FORGIVENESS MADE EASY PART-3

FORGIVENESS MADE EASY.

Scripture:Genesis 45:5,7,8.

Topic: Forgiveness Made Easy Part-3.

In this series of our quiet time we shall study the steps we need to take for forgiveness to be very easy for us. Remember one mark of a true christian is seen in his or her ability to forgive just as our Lord Jesus forgives us. To attract God's forgiveness and mercy you will need to learn to forgive. 

3. Analyse the outcome.

Out of jealousy and hatred, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. After thirty years, God raised him from prison to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. Unaware of his new identity, his brothers came to him for help during a severe famine. Later, Joseph revealed himself to them. With remorse, they fell down and begged him to be merciful to them. Joseph forgave them when he analysed the outcome of their misconduct.

"...be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before

you to preserve life...to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives...it was not

you that sent me hither, but God:…"

Genesis 45:5, 7, 8

Sometimes, when you analyse the way things have turned out, or the way things are going to turn out, you can easily forgive. I remember that years ago, when I founded my church as a young medical student, I invited a pastor from one of the great charismatic churches in Ghana, to come to my church and minister. This man of God who had been preaching and encouraging us in my little fellowship at the university for many months, sent a message to me that, he would not “sow amongst thorns”. Upon starting a church, I had suddenly been rejected by a man of God I highly respected. So I asked myself, “When did we become ‘thorns’?” He had been preaching in my fellowship of “thorns” for many months! I was very surprised, because I thought then, that he was my friend. Instead, he rather influenced my associate to leave me and the church. This almost broke up the baby church. He then told my associate to be careful not to associate with someone who was not “called”.

This departure of my immediate assistant generated all sorts of problems among my own church members,

who now began to analyse me; whether I was “called” or not. That was not the only trial. I was also under fire everywhere. Some of my classmates in the medical school called me names, as I carried the church drums and instruments to and from the church. “Why should you start a church? Who are you? Who do you think you are?” they asked me. When I was going to get married, my parents-in-law went to see one pastor to ask to use his church facilities for our wedding. The Lighthouse Chapel International did not have a church building then. He told them that he would allow us to use his church only on the condition that we close down our church. I had no friends anymore.

I remember inviting all the pastors I knew to my wedding. Believe it or not—no one showed up. When pastors were called to take photographs with the bridal train, there were none. I was completely rejected. It was as though I was evil. People just threw me away for starting a new church. At a point I felt like committing suicide.  However, now I realize that the Lord wanted me to be independent of man’s help and praise. The Lord wanted me to stand on my own, go through the pains that I had to go through, and rise up to bear a particular fruit in His kingdom. Today, the “small rejected” church has expanded not only in Ghana, but has branches all over the world. It worked! Recently, I saw some of these people who rejected me and I told them exactly what Joseph said to his brothers: “You meant it for evil but God turned it out for good.” God knows that I don’t bear them any grudge. These people are all my friends today, because God has helped me to forgive them. When you look at the outcome, you realize that you have the ability to forgive!! 

Credits: Excerpt from,

Forgiveness Made Easy.

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills.