Forgiveness

Greetings,

 

I want to take a moment to share with you a message that must be applied multiple times during the day in a lot of cases.  It has to do with un-forgiveness towards the offender.  Second, the person who has been offended must seek forgiveness from God for having un-forgiveness.  

 

Forgiveness: A Two Step process

 

Step One.  You’ve all heard the forgiveness message over and over and over again.  We are to forgive those who have offended us over and over again as it says in Matthew 18:21-22 where Jesus says to forgive “seventy time seven”.  In reality, this is symbolic, as we are to forgive even if it exceeds seventy times seven.  We continue to forgive them until we are not pinged by the thought that caused our un-forgiveness. 

 

Many people have un-forgiveness towards people that have been dead for years and it should not be an issue.  But it is an issue because we have a record of wrongs against offenders both dead and alive.

 

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.  Matthew 18:21-22  

 

Step Two.  Jesus says to love your neighbor as you love yourself (as God loves you).  Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  So, if we took offense and have un-forgiveness, it is contrary to what Jesus said and that is to love our neighbor.  Therefore, we are in sin for having un-forgiveness towards the person who offended us.  We are to go before God and ask Him to forgive us for having un-forgiveness towards the person who offended us or we go to bed with un-repentant sin.

 

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (for having un-forgiveness)." Mark 11:25.  Are you with me?

 

I want to share some things that have really helped me in dealing with offenders and un-forgiveness.

 

1. Separate the sin in the person and look at the person God created. 
2. Love the person, hate the sin.  It’s OK to hate their sin, but we must love them as God loves them
3. Look at the person the way Jesus would have looked at the offender.  With love and compassion.
4. Understand that people do not live their lives according to your expectations.
5. Understand that if you complain, slander, or gossip about someone, you damage his or her reputation and their reputation can never be restored 100%.  In most cases they will exaggerate their record of wrongs to justify their argument.
    

Prayer of Forgiveness:

 

1). Lord, I am angry and hurt for the things that ____ did to me.  Lord I ask that You place in my heart a spirit of forgiveness towards _____ because I don’t want to live with this burden of un-forgiveness any longer.  In Jesus name, I forgive _____ as God forgives me and I want to confess my love for _____ just as God loves me. 2). Father God, In Jesus name I now ask You  to forgive me for having un-forgiveness towards _____.

 

• Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander……      

 

We must understand what Jesus knew about man’s short comings when he said “they do not know what they are doing.”  We are to forgive them and understand that they may be in bondage and don’t recognize the offenses they have committed.  It does not mean we have to endure their offenses.  But, we must forgive them and love them as God loves them. 

 

• Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

 

Jesus Warns of Offenses

 

Luke 17:1-4 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

 

Rid yourself of the record of wrongs you have against friends, family, employers, church, and especially SELF because our un-forgiveness is a much bigger burden on us than it is on them.  In most cases, they don’t know that you have un-forgiveness towards them. Your un-forgiveness compromises your immune system and causes many health issues.  Therefore, we must forgive and seek forgiveness from God. 

 

Don’t ever let your adversaries become your master.  In other words, don’t let their sin control you.

 

God Bless you,

 

Tony Sanchez 8-2-15