Pilot Knob Lutheran Pray to Bless 3/13/2024
Is there more to total forgiveness? Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. We are to pray and ask God to bless those who hurt us, and those who persecute us. This is truly the key that sets us free. We are not asking God to punish them, but to bless them in a way that will open their eyes to His truth, to see their sin for the purpose of turning from it, being forgiven and moving toward God.
It isn’t easy and everything in our mind cries out, “no! they don’t deserve to be blessed after what they did!” Can you imagine God saying that to you? God’s blessing to an unbeliever may bring about their salvation. For the Christian it may result in seeing their sin and repenting. We never know how God will bless someone or what the results will be.
If we were in their shoes, what would we want them to do or say to us? Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. This isn’t easy either, but with the correct attitude and prayer we can.
Remember Job? His three friends were no help during his intense suffering and grieving. They added insult to injury. However, what did he do in the end? Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. There is a connection between Job’s prayer and the restoration of his fortune and health.
One more example. Acts 6:8-15 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. 7:60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Amazing that he would say that seconds before his death. It shows the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in times of great need.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Today: 3:45 Confirmation class.
Sunday 17, 9:00 AM Morning worship service. Missionary Luke/Ruth Schroeder
12:30 Living Last Supper practice.
2:00 GriefShare Please tell others. For more information go to
https://www.griefshare.org/findagroupor contact Pr. Bob or Sue Reese.
~ Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran/
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