Worship Call 0711

Ephesians 6:19-20 and pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. For over 20 years we've been covering Christian Persecution, and whenever I come across an amazing story of how a saint endured such hardships, it encourages me. I remember reading about Watchman Nee and his imprisonment. The Chinese government would change the guards at his cell daily for fear that Nee would lead them to the Lord. Their fears were justified -- many of those guards did come to faith! Apparently Watchman Nee had learned a powerful lesson from the Apostle Paul. In Paul's letter to the Church in Ephesus, observe how he describes himself -- an ambassador in chains. Locked away in a prison, Paul adamantly refuses to allow his circumstances to dictate or alter his identity. He may be in chains, but he remains the Lord's ambassador. Can you imagine Paul chained up in that dungeon, throwing up his hands saying, "That's it; it's over; I'm finished!? Not on your life! Instead, the apostle grows bolder as an ambassador; not intimidated or ashamed, because Paul isn't chained in his Spirit, he's only bound in the flesh. Remember how he concludes his letter to the Philippian Church declaring, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Robert, don't allow yourself to be defined by your past, or "chained" by your current circumstances. God has also called you to be an ambassador for Him. With so much work to be done, we ought to be growing even bolder, right in the midst of our trials and tribulations! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, & Obadiah (Elianna is attending Christian College in Dallas) Dallas, Texas

And this is another fine day in the Lord

Within God’s grace provision of Time, there is the window of opportunity to make things right Reconciliation before a matter is brought to the court and the righteous and fair judge handles the case.

God will always side with the right and God will always side against wrong in a case because he is the perfect all knowing Judge.

Reconciliation means a bringing together two parties in dispute.

Matthew 5:23 (NASB95) — 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

It is one within the body who has a case against another. one has been wronged either real or imagined and his only recourse to take him to court to let the judge decide.

in the time of writing in the mind of the people it would be the Sanhedrin, a legal body who settled matters among the Israelites. and what their decision in the matter that would be what it would it be. in a Law suite when the body sided with the one wronged, the matter was settled and the accused would have no other option but to pay full restitution until all was paid.

while the case is pending and where there is yet reconciliation, the offering is of no good and would only be considered a bride, and we know that the righteous Judge does not take bribes.

The startling realization to this revelation that a rift within the relationship can lead to the loss of eternal reward.

A wrong done against and a conflict between the brethren drives a wedge between the between the believer and his Father.

As Scholar Michael Heiser explains God has a family. You are his human family on this earth. God wants his family to get along.

Peace is not only harmony between the Creator and His creation but it is also within his creation that there is harmony.

We live in a time where animals eat each other. That which is within the animal kingdom is an reflection that what God had created from the beginning has been interrupted. Wars and rumors of wars, famine and pestilence are not a matter of circumstance or a just so happens or it is what it is and we must just cope with it, it is because man’s relationship with God is broken.

As history advances the Lord is reversing the effects of the fall, restoring the creation back to where the Creator can look at it and see that it is very good.

Relationship with man is reflected in man’s relationship with God. where there is a right relationship with God it creates a harmony within and among the brethren. That is the way God desires it.

Where there is a personal love for God there is the result of unconditional love for all mankind and especially within the body of believers.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NASB95) — 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 (NASB95) — 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

What does God desires is opposite of what Satan desires. Unity among the believers is considered a cancer to Satan. He wants to separate and divide so that he may conquer the body of believers. Whether it is the Family or the church, a group of students in a school or an group of believers in a work environment or a social gathering.

Matthew 18:18–20 (NASB95) — 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Proverbs 17:1 (NASB95) — 1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.

So, Satan will be on the attack to bust up the union.

Matthew 5:23 (NASB95) — 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

29.7 μνημονεύωa; μιμνῄσκομαιa; μνήμη, ης f; μνείαa, ας f: to recall information from memory, but without necessarily the implication that persons have actually forgotten—‘to remember, to recall, to think about again, memory, remembrance.’[1]

A part of approaching God is to take spiritual inventory. And to examine oneself that we are holy before God, that our consciences are clear, and we come worthily to the throne.

1 Corinthians 11:31 (NASB95) — 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

We cannot approach God and at the same time say to hell with our relationship with the brother. There is rift within the family.

Matthew 5:23 (NASB95) — 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

90.31 κατάj (with the genitive): a marker of opposition, with the possible implication of antagonism—‘against, in opposition to, in conflict with.’[2]

He has a legal dispute. There is a wrong done against a brother either real or imagined. First it leaves a rift within the family. the wound begins to fester. You yourself may have moved one without reconciliation, maybe even have forgotten to an extent the conflict. But the wound may still be festering within the believer, and it may be a stumbling block within that believer, and it may also be that which hurts the body altogether.

What is the affect

Prayers are not answered

There is a hinderance to spiritual growth.

The root of bitterness is growing defiling the whole body.

All the while you might think all is alright in your relationship between you and your Lord.

The Lord says oh no, you are first to go and settle account with your brother before coming to me.

What is the option of one who has been wronged.

Deuteronomy 32:35–36 (NASB95) — 35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ 36 “For the Lordwill vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, And there is none remaining, bond or free.

Romans 12:18–21 (NASB95) — 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The option of the hurt in a legal matter taking it to the supreme court of heaven the righteous Judge judges between the two. This is what Sarah meant when she was speaking to her husband Abraham.

Genesis 16:5 (NASB95) — 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

God is perfectly Just, and he will weigh within the case on behalf of the injured in the case.

Matthew 5:25–26 (NASB95) — 25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

IN this case the court is the Sanhedrin. The council of the 70 is the illustration. And that if one is angry with a brother and has a legal claim that one must reconcile prior to it getting to court.

There is the grace period of time which is ticking away. IN that time we have freedom to seek reconciliation with our brother prior to legal judication when the judge is going side with the innocent.

If your brother has some indictment against you and he has put It in the hands of the Lord it is more important to be reconciled to your brother before the Lord sides on your brothers’ case. Otherwise, your offering is null and void until the

We are indeed liable as believers ourselves to divine discipline.

[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains(electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 346). United Bible Societies. [2] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 801). United Bible Societies.

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