- [Narrator] Forgive and forget
is what you'll most likely hear somebody say to you
when you voice out what someone did
or said to you that left you deeply hurt.
Now, instead of that phrase making us feel better,
it may end up angering us.
Silently we scream,
forgive just like that?
How?
Did you even hear me?
Do you think it's so easy
to just forgive and forget what this person did
with a simple snap of my fingers?
The truth is forgiveness always seems much more easier
to suggest to others than it is to actually forgive.
And this is because forgiveness is not a walk in the park.
Yes, it is necessary to lay all hurt aside.
God demands that we continuously forgive others
if we must also enjoy his forgiveness.
Matthew 6:12
"And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."
Matthew 6:14.
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
"your Heavenly Father will also."
Matthew 6:15.
"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
"neither will your father forgive your trespasses."
Granted forgiveness may not be as easy as it sounds.
This is why we need God's strength.
There is so much as believers
that we know is the right thing to do, even smart to do,
but we just may not have the ability to do so.
Hear what Jesus said in Matthew 18:21.
"Then came Peter to Him and said,
"Lord, how oft shalt my brothers sin against me
"and how I forgive him?
"till seven times?"
Matthew 18:22.
"Jesus saith unto him
"I say now unto thee until seven times,
"but until 70 times seven."
Seems like a really tall order, right?
But through these scriptures, it is so obvious
that God really wants us to be free
from the shackle called unforgiveness.
Let us take a look at this Scripture.
"When Jesus knew in Himself
"that his disciples murmured at it,
"He said onto them,
"Doth, this offend you?"
John 6:61. KJV.
This verse is quite important because it lets us know
that we don't only take offense
when vindictive people do or say something,
but also when people imply something
that shakes up our comfortable stance.
If these people could be offended in Jesus,
as perfect as He was,
because His statement wasn't what they were used to
or were even expecting,
then it's evident that anyone can say things
that set us off in a wrong way.
In reality, we are all different.
And our opinions differ on varying topics.
Therefore, we can't always be on the edge,
ready to fly off the handle when people speak.
Now, whether it comes from a vindictive place
or just someone voicing his regular opinion
is another issue entirely.
A wise person said,
"Unforgiveness or bitterness is like drinking poison
"and hoping that the person on the other side
"dies of that poisoning."
No one else knows the painful damage that bitterness, anger
and holding grudges can bring to our lives like God.
In truth, we should be forgiving lavishly
because we have been forgiven so much.
Ephesians 4:32.
"And be ye kind to one another,
"tenderhearted, forgiving one another
"even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Hear what God's word says?
Philippians 2:13.
"For it is God which worketh in you
"both to will and to do his good pleasure."
We can allow God help us in the journey
to letting go of hurts by praying to Him.
He will suddenly fill us with the desire to forgive
and the ability to actually let go
without feeling any remorse or regret for doing so.
When there is a hurt that appears to deep-seated,
too painful, to even put into words,
it isn't wise to keep striving to forgive
in our own strength.
But instead, we must choose to pray to God for strength
to actually fulfill this important task
of forgiving those that have brought pain to our hearts.
Here are ways to sustain this timely choice
to live free of offense.
Number one, be quick to forgive.
When someone says something that is malicious
or maybe they do something untoward,
if we do not want to end up with a bigger perception
of that insult or action the next day,
then we must quickly let go of that insult
and chalk it down to immaturity, insufficient understanding,
or plainly the wrong opinion that person has.
"Forbearing one another and forgiving one another,
"if any man have a quarrel against any,
"even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
Colossians 3:13, KJV.
Number two.
Communicate with that person.
A lot of misunderstanding that leads to quarrels
and even full blown conflicts would have been avoided
if people just came out to discuss.
The truth is, the person may not have even realized
that you perceived the situation in an offensive light.
And when you discuss gently without raising your voice,
you will be amazed
at how everything will be calmly resolved.
Assumption is really the mother of all frustrations.
It may seem less confrontational to just assume
and keep offense in your heart,
but its effect is more disastrous in the long run.
Number three, pray to God for strength.
A lot of times if the hurt is very painful,
it will take only the grace of God to forgive.
That's why the Bible says,
"It's not by power or might,
"but by my spirit says the Lord."
It is important to keep praying to the Father
to help you forgive if there's malice and resentment
budding in your heart.
Also keep exercising your authority over the devil's trick
to take advantage of your weakness
in order to make you live in a prison of bitterness.
Number four, have a sense of humor.
This means you should learn to take some words
with a pinch of salt.
Laugh at yourself
so that when people laugh at something you did,
it doesn't sound abrasive to you.
Finally, keep believing
and speaking your dominion over unforgiveness.
You will live out the true liberty
Christ died for you to live.
In Jesus name.
Our question for the day.
What's a worship song
that has helped you feel closer to God?
Let us pray.
Father, I thank you for your love
that has made provisions for me to live hurt free
in liberty and peace of mind.
Thank you for always watching out for my wellbeing,
sincerely teaching me to walk away
from a life full of bitterness and unforgiveness.
For it is your deep desire that I forgive others
so that I can fully enjoy your forgive.
Lord, I readily admit that I have held in my heart
people that have hurt me deeply.
Please, feel free to mention his, her, their names.
I have heard them say things about me that are so malicious
and I have seen them do things
that are absolutely vindictive,
but I come to you today
to release all of the pent up rage in my heart.
I do this not because they have changed
or because they are now perfect people,
but because I know that if I keep holding
onto this bubbling anger and bitterness,
it will only cause me to self destruct.
My Lord, I also choose forgiveness
because he that has been forgiven much, forgives much,
and your boundless love has endured my forgiveness
from sin over and over again.
Luke 7:47.
"Wherefore I say unto thee,
"Her sins, which are many, are forgiven,
"for she loved much,
"but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."
Father, I want what you want for me, which is liberty.
For where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2nd Corinthians 3:17.
"Now the Lord is that spirit,
"and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty."
Therefore, I ask in the precious name of your son, Jesus,
that you give me the desire to truly forgive and let go.
Let there be no longing in me to get back at them
or malice in my heart towards them.
Father, I ask for your love, peace, serenity,
and joy to flood my heart at this very moment.
Let the presence of your spirit in me
stir up compassion for those
that have deliberately despised me,
for I know that they do not know better
than the path they are walking in.
Let there be a bubbling over assurance in my heart
that I am yours, readily forgiving others
and gladly receiving the love of my Father.
Jesus, please clear out every single debris of malice
in my heart,
and burn it all off with your unquenchable fire.
Let there be no desire to forgive today,
and then take up hurts against those same people tomorrow.
I choose to live by your words, Jesus,
"These things I have spoken unto you
"that ye should not be offended."
John 16:1, KJV.
I thank you for giving me authority
over every power of the enemy.
Like you said in Luke 10 verse 19 that,
"Behold, I give unto you power
"to tread on serpents and scorpions
"and over all the power of the enemy
"and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
In your name, Jesus, I have been empowered
to stand against the schemes of the adversary of my life.
This one, who fuels situations that leads to animosity
and ultimately anger or malice.
I decree that every plan
to make me live in a prison of rage,
resentment and bitterness is canceled.
And you have said,
"I will declare a thing and it will come to pass."
Therefore, I declare that no scheme of the enemy
will succeed to get me stuck in a place
of malice and bitterness.
And as seen in Isaiah 54 verse 17,
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.
"And every tongue that rise against thee in judgment
"thou shalt condemn.
"This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
"and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."
So no fashioned by the wicked shall prosper over my life,
as I will not be a slave to the trap of unforgiveness.
In job 22 verse 28,
you say to me,
"Thou shalt also decree a thing
"and it shall be established unto thee,
"and the light shall shine upon thy ways."
I forbid the devil and his cohorts
from stirring up a fence around me
or in the midst of my loved ones.
I speak in the name of Jesus
because it is the name that is above every other name
that I will not be a pawn in the hand of the devil
to live all my life in pain,
regret and depression through unforgiveness.
I declare that the blood of Jesus cancels every plan
that the enemy has written against me, my future,
and all that pertains to me.
Now, this is my personal confession
because living a life of constantly forgiving others
is my new choice.
I am not easily offended.
I am free to forgive.
Forgiving those that hurt me or despisefully regard me
comes easy to me.
I do not hold grudges in my heart.
I do not keep malice going on
because when I hold people in the prison of my heart,
I am also imprisoning and limiting myself.
I am loving, compassionate, forgiving,
and full of joy every day.
As it says in Romans 14 verse 17.
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink,
"but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."
I choose to forgive in advance
even before people will offend me in any way.
Because Jesus said in Luke 17 verse one
that offenses will definitely come.
"Then said He unto the disciples,
"It is impossible, but that offenses will come,
"but woe unto him through whom they come."
I am free to love.
I am free to serve others in love.
I will let go easily when I am resented
and I will not yield to the trick of the enemy
to make me a person who never forgives.
So help me, God.