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FORGIVENESS BRINGS BLESSING

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Life is not always fair, but God is good. Jesse Duplantis

As you study the book of Job in the Old Testament, you will notice that God turned his captivity when he prayed for his friends. Job’s friends were really his critics. God can turn your captivity, too, if you will pray for your critics and ask God to bless them.

In Genesis chapters 37, 39 and 40, we find the story of Joseph. Even in prison, Joseph kept working as unto the Lord, and he never got bitter. God not only brought him out of prison, but He also made him ruler over all of Egypt. 

Offense is sure to come, but we have to guard against it. What the devil means for evil, God will turn around for our good when we choose to forgive!

Confession: I will love my enemies and bless those who curse me. I will do good to those that hate me and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute me.(Matthew 5:44) As I pray for my critics, God is turning my captivity just like Job! What the devil meant for evil in my life, God is turning around for my good. I am blessed because I chose to walk in forgiveness!

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FORGIVENESS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

I realize that God can never bless us on the lines of being hardhearted, critical, or unforgiving. Smith Wigglesworth

Ephesians 4:26 says you shouldn’t let the sun go down on your wrath. One translation says, “Don’t let the sun go down finding you nursing a grudge.”  This is where the devil has his greatest opportunity to hinder your faith from working.  Ephesians 4:27 continues, “Neither give place to the devil.”

If the devil has any place in your life, you gave it to him. You might have given it to him through negligence or disobedience. Negligence means you refused to exercise your authority as a believer. Disobedience means you knew what the Word said yet you refused to do it.

Choose blessing; choose forgiveness. God wants you to live a life of peace.  Refuse to give the devil any opportunity to rob you of your faith!

Confession: Forgiveness is my responsibility. I refuse to give any place to the devil! (Ephesians 4:27) I choose to exercise my authority as a believer and obey God’s Word!

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UNFORGIVENESS: THE BIGGEST ENEMY TO FAITH

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. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25-26)

Faith works by love. A step out of love is a step out of God. Kenneth E. Hagin

The biggest enemy to faith is unforgiveness. In Mark 11, Jesus was talking about moving mountains. He said all things are possible in prayer. However, He pointed out that if you don’t deal with unforgiveness, none of your praying, your saying, or your faith would work!

If someone really did you wrong, you must forgive that person by releasing him or her of any unforgiveness on your part. You must not speak against that person or attack that individual. You must let go of your unforgiveness. When you release that person, forgive. And when you forgive, something positive will happen inside of you!

Confession: I must forgive others in order for God to forgive me. A step out of love is a step out of God. I choose to release any unforgiveness and offense to the Lord. I realize that for my faith to work, I must forgive and walk in love!

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NO MORE PARALYSIS

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. (Luke 5:20)

God is always propelling us forward.
Mark Hankins

In Isaiah 43:25-26, God’s promise says that He blots out our transgressions and will not remember our sins. This promise of forgiveness and faith in His Word opens the door to God’s goodness.

The story of the man with four crazy friends in Luke 5:17-26 is one of my favorites. “When Jesus saw their faith,” He told the man with paralysis, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” Jesus spoke to that man’s deepest need. If Jesus calls you forgiven, you are totally forgiven and released from the condition and consequences of sin. You are redeemed.

Jesus then told the paralyzed man to “Arise!” The man got up totally healed of all paralysis. This miracle caused the religious leaders much trouble. The rules and regulations of religion have paralyzed many people. However, when you get in the presence of Jesus, forgiveness and restoration are freely given. What a wonderful Jesus we have who forgives and heals!

Confession: I am redeemed! Isaiah 43:26 says to put God in remembrance of His Word. This promise of forgiveness and faith in His Word opens the door to His goodness in my life!

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ALL IS FORGIVEN

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. (Isaiah 43:25-26)

Never look back if you want the power of God in your life.
Smith Wigglesworth

In Earnest Hemingway’s short story, “The Capital of the World,” he tells the story about a father and his teenage son who lived in Spain. Their relationship became strained and eventually shattered when the son ran away from home. The father began a long journey in search of his lost and rebellious son. Finally, as a last resort, he put an ad in the Madrid newspaper. His son’s name was Paco, a very common name in Spain. The ad simply read, “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the Madrid newspaper office tomorrow at noon. All is forgiven. I love you.” The next day at noon, in front of the newspaper office, there were 800 “Pacos” all seeking forgiveness.

God is in the forgiveness business. His forgiveness includes the total erasure from His memory that sin was ever committed. He does this for His own sake so that He can bless us the way He wants!

Confession: I believe that God has forgiven me. If God does not remember what I have done wrong, then I will erase it from my memory as well! (Psalm 32:1)

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