Forgiveness
Bondage is in not forgiving someone or something.
Anger, Hurt & Frustration are brought out when in bondage by unforgiveness.
Forgiveness is the real solution for healing. The person who hurt us robbed us – there is no healing as long as the hurt is there.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[6]
23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[7] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[8] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
30“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
All the right we had not to forgive is lost at the cross.
Jesus sides with the offender. Forgiveness benefits the offended as well as the offender.
FORGIVENESS = CANCELING THE DEBT
FORGIVE = SEND AWAY, RELEASE
We waste emotions not forgiving someone who might not even know that they need to be forgiven.
Steps to Forgiveness:
1. Look At What Was Taken Away
(time, money, grief, pride, etc…)
2. Put It All Together
3. Say “I Cancel The Debt”
Matthew 6:14-15
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins
Hebrews 12: 14-15
14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Ephesians 4:32
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Luke 6:37
37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
We Are Body – Soul – Spirit
BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:15
15See to it that no one misses the grace of God
Freedom Through Forgiveness
Excerpts taken from a message by Dr. Dan Riley
