Forgive

Over the years walking with the Lord He has taught me the importance of Forgiveness. As Christ has forgiven us our sins how can we not forgive others their sin against us? Are we greater than God? Often we forget that the Word commands us to forgive.

Conditions to receive forgiveness.

First we need to forgive others.

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 New King James Version

In the Lord’s prayer we ask for our sins to be forgiven as we forgive others. But do we always forgive others their sin against us? Do we stubbornly hold onto grudges against others for days, weeks or sometimes years? As we read the bible we will find that scripture often contains an “if, but or then” condition. Let’s have a look at verse 14-15 of Matthew.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 New King James Version

In Mark we also find the command to forgive others.

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26 New King James Version

It is very clear that in order for God to forgive us our sins we must also forgive others their sins against us.

The way we forgive others is the way God will forgive us.

Second we must ask God to forgive us of our sins. It is important that we daily confess our sins to the Lord. Notice the next verse starts with that If condition.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9  New King James Version

 Spend time in meditation and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sins in your heart. Ask God to show you your sins and to test your thoughts this is exploratory surgery for sin. That is what David prayed and we should follow his example.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties. Psalm 139:23 New King James Version

When the Spirit shows us our sins it is time for us to confess it and repent that we may be forgiven and get back into a right relationship with God.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 New King James Version

If we choose not to confess our sins and to forgive ourselves then we are not forgiven. Likewise if we don’t forgive others we are also unforgiven and in sin. Then we can open the door of our lives to the enemy to which he and his demons are more than happy to access. As Christians we need to always remember that we live in a fallen world that has a constant spiritual battle going on between Good versus Evil. We have to make a daily choice of whom we will serve God or Satan.

Holding on to unforgiveness against others or ourselves means God cannot forgive us.

His word is clear we are living in sin.

We can choose to nurture our heart with God’s word and His love, or we can allow Satan to encourage those roots of bitterness, anger, envy, jealousy, fear, hatred or rejection. We have a choice. In the Word we also discover the fruits of Satan’s kingdom.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 New King James Version

Scripture also shows us the difference of fruit in God’s kingdom.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 New King James Version

In order to daily walk in close fellowship with the Lord we need to take time to search our hearts, confess our sins and repent.

Repentance prayer:

• Call upon the Lord, name your sin and ask for His forgiveness.
• Then forgive yourself of that sin.
• Now cancel Satan’s authority over you in that sin.
• Say it out loud that you are forgiven for that sin and ask the Holy Spirit to heal your heart and talk to you about that situation.

Forgiving others:

• Tell the Lord that you choose to forgive the person of that sin against you.
• Release them of any debt against you and in the name of Christ cancel all Satan’s authority over you in the memory of this as it is forgiven.
• Say it out loud that you have forgiven them for that sin and ask the Holy Spirit to heal your heart and talk to you about that situation.

Our relationship with God is just that a relationship and like any other relationship we must work on it. That means making time daily to be with and to listen to God. For us to draw close to Him we need to spend time in adoration, repentance, praise, thanksgiving and supplication. God desires to have intimate communication and relationship with each of His children. May the blessings of God be with you and your loved ones.

Author – Peter