Last week we discussed Knowledge, but this week, we’ll be discussing “Love and Forgiveness” as it concerns favour.
LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
GENESIS 50:15-21 AMP.
15”When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph carries a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him?”
16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded us before he died, saying,
17 ‘You are to say to Joseph, “I beg you, please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ Now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers went and fell down before him [in confession]; then they said, “Behold, we are your servants (slaves).”
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.]
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day].
21 So now, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and support you and your little ones.” So he comforted them [giving them encouragement and hope] and spoke [with kindness] to their hearts.
GENESIS 39:21-23 AMP.
21”But the Lord was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden.
22 The warden committed to Joseph’s care (management) all the prisoners who were in the prison; so that whatever was done there, he was [a]in charge of it.
23 The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with him; whatever Joseph did, the Lord made to prosper”.
Forgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision to release feelings of vengeance towards a person or group who have harmed you regardless of whether they deserve your forgiveness.
Forgiveness is refusing to hurt you for hurting me.
Forgiveness means to pardon, to waive any negative feeling or desire for punishment.
Forgiveness and love are virtues that provoke favour on people and what they do.
Forgiveness was one of the keys that opened Joseph up to God’s favour.
Even in the prison, Joseph prospered because he was not bitter irrespective of the fact that he was suffering from what he did not do.
If he had walked in bitterness against Potiphar in the prison, He would have remained there.
A life of bitterness cannot access God’s favour.
You may not know that bitterness is in you if you are not careful.
Refuse to be offended if you want to flow in God’s favour.
Joseph walked in great love towards his brothers even when he was maltreated.
They threw him into the pit and later sold him to slavery.
When they came to him for survival, he never paid them in their own coin, rather he forgave them in tears.
God favoured him and made him the second in command in a strange land (Egypt).
The act of forgiveness and love will change your position for life.
Genesis 41:40-44 KJV.
40”Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Joseph took over and ruled the whole Egypt.
You will rule from now in Jesus’ name!
Everybody that is born again has love; just give it expression.
Choose to love and forgive because Jesus walked in love and forgiveness.
Lack of forgiveness hurts you more than the person who did you wrong. Let forgiveness be your lifestyle.
Learn to forgive and love people who hate you.
All you must do when someone hates you is to love the person but draw a line as a precaution.
Set boundaries to avoid being attacked.
It was not recorded that Joseph gave his brothers appointment in Egypt even though he showed love; so, apply wisdom when you are dealing with your enemies.
Put aside your feelings and choose to act on God’s word and forgiveness will cause favor to come into your life.
When you succeed, men will hate and come against you.
Choose not to be bitter if you want life to get better.
Not everybody will like you, especially when you are succeeding, but love them.
Pretend not to know that the person hates you.
Love them so that you can enjoy favor with God.
Favor can break through any barrier to place you before your desire.
Conclusively, Life is colorful with favor and favor makes things work.
To enjoy favor in life, the first step is to be born again.
Romans 10:9-10 says “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.“
Kindly say this prayer aloud;
“O Lord God, I come to You in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Your word says,”…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2v21).
I ask Jesus to come into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I receive eternal life into my spirit and according to Roman 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”,
I declare that I am saved; I am born-again; I am a child of God!
I now have Christ dwelling in me, and greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)!
I now walk in the consciousness of my new life in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!”
Congratulations!
Join us next week!
GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY