Forgiveness

During your upcoming sozo, it is very important that you prepare your heart to forgive those who have wronged you. (see Matthew 18:15-35)

Most people do not understand what true forgiveness is and they have a hard time forgiving those who have deeply wounded and hurt them.

They will say: “Well, it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right”

 (and it really wasn’t!)

Or they’ll say: “How can I forgive? They do not deserve it”

or “I won’t forgive them until they repent!”

If these responses sound familiar, and express how you feel, you should know that:

• Forgiveness is not forgetting
• Forgiveness does not mean that what they did to you was right or “okay now”.
• Forgiveness does not mean that they “get off free” or suffer no consequences
• Forgiveness does not mean you give up all your rights

Unforgiveness in your heart:

• Hurts you, not the one who harmed you
• Holds you hostage to their actions and attitudes
• Binds you in a prison of torment (see Jesus’ words at the end of Matthew chapter 18.)
• Produces bitterness, hatred, anger and hardness of heart in you
• Blocks the fullness of God in your life

Extending forgiveness does the following wonderful things:

• You get to step out of the way & let God have a direct line to that person you forgive
• It means you are relieved of the burden you have been carrying
• It frees you from a prison of torment
• It closes a door which allows the enemy to have access to your
• It allows you to say:
• “I choose to be merciful as God is merciful to me.”
• “I choose to let this person go into God’s hands.”
• “I am not their judge; I will leave that to Father God.”

Take a few moments to reflect on the following scriptures:

Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their sins,

your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 18:21-35

This is the story of the servant, who would not forgive.

After he himself was forgiven much the Master tells him,

“‘Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant

just as I had on you?’

In anger his master turned him over to the jailers (tormentors) to be tortured,

until he should pay back all he owed.

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (v.33-35)

Matthew 10:8

“Freely you have received, freely give”

Luke 6:37

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Forgiveness is not only a command from the Lord,

it should be a natural response from our own free and

forgiven relationship with Him.

 

Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. If you don’t FEEL like forgiving, perhaps you need to repent of binding up (storing) judgment in your heart against the one who hurt you. When we confess our own sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. He gives us His mercy, so we can have mercy on others.

 

Forgiveness is vital to your deliverance & freedom. 

It is the key to your own prison