JOHN 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

OUR LORD JESUS THE CREATOR

JOHN 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

OUR LORD JESUS IS THE LIGHT, THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, THE TRUTH, THE WAY HE IS ALL IN ALL

GOD S PLAN DID NOT INCLUDE VIOLENCE

GENESIS 1:29-30 (KJV) 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

GENESIS 1:29-30 (KJV) 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

ISAIAH 11:1-9 (NIV) 1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord

ISAIAH 11:1-9 (NIV) 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

ISAIAH 11:1-9 (NIV) 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together; and a little child will lead them.

ISAIAH 11:1-9 (NIV) 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper s nest.

ISAIAH 11:1-9 (NIV) 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

MICAH 4:1-4 (NIV) 1 In the last days the mountain of the Lord s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

MICAH 4:1-4 (NIV) 2 Many nations will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

MICAH 4:1-4 (NIV) 3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

MICAH 4:1-4 (NIV) 4 Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.

WHAT ABOUT THE WHIP IN THE TEMPLE?

JOHN 2:13-17 (NIV) 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

JOHN 2:13-17 (NIV) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father s house into a market! 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.

CHOOSING TO SUFFER OUT OF LOVE FOR ANOTHER IS SELF SACRIFICIAL LOVE

BEING FORCED TO SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF OTHERS IS ABUSE

NEVER DEMONSTRATES ABUSE TOWARD ANYONE

IT IS NEVER LOVING TO ABUSE ANOTHER NOR TO ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE ABUSED

DO NOT STAY IN AN ABUSIVE SITUATION, BUT FREE THOSE WHO SUFFER ABUSE

MATTHEW 18:23-35 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

MATTHEW 18:23-35 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

MATTHEW 18:23-35 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

MATTHEW 18:23-35 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

MATTHEW 18:23-35 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

MATTHEW 18:23-35 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

The Lord took a violent scene from the world to which people could relate to in order to teach them a heavenly principle like Forgive so you won t be tormented anymore.

JOHN 20:22-23 (MSG) 22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. Receive the Holy Spirit, he said. If you forgive someone s sins, they re gone for good. If you don t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?