The healing power of forgiveness
Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
Job 42:10 “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.”
Pray for them that despitefully use you,…
“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends”
Here is something to really consider….see Job praying for his friends….seeking the blessing of God on them and their lives….even after their mocking and accusing of him….
….then receiving the blessing of God for himself.
It is interesting to note that clear instruction for our prayers to be answered….is…
………Believing God for them….And being willing to forgive:
Mark 11:22-24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Mark 11:25-26 “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.”
Trespass here means to offend…..unintentionally or willfully. And how may times, either by carelessness in our words or actions….or by our stifling the Holy Spirit….do we “trespass” against the goodness of God?
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
This can not be done naturally….but it is a spiritual act of the will. For only those things done by the Holy Spirit through us, mean anything to God. It is an act of faith in God….and in His Word.
“Father, in believing obedience to You, I lift up these up to You; to see Your Will done in their lives,….in the circumstances they are in now, and all Your plans and purposes for them.”
This we can ask for them, before God….for we are asking His Will done in their lives.
Romans 12:19-21 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
There are two ways we can “heap coals of fire on their head”…..
….first, that your acts of kindness will cause a burning in their hearts to know…
…”how you can do this? After what I have done to you? how can you be kind to me?” The coals of fire will burn in their hearts, till they come to know about the Lord Jesus, who forgives sin.
…second, that your acts of kindness will cause a more severe burning in Hell,….the coals of fire of remembrance to what they did to one who treated them with kindness, instead of vengeance.
Mark 11:22, 25-26 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
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.”
(We are forgiven every sin….completely, where justification is concerned….when we are born again. But in a very real sense, we need to confess our sins….each one, that the fellowship and power of His life (grace) may flow down to us through His Holy Spirit.
And when we do not forgive others, as we have been forgiven by God…..we quench the Holy Spirit. And when we refuse to get the matter taken care of…..even as the Holy Spirit is trying to empower and help us….we grieve Him.
“But if we do not forgive, neither will our Father which is in heaven forgive our trespasses”…..but will let them pile up and come between us, till we seek His fellowship in confession….and becoming healed from our hurt and anger.)
If we would be heard of God then we must be willing to forgive.
Forgiving another is always….”for Christ’s sake”. It is not excusing their wrong…..but it is placing it in the Hands of the Almighty.
“Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord.”
Forgiveness is freedom for us from their influence in the matter.
(And when the Adversary brings it up again…..for often he will…..then we must not let him destroy our liberty….but again affirm that it is God’s to deal with.)
When the will is exercised for forgiveness….through our obedience and conformity to Christ’s Way….there is the real healing power for the soul….
….for we are freed from the bondage of jealousy, anger, fear,….and I think most important, the hurt itself. (And their are so many terrible and degrading hurts performed….yet Christ has freedom from them, if we want it.)
People want justice…..and God is just. But when we think of justice for others, we must….pause and consider. God’s justice for me fell on Christ….as He suffered on the cross of my salvation. Now I receive mercy instead of justice. My debts to God’s Judgement are paid….
Should I now seek to interfere with what Christ is doing to, or for others? Or should I trust Him,….and let Him deal with them, as He wills.
For His Will is best. Who knows what our submission will do, for us.
Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
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Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 