Introduction

The following article introduces a more in depth audio series found in the Online Sermons section. Click the link below to access the sermons module. Note that the first of this series, dated June 13th, uses testimonies from our congregation and captures part of what God is currently doing in His body. Audio Series OnLine Sermons

Audio Information
Part 1 June 13th, Part 2 June 27th, Part 3 July 4th, Part 4 July 11th, Part 5 July 18th

Background

John 10: 10 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Expanding this further, look in John 10, verses 1 to 18, and you see that Christ is drawing a picture of his relationship to the body.  This picture displays opposing sides:

God vs Thief

     1. God          Jesus comes to offer a full life, an abundant life.
     2. Thief         He comes to steal and kill and destroy.

Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

These words were prophesized  by  Isaiah in Isa 61, 1-2  and foretold of the Lord's coming.  

Look at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 to see an explanation of the word poor.

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

In the above scripture the Apostle Paul encourages us to live our lives here as strangers.  Pastor Marlo uses this as an example of spiritual living manifest through the life of his father Arlo.   Pastor Arlo, now in his seventies,  has the same youthful desires, matured through time, and yet still desires to be on the cutting edge of what the Spirit of God is doing today.  He talked about living our life here as strangers.  In other words, we are not to place our emphasis on living on earth alone, but our vision should be pointed towards heaven by the setting our hearts and minds on things above. Details of this mind-set can be found in the sermon from June 13.

As you read Genesis 37-50,  you can see that the life of Joseph is a demonstration of walking in forgiveness. His relationships are a history of that jouney.   Prayerful reading will reveal a freshness as the Holy Spirit teaches you a deeper way.

Thoughts and Considerations

Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)

 
9 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed   be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

...focus on Forgive

Secrets of the Abundant Life

In the process of  developing a relationship to the Lord, Jesus taught them and us to pray.  Here revealed is one of the secrets of the abundant life, found in the word forgive.  The Apostle Paul understood this starting off as a self-righteous and religious man on the road to Damascus and ending up a broken man, confronted by Christ, forgiven and then transformed .  

Relationships

Much of the trauma or trouble in our lives is revealed through relationships;  it can destroy us if we allow it and most certainly we can lose the abundant life if we make wrong choices (unforgiveness).
An example of making a right choice can be found in Pastor Marlo's relationship to his grandparents, where he explains what he learned and observed as a young boy.  His grandfather,  a successful farmer in Saskatchewan, was a  grateful and thankful man.  He chose to be that way, it was not just an automatic or natural thing that he was born with.  In other words he chose to live in a place of being forgiven and forgiving.  
The story is told of Marlo's great grandfather as a young man,  coming from Iowa to homestead in Canada.  He established a farm the family called Johnson Corner.  Later, he purchased quarter sections near that farm for his children to live on and work once they were grown.  In the process of working the land, relationships were established and choices were made that would have a lasting impact.  Such things happen in all families in various ways. In this case, as a Christian, Marlo's grandfather made a stand that would impact not only the immediate family , but  future generations to come and, in a more extended way, the body of Christ.  The key is in the heart of forgiveness,  maintaining a right relationship no matter what.  After 80 plus years of living, his gratitude towards the Lord has never weavered dispite trying times. Walking in an open field in his late 80s'  with his grandson, he could only express thankfulness at the faithfullness of God in spite of the many bumps and blocks along the road.

Dealing with Problems

Paul in 2 Cor 2:1-11 talks about the pain of dealing with problems, especially with those you have developed a relationship with.  He demonstrated both love and correction together, something that produced anguish before the joy. He spent a good deal of time explaining his position as any spiritual parent would with a great love towards his children. It was the reflected  or demonstrated  heart of God in Paul birthed from the many bumps and blocks along the way. Although Paul was the offended one, he encouraged forgiveness, like his grandparents being forgiven and forgiving.  In the scripture above there is no record that the person Paul is talking about responded. Paul did not set conditions on forgiveness. Paul talks about the appropriate punishment, followed by forgiveness so the corrected person does not become discouraged beyond repair. The person in question merely had to receive forgiveness. Getting back to the Lord's prayer mentioned earlier, the word forgiveness was not condtional on the hearers response. The question is whether we are going to live with a heavenly mind-set or an earthly one. Forgiveness is an attitude of the heart. The struggle we have is to know whether or not we really have forgiven those who have wronged us. Over the next few weeks you will see these thoughts expanded through the life of Joseph (Gen 37-51). For the purpose of our discussion we will assume there are six signs that show that we have forgiven. These signs were shared at a Pastor's Conference that Marlo attended.

1. Don't tell anybody of the wrong. There are 2 exceptions, stayed tuned...future sermons.

2. Don't let them be afraid of you.

3. You won't let them feel guilty.

4. You let them save face.

5. You protect them from their darkest secrets.

6. You keep forgiving as long as you live (forgiveness is a choice).

Life in the Spirit (Romans 8)

Questions: What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? Do you want to walk in the old testament or the new testament?