UNFORGIVENESS IN OUR HEARTS IS LIKE DRINKING POISON AND EXPECTING THE OTHER PERSON TO DIE
Unforgiveness kills. It can cause sickness and disease. We won't drink poison from a bottle that's clearly labelled, yet spiritually we ingest poison every time we swallow a grudge.
Unforgiveness is everywhere – even in the churches! None of us is immune to criticisms, backbiting, and accusations. Jesus said in Luke 17:1: "It is inevitable that offences will come."
Everyday we face negative situations. We must be realistic: unpleasant things will happen because of the malice of Satan and corruption in people's hearts. The big question is HOW do we deal effectively with offences? Will we become bitter and twisted? Or, will we DO OURSELVES A FAVOR and forgive, so that we can move on with God! Some people are stuck in unforgiveness when they should be further down the road.
It's so important that we learn to keep short accounts with God and people. I cannot afford to let the sun go down on my anger.
"A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a wounded spirit who can bear"– Proverbs 18:13
It is truly unbearable to be around bitter people! My friend, life hurts — but God heals!
Relationships can be tough. We’re human and we tend to bump into one another along our journey together.
Past hurts rear their ugly heads and the enemy tries to keep us stirred up over them as he doesn’t want there to be unity and peace amongst us. If he can keep us from forgiving others, he can get a foothold into our lives.
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ” Mark 11:25 (NIV)
Holding unforgiveness in our hearts is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The one we’re doing the most damage to with our unforgiveness is ourselves.
Why you should forgive!
Jesus told this life-altering parable in response to Peter’s question, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me?”
The Unforgiving Servant shows us three important realities about forgiving others.
The forgiven forgive because all are debtors.
The debt that was owed was equal to three thousand lifetimes of work. It was an unthinkable amount (Matthew 18:24).
Jesus’ point: The debt was insurmountable. Our debt of sin before a holy God is impossibly huge (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23).
The forgiven forgive because Christ forgave them.
Every person has a choice. Our list of sins can either be upon Jesus or upon us. We can never work it off (Romans 6:23).
Christ nailed the list of our sins to the cross. There is no other way to deal with our insurmountable debt before God (Colossians 2:13-14).
Therefore, the forgiven forgive as God forgives.
The king in the parable asks, “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Matthew 18:33)
Each one of us is welcomed in the kingdom of heaven, but unforgiveness has no place here.
Consequence of Unforgiving
“Pardon sin or be poisoned within.” The unforgiving servant was thrown into prison (Matthew 18:34). Carrying around unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
What you don’t forgive, you’re doomed to relive. Hypothetical hauntings chase us, while the other person is oblivious.
You might need to wrestle with the question, “Am I forgiven?” You might be saved but hindered in your fellowship with God (Matthew 18:35), or you might be doing religious activities without being saved.
Benefits of Forgiveness
Christianity is well-known for emphasis on forgiveness, but what are the benefits of forgiving someone? Three scientifically proven benefits in medical studies:
Forgiveness reduces stress.
Forgiveness brings reduced pain, increased heart health, and promotes overall good health.
Stronger relationships, happiness, PEACE.
How to Forgive
Would you like to become more successful at forgiving others? There are practical steps that must be taken. One time I asked the Lord why so many people want to forgive but aren't successful doing it.
And He said, "Because they aren't obeying what I tell them to do in My Word." As I searched the Word, I found the following instructions:
1. Decide – You will never forgive if you wait until you feel like it. Choose to obey God and steadfastly resist the devil in his attempts to poison you with bitter thoughts. Make a quality decision to forgive, and God will heal your wounded emotions in due time (see Matthew 6:12-14).
2. Depend – You cannot forgive without the power of the Holy Spirit. It's too hard to do on your own. If you are truly willing, God will enable you, but you must humble yourself and cry out to Him for help. In John 20:22-23 Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit!" His next instruction was about forgiving people. Ask God to breathe the Holy Spirit on you so you can forgive those who've hurt you.
3. Obey – The Word tells us several things we're to do concerning forgiving our enemies:
a. Pray for your enemies and those who abuse and misuse you. Pray for their happiness and welfare (see Luke 6:27-28). As you pray, God can give them revelation that will bring them out of deception.
They may not even be aware they hurt you, or maybe they're aware but are so self-centered that they don't care. Either way, they need revelation.
b. Bless and do not curse them (Romans 12:14). In the Greek to bless means "to speak well of" and to curse means "to speak evil of." You can't walk in forgiveness and be a gossip. You must stop repeating the offense. You can't get over it if you continue to talk about it. Proverbs 17:9 says that he who covers an offense seeks love.
In addition;
Let Jesus deal with their sin — either at the cross or on Judgement Day. If they are already a believer, Jesus has forgiven their sin. If they’re not a believer, plead for them to experience Christ’s forgiveness.
When you remember their sins, remember yours. Sometimes other people’s sins stick in our minds and hearts, so we must forgive, pray, and give it to the Lord daily, forgiving others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:12; Ephesians 4:32-5:1).
What about the horrific ones? These sins weigh on us, like chains that hinder our steps. Find the key at the cross. Even as He was being murdered, Jesus forgave his killers (Luke 23:34).
What if they keep sinning in the same way? Forgive, yes (Matthew 18:21-22), but forgiveness and trust are two different things. You can fully forgive while having diminished trust.
What if they never ask for forgiveness? We still forgive as Christ did: He forgave His killers even while He hung on the cross (Luke 23:34). They weren’t asking for it, but He was extending forgiveness.
What if I can’t forgive myself? You can’t forgive the sins that you yourself committed. Christ alone can offer it. His cross paid for all your sin.
Conclusively, we hope you received divine understanding as you read and apply this new series into your Christian life and community. Please feel free to share with another.
Please don’t forget; Hurting people often hurt other people. The baggage we carry from our own past hurts can cause us to struggle in our relationships. God’s love sets us free to love others and forgive. We can’t love with the deep kind of love God calls us to on our own, only with His help.
REFERENCE: BIBLE, CHRISTIANSTODAY, NELSON MANDELA, FAITHFULSTEWARDSHIP, JOYCEMEYER, LAURAHICKS, BELLEVUECHRISTIAN COUNSELLING
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