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Greetings!
I am back home in the States safely. Thanks again for your prayer and support for the ministry in Africa. You can catch up with our work and progress under the Africa Blog at www.covenantcs.net.
While in Africa two things happened that required a response from me. One event happened at home in the States and the other in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Both were personal to me and offered the opportunity for spiritual growth or decay. Thankfully, I followed God and grew in both circumstances.
The first event involved people very close to me while the second event was a random act of a thief. Back at home, people made decisions and then acted in a manner that hurt my family and relationships. In Africa, I was physically cut and had money stolen. In both circumstances I was angry at what happened. In both events I found myself praying and seeking God for the proper response. He came through and thankfully I listened.
Both events caused great alarm in my system. I was shaken, bothered, angry and offended. Still, through God's Spirit I was able to separate myself from the offense. This still blows my mind. The "old man" in me did not operate in this manner but was vindictive and full of revenge and wrath. It was obvious that the "new man" was in control and that is simply a work of God's grace ( Ephesians 4:20-28).
Friend, it is time we truly leave the patterns of this world and become transformed by God's grace and love. Otherwise, we are just playing church. As Tozer states, we are either walking in "rut, rot, or revival". I pray we chose revival in our daily walk. |
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Anger is not Sin ... Sinning in Anger is!
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. 6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
~ Psalm 4:1-8 ~ |
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| Response is a choice of the Spirit or flesh
The psalm of David and the writings of Paul echo the strong conviction of God to forgive and live. In Psalm 4, David reveals the heart of God when he tells us to feel the emotion of anger but also allow God to temper that emotion with grace, forgiveness and love. I am thankful for the events I faced for they truly reflect my love for those that caused the offense. They both presented moments where I could chose to walk like the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10) or the "great intercessor" (Hebrews 7:24-25).
It is proper to feel anger. It is a fact of life that we will be wronged, hurt, slighted, and improperly treated. I can guarantee you that this will happen. Thus, we need to learn to walk in the ways of God and heed His Word to not sin in anger. We are called to take the offense, feel the pain and then release the offender through God's grace, mercy and love.
Friend, you have a choice to make today in every area of life and that is to follow God and His commands or follow your flesh and it's commands. The choice you make will either reflect God's goodness and develop your position as "light" and "salt" on the earth or it will display your flesh and confirm the stink of rotting humanity and darkness of spirit. It is time we, the followers of God, nail our emotions to the cross and walk in the victory of forgiveness and grace.
Here are the facts. God was offended in the garden through humanity's choice yet He forgave. Jesus was offended as the rejected lamb that laid down His life for His people yet He gave His life in forgiveness. These facts support the position of Jesus Christ when He confidently speaks, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:7-9). We have been forgiven much and as such should forgive much.
This week, walk in forgiveness. You will be offended. It will come in various degrees but you will be hurt in one manner or another. Remember, it is fine to get angry but do not sin in anger. Feel the emotion and the pain and allow the Spirit of the Living God to change the emotion to the action of forgiveness. This my friend is the fuel of transformation. We can read all the Bible verses we want but until we live them we will not be transformed. May the trials you face this week be used to make you more like Jesus!
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. |
For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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