Forgiveness
EXT: Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness is the willing ability to pardon someone of his or her wrong doings. Our future depends on forgiveness.
When an individual forgives his/her brethren, that individual frees his/her brethren and also frees himself/herself. Until an individual forgives he/she is bound by Satan and is stuck in a mode of unhap- piness.
Forgiveness is Mandatory
Regardless of the circumstances, mankind must forgive. One can- not inherit internal life, if he/she has not forgiven his/her brethren.
A person’s relationship with his/her spouse, children, co-workers, friends, Saints will determine the effectiveness of his/her prayers. A person’s unwillingness to forgive those who have hurt them indicates the lack of understanding of God’s forgiving love. Harboring grudges, unwillingness to make adjustments to smooth things out, are few ways in which our prayers may be ineffective.
If you forgive someone who hurts you, God will forgive you when you do something that is not in alignment with the Word of God. If you do not forgive someone who hurts you, then God would not forgive you of your trespasses. Then if God does not forgive you, how then can you inherit internal life? (Matthew 6:15; Mark 11:25).
Matthew 5:43-48 declares:
• Be perfect, as our father in heaven is perfect • Do good to them that hate you
• Love your enemies
• Bless them that curse you
• Pray for them that despitefully use you
In summary, Matthew is saying as children of God we must love everybody. Since the child of God cannot be perfect in the flesh (the flesh is imperfect), then they must walk in the Spirit. When a child of God falls from the state of spiritual perfection, He/she can do things and not feel anyway about it, or justify behaviors because the spirit no longer convicts (Galatians 5:16-17; 22-23).
We must keep in mind that God has not done us anything; and re- gardless of how we feel, we must worship God. Feelings come and feelings go. The flesh is what is hurting; God’s Spirit that dwells in the child of God is still alive and well.
Forgiveness Depends On:
• Circumstances: What went wrong?
• Person: Who hurts you? The closer one is to the individual, the more one hurts and the process of forgiveness can be harder and longer.
Forgiveness Is Broken Down Into Four Stages:
• Hurt
• Hate
• Healing
• Restoration/Reconciliation
Hurt
This is the beginning stage; this is when the individual feels wounded, bruised, ill-treated, be-trayed and lonely.
Hate
There are two category of Hate:
• Passive
• Aggressive
Passive Hate:
• The devil lives here
• This is when one (wounded party) begins to dislike, detest and avoid the one that hurts him/her;
• The wounded party also starts to withdraw himself/herself from different events/circumstances;
• It is of utmost importance that the wounded party does not stay in this category too long. The longer the wounded party lingers in this category of hate, the more he/she will resent the individual that hurts him/her and aggressive hate could begin to develop.
• The devil will ensure he brings back to the wounded party, reminders of what the individual has done
to him/her;
• At this stage, the problem (s) must be sorted out. It may take a mediator.
• Aggressive Hate:
• The devil loves this hate
• It drives one to destroy
• It drives one to seek revengeIn the wounded party’s heart there is an open wound, it really hurts and the wounded party needs to heal, if he/she do not heal him- self/herself, the hurt will then destroy the wounded party physically and spiritually.
Physically:
• cannot eat
• cannot sleep
• heart starts to race
• can even get an ulcer
Spiritually:
• cannot praise and worship God • cannot pray
If one reaches this category of hate:
• fasting and praying must be done
• counselling is required (either separately or together).
Healing
This is the stage where forgivenesss begins. The quicker the wounded party moves from stage 2 (Hate) is the quicker he/she will be cured and the process of healing can begin.
Restoration/Reconcile
The healing process has started and things begin to mend.
The wounded party has totally forgiven the individual at this stage. The wounded party will still remember what caused him/her hurt, but will not become upset or angry. If he/she becomes upset or angry, that means he/she has not fully forgiven.
The two people involved in the dilemma may or may not rekindle their friendship. If the wounded party chooses not to rekindle the friendship he/she must search himself/herself to ensure it is not because he/she is still hurting.
Appeal for Forgiveness
Daniel interceded on Israel’s behalf and asked God to forgive them because they have rebelled and committed iniquities (Daniel 9:9). Paul appeals for us to forgive one another. Forgiveness is repen- tance unto salvation (II Cor. 2:10). Paul’s prayer for the Colossians included forgiveness, he said” We receive forgiveness through the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ” (Colossians 1:14).
Instructions On Forgiveness
Peter asked Jesus, “How often should I forgive my brother?” Jesus replied seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). Jesus told his disciples, “… if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17:3).
Compensation for Forgiveness
• God confirms His covenant with the children of Israel when He told them, “. . .I wilI forgive their sins and heal their lands (II Chronicles 7:14).
• Jesus said, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14).
• God blots out our sins:
• Peter stated that you should repent and be converted, so that your sins will be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
• David asked God to hide His face from his sins and blot out his iniquities (Psalms 51:9).
• God told his chosen people, He has blotted out their sins and He has redeemed them (Isaiah 44:22).
• Jeremiah assured God’s people that He would forgave their iniquities and will remember their sins no more (Jeremiah 31:34).
• Micah states that God will subdue our sins and cast them into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).
• Paul told the Hebrews that God would remember their sins no more (Hebrews 10:17).
Result Of Un-forgiveness
• Jesus said “for if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:15).
Only God Can Forgive Sin
• The people in the wilderness sinned by making gods out of gold and worshipped them. Moses became furious and asked God to forgive their sins (Exodus 32:32).
• David said it is God who forgives all our sins (Psalms 103:3).
• God has the power on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6).
• When Christ was being crucified He cried, “Father forgive them for they know what they have done (Luke 23:34).
• God forgives Israel of their sins (Acts 5:31).
• Forgiveness of sins comes through the Blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7).
Unforgivable Sin
• Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. This sin is subject to eternal damnation (Mark 3:28-2 9).
God Forgives… So Should We
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involv- ing alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evi- dent. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a Pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and ten- sions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his future wife. He began to speak and his statement was this: “My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”
The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble. What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus….end of case!!!
God Forgives… So Should We. ADAPTED