The Power of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:14-15 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Forgiveness is not: Not minimizing the offense. Not excusing the offense. Not denying the hurt. Not subjecting yourself to continued abuse. Not merely an emotional response.

Forgiveness is: Giving up my right to get even. Saying, “I will not hurt you for hurting me.” A decision of the will. An act that makes us like Christ. Voluntarily putting down my weapons of anger, vengeance, and retaliation.

Unforgiveness allows bitterness to take root, which destroys you and infects others! Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Why do I forgive?

1. Admit your pain to the Lord Jesus Christ! Psalm 6:2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. Job 7:11 “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” 1. Admit your pain to the Lord Jesus Christ!

2. Make a decision to obey Christ and forgive the offense! Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

3. Give up your right to God to be angry or get even! Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” 1 Corinthians 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. 3. Give up your right to God to be angry or get even!

4. Ask God to forgive the people who hurt you! Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Acts 7:60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

5. Pray for and bless those who have sinned against you!

6. Go one step further . . . ask God to bless them! Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. Add a Footer

7. Receive the healing, grace, and deliverance of Jesus for the wounds in your own heart! Jeremiah 30:17 ‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Actions Steps 1. List sins you’ve committed against God. 2. List the names of those who have sinned against you.

What the Holy Spirit reveals, the Holy Spirit heals!