Road to Reconciliation

Out of all the blogs the lord has had me write, I believe this one will be among the most important. Reconciliation very much so is near and dear to the heart of the Heavenly Father. In the last days there is coming and outpouring of the spirit upon ALL flesh. As this is going on radical reconciliation will be going down. He said I WILL RESTORE what the locust hath eaten and cankerworm hath stolen(Joel 2:25) This great outpouring is going to have much to do with it. The lord has instructed me to talk about how we move from being right to reconciled. Many people have been misused and abused. They've been treated unfairly. in situations like that especially among family and close friends thats challenging. Its in this atmosphere that walls can build to the point that it becomes a strong fortress, where we let no one in and dont venture out ourselves. Jesus said concerning the last days that many would be offended betray and hate one another and the love of MANY would wax cold(Matt 24:11,12) He is talking about blood bought born again believers. So many struggle with being reconciled because of feelings and emotions. Joeseph could've made the decision to have his brothers killed, but instead they fell upon one another kissing eacother. We must understand right off the bat that reconciliation is our responsibility. Think about the word, responsABLE=Able To Respond! Lets discuss some of the things that can prevent reconciliation in our lives. 1 Pride Pride is like a stench in the nostrils of God and the bible says that it always leads us toward the fall(Prov 16:18) People are often like You just dont know what they have done. Look what we've all done. It was our sin that nailed Christ to the cross and in the very midst of being taken there Hes like Father forgive them for they know not what they do(Luke 23:34) It tells us in the book of Romans that he reconciled us through the BLOOD(Rom 5:9) Jesus had flesh, he could have been like hey I have lived a sinless life and called those legions of angels to deliver him. Pride is all about I. This is what I've been through, this is what has happened to me. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble(Jms 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5) God would much more rather us be reconciled than right! 2 Position. Some people refuse to be reconciled because of their firm position. This is STUBBORNESS! The bible says that stubborness is like witchcraft(1 Sam 15:23) Who is a stubborn person? Its one that refuses to change even in the presence of truth. Once truth has been presented, we have one of two choices reject or recieve! Jesus said we shall know the truth and the truth will make us free(John 8:32) The bible said it was the rebellion and stubborness of the children of Isreal that kept them in the wilderness for forty years! Dont let it be the same for you. 3. Problem. At times our focus is the problem we have with the person were attempting to reconcile with. Lets focus on the solution instead of the problem! Jesus decreed and declared himself to be the way truth and life(John 14:6) Hes the way back to relational reconciliation! However we must humble ourselves and do it HIS WAY! Hes already promised it will lead to life and not death. Its going to take placing our feelings under subjection. We have talked about it in an earlier blog feelings or faith? Were called to walk by faith and not our feelings, to be Abraham Christians not Thomas Christians. Let the solution get bigger than the problem thats before your eyes. Now before we talk about precepts and principles from the word of God leading us toward reconciliation, lets discuss what were to do in a situation where we have attempted to reconcile and the other person is just not having any of it. The answer is found in the book of Romans As much as it lieth within in you be at peace with all men(Rom 12:18) In other words were called to take the initiative and than trust God to be the Lord of the harvest of that sown seed. Jesus said if we have any ought while praying leave the gift at the alter and be ye reconciled with thine brother(Matt 5:23) However after we've done that if they're still like "talk to the hand"! We know we have done what God has called us to do and we continue to pray and believe. Road to reconciliation Number one, Forgiveness! Forgivness is not optinal, its critical! Were commanded tons of times in the new testement to forgive one another. God said through the mouth of Paul forgive EVEN AS God has forgiven you for Christs sake(Eph 4:32) Its not about whether they deserve it or not. The fact is none of us deserved forgiveness but we freely recieved it. Jesus said freely you have recieved, freely give(Matt 10:8) There are two things that we must understand about forgiveness. Number one If we dont forgive the Father cannot forgive us Jesus said Forgive their trespas as I have forgiven you your trespasses(Matt 6:14) This makes forgiveness a most series subject. Number two, Forgiveness is an act of will not feeling or emotion. We decide to forgive based on obedience to the word of God. We can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens us(Phil 4:13) this includes forgiveness Next Forbearance. The bible says forbearing one another(Col 3:13) That word means to put up with. We must make allowances for peoples faults and failures and present the opportunity for change. This will keep us reconciled and restored. Number three Fellowship. In the last blog we talked about trust developing through time. This is exactly what we must do is fellowship and through it there will be brought forth a reunion that will be sustained. Number four, Fervent love The bible says ABOVE ALL things have FERVENT LOVE, for love shall cover a multitude of sins(1 Peter 4:8) Were to do this above all others. Its love thats going to keep us together. However its not love based upon perfomrmance, but promise!!! The bible says that God has given us the ministry and word of reconciliation(2 Cor 5:18,19) In other words hes looking to us to take these principles apply and appropriate them making it happen in the name of Jesus!