(Matt.
18:21-35)
Lack of
forgiveness blocks access to the kingdom and to its marvelous power. (Matt. 6:5-15; Mark 11:22-26).
The first
person we probably have not forgiven is ourselves. More people lack forgiveness
toward themselves than toward anybody else.
We are unwilling to forgive ourselves and to recognize that God says,
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us" (Ps.103: 12).
If we are a believer, He has already cleansed
our conscience from dead works so that we might serve the living God (Heb.
9:14). God cleanses us for service in order not to leave us with the guilt
of past sin. That should be dead,
buried, and forgotten.
"If our heart
condemn us not," the Bible says, "then have we confidence
toward God" (1John 3:21).
Obviously, we cannot have continuing sin in our lives and expect
forgiveness. We have to be free from ongoing conscious sin and rebellion against
god. But if we are walking in the light, and walking in forgiveness, than the
blood of Jesus Christ is continuously cleansing us from all sin (1John 1:7).
The second
person we have to "forgive," if we have bitterness, is God
Himself. There are people who blame God because a child died, because a husband
ran away, because they have been sick, because they have not had enough money.
Consciously or unconsciously we think all of these things are God’s fault.
There is deep-seated resentment; yet we cannot be resentful toward God and
experience kingdom power flowing in our life: we have to rid ourselves of any
bitterness toward God. That may take some soul-searching. We must ask
ourselves, "Am I blaming God for my situation?"
The third
person we may have to forgive is a member of our family. We have to get rid of
resentment, especially toward those closest to us. The husbands, the wives, the
children, and the parents-all must be forgiven when slights and resentments
have built up in family situations. Many people say, "well, I didn’t think
that counted. I thought that was just a family matter." All lack of
forgiveness has to be eliminated, especially toward every family member.
Finally,
there has to be forgiveness for anybody else who has ever done anything against
you. It may be that your resentment is justified. The person may have done a
very evil, terrible thing to you. You
may have every legal and intellectual right to hold a grudge and to hate that
person. But if you want to see kingdom life and power flow in your life, it is
absolutely imperative that you forgive.
Forgive
them to the point where you actually feel yourself cleansed of resentment and
bitterness and are actually praying for them.
If you do not, the lack of forgiveness will make it impossible God’s
power to be released to and in you. The miracle life depends 100 percent on our relationship to God the Father. That
relationship is built strictly on the strength of His forgiveness of our sin.
Forgiveness is the key. Other sins can be present, and if our heart condemns us for something else, then of course we do not have confidence before God. But it is lack of forgiveness that most often comes between people and God.
Playwright Janet Irene
Thomas Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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