In the Beginning God…
Creation and Its Concepts
Genesis 31 – 33 The story and process of life and the application of
FORGIVENESS THAT BEARS THE FRUIT of a LIFESTYLE OF RECONCILIATION
How a man thinks is reflected by his attitude [ chapter 31]
Despite man’s attitude God is still working out His plan
Reconciliation comes only when there is Revelation [Chapter 33]
Revelation – a manifestation of divine will or truth
Revelation comes through separation and isolation [Chapter 32]
FORGIVENESS IS THE ROOT – RECONCILIATION IS THE FRUIT!
Proverb 4: 1-7 Gives us the instruction necessary to understand the things of God. To understand means to ’stand-under’ which is the act of submission–submit yourself to God’s Word.
a. Pay attention – hold onto the teachings you received
b. Do not turn away from the WAYS of God, don’t ignore His direction
c. Take God’s Word to heart—grasp hold of its meaning by experience
d. Once you have heard you are responsible to obey
e. Make God’s Word top priority
f. Know that gaining wisdom and understanding will cost you everything!
Reconciliation Process:
When we reconcile our bank books — all things are equal —It means being brought together – nothing lacking, nothing broken. The Greek definition is: exchange – atonement, restoration to the divine favor. Or for a more modern understanding: Webster says, “ To re-establish friendship between. To settle or resolve, as a dispute. To make compatible or consistent.
God who spoke from the beginning Adam where are you? Is still speaking those same words and activating His plan to provide a way where there is no way. Through the Nation of Israel He has provided the propitiation, the bridge, and the atonement continues to invite all men to participate. John 3:3; Romans 5:10-11; Romans 11:15;
Through Christ and the transaction of being born again we have this ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
To activate this ministry of reconciliation will open the gateway for growth and increase in relationships
The gateway is the place of judgment, it is always the Cross—that is the source of receiving the Spirit of forgiveness and it brings forth the attitude of reconciliation. Man cannot be a witness without an attitude of reconciliation, it is the very heart of God. As witnesses to Christ there needs to be the following three evidences in our lives.
Awareness of the need — people in our lives and our attitude toward them. This is not always a matter of being openly hurt by them but sometimes just an inner ‘pushback’, that will either open or close the reconciliation process.
Acceptance —- we have to ‘own’ whatever our attitude has been in the circumstances and any ‘attitude’ that is not Christ like must be confessed and nailed to the Cross. Without this yielding or submission the gateway closes [pride is the greatest door closer, heart hardener or mind deceiver]
Action —whatever action taken be it ever so small it is the secret of closing the gate or door behind you and empowers you to move forward in a greater sense of freedom. [Esau ‘ran’ to meet Jacob]
Revelation is the presence of greater light to shine. It enables us to get rid of the dead wood!
Remember the ‘speck in the other persons eye is just a reflection of the log in your own Matthew 7:4-5
Do not speak ill of someone—and remember it is a personal responsibility to ‘check’ what we hear sometimes throwing away what we have heard, growing the art of forgetting [Philippians 3:13] will remove any room or foothold for the enemy to establish a wrong attitude.
Attitude is what a Christian’s walk is all about. Philippians 2:5
Wisdom will always make what is heard a matter of prayer
Those in submission to God know this is the secret to maintaining the attitude of Christ. It then becomes not so much what we hear but what we do with what we hear that makes the difference for us and for those in question.
It has profound effect on opening up of ‘other’ relationships, ideas and thoughts that flow from and through this power of forgiveness or reconciliation.
Reconciliation is an attitude that can be measured by the freedom we have in our hearts. As the fruit of forgiveness it reproduces itself.
“Whosoever sins you forgive they are forgiven—–what you are giving is forgiveness, reconciliation is a lifestyle and the affects and influence is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. John 20:23
If you would like to have this teaching on cd ask for: Adam Where Are You? Send check or money order for $5.00 to Unique By Design P.O.Box 1371, Jasper Ga. 30143
