The Power of Forgiveness-Part 3

The Power of Forgiveness – Part 3

By Sharilynn McIntosh

Matthew 6:15 (NIV):

But if you do not forgive me their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 22:31 (NIV):

“Simon, Simon.  Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.”

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV):

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV):

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalms 107:28 (NIV):

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.

In the past two studies, we learned quite a bit about unforgiveness:

1. 1.      Unforgiveness is a spirit;
2. 2.      Manifestations of the spirit of unforgiveness:
   1. a.      Fear
   2. b.      Selfishness
   3. c.      Self-pity
   4. d.      Pride
   5. e.      Bitterness
   6. f.       Isolation
   7. g.      Detours
   8. h.      Low self-esteem
   9. i.       Deceit
   10. j.       Death
   11. 3.      The result of unforgiveness is that we become wilderness people.  Here are the steps to forgiving others:
       1. a.      Recognize that you were and are forgiven;
       2. b.      Release the person from the debt;
       3. c.      Resolve that others are a tool for growth;
       4. d.      Reconcile yourself to those who hurt you;
       5. e.      Rise above the spirit of unforgiveness;

                                                    i.     Don’t curse it (see Romans 8:28);

                                                   ii.     Don’t nurse it;

                                                  iii.     Disperse it!

1. 4.      How do we do all of this, you may ask?  I’m glad you did.  Here are three things that we can do:
   1. a.      Through the power of the word of God, we can search the scriptures and find out many examples of how to forgive others, as well as how to forgive ourselves;
   2. b.      Through the power of prayer, our sincere crying out to God will release the bitterness and anguish of our soul, and God will replace it with love, compassion, and a willingness to work things out;
   3. c.      Through the power of praise and worship, He can break up the fallow ground in our hearts, and remove the stony places of hurt, and rebuild a heart of flesh that is pliable to not only love Him, but love others in a right perspective.

Anticipation is fulfilled through participation.  Let’s just say a word here about praise and worship.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NIV):

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”  As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Amnon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

Matthew 21:16 (NIV):

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?’”

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV):

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.’”

For the believer, praise and worship is a weapon.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV):

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, keep on praying for all the saints.

For the believer, praise and worship is a gift from God.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV):

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

For the believer, praise and worship is a practice of our authority.

Acts 16:22-30 (NIV):

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.  After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.  The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself!  We are all here!”  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Here are some principles of praise that will help in the healing process of forgiveness:

• Praise silences the devil, so that you can’t be reminded of the past that you’re trying to escape from, and move forward to clean and holy living;
• Praise comes from the mouth (see Revelation 16:13 and Psalms 119:89).  You can think about praising the Lord, but speaking, singing and saying it has more power;
• Praise is a garment of the Spirit (see Isaiah 61:3).  Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  It works every time!
• Praise leads the believer to victory (see Psalms 106:47).  When the children of Israel were instructed to march around Jericho seven times, the walls fell, because they were instructed to shout, for the Lord had given them the city.
• Praise brings revelation (see Psalms 49:4).  In the midst of praise and worship, God will reveal the deep and hidden things to our spirit, if we’re open to hearing.
• Praise prepares us for miracles (see Psalms 50:23).  What better miracle to prepare for than the miracle of restoration?

The purposes of worship are simple.  Man was created to worship the Creator, who is forever praised, Amen.  Worship is a response to our relationship with God.  Even though we aren’t perfect, and we certainly will continue to make mistakes, we can run into the arms of the Father who knows us by name, and He can forgive us, as well as place us on the path to forgive others, and even ourselves.  I pray that this series will help someone to take the necessary steps towards forgiveness, either of someone else, or of ourselves.  May the Lord bless you!