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https://www.givehim15.com/post/may-13-2025 May 13, 2025 The Power of Forgiveness Yesterday, I spoke with you about offenses and forgiveness. The New Testament word translated as “offense” actually came from animal traps. This word was the stick upon which a piece of raw meat was placed. When an animal reached for the meat, the trap was sprung, and they were captured. It is very revealing that the word for “offense” basically means to “take the bait.” This is also why it is called “picking up” an offense. Regarding forgiveness, in yesterday’s post, we mentioned that the New Testament word means “to release.” A good translation of Luke 6:37 would be “Release, and you will be released.” When we release the person who has offended or wounded us, we can then be released from the bruises and pain they caused us. Releasing them releases us. We also said yesterday that forgiveness is a choice - a decision - not a feeling. My Testimony When I was 17 years old, my family went through a very difficult time. The Board of Directors of the church my father had planted removed him and took the home where we were living. The house had been given to our family, but for tax purposes, it was put in the church’s name. We were left penniless and homeless. I didn’t know at the time that they had removed my father because of immorality. Shortly thereafter, he divorced my mother and married the other woman. Our family was devastated once again. Circumstances had gone from bad to catastrophic. I became bitter at Dad for his role in this, and at the church that abandoned my family, especially the chairman of the church board. I focused much of my anger upon him, an anger that soon became a bitter hatred. After all, he kicked us to the street. I said on several occasions that I could not kill this man, but I would rejoice if someone else did. Though it was irrational, I also became bitter at the church, in general. I associated my pain and my family’s disintegration with religion, and swore I would never darken the door of another church. Becoming very rebellious, I ran from God and turned to drugs and alcohol. God was incredibly patient. He protected me and, for two years, waited patiently for me to come to a point where I could respond to Him again. I returned to Him and have enjoyed a wonderful walk with God since that time. Around six months into my renewed walk with the Lord, He began dealing with me about my hatred for the man I had blamed for many of our problems. I heard Holy Spirit very clearly telling me I needed to forgive him. I did not angrily resist the Lord, but I did not believe I could ever truly do so. The bitterness I had against this man was so strong, I had no confidence whatsoever that I would be able to forgive him; I told the Lord this. Holy Spirit was gentle with me, not condemning. His promptings always came as a gentle nudge deep in my heart. He was, however, insistent and persistent: “You will have to do this if you want My best for you and to truly be free from all of the pain this caused.” When my heart softened to the point that I was willing to try, Holy Spirit began teaching me how to do it. Some of what He taught me I shared in yesterday’s post. He revealed to me that I could have emotional feelings of anger, hurt, etc., and still choose to forgive from my heart, overruling my emotions. As an example, He said, “You don’t like to get up early some days and go to work, but you do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do; it’s your responsibility. You don’t like to exercise, but you do it anyway because you know that you need to.” Then came the final blow, “Jesus did not want to go to the Cross, but He did so anyway, for the joy He knew it would produce later” (Hebrews 12:2). “Choose to do this because it’s right, even though you don’t want to. Don’t allow your feelings to rule you. If you will make this choice and maintain the decision daily, I’ll be able to release you from all the pain, resentment, and hatred. Your responsibility is to let go; it’s My responsibility to heal your emotions and release you from every effect of this. Choose life!” Somehow, the dots connected in my thinking. I realized I could overrule my “feelings.” I didn’t have to “feel” like it, and I didn’t need any positive feelings toward this man. I simply needed to “release” him to God, trusting Him to do what was right. I did so daily, saying something along these lines (it’s important to say it), “I choose to release David [not his real name] from all he did to hurt my family.” Every time he came to mind, and unpleasant feelings began rising up inside of me, I would say it again, “I choose to release David from all he did to hurt my family.” Some days I had to do this multiple times. After a couple of weeks, he was rarely coming to my mind, and when he did, I felt less emotion. I continued this process. A week or two after that, he came to mind again, and I realized that I felt no pain or anger whatsoever. I was shocked! I knew God had released me from all the effects of what had occurred two years earlier. The Proof However, Holy Spirit wanted to show me that I was truly healed. One Sunday night, my mom and I were returning home from a church service and stopped at a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat. There were no tables available, and we were waiting for one when I noticed this particular man and his wife seated across the room. He noticed us at the same time. I also saw that he and his wife were seated at a table for four people, and two of the chairs were empty. He jumped to his feet and headed in our direction. Well, I thought to myself, he wants to say hello. I’m about to find out if this is real. He wanted to do more than just say hello. “Would the two of you like to join us at our table?” he asked. “Sure,” said my mother, “that’s very kind of you.” I kept waiting for that angry, bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach that used to surface when I thought of him. I expected at least a few negative emotions. But there were none. I was not having to feign being nice to him while burying my anger and hatred. It was actually easy - it felt normal to treat him with kindness. I felt no pain whatsoever. I thanked the Lord for delivering me from my chains of bitterness. No, this man did not become my friend, but he was no longer my enemy. Friends, regardless of the level of your pain, who hurt you, or when it occurred, God can and will do this for you. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to go through life and not have many opportunities to forgive. You said offenses will come. You did not tell us to forgive only if we felt like it; You simply said to do so. You never ask us to do anything You will not enable us to do. So we choose this day to honor Your word and obey it from our hearts, our spirits, regardless of how our emotions feel. As we obey what You have said, our emotions and feelings must come into alignment with the Word-based decision we make. They must…and they will. As we release, we will be released. Father, we ask for tremendous grace to everyone praying this prayer with us now. Give them the grace to forgive and release. Let a process of healing begin for those who have been abandoned, abused, rejected, betrayed, and wronged in any way. Release a strong revelation that forgiveness is a choice we can all make. May today mark a new beginning for them, and all the negative results of what they have suffered be reversed. Let this begin today. We ask that You heal bodies through this. Mend hurting hearts and minds. Tear down the walls we’ve built to protect our emotions. Cause victims to be victimized no longer. Let the abused go free. Release captives, mend broken hearts, and restore hope. We ask that today truly be a new beginning. And we ask it all in the name of the great healer, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in forgiveness to all. *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/august-22-2022 August 22, 2022 Don’t Take the Bait In Luke 17:1, Jesus tells us that offenses are inevitable; they WILL come. The Greek word for “offense” is skandalon. It is also translated as a “stumbling block,” a word or event which causes an individual to stumble or fall, figuratively speaking. This word is very fascinating. Skandalon literally means “a trap-stick.” (1) It was the trigger of a trap (usually made of wood) on which bait was placed; when the bait was taken by an animal, the trap was sprung. Skandalon is also the Greek word from which we get our English word, scandal. When we, like an unsuspecting animal, take certain types of bait, we are trapped and often find ourselves in a scandalous situation. It also became the word for an “offense.” An offense is a result of “taking the bait” when wronged. Thus the phrase “pick up an offense.” When we have been wronged or mistreated, the key to remaining free from bitterness and lasting pain is to not pick up the offense - don’t take the bait. Jesus told us very clearly that we WILL be baited - offenses WILL come. We must not pick them up - they are traps! The bait in an animal trap is food the creature finds appealing, something it desires to eat. How else could the trap actually be successful? Likewise, we pick up offenses because it is desirable and feels good to pick them up. When treated poorly or unfairly, stolen from, spoken to harshly, abused, or mistreated, it feels good to take the bait. We “deserve” to be angry, to feel resentful, to take up an offense. After all, they hurt us. But it’s a trap! Years ago, in a certain part of Africa, monkeys were trapped by placing a banana in a jar that was tied to a tree or stake. The opening of the jar was just large enough for the monkey’s hand to fit through it when open. However, when the hand was closed into a fist, it was too big to remove it. The monkey wanted the banana so badly it would not let go of it, and consequently could not remove its hand. It was now trapped. If you have picked up an offense, if you have taken the bait, let go of it. It’s the only way to be free. If you hold on to it, you will become a captive to the enemy and to the effects of the wound. This brings us to the subject of forgiveness. Jesus told us in Luke 6:37 to forgive, and we would be forgiven. In the prayer we call the Lord‘s Prayer, Jesus again instructed us to forgive our debtors, or “those who trespass against us.” The word “forgive” also means to release. “Release, and you will be released,” Luke 6:37 says. The key to being freed from the effects of being wronged - pain, fear, emotional walls, and more - is to release the person that hurt us. Let go of the banana. It may feel good to resent or hate the offending party, but it’s a trap. One of the biggest hindrances for people when trying to forgive is a wrong understanding of forgiveness itself. Most people link it with their feelings. But forgiveness is not a feeling or an emotion. It is a decision we make based on truth, just like love. Being angry at someone we love doesn’t mean we no longer love them. We may not “feel” the love currently - emotionally, we feel anger - but we still love the person. In the same way, forgiveness isn’t a feeling. We can make a genuine decision to forgive/release while still feeling anger, hurt, pain, etc. We do so as an action of our will, based on truth - God said to do it. And if we maintain our decision, it begins the process of releasing us from the pain and hurt. Another hindrance to forgiveness is failing to realize we are not declaring the offending person to be innocent. We are simply releasing them to God - He reserves the right to judge individuals. We are handing them over to Him, and He will do what is right. Still another hindrance is a belief that when we forgive, we must then have only pleasant thoughts or feelings toward the offender. There are people I have forgiven that I still do not trust or like as a person. They are mean and unkind. But I can choose to love and forgive even my enemies, releasing them to God, though they will never be my friends. When we pick up an offense, if not released, it will become a root of bitterness. The fruit it produces is also bitter: sickness, emotional disorders, anger, loss of joy, and a breach between us and God. It also spreads to others. Hebrews tells us the root of bitterness defiles many. “Looking diligently lest any man fails of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15; KJV). The Greek word defiled is also the word for a stain on clothing. When we become bitter, we stain others with our bitterness. We’ve all seen entire families separated through bitterness. How tragic. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for modeling love and forgiveness. While we were still sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us. Jesus, You forgave those crucifying You. We want Your forgiving nature to control us. We want to walk in love. We ask for grace now to do so. As You taught us to do, we choose to forgive those who have hurt us. We release them. As we do so, we believe it will release a healing process in us. Wounds will heal, sickness will leave, and emotions will no longer control us. We desire to forgive and release so You can forgive us (Mark 11:25). And Lord, we know healed people heal people. Make us healers. Help us to spread healing love, not stain-causing bitterness. Heal our land of racial wounds, political division, and cultural divides. We want to see the accuser cast down in our nation. We bind spirits of division and strife, declaring their hold broken. We desire to be ambassadors and examples of your love and forgiveness toward others. Help us represent You well. We pray these things in Christ’s powerful name. Our decree: We decree that we will love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven by God. ********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ______________________________ Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984; revised edition, 1990) p 2274.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/april-1-2022 April 1, 2022 God Has A Sense of Humor I want to share one more post on forgiveness and being released from past hurts. I have posted on the subject during the previous two days - however, this one reveals, to some extent, the sense of humor God has. A couple of years after insisting that I forgave the man I held responsible for so much pain in my family, and enabling me to do so, (read about it here), the Lord led me to Christ For the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. It was there that I became much better grounded in the Word of God, learned to pray, became a true worshiper, embraced a heart for the nations, and met my lovely wife, Ceci. It was a great two years. Shortly after arriving, to my surprise I ran into the son of the man I had hated so strongly. His son was also there as a student. Tom (not his real name) happened to be in the cluster of 15 or 20 students that became my inner circle there. I wouldn’t say he became a best friend, but we were definitely friends. He was a few years younger than me and had no idea of the past hatred I once held for his dad. I’m sure he was completely unaware of what had even taken place a few years prior to this. Tom had gotten into drugs and alcohol while in high school and became horribly addicted. He had come to Christ and was attending the Bible institute to help firm up his walk with the Lord. I found it very encouraging that I could relate to this young man with no feelings of awkwardness or resentment. About six months into my time there, Tom had a bit of a relapse and used some recreational drugs, which was obviously against the very strict policy of the Institute. The Institute wasn’t legalistic. However, it was not a rehabilitation center and was not equipped to deal with drug addiction and rehabilitation, so they were very firm in their stance. To violate the policy meant dismissal, with their help in finding a place more suited to ministering to them. The Dean of Men, who would be making this decision and doling out the consequences, called me to his office. I knew him somewhat from some on-campus prayer meetings I had attended. He was very strict regarding the school’s policies, but was also very prophetic. He prayed regarding situations of this nature, asking Holy Spirit to give him wisdom and guidance. I had no idea why he was summoning me to his office. He explained what happened with Tom, and spelled out the normal consequences for the offense. “I want to give him another chance, however,” he stated. “I believe his heart is right. He is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” he asked. “Yes” I said, “he is a friend.” I felt truly spiritual being able to say that, and was very satisfied with myself. Not that I was proud, you understand. My assumption was that the Dean was about to ask me if I thought it was a good idea to give Tom another chance. NOT..! “I have noticed you in the prayer room and observed you praying on occasion,” he began. I was, indeed, attempting to become an intercessor. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but I was passionate. “I am willing to give Tom a second chance,” he said, “if you are willing to take him on as a personal assignment. You must take him to the prayer room every day and pray over him, teaching him to pray, and helping him get free from his addictions.” Did I mention that this Dean was very prophetic?! He knew nothing about my past with this young man‘s father. But had he ever heard from God! I said yes, and left the room astounded. I’m not sure what my exact words to the Lord were when I left the dean’s office, but it was something like this, “Well, God, You sure do have a sense of humor.” “I do,” He said. “But I’m doing more than being humorous. I’m finishing the job. Drive the nail into the coffin of your past. Make satan pay. Overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) You are free in your heart; now seal it with your actions.” I was able to do what I had been assigned to do. I dragged this young man to the prayer room every day - actually, he had no choice - and prayed over him, as well as making him pray, for an hour or so. Surprise, surprise! It worked…for both of us. We chased off his demons and buried my past pain. Only God. Tom became free and was able to remain free - to this day, I trust. Overcome in the above verse (Romans 12:21), is the Greek word, nikao. It means “to conquer, prevail, overcome; even legally - to win in a court of law.” It’s a wonderful word describing our God-infused ability to be overcomers in life. There is one place, however, where Holy Spirit evidently decided this word was not strong enough to describe the overcoming nature He has given us. Romans 8:37 tells us: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us,” (NASB). It is almost as though as this revelation is breathed into Paul by Holy Spirit, so he can pass it on to us, he is overcome by the strength of what he is seeing. As he searches his mind for the correct word, Paul comes up empty and finally has to take two words and make them one: hupernikao, translated above as “overwhelmingly conquer.” This Greek word is used nowhere else in the New Testament. The prefix huper means “overwhelmingly, over, beyond, exceedingly, excessively, more than.” Our English word, hyper, comes from this Greek word. Paul, overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, shouts with his pen, “We are hyperconquerors! We overwhelmingly conquer! Our conquering ability is excessive, over the top!” Holy Spirit wants you to win over, conquer, your past. “Through Him who loved us,” Paul goes on to say (Romans 8:37b). Everything God does is motivated by His heart of love. He’s a giver, a blesser, a healer, a destiny-provider. When He asks us to release, let go of past offenses, He is actually saying, “Here’s how I can get rid of this pain. Let me have it.” Forgiveness, releasing the person who hurt you, is one of the ways God erases the negative side of the ledger. He moves your pain into the asset column, making it serve you! You can do this. Let it go..! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your determination to heal, equip, and strengthen us for success. You have a plan for each of us and You are determined to accomplish it. We pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). (“Hurtful way” could be translated “way of pain.”) Show us any pain in us that could keep us from accomplishing everything You planned for us. We want clean hands and pure hearts. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who struggle with things they have experienced in the past. Help them to let go. Pour Your grace into them, enabling them to release it all to You. You are such a good Father. You will release and heal them completely. And we pray that in the coming revival, we will be healing agents. We ask You for wholeness, and an anointing to produce wholeness. We can be the generation that heals our land of racism, division, and strife. Start in us, Your people and anoint us to be Your “able ministers of the new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Expose all evil that is used to divide us as a nation. Expose those with wrong motives, who do so. Raise up leaders in all segments of our society who are healthy and whole, not bitter and determined to live in the past. They try to divide us, not heal us. Deliver us from their leadership, we pray. And we ask it all in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in the wholeness of Christ, and minister His wholeness to those in need. *********************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

THE BRIDGE Long ago there were two brothers who loved each other very much as their parents had taught them. They lived on adjoining farms only divided by a small creek bed that they had bought as their parents got older so they could be together. One day they fell into a conflict with one another. It was the first serious rift in 40 some odd years of their lives. Years of farming the land of their farms had come and gone. They bought machinery together and used it between them without any disagreements. They shared crops when one or the other was not so productive in the season. They traded labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding one day when one was in a bad mood and it finally exploded into an exchange of bitter words then silence between the two. Brotherly love just flew out the door because they were exceeding their pride in each one being right no matter the cost at the moment. It went on for months, even though both were lonely and missed his brother, pride just would not let them solve the issue. Both went to the same church and silently prayed for a blessing to correct this between them but wouldn't humble themselves enough to find peace. They sat separately from one another and people in the church could tell they had problems but would not inquire for fear of upsetting one or the other. Both were highly respected in the community. They loved their God as their parents had taught them. One morning there was a loud knock on one brother's door. He opened it to find a man with carpenters toolbox in hand. He was a stranger in the area but looked humble enough. He was a man of medium build with a beard and slim face and there was something about his eyes and voice that made him trust worthy. "I'm looking for a few days work, perhaps you would have some small jobs around your farm that I could help with". The brother thought for a minute and then the thought hit him, " I do have a job you can do for me". I want a fence built on my side of the small creek bed that divides my land from that farm across the way so I don't have to look at it over there any more. "That's my neighbor, matter's fact that's my younger brother". Last week there was a beautiful meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to it and destroyed its beautiful looks, he also took it and widened the little creek so it was wider and now deeper than ever. I know he did this to spite me, so I will do him one better. See that pile of lumber over there by the barn? I want you to build me a fence....an 8 ft tall fence so I want need to see his place or his face anymore. The carpenter listened with concern and said, "I think I understand the situation you have and I will fix it. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and i'll be able to do a job that please you. The older brother had to go to town so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. It was morning and the carpenter had all day and he work hard sawing, nailing and measuring. About sunset the older brother returned and the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer eye's opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge, a bridge stretching from one side of the now deeper creek to the other. A fine peace of work, hand rails and all. While he was standing on the new bridge still wondering whether to get mad at the carpenter for not following his wishes, he looked up and there was his brother coming across the other side with his hand out stretched. You are quite a fellow to build this bridge between us after all I have said and done, can you forgive me. Let this day pass with thanksgiving that we have admitted our wrongs and ask forgiveness of one another to live in peace and love as brothers should. As they were embracing and rejoicing to one another, they looked around to see that the carpenter had gone but left a peace of paper laying on the ground right in front of the entrance to the bridge. The brothers walked over to see what it was and it said, "This bridge was built to make amends between the two of you. You owe me nothing, it was a pleasure and I would love to stay and chat with you but I have many more bridges to build and more lives to repair. Please remember that I am always here for you now and always.............Jesus Lo I will be with you always, even till the end of the world. Jesus will repair our broken addicted lives if we will lay it at his in honesty. This is a lesson in life that there are many out there like this that need some kind of repairing. Pride and arrogance will hold you back and destroy the lives of friends and families. This is just what Satan is looking for division among us. He knows as long as there is division that love will fade away and if love fades away he has conquered a life away from God. Small words or deeds can cause a lifetime of guilt deep down inside for what we should have done and didn't because pride took over. Just as this story is written, ask yourself this, "Where would these two brothers have been in life if it wasn't for Jesus building that bridge between them. More than likely they would lived until life ceased without being forgiven for they deeds. Jesus if you can't find it in your heart to forgive thy brother there will be no forgiveness for you. Think about it.