(Part 2) Growing Trees of Righteousness: Choosing to Forgive

Last week I related to you concerning that I was recently watching the Kenneth Copeland daily broadcast and he had a very interesting guest named Dr. Caroline Leaf.  Dr. Leaf has been studying neuroscience for years, but prior to this, she was a strong Christian firmly rooted in the Word of God.  I was amazed as I listened to Dr. Leaf and brother Copeland as they were tying Scripture to science and giving a true revelation of just how literal the Bible actually is.  For example, if you are thinking on bad things and focusing on them, you actually form a thought in your brain that physically looks like a barren tree.  Well, actually all thoughts look like this tree structure, but if you dwell on a bad thought, it will generate bad proteins and chemistry in your brain effecting cells around this thought, and if you dwell long enough on it, you can actually impact every cell in your body, and this can lead to sickness and disease.  You have to purposefully decide what you are going to dwell upon, and if you dwell upon wickedness and evil, then it can literally consume you spiritually, mentally, and physically, because it has been also been found in neuroscience that you were not just spiritually designed to walk in love and forgiveness as the Bible teaches, but you were physically designed to walk in love and forgiveness also.

Last week we began our Bible study with reading in Isaiah chapter 61 and verse 1.  Let’s read that again.  The Bible says…

Isaiah              61:1    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the

                                  LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto

                                  the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the

                                  brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and

                                  the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

                        61:2   To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the

                                  day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that

                                  mourn;

                        61:3   To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto

                                  them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the

                                  garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they

                                  might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of

                                  the LORD, that He might be glorified.

Ashes-665-rp,ae <eÆpher, ay’-fer; from an unused root mean. to bestrew; ashes:— ashes.

Bestrew-dict.(bef. 12c.)-strew, to lie scattered over.

Strew-dict.(bef. 12c) –to spread by scattering.

Mourning-60-lb,ae <eÆbel, ay’-bel; from 56; lamentation:— mourning.

Heaviness-3544-hh,Ke-keÆheh, kay-heh’; from 3543; feeble, obscure:— somewhat dark, darkish, wax dim, heaviness, smoking.

Beauty-6287-raeP] pƒ<eÆr, peh-ayr’; from 6286; an embellishment, i.e. fancy head-dress:— beauty, bonnet, goodly, ornament, tire.

Oil-8081-÷m,v, shemen, sheh’-men; from 8080; grease, espec. liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); fig. richness:— anointing, × fat (things), × fruitful, oil ([-ed]), ointment, olive, + pine.

Vines-shemen (8081), "(olive) oil; olive; perfume; olivewood.” Cognates of this word appear in Ugaritic, Akkadian, Phoenician, Syriac, Arabic, and Aramaic. This word appears about 190 times and in all periods of biblical Hebrew. 

Shemen means olive “oil”: “And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it” (Gen. 28:18). Olive “oil” was also used to anoint a future office bearer (Exod. 25:6; 2 Kings 9:6); one’s head as a sign of mourning (2 Sam. 14:2); one’s head as a sign of rejoicing (Ps. 23:5); and one’s ear lobe, thumb, and toe as a ritual cleansing (Lev. 14:17). Shemen is used as a preservative on shield-leather (2 Sam. 1:21) and in baking (Exod. 29:2) and as a medication (Ezek. 16:9). This “oil” is burned for light (Exod. 25:6). Its many uses made olive oil a valuable trade item (Ezek. 27:17). 

In many contexts shemen perhaps means the “olive” itself: “… But ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels …” (Jer. 40:10). 

Once the word appears to mean lavish dishes, or dishes mixed with much oil: “And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things [nasb, “lavish banquet”]” (Isa. 25:6). 

Shemen is “a kind of perfume,” or olive oil mixed with certain odors to make a perfume, in passages such as Song of Sol. 1:3: “Because of the savor of thy good ointments [nasb, “oils”] thy name is as ointment poured forth.…” 

Shemen sometimes modifies “wood”: “In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high” (1 Kings 6:23, rsv). 

A related noun mishman appears 4 times. It means “stout or vigorous ones” (Isa. 10:16) and “fertile spots” (Dan. 11:24). 

Joy-8342-÷/cc; saÆsoÆwn, saw-sone’; or ÷cc; saÆsoÆn, saw-sone’; from 7797; cheerfulness; spec. welcome:— gladness, joy, mirth, rejoicing.

Praise-8416-hL;hiT] tƒhillaÆh, teh-hil-law’; from 1984; laudation; spec. (concr.) a hymn:— praise.

Laudation-dict.(15c)-the act of praising.

Vines-tehillah (8416), “glory; praise; song of praise; praiseworthy deeds.” Tehillah occurs 57 times and in all periods of biblical Hebrew. 

First, this word denotes a quality or attribute of some person or thing, “glory or praiseworthiness”: “He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen” (Deut. 10:21). Israel is God’s “glory” when she exists in a divinely exalted and blessed state: “And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isa. 62:7; cf. Jer. 13:11). 

Second, in some cases tehillah represents the words or song by which God is publicly lauded, or by which His “glory” is publicly declared: “My praise [the Messiah is speaking here] shall be of thee in the great congregation …” (Ps. 22:25). Ps. 22:22 is even clearer: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” 

In a third nuance tehillah is a technical-musical term for a song (shir) which exalts or praises God: “David’s psalm of praise” (heading for Ps. 145; v. 1 in the Hebrew). Perhaps Neh. 11:17 refers to a choirmaster or one who conducts such singing of “praises”: “And Mattaniah … , the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer [who at the beginning was the leader of praise at prayer].…” 

Finally, tehillah may represent deeds which are worthy of “praise,” or deeds for which the doer deserves “praise and glory.” This meaning is in the word’s first biblical appearance: “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises [in praiseworthy deeds], doing wonders [miracles]?” (Exod. 15:11). 

Two other related nouns are mahalal and hillulim. Mahalal occurs once (Prov. 27:21) and denotes the degree of “praise” or its lack. Hillulim, which occurs twice, means “festal jubilation” in the fourth year at harvest time (Lev. 19:24, rsv; Judg. 9:27, nasb), 

todah (8426), “thanksgiving.” This important noun form, found some 30 times in the Old Testament, is used there in the sense of “thanksgiving.” The word is preserved in modern Hebrew as the regular word for “thanks.” In the Hebrew text todah is used to indicate “thanksgiving” in songs of worship (Ps. 26:7; 42:4). Sometimes the word is used to refer to the thanksgiving choir or procession (Neh. 12:31, 38). One of the peace offerings, or “sacrings,” was designated the thanksgiving offering (Lev. 7:12). 

Last week we discussed that here the Bible says that the LORD gives us beauty for ashes, He gives us the oil of joy for mourning, He gives us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  So here we see three demonic things that can attack our soul and spirit, and they are ashes, mourning, and heaviness and three things that the LORD give us in exchange for each of these demonic attacks, and they are beauty, oil of joy, and a garment of praise.  In each of these cases, it is a progression.  Ashes are obviously the destruction of something that was.  It could be a business, a home, physical health, or relationships.  Mourning would be for the thing destroyed or for the loss.  It could be grief, or sorrow.  The third thing that attacks our soul and spirit is heaviness.  I do not know if you have ever experienced this, but stress and mourning can lead to a feeling of just heaviness in your body, soul, and spirit, where you are struggling just to go on with life.  If you look at these three things …they are a progression, …and they come because of what you have willed yourself to set your mind and your heart upon.  First you have the destruction, then you choose to dwell on the problem, then mourning begins, and then you end up with such heaviness in your spirit that you struggle to go on, …but this is not where the LORD wants you to be, …for you see, …the LORD also gives you three things.  The LORD gives you beauty …in exchange …for the ashes, …the LORD gives you the oil of joy… in exchange …for the mourning, …and the LORD gives you the garment of praise …in exchange …for the spirit of heaviness.  Here again we see a progression and that is beauty, joy, and praise.  When the LORD exchanges beauty for ashes, He is trying to let you know that as long as you are still here …and still alive, …it is not over. 

You …can have …a new day, and God is a miracle-working God, and He is the only One that I know that can unscramble eggs and put them back in the shell, …and let’s say the worst happens, from and earthly perspective, …and you die.  Well, if you are a Christian, then you still win, for the LORD has made a place for you, and you will be carried into His presence, and so shall we be with the LORD …forever.  Praise God!  Remember what the Apostle Paul wrote.  The Bible says…

Philippians     1: 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

If you really believe what Philippians 1:21 just said, the there is no possible way for you to loose as a Bible-believing Christian.  So God gives you beauty for ashes.  When you receive that beauty, the oil of joy will begin to flow.  A wonderful smelling, perfumed oil will just stick all over you.  God is saying that He wants to stick His joy …all over you, …so that you are just anointed with joy, cheerfulness and gladness.  Praise God!  Then God says that He wants you to cast off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise.  This …is …a …willful …choice.  You have to make a willful choice …to put on a garment of praise.  It does not matter what the situation is.  You can choose to lift your hands and praise the LORD …either for the situation, or you can choose to lift your hands and praise the LORD …for getting you through the situation.  Either way, you can choose to make the choice to praise the LORD.  You have to wear praise …like a garment …and don’t take it off, …even when you come inside.  Raise your hands and praise the LORD …on purpose.  In fact the word “praise” can be translated “hymn” or “song of praise”.  So you can choose …to sing a song unto the LORD.  I do not know how many times we have been in rough situations and we just started singing unto the LORD, and the LORD got us through the situation.  (Through intense traffic situations we have sung through and the sisserian section operation birth of Christina, Desiree’ and I both sang through it, Desiree’ was awake the whole time).

What are you doing when you do these things?  You are making the willful choice to cast off ashes, mourning and heaviness in your thoughts and spirit …and exchange them for beauty, joy, and praise.  Let’s go back now and read why God provided this exchange for us.  Let’s read Isaiah 61 and verse 3 again.  The Bible says…

Isaiah               61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto

                                  them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the

                                  garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they 

                                  might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of 

                                  the LORD, that He might be glorified.

Here we see that God wants us called “trees of righteousness”.  Praise God!  Isn’t it amazing to think about the fact that a thought in our mind looks like a tree?  God is saying that He wants these hurtful, harmful things removed from our minds and He wants them replaced with thoughts that He plants, …thoughts of righteousness, …thoughts of right-thing-doing, …so that we will be the planting of the LORD, with His thoughts planted in out minds, so that our lives …might bring Him glory.  Praise God!  God wants us …to think His thoughts …after Him, …by allowing Him …to plant His thoughts …into our minds. 

This week we are going to discuss …bad thoughts …and their effects.  If you refuse to allow the LORD to plant His thoughts, His will, and His Word into your spirit and soul, then you will never be able to will yourself to follow the LORD in His path of righteousness.  Listen to what is written in the book of James.  The Bible says…

James             3:14   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,

                                  glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Bitter- 4089-pikrov" pikroás, pik-ros´; perh. from 4078 (through the idea of piercing); sharp (pungent), i.e. acrid (lit. or fig.):— bitter.

Vines- pikros (4089), from a root pik—, meaning “to cut, to prick,” hence, lit., “pointed, sharp, keen, pungent to the sense of taste, smell, etc.,” is found in Jas. 3:11, 14. In v. 11 it has its natural sense, with reference to water; in v. 14 it is used metaphorically of jealousy, rv.

Envey- 2205-zh`lo" zeµloás, dzay´-los; from 2204; prop. heat, i.e. (fig.) “zeal” (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [fig. of God], or an enemy, malice):— emulation, envy (-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.

Vines- 2. zelos (2205), “zeal, jealousy,” is rendered “fierceness” in Heb. 10:27, rv (of fire). 

strife-2052-ejriqeiva eáritheáia, er-ith-i´-ah; perh. as the same as 2042; prop. intrigue, i.e. (by impl.) faction:— contention (-ious), strife.

Vines- erithia (or —eia) (2052) denotes “ambition, self-seeking, rivalry,” self-will being an underlying idea in the word; hence it denotes “party-making.” It is derived, not from eris, “strife,” but from erithos, “a hireling”; hence the meaning of “seeking to win followers,” “factions,” so rendered in the rv of 2 Cor. 12:20, kjv, “strifes”; not improbably the meaning here is rivalries, or base ambitions (all the other words in the list express abstract ideas rather than factions); Gal. 5:20 (ditto); Phil. 1:17 (rv; kjv, v. 16, “contention”); 2:3 (kjv, “strife”); Jas. 3:14, 16 (ditto); in Rom. 2:8 it is translated as an adjective, “factious” (kjv, “contentious”). The order “strife, jealousy, wrath, faction,” is the same in 2 Cor. 12:20 and Gal. 5:20. “Faction” is the fruit of jealousy.¶ Cf. the synonymous adjective hairetikos, Titus 3:10, causing division (marg., “factious”), not necessarily “heretical,” in the sense of holding false doctrine.

Glory-2620-katakaucavomai katakauchaoámai, kat-ak-oáw-khah´-om-ahee; from 2596 and 2744; to exult against (i.e. over):— boast (against), glory, rejoice against.

Let’s stop here a moment.  Here the Bible says that if you have bitter envying and strife, you are not to rejoice in this and lie against the truth of God’s Word.  “Bitter envying” means that you are having a sharp, piercing jealousy problem, and here the Bible specifically says that it is in your heart, which means it is affecting your will and your spirit.  Also the Bible says that that “bitter envying” causes “strife” or “self-seeking rivalry”. 

The verse continues by saying that if you have this in your heart, then don’t come rejoicing before the LORD in this, for you are living a lie that is in opposition to the truth of God’s Word.  Listen to how this continues.  Let’s read this verse again and continue the passage…

James             3:14   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,

                                  glory not, and lie not against the truth.

                        3:15   This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly,

                                  sensual, devilish.

earthly-1919-ejpivgeio" eápigeáioás, ep-ig´-i-os; from 1909 and 1093; worldly (phys. or mor.):— earthly, in earth, terrestrial.

Sensual-5591-yucikov" psuchikoás, psoo-khee-kos´; from 5590; sensitive, i.e. animate (in distinction on the one hand from 4152, which is the higher or renovated nature; and on the other from 5446, which is the lower or bestial nature):— natural, sensual.

Vines-2. psuchikos (5591), “belonging to the psuche, soul” (as the lower part of the immaterial in man), “natural, physical,” describes the man in Adam and what pertains to him (set in contrast to pneumatikos “spiritual”), 1 Cor. 2:14; 15:44 (twice), 46 (in the latter used as a noun); Jas. 3:15, “sensual” (rv marg., “natural” or “animal”), here relating perhaps more especially to the mind, a wisdom in accordance with, or springing from, the corrupt desires and affections; so in Jude 19.

Devilish-1141-daimoniwvdh" daimoánioµdeµs, dahee-mon-ee-o´-dace; from 1140 and 1142; demon-like:— devilish.

Vines-daimoniodes (1141) signifies “proceeding from, or resembling, a demon, demoniacal”; see marg. of Jas. 3:15, rv (text, “devilish”). 

Let’s stop here for a moment.  Here we learn that bitter envying and strife in your heart …is not from God, …but it is earthly, sensual, and devilish.  These are very interesting words, for “earthly” means, “worldly”.  This made me think of the demonically controlled man from Pilgrim’s Progress who continually would try to lead Pilgrim astray.  The name of this demonically controlled person was “worldly wise man”, who obtained all his wisdom from the leading of his sinful flesh, instead of following the Word of God in the spirit.  So “earthly” means, “worldly”.  The word “sensual” means, “belonging to the soul”, and “devilish” means, “demon-like, proceeding from, or resembling a demon”.  Wow!  This is really strong language letting you know that if you are having a jealousy problem in you heart and spirit, then that problem is worldly, out of the realm of the soul, and is demonic, and may be due to the presence of a demon.  

Listen to how this continues by showing us how “harboring” these types of thoughts effects your brain.  The Bible says… 

James             3:16   For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and

                                  every evil work. 

Confusion- 181-ajkatastasiva akatastasia, ak-at-as-tah-see´-ah; from 182; instability, i.e. disorder:— commotion, confusion, tumult.

Vines- 1. akatastasia (181), “instability,” (a, negative, kata, “down,” stasis, “a standing”), denotes “a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion, tumult,” 1 Cor. 14:33; Jas. 3:16, “revolution or anarchy”; translated “tumults” in Luke 21:9 (kjv, “commotions”); 2 Cor. 6:5; 12:20. See tumult.

 Evil-5337-fau`lo" phauloás, foáw´-los; appar. a primary word; “foul” or “flawy”, i.e. (fig.) wicked:— evil.

Vines- 3. phaulos (5337) primarily denotes “slight, trivial, blown about by every wind”; then, “mean, common, bad,” in the sense of being worthless, paltry or contemptible, belonging to a low order of things; in John 5:29, those who have practiced “evil” things, rv, “ill” (phaula), are set in contrast to those who have done good things (agatha); the same contrast is presented in Rom. 9:11 and 2 Cor. 5:10, in each of which the most authentic mss. have phaulos for kakos; he who practices “evil” things (rv, “ill”) hates the light, John 3:20; jealousy and strife are accompanied by “every vile deed,” Jas. 3:16. It is used as a noun in Titus 2:8 (see B, No. 4). See bad, ill, vile.

Work- 4229-pra`gma pragma, prag´-mah; from 4238; a deed; by impl. an affair; by extens. an object (material):— business, matter, thing, work.

Here we see that when a person harbors envying and strife in their heart, it actually affects their thinking such that they are confused, disordered, and unstable, which will cause them to perform foul, wicked, and evil deeds.  Think of the word “harbor” for a moment.  To “harbor” means that the boat is tied to the dock and the crew is unloading its cargo.  If you “harbor” envy and strife, then those thoughts will unload their cargo in your brain.   According to Dr. Leaf, she says that when you think on evil and strife it actually causes the brain to fold unusually where that thought is, and these unusual folds cause electrical turmoil in the signals that are supposed to be being sent in your brain, …and it literally causes confusion …in the signals that your brain is sending.  So the Bible is both spiritually and physically correct in saying that “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work”, because people harboring these ungodly thoughts are not thinking God’s thoughts after Him, …so they are warping their brains …and physically hurting themselves, …which will them lead them to perform evil deeds.  In contrast to these devilish thoughts, listen to what the next verse says concerning God’s wisdom, or God’s thoughts that He has given us to think after Him as recorded in His Word the Bible.  The Bible says…

James             3:17   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then

                                  peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of

                                  mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without

                                  hypocrisy. 

Pure-53-aJgnov" hagnoás, hag-nos´; from the same as 40; prop. clean, i.e. (fig.) innocent, modest, perfect:— chaste, clean, pure.

Vines- hagnos (53) signifies (a) “pure from every fault, immaculate,” 2 Cor. 7:11 (kjv, “clear”); Phil. 4:8; 1 Tim. 5:22; Jas. 3:17; 1 John 3:3 (in all which the rv rendering is “pure”), and 1 Pet. 3:2, “chaste”; (b) “pure from carnality, modest,” 2 Cor. 11:2, rv, “pure”; Titus 2:5, chaste. See clear, holy, pure.¶ 

Note: Cf. hagios, “holy, as being free from admixture of evil”; hosios, “holy, as being free from defilement”; eilikrines, “pure, as being tested,” lit., “judged by the sunlight”, katharos, “pure, as being cleansed.” 

Peaceable-1516-eijrhnikov" eáireµnikoás, i-ray-nee-kos´; from 1515; pacific; by impl. salutary:— peaceable.

Vines- eirenikos (1516), akin to A, denotes “peaceful.” It is used (a) of the fruit of righteousness, Heb. 12:11, “peaceable” (or “peaceful”) because it is produced in communion with God the Father, through His chastening; (b) of “the wisdom that is from above,” Jas. 3:17.

Note: In 1 Tim. 2:2, kjv, hesuchios, “quiet,” is translated “peaceable” (rv, “quiet”). 

Gentle- 1933-ejpieikhv" eápieáikeµs, ep-ee-i-kace´; from 1909 and 1503; appropriate, i.e. (by impl.) mild:— gentle, moderation, patient.

Vines- 2. epieikes (1933), an adjective (from epi, used intensively, and eikos, “reasonable”), is used as a noun with the article in Phil. 4:5, and translated “forbearance” in the rv; kjv, “moderation,” rv, marg., “gentleness,” “sweet reasonableness” (Matthew Arnold). See gentle. 

Intreated- 2138-eujpeiqhv" eáupeáitheµs, yoo-pi-thace´; from 2095 and 3982; good for persuasion, i.e. (intr.) compliant:— easy to be intreated.

Vines- eupeithes (2138), “ready to obey” (eu, “well,” peithomai, “to obey, to be persuaded”), “compliant,” is translated “easy to be intreated” in Jas. 3:17, said of the wisdom that is from above.

James                 3:18   And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them

                                  that make peace.

These are really an amazing set of verses for this says that God’s wisdom is pure from every fault, and if it is obeyed in your life, it will yield the fruit of righteousness, because God’s wisdom …comes from spending time in communion with God …reading and meditating upon His Word.  I know some might say, “What is the fruit of righteousness?”.  Well, the Bible says…

Galatians        5:22   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

                                  longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

                        5:23   Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

So if you want love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance to manifest in your life, then you have to choose …to train yourself …to think God’s thoughts after Him.

Listen to what Jesus says…

John        14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in

                          me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:

                          but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.

Here Jesus clearly says that the things He said were Words from His Father and the deeds Jesus did were the works that God the Father did through Him.  So in other words, Jesus thought the Father’s thoughts after Him and the works of God manifested here on the planet.  I know many would say, well, this was Jesus.  Hold you place here just a minute and listen to what the Holy Ghost had the Apostle Peter write.  The Bible says…

I Peter  2:21   For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also

                        suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow 

                        His steps: 

             2:22   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:

guile-1388-dovlo" doáloás, dol´-os; from an obs. primary verb,  devllw deálloµ (prob. mean. to decoy; comp. 1185); a trick (bait), i.e. (fig.) wile:— craft, deceit, guile, subtilty (subtlety)

Here we see that Jesus is our example, and if Jesus sought only to say what God the Father would have Him say, and only did the works that God the Father did through Him, then we are to do the same, because Jesus is our example.  In fact the Bible says Jesus did no sin, and why? 

Because He was allowing God the Father the perform the works of God through Him, and the Bible says that no guile was found in His mouth.  “Guile” means, “deceit, trickery”.  So Jesus was not a liar or deceiver, but Jesus spoke the words of His Father, because Jesus was thinking the thoughts of God His Father after Him.

Turn back with me to John chapter 14 and verse 24.  Listen to what Jesus says…

John     14:24 He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the word

                        which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.

Here Jesus clearly says that people not following what Jesus says to do, people not thinking our LORD’s thoughts after Him, are people who do not love our LORD.  Look back at verse 15 Jesus says…

John     14:15 If ye love Me, keep My commandments.

Well, I think that is pretty clear.  If we love the LORD, our goal should be to follow what the LORD Jesus says to do, not only in deed, but in our thought life. 

We have to choose to think His thoughts after Him, for this will lead us to do the good and Godly deeds that we are called to do, and it will rid our minds of wicked thoughts that actually damage our brains and our bodies. 

I know that some might say, “But you do not understand.  The reason I am bitter and full of strife is because those people stole from me, or perhaps they hurt someone you loved, or perhaps they even murdered someone close to you”.  I know that that can be a hard thing, but independent of these people or the situation, you have to choose whether or not you are willing to dedicate yourself …to love the LORD Jesus.  If you are willing to commit to loving the LORD Jesus Christ, then Jesus says that the way you show you love Him is by being willingly obedient to Him.  Listen to what Jesus says…

Matthew 6:14   For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father

                          will also forgive you:

                6:15   But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your

                          Father forgive your trespasses.

Here Jesus says that if you are unwilling to forgive others, then your heavenly Father will not forgive you.  So the forgiveness that you extend to godless heathens …is not for their benefit, …nor is it to condone what they have done, …but the forgiveness that you extend to them …is because you are choosing …to love the LORD Jesus Christ …and are choosing to forgive them …out of obedience to the LORD …so that you can have a right relationship with God. 

In a parable that Jesus spoke concerning an unforgiving servant, listen to what the king did.  Jesus says…

Matthew 18:34           And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the

                          tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

So this unforgiving servant was handed over to the tormentors, because he chose not to forgive.  Then listen to what Jesus says next…

Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye

                          from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their

                          trespasses.

Here we see that people who make the willful choice not to forgive …even the most unforgivable person that they can think of, …those unforgiving people …will be handed over to the tormentors.  While this may be talking about a future in hell, it is also talking about your thoughts.  Unforgiveness will breed torment in you spirit and soul, for the choice not to forgive comes from your will, your heart, and your spirit, which will majorly impact your soul, mind, and emotions, and will lead you to use your body for deeds that are ungodly.  On top of all of that, that bad thought, that bad tree that you have grown in your brain, will fold your brain improperly, causing electrical confusion, grow wrong proteins around the thought, and can actually impact your DNA affecting every cell in your body, which could lead to sickness and even death.  Listen to what the Bible says…

Proverbs         23:7   For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

This says that if you are thinking after bitterness, and strife, guess what you are?  You are a bitter and strifeful person, even towards those whom you would like to love.  That is why Jesus says…

Matthew         3:10   And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:

                                  therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit

                                  is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Sure there are different applications of this verse, but one application certainly involves your thought life.  You have to cut down those bad thoughts in your brain and you may have to do this daily, moment-by-moment, until it becomes a habit, and you have to substitute …forgiveness, because you are choosing to love the LORD Jesus Christ and walk in obedience to His commands. 

I want you to hear what is possibly one of the most powerful verses in the entirety of the Scriptures.  Listen to what Jesus said…

Mark    11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 

             11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this

                        mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and

                        shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things

                        which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever

                        he saith.

Mark       11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when

                        ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Did you just hear what Jesus said?  If you did, then you really need to stop and think about it.  He said that we are to have faith in God Almighty.  That means we are to have “firm, steadfast, unwavering, reliance upon God, and the truth of His Word the Bible”.  Then Jesus says that if a mountain of a problem has come against you, …speak to it …and cast the problem into the sea, …and have no doubt that this will occur, …but put your faith in action, …and Jesus says …what you have said …will come to pass.  In fact Jesus says that when we pray, we are to put our faith into action …that we have already received the answer, …and then the answer will manifest itself.  Praise God!   This is an extremely powerful passage of the Scriptures, …but now listen to the very next verse…

Mark    11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against

                        any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you

                        your trespasses.

             11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in

                        heaven forgive your trespasses.

Here we see that receiving the blessing from God …is hinged …upon you …choosing …to be obedient to the LORD’s command …to forgive, …but if you choose not to forgive, …then that unforgiveness …is going to keep unloading that ungodly cargo …in your brain, …and you will not receive from the LORD. 

Instead, if you will love the LORD and act in obedience to His command to forgive, then Jesus says the doors of heaven will open to you, and you can have whatsoever you desire.  Praise God!

So we have to choose what thoughts we are going to allow to harbor in our brains.  You have to figure out what cargo you want unloaded.  It is either going to be the cargo of torment, or it is going to be the cargo of the blessing of the LORD, which are trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 

Perhaps today you have realized that you have a soul full of bad trees, bad thoughts, and hurtful memories that are affecting your life.  It is time to cut those things down, cast them into the fire, and choose to love the LORD Jesus and forgive whomever, whatever, and anything else.  If you are ready to commit to loving the LORD Jesus and follow His command to forgive, …then pray with me right now …and just say…

God ...I know that I have sinned ...but I repent …and turn from that sin right now ...and I set my goal …not to walk in sin any more ...I receive Your cleansing …of everything that I have ever done wrong ...in the blood of Jesus ...Jesus, that means You are my Savior ...and I believe that God raised You from the dead ...so I ask You, Jesus ...to come into my heart ...to be the Lord of my life ...Lord Jesus, I ask You to baptize me in the Holy Ghost ...Father God, You are now my Daddy …You are now my heavenly Father ...and praise God …I am now Your child …I am now in the family of God ...LORD Jesus …this day …I choose …to forgive everyone …every situation… that hurt me …cause me harm…  hurt my loved ones …or caused anything else …I forgive …I forgive now  …and I release those people …and those situations …into Your hands …and I commit …to loving the LORD Jesus Christ …all the remaining days of my life …My life …beginning this day …will show a difference for You Lord …I choose this day …to make You …and Your word …the source …of the answer … for every need in my life …thank You Lord Jesus ...for my victory this day ...and for all of Your blessings ...that are headed my way …I receive them now by faith ...so be it ...Amen.

Praise God!  You have just begun the greatest adventure of your life, for in following and serving God, you will get to see God perform miracles in your life and in the lives of those around you.  Expect good things to happen for God is good and wants good things in your life.  Read God’s word and speak His word in your life for this will release the power of God to begin working on your behalf …to take you from where you are …into God’s best blessings.  Praise God!  Remember, God loves you, Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is coming soon.