Forgiveness vs. Not Forgiving - Why it's Important that You Forgive

Spiritually, forgiveness is an act of faith- we trust God to be the judge; we obey the commandment to forgive each other because we love the Lord.

In the flesh, forgiveness is a choice. We are free to disobey if we choose. This is where the rubber meets the road; the flesh has to comply with God's command to forgive. We have to walk this commandment out. Matt. 18:21-35
Matt.6: 12, Matt.6: 14-15, Matt18: 21, Mark11: 12, John20: 23, 2Cor.2: 7Forgiveness is:

1. being an obedient servant. Being able to forgive is a gift from God. We are under his grace so it is untrue to say, "I just can't forgive". With God's grace, we can do anything we ask that is in accordance with his will. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" When we say we can't forgive, we are really saying I need help to forgive or maybe, we are saying we don't really want to forgive.

2. recognizing the wrong for what it is- we are called to forgive not to overlook or pretend that wrongs didn't happen.

3. holding the sinner accountable for their actions - forgiveness does not excuse sin or hurt, in fact, in order to forgive, we must first recognize a wrong or their would be nothing to forgive.

4. a releasing of that person - remember Jesus on the cross. He simple forgave those who had wronged him. He initiated the process, no one said to him first," I'm sorry for what I did, can you forgive me?" He began the whole process and as far as we know, the people who wronged him never acknowledged that they had done wrong. But, they were forgiven. Forgiveness is not a way of getting even!

5. a releasing of the hurt that has occurred. We are not carrying that hurt with us, we are not bound by it or scarred by it, we are not affected by it and Satan has no place in us because of the hurt. Carrying hurt opens a door to Satan...he will use it to hurt us, to kill, steal or destroy.

Unforgiveness is

1. choice,

2. sin, God commands us to forgive therefore, unforgiveness is an act of disobedience or rebellion from God.

3. a dark place in our soul, a place where Jesus is not Lord of our life, where his light does not shine. The darkness that we invite in with unforgiveness, occupies room in our thoughts, (our soul). It is an act of giving place to Satan. He will begin the building of a stronghold of bitterness and hate on the foundation of unforgiveness.

4. a monumental waste of our time and energy. Nothing good will come from unforgiveness and yet if left unchecked, it will become all-consuming.

To choose not to forgive is like taking poison and then expecting another person to die...it just doesn't make good sense.

5. a chain that binds us to that bad experience forever. Everywhere we go, we carry it with us. It, in essence, gives the offender power over us and keeps us from moving on in our spiritual life. As we add more unforgiveness, we eventually fill our soul with it and God has no room to work.

unforgiveness¨bitterness¨not able to love¨hate¨we begin to defend the darkness (OUR SIN)

At this point we are exalting a thing above the knowledge of God, which we know is one way strongholds begin.

We begin to feel anger toward anyone who challenges our right to be unforgiving¨we disconnect with healing relationships¨we now have more bitterness and hatred, it is now directed toward anyone who doesn't agree with our bitterness¨the bittrerness has now become a wall between us and all of those who could help us, including God...WE HAVE TO LET GO OF IT.