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Sound of Liberty
7286 Hwy 53 West
Dawsonville,
GA
30534
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Are you a
Seventy-Times-Seven Christian?
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Message Transcribed From
Audio Tape Number 806
Preached Sunday Evening, September 24, 2000
Brother Ben Howard, Dawsonville, Georgia
Subject Scripture: Matthew 18:21 & 22
A Personal Word
I feel this message is specially anointed of the
Lord because of the manner in which the thought of
“Are You A Seventy-Times-Seven Christian?” came to my
mind, and settled within my heart. I was reading in a
daily devotional book, which contains spiritual
excerpts on a collection of Bible verses. The
devotional book is not a book of exact stories, but
rather short and insightful thoughts regarding
different scriptures from the Bible. Randomly reading
through the book recently, I read this scripture -
Matthew, chapter 18:21&22.., “Then came Peter to him,
and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times but,
Until seventy times seven.” This thought captured my
attention: “Are you a seventy-times-seven
Christian?” As you read the remainder of this
message, the purpose will become clearer, for this is
the Word Jesus was giving in the focus point of this
scripture. Jesus gave Peter the number of times he
should be willing to forgive his brother. Simple
multiplication tells us that the total number adds up
to 490 times! In addition, this scripture was
indicating this number was necessary for merely a one
day period of time! The Truth of this scripture
certainly does not leave any room for unforgiveness!
Circumstances such as these would be extreme, however,
..to be like Jesus Christ should be our daily desire!
God Bless You.
…THE QUESTION CONCERNING “HOW OFTEN”?…
Matthew, chapter 18-21&22: “Then came Peter to him
and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but,
Until seventy times seven.” Peter spoke the words,
“seven times..,” as though this would have been an
excessive number of times to forgive. However, Jesus’
words of “..seventy times seven..” were very extreme,
and left no room whatsoever for any Christian to hold
any grudge or ill-will against any other Christian!
There should be no circumstance that can not be
forgiven! This does not mean that we ignore
everything another believer brings us, but we do
forgive! Peter said, “Should I forgive my brother
seven times a day?” Peter’s thinking was the fact
that seven times was more-than-adequate amount. Jesus
gave to Peter an answer for his question that most
likely astounded Peter, - much as those words amazed
me, as they “jumped out” at me when the thought for
forgiveness was given me! This thought came to me in
such a personal way, and the words,
“seventy-times-seven Christian” resounded to my mind
and my heart! Are you a seventy time seven
Christian? If you are, then you are a good
Christian! Take special note from whom these words of
instruction for forgiveness came: These words
regarding forgiveness came directly from Jesus
Christ! The Man, Jesus Christ, was God manifested in
the flesh! This was the ONE who came with the very
thought of God! He was the Word made flesh, - with a
specific Word to remedy one of the weaknesses of our
very flesh, -- or inability to be able to forgive many
times. Jesus Christ brought to us the Word of
Forgiveness! Jesus Christ came to us, and taught us
all things about forgiveness, and most specifically
about the love of God. He taught us the reality of
this scripture - John, chapter 15:12&13.., “..love one
another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.” Of course, we know that Jesus Christ
achieved the love He spoke about, for He gave His life
for us, - His “friends”. The magnitude of the love
Jesus Christ exhibited for us is deeply shown in
Romans, chapter 5:7&8..., “For scarcely for a
righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps)
for a good man some would even dare to die. But God
commendeth his love toward us, while we were yet
sinner, Christ died for us.” Not only were we given
the grace of being called His “friend” - but, while we
were still sinners, Jesus Christ fulfilled the love of
God and died for us! We were neither “righteous”, nor
“good”, but Jesus Christ showed the ultimate love with
his death on the cross! 490 times of forgiveness
seems to dim in scope when compared to the forgiveness
Jesus Christ gave to those He loved!
Click here for the full text
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