REAL BIBLE MOMENTS
This segment presents real things in the Bible that we hope get you interested in picking up the Bible if you’ve never read it, or picking it up again if you haven’t read it in a while. It’s the greatest story ever told. It’s interesting and intriguing. Get to know God, Jesus, and your family heritage. No matter how funny, sad, joyful, or frustrating things were in Bible days, we can gain something good from them. This book is more than inspiration—it has the power to transform your life. But first, you have to open it.
Imagine Reading Something That Changes Your Life Forever.
Around here, the Word of God is our life. But even if you’re just reading for entertainment, you’ve come to the right book. Just start it. God has a sense of humor. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t have allowed funny things to be in the Bible. The more you read, the more the words of God become entwined in your own character. So, that’s a win.
If you’ve ever spent one moment wondering if God’s people need a man of God to lead them, we dare you to browse the book of Judges and come out saying no.
Didn’t We Just See This Episode?
In the beginning of Judges, Israel is just getting over the loss of Joshua, who had been their mighty leader for many years. Without a leader, they start chasing other gods and getting themselves into a big mess, so God appoints judges as their leaders. Every time one dies, Israel turns from God and chases new sparkly idol gods. Every. Single. Time. And every single time, they end up in the middle of nowhere, destitute, no money, crawling back ragged, finding a pay phone to call God and beg Him to take them back. That is Israel in the book of Judges—again and again. God takes them back, but He allows them to embarrass themselves and look ridiculous a couple times. It’s a book of reruns, but they’re good!
Remember High School? So Does Judges.
Gideon vandalized what? Samson got honey from where? Did you hear what Jael did? Deborah thinks she’s all that. Delilah is going out with whom? Did you hear about Abimelech’s squad? They murdered all 70 of his brothers—except one who was hiding. And then while Abimelech was setting things on fire, a woman dropped a piece of millstone onto his head. He was so scared word would get out that he was beat up by a girl that he begged his servant to run his sword through him. That way the whole stone-dropping episode wouldn’t really count.
So mature.
If Your Friend’s Wife Ever Tells You To “Fear Not”, Run For The Hills.
Judges is a page-turner. There’s plenty of trouble and it’s filled with betrayal, sorrow, deception, love, hate, friendship, redemption, heartache, and major action. All those things make it an exciting read. Like a high-school day, there’s never a dull minute. In chapter 4, Barak’s army is rocking—not a man was left in all the host of Sisera—but Sisera himself. Jael meets Sisera and tells him to fear not, and “hey, why don’t you turn in for the night right here, in this tent? If anyone comes asking, I’ll say I haven’t seen you. And here, have some milk before you go to sleep.”
Jael was Heber’s wife. Sisera had peace with the house of Heber, which made this situation even more “in-tents” (we are dying over here at The Bridge).
In Judges 4:21, Jael tiptoes back into the tent softly-ish holding a tent spike. Sisera never woke again. And Judges 5 breaks out into “We are the Champions”. Just kidding. They do break out in song though. Because, of course.
The Lord helped Israel get the victory again. Deborah was awesome. And Jael just nailed that whole tent situation. Put the book of Judges in your beach bag or on your summer read list!
Read the Word—get to know it. Then, come hear a Ministry teach and explain what it all means. If we come in with some knowledge of the Bible, we’ll be better prepared to receive understanding and revelation of what we read.
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Last weekend’s message on Charity. Sunday night Brother Nobles unloaded an arsenal of information and laid the groundwork on the subject, Charity, in just a little over an hour.
Brother Nobles and the ministry are hooked up when they get up. (Brother Bean described that perfectly.) They don’t require 20 minutes in the warmup zone. They’re prayed up and prepared to go in whatever direction God leads.
Have You Been Praying To Hear God’s Voice?
Well, He’s speaking to us over here through a ministry. If you’ve been asking God to let you hear His voice, you need to come. You’ll know it for yourself, trust us.
A Side Note.
If you want to keep up, you gotta come PREPARED. You’ll need a notebook—you’re gonna want to take it all down. Even though we do everything on smart phones nowadays, notes like these are just meant to be jotted down with your favorite pen and a leather (or pretty) journal to keep!
THE MESSAGE
Brother Nobles covered A LOT of ground, and the message of Charity will span many teachings—it is that big. This post about forgiveness is just touching one small portion of it.
If You’re Not Into Forgiving Others, Add It To Your List Of Things To Lose Sleep Over.
A part of Brother Noble’s message on charity involved “forgiveness”. Jesus is doing it all over Matthew’s gospel. Pretty much everyone turns their back on Him at least once (some people, thrice—hi, Peter). Jesus forgives them all. He forgave everyday goofs and real sins.
As Christians, we need to start coughing up more forgiveness and stocking up on mercy like it’s hot, hot, hot. Because it is. It’s the one thing God promises us that we can store up for when we need it.
Can We Just Get Back To Talking About Miracles, Peace, Butterflies, and Summertime Magic?
No. We’re heading into Matthew 18:23-35, so put down that backup “love” scripture you’re trying to sneak in. We need to take this parable straight up, so we can get things right. Brother Nobles is covering an immense subject and we need all the pieces of it to understand true charity.
Don’t Be Standing on The Wrong Side of This Message.
In Matthew 18, Jesus is already tackling some tough questions. Peter asks how many times he has to forgive a brother. Jesus tells him 70×7 times. Translation, always. Right after Jesus answers that question, it seems like a good time to go in to the parable about forgiveness.
Warning: Read the fine print. This parable indicates that if Jesus’s followers want to be forgiven, they must do a lot of forgiving themselves.
“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Matthew 18:23-35
Shhh. It’s okay. There’s still time to do the right thing.
When We Get A Little Behind on Forgiveness
Put it on my tab. Can’t do that–you just read his lord’s response. Time to pay up now.
You DO want forgiveness to be duly noted and going before you.
You DON’T want to be caught in an un-forgiving situation that follows after you.
Got it.
HOW WE’RE WINNING
We are working to put the fullness of Charity into our lives.
We are working harder to obey God, have the right sacrifice, and the right spirit.
We are loving Jesus more and more. We love people who love our children—so does God.
We are praying for the right heart and spirit to forgive others, as we have been forgiven of so much.
We are expanding our revelation of Charity to encompass the WHOLE SPIRIT OF GOD.
We are continuing to work and labor to be like Jesus!!!
This is a wonderful synopsis of the first of many exciting studies into God’s mind on charity. We have to get ready to love and nurture those precious souls who are, at this moment, searching and hungering for deeper meaning and truth.