Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness. Marianne Williamson
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Colossians 1:13-14 New International Version (NIV)
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Forward Thinkers, we all have something in common no matter how much we have that separates us:
1) Forward Thinkers, we all needed to be rescued out of darkness.
2) Forward Thinkers, we all have a right to the Kingdom of God.
3) Forward Thinkers, we all need God to forgive us and redeem us.
Forgiveness is a major part of our redemption through Jesus Christ.
Forward Thinkers, imagine the following scenarios in regards to forgiveness: You are given instructions to walk up a flight of stairs to receive a reward and you freely walk up the stairs with no interference and claim your reward. Now go back to the bottom floor and pick up the person you refuse to forgive and walk back up the same flight of stairs and you quickly realize your journey becomes much more difficult. Forward Thinkers, when we refuse to forgive we are left carrying the heavy weight of the person who offended us.
Forward Thinkers, not forgiving someone is equivalent to drinking poison and praying it kills the person you have issues with.
Acts 10:43 New International Version (NIV)
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
1) Forward Thinkers, God Forgave Us
2) David vs. King Saul (1 Samuel 24:12-13)
1 Samuel 24:12-13 New International Version (NIV)
12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
Forward Thinkers, David forgave King Saul and later David needed God to forgive him for his transgressions. Forward Thinkers, remember the law of sowing and reaping.
Luke 23:34 New International Version (NIV)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
3) Father forgive them, they don’t know any better
Forward Thinkers, we must realize everybody was not raised the same and some people never learned how to interact with others.
Forward Thinkers also understand the tricks of the enemy became the springs to your elevation, therefore, we must forgive them and continue to move forward in life.
Forward Thinkers, they thought they were burying Jesus but they were really setting Jesus up for a great comeback story and after all we’ve been through forgiveness will began to write an amazing comeback for us.
Matthew 6:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Forward Thinkers, my next two points, 4 and 5, hinge on this text. Forward Thinkers, our ability to move forward in life after dealing with a negative person is based on how we respond to Matthew 6:15 because until we forgive, we are stuck at the time of offense.
4) Forward Thinkers, how many times are we suppose to forgive them? The answer to that question is at least one more time than we’ve needed God to forgive us. Forward Thinkers, grace received equals grace given.
5) Forward Thinkers, we can’t PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) until we forgive because forgiving is connected to God answering our prayers.
Luke 6:37-38 New International Version (NIV)
Judging Others
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. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
-Forward Thinkers, this text is more than just a word for collecting an offering in church; actually, this scripture is more about forgiving than money.
-Forward Thinkers, this scripture is another example of you get what you give in life.
-Forward Thinkers, this scripture reminds us that we have enough issues on our own to get caught up on the issues of others.
Mark 11:22-25 New International Version (NIV)
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Forward Thinkers, a great mystery has just been solved on why your prayer life has not produced maximum results. We’ve been operating without the full combination code to the lock. Without adding forgiveness, we are still locked out of some stuff that should be ours.
6) The Love Factor-love never fails-love doesn’t keep score-God is love-Forward Thinkers, when we forgive we’re putting our faith in God but when we don’t forgive we’re putting our future in the hands of our enemy.
7) Forward Thinkers, forgiving sets us free and causes God to redeem the time we lost tripping with our enemies.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. Pastor Deckard is also the Co-Founder of the No More Bloodshed Movement. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net.