Colossians 3: 12 – 15Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14)But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NKJV)
***(Amplified Classic) – Colossians 3: 14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
We draw our strength from the Holy Spirit and the Living Word of God.
Ephesians 6: 10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. (Amp. C)
John 14: 26But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. (27)Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Amp. C)
When we have strife, offenses, anger, hatred, and bitterness in our life we will also have unforgiveness present. If we are dealing with strife, offenses, anger, hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness, run to our Loving Heavenly Father.
Our failure to consistently walk the Love Walk is a major hindrance to our prayer lives especially if we have unforgiveness present in our lives. When we do not forgive it directly affects our Love Walk and will stop our prayers
Mark 11: 25 – 26And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. (26)But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.(Amp. C)
Forgiving is a choice we must make. It has nothing to do with our feelings. We forgive by Faith in God and His Living Word because He has commanded us to forgive. We must forgive anyone who has wronged us. Past or present. Even if the person is dead.
God Himself has commanded us to forgive. It is not a suggestion. When God gives a commandment, He also along with the commandment will give us the knowledge on how to carry out the commandment, the ability to carry out the commandment, the authority, and the power to carry out the commandment.
God Himself will back our decision to forgive, and He will strengthen us by His Word and the precious Holy Spirit to be able to forgive and to maintain that forgiveness.
Colossians 3: 12 – 15Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13)bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also
must do. (14)But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NKJV)
1st Peter 4: 7 – 8 But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer. (8) Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].(Amplified Classic)
Proverbs 10: 12 Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 4: 14 – 5: 2 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. (15) Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (16) For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. (17) So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds. (18) Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. (19) In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. (20) But you did not so learn Christ! (21) Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], (22) Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; (23) And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], (24) And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. (25) Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another.(26) When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. (27) Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. (28) Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. (29) Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it. (30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). (31) Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). (32) And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. (Amplified Classic)
1st John 4: 7 …God IS Love, 1st John 4: 8 …God IS Love, 1st John 4: 16 …God IS Love,
1st John 4: 17 …As He IS so are we in this world.
Four characteristics of God’s love at work in our lives are:
It is unconditional. It is not limited, but absolute and unqualified. You don’t have to be qualified to receive the Godkind of love.
It is one-sided. It does not need to be returned. It means initiating love no matter what.
It frees you to be you. You don’t need to wear the mask that attempts to shield who you really are. Once you understand that God loves you, it no longer matters what other people think about you.
It is others-centered love, not self-centered. The center of agape love is someone else.
When Jesus gave the Love Commandment in John 13: 34; John 15: 12; and in John 15: 17 this is the kind of Love He commanded us to walk in.
Jesus came to bring new life. To set the captives free.
Jesus came to bring reconciliation between God the Father and mankind. New life in Christ Jesus. That is what the Cross is all about.
2nd Corinthians 5: 18 – 19 (Amplified Bible)But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. (19) It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
No matter how big the hurt. No matter how heavy the burden, no matter how far down you have gone there is still help available for you.
There is One Who can make a way where there is no way.
There is someone real and who does love you just as you are. He can raise you up and restore your life and joy. He can give you rest for your soul.
Whatever the need or problem, Jesus is the answer.
Matthew 11: 28 – 30 (Amplified Bible)Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (29)Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. (30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
Restoration Ministries 