Forgiving One Another:
(Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:14–15)
Saints of God, unforgiveness is one of the most dangerous prisons a believer can live in! You can shout, sing, and serve, but if your heart’s got chains of bitterness, the Holy Ghost can’t move freely inside you! The Lord said in (Matthew 6:14–15), “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” In other words; forgiveness is not optional — it’s spiritual survival!
You can’t walk in freedom while holding someone else in bondage. When you refuse to forgive, you’re not locking them up; you’re locking yourself up! But glory be to God, forgiveness is the key that sets both you and them free!
(Ephesians 4:32) says, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” ...God didn’t forgive you because you deserved it; He forgave you because of Jesus! When you remember how much grace it took to save you, it becomes easier to extend that same grace to others. The same blood that covered your sin covers theirs. The same mercy that found you can find them. The same grace that lifted you can lift them! Don’t forget, the forgiven must become forgiving! You can’t stand at Calvary receiving mercy, then turn around and deny mercy to your brother or sister.
In (Mark 11:25–26), Jesus said, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Unforgiveness is like static on a phone line between you and Heaven. You can pray all you want, but the signal is jammed until you let it go! You want revival? Forgive! You want healing? Forgive! You want breakthrough? Forgive! Because God won’t pour new oil into a bitter vessel. He’ll only fill a heart that’s clean, pure, and empty of grudges. That’s why (James 2:13) warns, “He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy.” Saints, you can’t demand mercy while you’re withholding it from somebody else.
In (2 Corinthians 2:7–8), Paul said, “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” ...Forgiveness doesn’t just heal you; it heals the other person! When you release them, you release yourself. When you let go of the pain, the Holy Ghost can pour in peace. Remember when Jesus hung on the Cross? He didn’t curse His enemies — He cried, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
That’s Holy Ghost power right there! When you can bless those who hurt you, pray for those who mistreat you, and love those who betrayed you; that’s not weakness, that’s divine strength! Peter asked in (Matthew 18:21–22), “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” Jesus replied, “Until seventy times seven.”
That’s 490 times; in other words, don’t keep count, keep forgiving! You don’t forgive because they deserve it, you forgive because you deserve peace. Every time you forgive, you take another step toward victory. Every time you forgive, you silence the accuser. Every time you forgive, Heaven shouts “Freedom!”
Church, don’t let bitterness block your blessing. Don’t let hate harden your heart. Forgiveness doesn’t change the past; but it frees your future! God’s saying tonight: “Let it go and watch Me move!” ...You’ve cried long enough. You’ve carried that hurt long enough. Tonight, drop it at the altar and let the fire of the Holy Ghost burn it up! Forgive them. Forgive yourself and watch what God does next! Because when forgiveness flows, revival ignites. When mercy reigns, miracles happen; and when love wins, the Holy Ghost fills the room! Glory to God!