https://jesuschristislordmdc.net - FORGIVENESS, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH! 7/14/12

		FORGIVENESS, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH! 7/14/12

FORGIVENESS!!!!

From the pages of the word of God, we can find that God has made a way for FORGIVENESS!!! From the animal blood sacrifice in the Old Testament to the blood sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament. It is very clear that God wants His people to forgive and be forgiven. So many times throughout the New Testament, we have seen how Jesus continually did what was unpopular, putting His life in danger just to bring forgiveness to so many. Consider the story of the man who was sick of the palsy, how Jesus healed and delivered Him.
Matthew 9:KJV
2 And, behold , they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold , certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth .
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said , Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say , Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say , Arise , and walk ?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, *(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise , take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
If you notice, this man didn't even have to ask for forgiveness. He had such faith in Jesus and His ability to heal him that Jesus gave him healing for his body as well as his soul.
Consider also, the woman that was caught in the act of adultery, how Jesus risked His life again to give her forgiveness.
John 8
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down , and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery , in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned : but what sayest thou?
6 This they said , tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself , and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself , and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said , No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go , and sin no more.
This amazing act of compassion towards this woman, showed Jesus in one of the clearest views of his purpose, not to condemn, but to forgive. Jesus offered her forgiveness even though He knew that He would make enemies out of the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus' primary purpose and intent in these two instances was certainly to show the importance of forgiveness.

WE MUST FORGIVE THOSE WHO ASK US TO FORGIVE THEM!!

God's word is clear, we must forgive. I am quite sure that all of us have been wronged by someone at some point and time in our life. I know that it is difficult in our flesh to just let people get away with hurting us, but if we would dare to exhibit Christ like character, we will be able to find it in our hearts to forgive. Not only must we forgive those who ask, but even those who don't ask. Forgiveness in not only for the person who wronged you, but more importantly it's for you. A Christian cannot harbor the sin of unforgiveness in his heart. This is damnation to your own soul. The bible says in Mark 11:25 KJV
25 And when ye stand praying , forgive , if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. As Christians, we often must make the first move, even if our brother or sister doesn't ask us to forgive them. Mark 11:26 KJV says:
26 But if ye do not forgive , neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. It might seem unfair to have to forgive someone who intentionally hurt us, but we must remember that if we don't forgive, neither can we expect God to forgive us of our trespasses against Him.

WE MUST FORGIVE SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN

In other words, it shouldn't matter how many times our brothers and sisters ask us for forgiveness, we must forgive. Even if it happens many times in the same day. Mathew 18:21 & 22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said , Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

luke 17:3 & 4
3 Take heed to yourselves: If *thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent , forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying , I repent ; thou shalt forgive him.
Just think about the many times we have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Aren't you glad that His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth? Think about how many times we needed God to forgive us for all that we did against His will. If we have such limitless access to God's forgiveness, the least we can do is extend the same to our brothers and sisters.

WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?

You may say, I have heard all of this talk about forgiveness, but what is this anyway? Well, please allow me to explain. The bible says in Psalms 103:12 KJV
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. This defines the Greek word for forgive, Apo. Apo is identified with any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or the fellowship is destroyed. Forgiveness simply means to separate the guilt of what someone did from them, to disassociate the person from the act. It means to send away, let go, to let alone, to let expire, to disregard, to leave, to not discuss, to omit, to give up a debt, to keep no longer, to leave so what's left behind may remain behind, to abandon your claim to an offence.
Forgiveness means; I don't even remember you did me wrong. Just like God forgets my offences, I forget yours. Forgiveness means, I have a scar on me but, even when I look on it I don't remember who did it. I disassociate the offender form the offence.
My brothers and sisters, I submit to you that we must be ever so careful that we disallow the sin of unforgiveness any access to our hearts. Some of us as Christians are still carrying around offences that someone committed against us many years ago, but we say we have forgiven. If you are carrying around unforgiveness, I want you to know that you are preventing God from forgiving you. Let go of the past, forgive so you can be forgiven.
Husbands and wives, forgive your spouse so God can forgive you. Forgive your children. Forgive your parents for hurting and abandoning you, for failing as parents. Forgive the boss who is unfair with your wages. Forgive the friend that wasn't there for your. Forgive so you can be forgiven.
Some of you can still remember the damning words your parents spoke to you as a child, forgive them!
some of you have not let go of that betrayal that took place years ago, forgive!!!
You will know you have forgiven, when you can face your offender and feel no offence. Some of you can still remember what color clothes your offender was wearing 20 years ago. You still remember verbatim what was said and how it was said. My friends, on this Christian journey, unforgiveness is an unnecessary weight that must be dropped. Some of us have been torturing ourselves for years over what someone did to us, while the person who offended us, enjoys sweet sleep every night. It's not worth it! forgive!! Let go and let God!
If you need to be delivered from this weight and sin of unforgiveness, say this prayer with me. Eternal and heavenly father, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I come to you. I ask that you remove this weight and boundage of unforgiveness out of my life. Father, please uproot it from it's core. Leave nothing that can grow again in me that is not of you. I submit myself into your care cover my heart and mind with the BLOOD OF JESUS. Forgive me for not forgiving and enable me to forgive today. Father I forgive all who have offended me. I forgive __________________________(say the name(s) and I disassociate him/her/them from what he/she/they did to me. I declare my freedom from this bondage, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. I deny the curse of an unforgiving spirit form following me from this day forward. Right now I invite God's spirit of forgiveness to dwell in me from this day forward. I declare that I will never be the same again. I give God the praise, the honor and the glory. IN THE NAME OF JESUS I pary, AMEN!!!!!
Continue to live in the victory of your new found forgiveness!!

IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. SEND US A PRAISE REPORT. atisaiahm@jesuschristislordmdc.net

BE BLESSED!
AGAPE!!!

Facebook live

https://www.facebook.com/JCILMDC/