My blog, my opinion. Rant on your own.
Let us tackle a huge issue today! FORGIVENESS
I really have to work hard on somethings but other things come a lot easier for me. Forgiveness isn't one of those things. Forgiveness isn't natural for a lot of people. In fact it goes against every natural instinct we have. WHY???? Because not forgiving makes us feel justified and gives us power. Nothing will make you feel better then to have someone grovel at your feet and make you feel like you are some sort of royal.
But here is the kicker, it's also ungodly, antichrist, antichristian to be unforgiving.
I use to have a huge problem with this one particular person. I swear she was put on this earth to be my thorn in the flesh! She actually attacked me IN CHURCH one time! Jumped right on my back and started hitting me because I wouldn't stand on her side against someone else. I did have the satisfaction of throwing her off me across the room. I was much stronger than her in my younger years, but sadly, a friend prevented me for beating her assets.
This girl followed me through life for a great many years and when she sprang up like a spring time weed, she brought nothing but trouble! Because of the relationship type we had, I would get unwanted occasional reports from people about her.
One day as I was doing dishes, I was looking out the window and she came to mind, I was actually very happy that day until she crossed over my mind and I could feel the bitterness start to rise up in me, so I stopped doing dishes and OUT LOUD I declared
"AS AN ACT OF MY FREEWILL I FORGIVE ****HER NAME HERE***! I TAKE THIS THESE THOUGHTS CAPTIVE AND TO THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST AND COVER THEM UNDER THE BLOOD!"
You know from that day forward, 14 years ago at the time of writing this, I have no quarrel with her. I have hardly heard from her and she has gone her way and I mine. Occasionally someone will bring her up in conversation but I have all but forgotten her.
I have *forgotten* a lot of things over the years as I have practice Forgiving and Forgetting. I want to move forward in my life and not be held back.
A handful of people know my personal story, a small amount of people know the details, and I get asked often why I don't hate certain people for what they did to me. In all honesty, I do not recall a lot of what has happen. There is a mental block. I prayed that God removes from me the memory and the pain of the memory. I will not be controlled by my emotions. Emotions are fickle and untrustworthy. They change over time and in an instant. I had a specific individual who came to me and asked me for forgiveness for something that happen years earlier, I knew what they were talking about, but I told them, that it was a dead issue for me. I could sit with this individual no problem and even ministered to them. That's the thing about God, you got to let Him work in you and through you. Get yourself out of His way so that He can use you mightily!
I choose FREEDOM from my past.
Ps -103:1
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as OUR SINS DESERVE or repay us according to our iniquities. As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
I don't want to be a person who withholds forgiveness towards someone. It really and truly feels very wrong. How is it that Jesus Christ can forgive me for the sins I have committed and there are many and I can't forgive my ex, my neighbour, the man who molested me? Should I hold onto feelings that do no good for me?
I could play the victim card for years to come if I wanted, but my reality is this: JESUS CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED. In Jesus, I have no need for a past. I have no need to remember hurt. I have no need to carry resentment. I have freedom! I have a freedom that can only come through Jesus!
Jesus forgave Peter for denying him! Jesus forgave Paul for persecuting Christians! Jesus forgave me for falling. How much more can I love Christ by forgiving those who have hurt me? How can I? Look at how Jesus even taught us to pray:
MY FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN,
HOLY IS THE NAME!
THY KINGDOM COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE ME THIS DAY MY DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE ME MY SINS
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST ME
LEAD ME NOT INTO TEMPTATION
DELIVER ME FROM EVIL
FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM, POWER AND GLORY FOREVER
What the world tells you to do and what the WORD tells you to do are two vastly different things. The world wants you to be a victim for your whole life. The world wants you to be depressed, down, full of hate and offence!
BUT GOD!!!!
God does not want that for you! He said in His Word: The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy BUT I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest! John 10:10
Are you walking in victory over withholding forgiveness? There is NOTHING that is not forgivable!!! Even murder. God does not want you to be consumed with hate and withholding forgiveness, that is why He tells you to CAST YOUR BURDENS onto Him and that VENGEANCE IS HIS.
I was asked by someone recently, in light of my story how do the other people involve move on with their lives when an affair has occurred. They see the "evil" couple (my word) living their best life, loving every moment of it, while they are in a depression, they are hurting, they have walked away from the Lord. How is it that the offending couple can stand and blatantly ask for forgiveness when they have hurt so many people?
Here is the straight up truth: THEY DO NOT HAVE A BIBLICAL LEG TO STAND ON.
While they feel they are the victim, they are holding onto an offence that they perceive to be righteous. They were the one left behind. They were the victim. They have that "righteous indignation" against the other couple.
Apparently the other couple has asked not only their ex's but the church for forgiveness, and have asked God most importantly to forgive them their sins, so in the eyes of God, under the blood of Christ, in the covenant of Grace, these two people who have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God have been made righteous before Him. Who is anyone in that circle to withhold forgiveness? It is not up to them. If God forgave the offending couple, then they are forgiven, PERIOD. Your opinion does not matter!
Reality is, it's time for them to FORGIVE, FORGET, MOVE FORWARD.
Walking in offence is walking in direct rebellion against the Word of God and rebellion towards the Word of God is liken to witchcraft! 1 Sam 15:23
For your own sake, forgive yourself and forgive others. Ask God to turn your heart to truth that can only be found in Him and ask Him to put His love in your heart for the one you are having a hard time forgiving.
Dr. Lester Sumrall said in one of his messages on Forgiveness, "If you truly forgive someone, send them a gift."
Scriptures to meditate on:
Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 103:10-14 – He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him. For he knows we are but dust.
Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy
saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so
that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his
immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and
receive eternal life.
Luke 23:34 – As he hung on the cross – “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
WE NEED TO WALK IN FORGIVENESS ALL THE TIME!
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Mark 11:25 – And whenever you stand praying,
forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also
who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Matthew 6:12 – From the Lord’s Prayer – “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
LET YOUR MIND BE A WORD RULED MIND
Romans 12:18-21 – If possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but
leave I to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry,
feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing
you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 5:39-41 – But I tell you not to resist an
evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the
other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him
have your cloak as well, and if someone forces you to go one mile, go
with him two.
Proverbs 17:9 – Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Luke 6:35-36 -But love your enemies, do good to
them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your
reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most
High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults.
God will Help. LET HIM!
John 14:26-27 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will
remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
1 Peter 5:7 – Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
Philippians 4:13 – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9 – Each time he said, “My grace is
all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to
boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through
me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take
