Publications
Partners
In light of the prevailing ‘atmosphere’ regarding xenophobia, it’s wise that in addition to the prayers and physical support rendered, there is need for a ‘mind-set’ renewal to prevent it from happening again.
Forgiveness is a very painful virtue for someone directly affected, but for progress and peace sake, one has to forgive to find peace within.
You can never have peace if you don’t forgive.
I found some interesting verses that may well serve as comfort not only for those affected by xenophobia but everyone else, whatever the situation needing forgiveness is.
Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Mark 11:25 - And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 6:15 - But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
James 5:16 - Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Luke 6:27 - But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Then came Peter to him and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till
seven times?” Jesus said unto him, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18 vs 21, 22
- This is interesting because actually gave the number of times one must forgive, 70 x 7 = 490. This number has a symbolic meaning to it;
Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. Daniel 9 vs 25
- Hundreds of years before Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost, the event was foretold in prophecy! "Messiah" means "anointed," in Hebrew and “Christ” in Greek
- The angel told Daniel to begin counting the 70-week prophecy from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. God's people were in captivity in the Persian Empire at that time. The decree was made in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, who began to reign in 464 B.C. (Ezra 7:7). Artaxerxes' decree in 457 B.C. was the only one that specified restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem.
- Luke 3:21, 22says this special anointing by the Holy Ghost took place at His baptism. - In Bible prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6) - Adding 69 weeks, or 483 prophetic days (69 x 7 = 483), to 457 B.C. brings us to the year A.D. 27. - Jesus began His ministry as the Messiah after His baptism in A.D. 27, exactly 483 years after the decree given in 457 BC. This is why Jesus began preaching, after His baptism, that "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." Mark 1:15. He was speaking of the time prophecy in Daniel 9:25. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Daniel 9 vs 26 - The prophecy next predicted that Jesus would be "cut off," or crucified, in the middle of the last week of the 70-week prophecy. - Counting three and one-half years from His anointing in the fall of A.D. 27 would take us to the spring of A.D. 31, which is precisely when Jesus was crucified. - At the time He died, the temple veil was torn into two sections from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50, 51), indicating that Jesus had caused the sacrificial system to cease by His death as the Lamb of God. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9 vs 27 - The prophecy also said Jesus would confirm the covenant, or the great plan of salvation, with many for one prophetic week (seven literal years). But Jesus was crucified in the midst of that final week allotted to His chosen nation, so how could He confirm the covenant with them after His death? Hebrews 2:3: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him." - That is why Jesus insisted that His disciples preach first to the Jews, because they still had three and a half years remaining of their 490-year opportunity to accept and proclaim the Messiah to the gentiles. - The disciples then preached to the Jews for that final three and a half years, until the nation officially rejected the gospel message in A.D. 34 when Stephen, a righteous deacon, was publicly stoned. From then, the “Gentiles” were entrusted to preach the gospel directly. You will also notice that at the stoning of Steven, Saul came into the picture. Saul then took the ministry to the gentiles. Acts 9 vs 15 Conclusion: Jesus said forgive 70 x 7 = 490 According to prophecy, 490 years ended the year Stephen was stoned. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7 vs 60 According to Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Stephen knelt down…prayer may be performed either kneeling or standing: There is a great deal of likeness between Christ and this first martyr of his at their deaths; Christ committed his Spirit into the hands of his Father, and Stephen commits his into the hands of Christ; both prayed for forgiveness for their enemies; and both cried with a loud voice before they expired; for so it follows here. Forgive even unto death :)
483 years + 457 beginning date = A.D. 26 + 1 year for 1 B.C.-A.D. 1 (there is no zero year) = A.D. 27
And cried with a loud voice; not only to show that he was in good spirits, and not afraid to die, but chiefly to express his vehement and affectionate desire to have the following petition granted:
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge: do not impute it to them, or place it to their account; let it not rise and stand in judgment against them, or they be condemned for it; grant them forgiveness for it, and for every other sin
