The Power of Forgiveness
Good morning brethren, I would like to share a brief exhortation with us on the topic “The power of forgiveness.” Our anchor Scripture is Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” My aim today is to encourage every believer to endeavour to live beyond any hurt or pain caused by others, which may have led to unforgiveness. Perhaps the definition of forgiveness will help soften those wounds. Let me start with a little background on this topic. Forgiveness is one of the most powerful expressions of a believer’s love. However, it is also one of the most difficult things to practise, especially when we have been deeply hurt, disappointed, betrayed or treated unfairly. It is important to note that, for believers, forgiveness is not optional; rather, it is part of our walk with God. With that in mind, we would be contradicting this principle when we pray for blessings, breakthroughs, healing, promotion or divine intervention while holding on to bitterness, anger, resentment and unforgiveness. In other words, we cannot continually ask God to show us mercy while refusing to extend mercy to others. Please permit me to add that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of spiritual maturity, obedience and strength. What is forgiveness? By forgiveness, we mean making a conscious decision to release someone from the debt of an offence committed against us, rather than holding on to anger, bitterness or a desire for revenge. In simple terms, forgiveness is choosing love over hatred and peace over resentment. Forgiveness does not mean that what the person did was right or that the offence was not painful. It also does not mean that we must forget what happened immediately or automatically trust the person again. It does not mean that we are to remain in an abusive or dangerous situation. Rather, it means surrendering the offence and the desire for revenge to God.
Apostle Paul, in Romans 12:19, says “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” When we refuse to forgive, we allow the offence to continue controlling our hearts. But when we forgive, we surrender the matter to God. Scripture teaches us to forgive others in the same way God, through Christ, has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). The parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21–35 is an example for us to reflect on. Jesus told the story of a servant who owed his master a huge debt. His master showed him mercy and cancelled his debt. However, that same servant went out and refused to forgive another servant who owed him a much smaller amount. The lesson here is that we should never forget how much God has forgiven us when dealing with the shortcomings of others. In other words, as we have received God’s mercy, we should not refuse to show mercy to others. Unforgiveness can become a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:14–15). Bitterness can affect a believer’s spiritual life, relationships, emotional well-being and even the ability to enjoy God’s blessings. Very often, the person who offended us has moved on, but we are still carrying the pain. We replay the incident, remember the words, revisit the disappointment and continue to feel hurt. The danger is that bitterness can begin to affect other areas of our lives. The biblical story of Joseph forgiving his brothers in Genesis 45:1–15 and Genesis 50:15–21 is another example. Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery and separated from his family. Years later, God lifted him into a position of authority in Egypt, and his brothers came before him seeking help. Joseph had every opportunity to retaliate, but he chose forgiveness. Joseph said in Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good…” Joseph understood that God was greater than the offence committed against him. This story teaches us not to allow yesterday’s offence to destroy tomorrow’s opportunities. We must also not allow bitterness to become our identity. It is clear evidence that God can turn painful experiences into testimonies and that forgiveness frees our hearts to move forward. From Scripture, forgiveness is a command and not a feeling (Matthew 6:14–15). It is not based on how we feel but is a decision of obedience to God’s Word. Jesus taught in Mark 11:25 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any…” Jesus connected forgiveness with prayer. In other words, we must examine our hearts as believers because we cannot expect to enjoy fellowship with God while deliberately holding on to hatred and resentment. A good biblical example is Jesus forgiving those who crucified Him (Luke 23:33–34). One of the greatest benefits of forgiveness is the restoration of peace (Romans 12:18; Colossians 3:13–14). While unforgiveness creates division in marriages and families, friendships and relationships, churches and ministries, communities, etc., as believers, we must be willing to forgive, apologise when we are wrong and pursue peace. Please note the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness is something we can choose before reconciliation takes place. Reconciliation, however, requires genuine repentance, changed behaviour, restored trust and appropriate boundaries. Let us look at some few spiritual dangers of unforgiveness. It affects our relationship with God (Matthew 6:14–15), It gives bitterness room to grow (Hebrews 12:15), it can affects our prayers (Mark 11:25), it can destroy relationships (Proverbs 17:9) and of course it keeps us tied to past offences instead of moving forward, we continue to live in yesterday’s pain. In conclusion, forgiveness is not about who deserves it but it is about who we are in Christ and remember this three truth - forgiveness releases us from the burden of bitterness, it demonstrates our obedience to God’s Word and it allows us to walk in love, peace and spiritual maturity.
We cannot change what happened yesterday, but with God’s help, we can decide how we respond today. Please, never allow someone else’s wrongdoing to determine the condition of your heart. Let us declare this for ourselves “I refuse to live in bitterness. I refuse to be controlled by past offences. I receive the grace to forgive as Christ has forgiven me. My heart shall be filled with love, peace and the Spirit of God, in Jesus’ name. Amen!” Our Worker’s meeting begins at 9:45 am, and the main Service starts at 10:15 am. God’s blessings – Mike