What
sin particularly blocks the flow of kingdom power God? (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).
Jesus does not give a legalistic or mathematical formula. He means limitless forgiveness. (see 1 Cor. 13: 4, 5). 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.
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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