Sunday Message Summary, 29 August 2021
Forgiveness is of the Kingdom of GOD and it is divine. When a believer has been offended by another, both the offended and the offender have a responsibility to initiate reconciliation. Both the offender and the offended must confess to one another and pray for one another so that they may be healed (James 5:16). We are urged to actively pursue peace with all people (Hebrews 12:14-15), so we must actively pursue peace with one another as believers in the church. When we have hurt, wounded, or harmed a neighbor, we should not fight but confess our trespasses one to another. GOD will neither hear, nor bless the offender and the offended if they have not done their part (Matthew 5:23-24 TPT). GOD is looking for humility.
Forgiveness is spiritual, so we cannot deal with spiritual issues physically. We are in a warfare, and we wrestle not against flesh and blood, therefore every issue in our lives as believers must be dealt with God’s way (Romans 12:19 TPT), and if we want to get even just to win and gain the upper hand, we are playing GOD. We need to know how to deal with warfare because the devil will always use human beings. GOD heals and restores us when we follow the instruction of Scripture, but if we don’t forgive, the hurt and pain will remain. If we don’t forgive, it is the same as taking revenge and judging the person, and that is sin. We must love, bless, and pray for those who hurt us, especially considering that we could be wrong in the matter, so we should leave everything to the Righteous Judge. There is no command for us to point fingers at the people who hurt, spite, or persecute us, and if Jesus was innocent and perfect, but did not revile, accuse, or persecute back, what about us, who are neither innocent nor perfect?
In church, no believer should tarry in a state of offence, lest the devil takes advantage of us. Offence where left unchecked, leads to unforgiveness, unforgiveness leads to bitterness and resentment, which leads to strife and quarreling. Offended believers contaminate and defile others, contaminating their hearts and minds causing trouble, confusion, and division in the church (Hebrews 12:14-15). When believers are divided it is because there is strife among us, and we have given place to the devil. We are not supposed to hold grudges, nurture anger, nor harbour resentment as believers. With these things we give access to Satan, and we come under his manipulation and control (Ephesians 4:27 AMP). This is where we are blind to the spirit, and we respond to the flesh.
Living peaceably as believers is up to us (Romans 12:18). When we refuse to let go and let GOD, it is only our pride and ego which stand in the way, wanting to be gratified. When we are running with offence, unforgiveness, resentment and bitterness, it is because we are running away from our Christian responsibility. The starting point to our healing and restoration, which is the will of GOD, is repentance, because both the offending and offended believer are wrong.
If Jesus was innocent and perfect, but did not revile, accuse, or persecute back, what about us, who are neither innocent nor perfect?
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