Permission to Quit - Purity 1452

Welcome to the MT for Christ 247 podcast. I'm M.t. Clark, and this is today's photo. To see today's photo, go to mtforchrist.com or follow me, M.t. Clark, on Facebook or Twitter, or watch us on YouTube. Good morning. Today's photo of green plains, golden fields of the harvest, and the reflection of trees on the surface of an unnamed pond comes to us from yours truly as I captured this rather nondescript scene somewhere along Center Hill Road in Prairieville, New York, back on November 21st, 2015. Well, it's Monday, and even though I am facing some potentially awkward moments this week, I am looking forward to the beginning of the second half of September and a full week of work and ministry. Uh, to give you some scripture and an idea of what I'm talking about, let me share Matthew 18:21-22, which says, Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to 7 times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to 7 times, but to 70 times 7. And let me share Galatians 6:1-2 from the NIV, which advises us, brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, You who live by the Spirit should restore the person gently, but watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens. In this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. As a Christian life coach, a recovery ministry leader, and a Freedom in Christ Course facilitator for Freedom in Christ Ministries, I not only minister to the brokenhearted and those broken by sin I also, by necessity, minister to the heartbreakers. Hurt people hurt people. Hurt people hurt people, after all. So it should come to— should come as no surprise that when you put yourself out there as someone willing to help others find healing and freedom through Christ, that you will inevitably be exposed to heartbreaking challenges, setbacks, and situations. For every testimony that I could share about people finding freedom, I could prob— I could I could tell probably twice as many about people who walked away from submitting to God and resisting the devil and who continued in their sin and brokenness. Overcoming your hurts, habits, and hangups isn't easy. And unfortunately, I've seen scores of people quit quitting. And on more than one occasion, I've had people approach me before walking away for good with their excuses, rationalizations, and apologies. Almost as if they were asking for permission to give up on their recovery, as if they were doing it for me and they wanted to soften the blow of their departure. As disappointed as I am when I see someone walk, uh, leave the Road to Recovery or the Pathway to Christian Discipleship for myself, I am more heartbroken for them and their decision to choose bondage over freedom that they could enjoy in Christ. And Jesus described people like this in the parable of the sower, as the seeds that either fell on rocky ground or that were sown among thorns. Matthew 13:20-22, um, tells, tells what— well, shares the words of Jesus that say the seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word at once and receives it with joy, but since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they fall, they fall away.

The seed falling among thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke, choke the word, making it unfruitful.

And so it is that the brokenhearted become heartbreakers as their families, friends, and those who seek to help them see their hopes dashed by another relapse or rejection of their faith. As bad as that is, it's understandable. Uh, Christ warns us about false converts and those who will choose the world over him. But what can be a real challenge to those who minister to the hurting is when those who have asked permission to quit their new lives in Christ ask for permission to repent again. And come back to the community that they may have done damage to during their departure. In some instances, those who walk away can't be allowed back because their relapse or fall from grace was so horrendous that it would be irresponsible to allow them access to possibly hurt themselves and others again. But in other instances, the prodigals could be allowed back because they only hurt themselves with the offenses they cause were minimal, but it requires discernment and forgiveness on the part of the community and its leaders to give them permission to quit again. This can be a challenge to our egos and intellects. It, it can be. And, uh, let's see, sorry, this can be a challenge to our egos and intellects because even though as Christians we are commanded to forgive Wisdom may command that extending forgiveness doesn't mean that we should reestablish relationships and welcome them back to a fellowship where they could potentially do more harm than good. Recently, I've had a few different situations where individuals are asking for permission to quit in both senses. I have individuals who have never shown up, who've signed up for recovery, have never shown up, have suddenly disappeared. Recovery or class or whatever, um, or others who would actually like to discuss how it, how is not, now is not the right time for their recovery or freedom. And I have others who have walked away in the past from their attempts at freedom, looking to begin again, but whose own track records indicate that failure is more likely than success. So what do we do? Uh, as heartbreaking as it can be, I know that I can't fix people or fix anyone. Um, so for the, for the ones who are walking away or who are actually asking for permission to quit quitting, um, while I won't support their excuses or rationalizations, I will support them and try to bid them farewell with the assurance that they could come back when they're ready. And as for those boomerangs who are, who may have caused a little damage on their way out, I may have to establish boundaries regarding their return. But if wisdom permits it, I will choose to forgive them and welcome them back to their, to their repentance process, although it may be with conditions and boundaries to protect all parties involved. Um, I hate to even imply, uh, uh, permission for someone to quit quitting because the ones who walk away seldom come back. You know, I don't want to say it's okay to go back to the world, the flesh and the devil. Uh, and I almost hate to give permission to the ones asking permission to quit again, come back, because just like the hurts, habits, and hangups they wish to be free of, the habit of quitting can be just as difficult to overcome. And just because they are walking in the door today doesn't mean that they won't be running away again tomorrow. Uh, you know, so it's challenging, but our God encourages us to forgive endlessly and to repent continuously. So although the situations we face in freedom ministry can be awkward, I will forgive those who have walked away, and if it is wise, I will welcome them back should they return to repent. I, when I relapsed 2 weeks into my recovery back in 2015, I apologized, uh, for my failure to the guys at the My Recovery Group. But when I saw the compassion, understanding, and forgiveness of the other people at our recovery ministry, I realized that I didn't need their permission to quit again. I just needed a place where I could go to do it, where I would be supported and encouraged to do so. My failure was understood and forgiven, and because I was given a second chance at quitting again, I will extend the same forgiveness and understanding to others. Because sometimes the lost get found, and sometimes the next chance is the one that leads to freedom. Today's Bible verses come to us from The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling by John G. Kruis. This morning's meditation verses come from the section on the forgiveness of sins. In today's Verses are Ephesians 1:3, 3 through 10. The word of God says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ. Has a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. And today's meditation verses come from the 26th point of our Counseling Reference Guide's resource section on the forgiveness of sins. And that 26th point is: God has lavished his grace upon us, on us, choosing us, forgiving us of all our sins, through the shed blood of Jesus. Today's Bible verses tell us that we have been chosen for forgiveness, and it was not because of anything we did or didn't do. It is because of God's love for us and because of his grace that we have been redeemed. Realizing that we don't have to earn our forgiveness can be a great relief that leads to our salvation. That's how it happened for me. But If we understand the love of God and Christ's great sacrifice to give us forgiveness and eternal life, we should be humbled as well. Without God's grace, we were hopeless, but because he rescued us, we are given a hope in a future. So rejoice that he chose you, but humble yourself and serve his kingdom to share his love and hope with others. As always, we encourage everyone to go to mtforchrist.com, where we always share insights and prompt— uh, insights and resources from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist our brothers and sisters in Christ with our walk. Today we continue sharing from According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament by Stephen F. Alford. And in Alford's devotional, he prompts us to read a chapter of scripture. Today's chapter is Hebrews 7, and from that chapter he shares portions of verse 15 and 16, which say, 'There arises another priest who has come according to the power of an endless life.' And Stephen Alford writes, 'Those words in Revelation come home to me: I am he who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.' Revelation 1:18. The indissoluble life. He was conquered. He has conquered sin and death, and he lives evermore to reign. The grand thought here is this: because he lives, I shall live. Because he possesses the indissoluble life, I too possess it. And he continues, right? Notice the words, the power of an endless life. He said of the resurrection, all power is given unto me. It is the same power with which he indwells me. Thus the apostle says, I live by the faith, by faith in the Son of God who loved me.

Galatians 2:20.

And Stephen Alford ends by praying, O Lord, deepen my experience of this life for your namesake.

Amen. Amen.

And yeah, when we understand our lives do not end, it's a liberating experience. When we understand that You know, we're never gonna die because we believe in Jesus Christ.

And when we, you know, are absent from this body, we'll be present with the Lord in his kingdom. Um, that's, that's, that's good news. And that empowers us to live a life of faith, um, that we have nothing to fear. And God has taken care of everything.

He's forgiven us all our sins and has given us a new life.

And, uh, We, we get to partake in it because of his grace. So it should draw us to, to love him and to, um, seek to do his will.

And so that's why we always ask the question, have you fully surrendered to God? Um, what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us, says A.W.

Tozer.

But what I say is, what we do with what God's word says about us is the most important thing about us.

Um, Yeah, it's good to think about God, but it's good to live in his kingdom and be a living expression of his love and grace. And when we surrender to his will, he gives us freedom. He causes us to want to repent of our sins and live a new life.

And he usually gives us some work to do, good work, like recovery ministry, for instance, and If you're in Upstate New York near Clifton Park, uh, we invite you to come to celebrate the Celebrate Freedom support group at Starpoint Church that meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. Um, it's for Christian discipleship and recovery.

Um, it's basically walking in the spirit instructions where we tell you to live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit one day at a time and to let go of the things of the past and to enter into the new life that Christ has for you.

And we, we were not there to fix one another. And if you fall off, you could come back. But we usually say keep coming.

And but it has to start with one time. So we encourage you to walk through the door and you can even register by going to the church's website and signing up.

However, you know, Freedom's not just for those people in Upstate New York. It is also available to everybody in Christ.

And we encourage you to find or increase your freedom in Christ by joining one of our podcast classes on YouTube.

We have several different playlists, uh, for the Bondage Break—

well, we have several different playlists for the teachings we've done over the years for the Bondage Breaker, Victory Over the Darkness, Freedom in Christ, and our own Celebrate Freedom discipleship course. Um, all you have to do is go to YouTube and, uh, look at our playlist and you'll be able to find those among the many other playlists that we offer.

Uh, as we said, ours is a ministry of encouragement, so we, we share other resources from other Christian theologians and counselors to assist you in your walk.

And, uh, you know, it's all for a purpose because God's willing to do the impossible in your life. You just have to pick up your cross and follow him to discover it. And, uh, some people call that emptying ourselves.

You know, empty yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And so we ask, are you empty for Christ too?

Are you making room for him in your life?

If so, keep on walking and talking with God. He'll lead you into good things.

If not, it only takes a prayer, uh, basically to, to ask the Lord to, um, to reveal himself to you, to make him your Lord and Savior, and to lead you, um, to follow him. And so that's why we pray every day, like now.

Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for for another day in your kingdom.

Lord, we thank you so much for the, the forgiveness you've given us, the more than second chances that you've given us, and that you never left us or forsake us, but you, you're leading us, uh, further into your love and further into the freedom that you have for us, Lord. So we pray for anyone listening or reading today's message or watching us on YouTube, Lord, that you'd come alongside them and bless them and their prayer requests and their walk of faith. Because we all need your help, Lord, and me most of all. So we pray for you to go before us today, open our eyes to the things you want us to see, and lead us to do the things you would have us do, Lord. We just want to represent your kingdom, and, uh, we want to do that again today. Lord, we thank you, we praise you, we love you, and we pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.