My current sermon series is about “Forgiving and Letting Go.” It is a hard-hitting and life-changing subject. Our church has been spiritually blessed by looking at this issue.
Yesterday I preached a sermon I had not planned in the early part of the planning process. This was a sermon I had to preach. I called it “Lingering Questions about Forgiveness.” If you would like to hear the message, you can view it by going to fbccov.org.
While I dealt with four questions including “Is failure to forgive an unpardonable sin?” and “Can I forgive God?,” I did not deal at that point with the most important question.
“How do I get from where I am (unwilling to forgive) to where I need to be (forgiving)?”
These are simple steps to help you get where you need to be.
First, acknowledge your weakness and your need. When we tell God we are unable to do something, such as forgive, we are not doing bad. Instead, we are simply acknowledging our need for God. In our weakness, God is strong. When we are willing to admit our needs, He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
Second, tell God you are willing to be made willing. Again, you are acknowledging your weakness. This step shows that something as difficult as forgiveness is not easy to overcome. Ask God to help change your heart, mind, and emotions.
Third, ask God specifically to help you forgive.
Fourth, let God know you want to do what He wants. Your desire for obedience will please God and encourage you.
Fifth, take a specific time with God to forgive those who have harmed you. You may or may not need to tell the other person. You must tell God.
Finally, release the hurt and bitterness and let it go. The most blessed person in this is the one who forgives.
Forgive and be blessed.
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One Response
“It is when we attempt to manipulate the thoughts of others to dominate a territory in vanity, something we would privately make our own, we sin against the Holy Spirit. Perhaps that is the “unpardonable sin.” Ecclesiastes addresses the issue of vanity.”
It was stated this way to help others understand, as well as myself, that when The Apostle John said,”If we say we that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” is an applicable Doctrine, an Understanding, to be applied in your developmental Thinking about God: “Doctrines that Matter.” The confession of the “feeling” to God and the plea to find a “Right Path” must also be laid at the Alter of God. These are things the individual must do, as you pointed to so effectively.
When evil attacks, it attacks with a purpose. That purpose is to destroy, diminish, delay, divert, deceive (dissemble) or dominate. This kind of persistent, pervasive and historically determined random to systematic attack has a pathology. These characteristics are prevalent in aggressive borderline personality disorders and when brought to light, blatant in sociopathic behavior. We have many historical references of evil leaders and in attempting to understanding the criminal mind. The more narrowly focused the attack is on another individual, the more difficult to determine outside the battle-zone. It should be pointed out that the pathology of one who randomly or systematically has given of self without regards to social standing but Biblical Standing regardless of personal fleshly gain should not be loss in assessment of a cell behavior unit. Tribal behavior and Biblical Standards may be confused or blended making clear boundaries of purpose or intent difficult to determine.
I have offered such readings on manipulative behaviors previously and others no doubt have a bookshelf full. A Christian who is concerned and equipped to work in conflict resolution must take the time to delve into the pathology. Not an easy thing to ask and expensive to expect from the professional. I believe lives and years of God’s Blessings have been forfeited by the Bride of Christ as “she” forsakes her Lamp Oil for her vanity. The gifts of the “Bride’s Body” as pointed out in Romans 12:4&5 give direction to resolve such conflict resolution seeking His Truth.
Thank you. Great directions for objects in the rear view mirror of life and suggestions for addressing those on the wind screen, or lenses.
Blessings