Our home

Kara introducing our typical Taiwanese appartment. Ours is actually like a suite or students dorm so to speak, but we love it.

Trip to Yingge, Sansia

Yingge is famous for it's ceramic pottery and Sansia for Camphor,dying cloths and tea. So, my roommate and I went on a trip and saw some of the main stops.First we stopped in Yingge, then as I tried to remember the road to Sansia's old street I ended up at the Taipei county Hakka Museum where we found a lot of insight into the Hakka tribe and their beliefs. You are welcome to search the web on the names.
See ya.

Newsletter Vol 2 - 2008

Hi everyone

 

 

Things are well, thank you. The winter is really cold now; the last week has been 13 degrees Celsius.

I’ve been blessed with a fridge, microwave, and got my scooter after getting my license the first week of February. Praise God!! He is good all the time. We got one week holiday over the Chinese New Year as everyone is spending time with their families; I was invited to my friends in Kaohsiung and Tainan. It was a blessing to spend time with them and speak Afrikaans and have some sunny weather compared to Tao Yuan’s constant rainy/cloudy weather. Praise God for rain too, the farmers need it. My photo is on multiply.

 

Now being back I’m planning and preparing for upcoming events like, our DTS graduation, staff conference from the 7-10^th March 08 and KKI camp 1-11 July 2008. The next DTS starts March 17^th.

 

A.  Planning and preparing:

 1. KKI  Jin-Heuy and I will be starting to communicate with churches now prior   to camp; preparing things and improving what we can with God’s grace for the next camp and we hope to see International teams involved in helping the youth to create their own dances and skits and develop in worship and finding their God-given call on their lives.

2.  MEDIA       With good communication improving the website, making it informative enough to make others hungry for God to grow deeper in Him.

3.   CHINESE   Studying the language in order to share the gospel with the local people.

 

 

B. Global YWAM Prayer Day.  This link links you to the letters, resources and results of the Prayer days.

http://prayerday.org/index.php?lang=4  or on my site       www.adeleliebich.multiply.com

I’ll mention some parts here that stood out for me. As I’ve been going through things during the last three week regarding relationships with friends and my parents, I could see how God is working on forgiveness in my own life. To let Go, let God!!! For the full letter please go to the link above.

 

 

February Prayer Focus:  Practicing Forgiveness

 

In January, we waited before God and asked Him to examine us both individually and corporately. As we conducted this spiritual inventory, we reflected with joy on how far God has brought us; we have indeed “crossed the Jordan.” He reminded us to wait on Him for direction as we survey the unknown paths just ahead of us as a mission.

 

This month, God takes us even deeper by reminding us of one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines:  forgiveness.  We explore what it means to be a people that practice deep forgiveness. We learn about patterns and reactions in our lives that show us when we have not forgiven. We examine Scriptures, study the life of Jesus, and are given new opportunities to become a people of forgiveness.

 

God is giving us a precious opportunity during this particular prayer day to make things right with Him and others.  Wherever we have harbored bitterness and unforgiveness toward God and others, we have the chance to start afresh…today! Please do not let this YWAM global prayer day slip by without taking the steps that God indicates you should take to make your relationships right.  By the end of the day, can each of us say that we’re walking with clean hearts in this area?  Can we honestly say we carry no grudge against anyone near or far? We trust that God will show you and your leader how to respond to this particular call as the February prayer day unfolds.

 

As always, please wait on the Lord in silence during part of your time together. Step out in faith as God leads you to ask for forgiveness or forgive someone else. 

 

Please visit www.prayerday.org regularly to find additional resources, the most current monthly prayer guide, and prayer guide archives.

 

February Leader’s Letter

 

We recently hosted a spiritual renewal weekend here in Harpenden and an unexpected guest showed up.  He is a man who has spoken prophetically to leaders for many decades and, though he is physically weak and in his 80s, God uses him as much as ever.  He took one look at me and exclaimed, “So, YWAM is getting fire back—and so are you!”

 

That sort of confirmation is coming my way very regularly these days.  I don’t always feel like I am fiery and some days I struggle to see that there is progress in YWAM, but we are getting there!  By God’s grace we have, as Tom Bloomer and others prophesied, “Crossed the Jordan”.

 

We have been referring to Joshua, chapter 5, quite a lot and will continue to do so because it sets the scene for our monthly prayer and fasting.  As you read it, you will see that God commanded Israel to circumcise themselves as His first priority after crossing the river.  Circumcision was a physical symbol of the fact that God had “set apart” the Israelites for Himself.  That phrase means the same thing as being holy or being sanctified. 

 

So, what are God’s priorities for sanctification in YWAM?

 

There are a few subjects under that heading and we will be examining them (and letting them examine us!) during our monthly prayer days.  But the first one is unity, especially unity with and between leaders.  I believe the breakdown of unity between leaders is an important reason why we need restoration.  The story of YWAM is full of excitement and good fruit, but it also has some sad chapters and this is one of them.

 

Perhaps I can best explain it by telling you about my own failure in this area.  In a GLT meeting about eight years ago I brought up a subject that I thought was important.  I felt we needed more integrity in a certain area.  As I look back, I realize that I was doing so with an attitude of self-righteousness, but I was blind to that at the time.  After a bit of discussion, Loren made some comments which I took to be directed at me.  I felt that he was questioning my motives and I was deeply offended. 

 

I held on to that offense for quite along time and decided to distance myself from Loren; so I acted out of independence and a feeling of moral superiority.  Looking back, I now realize that my sinful, judgmental attitude opened the door to many troubles that I am still working to unravel.  We certainly “reap what we sow”!

 

After nearly two years Loren, who was unaware of my bad attitude, was staying with Marti and me for a couple of days and I asked if the two of us could talk privately.  My conscience had been bothering me and I wanted to talk about that meeting when I had taken offense.  When I recounted my memory of what had happened, his eyes filled with tears and he very humbly asked for my forgiveness. 

 

I was actually expecting a debate but his humility completely disarmed me and I suddenly saw that I had been foolish and childish.  I accepted his apology and asked for his forgiveness too and we were reconciled.  That was a vital step of realignment for me. 

 

John Dawson, our International President has been speaking about realignment for the past 5 years or more.  Iain Muir, our International Director, has also worked tirelessly along with John and myself to bring reconciliation between leaders and to promote realignment with our values and vision.  If we are going to be all that God has called us to be, both as individuals and as a movement, we must do all we can to live in harmony with one another and especially with our leaders.

 

I now realize that my offense and independence from Loren provided the enemy a strong foothold in my life and my ministry.  (See Ephesians 4:26,27 as an example and note the article that accompanies this letter.)  Much damage was done in those two years as strife and offense spread throughout my areas of responsibility.

 

In the Gospel of John, chapters 13 – 17 Jesus emphasizes again and again that our primary witness is our love for one another and that He and His Father will come and make their home with those who love one another and love Him.  We simply cannot afford to ignore disunity!  It is quite common for missionaries to focus on the Great Commission even though their relationships with one another might be broken.  We cannot do that!

 

During the course of this, our second day of prayer together, let’s ask God to show us any broken or strained relationships.  Then, let’s take the initiative and forgive those against whom we have been angry or bitter or hurt. 

 

When we have forgiven, it is also important to ask God to forgive us for our bad attitude.  Jesus never took offense at anyone and always forgave, even as he hung on the cross and watched the soldiers divide up his clothes and hurl curses at him.  His power is in me and you and we can also forgive, even the greatest offense.

 

Lynn Green, International Chairman, YWAM

 

 

The Power of Forgiveness: Two Testimonies

 

Following Jesus and becoming more like Him means developing a lifestyle of openness and continually walking in habits of humility, forgiveness and love. It is costly and challenging, but it gets easier with practice. Humility is being known for who we are ----both in our strengths and in our weaknesses. It means that we do not know everything and it is a reminder that God is God and we are not. We sometimes hold on to sins committed against us (or others close to us), say things we don’t mean or do things that we regret. Depending on where you live, sunrise to sunset is about 12 hours. The Bible clearly instructs us not to let the sun go down on our anger (Eph. 4:26).  So, how do we keep short accounts in a meaningful way?

 

God gives us regular opportunities to humble ourselves. Just this week, I needed to humble myself to Marie, my wife of 36 years, after I said harsh things to her which hurt her. I needed to ask her forgiveness. “I am sorry, please forgive me” are powerful words. Sometimes we need to apologize to a son or daughter or to a fellow worker when we have made a mistake or have said or done the wrong thing. We resist humbling ourselves but it is one of the best habits we can form.

 

One side of forgiveness is when you have hurt others. Another side is when someone hurts you.  Although you may not be able to stop others from hurting you, you are responsible for how you respond.  In my response to my family, I did not want to sin.  I did not want to cause more damage to myself or my family relationships. I did not want to be dealing with this issue again years from now.  I needed help and accountability.

 

I immediately met with my pastor and asked him to help me respond correctly.  He first had me recognize and repent of my own sin in the matter, in this case, the sin of judging my family for “not including me”, “rejecting me”, “not liking me”, etc.  I then chose to forgive my family, prayed out prayers of forgiveness, and asked God to release my anger and disappointment. As healing continues within my own family, I must crucify any unforgiving thoughts, feelings, and actions so as to not allow a “root of bitterness” to spring up [Hebrews 12:14-15].

 

I recently returned home again to spend the Christmas holidays with my family.  There I watched the memorial service for our fellow YWAMers, Tiffany and Phillip, who had been shockingly murdered at our Colorado ministry center. After this service, their families met with the murderer’s parents to extend forgiveness.  The media could hardly believe it.  In the very act of forgiveness, both the forgiver and the forgiven are set free. Christ forgave us of so much; how can we not forgive others as He has commanded? - Gina Fadely, YWAM International Director, Frontier Missions

Forgiveness: The Key to Living Free of Offense

 

Forgiveness can turn our life around. But failure to forgive leads to offense, then living with blame. 

 

Are you paying the price of not forgiving?  Here are some symptoms:

 

1.    I often have imaginary conversations with another person in which I “put them in their place”.

2.    I do everything I can to avoid that person.

3.    I compare myself to them and dismiss them.

4.    I look for information I can use to gossip about them.

5.    I am holding a grudge.

6.    I sometimes erupt into anger.

7.    I pity myself.

8.    I don’t want to address the issue.

9.    I try to think of ways to get even.

10.    I am becoming more protective and defensive of myself.

 

This state of mind and spirit is deeply destructive and will rob you of life.  If you remain in this state, you really are that person’s victim.

 

You have become a victim when you begin to think or react in any of the following ways:

 

1.    You can’t do anything about your situation; it is in the hands of others.

2.    You resent others because they are making your life hard

3.    You are often defeated by circumstances

4.    You believe God has favorites

5.    You doubt God’s love for you

6.    You find comfort from being a victim

7.    You have lost hope that you or your life can change

 

 

If you recognize yourself in any of the descriptions above, then you probably need to forgive someone or maybe several people or even a group of people.

Forgiveness is the only way of getting free from this prison.  It may seem very hard, but it is not as hard as the consequences of not forgiving.

Forgiveness is hard on our “self” because it offends our sense of justice. We know wrong has been done and we think someone must pay for it. But when we forgive, we decide to pay the debt to justice and it costs us a lot! We join Jesus (in small measure) on the cross: 

 

Gal. 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

 

 

If we want to be free from the consequences of judging and unforgiveness, we must agree with God that:

 

1.    We don’t even know our own hearts, but we know we are sinful and in need of mercy

2.    We certainly can’t know others’ hearts

3.    Jesus, who forgave those who crucified him, can give us the grace to forgive others because He lives in us.  (We do not need to wait until they ask for our forgiveness; Jesus didn’t!)

 

Do you really want to be Christ-like?  Then remember Colossians 3:13  and forgive as the Lord forgave you.

 

The Holy Spirit enables us in our weakness.

 

 

HERE ARE SOME STEPS TO FREEDOM:

 

 

•    Ask God to bring to your mind the people against whom you are holding bad feelings.  List those names.  (Don’t let yourself be driven to morbid introspection.) Check to see if you are holding any bitterness toward God or yourself.   (that person?)

•    Tell God you are willing to live with the ongoing consequences of the offender’s actions—even if they continue to sin against you.

•    Speak out your forgiveness of others in prayer before God.

•    As Him to forgive you for the sin of unforgiveness.

•    In faith and in your authority in Christ, take back the ground you have given to Satan through unforgiveness.  Claim the total freedom that is rightly yours in Christ by rebuking the spirit of unforgiveness and commanding him to leave you!

•    If future actions by that person trigger painful memories, take it to the cross right away.

 

Because of Jesus, we can live a life of immediate forgiveness towards all who sin against us.  That is the life of freedom.  And remember:

 

14 .if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

So let us walk in forgiveness as forgiven saints!

 

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Thank you!!!   I do not know who has been financially supporting me thus far. It has been anonymous, but I would like to use this opportunity to say Thank you. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough to cover all my cost of living here. My budget is updated for you to see my  needs. If God leads you in your heart to become a partner for His work in this ministry, please feel free to contact me or unanimously deposit it in my account below.  May God use you and lead you in his perfect plan and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you once again. Amen!

 

Love to all in Christ Jesus.

 

Adele Liebich

Prayer Request/s (Please):

 

*Please pray for the visa offices. For God’s favor and easier processing. 

*Pray that His Spirit would move among us in such a way that the city of Taoyuan would get hungry for God.

*Pray for more Taiwanese missionaries in Taiwan sent out.

*Please pray for Missionaries and their finances.

*Give thanks for God’s faithfulness. For His awesome Provision for future needs like: food, finances, support.

*Pray for more regular supporters

*For divine appointments with God and the people He wants me to speak to.

*To enjoy the training in media and learning new programs.

*Part time learning Chinese language.

God is faithful.     Blessings to you all.

Adele Liebich

Update on finances:

Needs:

A  Digital camera

Mac laptop for media

 

Monthly costs:

 

I got a place  rent free till July 2009. Hallelujah!!!

Gas                                                                   400NT

Electricity and water                                    1700NT

Food                                                               4000NT

Petrol                                                             2000NT

Medical aid                                                     662NT

Telephone and internet together              1500NT

Staff fees (saving for next conference)     500NT

Cell phone                                                      500NT

International phone cards                           600NT

     Totals  11860NT divide R5 =R 2 372.

 

THANK-YOU!!

To those who’ve supported me this far! Thank you for your Encouragement, finances & Prayer – GOD BLESS YOU Abundantly!!

I Challenge You…

 

1.To come visit us at YWAM Taoyuan and see how we live and share with others.

2.To Support me in Missions through Finances & Prayer

3.To live on the Edge- Come & do your DTS!! (Discipleship Training School).

 

Isaiah 6:8

 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

 

My Bank Details:

 

Name of Bank: Chinatrust Commercial Bank

Account Name: Adele Liebich

Swift Code: CTCBTWTP

Account Number: 059540209451

 

 

 

Liu Chiu Island

One of my friends and I went on her scooter (Mobed) to the Island and just enjoyed the fresh sea air, sight and chats. I've got a whole new port pholio with all these pics. It was an awesome time.
Blessings
Adele

February Prayer Focus: Practicing Forgiveness

 

In January, we waited before God and asked Him to examine us both individually and corporately. As we conducted this spiritual inventory, we reflected with joy on how far God has brought us; we have indeed “crossed the Jordan.” He reminded us to wait on Him for direction as we survey the unknown paths just ahead of us as a mission.

 

This month, God takes us even deeper by reminding us of one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines:  forgiveness.  We explore what it means to be a people that practice deep forgiveness. We learn about patterns and reactions in our lives that show us when we have not forgiven. We examine Scriptures, study the life of Jesus, and are given new opportunities to become a people of forgiveness.

 

God is giving us a precious opportunity during this particular prayer day to make things right with Him and others.  Wherever we have harbored bitterness and unforgiveness toward God and others, we have the chance to start afresh…today! Please do not let this YWAM global prayer day slip by without taking the steps that God indicates you should take to make your relationships right.  By the end of the day, can each of us say that we’re walking with clean hearts in this area?  Can we honestly say we carry no grudge against anyone near or far? We trust that God will show you and your leader how to respond to this particular call as the February prayer day unfolds.

 

As always, please wait on the Lord in silence during part of your time together. Practice the intercessory prayer steps that were sent to you last month. Step out in faith as God leads you to ask for forgiveness or forgive someone else. Please appoint a scribe to take notes for fresh words from God that you believe are for all of YWAM. 

 

We’d love to hear what God is speaking to you and your staff! Please post what you’re hearing from God directly on our website, www.prayerday.org, or, if it’s harder for you to access the internet, please e-mail us at  prayerday@ywam.org with your impressions from the prayer day. Please visit www.prayerday.org regularly to find additional resources, the most current monthly prayer guide, and prayer guide archives.

 

February Leader’s Letter

 

We recently hosted a spiritual renewal weekend here in Harpenden and an unexpected guest showed up.  He is a man who has spoken prophetically to leaders for many decades and, though he is physically weak and in his 80s, God uses him as much as ever.  He took one look at me and exclaimed, “So, YWAM is getting fire back—and so are you!”

 

That sort of confirmation is coming my way very regularly these days.  I don’t always feel like I am fiery and some days I struggle to see that there is progress in YWAM, but we are getting there!  By God’s grace we have, as Tom Bloomer and others prophesied, “Crossed the Jordan”.

 

We have been referring to Joshua, chapter 5, quite a lot and will continue to do so because it sets the scene for our monthly prayer and fasting.  As you read it, you will see that God commanded Israel to circumcise themselves as His first priority after crossing the river.  Circumcision was a physical symbol of the fact that God had “set apart” the Israelites for Himself.  That phrase means the same thing as being holy or being sanctified. 

 

So, what are God’s priorities for sanctification in YWAM?

 

There are a few subjects under that heading and we will be examining them (and letting them examine us!) during our monthly prayer days.  But the first one is unity, especially unity with and between leaders.  I believe the breakdown of unity between leaders is an important reason why we need restoration.  The story of YWAM is full of excitement and good fruit, but it also has some sad chapters and this is one of them.

 

Perhaps I can best explain it by telling you about my own failure in this area.  In a GLT meeting about eight years ago I brought up a subject that I thought was important.  I felt we needed more integrity in a certain area.  As I look back, I realize that I was doing so with an attitude of self-righteousness, but I was blind to that at the time.  After a bit of discussion, Loren made some comments which I took to be directed at me.  I felt that he was questioning my motives and I was deeply offended. 

 

I held on to that offense for quite along time and decided to distance myself from Loren; so I acted out of independence and a feeling of moral superiority.  Looking back, I now realize that my sinful, judgmental attitude opened the door to many troubles that I am still working to unravel.  We certainly “reap what we sow”!

 

After nearly two years Loren, who was unaware of my bad attitude, was staying with Marti and me for a couple of days and I asked if the two of us could talk privately.  My conscience had been bothering me and I wanted to talk about that meeting when I had taken offense.  When I recounted my memory of what had happened, his eyes filled with tears and he very humbly asked for my forgiveness. 

 

I was actually expecting a debate but his humility completely disarmed me and I suddenly saw that I had been foolish and childish.  I accepted his apology and asked for his forgiveness too and we were reconciled.  That was a vital step of realignment for me. 

 

John Dawson, our International President has been speaking about realignment for the past 5 years or more.  Iain Muir, our International Director, has also worked tirelessly along with John and myself to bring reconciliation between leaders and to promote realignment with our values and vision.  If we are going to be all that God has called us to be, both as individuals and as a movement, we must do all we can to live in harmony with one another and especially with our leaders.

 

I now realize that my offense and independence from Loren provided the enemy a strong foothold in my life and my ministry.  (See Ephesians 4:26,27 as an example and note the article that accompanies this letter.)  Much damage was done in those two years as strife and offense spread throughout my areas of responsibility.

 

In the Gospel of John, chapters 13 – 17 Jesus emphasizes again and again that our primary witness is our love for one another and that He and His Father will come and make their home with those who love one another and love Him.  We simply cannot afford to ignore disunity!  It is quite common for missionaries to focus on the Great Commission even though their relationships with one another might be broken.  We cannot do that!

 

During the course of this, our second day of prayer together, let’s ask God to show us any broken or strained relationships.  Then, let’s take the initiative and forgive those against whom we have been angry or bitter or hurt. 

 

When we have forgiven, it is also important to ask God to forgive us for our bad attitude.  Jesus never took offense at anyone and always forgave, even as he hung on the cross  and watched the soldiers divide up his clothes and hurl curses at him.  His power is in me and you and we can also forgive, even the greatest offense.

 

Lynn Green, International Chairman, YWAM

 

 

The Power of Forgiveness: Two Testimonies

 

Following Jesus and becoming more like Him means developing a lifestyle of openness and continually walking in habits of humility, forgiveness and love. It is costly and challenging, but it gets easier with practice. Humility is being known for who we are ----both in our strengths and in our weaknesses. It means that we do not know everything and it is a reminder that God is God and we are not. We sometimes hold on to sins committed against us (or others close to us), say things we don’t mean or do things that we regret. Depending on where you live, sunrise to sunset is about 12 hours. The Bible clearly instructs us not to let the sun go down on our anger (Eph. 4:26).  So, how do we keep short accounts in a meaningful way?

 

God gives us regular opportunities to humble ourselves. Just this week, I needed to humble myself to Marie, my wife of 36 years, after I said harsh things to her which hurt her. I needed to ask her forgiveness. “I am sorry, please forgive me” are powerful words. Sometimes we need to apologize to a son or daughter or to a fellow worker when we have made a mistake or have said or done the wrong thing. We resist humbling ourselves but it is one of the best habits we can form.

 

I’ve recently been reading “The God of Intimacy and Action —reconnecting ancient spiritual practices, evangelism and justice” by Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling. One of the practices written about is the regular prayer of “examen.” Examen is a time of reflection when you deliberately think about what happened during the day with thankfulness and a spirit of reconciliation. It is a time of spiritual inventory: when during the day did we live out of love and freedom in Christ and when did we not live out of love and freedom in Christ? This practice gives us opportunity to keep short accounts with God, with co-workers and everyone else we love. It helped me with Marie. Whatever helps you remember the events of the day and take them before the Lord, whatever aids you in giving thanks and making things right.... do these things in increasing measure! Let’s build stronger habits of forgiveness and transparency and become more and more like Jesus. 

 

Steve Goode, Director, YWAM Mercy Ministries International

 

 

 

While visiting home last year, Mom turned to me and said, “I sure hope my hip feels better before the trip”.  I responded excitedly, “THE trip? The big one you told me you wanted all of us to go on together?  Are we going?  Did it work out?”   Mom said, “Oh Fortell you now as I knew this would upset you more if you heard about it later.”  I was speechless.  I walked outside, fell on my knees, and wept. 

 

One side of forgiveness is when you have hurt others. Another side is when someone hurts you.  Although you may not be able to stop others from hurting you, you are responsible for how you respond.  In my response to my family, I did not want to sin.  I did not want to cause more damage to myself or my family relationships. I did not want to be dealing with this issue again years from now.  I needed help and accountability.

 

I immediately met with my pastor and asked him to help me respond correctly.  He first had me recognize and repent of my own sin in the matter, in this case, the sin of judging my family for “not including me”, “rejecting me”, “not liking me”, etc.  I then chose to forgive my family, prayed out prayers of forgiveness, and asked God to release my anger and disappointment. As healing continues within my own family, I must crucify any unforgiving thoughts, feelings, and actions so as to not allow a “root of bitterness” to spring up [Hebrews 12:14-15].

 

I recently returned home again to spend the Christmas holidays with my family.  There I watched the memorial service for our fellow YWAMers, Tiffany and Phillip, who had been shockingly murdered at our Colorado ministry center. After this service, their families met with the murderer’s parents to extend forgiveness.  The media could hardly believe it.  In the very act of forgiveness, both the forgiver and the forgiven are set free. Christ forgave us of so much; how can we not forgive others as He has commanded? 

 

Gina Fadely, YWAM International Director, Frontier Missions

 

 

 

Forgiveness: The Key to Living Free of Offense

 

Our dear friend and teacher, Dr. Atef from Egypt, spoke to some YWAM staff last year and explained a radical truth.  He said that, as we become mature in Christ, we become immune to hurt. 

 

That is an amazing statement!  At first I questioned it, but I now believe it is true—and very important!

 

In addition, Loren Cunningham once said, “Unity is only one step of humility away.”

 

Here is some of what Jesus taught about avoiding offense and always extending forgiveness:

 

Matthew 18:

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.£

23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents£ was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.£ He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

30“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

 

 

Mark 11

5And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.£”

 

Luke 23

32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”£ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

 

From these scriptures, we can conclude that Jesus taught and practiced a life of radical forgiveness and never carried offense.

 

On the other hand, failure to forgive and carrying offense are at the heart of some of the most tragic stories in the scriptures: 

The murder of Abel

Joseph being sold into slavery

King David’s family disasters– Amnon and Tamar, Absalom and his rebellion and death

 

Forgiveness can turn our life around. But failure to forgive leads to offense, then living with blame. 

 

Are you paying the price of not forgiving?  Here are some symptoms:

 

1.    I often have imaginary conversations with another person in which I “put them in their place”.

2.    I do everything I can to avoid that person.

3.    I compare myself to them and dismiss them.

4.    I look for information I can use to gossip about them.

5.    I am holding a grudge.

6.    I sometimes erupt into anger.

7.    I pity myself.

8.    I don’t want to address the issue.

9.    I try to think of ways to get even.

10.    I am becoming more protective and defensive of myself.

 

This state of mind and spirit is deeply destructive and will rob you of life.  If you remain in this state, you really are that person’s victim.

 

You have become a victim when you begin to think or react in any of the following ways:

 

1.    You can’t do anything about your situation; it is in the hands of others.

2.    You resent others because they are making your life hard

3.    You are often defeated by circumstances

4.    You believe God has favorites

5.    You doubt God’s love for you

6.    You find comfort from being a victim

7.    You have lost hope that you or your life can change

 

 

If you recognize yourself in any of the descriptions above, then you probably need to forgive someone or maybe several people or even a group of people.

 

Forgiveness is the only way of getting free from this prison.  It may seem very hard, but it is not as hard as the consequences of not forgiving.

 

Forgiveness is hard on our “self” because it offends our sense of justice. We know wrong has been done and we think someone must pay for it. But when we forgive, we decide to pay the debt to justice and it costs us a lot! We join Jesus (in small measure) on the cross: 

 

Gal. 2: 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 

It is also hard because, in spite of what the scriptures say about not judging, we try to play God.  We are sure we know the heart of the other person and we are sure it is evil—or at least wrong.

 

This attitude is driven by the same self-righteousness that Jesus rebuked in the Pharisee:

 

Luke 18: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about£ himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

If we want to be free from the consequences of judging and unforgiveness, we must agree with God that:

 

1.    We don’t even know our own hearts, but we know we are sinful and in need of mercy

2.    We certainly can’t know others’ hearts

3.    Jesus, who forgave those who crucified him, can give us the grace to forgive others because He lives in us.  (We do not need to wait until they ask for our forgiveness; Jesus didn’t!)

 

Do you really want to be Christ-like?  Then remember Colossians 3:13  and forgive as the Lord forgave you.

 

The Holy Spirit enables us in our weakness.

 

 

HERE ARE SOME STEPS TO FREEDOM:

 

•    Ask God to bring to your mind the people against whom you are holding bad feelings.  List those names.  (Don’t let yourself be driven to morbid introspection.) Check to see if you are holding any bitterness toward God or yourself.   (that person?)

 

•    Tell God you are willing to live with the ongoing consequences of the offender’s actions—even if they continue to sin against you.

 

•    Speak out your forgiveness of others in prayer before God.

 

•    As Him to forgive you for the sin of unforgiveness.

 

•    In faith and in your authority in Christ, take back the ground you have given to Satan through unforgiveness.  Claim the total freedom that is rightly yours in Christ by rebuking the spirit of unforgiveness and commanding him to leave you!

 

•    If future actions by that person trigger painful memories, take it to the cross right away.

 

Because of Jesus, we can live a life of immediate forgiveness towards all who sin against us.  That is the life of freedom.  And remember:

 

14…if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

So let us walk in forgiveness as forgiven saints!

 

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