Thursday Morning Scripture – Matthew 18:21-35

Forgiveness

21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

24 When he began the accounting, one who owed him 10,000 [1]talents was brought to him.

25 But because he could not repay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.

26 So the slave fell on his knees and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

27 And his master’s heart was moved with compassion and he released him and forgave him [canceling] the debt.

28 But that same slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him [2]a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’

29 So his fellow slave fell on his knees and begged him earnestly, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’

30 But he was unwilling and he went and had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt.

31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and they went and reported to their master [with clarity and in detail] everything that had taken place.

32 Then his master called him and said to him, ‘You wicked and contemptible slave, I forgave all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me.

33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave [who owed you little by comparison], as I had mercy on you?’

34 And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (jailers) until he paid all that he owed.

35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:21-35 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:24 A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more. 10,000 talents would be an inconceivable amount of debt for a slave in the king’s service to repay.
  2. Matthew 18:28 About 100 days’ wages for a laborer.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Establish In Truth

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

2 Peter 1:12 (NIV)

I have established you in what is true, in the reality of life in me. Your strength, confidence, and unwavering hope come from knowing the truth and staying firmly in the One who is the Truth. If you remain aware of the reality, the present truth of your existence in Christ and all that it brings in terms of benefits, of blessing; if you will celebrate and keep your eyes firmly fixed on that truth, you will be immovable; you will be able to stand firm regardless of the opinions of man, regardless of circumstances and regardless of the enemy’s attempts to pull you off track.

I have already established you in truth. Your job is to remain in that truth, submit to the truth, believe the truth, and ignore and refute the enemy’s whispers. As you take me at my word, as you put my words into practice and don’t just nod in mental assent but stake your life on the truth of my words, lean your weight on them and trust in them, they will be solid ground to your feet; a sure path.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing.

Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I kept My Father’s command and remain in His love.

John 15:4-10

#lionbites

Activation: Spend time cultivating thankfulness for the truth of the blessings of your life in Christ.

Ask Holy Spirit if there is a specific scripture or section of scripture that is particularly relevant for you to meditate on in this season.

Wednesday Morning Scripture – Matthew 18:15-20

Discipline and Prayer

15 “If your brother sins[1], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.

16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

17 If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the [2]church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector.

18 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth [3]shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth [4]shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you, that if two [5]believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”

Matthew 28:15-20 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:15 Late mss add against you.
  2. Matthew 18:17 Gr ecclasia, the word means a gathering and may be translated congregation, assembly, or church.
  3. Matthew 18:18 Gr estai lelumenon, future perfect passive.
  4. Matthew 18:18 Gr estai lelumenon, future perfect passive.
  5. Matthew 18:19 Lit of you.

Walk With Authority – Matthew 28:19-20/Luke 10:19

“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (AMP)

Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on [1]serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.

Luke 10:19 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 10:19 Perhaps a reference to demonic powers (spirits)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – A Thankful Heart

Thanksgiving is the way to break through in this season. Thanksgiving makes way for healing restoration and brings an end to robbery. Misery and complaining have become a too familiar friendship in your life. It’s also been, in some situations, the foundation on which relationships have been built on. But in this season, I am giving you a mouth full of thanksgiving.

I am looking for your agreement with the language of heaven. Will you speak life to all those around you by giving thanks and praise? I am creating within you a heart full of thankfulness and praise. A heart that brings life and hope to all situations. Thankfulness is your best weapon in this season to pull you out of the hardships into God glorious promises.

Challenge: for every grumbling word, speak two positive things about the same situation. Turn your mouth into a house of praise and thanksgiving.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

#lionbites

Tuesday Morning Scripture – Matthew 18:12-14

Ninety-nine Plus One

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost?

13 And if it turns out that he finds it, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost.

14 So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones be lost.

Matthew 18:12-14 (AMP)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Prove That I Exist

I call you to lead by speaking kindly to the oppressed. You are strong and release my Holy Spirit when you lift others up. Your gratitude in place of grumbling changes atmospheres.

I call you to think big, to see from my view, and come into a place of influence from my perspective. I call you a Kingdom Influencer.

I am stirring up the hearts of those who do not know me. I’m stirring the questioners, the ones who are desperately looking for my love, heart and freedom. I’m stirring the hearts of people crying out for me to prove I exist.

Today I call you to be the answer to those prayers and that longing in their hearts, to tell people you come in contact with today that God see them, that I know them, that I love them. The harvest is getting ready. Will you go out with me as a co-labourer?

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV)

‘You will be witnesses to all people of what you have seen and heard.’

Acts 2:15 (ESV)

#lionbites

Monday Morning Scripture – Matthew 18:1-11

Rank in the Kingdom

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child and set him before them,

3 and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Therefore, whoever [1]humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 Whoever receives and welcomes one [2]child like this in My name receives Me;

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Stumbling Blocks

7 “Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes!

8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.

9 If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.

10 “See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven.

11 [3][For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

Matthew 18:1-11 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:4 I.e. turns his back on self-righteous pride and adopts a realistic self-view.
  2. Matthew 18:5 I.e. new, childlike believer.
  3. Matthew 18:11 Early mss do not contain this verse.