Forgive and Rise Again

Saturday 16 June
READ: Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75
MORE LESSON: Acts 1:15-23

Peter was an influential figure in Jesus' team. When Jesus predicted His suffering and death, Peter boasted and vowed that he was going to die with Jesus. However, all it took was a little damsel to question him; he swore and denied ever knowing Jesus. He fulfilled what Jesus had prophesied: Before the cock crows thou shalt deny me thrice . . .and he went out and wept bitterly: Matt 26: 75. However, he did what needed to be done: he wept bitterly in repentance. After crying, Peter forgave himself and continued with God; and later in the book of Acts we saw the same Peter become a great preacher.
Peter was not the only one who missed it during the trial and suffering of Jesus. Another person was Judas Iscariot who led soldiers to arrest Jesus. He sold Jesus for thirty shekels of silver; he allowed Satan to rule him from within. A theologian suggested that maybe Judas thought that after betraying Jesus into the hands of His enemies, Jesus would be too powerful to be arrested, and thereafter, he would have made away with the money without any guilty conscience. This still shows that Judas was ruled by the love of money. However, he must have been disappointed when Jesus allowed Himself to be taken. Destiny had already determined for the Son of man to go as it is written concerning Him but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed (Matt 26: 24). After Jesus was crucified, Judas also repented: “I have sinned, I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Matt 27: 4). He refused to spend the money and went to buy a plot of land: …and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out: Acts 1: 18. He committed suicide.
It was Peter who stood up and selected a replacement for Judas: read Acts 1:15-20. Was Peter not also guilty? Yes, he was, but he accepted forgiveness; and rose again. What about Judas; would God have forgiven him? Yes, but he didn't accept the forgiveness; he killed himself. The difference between the two of them is that one forgave himself while the other one refused to forgive himself. When a man refuses to forgive himself in destiny, he is digging a grave for himself. Learn to forgive yourself so that you will not go the way of Judas. It's time to forgive and rise again. If you can just forgive the mistakes of yesterday and face tomorrow, there is hope for you. If your destiny is cut down, don't just sit down weeping; don't commit suicide. Begin the process of healing by first forgiving yourself like Peter did. That's what the Word of the Lord says-Forgive.

Prayer/Action
* Rebuke the forces of guilt and condemnation over your life.
* Receive the forgiveness that Christ has given you and declare your rising.
* Receive by faith courage and power to rise above your past, in Jesus name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Today, I renew my commitment to the God who answers prayer; I shall never have to see another god, in the mighty name of Jesus.