The Pastor's Desk

Love and Forgiveness

by Betty Jean Money

Mark 11:22. “So Jesus answered and said to them have faith in God. For surely I say to you whosoever says to this mountain be removed and be cast into the sea and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things He says will be done. Have we not been confessing the word? We’ve been confessing the word just as hard as we can around here. He will have whatsoever He says, therefore I say to you whatsoever things you ask when you pray believe that you receive them and you will have them”.

Nearly everybody stops reading at verse 24 don’t they? Because everybody says “Oh well whatever I want I can just ask God for it and He will give it to me. Well, the word says that when you pray believe it and you will receive it, doesn’t it? So we are going to stop right there, we’re just

going to take Him at His word that’s what He said. Well, I’m confessing the word, I’m believing the word and I’m just going to stand on the word, I’m just going to stay right there.

Jesus had two more statements that are important for faith. Verse 25. “and whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses”. Well, I don’t hold anything against anybody. I forgive everybody. … “But if you do not forgive neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses”.

How can God meet your needs when you will not line up with His word? The Lord is talking to believers; He is not talking to sinners. He is talking to us. He is telling us “yes, I want you to ask, I want you to ask believing, and I want you to receive, and I want you to know I’ll give you what you ask Me. But this is what I want you to do so that you can receive it, I want you to forgive also. Because I forgave you, I expect you to forgive others”. What if He held everything against us? Every time we did something that grieved God, what if that was held against us? Suppose we ask Him to forgive us and He says “no I want you to suffer a little while. I think I’ll pout for a while”. Oh my goodness, if God pouted we would be in trouble wouldn’t we? Because you know what? Pouting brings condemnation. Think about it. You just think about that for a little bit. If you pout or sulk because you said something to somebody and you hurt their feelings and you asked them to forgive you, when you realized that you did wrong and then they sulk and they pout what happens? That makes you feel bad doesn’t it? There’s no forgiveness there.

Unforgiveness is the reason why many prayers are not answered. You can quote the right scriptures, you can make the right confessions. You can give 50 steps to faith. But nothing will work until you forgive. Isn’t it interesting that He put that at the end of the verses there?

And it’s Jesus talking. People will say, “I don’t understand my faith is not working. What’s going on?” I’ve had people tell me “I don’t understand I confess the word, I do this , I do that, I don’t understand. I’m doing everything I am supposed to do. Is there anything I’m not doing?” Well, what about your lifestyle? How do you live your walk? Are you living in truth, or are you living in a lie? Are there any open doors of sin? Is there an area in your life that you need to change in your lifestyle? When you have checked yourself and all areas are clear, then look to see if there’s anyone you haven’t forgiven, or if you are having trouble forgiving them. God wants us to be complete. Jesus did everything for us. He taught us in the word what we need to do. So, if we run around saying “Praise the Lord! Halleluiah, Glory be to God! Halleluiah!”, and we are walking in unforgiveness, especially to people that are close to us. People will forgive a stranger before they will forgive people that are close to them. Why is that? Because they want them to suffer. Think about it. That is wrong. God doesn’t want us to do that. He wants us to forgive. And He wants us to let it go.

There are a lot of doors that open up to unforgiveness. And when you stand praying forgive. When you are praying and the Lord brings to your remembrance someone that you are holding a grudge against, or someone who hurt you and you haven’t forgiven them, that is the time to do it. You might be in your prayer closet, or you might be driving down the road. You might be just sitting down somewhere and your thinking about different things and your saying “Lord, I sure would like to have a popsicle right now”. You said in Mark chapter 11 that you will give me my desires, whatever I want, and I would really like to have this Popsicle.” Well, He doesn’t tell you to pull over the side of the road, and there’s a place to get a Popsicle, instead He says “well you really were rude today, or you talked ugly today or you acted ugly or something like that. You hurt someone today.” Well, yes God but they did things to me, they hurt me and they said this and they said that, it wasn’t my fault I told them I forgive them. But you didn’t forgive them. It’s still in your heart because your bitter about it. You’re holding a grudge against them. Now if you forgive, I’ll tell you where to get a Popsicle.

Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. You can be upset, but don’t be angry. Anger is an evil spirit. When a person allows that open door of sin through anger then guess what? All these other little old spirits come up and say “ooh Mr. Anger is over there – come on Strife let’s get over there and help him. All kinds of spirits say let’s us go over there too. Let’s see if we can help out Mr. Anger, because if we can help Mr. Anger then that person is going to be miserable.” God wants us to be at peace with all people at all times if possible. You take, “if possible”, make it possible. Do your part and let God work on them. It might be somebody at your job that’s bugging the fire out of you. Every time you turn around - you can’t do anything right, and they are just doing this, and that, and this, and you just wish they wouldn’t even cross your path. If they just stay on the other side and leave you alone you can walk in peace. You can be in peace, you can have peace just leave me alone don’t come in here, don’t talk to me, just leave me alone. Oooh - sandpaper? Hmm. Oh no. Be at peace as much as possible. Maybe, that person doesn’t know who you know, because the greater One is inside of you. So if the greater One is inside of you and your being aggravated and frustrated, and the very split second that you realize that there is a nit picky devil there trying to aggravate you frustrate you, steal your joy, take your peace – the second you realize that just go “oh it was just you.” Ok. I will worship you God, I will lift up your name. I forgive, I forgive Lord. Help me forgive I am having trouble here. Help me forgive this person. Oh Lord, I know it’s not them it’s just those spirits with them. Please help me here Lord. And He will. Amen

I could say much more on this subject, however time and space won’t allow it right now, so just know your Heavenly Father loves you and wants the best for you.

We love each of you and pray for you to be all God wants you to be. May His blessings overtake you.

A Prophetic Word given to Richard Money on May 2, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. to the church & body:

By the end of next year the church, as we know it, will be non-existent. What is done or said in secret will be shouted from the roof tops. The testing for CTHEM will no longer be in the area of finances, but will be in other areas especially persecutions. God will judge the church first. Pastors and leadership will be held accountable for there actions and words. We must begin now to love our wives as Christ loves the church. And wives need to respect there husbands. Things must be in order! God is preparing his people to walk in power and authority. We must do things God’s way. Pastors I urge you to seek God in this matter. I plead with you to obey God’s words and live by them for in it we find life, and liberty. The voice of God is calling all of us to holiness please answer the call.

Then the Lord gave this word to Betty Jean: More power and anointing is coming to Christ the Healer and the persecution would come because of jealousy from those pastors and church leaders who denied God’s power and anointing.

PLEASE LET US HEAR FROM YOU

Have you or someone you know, been Saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, Healed, Delivered or received a Miracle though this Ministry??? If so, please let us know. We are writing a book about God’s Love for Mankind and would love to put your testimonies in it. Also your testimonies help encourage us and others.

We would love to hear from you anyway. You are important to us. Send us your prayer needs and our intercessors for Christ The Healer will join you in faith for the abundance of His provision to meet the needs in your life. We want to thank all our partners for praying and helping us get the gospel of Jesus Christ out to a lost and hurting world. Your remembrance of us in your giving of your finances to Christ The Healer has been a real blessing and the fruit of our labors is added to your account also. Thank You!

Remember to ask the Lord to use you today. All around you are hurting people and they are looking for the sons and daughters of God. Be a blessing.

Please remember we are on the front lines always and in need of your prayers. Scripture tells us to pray for one another and that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Thank you.