Tag: forgiveness

MISSION TRIP 2014 PART I

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

As you’re reading this article, we have only 20 weeks (or less, depending on delivery date) to prepare for Mission Trip 2014.  While this annual event is a huge undertaking for a ministry our size and arduous to plan and administer, every year we see untold blessings beyond anything that can be measured, valued, or even imagined from a human view-point/perspective.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.  

— Ephesians 3:20-21

Similar to last year, we’ve been invited to Lyford/Sebastian, Texas by the superintendent of schools (a faithful believer) with the full endorsement of the community, local school board, and administration/personnel.  Praise be to God for the way He continually opens doors and provides unique opportunities for all those willing to accept the challenge of boldly and sacrificially serving Him without consideration of their own personal comfort, blessing, and/or benefit (in many cases, even the loss of income for our independent contractors and small business owners).             

For the love of Christ controls (urges/compels – presses on us from all sides, holding us to one end and prohibiting us from considering any other, wrapping itself around us in tenderness, giving us an impelling motive) us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.  

— II Corinthians 5:14-15

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;  for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.     

— Romans 14:7-8

Last year, our first time in Lyford/Sebastian, was a great success with attendance far above expectations and many decisions for Christ. In addition, everyone in the area was delighted with our ministry, as well as our friendly, encouraging, exciting, yet non-compromising, distinctively evangelical outreach to the children and youth in the community.  As in former locations (other South Texas communities where we’ve ministered to children and youth), we worked diligently to establish a good reputation with the local businesses, all community leaders, and the parents of the children who participated in our community-wide VBS ministry.

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.  

— Titus 2:6-8

Generally, our goals remain the same (listed below), however, this year we will need even more involvement from those at WOF who cannot come and the active participation of our teenagers’ parents as we prepare them for this year’s mission.  I’m praying that whether one goes or not, it’s still your mission trip … that everyone at WOF has a part in this incredible  undertaking.  Certainly prayer is always at the top of the list, along with significant financial support/scholarships/donations and fundraising efforts/ideas are absolutely essential and greatly appreciated. However,  this year we will be asking for your help, from time-to-time, in many ways.    

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.  For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 

— II Corinthians 8:1-6

– MISSION TRIP 2014 – OUR PURPOSE –

  1. Introduce children & youth to Jesus Christ!  We strategically plan to provide every child with an opportunity to experience Christ’s love, coming to know forgiveness of sin and salvation that He alone offers.  See I Timothy 2:3-7
  • Provide opportunity for WOF’s youth and young adults, as well as those from other churches, to participate in a meaningful, life-changing ministry event where they are the Lord’s primary ministers/servants.  See I Timothy 4:12
  • Assist other churches/ministries in their efforts to reach a community with Christ’s message of grace and forgiveness.  See Romans 16:1-2
  • Provide a unique opportunity for WOF youth to serve and minister alongside youth from other churches/ministries.  See Psalm 33:1
  • See the purposes of God accomplished as both youth and adult believers work together in unity.  See John 17:22-23

Lyford/Sebastian, Texas is a field white unto harvest. May we lift up our eyes and look … seeing the opportunity afforded us as a church/ministry. 

See John 4:35      

In Luke 10:2-3, Jesus said to His disciples:

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Perhaps He is speaking to us as well!  Certainly we understand this individually in our day-to-day lives, but what about as a church/ministry?  Here are two little towns where few have heard the Truth of Christ’s Gospel (His message of grace, love and forgiveness), and we’ve been invited to a harvest.  How shall we respond?  Shall we heed our Lord’s request?  Certainly, our time is now!                    

— Pastor Frank  

FORGIVENESS

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Several words, from both the Greek and Hebrew, are used to convey the idea of forgiveness throughout our biblical text.

1) Apoluein (Gk),as used by Christ in Luke 6:37, is translated pardon, and or “forgive.” Thus, the analogy in this verse provides instruction to “forgive” and in turn, one will be “forgiven,” because the actual meaning of this word relates to the full release of a debt and/or the punishment due the perpetrator as a result of sin.

2) In Romans 3:25, Paul uses ‎paresis (Gk), ‎translated remission, in relation to humanity’s sinful nature and deeds — meaning to “forgive” by putting away or aside completely and unreservedly/absolutely!    

‎3) Charizesthai (Gk) (found only in the writings of apostles Luke and Paul) expresses, as no other word or words possibly can express, the concept of God’s pardon and “forgiveness” through grace (unmerited and/or undeserved favor) as articulated in Colossians 2:13!

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

4) Kaphar ‎(Heb) is found in Old Testament scriptures and refers exclusively to divine “forgiveness” as in Psalm 78:38!

But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger and did not arouse all His wrath.

5) In I Kings 8:30, one finds the word calah ‎(Heb) as Solomon stands before the Lord’s altar and humbly cries out for God’s (divine) “forgiveness” . . . “Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.”

6) Nasa’ (Heb) in the Old Testament scriptures also refers to divine pardon or “forgiveness” as well as that of pardon or “forgiveness” granted by one human to another.  A perfect example of this is found in I Samuel 25 where Abigail appeals to King David on behalf or her husband, Nabal (vs 32-34):

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from  bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

“Forgiveness,” generally speaking, is not a virtue of pagan religions, societies, or cultures.  The big-hearted human might flamboyantly disregard offences in cases where he/she considers the wrongdoing or debt to be insignificant and/or beneath one’s notice, but to “forgive” was by and large considered weak-spirited.  Even in the Old Testament Hebrew traditions, “forgiving” another for a wrong, or a debt, is infrequent.  However, there are cases where individuals are found asking for “forgiveness” from a position of subservience. In such cases, a person is petitioning for that which one has no just or granted right(s). (See Genesis 50:17; Exodus 10:17; I Samuel 15:25) However, we as true and faithful believers of Jesus Christ have a much higher calling — in fact, according to Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:32, we are instructed to “forgive one another just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

Most have heard the quote by Alexander Pope, “to err is human; to forgive divine.”  In reality, because of our new nature in Christ, we have been given the opportunity to participate in, and partake of, this divine event!  Certainly a true mark and distinguishing characteristic of a Christ-centered, Bible-believing, New Testament church/ministry — where relationships are more important than programs — is the continual (on-going) practice of Christ’s instruction to His disciples in Matthew 18:21-22! 

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”    (no doubt expecting some accolade)  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

How many times?                          

Let’s do this, Pastor Frank