Unforgiveness: Releasing Your Resentment

  

By Jim Kilgore, Missionary Evangelist

There he is.  “He makes me sick,” he thought to himself.  I never want to see or speak to that man again!

   Is there someone in your life that “gets under your skin?”   Does the mere mention of their name produce a stabbing pain in your stomach?  Has this person hurt you beyond what you believe is your ability to forgive?  If so, this discussion is for.  I write to “Add Value” to my readers and I want to reassure you, that you can be released from the resentment which currently exists in your heart. 

  

Biblical Forgiveness is the only successful method for handling unrighteous anger

 

  Unless we are willing to release the people who have wronged us, bitterness and resentment will take up residence in our lives. Through the act of forgiveness, we can learn to let go of anger and find the freedom God desires for each of His children to possess.

Understandably, it is not easy to forgive the one whose arrow has pierced your heart.   Yet when  Christians refuses to deal Biblically with the hurt, the hurt becomes a weapon against us.   It dramatically affects us in ways we may not yet understand.

It affects your relationship with the one who has hurt you; it will most definitely affect your personal relationship with Jesus Christ; and it will have a definite impact on yourself.   There is no winner when Christians choose not to handle the hurt Biblically.

 

How are we to treat People that has hurt us?

1.   We are to practice Biblical forbearance.   Ephesians 4:2: “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”

   What does forbearance really mean?    Forbearance is “lovingly putting up with the faults of another.”   It is a gentle spirit.  It means that I do not feel the need to challenge another’s actions or even motives as it relates to me.      It is allowing  “love to cover a multitude of sins” as commanded in I Peter.

     We must learn to allow our Family and Friends to have an occasional bad day without confronting every situation.   We often, without realizing it, “Place our loved ones on Trial every day.”  We sub-consciously force them to achieve a 100% in order to get an A on the test.   This is an unrealistic standard.   Only Jesus Christ is perfect.

Colossians 3:13 “ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

 

 

2.   We are to live our the four commands Jesus taught in His “Sermon on the Mount“.  Jesus was speaking about the actions a Christian must take when dealing with those who have been hurt.  Matthew 5:44: ” But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

 

• We are to demonstrate Biblical love to those that have hurt us.  You must decide the specific ways in which you can demonstrate the sacrificial love which our Lord continually demonstrated to those who hurt Him.

• We are to bless those hurters of our souls.  The word bless carries the idea of “speaking well of another.”   Yes, this is what Jesus is telling us to do.  What?  Are you serious?  Are you kidding me”, you may be wondering.   I said God’s way WILL work;  I did not say that God’s way would be easy.   They may be critical of you;  perhaps they shared gossip about you;  they may be attempting to ruin you.  Yet Jesus said that we are to exchange hatred for love;  criticism for compliments.  Isaiah was 100% correct when he said: “God’s thought are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.

• After speaking well of our critic, we are now to do good unto them.   We are told to do something tangible to help the very one that is trying to destroy you!    Yes, this is what Jesus taught and expects from us.   Romans 5:8 reminds me how Jesus practiced this principle to me.  “But God commendeth (proved, demonstrated) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”   He did the same for you as well.   We who are the recipients of God’s love, grace, and mercy, how can we do anything but follow the example and extend it to others?

• We are now required to pray for our offender.     I know what you are thinking right now.  I will pray for God to dealing harshly with them.   I have thought those thoughts myself.  How did Jesus pray for His persecutors?   Luke reveals this to us as Jesus is hanging on the cross:       “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

 

A Christian cannot expect our Father to forgive us while holding an unforgiving spirit.   Matthew 6:14: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

 

A FORGIVEN PEOPLE IS TO BE A FORGIVING PEOPLE

To Whom will you practice this lesson with starting today?

Making Positive Changes in your Life

Making Positive Changes in Your Life

By Jim Kilgore, Missionary Evangelist

     Changes. We all try to make them. Many fail in the process. Was it a lack of commitment? Was it a lack of motivation? Perhaps the failure came simply because the person did not know how to properly create the change they desired. Though change is hard, it is NOT impossible.

     Growing up I heard the following phrase many times: “You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.” This was applied to different people. It was also used as an excuse for not making the necessary changes in one’s life. I have a problem with this philosophy however. First, you and I are not dogs. Second, God has called the Christian to a life of continual change.         II Corinthians 5:17;               II Peter 3:18;  Ephesians 4: 15-32. Third, we are not talking about “tricks”, we are speaking about behaviors. ALL behaviors have been learned. Therefore, we can learn new and better behaviors.

The STRUGGLE in the change process

To make changes, that is to say, turn bad habits into good habits, requires effort. Lots of effort. We naturally tend to avoid effort whenever possible. This of course makes change much more of a challenge.

 

I have been taught and have certainly discovered this to be true: People will basically change for one of three reasons.

 

1.   People will change when they honestly WANT to.
2.   People will change when they really NEED to.
3.   People will change when they sincerely WANT to.

 

 

The STRATEGY in the change process:

1.   You need a PURPOSE. Once you do, this will become your MANDATE.
2.   You need a PLAN. Once you do, this will become your MAP.
3.   You need PRIORITIES. Once you do, this will become your MATRIX.
4.   You need PASSION. Once you do, this will become your MOTIVATION.
5.   You need PEOPLE. Once you do, this will become your MEASUREMENT.

 

 

The SOLUTION in the change process:

1.   You must RECOGNIZE what exactly needs to be changed
2.   You must RECORD your Reasons for wanting to change
3.   You must REMOVE the old habit or behavior (Ephesians 4:15-32)
4.   You must REPLACE the old with a new, godly habit (Ephesians 4:15-32). We call this the     principle of replacement. This is simply replacing the negative with the positive.
5.   You must RESIST the temptation to return to the old way of life (Resist the Devil and he will flee from you).
6.   You must REPORT to another person to share your progress and struggles.
7.   You must REJOICE and celebrate your successes.

 

Though change is hard, it is NOT impossible

God’s Call to a Missionary: The Process God Used with Me

     In December of 2012 God called me to leave my comfort zone and to focus on winning Souls on Every Continent to Jesus Christ. Let me share my story with you.

It all started in early December, 2012 as I was praying for God to lay specific areas of focus upon my heart. I had been praying frequently during a two day period during which time God specifically spoke to my heart about a Global Ministry. I am ashamed, but I laughed out loud, almost uncontrollably. Who was I to engage and embark upon such a massive task?
Yet after the two days of “wrestling with God” concerning this matter, I yielded to His will. I asked God to verify His call through Scripture, as He has always confirmed His leading through the Word of God. L

Listed below are the Scriptures God placed in my mind:

•  Matthew 19:26: “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

•  Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

•  John 15:5: “…. for without me ye can do nothing.”

•  Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

•  I Corinthians 7:29: “But this I say, brethren, the Time IS Short…”

The first four verses confirmed that it was not “my ministry”, but God’s ministry!  Through these verses God reminded me that I Can’t, but God CAN!”  After this surrender and understanding of God’s call and leading, I began asking Him to open my eyes to understand His plan for the final quarter of my

To the best of my ability, I will share in a greater detail my understanding of JKM

1.   It all started with Prayer. “Father, what wilt Thou have me to Accomplish and to Achieve for You this year. Too much time has been spent on earthly pursuits and selfish ambitions. Please direct me to Your plan.”

2.   As I was in fervent prayer, a Spiritual Problem was presented to me. The problem was that well over 90% of the world was without Jesus Christ. There remains BILLIONS without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Another problem God presented to my during this time was that each time my heart would beat, two souls would slip off into eternity.   Then the Holy Spirit brought yet three more Scriptures to my mind concerning this grave problem as found in Matthew 9:36-38: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. This WAS a most serious spiritual problem.

3.   After agonizing over this spiritual problem, I soon began to see the Path which was the direction from God, beginning to open my eyes of understanding to His will.

4.   As I began to see a bit more clearly what God had in store, this path created a Spiritual Passion with-in my soul.    I Corinthians 7:29: “But this I say, brethren, the Time IS Short…” I knew that at age 58 my time was limited. If I live to be 70, I now have 11 years left. I had already lived and traveled through the first three quarters of my life. Then I began begging God to allow me to accomplish more for Him during the final quarter of my life than in the first three quarters combined! Therefore, my life began to change. I now live each day as though it were my last. I must work; I must win souls; I must start Churches all over the World; I must be willing to go wherever the light is the darkest and show all nations the Light of the World, which of course is Jesus Christ! The burning in my soul has created a passion to start Churches all over the World. I have asked my Father to plant at least one Church in EVERY Continent!

5.      The passion has led me to a Clear Purpose of God’s plan.    It is God’s will that ALL men should Repent of their sins and Receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus became man’s Substitute and Shed His precious and perfect Blood as payment for EVERY MAN’S sins!      

•       Hebrews 2:9 states:  “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”     

•       II Peter 3:9 emphatically states: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.”      Therefore, I must go with the absolute assurance that I have in the Inerrant, Infallible Word of God, the ONLY Solution to this Great and Grave spiritual problem:  Jesus Christ,    John 14:6.          

 

6.      God’s purpose has led to a continual unfolding of the establishment of Processes    which will allow me to accomplish God’s plan.    

 

7.     The processes lead to a daily Prioritization.     With each day’s activities I focus on those areas of activities which will lead to the accomplishment of God’s will!

 

As I close this lengthy article on my Missionary call,  I am going to make two simple requests of you.  One is for Fervent Prayer while the other is a Financial Plea.         Now that I have literally poured out my soul to the world, I shall share the next step in walking down God’s path for me.   Earlier I said I shared that “I can’t but that God can.”    Now I come to the role which You can play in literally reaching the World for Jesus Christ            

 

      a.      My Prayer is that God would raise up hundreds of Christians which are committed to a    Fervency in prayer, and specifically for this ministry.     Remember John 15:5?    I believe this with all of my heart.  

      b.       My Plea is for that of Financial Support.   This plea is not really for myself, but for the ministry of reaching lost souls for Jesus Christ!   

       JKM has the responsibility of raising money to  purchase flight tickets;  needs of just two meals a day; lodging arrangements while on the field.       I work day and night on the field.   I am truly about my Father’s business of soul-winning; Teaching Pastors;   Preaching nearly every day.    

     I would make my Plea for you to pray with me about INVESTING in JKM as we are focused on reaching all parts of the World with the Gospel.     Remember I Corinthians 7:29 says:  “But this I say, brethren, the Time IS Short…”  

Therefore I must do ALL that I can WHILE I can!

 

No One Can Make You Feel Like a Loser Without Your Personal Permission

No One Can Make You Feel Like a Loser Without Your Personal Permission

                            Jim  Kilgore,  Missionary Evangelist

     Years ago, Olympic diver Greg Louganis was asked “How do you deal with all the pressure and stress that comes from competing at such a high level?” He simply said, “When I get up on the platform the second before I dive I say to myself ‘Even if I blow this dive my mother will still love me.”

     Much of my life as a young person was spent feeling inferior to nearly every other person.  I was reminded by the “in- crowd” that I just didn’t fit in with them.  I was laughed at, ridiculed, left alone.  Then it happened, I began to excel at sports and suddenly I had “friends.”    My self-esteem began to rise, yet even today at times I am haunted by feelings of inadequacy.

    What I am about to share is what I read when the serpent of inadequacy visits me.  I do not know whom to credit, but I thank God for the paper I have read for at least 35 years.  It has encouraged me; inspired me; and provided hope to me.   This true story reminds me to take my eyes off of the negative and disparaging remarks of others.  It reminds me that I have been created in the very mage of God (Genesis 1:26).

From a “DUNCE to a GENIUS

     When Victor Seribriakoff was 15, his teacher told him he would never finish school and that he should drop out and learn a trade.  Victor took the advice and for the next 17 years he was doing a variety of jobs.  He had been told he wasn’t very smart, and guess what?  He lived down to this belief others had of him. 

An Incredible Transformation was about to Take place

     When he was 32 years old, an amazing transformation took place in Victor’s life.  He was required to take an evaluation at work.  The evaluation revealed that he WAS a Genius with an IQ of 161.  Guess what happened next?   Since he learned of his “Genius Status” he began writing books, secured a number of patents and became a very successful businessman!

     Perhaps the most significant event for this former high school drop-out was his election as the Chairman of the International Mensa Society!   The Mensa Society has only one membership qualification.  You must have a minimum IQ of 140.

           

How Many Other Victors are Living DOWN to the Expectations of Other People?

     The story of Victor Seribriakoff truly makes me wonder how many geniuses we have walking around feeling like a loser because of any of the following:

•       Sin(s) that has been committed, confessed, and cast-a-way. 
•       Social Standing.   From a lower income group.  
•       Struggling with a new task or job.

 

I had a man tell me DAILY the following phrases when I was in construction at the age of 19.

•       You are Dumber than Dirt
•       You will NEVER amount to anything
•       You are so Stupid

     I have learned not to pay much attention to the Critics (they can reveal blind-spots to me).     I have learned not to pay much attention to the Compliments either.  Both can affect me adversely.   I simply remind myself that “I am what I am by the Grace of God.”

     Once Victor started listening to the correct choices around him, his life completely changed!  When he saw himself differently, he started living differently.    Proverbs 23:7 says: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”

 

What about you?  What is your story?   How have you dealt with feelings of Inadequacy?

Bearing Spiritual Fruit: God’s Desire for Every Believer

Bearing Spiritual Fruit: God‘s Desire for Every Believer

Pastor Brock Evans, Pittsboro Baptist Church, Pittsboro, Indiana USA

John 15:8 says: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.”

                                     God Desires that Every Believer Bear Much Fruit

Christians often miss the greatest blessings of their standing in Christ, as well as the entire purpose for this standing in Christ. John chapter fifteen tells us what God’s will for the Believer is. Jesus informs us the purpose of this unique standing is that God’s Children is “to bear much fruit” and His purpose in this will is “My Father glorified.”

We would say as Christians that we want this will to bear fruit to the effectual pure motive that the Father is glorified. The mechanics of such are not produced by our own ambition or faithfulness but by His workings in our lives. There is a process or formula for this “fruit bearing” and it is found in the immediate preceding text.

The Process God Uses in Enabling the Christian to Bear Much Fruit

1.    The text makes it clear in the first few verses that all fruit is the product of the “true vine.” This “true vine” is of course Jesus Christ. This does not simply mean doing things in Christ’s name or for His cause but doing them within the specific bounds of His will. It is a surrender not an ambition. The vine will produce if we are connected to it. If we are in Him we are connected to it. This fruit is the evidence of true salvation not the means of true salvation.

2.   It is important to understand that “without me you can do nothing.” This does not mean that we set forth and then pray for God to sanction it. It is not the equivalent of a building permit. Christ wants to be the architect of our lives from the very first blue prints. We cannot get off the ground without His plans for us. We submit to His plans instead of the opposite. Jesus Christ is not looking for people with a great plan but people with a great obedience to what He can do.

3.    I would point out the key to an often misinterpreted verse that is taken out of the text, and then interpreted without consideration to its principal standing. It is verse seven which says “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” We see here a strict stipulation to prayers answered concerning this fruit bearing.  It is not only “abiding in Him” but also Him “abiding in you.”

This does not just mean seeking Him in prayer and the word but being connected to Him by Holy Spirit guidance. It is as if you and Christ have the same will and therefore the same specific desires which produces “much fruit.” These requests are the very heart beat of God. They are not mystic but specific. This is how the Father is glorified. He is glorified because of the magnanimous way He has produced every aspect of the fruit in our lives. We must continually decrease in order to produce this fruit. We must submit to grow. We can’t make this happen. We can only surrender to what He wants to make happen through us.

Has the Father been able to produce fruit in your life? What do you think hinders Christians from bearing ‘much fruit” on a consistent basis?