Forgiveness
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Forgiving people does not show weakness, it shows strength, and brings you freedom. It is a powerful and effective release for the person who forgives.
To not forgive, and avoid doing so, involves ignoring or suppressing it, which will produce sickness in your body. Admit everything to GOD, tell HIM that you are forgiving – ‘whoever it is,’ -- and you will experience real release. You do not need to tell the person concerned, they do not need to know at all; it is your decision, and personal therapy.
GOD cannot forgive anyone who is holding on to un-forgiveness in their heart, towards anyone at all, irrespective of what they have done. We need to forgive anyone and everyone in this entire world, otherwise GOD cannot forgive us and we are therefore blocked from entering heaven and eternal life.
How can GOD, the Creator of the whole universe and everything in it; forgive anyone who cannot and has not forgiven everyone in their life. So do not block the greatest blessing waiting for you. You will experience the feeling of having been purged clean from all bitterness.
Genesis chapters 37- 45 record the event of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, his becoming in charge of all of Egypt, and his forgiving his brothers when they appeared before him in Egypt. This is a wonderful story of forgiveness.
Isaiah 43:25 “I (GOD), even I, am HE who blocks out your transgressions, for MY own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” This is for those who have confessed to GOD, repented from the past, and are now in relationship with GOD.
Hebrews 10:17 ‘Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
Matthew 5:44 ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’
Matthew 18:21-22 ‘Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother (meaning anyone) when he (or she) sins against me.? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Meaning there is no limit to how many times you forgive.)
Love your enemies, even the vilest people who you do not know at all; forgive them and send them love. Maybe they have never known love, so love is what they need.
Mark 11:25-26 & Matthew 6:14-15 ‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your FATHER in heaven may forgive you your sins (trespasses.) But if you do not forgive, neither will your FATHER in heaven forgive your sins (trespasses.’)
Luke 23:34a ‘Jesus said, “FATHER , forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
We can only accept and receive GOD’s forgiveness by extending forgiveness unconditionally to everyone else, not just in necessity but in love. So prayerfully send love to other people. Love softens, and maybe they have never known of or experienced true ‘GODly’ love.
Forgiving does not mean you have to trust them ever again, it does not mean letting go of wisdom and discernment.
Forgiving releases you from the bondage of un-forgiveness and the weight of hate and bitterness; which only eats you up; but most importantly, forgiving frees you for GOD to be able to forgive you. The burden of un-forgiveness is oppression. If we hold any un-forgiveness at all towards anyone, irrespective of what they have done, even the worst thing imaginable, we block our being able to receive GOD’s forgiveness. You will find that forgiving is a blessing, it is a privilege of the forgiven (forgiven by GOD), to forgive every person in the world . Un-forgiveness is a burden on you, not on the person you are not forgiving; it can eat away at you and cause health destroying stress. Un-forgiveness is a type of prison. Bitterness and un-forgiveness keep you bound to that person, and bound-up within yourself.
Forgive everyone irrespective of whether you think they deserve it or not, whether they are dead or alive.
When you find the emotional maturity to release those who have wronged you, whether they have repented or not, your wounds begin to heal. Forgiveness also gives up your right to hurt others for hurting you.
GOD’s willingness to forgive you depends on your willingness to forgive others. Forgiveness lets you off the hook, releases you from pain and resentment, and positions you to walk in GOD’s blessings.
Matthew 6:12 ‘Forgive us our debts - trespasses, as we also have forgiven our debtors - trespassers.’ This shows that we need to forgive absolutely everyone for anything and everything. GOD’s forgiving us is conditional on this.
1John 1:8-10 ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make HIM out to be a liar and HIS word has no place in our lives.’
We sometimes forgive everyone else in our lives but neglect to forgive ourselves, otherwise we continue to carry a burden, even subconsciously. It is purposeless for us to make out we are not sinners. We need to be completely open and honest with GOD; if we think we can deny or hide things we are deceiving ourselves, GOD knows everything anyway, we just need to confess everything.
Many human beings would mostly rather do almost anything else than surrender to GOD. Human nature detests the thought of submitting to GOD’s law. This is why people have substituted their own laws and traditions in place of GOD’s commandments, thinking they can still receive salvation by merely believing in Christ as their Saviour.
All we really need is to call out to GOD for strength and stand on the truth of who Jesus –Yeshua - is and what He has accomplished through the forgiveness He has offered to everyone. That is true love and holiness.
Forgiving every person regardless of what they may have done to you or to anyone else, anywhere in the world, is what GOD requires of us. It gives you an enormous sense of release even though it does not necessarily immediately remove the hurt, nor does it mean that you have to trust them ever again, however in doing so we release the offender from our judgement. True forgiveness must be genuine and heartfelt, and if so, it gives you true release, and lifts off all burdens of pressure and suppression on you. Seek the fullness of forgiveness, restore communication and reconcile brokenness.
True forgiving is actually not entirely possible without truly accepting and appreciating GOD’s forgiveness of all of us through Jesus.
When we confess the sinful things we have thought, spoken, and done, GOD will forgive us; but such wonderful grace and mercy does not give us freedom to continue doing such things, or to sin in any way at all.
Romans 12:19-21 ‘Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for GOD’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed them, if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on their head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’
Trust that GOD will avenge or ultimately punish the unrepentant wrongdoer, the wicked, and evil ones.
Ephesians 4:32 ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ GOD forgave you.’
Colossians 3:12-14 ‘Therefore, as GOD’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe your-selves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’
Hebrews 12:2 ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD.’
1 John 2:9-11 ‘Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates their brother or sister is still in the darkness. Whoever loves their brother or sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But whoever hates their brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; they do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.’
Jesus and GOD are interested in the freedom of every living soul on this planet, from sin, un-forgiveness, shame, sickness, and poverty.
Video: Jesus forgives Mary Magdalene of her sins:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgLehjvgyOQ