SUNDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS: “Healing in Forgiveness” .. Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all Bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you.” Choosing to forgive is not one of our best traits, or even one of the best qualities of our lives. Truth is, we hold on to unforgiveness when we are hurt, or offended, or mistreated by others. Unforgiveness becomes our personal vendetta toward the offender. We may say things like, “I’ll get even with you,” or, “You’re going to pay for what you did,” Or, “I will never forgive you.” Unforgiveness is holding a grudge in the heart . Forgiveness is used 143 in the New Testament and carries with it the meaning of cancelling a debt, or obligation. Listen to what Jesus had to say to a question ask of Him by one of His disciples. Let’s look at Matthew 18:21-22, “Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: (49 times) but, Until seventy times seven.” (490 times) Does this seem to your mind that Jesus takes forgiveness very seriously, and that we are to take it seriously as well? Unforgiveness is too much baggage to carry in your heart. It is too much dead weight to haul around through life. The Lord did not intend that we should carry the burden of unforfiveness. It is like a cancer to our soul, it will rob us of the joy of life when ill feelings are not dealt with as God intended. He intends that we should forgive one another. God does not expect us to SHOULDER every wrong.( Romans 12:19) “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord.” God does not expect us to STORE up every wrong. “ Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32b) God does not expect our SPIRITS to be wounded continuously by an unforgiving spirit. It is too hurtful, too painful, and makes us feel miserable. Only forgiveness can mend our broken heart, and begin to set right the wrongs we are experiencing. Let me draw from our text today three observations about forgiveness. 1-There is a … REVENGE … in unforgiveness Ephesians 4:31 There are six characteristics associated with unforgiveness. They are all ugly! A- The first one is “BITERNESS” … That deep feeling of distain and ill feelings, with a harsh opinion toward another. One cannot drink the cup of bitterness without souring the heart. B- The second one is “WRATH” ... Acute passion out of control that strikes out toward the offender. C- The third is “ANGER” … Anger is an emotion that may be fueled by unforgiveness and an improper response. For the chronic anger Dr. Billy Graham said there is an old Latin proverb, “Those who go to bed angry, have the devil as a bedfellow.” There are many irritations that may become opportunities for the devil and his biggest opportunity is unforgiveness in my heart and yours. D- The fourth is “ CLAMOR” … The bold assertion of our supposed rights and grievances for wrongs committed against us. Another’s faults, and assaults, are ever the subject of conversation. E- The fifth is “EVIL SPEAKING” … It is slander out of control by a heart of unforgiveness. F- The sixth is “MALICE” … That get even attitude with intent of vindication created by unforgiveness. 2-There is a … RIGHTEOUSNESS … in forgiveness Ephesians 4:31b-32a “… But put away from you … And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another …” The sins mentioned are to be put away by a decisive act of the will. Righteousness is to prevail through forgiveness. God sees the damage created by unforgiveness. I hope you see it too. You have to go beyond your hurt, and your heart to become kind and tenderhearted toward the offender. Hard to do, yes! Righteousness (Right Conduct) exulth a person, but sin is a reproach to an unforgiving life. 3-There is a …REASON … in forgiveness Ephesians 4:32b “.. Even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Forgiveness is based on God’s grace toward us, and is gracious for Christ’s sake. For Christ’s sake we are to forgive because we have been forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15) “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses , neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. ”Let’s practice forgiveness today, forgive your nemesis! Amen? Amen!
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 11:48:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015