Greetings, Beloved! I have been earnestly considering which topic to select for my New Year teaching. After much contemplation and prayer, I am hauling out an old FOTE (Fruit of the Earth) Counseling page.. on Forgiveness. Too many choose not to forgive, and therefore, start another year off wrongfully, which diminishes even my words, in wishing you a Happy New Year, to the effect of clanging cymbals; of no avail. So let's take a walk together, and examine the words of Peter and Jesus..
FORGIVENESS: 7 X 70 STYLE
Why is it so hard to forgive some people, but with others, it just comes easy? People say, "just get over it", but isn't that phony - and selfish on the offending party's part?
There is not a single person on earth, who has not struggled with this issue, at some time or other in life. I have been personally seeking wisdom and understanding on forgiveness for at least 40 years myself. Recently, the Holy Spirit helped me to discover, to an even greater degree, the incredible depth of the power in the answer!
To begin, we know that genuine forgiveness does not come naturally.. it comes supernaturally, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, so only Jesus can forgive us of our trespasses. Therefore, to genuinely forgive others of their trespasses against us, we need His power in us, to do so.
Genuine forgiveness is virtue. Virtue is power. Virtue is spiritual. i.e. Like the wind, you cannot see virtue with physical eyes, but you can see the result when It has moved!
To tres-pass is to cross boundaries. The LORD set boundaries for Mankind, by establishing the Ten Commandments. He created us and the earth and all the fullness therein. Therefore, only He could know what was good vs. bad for us, what would provide for and protect us vs. what would destroy us and remove us from His presence.
In like manner, we establish personal boundaries for ourselves, setting limits (as individuals, even in marriage), depicting that which is -and that which is not- acceptable unto ourselves. When other people cross our boundaries, depending on the extent of the trespass, we begin to have trouble forgiving.
And that's where the problem comes in. Some persons can regard very lightly, something that is of great importance to you, as an individual. Therefore, you experience a
violation of your boundaries, which is extremely hurtful and can cause distress.
Nonetheless, no matter how bad the offense is, Jesus told us that if we do not forgive, neither will we be forgiven by our Father in heaven! "...forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..." Those are pretty serious words.
(They are recorded in the New Testament In St. Matthew 6, in what is known as The LORD's Prayer - but which is actually, the LORD teaching His disciples to pray. His Own prayers are recorded in the Garden of Gethsemane, before His crucifixion.)
Now, if Jesus tells us we need to forgive, to be forgiven, He also knows how difficult it is for us, depending on the offense. His own struggles with the Pharisees and Scribes (teachers of the Law of Moses), must have been nearly impossible to forgive, while He was yet emptied of all His power and authority as GOD, and was only a Man! Why, He knew He was even going to die for them, out of His Father's abundant love! I used to think about this, and think about this, as a child...
Just ponder the truth of it for a moment.. Like ourselves, Jesus had to rely solely on the power of the Holy Spirit, too. So He also understands what we need, to overcome our natural (flesh) bent towards unforgiveness.
The clue to success is found in St. Matthew 18: 21-22 "Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I shall forgive him? Until seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
Seventy times seven! That almost sounds ridiculous...........until you understand what Jesus was really saying, and why.
'Seventy times seven' was The LORD's way of saying, "As often as the temptation to despise and resent that person arises in you, you must choose to forgive! And every time - By My power in you - you shall overcome!"
Unforgiveness flows from hatred. Even when we are disgusted with, and cannot forgive, ourselves, it is because we hate what we have said or done, or rather, hate whom we have become, when we did it! Satan is the accuser, never forget it! And he will try to stir you up every chance he can, to prevent you from forgiving! He is a liar, and he will repeatedly whisper all the reasons why you should have the right not to forgive!
Remember, Satan prowls around, seeking whom he may devour...that is to say, consume.
Have you ever noticed how the evil spirits, Resentment (who happens to be the handmaiden to and therefore, feeds) Hatred, combined with Unforgiveness, can actually begin to consume a person's whole life? It's not long, until that person is hard and bitter, and can be frightening to be around. Satan is literally waiting for the LORD's children to become angry and commit sin, by refusing to forgive. Instead, they embrace the evil spirit, Begrudge! That then, becomes the moment, when they have given Satan their own permission to "come on in, and set up a stronghold!"
The act of forgiving is first for Christ's (His Own) Sake -to bring glory to His name. And secondly, for our good -to prevent us from further sin, and from allowing Satan a stronghold in our lives and relationships that will lead to our destruction. This is the reason that our LORD and Saviour has taught us to forgive. He practices what He preaches, for Jesus already gave us the perfect example from the Cross!
We cannot truly forgive out of our own power. Therefore, we must give it to the LORD. He will empower us to overcome the offense, every time it pops back up in our heads! Some issues are so devastating, they continue to arise over a person's entire lifetime. The bottom line: It is an act of our will. Use it to glorify Him!
©2008 SCRx = Scriptural Remedy TM
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. St. Luke 23:34
I also want to add, that when a person is truly guilty of an offense, and refuses to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness, as he or she should, (i.e. confess your sins one to another) then he or she is sinning (sin is anything that is against the will of God), and has become as an enemy. Christ told us to bless our enemies. Therefore, the LORD will bless the one for being obedient to Him (doing what is right).. but to the other, it will be as burning coals!
©2008 SCRx = Scriptural Remedy TM
Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink: for in so doing, you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Romans 12:20
And don't forget to pray for the offender: Only through the power of the Holy Spirit, are humans able to love others as we love our own selves!
© 2008 SCRx = Scriptural Remedy TM
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. St. Luke 6:28
