Learn more about you, your life, Acts 20/20 and Jesus Christ:
II PETER 1:2-11 & GALATIANS 5:13-26
Other than known sin and lack of faith, the greatest hindrance to prayer, is not knowing about the need to forgive others that have hurt us or the refusal on our part to do so.
In almost every teaching about prayer, Jesus concluded with the necessity to forgive others as the Father forgave us. There is a very specific reason why we should forgive others. Learning to forgive is for our benefit right now.
The other person or people may be unresponsive to our attempt to forgive them and to ask them to forgive us. Some people who have hurt us the deepest may have passed on. It is still very important that we choose to forgive them. Our Heavenly Father will help us in this decision and act of obedience. The main benefit of choosing to forgive is, it lets the Holy Spirit work from the inside out to do something the psychiatrist cannot do, which is to clean away anything that would hinder our relationship with the Father in Heaven.
We may find our self not wanting to forgive because the actions of others are still hurting us too much, and we may be so angry with them, we would like to do them bodily harm. However, if we will stop and listen to what our Lord is saying, He is telling us something that will reap benefits for us now and for eternity.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us, that God knows the thoughts and intent of the heart. So we must be open, honest and up front with the Lord and tell Him like it is. The Lord can see in every nook and cranny of our spirit and soul. He wants us to surrender all of the things that have hurt us, to Him, so that we can become spiritually healthy and emotionally strong.
The Holy Spirit washes away and heals all of the emotional damage that has occurred to us, from childhood to this present day, when we surrender those hurts to the Lord. Remember, the Holy Spirit is the only one that can and will work from the inside out.
Look unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith ( Hebrews 12:2 ). Jesus said in John 15:5, that without Him we can’t do anything.
Paul said in II Corinthians 10:4-6, that we must discipline our thought life.
I Peter 5:7-11 says, to cast all of your care upon Jesus, because He cares for you.
Paul said in Hebrews 12:15, “do not to let the root of bitterness come in”. The root of bitterness will develop into a big tree, which uproots all of the good things in your life.
Sift God’s word into your heart so you can eventually forgive others from your heart. Jesus will help you. Your growth is progressive.
Review, Romans 10:9-10
Jesus said while on the cross, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Stephen said, when he was being stoned to death, “Lord don’t charge them with this sin.” Acts 7:60
Paul asked the Father to forgive the people who had wronged him.
Ask the Lord to help you to be willing to take the step of faith, to be released of all emotional damage that has occurred in your life. He is waiting for you to ask Him.
Start speaking out and say, “Father, in the name of Jesus your Son, I choose to obey your Word, so I forgive (name the person and situation) in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
You may not feel a release the first time you pray this prayer, but if you continue in obedience to your Lord, you will be delivered from the hurts that oppress and hinder you.
The pathway to peace and joy is being forgiven of our sin, and learning to forgive others that have hurt us, and developing a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior. Review the lesson on, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION.
Review, “COME UNTO ME”, WORDS TO REMEMBER, Stress or Peace of Mind and the other FAITH HELPS, in Lesson 17.
More scripture on learning to forgive: Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:22-26, Colossians 1:18 and 3:13, Ephesians 4:32, and I Corinthians chapter 13.
LET JESUS BE PREEMINENT IN YOUR LIFE.
A Special Note; This lesson is the shortest in this Seminar, and yet it is the most powerful resource to spiritual and mental health. When this principle is truly applied, you can have the true peace and joy that Jesus described in the gospels. If you find that you are still having a problem in this area of forgiving, we recommend finding a mature Christian counselor to assist you in this matter.