B FORGIVING THOSE WHO HAVE WOUNDED US (cont’d)
a. The reason to forgive
We have already dealt with this and it can be summed up in the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:14 – 15
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
b. Some reasons for unforgiveness
1) We blame God for allowing the wounds to take place
2) Our pride
This leads to three tragic and sinful spiritual conditions
• RESENTMENT
Re-sentment = Feeling again, clinging to the past, keeping a record of other peoples’ wrongs.
‘Love keeps no record of wrongs’ (1 Corinthians 13:5)
(These wrongs should not be stored up in our mind, in our computer or in our handphone!)
• BITTERNESS
Bitter = harsh, sour, vinegary, acromonius, hostile, resentful, sore, sullen, biting, cruel, fierce, severe, merciless, ruthless, stinging, unpleasant
We need to heed two biblical commands referring to bitterness
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31)
15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12 : 15)
• VENGEANCE
Vengeance is a passion to get even with the one who has hurt us. But we must remember and act on the command given to us in Romans 12:19 -21
19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
”If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
c. Some result of unforgiveness
1) God is hurt
We are disobeying his direct command that we must be willing to forgive.
2) Those we refuse to forgive are hurt
We cast a black cloud over them when we continue to think or speak evil of them
3) We ourselves are hurt
We are denied our Father’s forgiveness as we have seen in Matthew 6:14 – 15
We give the devil a foothold into our lives – Ephesians 4 : 26 – 27
26”In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.
We may be affected physically.
The key to the seven lessons on forgiveness is given to us in the simple but profound words which Jesus taught us to pray to our heavenly Father: Luke 11:4a
4aForgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
January 7th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
very awakening for me. Ptl for his showing me this. shaloom