Rees Howells: Intercessor - Note for Page 64-65 (Section 21 -- MADEIRA) - Rees was Being Hard on Himself

Rees Howells: Intercessor (PDF): http://www.inspirationalchristians.org/downloads/rees-howells-intercessor-ebook.pdf

• This can be a helpful book with powerful scripture references and inspiring examples from the life of a man who desired to serve God and do God's best will for his life. He saw miracles happen in answer to prayer and the course of World War 2 changed by way of his and others' prayers. This is a book to seek God through, but it does have errors, as most Christian books do. So, we Christians need to be Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). Use caution and discernment when reading this book. 
  
  I am certain that not everything Norman Grubb or Rees Howells said is true or biblically correct. Rees depended much on a voice he heard, but he needed to meditate on God's Word (the Bible) more. 

• When we are grounded in God's Word (Acts 17:10-11), and as we seek to know God as our Abba Father in a personal relationship (Galatians 4:6-7), we will have better discernment to know what is of God and what isn't. Abba God does speak to us by His Spirit (John 16:13), but He does not tell us to do anything that is contradictory to His Nature as revealed through the Bible. God does not teach us to perform for Him or earn anything from Him (Romans 4:1-8). God does not teach us to go through agony in prayer (John 14:27). He gives us peace (John 14:27, John 16:33, John 20:19-23). 

• There are more errors than I have been able to write about. So, again, we Christians need to be Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). I myself have been misled at times, so I offer this article with a desire to point out why God is a loving, caring, compassionate, patient, gracious, longsuffering Father. And, I offer this article to point out truth from God's Word (the Bible).

Rees Howells was being hard on himself on page 64, in the section titled "21 -- MADEIRA." 

Rees went to the Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago, to help a sick friend recover. 

A missionary had given Rees a room to stay in that was filled with bugs and it was hard for him to sleep at night. He felt resentful toward the missionary, but God graciously showed him that he needed to forgive the man for giving him a bad place to sleep at. Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling. And, faith is a choice, and it is not a feeling. That is why Jesus told the ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter had just died, "...Be not afraid, only believe."

• Mark 5:35-36: "[35] While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? [36] As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe."

It seemed that Rees was hard on himself at times. He felt that he had to feel close to Jesus and enjoy fellowship with Him and gain a place of "perfect forgiveness and mercy" before he could choose to fully forgive the missionary who gave him the bad quarters. But, forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a choice. Jesus never taught that we have to have reach a place of feeling "perfect forgiveness" to truly forgive someone. 

We tend to follow our feelings a lot, but the truth is that faith and forgiveness are choices which precede feelings. When we chose to forgive someone who has wronged us, and give God our emotional hurt and wounded feelings, then our feelings will change. And, we will have joy. 

Look what Jesus taught in Matthew 18:21-22: "[21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

We have to decide to forgive every time someone has wronged us, even if they do it throughout one day, and day after day. This is by looking to God and making a choice. Let's just obey God's Word, and not be hard on ourselves.