DIG for Friday the 3rd of March…..it all changed with Jesus…..Matthew 5 v 27 and 28

In my message on Sunday I was preaching about forgiveness and said that there seemed to be a contradiction with regards to the flow of forgiveness.

In Ephesians we are told we can forgive because God has forgiven us, yet in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says we will not be forgiven unless we forgive others first.

So is there a problem? Which of these is correct?

Well, they are both correct because everything changed at the cross; this is an essential truth from the Word that not enough believers know about.

We hear people saying, “The Word says this” and “The Word says that” not realising that not all of Scripture is to be taken as doctrine by the church today.

All Scripture is there for a reason and is available for our help (2 Timothy 3 v 16 and 17), but not all of it is for born again believers to live by and establish doctrine through.

Take all the sacrifices, dietary and clothing laws under the Old Covenant for example; they are not for us now living under the New Covenant.

Lots of things changed at the cross of Jesus, lots of things written in the Word are now different because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says it like this (and I paraphrase), “You may have heard that, but now I am saying this”.

Jesus heightened the “bar of the law” for example (Matthew 5 v 27 and 28).

Jesus changed the “rules”; His work was so momentous that the “rules” were redefined forever.

Forgiveness flowed at the cross and things changed, so under grace we have already been forgiven.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus Christ, and thank you that I now live under the New Covenant with complete and unconditional forgiveness”.

Matthew 5 v 27 and 28…..Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart

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DIG for Thursday the 2nd of March…..we do not always get what we want instantly…..Mark 11 v 23

Today we live in what I call an instant society, that is we want things now and don’t want to wait.

We can “cook” things in a microwave in seconds and we can get next day delivery on purchases that used to take days and weeks to come.

But it can sometimes take time for us to see what we want in our lives.

Take for example healing.

Sometimes we see miraculous and instantaneous healings, but quite often we do not.

I have often seen people healed hours, days or even weeks after the laying on of hands and speaking out healing.

Sometimes healing just takes time, or rather for the outward sign of the healing to be made manifest.

When Jesus cursed the fig tree it did not wither away immediately; it was the next morning that the disciples saw that it had died (Mark 11 v 20 and 21).

The tree had in fact died from the root first; it was immediately killed when Jesus cursed it however the outward sign of the inward truth took time to be made evident.

The truth is that we were healed when Jesus died and rose again two thousand years ago (1 Peter 2 v 24).

The truth is that in our spirit we are completely healed, but this healing can take time to be manifest in our soul and body.

Do not give up if you do not see healing immediately as you speak it out.

Do not give up if you are not healed the instant a prayer minster lays their hands on you; keep expecting and keep hoping.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I have already been healed of all my ailments through the finished work of Jesus”.

Mark 11 v 22…..And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away

DIG for Wednesday the 1st of March…..study and you will see the benefits…..2 Timothy 2 v 15

I am currently writing this DIG as I invigilate an examination; the students are working hard so I am taking the opportunity to write this DIG.

I have just taught a course for two days and if the students pass the assessment they get a recognised qualification.

In order to pass the assessments the students had to study and understand, and they benefit because of this work.

I can also testify that if you study hard and understand it can result in benefits.

A similar thing is true with regards to the Word of God.

We are told that we should rightly divide the Word; that means to learn and understand (2 Timothy 2 v 15).

If we do this we will renew our minds and be transformed or changed, and that is of great benefit to us (Romans 12 v 2).

We can for example understand what the Word says about healing and be healed.

We can understand what the Word says about prosperity and be prosperous.

The Word is the agent for positive change in our lives and we see the benefits through study and understanding.

The good news is that we do not have to pass an examination to benefit, we just need to understand and believe.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for your Word and thank you that it is the agent for change in my life”.

2 Timothy 2 v 15…..Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth