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Luke 17:1-4 Authorized (King James) Version {Paraphrased}
1 Then said {Jesus} unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
The Restoration of Your Dignity
Define Dignity
What is a simple definition of the word dignity? (merriam-webster.com)
Definition of dignity 1 : formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language 2 : the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed 3 a : high rank, office, or position
What does it mean to live in dignity? (familyeducation.com)
Dignity is one of the most important things to the human spirit. It means being valued and respected for what you are, what you believe in, and how you live your life. Treating other people with dignity means treating them the way we'd like to be treated ourselves. Every human has the right to lead a dignified life and fulfill his or her potential.
Dignity. One's self-value. People can suffer the loss of dignity when disrespected through acts of violation from other people. They violate your self-value. You can lose your sense of self-worth through disrespect, and you can begin to not feel good about yourself any longer, because people are abusing you.
God wants to restore your dignity through forgiveness, because forgiveness is based on the repentance of the violator. This means, that people can't get the best of you when you forgive them, because they first have to stop the abuse. This is called "repentance". Once they repent from the abuse, your diginity is restored and it's easy to then forgive them. People have to stop abusing you, or, repent, in order for you to forgive them, just as God forgives us once we first repent. Forgivenes is based on repentance. Their repentance comes first. God turns the tables on the offender and gives you back your dignity by making them first repent in order to get right with God and then get your pardon, or, forgiveness. We cannot forgive one that does not repent, becsause what we are to forgive them for, has not been stopped. They are "the unforgiven".
God isn't talking about saying sorry a thousand times either, because apologies without stopping the abuse is a lie and as worthless as the abuser makes the abused feel worthless. To repent God's way, means that your sorries have to come with a desist of the abuse for good. You can't just apologize. You need to stop the problems you're causing someone. Then you can be forgiven and are right with God. In that condition, you are Rapture ready!
Today, most people believe that what the opening passage means about forgiveness, Luke 17:1-4, is that, to love someone in Christ, means that you have to let them beat you up and abuse your dignity. That, you can't stop them, so all you can do is forgive them and let them do it. That's unbiblical. That's not what the Lord Jesus is saying in Luke 17:1-4.
The Bible tells us that without making peace WITH ALL MEN, no one will see the Lord. If you want to make the Rapture and split this life for heaven's glories, than today, you need to start making peace with ALL MEN. This means to repent of abuse with some, and/ or also forgive others of their abuse. We make peace with others through forgiveness.
Hebrews 12:14
Authorized (King James) Version
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
The Bible tells us that we are to forgive others as God in Christ has forgiven us.
Ephesians 4:32
Living Bible
32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.
The Lord Jesus preached REPENTANCE.
Matthew 4:17
Authorized (King James) version
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Bible has a pattern of getting right with God. The first thing to do is REPENT. After we repent, God will forgive us.
Acts 2:38
Authorized (King James) Version
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ephesians 4:32 says to forgive others like that. Use God's role model in forgiving others. Forgive AFTER they repent. Repentance comes before forgiveness.
Define Repent
repent verb re·pent | \ ri-ˈpent \
repented; repenting; repents
Definition of repent (Entry 1 of 2) intransitive verb 1: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life 2a: to feel regret or contritionb: to change one's mind transitive verb 1: to cause to feel regret or contrition 2: to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for
Let's look at Luke 17:1-4 again...
Luke 17:1-4 Authorized (King James) Version {Paraphrased}
1 Then said {Jesus} unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
I want you to see in verse 4, that the Lord Jesus puts their repentance before your forgiveness. That's the point. Repentance comes before forgiveness. It doesn't matter how many times they trespass against you in a day, because once they stop hurting you, or, say "I repent", it will be easy to then forgive them, because your dignity will be restored once they repent of hurting you.
You won't feel offended at them when they do this. It's like a honest mistake that someone makes about you. Someone you met did something to you that they didn't know hurt you, and when they find out about it, they will beg your pardon because they are hurting for hurting you. To hurt an innocent person for nothing, will also hurt you. It'll feel like that, once they say "I repent" to you, because they stopped hurting you because they too were hurting.
Most people don't understand forgiveness. They don't know that people have to stop hurting them for them to forgive. They think that Luke 17:1-4 means to let people abuse you as much as they want everyday, and all you can do is forgive, or, let them get away with it. But true forgiveness restores your dignity, because people first have to stop the abuse to be forgiven in order to be right with Jesus. Amen?
People think that Luke 17:1-4 means to let people get away with hurting you. But look at those four verses in context...the Lord Jesus is putting the emphasis on the one that hurts others as being the victim, and not the abused. He says that offenses will happen. They're unavoidable. But it is better for the offender to disappear into the sea, or, to have never existed, than to face God's judgement for hurting you, God's child. An innocent person.
The Lord is saying to get rid of people that won't stop hurting you in this passage. Then says to be careful with God, and to not be like that with other Christians. He then tells you how to restore your dignity by dealing with them.
How to Restore Your Dignity
1) If they trespass against you, or, disrespect you, rebuke them. Put them in check. Speak your mind and let them know how you feel. Put them to shame. Don't let people abuse you.
2) If they repent, forgive them.
3) Keep doing this as much as they say "I repent", or, apologize.
When you do those three things with people who harm you, you will be the winner, because you'll keep your dignity and self-value when you do. They'll be acting inferior to you if they keep attacking you, because you got your self-value back when you put them in check. They'll feel stupid for attacking you, because they couldn't emasculate you with an attack. You're not a punk. You can't be a sissy to be a Christian. You got to be a man to be a man of God. Or, do you like feeling like a victim? God wants to restore your dignity and to do so, you've got to listen to Him and confront people who trespass against you. Rebuke them for it.
Fight Back With Confrontation
Get your respect back and send these people a message that you want to talk to them about what they said about you. Amen. Remember, the goal isn't to get into a fist fight, but to restore your dignity. The Lord Jesus is on your side, because He's got something for them to think about, a little warning about messing with you, in Luke 17:1, 2. YOU DON'T WANT TO FACE AN ANGRY JESUS FOR CAUSING ONE OF HIS LITTLE TO FALL AWAY FROM HIM! It's much smarter to repent and seek forgiveness from both God and man.
Define "Rebuke" (Oxford)
re·buke /rəˈbyo͞ok/ verb verb: rebuke; 3rd person present: rebukes; past tense: rebuked; past participle: rebuked; gerund or present participle: rebuking
1. express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions. "she had rebuked him for drinking too much"
noun
noun: rebuke; plural noun: rebukes
2. an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism. "he hadn't meant it as a rebuke, but Neil flinched"
Origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘force back, repress’): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French rebuker, from re- ‘back, down’ + bukier ‘to beat’ (originally ‘cut down wood’, from Old French busche ‘log’).
At this point, I want to point out that the Lord Jesus wants all people to get right with Him and God through forgiveness. Bear in mind God's model for forgiving others, that, repentance comes first. Now look at this verse,
Colossians 3:13
Living Bible
13 Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
WE MUST FORGIVE OTHERS BECAUSE GOD FORGAVE US!
Forgiving others isn't an option. Neither is repenting of hurting someone. So this confrontation MUST happen, just as God has forgiven you. Repenting of hurting others and forgiving those who repent of hurting you, is as sure to happen as the Rapture. To make the Rapture, you got some relationships to deal with today.
Matthew 6:14, 15
Living Bible
14-15 Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
Matthew 18:21-35
Living Bible
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!
23 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him $10 million!$10 million, literally, “10,000 talents.” Approximately £3 million. 25 He couldn’t pay, so the king ordered him sold for the debt, also his wife and children and everything he had.
26 “But the man fell down before the king, his face in the dust, and said, ‘Oh, sir, be patient with me and I will pay it all.’
27 “Then the king was filled with pity for him and released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a man who owed him $2,000$2,000, approximately £700. and grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “The man fell down before him and begged him to give him a little time. ‘Be patient and I will pay it,’ he pled.
30 “But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt would be paid in full.
31 “Then the man’s friends went to the king and told him what had happened. 32 And the king called before him the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil-hearted wretch! Here I forgave you all that tremendous debt, just because you asked me to— 33 shouldn’t you have mercy on others, just as I had mercy on you?’
34 “Then the angry king sent the man to the torture chamber until he had paid every last penny due. 35 So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you refuse to truly forgive your brothers.”
Here's some more insight from the Lord Jesus on how to forgive. If dropping them a little line about a talk doesn't work, get back up from the Church. Call your Pastor, not the cops. Getting the authorities to help you isn't what's important here. But getting witnesses from Church is. Get a witness, not a cop. Keep the cops out of Church business.
Matthew 18:15-22
Living Bible {Paraphrased}
15 {And Jesus said} “If a {Christian} brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault. If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother. 16 But if not, then take one or two others with you and go back to him again, proving everything you say by these witnesses. 17 If he still refuses to listen, then take your case to the church, and if the church’s verdict favors you, but he won’t accept it, then the church should excommunicate him. 18 And I tell you this—whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever you free on earth will be freed in heaven. 19 “I also tell you this—if two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I will be right there among them.” 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!
The Lord is talking about the separation of Church from State here. Church Confidentiality. Don't call the cops and get a Restraining Order on another Christian. Keep Church business in Church.
Calling the Cops Is A Bad Christian Testimony
1 Corinthians 6:1-10
Living Bible
1 How is it that when you have something against another Christian, you “go to law” and ask a heathen court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other Christians to decide which of you is right? 2 Don’t you know that someday we Christians are going to judge and govern the world? So why can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we Christians will judge and reward the very angels in heaven? So you should be able to decide your problems down here on earth easily enough. 4 Why then go to outside judges who are not even Christians? 5 I am trying to make you ashamed. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? 6 But, instead, one Christian sues another and accuses his Christian brother in front of unbelievers. 7 To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you as Christians. Why not just accept mistreatment and leave it at that? It would be far more honoring to the Lord to let yourselves be cheated. 8 But, instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong, cheating others, even your own brothers. 9-10 Don’t you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshipers, adulterers or homosexuals—will have no share in his Kingdom. Neither will thieves or greedy people, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers. 11 There was a time when some of you were just like that but now your sins are washed away, and you are set apart for God; and he has accepted you because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.
God's Love Creates Your Dignity
Just as God commands us to forgive others as He forgave us, He also commands us to love others, as He loved us.
John 15:12-17
Authorized (King James) Version {Paraphrased}
12 {And Jesus said} This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
My point in using John 15:12-17 is to say that God wants us to love each other, not fight. Our ability to love others comes from God loving on us in the baptism in the Holy Spirit. God edifies our dignity with His love. The following Bible passages will create your dignity and sense of self-worth as you read them and experience the goodness of God in your life.
Romans 8:28
Authorized (King James) Version
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:37
Authorized (King James) Version
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 John 4:4
Authorized (King James) Version {Paraphrased}
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome {the antichrist and the spirits of false prophecy}: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
God is called "the High and Lofty One".
Isaiah 57:15
Authorized (King James) Version
15 The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: I live in that high and holy place where those with contrite, humble spirits dwell; and I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.
God will make you feel high and lofty in your dignity when He loves on you after you get saved. He doesn't want you to allow others to tear your dignity with disrespect. If you got problems with people, listen to God's Son, the Lord Jesus, and restore your dignity with a little confrontation in order to get right with God, and be ready for the Rapture by making peace with all men.
What does lofty mean?
1a : elevated in character and spirit : noble lofty ideals. b : elevated in status : superior the less lofty customers of the bar. 2 : having a haughty overbearing manner : supercilious She showed a lofty disregard for their objections. 3a : rising to a great height : impressively high lofty mountains.
Do you understand what God is saying about making you lofty through dignity? You feel so good about yourself that you're haughty in getting your respect. It means to be superior. This is why God commanded Israel to smite someone on the cheek when they insulted them. Doing that to someone who insults you, and who also undermines your self-respect with an insult, would satisfy loftiness in dignity. Slap them when they insult you.
We've been learning here about how to deal with other Christians. What do we do with non-believers who want to fight us? Here's what the Lord Jesus taught us about dealing with non-Christians.
Matthew 5:38-42
Authorized (King James) Version {Parsaphrased}
38 {And Jesus said} Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Don't misunderstand what God is saying here. He's not saying to let evil people beat you up. He's saying not to let your responses become evil. Don't let evil take control of you. Talk to other Christians about their trespasses against you. Get the church involved if they're stubborn. But with non-Christians, protect yourself from evil, by responding with good. Overcome evil with good. Don't turn evil on God because of their attacks. Keep law, God's law, when you are tempted to sin. Stay in the Spirit.
That's what Jesus is saying when He says to turn the other cheek. Keeping law, God's law, to stay in the Spirit, and not respond to evil in the flesh, is going to keep your dignity intact. Stay in the Spirit when you're attacked by evil in non-believers. Turn the other cheek. The Lord Jesus is not saying for us to allow evil people to attack us and to be defenseless in response. He's saying, "Stay in the Spirit. Don't get pulled out and into the flesh by evil."
Overcome Evil With Good
Romans 12:20, 21
Authorized (King James) Version
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Here's a motive, an incentive, that'll help you turn the other cheek, because it is hard to do. Put turning the other cheek into context with the Rapture. You'll do it because you want to get out of this life to be with God forever. Combine Matthew 5:39, to turn the other cheek, with Hebrews 12:14, to make peace with all men in order to see the Lord. If you want to meet the Lord Jesus in the air in the Rapture, make peace with all men and turn the other cheek.
The Rapture
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Living Bible
50 I tell you this, my brothers: an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God’s Kingdom. These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever.
51 But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! 52 It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. 53 For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.
54 When this happens, then at last this Scripture will come true—“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55-56 O death, where then your victory? Where then your sting? For sin—the sting that causes death—will all be gone; and the law, which reveals our sins, will no longer be our judge. 57 How we thank God for all of this! It is he who makes us victorious through Jesus Christ our Lord!
58 So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection.
I'm getting my compliments from heaven about this message. The Holy Spirit just gave me an Interpretation of Tongues from my Guardian Angel, the Archangel Gabriel. He said, "The Devil is laughing at you, because you know how to get out of his traps with the Lord".
Think about that, saints! What Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5:39, turning the other cheek on evil in non-believers, is one of Satan's traps! Entrapment. He's trying to turn us evil by attacking us. Respond to evil with good. Stay consistent in godly character. Only with God's help can we get out of this trap. The Lord says to "turn the other cheek." Which means to "stay in the Spirit by keeping God's law, or, listen, and turn the other cheek."
Endure to the End
Matthew 24:1-14
Authorized (King James) Version
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Fight Satan with the Blood of Jesus and the Word of Your Testimony
Revelation 12:1-12
Authorized (King James) Version
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
How to Prepare for the Rapture
Keep Taking Care of Church Business
Preach, Teach, Prophecy, Heal, Forgive, Love
Stay Christian and Don't Get Pulled Out of the Spirit
Matthew 24:34-36
Living Bible {Paraphrased}
36 {And Jesus said} But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.
37-38 “The world will be at ease—banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the Flood; 39 people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the Flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be.
40 “Two men will be working together in the fields, and one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be going about their household tasks; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So be prepared, for you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
43 “Just as a man can prevent trouble from thieves by keeping watch for them, 44 so you can avoid trouble by always being ready for my unannounced return.
45 “Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household, to feed my children day by day? 46 Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. 47 I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own!
48 “But if you are evil and say to yourself, ‘My Lord won’t be coming for a while,’ 49 and begin oppressing your fellow servants, partying and getting drunk, 50 your Lord will arrive unannounced and unexpected, 51 and severely whip you and send you off to the judgment of the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Here's a YouTube Playlist that I made a couple years ago of my favorite Christians songs. Listen and be blessed. Amen.