Forgive and I will Forgive You!
Today one of our long time subscribers, Pastor Trevor asked me about my thoughts on the issue of forgiveness.
Below is the breakdown I provided him on the topic.
Bro Stef's Commentary:
Let’s break it down from Matthew 6:9-15
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed (Holy) be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
The only way the earth and its inhabitants will ever know peace is for the Lord to return. When Yeshua returns the Kingdom of God will dwell with men! I like to ask the Lord to bring His kingdom, His will, His attributes into my life, into my heart through His spirit.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
We always need to remember that we are dependent on God for our daily spiritual bread, mental and emotional bread and our physical bread. God is our provider for all we have need of.
12 And forgive us our debts (sins), As we forgive our debtors (those who have sinned against us).
I know this very well because I struggled with the lack of forgiveness for forty of my fifty-five years on this planet. Because God’s nature is forgiveness and He is the God of second chances, He wants us to bear the fruit of forgiveness so that we do not become bitter. Bitterness leads to a hateful spirit and this is contrary to the Holy Spirit in us. When we forgive we are saved from bitterness and from the enemy of our souls finding a root in us that he can take advantage of. We also give a gift to the one who wronged us, the gift is that they are now responsible to deal with their hearts, actions and consequences without the ability to use us as an excuse to not deal with their own actions. We also free them to forgive themselves. If we say we love God, we “will” allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate in us the fruit of forgiveness. The reason the Lord frames forgiveness in terms of, forgive or I can’t forgive you, is because a “TRUE” child of God who is surrendered to the Lord Jesus “will” forgive because it is God’s nature to do so. So, here is a warning to all of us, if forgiveness is not in our hearts, maybe we don’t really know the Lord. Self examination and prayer is necessay if we struggle with forgiveness. We must be careful to pay close attention to asking God to forgive us for our sins and to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us. We need to follow the example of our Lord and Savior. He forgave Judas “The Betrayer” and so in like manner we too must forgive. Every act of forgiveness allows the Holy Spirit the opportunity to build into us a larger heart of compassion and love. If we believe in Yeshua, we have been transformed into His children of love and forgiveness!
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
I really love this verse and here’s why. The Bible tells us that “Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” (1Peter 5:8) If we are people who practice love and forgiveness then we will “not” be people of bitterness and hate. Satan will not have anything in us. He will not be able to draw us away into temptation that leads to sin. That door will be closed to him. One way God delivers us from the enemy is by God’s people being “sold out” to love and forgiveness. Satan doesn’t know what to do with that because love or forgiveness is not in his nature at all. Therefore, we see a hidden message within this scripture that the Holy Spirit is revealing to us who believe. Live out this prayer in our lives in a practical manner and we will be people who overcome the enemy of our souls. The blue print is right in front of us lets utilize it!
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
See 12 and 13 above.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
See 12 and 13 above.
Peace and Love in Jesus The Messiah,
Shalom v'ahava b'Yeshua Ha'Mashiach
שלום ואהבה בישוע המשיח
Bro Stef
Watchman & Publisher
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ~1Thessalonians 5:1-6
