, and so the next thing that comes along is a spirit of self-justification. Self-justification in a person describes a person who, in their own eyes, never does anything wrong. That's another terrible trap because when self-justification is present, you can still call yourself a Christian while self-justifying practically any kind of sin. We've seen people do this. While committing terrible sins, while they're lying, cheating, stealing, slandering, holding unforgiveness, fornicating, and on and on, these people call themselves “Christian.” They consider themselves to be right in what they're doing, yet they will judge you. Their conscience has been defiled; it's been seared. And as they self-justify, they become (1Ti.4:2) … men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron. Self-justification will let in a great many kinds of sin and demon spirits, such as lying, cheating, stealing, slandering, false prophesying, or, usually out of anger, even receiving false revelation. They've become completely deceived by this demon. A person can become so self-justified that they think they're not doing anything wrong, even as the demons and sins of all kinds just start flooding in and taking over. Any worldly person would look at them in this circumstance and say, “They're crazy! They say they're Christian, so how can they do that?” Well, the conscience of a self-justified person is defiled, meaning it doesn't talk to them anymore, and people with self-justification can be the biggest hypocrites around. While they sin, they'll condemn you and never give it a second thought. When a person's conscience becomes defiled, that person becomes separated from the Word of the Lord, separated from being convicted by the Word of the Lord. Someone can give that person the Word, and it just won't affect them. Of course, the Word is Jesus Christ Himself. You can't be separated from His Word without being separated from Him. Self-justification is a very vicious trap. If you are justifying yourself, the one thing that you must do in order to receive deliverance is to confess your sin. (1Jn.1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Unrighteousness is the foothold that demons use to take advantage of us. Remember Jesus said, (Joh.14:30) I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me… There was nothing that the devil could get a grip on. Jesus didn't have unrighteousness, so these devils failed to be able to make Him do what they wanted. Ultimately, if you're caught in this terrible trap of self-justification, you're going to fall into all these sins and corruption. You're going to be a hypocrite. You're going to end up with a defiled conscience to where the Lord won't be able to convict you of sin, and all the while you'll be thinking, “I'm okay because God's on my side,” but He's not. It ends in chastening or, without repentance on your part, in destruction. The sad truth is that when a person has this spirit of self-justification, they're afraid to confess sins because people might reject them, and since they also have this spirit of rejection, they can't confess their sins. I have tried and tried to get them to confess their sins, telling them, “Hey, look at this verse! Look at this awesome promise here!” (1Jn.1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. But people with this spirit of self-justification will just point their finger everywhere else. “No, it's your fault! It's all your fault; you did it. It's not me. Nope, nope, nope.” This is the terrible trap of self-justification. If you continue this path and you're caught, you'll split hell wide open without God's mercy to confess and repent of your sin. Now, I want to explain to you that there is a difference between a covering and a cleansing of the Blood of Christ. The Lord says in (Psa.32:1) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. The Blood of the Lamb is covering the sin of this person who has faith in Him. This person's failures are covered and their ignorance is covered. They're walking as a child of God. (Psa.32:2) Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity… When a person is not walking in willful disobedience, God won't impute iniquity to them because they're walking by faith. The only thing that gives you this benefit, even in your ignorance and failures, is faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. The Blood of Jesus is the only covering that gives you this benefit, but this covering that the Lord gives us is not the end. It's a means to an end. The Lord expects there to come a time when you don't have to be covered because you have become obedient in that particular area. God covers a person until they come to the place of sanctification and obedience. Then they don't need that covering anymore. You may have other things that need to be covered, but if you've been sanctified in that particular area, you don't need a covering for something that is not sin. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. First, there's the covering of the Blood, and then there's the cleansing of the Blood. When you receive the cleansing of the Blood, you don't need the covering of the Blood because you don't have that sin anymore. You don't have that problem anymore. It's gone. We may know of places in our life where we're not tempted at all by things in which we used to be tempted. That's because we've been sanctified and we've been washed in the Blood. We don't need a covering in that area anymore, but when He says, “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,” it's because of a Blood covering there. He is describing somebody who's walking by faith. The sin that they did is not imputed to them because it was not willful but done in ignorance or failure. Willful sin is when you know it's wrong, but you're going to do it anyway because you're headstrong. Continuing with (Psa.32:3) When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long. Your life comes from your bones. Your blood comes from the bone marrow. The Bible says, (Lev.17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life. So what does he mean by “When I kept silence”? He's saying that when he didn't confess his sins, the curse was on him. I try to get to the root of a person's problem. Usually, that root is that they need to confess sins in order that they might be cleansed by the Blood from all unrighteousness. If you want to minister to people, it is helpful to find the root of the problem and deal with that, so the demon has nothing to hold on to. This way, you give people something that will actually last. There was a certain brother I had prayed with some years ago, and there had been a good change in his life, but it didn't last. Then the Lord directed us to the root of the problem, which was that he was holding on to unforgiveness. Unforgiveness kept letting the demons back in to trouble him, causing him to do things that he didn't want to do. Jesus said in (Mat.18:35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The good effect that came from our prayer some years before didn't last, and the problem had returned because we hadn't dealt with the root. “Self-righteousness” is another name for “self-justification.” If you can't get a person to confess their sins, it is because of this spirit of self-justification or self-righteousness. When a person considers that they're righteous, although everybody else around them can clearly see they're not, this is the spirit of self-righteousness. If they continue to “keep silence,” if they don't confess their sin, they'll live under the curse. The person in Psalm 32, the man to whom the Lord won't impute iniquity, is somebody who is confessing their sins. (Psa.32:3) When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long. (4) For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me (God's chastening was upon him.): My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer. (He was drying up.) Selah (5) I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. The great benefit is that if He forgives you, you're no longer under the curse! You're not being chastened any longer. You're no longer seen as a foolish person who is leavening the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). We have to confess our sins. (Pro.28:13) He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. Some people think they can have mercy without doing this. They think they can have the blessings of God and that they can be accounted as righteous without doing this, but it's a deception. A person needs to call out to the Lord for His mercy. (Psa.66:17) I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue. (18) If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. What does “If I regard iniquity” mean? It means if you're not going to confess it, but instead, you're going to hold onto it and be led by it, then the Lord is not going to hear your prayers. (Psa.32:6) For this let everyone that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him. In other words, you can wait too long, and it will be too late. The judgment of God can catch you. You had better do it while you can because some people become so hardened in their consciences that they never come back to the Lord. If a person reaches that point, they don't deserve to come back to the Lord, yet still He is merciful. Through the prayers of others, He does things that we don't deserve, but there are many who don't ever come back to the Lord. So He says that if you will do this, if you'll pray to Him in a time when He can be found, then when the flood, the great waters of judgment, overflow, “they shall not reach unto him” because that person will be in the “Ark.” (Psa.32:7) Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. What is it to be … in the secret place of the Most High Shall … under the shadow of the Almighty? (Psa.91:1) It is to be in a right relationship with Him because you have confessed your sins. Some people believe that they have this because of some other reason, but there is no other way to be there. If you have any sin, you have to confess it in order to be forgiven and hidden. The Lord showed me that “retaliation” is the next demon. It comes after condemnation, rejection, and self-justification. If a person is self-justified or self-righteous, hating correction and continues to walk in unforgiveness, or in any of these other sins, then the next thing that happens is retaliation against the person who has corrected or offended them. One time, I had a disagreement with a man who had some people who were taking his side in his little assembly. Two prophets from among them prophesied my death. One of the prophecies was for the next day. I said, “Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.” He prophesied that I was going to die, that I wouldn't be around the next day. I emailed him the next day and said, “I'm still here.” I knew I hadn't sinned. This other man had sinned. These people were just angry because I wasn't going to put up with it. Then there was a second man who prophesied my death in three days, but in three days, I was still there. Then he said he had meant three months, but at the end of three months, I was still there. Their anger was causing them to prophesy falsely. Retaliation can come in many forms, such as false speaking, slander, and false prophecy, or false revelations against the offending person. Retaliation's spinoffs can open the door to wrath and indignation and other negative emotions because demons can manifest as fallen, corrupt emotions. Do you know what it is in us that stirs up emotions? It's our thoughts. For example, when somebody wants to know how to not be overcome by lust, I ask, “Well, what are you thinking about? What are you looking at?” If a person is not going to quit doing that, then they're not going to give up the lust. Every other emotion works the same way: It's what you think about; it's what you look at; it's what you listen to. Every sin your carnal man, the old sinner, falls into is because you are feeding your carnal senses and being led by them. That means if you want to stop sinning, then you have to stop following your emotions, and if you want to stop the emotions, then you have to stop thinking about things that stir up your emotions. And returning to our example, in order to stop thinking about it, since your carnal senses are what feed your thoughts, don't go looking at it. If you don't want to give in to lust or let that emotion overtake you, don't look at pornography. Now let's go to (Heb.5:14) But solid food is for full-grown men (The Greek word there is teleios and it means “perfect … complete in all its parts.”), even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. These “senses” are born-again senses that are “exercised” by the Word of God. We can look at the parable about David going through the stream to pick up his five smooth stones so that he could make war on Goliath. Those stones were “exercised” by that water. They were smoothed by that water. They were perfected by that water, which represents the Word of God. The Word of God tells us how to see, hear, and feel. It's the Word of God, not our emotions, that is supposed to be ruling in us. If your emotions are ruling you, you're going to be very unstable. If you're not going to be ruled by the Word of God, but by emotions, the devil's got you. You can't say, … the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me (Joh.14:30). We need to be fed by the spiritual senses, the born-again senses. Why does the Bible tell us in so many places, “Seeing therefore...”? It's because in the Bible, God tells us how and what He wants us to see. Here's one we can use to “exercise” our spiritual senses. (2Pe.1:2) Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (This is knowledge of the Word.); (3) seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; (4) whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. He tells us what to see here, which is that God has already given these things to us. He's already granted them unto us. That should give you rest. You don't have to beg God, because He's already done it for you; He just wants you to accept and believe it. He's given you His righteousness. He's given you His Son. He's given you His forgiveness. He's given you His sanctification. He's given you “all things”! And He gives it to you “through the knowledge of Him that called us by His glory and virtue.” The Word tells us how to see. The Word tells us what to hear. Jesus said, (Mar.4:9) … Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Hear what? He's talking about hearing His Word. We've been given these born-again senses to strengthen the spiritual man. However, we also have these carnal senses that strengthen the carnal man, and if you don't want to stir up the carnal man to live in sin, stop feeding him through these carnal senses. Do you want to be holy? Don't feed your carnal man because he will conquer your spiritual man. For instance, don't sit in front of the television all day or watch a bunch of videos on the internet. We want to feed the spirit man, not the carnal man. The input from the carnal senses causes the carnal man to grow and the input from the spiritual senses causes the spiritual man to grow. When somebody is ruled by their emotions, they're all over the place, bouncing around like a pinball machine going ping-ping-ping. Instead of basing everything on the Word of God, they don't have anything stable; they have no rock. Jesus was never moved by what He saw or felt in the world. He wasn't moved by what people said or did to Him, but any person who's being ruled by their emotions is easily offended. They're not being ruled by the Word of God, and they do not forgive. We don't have any right to get offended all the time. Dead men don't have rights, and we died with Christ. We died to sin and those carnal emotions, and as we begin to get things right, we decide that we don't care about what other people say. We decide that we don't care about what's happening around us. We think, “I'm going to obey what ‘thus saith the Lord,'” which is (Joh.14:15) If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. That makes a person secure and steadfast in the Word. You're able to turn the other cheek when they insult you. That's a good way to die-to-self quickly. God gave us these rules so that we would be able to die quickly, so that we wouldn't be in bondage to the old man, our old flesh, for the rest of our lives. (1Pe.4:1) For as much then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (If your flesh is suffering, it's because you're not giving in to it. If you're not giving in to it, you are not sinning.); (2) that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. It shouldn't take a lifetime for us to get this right. He's saying that you have to suffer in order to get to that place, but the old flesh doesn't want to suffer through your denying it the right to be moved by the external stimuli and do whatever it wants. We're supposed to be moved by our spiritual, born-again senses that are washed with the Word of God to know what's right and wrong. Our spiritual senses, not our carnal emotions fed by fleshly stimuli, are supposed to be ruling our lives. (1Pe.4:3) For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness (That means a license to do whatever you want to do.), lusts, winebibings, revelings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: (4) wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you] (If you don't want to join in their sins with these self-justified people, you'll be the bad guy.): (5) who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead. (6) For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. This sequence of events from condemnation to rejection to self-justification to retaliation of some sort, is quite common for a person who is trapped by the devil. There's only one way to holiness, and that's repentance and confession of sin. This person may want sanctification, but they're not willing to pay the price for it. “Repentance” means “a change of mind.” No matter what it may be that we need from God, He tells us to (Jas.5:16) Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. No matter what kind of benefit you want from God, first you have to make sure everything is right between you and God, and between you and your brother. He tells us, (Mat.5:23) If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, (24) leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. If you really want to deal with the cause in order to permanently change the effect, that's what you have to do. You can try and just deal with the effect, but the problem will be back because you haven't done anything eternal. You must first deal with the root cause. Otherwise, there won't be anything lasting there. If you want God's righteousness, then you have to confess your sins to be cleansed of them. Now I'm going to share with you the following true story and testimony of Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu.   In Hell for Unforgiveness by Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu This is the true story of Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu in Nigeria, who was raised from the dead in front of a multitude of witnesses. Pastor Daniel died after a traffic accident. His body was in a mortuary for three days. He came back to life when his wife convinced others that his time was not yet because of previous promises God had given her. He still has his death certificate, written by a hospital doctor. In the movie, he recounts his experiences with amazing computer-generated images of both Heaven and Hell. The angelic voices that are heard in Heaven are actual angelic voices recorded at a small church in South Africa. The actual footage of the coming back to life of Pastor Daniel is shown in the movie. Pastor Daniel is personally interviewed in the movie. The narrative that follows is a transcription of a short clip of the video, “The Lazarus Phenomenon” by Johan Sturm, Eternal Productions. You can watch “The Lazarus Phenomenon” for free online. This account begins with Daniel dying on the ground. Daniel: “Suddenly, I had some feelings for me to look up. I saw two angels.” Narrator: When Daniel saw the two angels, he wanted to let his wife know, but the angel indicated that he should keep silent. Immediately, Daniel's power of speech was taken from him. Nneka, his wife, began to cry, fearing that Daniel would die. The angels took Daniel by his shoulders and lifted him out of the ambulance. Suddenly, Daniel found himself in another place with one of the angels. Angel: “Daniel, I have a lot to show you.” Narrator: As he looked out, Daniel saw a place where a multitude of people gathered. Their appearance was like that of the angels. Their color was pure white and their bodies seemed to glow with radiance. Because of their similar appearance, Daniel thought he was seeing a gathering of the angels. Angel: “This is not the gathering of the angels, Daniel. This is the gathering of the saints.” Narrator: The differences between the saints and the angels were subtle. Their color is a pure, brilliant white from their hair down to their feet. The difference is that the angels have wings, while the saints do not. The saints were worshipping God. They worshipped God with one voice and raised their hands as they were singing. Daniel heard the sound of many instruments. The sounds were like nothing he had encountered before. He longed to join these people and moved over towards them, but the angels stopped him. Angel: “Daniel, don't go. I have a lot to show you. Take this file and record everything you see.” Narrator: The multitude that Daniel saw were all looking at a bright light that shone like the sun. It was a source of all the light there. Daniel: “A very thick, heavy light coming upon them there. Now, they were all looking at that light as if they were seeing something there. But to me, I cannot look at that light. I cannot look at that light because it's so dangerous for my eyes. So I tried to budge to look through. They were looking through, but to me I cannot look through.” Angel: “Let's visit the mansions Jesus prepared for His people.” Narrator: Immediately, Daniel was in a new place with radiant mansions as far as the eye could see. It was incomparable to anything he knew on Earth. Though the appearance resembled buildings, the structure was unusual, not made of any earthly materials. They seemed to be alive, moving. Angel: “Daniel, Jesus has finished his work. The mansions are ready, but the saints are not ready.” Narrator: There was a sound of beautiful singing and worship. It seemed to come from all around. Daniel wondered where the singing was coming from because he could see no people there. Angel: “Daniel, the worship song you're hearing is being sung by the flowers.” Narrator: As he looked, Daniel saw the flowers swinging in response to the music. It actually seemed as if they were clapping their hands, shouting and praising God. Angel: “They are waiting for the saints. We are now going to visit Hell. Can you see the gates of Hell?” Narrator: The angel raised his hand, and as he brought it down, the gates ripped open with a great noise. Daniel could hear the crying and wailing of many people, but he could not see any of them. And then a light shone from the angel's body into the darkness so that Daniel could see more clearly. There were many people there, but unlike the souls in Heaven, the appearance of these people was as it had been on Earth. They were from every race, culture and nationality. Every person seemed trapped in their own personal torment, a torment that would go on for eternity, and they could not communicate with others. The sounds of crying and wailing were almost deafening. Suddenly, they all seemed to become aware of Daniel and started crying to him for help. And they called to Daniel only, as if they could not see the angel. A Pastor in Hell: “Please, help! I'm a pastor. I stole money from the church and I lied. Help me, please! I'm ready to repent. Help!” Narrator: Immediately after the pastor made the statement, the force that was tormenting him seemed to increase. The people had flesh, but no blood. And they almost seemed to be on fire, although no flames could be seen. There was a group of people who were eating their own flesh. They would vomit what they had eaten, and their flesh grew back. This carried on in an endless cycle of torment. Angel: “Those people you see eating themselves…they practiced witchcraft while they were on Earth. They specialized in eating human flesh and now they'll eat themselves forever. They are reaping what they sowed.” Daniel: “That place is not good for any human being created by God to go. God did not make that place for human beings; He made that place for the devil and his agents. But stubborn human beings who will disobey God, like the devil, will also go there. God has no mind to put any human being in Hell. It's a dangerous and deadly place He meant for the devil and his people.” Narrator: What was to follow was an earth-shattering statement by the angel. Daniel couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams that he would hear the judgment. Angel: “Daniel, if the book of your life were to be closed today, this would be your portion.” Daniel: “No! I'm a pastor! I'm a child of God; I'm born again. I preach all over this country I'm in, the country that I'm in. This country. No. No. This can't be!” Angel: “Enough! Daniel, on your way to the first hospital, you were asking God to forgive you. But you would not forgive your wife, and your sins have not been forgiven. It is a matter of reaping what you sow. You cannot sow unforgiveness to your wife and reap forgiveness from God.” (My note: Those who die with unforgiveness go to Hell. (Mat.6:14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Those who live with unforgiveness are delivered to tormenting spirits and go to Hell with tormenting spirits, if they do not repent. (Mat.18:32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.) Daniel: “Oh! I knew He made that statement. My spirit convinced me that what the angel told me of the judgment on me is true. So he said to me that I didn't forgive my wife, that I'm not forgiven. So while I was crying, crying, crying, shouting and shouting, I was not crying that, I will only say, see how I destroy my soul, look at how I destroy my soul. While I was shouting and crying, I was afraid. Tears were all over me. I was panicking because that place is not good for anyone. The way everything was looking, if God wanted to put me inside Hell, nothing would prevent Him, because while we were discussing, some group of people, thousands of people, were being sent into Hell.” Narrator: People started praying for him, praying for resurrection. Daniel: “Then the angel said to me that he's sending me back to the world – to go and warn this nation because this is going to be the last warning to this generation.” Nneka: “As prayers were going on, then his heart began to pant, life began to come into his heart. We continued praying and praying, we are praying. As all these things were going on, he began to breathe gradually, but his body was still stiff.” Daniel: “I saw myself being held by a lot of people. I was naked and put on my dress. I saw a crowd of people, more than 20,000 people. I looked to my left, right, everywhere. People were shouting, crying everywhere. Some were praising God, some were crying. I was looking around. I couldn't understand what was happening, because to me I was falling down. And I fell into fear, and to me, when I opened my eyes, I saw all hands were grabbing me. They said to me that I jumped up. I saw this big cathedral, a very big cathedral. I looked to my right, my left, my front and my back. Everywhere was full of people. Some people were shouting, some were saying ‘coffin;' some said ‘mortuary;' some said, ‘three days.' I couldn't understand because my experience was not more than fifteen minutes. So I don't know what they call about three days. To me there was no night, there was no day; it was only that moment I was into. By now I asked my wife, ‘What is happening?' She said I should keep quiet until we get to the house. They brought me back to my house, this place, with my wife.” (Note from Barbara Arroyo: I first heard about this many years ago. My former pastor, David Servant, went to Nigeria and met Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu. Yes, that was an incredible story! I guess this happened back in 2002. Pastor Servant went to Nigeria and investigated this story, and he even actually interviewed the doctor and mortician, and also Daniel himself! There is more information on Pastor Servant's website.) Jesus said that He was sent to proclaim release to the captives (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18). He also said that if you do not make things right with your brother, you would be thrown into prison until you pay your debt. (Mat.5:23) If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, (24) leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (25) Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. (26) Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing. And Jesus warned us in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, that they (Mat.18:34) … delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. Your debts, your sins, are what is “due.” If a person does not forgive, that person is not forgiven. (Mat.6:15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Can you be saved and not be forgiven? No, you cannot be saved and not be forgiven. The most dangerous sin is unforgiveness because it opens up a trap that gives a person over to demons.

How To Forgive: The Consequences of Unforgiveness? LIVE Q&A for July 31, 2025 https://storage.googleapis.com/enduring-word-media/q-and-a/07312025.mp3 The post How To Forgive: The Consequences of Unforgiveness? LIVE Q&A for July 31, 2025 appeared first on Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/how-to-forgive-the-consequences-of-unforgiveness-live-qa-for-july-31-2025/feed/ 0 How To Forgive: The Consequences of Unforgiveness? LIVE Q&A for July 31, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q-yPxJz_yM - https://storage.googleapis.com/enduring-word-media/q-and-a/07312025.mp3 How To Forgive: The Consequences of Unforgiveness? LIVE Q&A for July 31, 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q-yPxJz_yM

Thank you for joining us here at Harvest Connexion for our weekly Tuesday men's ministry. For more information, get connected with us online at harvestconnexion.com.

Welcome to Sunday Service  Wish you were here!  Newsong, Colorado Springs (starts at 10:00am)  Subscribe to text updates. Text the words text alert to 94000  Subscribe to emails (bottom of page on newsongcs.com)  Listen to podcasts. Keywords newsong foursquare  Watch services on Youtube. Keyword newsongcs  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok keyword newsongcs  3 ways to give to Missions, Disaster Relief, Tithes, or Offerings  1.. newsongcs/com/give  2. Text Giving - text the word EASY to 94000 3. Mail - P.O. Box 75818 • C.S., CO 80970

Hanna Kok shares her expertise on the surprising link between forgiveness and physical health, revealing why holding onto grudges causes hormonal imbalances and weakens the immune system. We explore the scientific evidence behind this connection and discuss a practical method for making forgiveness easier.• When we hold grudges, our muscles tighten, restricting blood flow and nutrient delivery throughout the body• Brain function decreases dramatically during conflict—the prefrontal cortex (responsible for wisdom and problem-solving) can switch off up to 85%• Stress emotions attach to cell receptors, triggering responses that put cells in overdrive and eventually lead to health problems• Different organs are sensitive to specific emotions—the liver responds to anger, lungs to grief, and the gut to feelings of abuse• Unforgiveness reduces energy available for immune function, making us more susceptible to illness• The forgiveness method includes identifying what triggered you, recognizing what it reveals about your own healing needs, and seeing the situation as an opportunity for growth• Practical techniques for releasing unforgiveness include journaling, mirror work, and meditationFor more information on improving health through forgiveness, download Hannah's app at hannahcook.com or visit ithrive.zoneSend us a text

The Perrys' Q&A episodes are some of your favorites. In this one, the Perrys answer questions from their Instagram followers, covering topics related to evangelism, marriage, parenting, recognition, and forgiveness. How do you know if you are called to evangelize? Is it okay if a husband and wife attend different churches? What if you're hesitant to have kids and bring them into a broken world? Let's talk about it. Scripture references:1 Peter 3:1-2Matthew 6:1-2 Subscribe to the Perrys' newsletter.To support the work of the Perrys, donate via PayPal.www.withtheperrys.comboldapparel.shopwww.jackiehillperry.comwww.preston-perry.com

Can we keep unforgiveness?

Join Pastor Ethan Hall for the 3rd installment of the all-new series entitled: "Kingdom Stories".

Join Pastor Ethan Hall for the 3rd installment of the all-new series entitled: "Kingdom Stories".

Forgiveness is Key to Better Relationships: Interview With Brian & Heather Mayer Forgiveness can feel like the most unfair, unnatural thing in the world. When someone has wounded you—especially someone who was supposed to love you—choosing to forgive may feel like letting them off the hook. But Brian and Heather Mayer's story reminds us: forgiveness isn't about the other person's worthiness—it's about God's mercy. And it's the path to freedom, not just for them… but for you. Why Christian Marriages Struggle With Forgiveness Heather didn't realize how deeply unforgiveness had taken root. Even after their marriage began to turn a corner, her heart stayed guarded. She found herself stuck emotionally. The walls she had put up to protect herself were still up. And though they gave the illusion of strength, what they actually offered was isolation. She said, “I didn't feel like forgiving. I didn't want to say the words. But I knew the Bible said I had to. So I chose to obey—even without the feelings.” This is what many Christian spouses experience. You know the right thing to do, but your emotions don't follow. And it's tempting to wait until you “feel ready.” But true biblical forgiveness isn't based on emotion—it's a decision of the will rooted in trust that God can heal what you cannot.   How Unforgiveness Destroys Connection in Marriage Brian admitted he had been prideful and blind to Heather's needs. But what changed him wasn't just guilt—it was God's grace. He realized that he needed to ask for forgiveness, not just from Heather, but from their children, too. “I had to go back and apologize, not just for being short or irritable—but for the way my behavior affected my family.” He humbled himself, opened his heart, and began walking out a different kind of love—one marked by patience, listening, and repentance. That humility created space for healing. Unforgiveness doesn't just affect the person who hurt you—it poisons your heart, your communication, your marriage bed, and even your parenting. Because where pride builds walls of resentment to isolate, humility builds bridges and invites healing.   What the Bible Says About Forgiveness in Marriage God never promised forgiveness would be easy—but He did say it's essential. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Jesus modeled radical forgiveness on the cross. And He calls His followers to extend that same grace in our closest relationships—even in marriage. Brian and Heather didn't wait until things “felt better.” They took action. They forgave before the emotions lined up. And that obedience opened the door for healing.   Choosing to Forgive Even When You've Been Deeply Hurt Forgiveness does not mean: Forgetting what happened Pretending it didn't hurt Ignoring necessary boundaries But it does mean surrendering the right to punish. It means releasing bitterness so you can receive peace. It means trusting God with your pain instead of letting it define your future.   Healing Starts With Forgiveness Bitterness promises protection—but delivers bondage. Forgiveness opens the floodgates of grace—not just for your spouse, but for you. For your kids. For your home. For your legacy. You don't have to live angry. You don't have to stay stuck. There is freedom on the other side of obedience. There is peace that replaces pain. There is joy waiting where there used to be fear. And best of all? You don't walk this alone. The God who forgave you will empower you to forgive—again and again.   Final Encouragement: Forgiveness Is the Gateway to Freedom Brian and Heather's story is living proof that no marriage is too far gone. That even the most painful seasons can become a testimony of God's redemption. Maybe your spouse has wounded you deeply. Or maybe you're the one who's caused the pain. Either way, Jesus stands ready to walk you both into something new. Today, start with one brave act of obedience: “I choose to forgive.” Even if your hands tremble. Even if your heart still aches. God will meet you there. And the freedom you long for is closer than you think.   Love,   The Delight Your Marriage Team   PS - Check out Brian & Heather's amazing Forgiveness Course at www.lovehowdeep.com/forgiveness [Use code DYM59 to receive the Course at the special price of $59, regularly priced at $297!] PPS - If you're ready to bring even more healing and freedom into your marriage, schedule a free Clarity Call and see if our Men or Women's Program is right for you. Prices are going up after July 18th, so make the call soon! PPPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate: "I struggled with unforgiveness and bitterness, lack of joy in motherhood, emotional lability, and frequent mental trips to the past…  [Now,] I am able to self-regulate my emotions better. I have gained the ability to understand my emotions and thoughts from a more objective standpoint instead of being a victim to my thoughts and emotions... I've grown in my understanding of forgiveness and how that flushes out to my everyday life… When I joined the program, I was hoping that my work would change my husband and my marriage. I didn't realize just how much work I had for my own heart!”

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Calvin Tilman from Valley View, TX. Thank you for standing with us throughout Project 23. You're helping grow faith that's deep, rooted, and bold. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 11:25: And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” — Mark 11:25 Jesus just finished teaching about bold, mountain-moving prayer. But now he adds a critical detail: forgiveness. Jesus says, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive.” Why? Because unforgiveness short-circuits prayer. You can pray with passion. You can pray with persistence. But if your heart is harboring bitterness, something is blocked. Unforgiveness is a spiritual deadbolt. It locks up your heart, hardens your spirit, and hinders the flow of grace, not just toward others, but also from God to you. Jesus isn't suggesting forgiveness. He's commanding it. He's saying: Don't come into God's presence asking for power while holding onto poison. Prayer isn't just about talking to God—it's also about being shaped by God. And when we pray, one of the clearest signs that God is shaping us is our willingness to forgive. This doesn't mean trust is instantly restored. It doesn't mean consequences disappear. But it does mean releasing others from the debt they owe you, just as God released you. So here's the challenge: Don't just pray for mountains to move—pray for your heart to soften. Because some of the most immovable mountains in your life might be made of unforgiveness that lies in your heart. #ForgiveAndPray, #GraceFirst, #Mark11 ASK THIS: Why does Jesus tie forgiveness to prayer? What happens spiritually when we refuse to forgive? Is there someone you're still holding a grudge against? What would it look like to forgive them as God forgave you? DO THIS: Who is the person you need to forgive today, before I ask God for anything else? PRAY THIS: Father, help me forgive others the way you've forgiven me. I don't want to carry bitterness—I want to walk in the freedom of grace. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West.

In the second installment of the “Summertime Stories” series, Pastor Doug Musso teaches how we can let go of unforgiveness and live the life God has for us as we embrace forgiveness.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025. "The Forgiveness Series"

Episode Summary: If you’ve ever struggled with forgiveness—whether that’s forgiving others, forgiving yourself, or even struggling with feeling forgiven by God—then this episode is for you. Jessica and I talk about The Role of Forgiveness in Healing the Brain and Heart. Quotables from the episode: Science and scripture both affirm that forgiveness is vital for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Forgiveness is more than a feeling—it’s a powerful decision that can transform your life. This topic is close to my heart because I’ve seen firsthand how forgiveness can set people free. I know many of our listeners and viewers carry deep wounds, and my prayer is that today’s conversation will bring encouragement and hope. Forgiveness is essential because it aligns us with God’s heart. We were created for relationships, but when hurt enters the picture, it creates emotional and spiritual wounds. Unforgiveness keeps us bound to that pain. It’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. From a scientific perspective, studies show that holding onto unforgiveness increases stress hormones like cortisol, which negatively impacts brain function, weakens the immune system, and can even contribute to depression and anxiety. When we forgive, we release that toxic load, allowing our brains and bodies to function in a state of peace. As a neuropsychologist, I’ve also seen how unforgiveness affects brain chemistry. It triggers the fight-or-flight response, keeping us in a constant state of stress which can lead to depression, anxiety, discouragement, fear, even anger. But when we choose to forgive, our brain rewires itself toward healing and restoration. For years, I thought holding onto that anger would somehow hold the other person accountable. But instead, it only held me captive. When I finally chose to forgive, I experienced a peace I hadn’t known in years. And the beautiful thing was, God used that forgiveness to bring healing to my heart in ways I never expected. One of the biggest myths is that forgiveness means excusing or condoning what happened. Forgiveness is not saying that what happened was okay. It doesn’t mean forgetting or pretending it never happened. Instead, it’s releasing the burden of justice to God. Romans 12:19 reminds us, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Another myth is that we have to feel ready to forgive before we do it. But forgiveness is an act of obedience, not an emotion. Often, the feelings follow the decision. Jesus didn’t tell us to forgive when we felt like it. He commanded us to forgive because He knows the weight it lifts off our souls. And something amazing happens when we take that step of obedience—our hearts begin to soften, and healing begins. The process of forgiveness starts with prayer. We have to be honest with God about our pain and ask Him for the strength to forgive. Then, we choose to release the offense. Sometimes, it’s a one-time decision; other times, it’s a daily process of surrendering it to God until the pain no longer has power over us. And sometimes, we need to verbalize forgiveness, even if it’s just between us and God. Saying, “Lord, I choose to forgive [person’s name] for [specific hurt]” helps solidify the decision in our hearts. And one of the hardest but most powerful steps is praying for the person who hurt us. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It’s hard at first, but it shifts our hearts from bitterness to compassion. Forgiveness is not about the other person—it’s about your own freedom. It doesn’t mean what they did was right, but it means you’re choosing to release the burden and trust God with justice. Take it one step at a time, and know that you are never alone in the process. Scripture References: Romans 12:19 reminds us, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Speaker: Adam GodshallSeries: JosephText: Genesis 50Theme: You must resist the invasive corruption of unforgiveness. One: Unforgiveness indulges in the opportunity for angry revenge. Two: Unforgiveness perpetuates distrust and fear. Three: Unforgiveness userps the place of God as judge. Four: Unforgiveness focuses excessive attention on the offense. Five: Unforgiveness forgets the truth of God's sovereign benevolent purposes. Six: Unforgiveness fails to repay evil with good. Seven: Unforgiveness cripples faith in God's promises. You ment evil against me, but God ment it for good. ~ Genisis 50:20

During the 1st Service Rex Reed delivers a message out of Matthew 18:21-35. Listen in as Rex Reed shares on how forgiveness can set us free.   Keep It Real. Keep It Jesus.   To learn more, text "mission" to 97000 or visit https://www.reallifesango.com

In the eighth grade, Katherine Giovanni almost committed suicide, and she tried again when her mother died. But this was the flashpoint in her life that caused her to turn around and walk in a new direction. Katherine had survived cancer, attempted suicide twice, and lived in a dysfunctional family. But today, she has been sober for 34 years.      Katherine is a three-time award-winning best-selling author of twelve books, a dynamic speaker, trainer, and advisor. She is also recognized as one of the original founders of the independent concierge industry. During her interview, Katherine shares her unique system of forgiving people and the profound art of forgiveness. It transcends words, healing not just relationships but your very soul.                                                  CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE BOOK Everyone says to just say "I forgive you." But sometimes that's just not enough. This book will help you discover the profound art of forgiveness. It transcends words, healing not just relationships but your very soul. Yearning for inner peace? Ready for lasting harmony and emotional freedom? This book is your guide. Using Katharine's step-by-step process, take a deep dive into forgiveness and find the path to understanding and peace. Sometimes, "I forgive you" is only the beginning.

Today's Promise: Hebrews 12:15 You can't go through life without experiencing hurt or disappointment. If you aren't careful, those hurts and disappointments can take hold in your heart. Unforgiveness always leads to bitterness. You remove the root of bitterness through forgiveness. As you show others the same grace and forgiveness Christ gives you, you will find those roots of bitterness wither and die. It takes time, but as you release forgiveness through the grace of God, you will find new freedom, joy, and happiness.

Chris & Taylor debate whether the introduction of AI could help with ministry or hinder it. Taylor also shares a wild story about forgiveness(or lack thereof) in his heart and how difficult it is to forgive as Christ does. Subscribe/Rate Never miss out on the craziness of each episode by hitting the subscribe button RIGHT NOW! Help other people find the show by taking a few moments to leave a review in your podcasting app. Thanks! YouTube Check out the show and other exclusive videos on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/fortecatholic Connect

In today's episode we're opening up a real and vulnerable conversation...: The Silent Poison of Unforgiveness. So many people in their second half of life carry deep emotional wounds — often quietly — thinking time will heal them. But what if what's really needed is not more time, but intentional release? To guide us through this powerful topic is the wise and wonderful Hanna Kok. Hanna is a coach with over 30 years of experience in the body-mind-spirit connection. She's a qualified Educational Kinesiologist, Allergy Practitioner, and Medical Intuitive, and she's the creator of the iThrive web app — a beautiful tool that's helped countless people experience real transformation in their mental, emotional, and physical health. She brings both heart and science to this conversation, and I know you'll feel her calm, grounded wisdom as we explore how to release resentment, shed victimhood, and reclaim our energy. Support the showFull Show Notes can be found at CallITInPodcast.comPhoto credit: Rebecca Lange Photography Music credit: Kevin MacLeod Incompetech.com (licensed under Creative Commons) Production credit: Erin Schenke @ Emerald Support Services LLC. Grab Dar's Flight Deck Oracle Card DeckTake Dar's Archetype Quiz

Are you constantly replaying past hurts in your mind? Do you get triggered just by hearing someone's name or find it hard to celebrate others' wins? Dr. Gabe walks us through the subtle ways unforgiveness can take hold of our lives, holding us back from peace, spiritual connection, and true healing.Throughout the episode, Dr. Gabe draws from biblical wisdom and personal insight to unpack ten common signs that might reveal lingering resentment or bitterness—even when we think we've moved on. Need relationship advice? Text Dr. Gabe. Text bandwidth to 94000 to stay up-to-date on all things Bandwidth.Gabriel Powell MerchUse the code BAND10 for 10% off.WebsiteSupport the Bandwidth PodcastCash App $bandwidthpodcastConnect with Bandwidth Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter Connect with Dr. GabeInstagram | YouTube | WebsiteIf you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Dr. Gabe as a guest on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to info@gabrielpowell.co

Jesus Delivered Us (3) (audio) David Eells – 6/29/25 Saints, I'm going to continue speaking about how Jesus has delivered us. I'm going to start with how we need to be careful about those who would deceive us and try to lead us astray with “another Jesus”. The job of spirits of religion is to keep people in bondage to religion. (2Co.11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. Christians are being addressed; the word “your” is referring to Christians. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept (So you can be perverted and corrupted in your mind by listening to a false gospel and thereby receiving a false spirit.), ye do well to bear with him. If the devil cannot keep you from Jesus entirely, he will seek to keep you in bondage to religion, because when you get in bondage to religion, you're not going to accept all of the Word. Religion only accepts bits and pieces of the Word; all “Christian” religions do this. If you're not in bondage to what they say and you get into the Scriptures yourself to (Php.2:12) … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, then you can believe all the Word. God does not want us separated from the truth by religion. Religion is a trial to see if you are going to overcome. It is of the Spirit that we be tested to see if we will hold to the Word. (Mat.4:1) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The Holy Spirit's purpose for us to be tempted of the devil to see who the overcomers are, the elect, the true believers. When the Lord led the Israelites into the wilderness, He found out quickly who the true believers were because they were the ones who confessed the Word of God. We are in our wilderness experience to find and prove the true believers. The Bible says, (2Pe.1:10) Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure (In other words, “prove your calling and prove your election.”): for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: (11) for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are entering into God's Kingdom progressively as we overcome. Your spirit entered into the Kingdom when you were saved through the grace of Jesus Christ. Now your soul, meaning your mind, will, and emotions, is entering through your obedience to the truth. I'd like to share this testimony:   Following “Another” Jesus by G.C. In a dream I was in a deserted area, with no one in sight. I looked around and saw, standing afar off, a man with the likeness of Jesus Christ. He had on a long flowing robe, sandals, and brown hair and beard. I ran up to him, in awe that I was standing in the presence of Christ himself. As I started to talk to him and ask questions, he walked away. I thought this was strange! But I overlooked it, and followed after him for many miles. All the while I was asking him questions and trying to get a response. But it was to no avail. He continued to ignore me and proceeded to walk to his destination. We came to a blue two-story house with a porch. This house was very pretty, yet simple in appearance. I stopped in the yard and watched him walk up on the porch. He was getting ready to walk in the door. As this was occurring I heard a convicting inner voice say, This is not his house. He's not allowed in there. I was shocked to say the least! “Not his house?!” I said to myself. “This is Jesus. The Father has given Him all things! How much more does this little house belong to Him?” I did not understand why this voice would say such a thing! While I was pondering these things, the man began to peep in the windows. Then he tried to open the door, but it was locked. I was watching this happen, all the while confused about why Jesus was locked out of this house. I was really shocked when he began to jimmy the door open to break into the house. When he walked in, I just stood there in a sad state of amazement, pondering whether or not I should follow him. I ran after him and followed him into the upstairs bedroom. I saw him going through all the desk drawers, like a common thief. I was thinking about leaving when I saw these things, but at this point, he finally began to speak to me. So I overlooked his un-Christlike actions and began conversing with him because I had been waiting a long time. We kept talking as he walked downstairs. The whole time I was listening, I got the impression he was nonchalant, careless, about everything. This troubled me. But I kept telling myself that I just didn't understand – this was Jesus. Next, he lit up a cigarette and puffed on it, like it was no big deal. I was totally saddened and confused. While taking drags off the cigarette, he asked me, “What do you want to do with your life?” I began to cry. I said, “Whatever you tell me to do, Jesus.” I was in denial. Although this man looked like Jesus, he could not have been. His works and speech were in sharp contrast to the Word. I was being willfully deceived by the image of this man. I was going against my better judgment simply because he looked like Jesus.  After having had this dream, I was confused. I really had no idea about what it meant. I thought of myself as a good and faithful Christian. I was attending a full-gospel church, paying tithes every week, writing and recording Christian music. I did not do the things I saw “sinners” doing. I was where I needed to be. I laughed the dream off, even making a joke about it to some friends. A few months later, though, I found myself dissatisfied with my spiritual life. I began to question my local assembly and its doctrines. But I was never able to put my finger on the problem.  Around this time, a spiritual brother told me that I was believing things that were not Scriptural. He also told me to watch David Eells' “Hidden Manna for the End Times” videos. I was not into what this brother was telling me. This David Eells guy was just another internet cult leader with strange doctrines. But the Lord impressed me to give it a look. After I watched the first video entitled “The Church and Tribulation,” I knew that I had found wisdom. I literally tore through all the teachings on the site.  I began to hear David speak about “another Jesus,” who many in Christianity, even some full-Gospel folk, were following. This was like the “other” Jesus for whom Paul rebuked the church. (2Co.11:4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit which ye did not receive, or a different gospel which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.  (Gal.1:6) I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; (7) which is not another gospel only there are some who trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any other gospel than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema (“accursed”). (9) As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preaches unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema (“accursed”). I had never really heard that before! I was amazed. The Lord impressed upon me that I had been following “another” Jesus and “another” gospel – I was self-righteous. Later, I had other dreams confirming that I was being taught false doctrines in my local assembly, and that I should leave. That I did, and I have not looked back. Praise God for His faithfulness in steering His sheep onto the straight path. AMEN. Now, I'd like to encourage you to stay rooted and grounded in the Word and faith because, saints, some mighty “shakings” of God are just around the corner. (Heb.12:25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned [them] on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape] who turn away from him that [warneth] from heaven: (26) whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. (27) And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. (28) Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: (29) for our God is a consuming fire. Soon you will have seen some things you never thought to see in this world, but the Lord doesn't want us to be troubled. It's all part of His plan and He is a sovereign God (Eph.1:11) …Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. The Bible also tells us, (Joh.3:27) … A man can receive nothing, except it have been give him from heaven. And (Dan.4:35) … he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? He reigns in the heavens and on the earth. We can trust in Him. These shakings are coming in order to bring many people into the Kingdom, yet we don't want to be anxious or fearful concerning these things. We want to be at peace, and we want to be used of God when these things happen, but we're totally useless to God if we have any anxiety and fear. We just can't be used of the Holy Spirit when we're in such a state, and the devil knows that. But those who walk by faith, who draw close to the Lord, and those who depend upon Him for their faith and grace, have nothing to worry about. God is going to use these shakings to weed out the Church, and He's going to bring out many people from the apostate church who have a gift from God to walk with Him. Jesus sent the disciples and the seventy out on a kind of on-the-job training (Luke 10:1). This is a foreshadowing of what's going to happen in our day in the beginning of the tribulation period, for (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. We are coming into a great time of grace when the Lord is going to show up. He is going to be manifested in His people. He is going to be (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. His First-fruits are going to be able to do the same things that Jesus did in raising up disciples and even sending forth two-by-two; all this will be repeated. Great and wondrous things are going to happen. (Luk.10:17) And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. Christianity, even the majority of God's elect, do not yet know that demons are subject to us, but the elect will soon know. They will come out (John 10:3-4; Revelation 18:4) and be led as disciples, and then they will shake the world. (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons… So we have been given authority over demonic powers and it's a joyous thing to see people set free, but can we defend ourselves against these demons? Greater attacks and warfare are about to go forth against the saints, yet God's people, those who walk by faith in His Word, will have nothing to worry about. It's very hard for fear and anxiety to come in once you are experienced in walking in His Word. You see, He wants to prepare us for things to come. People who aren't prepared will be shocked and fearful; however, when they run to the Lord for refuge, God will teach them how to walk in peace and rest. Jesus explained to His disciples about the spirits being subject to them in (Luk.10:18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. His disciples rejoiced that demons were subject to them. Let me share this testimony with you:     Delivered from Panic Attacks by S.G. (David's notes in red) Recently, I started to seek the Lord in prayer. I asked Him to do anything He wanted with me to bear fruit. I didn't know what I was getting into, although, looking back, I wouldn't change a thing because the benefits have been so great. Around that time, I started to feel some funny flips in my heart once in a while. I also had a dream where I was lying on the floor with a baby boy. A very ferocious wolf was trying to bite off the baby's head. (Satan would attempt to take away the thinking of the spiritual man, which is Christ in you (Colossians 1:27).) My heart started to act up more and more. One day I felt a sharp pain in my chest that was very painful. I started to feel like I was going to pass out. We were at a meeting and just started to pray (1Pe.2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. and to recite (Isa.53:4) Surely he hath borne our griefs (Hebrew: “sicknesses”), and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. After about five minutes I was okay. For the rest of the day I had a dull pain in my chest. Over the next weeks, it started to get worse. Panic attacks came along with it. A sister in the Lord told me that the panic attacks are a symptom of heart problems. In this time of weakness my family in Christ was being strong for me and prayed very much. I thank God for the body of Christ. This was a major spiritual attack. Many nights I couldn't sleep. Sometimes I would call them in the middle of the night to pray with me.  Slowly, I learned to take authority over fear. Things got better. Then we had a trip to Mexico. The devil told me that I wouldn't make it – I would die on the plane. I told him that he was a liar and God wasn't, and I would be fine. I will admit it was a trial, especially on the way back. On the second-to-last plane, I felt that I couldn't breathe. My chest was so tight and painful. I experienced a headache and nausea and loose bowels.  After we got back, the symptoms became worse. But every day the Lord helped me to grow stronger and stronger in faith. God was teaching me endurance and patience. I had to continually cast down thoughts that were contrary to the Word. I am not strong in my flesh, but God has been my strength through it all. Many nights I got through by entering the Sabbath Rest – it was all taken care of – and speaking the promises and listening to the Bible to get my thoughts under control.  We've studied that (2Co.10:3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (4) (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), (5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  A great lesson I learned was walking by faith, and not by sight. Every day, I've had to ignore how bad I felt and get up and do my duties. When parts of my body were going numb, the Lord gave me the boldness to shout the promises. Then, the symptoms would leave. Another thing I learned was not to be double-minded. I had been telling everyone that the Lord healed me, but I admitted the symptoms. Somehow I was giving place to my sight. The good confession has to be complete. I have watched the symptoms go away. It's so wonderful to see how God is bringing so much fruit out of this. Even my friend and sister who didn't understand that we aren't under the curse, are getting faith of their own. The inner man has to be transformed by the word of God. I asked God to bring my thoughts, words, and actions in agreement with His Word. He is faithful. It is a daily walk with Jesus, having my eyes on Him, casting down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against His Word. Satan would tell me that my lack of exercise and diet caused this, that I needed to change my diet. I cast that down and ate as always. The battle is the Lord's. He has taken all worry away, which is the Sabbath Rest. I thank the Lord for all the UBM Bible studies that taught me the truth that sets us free. Thank you, Father of Our Dear Lord Jesus, for such a great salvation and for the trials that bring us into His image so that we encourage others in their faith. Praise and glory to Christ Jesus for a wonderful work in our lives. We are able to take the ground of our thoughts (by agreeing with the Word) and casting the enemy's thoughts down. 2Co.10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), (The principalities and powers hold the strongholds in the thoughts of the mind.) 5 casting down imaginations (thoughts and images), and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. We win the battle by rejecting the enemy's thoughts and replacing them with God's thoughts. We are at peace with God when we are full of His thoughts and our minds are guarded from the demonic attacks that cause outward actions of sin. Php.4:6-7 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Jesus said in (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.  “Tread” here means “to trample on” and “treat with insult and contempt.” In other words, it means “to exercise dominion over them,” to put them under your authority. Jesus made war against the demon powers, and He taught His disciples how to make war against them. (Luk.11:20) But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. Kingdom here means dominion. Satan is under our feet.  Satan does not cast out Satan (Matthew 12:26); it's only the Kingdom of God that gives deliverance from Satan and his demons (Matthew 15:24) because Jesus is stronger than the “strong man.” (Luk.11:21) When the strong [man] (This word “man” is not in the original. Jesus was calling the devil “the strong” when He was spoiling the devil's kingdom.) So its, When the strong fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are at peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. Jesus already conquered the devil, giving us authority over him, and then He passed on this authority over all the power of the enemy to all His disciples. Just as He plundered the devil's kingdom and divided the spoils, we are plundering the devil's kingdom when we preach the Gospel to someone. If they believe it, then they're plundered out of the devil's kingdom and brought into the Kingdom of God with all its rights. The same thing happens when we heal the sick, and remove curses of all kinds. That's the job we all have to do in plundering the devil's kingdom. (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. He ordained and raised us up because He wants us to have a part in this. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we work for the Kingdom of God and represent the King. We are ambassadors of Christ. We speak for Him in this world, and we go forth to do His works in this world. Jesus said, (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe (If you are a believer, you have a right to do these things.): in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. You have a right to be filled with the Spirit and the gifts, and you have a right to be doing the work of God. Saints, we need to take the shield of faith whenever we come under attack by demon spirits. (Eph.6:16) … up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. Their demons job in Satan's kingdom is to cause God's people to give up the battle and run from the face of the enemy. Our knowledge of the Word of God gives us power over these spirits. Understanding who we are in Christ and knowing that He has delivered us gives us power over them (Colossians 1:13). But spirits of anxiety, fear, guilt, rejection, shame, and unbelief all cause God's people to run from the real battle. All these “feelings” make them to be unable to take up their sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and fight (Ephesians 6:10-17), so they can conquer the enemy. If we are not with Jesus, we are against Him. If we are not gathering with Him, then we are scattered. If you are not plundering Satan's kingdom, he is plundering you. You can't have it both ways. It is one way or the other. The Lord has given us the victory in Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice, we have been given victory. He said, (Joh.16:33) These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. He conquered the devil, the evil one. He conquered sin, the curse, sickness; He conquered it all at the Cross and gave us authority and power over the devil. It is normal and natural for the wicked to run. They become anxious and fearful, moved by what they see and hear. (Pro.28:1) The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion. We need to hold fast to that bold faith that the Lord has given to us so that we're not giving in to these feelings of anxiety and fear. Now, remember there are things, such as unforgiveness, that will totally take away your defense against these spirits. Unforgiveness delivers many of God's people over to the power of demons. Jesus said, (Mat.18:34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. If we don't forgive our brother from the heart, the Father will turn us over to the tormentors until we pay our own debt. So many of God's people don't realize they're laboring under these demons. They can't get any victory or overcome. They have no confidence, no gift of faith, and they don't understand that it's because they have unforgiveness, bitterness, and judgment against their brothers. Jesus is not a liar; He said the Father will turn you over to the tormentors when you don't forgive. If we want to have boldness before God, we need a clean conscience. (1Jn.3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him (Now that's real safety, isn't it? We don't have to worry about a thing. We just ask, and God answers.), because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. In other words, we have a clean conscience. This should put the fear of the Lord in us, not the fear of man or demon, for the Lord Himself, is the only One we have to please. (1Jn.3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God. If we want to be ready for the things that are coming in the time of tribulation, we need to be full of the boldness of the Lord. We need to realize we're dealing with the enemy, the devil, who is likely to send his big guns of fear and anxiety against us. They're going to lead the pack. What happens is that people see or hear something, and all of a sudden, the devil is there to penetrate and put to flight. He attacks your mind through fear and anxiety, but those thoughts are not your thoughts and they are coming from Satan's forces. It's the devil trying to bring you down so that you'll be totally useless in this battle. We have to realize that giving in to fear or anxiety is actually sin. Many times people think fear or anxiety is normal and just a weakness in them, but the Bible says, (Heb.3:12) Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God. We are also told, (Rev.21:8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars (So thrown in with all the other sins and demons are “fearful, and unbelieving” and He goes on to say,), their part [shall be] in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. Fear is sin, but most people don't treat it as sin. Instead, they pacify it. They give in to it. We know the Lord “hasn't given us a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7) because the Bible says that fear is of the devil. It comes in order to manipulate us. Instead of acting in accord with what the Word of God says, fear comes in order to move us to react. The devil wants to put us to flight before him so that he can continue to plunder us. We need to be bold in our faith. Remember that we've been given authority over the devil in everything and (Luk.10:19) … nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Does that word “nothing” actually mean what it says? Of course it does, but “nothing shall in any wise hurt” us is only effectual when we mix it with faith. (Heb.4:2) … but the word of hearing did not profit them (This is speaking of God's people.), because it was not united by faith with them that heard. The Word was of no use because it wasn't mixed with faith in them that heard. So, here is another one. (Isa 54:17)  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. We have been given dominion over weapons of anxiety and fear, and we know from God's Word that we will face these. (Heb.12:25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned [them] on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape] who turn away from him that [warneth] from heaven: (26) whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. (27) And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. God is in our midst and gives us peace while the world is in turmoil. God is going to bring down this world through these great shakings. Events will occur that we have never seen on this earth. For the wicked in this world will be in fear of the devil, fear of the curse, and fear of the things coming upon the world. Even though the hearts of men are going to literally fail them for fear (Isaiah 13:7,19:1; Nahum 2:10; etc.), these events are going to put the fear of God in His elect. I'm not saying they're going to have it all of a sudden at the beginning, but they're all going to be highly motivated to please Him. They're all going to understand what it is to serve the Lord. God's elect are going to have His patience and His peace in the midst of these shakings, and to have that, we need to be honest and call “fear” and “anxiety” what God and the Bible call them, which is “sin.” God has given us deliverance from them; we can count on it because God has delivered us from all sin. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Joh.1:29) … Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! Jesus took away our sin, and because of what He did, we don't have to put up with fear or anxiety. We need to be prepared for the things that are coming in order for us to partake of the peace of God in the midst of the great destruction that is coming fast upon this world. It's a trick of the devil to immediately show up with fear and anxiety whenever something happens, but we need to cast it down. We are children of the King, here for our purpose in Him, not for the purpose of the world. Unlike the world, we don't have to take the penalty. Our Lord Jesus became cursed for us; He already bore the penalty. What is there for us to fear? Nothing. It says in (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious (Some versions say “careful,” but the Greek word there is merimnao, and it means “anxious.”); but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Since we have such authority and promises, what is “anxiety”? It is unbelief. When we give in to the temptation of anxiety, it means we do not believe that the Word is true. Unbelief is sin; we need to see it as sin, and we need to treat it as sin. (Rev.21:8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. You wouldn't think of doing those other things, but do you consider fear and anxiety to be unbelief, and therefore sin, before the King? Someone with fear and anxiety is not justified because they are not letting (Rom.3:4) … God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment. Here it is again, very plainly stated, (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious… God says this because He is absolutely sovereign. We have nothing to worry about; He has everything under control. Now we can take a closer look at this Philippians text. (Php.4:1) Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved. (2) I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, the Lord wants us to stand steadfast in Him, unmoved by what we see or hear. We know we're about to see and hear horrendous things in this world, and some are already happening, but keep in mind that we're the ones He wants to teach. He wants us to learn that all these promises are true for us. He has good plans; He doesn't want to destroy us. (Php.4:2) I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind. There's a neat revelation here that the Lord hid in the Word just for us. Once, when I read this verse, He spoke to me to look up these names. “Euodia” means “to be successful in reaching a goal” or “to succeed in reaching,” and “Syntyche” means “to meet with an accident.” They're opposite names with opposite meanings. Sometimes you just walk in the success of the Lord, but sometimes you meet with what seems to be an accident, and He is telling us to be of the same mind, no matter which one you are going through. He says, (Php.4:11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. We should be content because everything, saints, comes from the Hand of God (John 3:27). He wants you to trust in Him. (Php.4:2) I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. (3) Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Both success and what we call “accidents” do labor with us in the Gospel. Paul was shipwrecked on an island and bitten by a viper but it all worked for the gospel. They labor with us in our own lives helping us to bear fruit. We learn that God wants us to be stable and not moved by our emotions, by every wind of doctrine, or by everything that happens in the world (Ephesians 4:13-14). He wants us to be stable, not blown around. God wants us to be steadfast in standing on His Word, like standing on a rock, unmoved by success or failure. In one of the first visions we received, I was shown wearing leg braces and standing on a rock in the middle of the ocean. This represented God's grace and power helping me to stand upon the Rock; it wasn't my own power that caused me to stand. And the sea represented the curse. (Php.4:3) … Help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also… “Clement” means “merciful.” With those who will have mercy towards others, and be forgiving, God will show Himself the same way (Psalm 18:25; Matthew 5:7). We can do much harm to ourselves in the way that we relate to others. (Mat.18:34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. We need to be merciful; otherwise, He will turn us over to the tormentors. (Php.4:4) Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. (5) Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Even now, He is so much more “at hand” today. (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Don't worry about a thing; just lay your request before God. Remember He said, (Mar.11:24) … All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. Are we going to be anxious, or are we going to believe? Anxiety is sin against God because it wants to steal your faith, and we should make war against this demon immediately. (Rev.21:8) But for the fearful, and unbelieving, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone… We must learn to put up our shield of faith and quench that fiery dart. You don't have to let the skorpizo, the scattering demons, penetrate and put you to flight in your heart and life. Many people are not acting on the Word. Instead, they are reacting to what the devil is doing. If we are not ruled by faith, we are going to be ruled by fear. (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. You want to be moved and ruled by the Lord and not by these scorpion demons. After disaster strikes, anxiety and fear come immediately into people's hearts. This is the devil seeking to bring them into bondage. Fear and anxiety must be cast down immediately. (Php.4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. What we need is the peace of God in the midst of the turmoil. When the world looks at you, they will wonder why you are at peace. (Isa.26:3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. Glory to God! Keep your mind on what God has taught you. Cast down everything else the devil fires your way. God will keep you in perfect peace while other people are falling apart. The people who are falling apart will be going one way, but you'll be going another way. If you react to the devil by allowing him to move you in the direction he wants you to go, it proves that you are one of his. (Rom.6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? If you follow him, you are one of his. Nothing can come into your life by accident (John 3:27). These wilderness tribulations and trials through which we are going are from the Lord and He has absolute control over them, otherwise, how could He say, (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious… and (Rom.8:28) … all things work together for good? He can say these things because He is in absolute control. You can trust Him. You can rest in His promises. Therefore, don't let anxiety or fear affect you. Cast them down and remember that God said in (Isa.26:3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Christ Jesus is the Truth, the Word of God. We want to believe and remember the “good report.” (Php.4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. It doesn't make any difference what happens in the world around us. We have to hold fast to the good report. When the Israelites were moved by fear and anxiety, they cried to God; they said in (Exo.16:3) … ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly… This was so foolish. You only think that way when you are under the dominion of fear and anxiety. The Lord has not brought us anywhere to fail. He has brought us here to teach us to be sons of God, and we will be sons of God if we will keep our minds only upon Him, the Word of God, and the good report. God's first people listened to the bad report from the spies who did not have any faith in God (Numbers 13:32). They believed that they could not conquer that land or those giants, all of which actually represented their old flesh. Back to (Php.4:8) … If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Refuse to think on things that are going to destroy you or cause you to be manipulated. Refuse reports that would cause you to be driven by the devil and his demons and partake of their curse. (9) The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do… Paul also said, “Follow me as I follow the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:1). When you see people who are following the Lord and setting a good example, pay attention to their witness and testimony. If others don't have that fruit, then don't pay attention to them. Many people are just speaking from their theology, and they have no experience whatsoever because they haven't walked with God by faith. They're leading God's people into captivity to Babylon. (Php.4:9) The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. This is what we desire: to walk in the steps of Jesus and the apostles and have the peace of God. Joh.14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. If we permit the devil to penetrate our defense, our shield of faith in the Word of God, if we allow the fiery dart, the stinger to come through our defenses, then we will be overcome by our emotions. We will be doing what the world does and, thereby, we will fall under the judgment of the world. This is exactly what the Israelites did in the wilderness when they fell under the judgment of the world and under the curse of Deuteronomy 28. Instead of overcoming and entering into the Promised Land, as did Joshua and Caleb, they died in the wilderness (Numbers 14:28-30). “But I am persuaded of better things of you,” said Paul in (Hebrews 6:9). (2Ti.1:12) … For I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day. In other words, “I am persuaded that the Lord is able to keep us and to bring us through these troubling times in boldness and in courage.” (1Jn.3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God. Let there be nothing in your heart that will hinder you or that can separate you from that boldness that God gives to those who are obedient. (Php.4:9) The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. We are heading toward a wilderness trial, and one thing you see in a wilderness trial is that the Lord allows His people to experience lack in order to see what they would do. He suffered the Israelites to be tried so that He would see how they would react (Exodus 15:24-25, 20:20; Deuteronomy 8:2,16; Psalm 78; etc.) In all these places that the Lord led His people in the wilderness, it was from one trial to the next in order to see lack ahead of them. (Num.14:1) And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. (2) And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness! (3) And wherefore doth the Lord bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? They had many opportunities to be penetrated by fear and anxiety and to run in the opposite direction of God. This wilderness trial gave them the chance to cry out in unbelief and to accuse God of things that He had no mind to do, even accusing God of wanting to kill them, and finally, they did convince God. They convinced Him because that was exactly what they needed. It was their fault. (Num.14:28) Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord, surely as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: (29) your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness... They had faith for death, and so He gave it to them because in (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you. Anxiety and fear are faith, too, but they are negative faith. They're faith in the curse and the devil, and if that's where your faith is, that's what God will let you have, but if you believe what He says, you'll get the gifts of faith and boldness that He provides. Some of you may not believe there is anything but peace and prosperity to come to God's people. If so, you're missing history and you need to read the Bible again, because God's people went through fiery trials. (Mat.24:9) Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake. Most of you have probably never gone through being hated, but none of us have gone through what we are about to see; the hatred of the whole world is about to come against Christianity. Just as it was with Israel, the Lord is raising up a very big enemy against His small group of Elect. Why? The Lord is doing all this to show Himself strong on behalf of them that have put their faith and trust in Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). Jesus told us about the provision that He is going to make available. You see, even though the Lord is going to take a lot of worldly provision away from His people in the days to come, He's still going to provide for His people, but their provision will be coming from heaven. Let's look at a passage of Scripture where Jesus mentions six times the Greek word for “anxiety,” the same word that's used in the text we just read. (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious; ... His people worried a lot about how to provide the things they needed to be able to live in the wilderness. (Mat.6:19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Why do God's people feel like they need to stock-up things for the future? It's because their confidence is not in what God promised He would do. Their confidence is in what they store up.): (Mat.6:21) for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. (This means that your heart will be where your treasure of future provision is stored.) (Mat.6:22) The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (An eye that is “single” is not an eye that is set upon its own provisions. It is not set upon things stored up for the purpose of saving self in the days to come.) (23) But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness! (An eye that is “dark” has its confidence in the things of this world. I am going to prove that to you as we read.) (24) No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. (What is Jesus Christ talking about when He says “two masters”?) Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Mammonas is the common Aramaic word for “riches,” “confidence,” or “that which is trusted in.” It comes from an Aramaic word, matmon, meaning “hidden treasures.” The word “mammon” here in Matthew 6 represents trusting in worldly treasures that are stored up or hidden. In other words, “Mammon” means trusting in the things of the world to provide salvation. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God permitted them to have something they trusted: gold and silver (Exodus 12:35-36). It was given into their hands by the Egyptians who, in type, represented the world. God wanted them to be tried in this way. He was the One Who permitted them to go out of Egypt with gold and silver; however, His plan was to try them to see if they would be faithful. But they were not; they made an idol out of that gold they stored up to preserve them through their wilderness trials. But God's plan from the beginning was that He would meet their needs out of heaven like the manna and quails. He just had to get the gold out of the way first, and He did. (Exo.32:20) And he (This is speaking of Moses.) took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. People today are doing the same thing and storing up for times to come because they, too, do not believe the Word of God. They do not believe (Php.4:19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. They're anxious, troubled, and fearful because they trust in mammon. This is the eye that is evil, not single. Let's see if Jesus confirms this. (Mat.6:25) Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious… This is the first of the six “anxious” mentions. Again, it's the same word, merimnao, found here. (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious; … We don't have to worry about these things. We don't have to rely on our own strength and our own preparations to preserve ourselves through the days to come. I know many people claim they've received words from the “Lord” about storing up, but I also know we are coming to a time when God wants to prove His power to save you by signs and wonders and miracles, not by the worldly methods of man. God's provision came out of heaven to God's people when they were in the wilderness. He did not want them to be anxious; He did not want them to be fearful. He wanted them to trust in His provision, so He ran them out of food and water and everything that they had provided for themselves when they came out of Egypt. Then He provided for them by giving them water out of the rock (Exodus 17:6), manna out of heaven (Deuteronomy 8:16), and quail out of the sky (Numbers 11:31). We are coming to this same time in history again, except this time it will be for the Church. Once again, God is going to provide for those who believe. (Mat.6:25) Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? (26) Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. If you could not provide for yourself when the economy goes down and paid work stops, would not God provide for you? He will if you walk by faith. When we read “that they sow not,” is God teaching that you don't need to work for a living? No, God's Word says, (2Th.3:10) … If any will not work, neither let him eat. But what would you do when there is no work for man as mentioned in scripture. Wont God feed you like the sparrow and clothe you like the flowers?  There is going to be a “great exchange” (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24) in these days because God's people are going to finally wake up and take the Great Commission seriously (Matthew 28:19-20). What did Jesus say? (Luk.11:23) … He that gathereth not with me, scattereth. He wants us “gathering” along with Him. He raises up disciples to do His work of the Great Commission. If you are not working for the world, you can work for Him. Even the birds and the flowers “work” for Him, but they don't toil in the world, and God still feeds the birds and clothes the flowers. (Mat.6:26) Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns (They're not storing up their treasures, but their food comes.); and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?  (27) And which of you by being anxious (Again, this is merimnao, “anxious,” mentioned the second time.) can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? Anxiety does nothing but destroy you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It tears down your immunity and brings sickness. Anxiety does nothing positive. Faith can overcome anything, but anxiety can do nothing except bring you harm. (Mat.6:28) And why are ye anxious (There's the third mention.) concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: (29) yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?  The Lord is going to take care of His own during this coming time of tribulation and lack. Some of you are going to lose your jobs, which you so highly prize, and maybe your high standard of living. However, you'll be changing your attitude towards the world and the things of the world. You'll have the same attitude as those disciples had in Jesus' day, when Christians were plundered and they couldn't do business with the world. They were in a wilderness, yet the Lord provided for them because they put their trust in Him. (Mat.6:31) Be not therefore anxious, (There's the fourth mention.) saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? Why does Jesus keep mentioning “anxious?” It's because He understood the carnal nature and the trials that were coming for the Jewish Christians in those days. They were going into their tribulation. Jesus spoke this at the beginning of the first 3 1/2 years of their tribulation. He knew what they were going to go through, and what we are going to go through in our day is the same thing. There is a great collapse coming, yet God has made this promise that He is going to provide for His people. Don't give in to anxiety and fear because God is your provider, your Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14) and He is going to provide for you in everything. He wants to show you His Glory. He wants to show you His Power. Be not fearful. (Mat.6:31) Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) For after all these things do the Gentiles seek (Gentiles were heathen in that time.); for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. He already knows what you need. You don't have to worry or beg. You don't have to spend hours on your knees. (33) But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Be not therefore anxious (There's the fifth mention.) for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious (And there's the sixth mention.) for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. All you have to do is (Php.4:6) In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. You are not going to be heard for your “much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). Don't be fearful or anxious because of what you see or hear, even when it may appear that you're coming to the end of your own provision. You need to be at the end of your provision so that you can receive God's provision. He wants to show you many miracles. (Mat.6:33) But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. God is seeking to build His Kingdom both in your life and in those around you. When you seek first His Kingdom, He is going to make sure you have everything you need. You are not going to have a love of the world because the love of the world is sin (1 John 2:15), but an overwhelming number of Christians do have a problem with love of the world. They are even taught to love the material prosperity of the world in their prosperity-minded churches, instead of seeking for the prosperity of the body of Christ. (3Jn.1:2) Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper (The Greek word euodoo there means “a happy {or successful} journey; to be on the right path.”) and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. The prosperity-minded have to have the things of the world. (Mat.6:34) Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. (We are not to be anxious about our provisions and needs being met by God, Who said He would take care of them.) Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Remember that command by Jesus. You don't have to be fearful. The Lord is going to take care of you. (Luk.12:32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Oh, glory to God! It is His pleasure to care for us. There's no need to be worried and anxious about how to serve God or what to do in this world. Let's go now to (Luk.10:38) Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet, and heard His word. (40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. (41) But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: (42) but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. The one important thing we need to do is just sit at the Lord's feet and listen to Him. Now let me share another testimony:     Set Free From Anxiety by C.S. The Lord has been convicting me to share some things He has done. What a blessing your testimonies have been to us! God's miraculous provision in the lives of His people have been such an encouragement to us!  The Lord is teaching me to trust in Him for my children. I recently became a stay-at-home-mom since my baby R.S. was born. I was a full-time registered nurse working in a hospital for the past five years. Learning the Word of God has really renewed my mind. I have had to retrain myself on everything I learned in school, especially when it comes to medical knowledge! This has involved casting down imaginations and bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ! The Bible says, (2Co.10:4) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds, (5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Recently, I went to visit my sister who lives in South Texas, right across the border from Mexico. The first trial I went through was with R.S. He did not have a bowel movement for fifteen days. His normal pattern was every four days. When he began to show signs of discomfort, I would just thank God for making everything work normally, and I would rebuke any pain or discomfort. The few times he threw up, I just prayed again. Every day was a trial. Every day I was hoping that he would move his bowels and that the trial would be over. On the fifteenth day I was prayerfully reading God's word. The Scripture I opened was: (Php.4:4) Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. (5) Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. I felt instant peace! I could rest in the Lord. The good report was what Jesus has already done!  This was so encouraging! Until this point I was still anxious at times. I was constantly having to rebuke and cast down thoughts of fear, medical knowledge, signs or symptoms of this or that. I had to ask myself, “What do I believe? I believe your Word, Lord!” It was a spiritual battle in my mind! Then, right after breakfast, he went “potty”! I never thought I would rejoice so much for my baby moving his bowels. Praise God!  The next trial happened the following day after I got home. My older son D.S. was complaining all day that his stomach hurt. I was not really too concerned until he stopped playing and lay down on the couch, doubled over in pain. This was during an Unleavened Bread Bible Study on Sunday night. He was moaning, so I asked him if he had eaten anything funny. He said no. Then he had to go to the bathroom. After he came out he told me that he had passed a lot of blood. I checked, seeing a large amount of bright-red blood. This was very bad. I have observed a lot of GI [gastrointestinal] bleeds in patients that required blood transfusions and surgical correction etc. The first thing I said was, That is not good, but it does not matter. God is able to fix it.  We did pray as D.S. asked. We also put in a prayer request: that whatever the problem, God had already fixed it! By the end of the study, the stomach pain was completely gone! There was no more bleeding! Praise God! The Lord is teaching me to trust Him for all things!  A few weeks ago we had some visitors. Nine people came and stayed for several days. All of them got a very bad cold, cough, and fever! They were very apologetic, asking me if I wanted them to keep their children separated from mine. I said, No, that I was not worried about it! The Lord kept us all healthy! I thank the Lord for these trials that are preparing me for times to come. (1Co.10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.    

Back To Basics // Week 8 // Forgiveness Pastors JF and Ashley Wilkerson Matthew 18:6-9 NIV 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” Matthew 18:15 NIV 15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Matthew 18:16-20 NIV 16 “But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:21 NIV 21 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?” Aphiēmi – “To send away, release, let go” 1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T FORGETTING…IT'S RELEASING. Colossians 3:12-13 NIV 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T FORGETTING…IT'S RELEASING. 2. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T IMMEDIATE…IT HAS TO BE REPEATED. Matthew 18:21-22 NIV 22 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.” 1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T FORGETTING…IT'S RELEASING. 2. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T IMMEDIATE…IT HAS TO BE REPEATED. 3. FORGIVENESS ISN'T FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS…IT'S FOR US. Matthew 18:28-30 NIV 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.' 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.” Matthew 18:31-35 NIV 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,' he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:34b NIV 34b…his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. Matthew 18:35 NIV 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” - Nelson Mandela Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T FORGETTING…IT'S RELEASING. 2. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN'T IMMEDIATE…IT HAS TO BE REPEATED. 3. FORGIVENESS ISN'T FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS…IT'S FOR US

When we listen to God, our prayer life elevates beyond our battles to His battles. What does it look like for us to win battles in prayer? We must go from wounded people to wounded healers. In a fallen and broken world, wounds are a way of life. We validate the pains of the past, but we don't have to get stuck in the past. Are you a person of forgiveness or unforgiveness? Unforgiveness always limits your relationship with God; therefore, unforgiveness always limits your prayers. If you are going to win battles in prayer, you must first win the battle of receiving and giving forgiveness. Listen to this message and learn how Jesus' blood speaks a better word. It's rewriting my history.It covers me with destiny.It's making all things right.The precious blood of Christ.

Forgiveness is a daily practice for believers, not just a principle to know. Jesus emphasized that our own forgiveness is connected to our willingness to forgive others. Biblical forgiveness means releasing the debt, letting go of resentment, and genuinely loving those who've hurt us. When we forgive, we step into the river of God's forgiveness that flows from His throne, allowing His grace to flow through us. Unforgiveness, however, disconnects us from this flow, creating a toxic environment within our souls that affects our spiritual life and relationships.

Jesus Delivered Us (audio) David Eells – 6/22/25 Father, fill us with faith as we discover what has been accomplished for us by the sacrifice of Jesus. How that he bound the strong man and delivered us from evil. Give us understanding that we be not ignorant of satan's devices. Help us to stand on Your Word and swing our sword of the Spirit which the fallen angels cannot resist. We ask for your grace and power to open up Your Word to our hearts and minds and make us all the spiritual warriors You have called us to be. The enemy fears those who know their rights. Saints, I'm going to talk to you today about what Jesus provided for us and our deliverance from the demonic hoards. When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, He replied, (Luk.11:19) And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. (20) But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. (21) When the strong [man] (The word “man” is actually not in the original; it was added-in later. Jesus was calling the devil “the strong” when He was spoiling his kingdom.) fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So it actually reads, (Luk.11:21) When the strong fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace. These “goods” Jesus is talking about are the things that the devil, “the strong,” has been given authority over in this world, and the “court” here represents his kingdom where he, “the strong,” rules and reigns. (Luk.11:21) When the strong  fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him (That was Jesus who overcame him!), he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted. Did you know that the devil has no armor? His kingdom has no armor. He and his demons have no armor if we believe it. They have no protection against the authority that God has given to us. The protection has all been taken away from them. His “whole armor” has been taken away since it is God in (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. And He gave us authority in (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. This is something that has already been accomplished; it isn't something that we have to accomplish. God has given us authority to partake of everything that Jesus did for us at the Cross. (Col.1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet (The Greek there is “made us competent or able.”) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Whatever a saint walking in light is entitled to, God made us able to partake of that, so if you think that you lack ability, you are just wrong and you need to study the Scriptures. For example it says in (Eph.6:13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God (So we have been given God's armor and the devil has none), that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (16) Withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. So, through faith in this Word we can cast down all of his weapons against us. We are invincible. And in (Php.4:13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. Jesus made us able to be a partaker in whatever we need. He made us able to plunder the devil's kingdom, and the devil's kingdom is wherever the devil rules or his curse reigns. Wherever the devil has ability, we now have the ability to take it away from him. The devil has no power if we believe this. Do you remember when Joshua and Caleb were seeking to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land? After spying out the land, these two said that their enemies' defense was removed from over them. We read this in (Num.14:9) Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. The demons and the people they use are the ones who should fear us. All that the other ten spies could see were the giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw that the enemy had no armor. That's the way we have to see the enemies of God's Kingdom. It makes no difference whether those enemies are the lusts of the flesh, works of darkness, demons, the devil, or whatever. Their defense is removed from over them. They have no power against the Word of God. Jesus was the “Stronger” Who came and took away their whole armor (Luke 11:22). Praise be to God! So Jesus has already divided the spoils for us. Those “spoils” of the devil's kingdom are all the places where he has taken advantage of your life or taken authority over the things or circumstances that God has put in your hands. All these add up to “spoils.” When Jesus went about doing good and “healing all who were oppressed of the devil” in (Acts 10:38), He was spoiling the devil's kingdom. If you are being oppressed of the devil, Jesus destroyed this oppression. He broke this power everywhere He went. Whether it was hunger, sickness, demonic possession, or mental need, it didn't make any difference; Jesus broke the oppression and He told us to do the same thing because (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. The devil's power over God's people rests in the fact that God's people don't know that his power has already been broken, and they don't know the authority that's been given to them. Although the Word speaks it plainly, it still has to be a revelation that you pick up and use like a sword. The Bible says of Jesus in (Col.2:15) Having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. He already made spoil of our eneies. “Triumphing” is not the victory. “Triumphing” is celebrating the victory that has already been won. Jesus triumphed over the devil and He rubbed the devil's nose in what He had accomplished on the Cross. The victory was at the Cross; what came after the Cross was the triumph, which is our responsibility. (2Co.2:14) But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. We are to simply celebrate His victory. Hallelujah! What we need to do is repeat what the Word says about our circumstances or situation, and we do that by stating what the Word says about our authority and righteousness. All we have to do is believe that. The devil wants us to look at ourselves and our failures and the curse around us, but we just need to remember that we have authority over that curse. We've been crucified with Christ and we're not alive anymore; now it's Christ Who lives in us. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. When we remember what the Word of God says about us and about our circumstances, we can celebrate the victory. When we are praising God for what He has done, this is triumphing over the devil; it's celebrating the victory! Praising God is not necessarily singing songs, and some songs that you sing in church don't really praise God. Many songs don't even confess the Word of God. They don't celebrate the victory, and as a matter of fact, a lot of them just confess the problem. We are not under the curse anymore because (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (He became accursed for us so that we could have Abraham's blessings.) So, how was Abraham blessed? (Gen.24:1) … And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. (Gal.3:15) Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. (16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (17) Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. (18) For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. So, now we are celebrating the victory that He has already accomplished. Jesus said in (Joh.16:33) … In the world ye have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. And He said in (Joh.19:30) … It is finished… That's what we have to remember when we look around us and, instead, we see the very opposite. If we apply the Word to the problem, we are going to spoil the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The Bible says when Jesus took away the devil's armor, He divided the spoil. (Isa.53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death… Jesus said in (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me… He's talking there about those who are dividing or plundering the spoils. If you are with Jesus, then you are going to do what He did, and what He did was plunder the devil. All of His physical life, He plundered the devil, and by His victory over the devil, He made it possible for us to plunder the devil's kingdom too. We should be spoiling the devil's kingdom; we should be destroying the curse around us. We should be bringing people into victory by putting faith in their hearts. We should be delivering those who are captive by casting out demons. And we should be delivering those who are oppressed of the devil by healing the sick. We should be doing everything our Lord Jesus did. Jesus went on to say, (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So you are either going to be “gathering” or you are going to be “scattering.” That means you are either going to be on the attack or you are going to be on the run. You're going to be doing one or the other, and sad to say, most Christians are on the run because they don't understand what Jesus did. They don't understand what the Word of God says. They don't understand what their position and calling is in this world. As believers, we are on the attack. We are going into the Promised Land to take this land for Jesus Christ, and not a man there can stand before us. The Lord said in (Jos.1:5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Most Christians don't understand that the victory has already been given to us. We are not supposed to go in there and lose people; we are supposed to go in there and conquer the enemy. It's been given to us to conquer the enemy. Jesus said in (Joh.20:21) … as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. God did not send Jesus to fail. He sent Him with the Word of God and He sends us with the Word of God too. He says in (Eph.6:17) And take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We have to take the Sword of the Spirit and we have to fight, because if we don't fight, we are going to lose. If we are not plundering, if we are not gathering the spoils, we're being scattered. The word “scattereth” there is from the Greek word skorpizo, and this is where we get the English word “scorpion.” It's from the same root as the Greek word skorpios, meaning “to penetrate and to put to flight.” When a scorpion stings with its tail, it penetrates and puts to flight because of the pain and misery it inflicts. Jesus spoke about scorpions. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. In the kingdom of the devil, scorpion spirits are tormentors. When a scorpion spirit stings you, just as with a real scorpion, it hardly ever kills, but it's very painful. Scorpion spirits can torment your body with sickness and pain, and they may also torment you with fear. (1Jn.4:18) …fear hath punishment… If you are not plundering, the devil is going to penetrate you with one of these spirits, causing you to flee. If you are not plundering, then your thinking is contrary to the Word of God and you are not going to stand up to the devil. (Luk.10:18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority… If your Bible says “power” instead of the word “authority,” then it has the wrong word because the Greek there is exousia, and it means “authority.” “Authority” is the “right to use power.” You have been given the right to use God's Power. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (Now that word is the Greek word dunamis, meaning, “power.”) of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you… This is talking about serpent and scorpion spirits. These are different kinds of spirits and they have different works. In the kingdom of the devil, the serpent spirits have authority. While the poison a scorpion inflicts is in its tail, the poison that the serpent inflicts is in its head, and as the saying goes, it's the head that wags the tail. The Bible says in (Deu.28:13) And the Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God… You are going to be above and not beneath; you are going to be the head and not the tail, just as Israel was supposed to be the head and not the tail. The tail reveals something about the head in most of God's creatures. For example, you can tell a dog's attitude when you look at its tail. If his tail is standing up in the air and wagging back and forth, you know that dog is happy and content, not fearful. But if his tail is tucked down between his legs, you can tell he's feeling guilty or fearful. You can read his mind by looking at his tail. The superior authority is always the head and not the tail. And the serpent's poison being in the head symbolizes that the serpent spirit poisons the mind. The job of the serpent spirit, mostly, is not to bring about torment, but to change your mind. Their job is to deceive, as the Bible says in (Gen.3:1) Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. He was subtle. He was crafty. He was wise in an evil way. (2Co.11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness (So the “serpent” is a beguiler.) your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. Serpent spirits beguile. They are deluding spirits and deceiving spirits. They want to change your mind, just as the serpent changed Eve's mind, because he wanted to pervert her knowledge. He wanted her to partake of knowledge that was forbidden. (Gen.2:17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it… He wanted her to partake of knowledge that wasn't legal. Scripture tells us about different ways we can receive things through the spirit realm that are illegal. Let's go to (Deu.18:9) When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. (10) There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, (11) or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (13) Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. (14) For these nations, that thou shalt dispossess, hearken unto them that practise augury, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. (20) But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. (21) And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? (22) when a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him. You see, there is false or deceptive knowledge. Going to consult familiar spirits or deceiving spirits, even if they claim to be prophets, is illegal. Going to consult wizards or necromancers is not allowed. All these operate in forbidden knowledge. But the devil wants to give you forbidden knowledge because he wants to delude you. He can make the “tail” do whatever he wants if he can change your mind, if he can change the knowledge that God has given you. If he can do that, then he's got you. That's why these serpent spirits have been given authority in the devil's kingdom. They are higher spirits than scorpion spirits because their primary purpose is to deceive you. Some of these “serpents” are “seducing spirits” that operate by giving you false doctrine. (1Ti.4:1) But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. They seduce you by giving all kinds of flesh-pleasing reasons why it is advantageous for you to believe their doctrines. There are seducing spirits forbidding you to eat meats, or to marry (as in this context), and so on, because if you have a false doctrine, that head is going to wag that tail. The devil knows the rest of the body is going to follow. The most important thing for the devil is that you accept the spirits that work in your head; that's the way he can control the rest of your life.  Remember, we are not to receive forbidden knowledge. Instead, we're supposed to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. You'll win the battle if you start with the head, but if you have spirits of rejection, fear, anxiety, condemnation, or guilt, then the devil has a stronghold in you. If you have anything that he can use against you, then you've got a “spy in your camp”. And the devil has rights now, because one demonic spirit can open the door for other demonic spirits so that you won't be able to stand up against the devil, who is looking to destroy you. We read in (Mat.12:43) But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. (44) Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation. The devil's seducing spirits are “double agents.” They talk in your mind as if they are your friend and as if they belong to you, but whatever is speaking in your mind that's contrary to the Word of God is a stronghold of the enemy by which he can conquer you. You have the authority to cast it out. Get rid of it! Father, continue to grant us repentance as You bring to our attention where we have read or listened to things that are not according to Your Word and accepted those things we might have once believed as true that were not. Lord, help us to search our hearts and minds for any past church doctrines or religious beliefs that are not true. We only want what is True to be what we base our faith in. Father, help us to discern and destroy the strongholds we may have and get rid of them! Amen. Thank You Lord! The Bible says in (Rev.9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth (That's speaking of Satan.): and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. (2) And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (3) And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (4) And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads. (5) And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man. As we've learned, the tormenting spirits are scorpion spirits. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35, the Lord says that He will turn you over to the tormentors until you should pay what is due (Matthew 18:34), and those tormentors are these scorpion spirits. Nobody is ever going to see with their physical eyes the creatures described here from the bottomless pit, because they're coming to the second heaven. It's like the angel here in (Rev.14:6) And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven (The Greek word means “middle heaven.”), having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; (7) and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. “Middle heaven” means the angel is in the second heaven. That means you don't see him, although the angel is right here with us in the devil's kingdom and he's preaching the Gospel. We can see what's in the first heaven, but the second heaven is a different realm, a “twilight zone,” if you will. And so this scorpion spirit of Revelation 9 has been given five months to torment those people who don't have the seal of God on their foreheads, but they are not able to see this spirit that came out of the bottomless pit. Satan has authority to loose these angels that the Bible says were held for the end of time, for a time and a season when God was going to judge the earth. (Rev.9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.) (Rev.13-15) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, (14) one saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. (15) And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.) Satan was given authority to loose them when he was cast out of heaven, and that's what is happening here. The Bible says, (Rev.14:11) And the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. As we read, both smoke and torment are also mentioned in Revelation 9. Out of the smoke came tormenting spirits that were like locusts and like scorpions, and we've seen that these are demons with the authority to penetrate and to put to flight. Other demons are mentioned often in the Scriptures. For instance, (Rev.16:13) And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: (14) for they are spirits of demons… People who have a gift of discerning of spirits have seen frogs in the spirit realm, and those frogs were evil spirits, just as the scorpion spirits are evil. You know, the devil always sends his “big guns” after you when you get into a deep trial, a heavy trial that will have a really terrible outcome if you lose it. The Bible says in (1Jn.4:18KJV) … Fear hath torment… During a battle or a trial, you may have suddenly felt a spirit of fear just come down on you. That's another one of the devil's “big guns,” and if you listen to it, if you give in to it, you are going to run from the devil. Now we are commanded in Ephesians 6 what we should do! (Eph.6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. (13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  We should put up a shield of faith to quench those “fiery darts” of the wicked one. What does a fiery dart do? Just like the tail of the scorpion, it's made to penetrate and put to flight. It's made to conquer you, but with the shield of faith, you can quench rejection, fear, depression, anxiety, condemnation, or any other of these fiery darts, which are tormenting spirits that come against you, because they can only come against you if your mind isn't right. But if you have faith in your mind, how is it possible for fear to come into you? If you have faith in your heart, how is it possible for depression, or anxiety, or any of these other spirits that seek to take hold of you, to conquer you? Remember what the Scripture says about you. (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Don't ever think that whatever the spirit may be that's coming against you, is you. When these kinds of deceiving spirits speak into your mind, that's when you have to use the armor and put up your shield of faith. Don't accept those thoughts as yours. They're not coming from you, and they don't belong to you. There's a doctrine in the apostate church about the “holiness” of oppression, the “holiness” of sickness. They want you to believe that this martyr's syndrome is good for you, but you know if God promised you an “egg,” He's not going to give you a “serpent.” (Luk.11:11) And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? The serpent and scorpion represent doctrines of death, but an egg represents life. What some churches have is actually a doctrine of death because they think that God is going to send them a “scorpion” or some other curse. And as for sickness, they think they are going to have to put up with it but Jesus and the apostles didn't. They claim that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was sickness, but it never was, and Paul even said it wasn't sickness. (2Co.12:7) And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. I am not stating that there was a demon inside of Paul, but an angel of Satan was humbling him. The word “messenger” in the Scriptures, 181 of 183 times, is translated as “angel,” so an angel of Satan was sent to buffet him, and the word “buffet” means “to beat or strike repeatedly.” Paul was not talking here about an infirmity or sickness; only the KJV says that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was an “infirmity.” No Bible derived from the ancient manuscripts has this translation because that's not the word “infirmity”; it is the word “weakness.” Scripture says that Christ was crucified through weakness. (2Co.13:3) Seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to youward is not weak, but is powerful in you: (4) for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. This same Greek word asthenes translated as “weakness” in 2 Corinthians 13:3 by the King James, is what the King James in 2 Corinthians 12:9 claims is “infirmity.” Paul did not have an infirmity. The Bible says, (Psa.103:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases. God is not going to turn around and say, “No, Paul, you keep this disease. It's good for you.” This is not our God. Those churches claim that it was sickness in order to make a person who is going through sickness and suffering feel righteous, but most of the suffering that God's people go through is because they don't believe the Word. God promises an egg while the devil wants us to settle for a scorpion, and it's sadly true that for most people, what's ruling their life is a scorpion. If you listen to rejection, anxiety, fear, or guilt, you are being ruled by the devil. If you listen to shame or unbelief, you are being ruled by the devil. (Rom.6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? You can't listen to what God says and listen to what the devil says at the same time. (1Co.10:21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. You can't partake of the Lord's Table and the table of demons at the same time because everything demons will feed you is contrary to the Word of God. God promised us in (Exo.23:27) I will send my terror before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. (28) I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. A hornet is like a scorpion, because it also penetrates and puts to flight. It's a little bitty thing, but it can move a great big man. So you see, God can make our enemies fear us, and they do fear us if we know our authority.  If we know what the Word of God says and we step out and swing that Word of God like a sword (Ephesians 6:17), they fear us. Our daughter had a dream once about five chickens that represented five evil spirits that were bothering my mother. Well, those chickens were “chicken,” because just as soon as we gave them the Word, they ran. Evil spirits do fear us, but they recognize whether or not we know the Word of God. And they know whether or not we're standing on the Word of God, but they'll try to bluff us as long as they can. The devil wants us to fear him, and he is constantly trying to make us fear the “fiery darts” of the curse that he administers. But we know the Word of God says we've been delivered from all that. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; (14) in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. And the Bible tells us who we are in Christ. (Rom.6:11) Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. (18) And being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. Now that's a sword. That Word is a sword for you to use against the devil's lies. The devil wants you to act on what he says, but the Lord wants you to know who you are in Christ and act on what He says about you. If you don't act on what the Lord says, you don't get anything, because (Jas.2:17) Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. The devil's kingdom operates the same way. He can come by and put a little thought in your mind, but if you don't accept or act on it, if you don't chew or meditate on it, you are not guilty. The devil can put these little thoughts in your mind but you can reject them, and if he gets a little stronger, you can get a little stronger. You can speak up and just rebuke him! You can throw the Word of God into his face as Jesus did! Our faith and understanding of what Jesus did for us make us free from being fearful of any weapon the devil has.  Remember, we read that Christ took away the devil's “whole armor” (Luke 11:22). He took away all of his power (Matthew 28:18). He delivered us out of the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). All of this is our shield, and you need to use this knowledge. You don't fear the devil when you know who you are and that you don't have to give in to him. However, many people do give in to the devil; they give in to the spirits he sends against them, because they don't believe they have any other choice. Well, there's a reason that the Gospel is called the “Good News.” We do have another choice; we have authority over the devil. He has to move when we say, “Move!” If we step out and exercise that authority over him, he has to move. Thank you Father! As we've seen, the word skorpizo, refers to scorpion spirits, and the devil comes to scatter. Jesus said in (Joh.16:32) Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered (That's the word, skorpizo.), every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Fear scattered the disciples when the men came for Jesus in the garden (Matthew 26:50-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47- 53; John 18:1-14). They were afraid the same thing was going to happen to them, but we know that (Joh.3:27) A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. The devil sent a spirit there to put fear in them so they would just abandon Jesus in his affliction. To be perfectly just, He had already told them that this is what He came for, so what could they do? The devil also comes to divide. There's another word used in the Scriptures, which is diaskorpizo, and it means “to scatter and separate.” A good example of that is, (Joh.11:52) And not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. That means not only are they scattered from their land, but they are separated from each other, and the devil did it through those scorpion spirits. They divided, they separated, and scattered the Body of Christ, just as God warned us through the apostle Paul. He said in (Act.20:29) I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. All of God's people are supposed to be coming out of the bondage they're in and back to this one land. Do you know what that means? It means that we are supposed to be one. Jesus said, (Joh.10:16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. This is what the Tribulation is going to do. God's people are going to become one Flock with One Shepherd, but for now they are diaskorpizo, they are “scattered abroad,” separated. They wanted to hang out at Jerusalem and have Church but the persecution scattered them to spread the gospel. Scorpion spirits separate the Body, separate the Flock, and they do this with false doctrine, false understanding, and false thinking. I've heard people say about our teachings, “Well, aren't you doing the same thing?” No, and when you look around us, you see people from all different backgrounds here. We all get along very well. We want the Flock to be one, but there is only one way the Flock is going to be one, and that's to give up sectarianism, because sectarianism is a work of the flesh. Let's read that in (Gal.5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties (The three Greek words there mean “contentions,” “dissentions,” and “sects.”), (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Demon spirits come in to make you believe the lie that you are something great, or that you have everything you need without the rest of the Body, but the Bible tells us in (1Co.12:13) For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. The Body needs to be one, because the Body has different parts of God's knowledge and different parts of God's gifts. When all are put together, the Body is edified, it's “built up.” (Eph.4:15) But speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; (16) from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love. God wants His Flock to be one, and we want His Flock to be one, but the devil is warring against this unity. The devil knows that when God's Flock is one, it's going to be a powerhouse, and so we want to learn not to be separate from our brethren. We want to know what it is that has deceived our brethren to make them separate from us. Babel always seeks to be one but their motives were evil and God scattered them, most likely with scorpion spirits.. The mind-deceiving serpent spirits deceive different members of the Body in different ways to keep them from knowing the truth. Since the head wags the tail, the rest of that body, whether it's one person or a group of many people, is going to follow whichever way the head leads. That's the job of the serpent spirits, but other demon spirits do the same thing. They sow their seeds of fear, doubt, unbelief, anger, lust, and so on, and if you receive their seed, your flesh will take on their nature. Your flesh will take on the nature of these demonic “gods” of the lusts of the flesh. Now Jesus sows a Seed, too, and if we believe and act on and live on it, we take on His Nature. The Spirit of Christ is come in order to sow His Seed in our hearts so that our hearts take on His Image. What's an “image”? Well, it's an imagination. The Bible says, (Rom.1:21) Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings… In other words, they “became vain in their imaginations.” So, what is a “vain” imagination? The Scriptural word for “vain” is mataioo, and it means “aimless, foolish, futile, without purpose.” A “vain” imagination is not doing what it's supposed to do; it's not working for God anymore. Your imagination was created to do something for you on this earth for God. If it's not fulfilling that purpose, then it's fulfilling another one, and it is vain. (Rom.1:21) Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. If you become vain in your imagination, if you have the kind of imagination that, for instance, brought the Flood (Gen.6:5-7) And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.), then your senseless heart is being darkened, because those imaginations are evil; know that the gods of the lusts of the flesh are taking advantage of you through this ground that they've gained in you. We need to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is talking about re-taking the ground, these high places, that those spirits have taken from us. Anywhere you are being ruled by any lust, there's a demon around. He doesn't necessarily have to be on the inside; he might be on the outside, but he's still there. You can rebuke him, and when you rebuke him, he has to leave. If you know who you are in Christ, if you know the authority you have in Christ, and if you repent and believe it, when you rebuke the demon, he has to leave.  So whatever problem you may have or situation you may currently be dealing with, you don't have to keep it. You don't have to be ruled by it any longer. You can take the authority you have in the Name of Jesus, and it has to leave. Any stronghold in your thoughts, or evil imaginations that the devil has used against you, you bring them into the obedience of Christ and cast them all away. Amen. Now, I want to remind you that the most important thing is to submit yourselves unto God. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We do this by repenting and believing what the Word says about us. “Resist the devil, and he will flee” is a promise to us from the Word of God. If we submit to God and resist the devil, he has to flee, but the devil's not going to tell us that. He's going to try to convince us that he doesn't have to leave. He's going to try to convince you that you're in bondage to this lust. No, we're not in bondage to this lust. We've been set free from that bondage because Jesus bound the strong man and then He plundered him. Jesus crippled the devil.  In the animal kingdom, when the mothers want to teach the babies how to hunt, the predator mother cripples the prey first. It may be a bird or a rabbit, and she sends the cub after it. She's teaching that cub how to be a predator. We need to understand that's what our Lord did for us. He went and crippled the devil. And not only that, He also took away his armor. Our Lord made it possible for us “little cubs” to run out there and jump on that old, mean devil. We can see a parable from God when we look at the animal kingdom. So now the devil is crippled, he has no armor and he's defenseless before us, but we have to know it and we have to believe it. We have to speak the Word of God; we have to swing the Sword!  Now I'd like to share with you the following testimonies:   God's Word Gave Faith for Deliverance From Ten Afflictions - Anonymous Wonderful things have taken place in our lives since reading “Sovereign God, For Us and Through Us.” We have been delivered of Asperger Syndrome (autism), bipolar disorder, asthma, sinus infections, food allergies, acid reflux, esophagitis, lacking a thyroid, broken toes, and smoking, over less than a five-month period through faith in the Word. My oldest son, at eleven years old, has been healed of Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, and bipolar disorder. Since my faith was awakened, I took courage in the promises of God and took him off of all his medication, which amounted to seven pills a day. He had been taking pills for five years to control behavioral problems. We were able to finish the school year with minimal problems, he had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms. By faith I called the school to tell them we were taking him off of all his meds because we had prayed and believed that God had healed him. It was a great opportunity for his teachers to see a miracle. Since then, we have had trials of our faith. The symptoms tried to come back. But I had already been through “hell on earth” from this demonic activity that we had earlier mistaken for mental illness. There was no way I was going to accept it back, once I knew the truth! The medications that he had been taking made him a zombie! They took away his personality and stunted his growth. Now he is happy, with an animated personality. He is able to eat and has gone through a big growth spurt! My middle son, aged five years, was healed from severe asthma! He was taking two inhalers twice a day, Singular pills, and Nasonex nasal spray for chronic sinus infections. In addition, he had to have nebulizer treatments. He has not had to take any of it since we stood on faith for his healing! We have had trials of our faith for him also. Twice it tried to come back, but I rejected it and cast it out again. He runs around and jumps on the trampoline and doesn't have problems breathing or being out of breath or with chronic sinus infections anymore! My youngest son, at age three years, has been healed from food allergies and severe acid reflux. He had been allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts. Every time he would eat these foods he would have constant reflux and esophagitis so bad that he would almost lose his voice and would wake up crying all night. We stood on faith for this also. He has not had any problems with reflux or allergies to foods since. Again, when we were tested on this, we stood firm on God's promises. The symptoms left very quickly. My husband was healed from severe acid reflux disease and has not had to take Nexium for four months now! He can eat whatever he wants without any trouble. My son had also recently broken two toes on his right foot, so we prayed over them. They were completely healed within two days! He is able to fully bend them and move them now. He had injured the same foot years ago by dropping a weight on it and had not been able to bend those toes for years. But since God healed them, he has regained the motion in his toes on that foot!  God delivered me from smoking, too. The thing that seemed like such a mountain to me just six months ago is just a side thought now. I had tried to quit smoking once, but had done it with more of a white-knuckle approach. I mostly went about it through my own willpower. Satan would tempt me often to start again. I would be jealous when I saw others smoking because I still wasn't depending on God for strength. I needed my crutch back. I started smoking again. Later while reading Sovereign God, I knew I needed to forsake this idol for good. This time I prayed to God to take the desire away for smoking. If any part of my deliverance came from my flesh, it would be another struggle, and possible failure again. After I prayed to God to deliver me, I knew instantly that I was delivered. I still had some cigarettes that I finished up, but I realized that the desire to smoke had left me. When the last one was gone, I knew I would never again want another. (Note: It might have been better to throw that partial pack away, but, thank You, Lord, for my deliverance.) It has been that way ever since – like I've never smoked a cigarette in my life! Praise God!  These deliverances all happened simultaneously once I realized what Christ really did at the Cross. He still offers the same healing today that He did during His ministry on earth!  I have received a tremendous miracle. Ten years ago, I had my thyroid removed because of a cancerous tumor that had been growing in it. Since then I had taken total replacement hormone for my body systems to function. If I missed more than two or three days in a row of taking it, I would not be able to hear my alarm to wake up in the morning or to think clearly that day.  The doctors had told me that I could not live without this replacement hormone – the body cannot function without it indefinitely. All the body systems would shut down and I would eventually slip into a coma and die. About a year ago the doctors kept having to retake my thyroid blood levels and adjust my prescription dosage down. Every six weeks, when I would go in to have the blood level drawn again, it would still be too high! Because I didn't understand what was happening at the time, I was becoming frustrated at the lab and the doctor. After I read “Sovereign God,” I realized that God had been growing my thyroid back all this time in preparation for the coming wilderness time ahead! I reached up to my neck and felt around the scar. Sure enough, there was something there again!   I had wondered about this situation in a wilderness-type environment, with no access to meds or health care. Now I don't have to be concerned about it anymore because I have received a tremendous miracle. I have been off my thyroid replacement meds for three months now. I feel more energy now than while taking it. God is good! He truly will meet all our needs even before we ask or before we have come to fully know the truth! God has wonderful things for me to serve Him with in the near future. I won't leave this earth until He is finished with me. Thank You, Father, for Your gifts! Another testimony:   Set Free from Unforgiveness by A.L. I had unforgiveness in my heart toward someone. The Lord said it was time to be delivered, and He started working with me. This took about one year. It was rough at first. The enemy didn't want to leave, trying several times to keep me from forgiving. I put up a wall when this person was around. It was my way to keep from being hurt anymore. Some encounters were better than others, but the more I prayed, the better they got. Oftentimes, my memory would be flooded with all the hurtful things that I had buried inside. But I would cry out to the Lord and ask Him to forgive me for holding onto them and to please take them. He always did. There were times that I would be mad or aggravated with this person and would start ranting about what they had done. These rantings, the out-loud ones, were always to my mom. The rantings in my mind were to the Lord. He would always settle me down and take that memory so that it would be gone. My mom would very gently and lovingly look at me and tell me to let it go and remind me that I had to forgive this person. Most of the time it worked, but a few times I would fire back at her out of frustration and tell her, “I know. I'm working on it, but it doesn't go away overnight.” My mom prayed for me a lot, probably more than I realized.  During this time, the Lord had me listen to the audio of “The Curse of Unforgiveness” series. [This is also in book form and available at no charge from ubm1.org as a PDF.] I downloaded it to my iPod and would go for a walk and listen to it. I listened to it several times. The more I prayed and overcame, the more layers the Lord peeled off.  During the winter months, I like to stand or sit in front of the fire to pray. It's always quiet and peaceful. One night, the Lord put this person in my mind, so I started to pray. As I was praying, I asked the Lord to forgive me for having unforgiveness, anger, hurt, and bitterness in my heart. I asked Him, “Would You please take it?” As soon as I said those words, I felt it all come out of my chest. It was gone. I can't explain, but the feeling was great! I started praising the Lord with tears streaming down my face. I was free!  The next night I was in my same spot, praying. The Lord brought this person to my mind again, only this time, I had to ask for love. I told the Lord, “I don't love this person. Would You please forgive me and give me love for them?” As soon as I said those words, I felt the love of God go right in through my chest. This feeling is indescribable – a hundred times better than the night before. I stood with tears streaming down my face, praising the Lord for His grace to get me through to the end.  I love this person now and pray for them. I can be around them without it bothering me. There are no more buried memories. The Lord tilled up all of the roots so they could be plucked up and He could plant His Seed. Whenever I am delivered of something, I ask the Lord to fill that spot with something from Him. Thank You, Heavenly Father for Your grace to get me through to the end.  We learn that it is the Father Who turns people over to the tormentors. Scripture consistently tells us God uses demons for chastening (Matthew 18:34). When we want to take away a demon's authority, we need to make sure that the groundwork has been done first so that we have the legal right to take away his authority. We must forgive. Jesus tells a story of a master who had forgiven his servant a great debt, but this servant went out and would not forgive his fellow servant a much smaller debt. Jesus said that His Father would turn that unforgiving servant over to the tormentors until he should pay what was due.  Let's read that parable. (Mat.18:21) Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. (23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. (24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. (25) But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  (26) The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (27) And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (28) But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest. (29) So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. (30) And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.  (31) So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. (32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The Lord said He will turn you over to the tormentors until you pay for what you have done because if you don't forgive, you are not forgiven. The devil knows when he has this right. He knows when you are not forgiven and he torments you, and his demons will continue to torment you, until you take that right away from him. This is necessary because you can't be saved while you are holding on to unforgiveness. If you don't forgive, you are not forgiven, which is the very foundation of salvation. If you want to take away the demons' rights over you, you need to forgive and you need to believe that Jesus delivered you from them at the Cross. That's the key. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us (it has already been done) out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.  Like this person's testimony, if you will be sure to forgive everyone and exercise your faith toward God's promises, you will be a new person who is free to love and to associate with good people. I say that because so many of these people don't feel comfortable around good people and don't associate with good people. When they're around good people, they feel convicted. In my experience most demonic torment and much sickness is based in unforgiveness. See - The Curse of Unforgiveness

As part of the OCD Personal Story Summer Series, Carrie shares a special re-airing of her powerful conversation with bestselling author Stormie Omartian—beloved for The Power of a Praying Wife, Parent, Husband, and other transformative books on prayer. While this isn't a traditional OCD story, it speaks deeply to anyone who's carried the weight of trauma, emotional pain, or the lasting impact of growing up with a parent battling severe mental illness. Stormie's testimony is a powerful reminder that healing is possible—even from the deepest wounds.Episode Highlights: How childhood trauma and a parent's mental illness can impact long-term emotional and mental healthThe connection between anxiety, depression, and unresolved pain from the pastWhy healing is often a layered process that unfolds over timeThe role of prayer, fasting, and faith in emotional and spiritual healingWhy support, prayer, and connection are vital when you feel stuckExplore the Christians Learning ICBT training: https://carriebock.com/training/ Carrie's services and courses: carriebock.com/services/ carriebock.com/resources/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/christianfaithandocd/and like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/christianfaithandocd for the latest updates and sneak peeks.

"Sometimes we can get away with it … letting our anger control us. Sometimes we win … we think. Although at other times it can get you whipped, or arrested, or fired, or divorced, or unfriended. And … and … if you are a Jesus follower, it will put you in a spot with God. Remember those verses we just read. He says, “In your anger, don't sin.” “Don't sin by letting your anger control you.” “Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, all types of evil behavior.” It's not that you should never be angry. Guys, if you are never angry, there is something wrong with you. It's that you don't have to let your anger control you. Following your feelings, following your emotions will inevitably distance you from God. And guys, hanging on to your anger … letting it morph into bitterness … is a sin, a sin against God … for a reason." Stephen "Doc" Pattison

TAKEAWAYSAbortion has many lifelong physical and mental effects that abortion providers refuse to warn you aboutThe Word of God is very clear about the identity and personhood of each human being (Psalm 139:13)Unforgiveness toward oneself is a core struggle women face in the aftermath of an abortionThe grace of God can wash anyone clean and heal all the pain and guilt of past sin

Today on BOLD STEPS, Pastor Mark Jobe concludes his powerful message about breaking free from the prison ... of unforgiveness. We’re continuing our series called Untangled Relationships, and today we’ll reach the conclusion of Mark’s three-part message on The Trap of Unforgiveness. Mark has explained how unforgiveness works like a prison that we build for others but end up living in ourselves. He showed us how unresolved anger creates footholds for the enemy in our lives, and why genuine forgiveness is the only path to freedom. To wrap up, we’ll learn some practical action steps we can take to spring the trap and untangle that aspect of our relationships. Bold Step Gift: Lies Boys Believe: And The Epic Quest For TruthBecome a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldstepsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm going to tell you, based on the story that Jesus tells, that those who've received grace give grace. I'm going to tell you that people who are graceless look like people who've never actually experienced or received grace. Because the litmus test for the reality of the grace that you've received from God is the extent to which you give grace and offer forgiveness. I know it's hard — that last part, I know it's hard — that you would do that to the person who's hurt you the most. I know that's hard, but your willingness to try to give grace to the darkest spots of your life, the ones who've hurt you the most, will reveal how clearly you understand the grace you've receive from your God. I know that it's not fair to be expected to forgive. It's not fair to let it go … but thank God grace isn't fair. We give grace not because we owe a debt, but because graced people give grace. Jesus gives grace, so Jesus' followers give grace.

What do you do with the pains and problems of your past … the ones that you just can’t seem to let go? Find out today, on BOLD STEPS with Pastor Mark Jobe. Last time, we began exploring the destructive trap of unforgiveness and how it affects our spiritual health. Mark reminded us that harboring bitterness not only damages our relationships with others but also grieves the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Today, we’ll continue our journey through Ephesians chapter 4, where Paul reminds us of an incredible truth … that our bodies are actually the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. Bold Step Gift: Lies Boys Believe: And The Epic Quest For TruthBecome a Bold Partner: https://give.moodyradio.org/bsj?appeal=podcast&utm_source=bs_podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_term=radioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The struggle of unforgiveness … that’s the topic on today’s BOLD STEPS with Pastor Mark Jobe. We’re going to talk about the trap of unforgiveness … and the relationship between our joy and grieving the Holy Spirit. It’s an important concept to grasp. And one that can easily rob us of our spiritual joy and become destructive in our attitudes and behavior. Bold Step Gift: Lies Boys Believe: And The Epic Quest For TruthBecome a Bold Partner: https://give.moodyradio.org/bsj?appeal=podcast&utm_source=bs_podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_term=radioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hebrews 11: (NKJV)1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that Heis, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.Romans 14:23 (NKJV)But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever isnot from faith is sin.Luke 17:3-6TPT (The Passion Translation):So be careful how you live. If a fellow believer sins against you, you must first privately confrontthat person about his fault, and if there is repentance, forgive him. No matter how many times inone day your brother sins against you and says, 'I'm sorry; I'm changing my ways,' you need toforgive him each and every time." When the apostles heard this, they said to Jesus, "Lord, youmust increase our faith!" Jesus responded, "If you have even the smallest portion of authenticfaith, it would be powerful enough to say to this large tree, 'My word will pull you up by the rootsand throw you into the sea,' and it will respond to your voice!AMP (Amplified Bible):"Pay attention to yourselves! ...”Jesus was teaching his disciples about the extent of forgiveness and their response was‘increase our faith!!'WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO FORGIVEMatthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgiveyou. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yourtrespasses."Mark 11:25-26 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgivehim, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive,neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even asGod in Christ forgave you."Colossians 3:13 "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has acomplaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sinagainst me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up toseven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"Luke 23:34 "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.'"WE ALL HAVE HURTS.Story of Compa The Developer.IT'S A HEART MATTER.An offense is disrupting my story.My story is how I make sense of the world.It does not mean that it makes sense according to the Word.When a thing does not line up with those elements it is offensive to me. If I do not resolve theHebrews 12:15 "Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root ofbitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (NKJV)Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.NLT: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.ISSUES: Hebrew: totz-ah-OHT● The boundaries or limits of life● The outward expressions of inner character● The streams or currents that flow from the heart● The courses or directions life takes● The outcomes and results of what's in the heartConsider that Paul was a murderer.By definition forgiveness means canceling a debt.You don't have to pay me back.Why does it feel like if we forgive that person it's letting go of the power we have over them?Matthew 5:44 (AMP):But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies andpray for those who persecute youIf you're having a hard time doing that, then you may be struggling with unforgiveness orbitterness.

In part 5 of our Word Faith series, Pastor Mark teaches on an important principle that directly affects every believer's walk of faith: forgiveness. Mark 11 says faith cannot fully function when unforgiveness is held in the heart. Harboring offense blocks faith, disrupts peace, and opens the door for the enemy's influence. We encourage you to live free by being quick to forgive, quick to repent, and quick to believe—choosing to let go of offense and keep a good report, even in difficult circumstances. Forgiveness isn't about releasing others; it's about releasing yourself, so your faith remains strong and God's promises continue working powerfully in your life.

Daily Dose of Hope May 29, 2025 Day 4 of Week 8   Scripture – Matthew 6:1-18   Prayer: Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts.  Help us think less of ourselves and more about others.  Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants.  It is our inclination to complain and whine.  Forgive us, Lord.  We need you.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the New Hope bible reading plan.  We are currently going through the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we look at the first half of Matthew 6.  We are continuing to study the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus is giving us this beautiful picture of what it means to follow him --- your outward actions matter but so does your heart.  Citizens of heaven act differently.  There is a different way of living, a new way of being human, one in which is drastically different from the ways of the world.   The first portion of the Scripture from chapter 6 speaks about giving to the needy.  Don't give like the hypocrites who want attention and honor.  Rather, give quietly and discreetly.  I've had a few acquaintances over the years who really loved to talk about all the wonderful causes they gave to and all the wonderful ways they served.  It was hard to listen to.  Maybe you have been there.  Jesus is basically saying that our giving is an act of the heart.  It's between us and God.    The next portion of the Scripture talks about prayer.  Jesus again speaks of the hypocrites, those who pray loudly in the temple courts and how they have already received their reward – the attention and adoration of on-lookers.  The word hypocrite refers to a play actor on a stage; these people were acting out a part, looking for attention, looking for people to think they were so holy, they were seeking to impress others with their prayers.  Jesus was saying don't be like that – prayer is not about getting attention.  It's about a connection with God. The world tells us that it's influence and approval that matters.  Jesus says not so in the Kingdom of God.  Pray should be sincere and intentional.   Thus, Jesus gives us a pattern of prayer that allows us to be very intentional.  We call this the Lord's Prayer.  We say this almost every week as a family of faith.  This doesn't mean we have to pray exactly like this, but this provides an outline or guideline for us to follow. Let's unpack this.  Jesus starts the prayer this way, “Our Father in heaven...” This first line encourages us to start our prayer with some words about who God is to you - God is my father.  We tend to think of heaven as far off place, but in Greek, the word heaven was equivalent to the sky and all that is in it.  So God is my father who is close to me.  And then he continues, “hallowed be your name.”  This is acknowledging that God is holy, he is worthy, and we give thanks for all he has done for us and all he has blessed us with. Jesus then says, “your kingdom come...”  Remember, God's Kingdom was the way God always intended his world to be, a place where Jesus is ruler and his values are in practice.  These are values like love, justice, mercy, righteousness, and so forth.  So God, help me be part of making your Kingdom a reality right here, right now.    Then we have, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What you might notice is that using this outline that Jesus offers us, we haven't asked God for anything yet!  There's been no list of stuff we want or need, we are just affirming who God is, thanking him, and praying that we can be part of making his will a reality here on earth.   Then, we get to the asking.  Jesus continues, “Give us today our daily bread.” Please notice, we aren't asking for filet mignon, it's give us today our daily bread.  It's provide us what we need for today.  I think this is where we struggle in western culture.  We tend to ask for a lot of wants rather than needs.  I include myself in that one.     The next line Jesus offers us is this, And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. This is acknowledging that unconfessed sin gets in the way of our relationship with God.  Unforgiveness does the same.  It breeds bitterness, it's like a poison that seeps throughout the body.  We have to take care of that to ensure our connection with God and others. And finally, Jesus closes with, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Although God isn't the one who tempts us, here we recognize that we are easily tempted.    In the second century, the early church added a closing portion from 2 Samuel that said, “For thine is the Kingdom and the glory and the power forever.”  This just provides one more reminder that it is not about me but about God – it's HIS Kingdom, not mine, HIS glory, not mine, and HIS power.    Again, this was not meant to be legalistic but to provide an intentional structure for our genuine, sincere prayer.   What are your big takeaways about prayer from these scriptures?  What has resonated most with you.    Take a moment and think about all of Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount thus far.  What has made the biggest impact on you?    Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Join Lisa and Laura for our series Names of God. In biblical times, names were of great importance—they conveyed a person's essence, history, nature, or character. As we explore the various names of God in the Old Testament, we gain insight into His character. With each name, we will learn a new attribute, deepening our understanding of and growing closer to God. In today's episode, we explore our third name, Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. The word “rapha” often refers to physical healing in Scripture, but it has a more expansive meaning, too, involving the entire person. Jehovah Rapha doesn't just heal the body. He heals the mind and soul. In a world desperate for healing, this is an episode you do not want to miss. Grab your Bible and invite a friend to listen. We all need Jehovah Rapha! Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Exodus 15:26: If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you. Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. Exodus 3:13–14: Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Psalm 22:14–15: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. Exodus 15:22–27 Romans 8:22: We know that all creation has been groaning with labor pains together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 5:5: Hope does not disappoint us. Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. Are you in the place between devastated hope and deliverance? Bring your heart to Jehovah Rapha and ask, what does He want to reveal and what He is longing to heal? Is it a physical illness? Sin? Trauma? Childhood wound? Unforgiveness?  Show mentions. Walking with Purpose, Virtual Group Webinar: A Learn about Leading Event, July 17, 2025, 7 p.m. ET Fr. Boniface Hicks, The Fruit of Her Womb Ignatius Catholic Study Bible Father John Riccardo, Acts XXIX, The Rescue Project Encounter School of Ministry Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Jesus said: If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Have you experienced the freedom of forgiveness or are you bound up in unforgiveness. Sign up for Dr. Randy’s INTENTIONAL ONE THING CHALLENGE. Here’s an […]

Jerry conveys the importance of releasing unforgiveness, overcoming offense, and breaking free from the cycle of pain. Whether you're struggling with letting go of past hurts or ministering to others, this message provides godly wisdom and insight.  MORE...  « Jesus Disciple » God is calling believers EVERYWHERE to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission, making disciples around the world. Get free resources and find out more at BeJesusDisciple.com.  « Solid Lives » To find out more about the ministry of Solid Lives, visit https://solidlives.com/  « Support » Help us get free resources out to more people. To support the ministry of Solid Lives, please visit https://solidlives.com/give/  « Podcasts » Listen to weekly messages, or a daily episode from The New Testament Daily on podcast here: https://solidlives.com/podcast/  Support the show

Conflict is inevitable in every relationship, especially in marriage. In Song of Solomon 5, we see that even the most passionate love stories encounter moments of hurt and misunderstanding. The honeymoon phase fades, and real-life challenges arise. The bride's initial rejection of Solomon's romantic invitation creates a moment of offense and separation, a reminder that the ones we love most have the greatest power to wound us. What happens next is key, Solomon chooses forgiveness over offense. Instead of allowing hurt to build a fence between them, he tears it down with grace and love. This teaches us that the success of our marriages depends not on avoiding conflict, but on how we resolve it. Key Takeaways: 1). Conflict is inevitable: Every relationship will face moments of misunderstanding and hurt. 2). Offense builds fences: Unforgiveness creates barriers that separate people from each other. 3). Forgiveness tears down fences: Choosing to forgive restores intimacy and connection. 4). Thankfulness heals hearts: Reflecting on the good in others rekindles love and friendship. The way you tear down a fence is through forgiveness and thankfulness. Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” This message isn't just for married couples. Whether single, dating, or building friendships, these principles apply to every relationship. Forgiveness and thankfulness are keys to healing, restoring trust, and experiencing deeper connection. Join Pastor Phil Hopper as he shares lessons from the Song of Solomon on forgiveness and thankfulness in marriage.

Have you ever found it hard to let go of a hurt or forgive someone who has wronged you? In today's episode of My Morning Devotional, hosts Gaby Alessi wrap up their transformative "Ungodly Indicators" series by exploring the weighty topic of unforgiveness. Together, we'll learn how holding onto past hurts can affect our relationships, isolate us from others, and even hinder our spiritual growth. Gaby offers practical steps for breaking free from the grip of unforgiveness and leads us to a place of healing and restoration through God's guidance.Join our community in prayer and devotion as we seek the strength to forgive, the openness to connect with others, and the peace that comes from living in God's love.Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.Join our Community Subscribe to the show on this app Share this with a friend Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Leave a review Support Our Friends and Family Connect with the original host of MMD Alison Delamota Follow our family podcast The Family Business with The Alessis Check out our Worship Music Hear the new music project "Praise the Lord EP" from Metro Life Worship and Mary AlessiListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTube

Send us a textMessed up your relationship with your kids? Feeling the weight of past mistakes? This podcast offers powerful advice on repairing broken family bonds. Learn practical steps for sincere apologies and the importance of forgiveness in family reconciliation. Gain insights into rebuilding trust and navigating complex family dynamics. 00:00 Introduction to Parenting Challenges 01:14 The Power of Apology 03:53 Addressing Past Mistakes 06:19 The Journey of Forgiveness 08:44 The Burden of Unforgiveness 10:50 Understanding the Apology Process 12:12 Navigating Misunderstandings Ready to mend those broken bridges? Subscribe for more helpful parenting advice! Visit http://rickmalm.com or joelmalm.com for additional resources. #FamilyReconciliation #ParentingAdvice #Forgiveness #BrokenFamily #RepairingRelationships 

Jesus said: If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Have you experienced the freedom of forgiveness or are you bound up in unforgiveness. Discover the impact unforgiveness has in your life. Sign up for […]

If forgiveness isn't hard, you aren't doing it right - Dan Meola Summary  Many parents struggle with their children--not because of the kids, but because of the wounds they are carrying from their own parents.  The only path for healing those wounds is forgiveness.  But how do we forgive, especially when the hurts are deep and real?  In this podcast we sat down with Dan Meola, the founder of Life Giving Wounds, a ministry for adult children of divorce.  We talked about the importance of forgiveness,  what it is--and what it is not.  To define true forgiveness, Dan walks us through the seven marks of forgiveness that bring insight to this path to true reconciliation and healing.    Key Takeaways No matter how you have been hurt you need to let go of the grudge and forgive.  Unforgiveness hurts us, hurts those around us, and prevents our healing.  If forgiveness isn't hard, you aren't doing it right.  Christianity is the only religion that requires forgiveness, even if it is unilateral.  This is impossible by human standards and can only be done by God's grace.  The Seven Marks are: It is specific It is an ongoing process. Can be unilateral Means you still have boundaries It is a choice, not a feeling Enables you to let go of anger, resentment, and to cancel past debts Is only possible with the grace of God