"As We Forgive Those..." (Continued)

[Michael Parnell]

"As We Forgive Those..." (Cont.)

Now that we have somewhat of a basic understanding of God's love, let's take a deeper look at forgiveness and un-forgiveness. When Jesus taught us to pray in chapter six of Matthew's gospel, He embarked on one of the most powerfully profound teachings concerning the subject. In fact, the subject of forgiveness occupied a great majority of His preaching and teaching.

The scripture says in Matthew 6:12-15 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Now, many times when this prayer is quoted this one line, for whatever reason is given less attention than the rest of the prayer, when in actuality it is the centerpiece or hub of the prayer itself. Unless we "forgive our debtors" , the rest of the prayer is invalid! Read carefully verse 12. "And forgive us our debts, AS we forgive our debtors." In other words to the same degree that we forgive it will be forgiven us.

Then notice what happens immediately following the prayer. After He says, "Amen", see what He begins to teach. Now He could have expounded on any number of things after this wonderful model of prayer that He so eloquently delivered, but notice His topic. He didn't begin a discourse on addressing God as our Father or the holiness, sanctity or consecration of His name. He didn't breakdown all of the components of what it means for His kingdom to come or what the will of God was concerning, comparing or contrasting earth and heaven. As much as He did teach concerning God,s provision, He didnt return to the thought of God being the provider of our daily bread. He gave no instruction pertaining to temptation and evil or God's kingdom, power and glory, no, no. Out of all the subjects He chose (and the Savior never just arbitrarily "picked" a subject to teach about) this one must have been one of tremendous, eternal and divine importance!

Following "Amen", He immediately says, "[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

The Lord Jesus is being very emphatic here. He stresses and drives the point home, "if you do not forgive men their debts, trespasses, sins against yourselves, God the Father, will not, indeed actually cannot forgive you!" This is the essence of what He is saying.

We always try to put up little excuses and say, "but you just don't understand" or "I can forgive, but I won't forget", or a barrage of other protests that we allow the enemy to plant in our rebellious, prideful, stubborn minds. Like I said earlier, been there, done that, wore the tee-shirt! However, Christ makes it clear throughout that there are no excuses. He proved it beyond all reasonable doubt, as nails the size of railroad spikes were being driven into His hands and feet and He cried, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Please understand that Jesus was not speaking to a bunch of sinners here in Matthew, chapter six, He was speaking to His disciples, the Church, if you will. Why did He have so much to say to believers concerning forgiveness? Could it have been because He knew that out of all of the things the devil could hurl at the Church, this would be the one thing that would cause the biggest hindrance to the work of the Kingdom? According to what He says here God is certainly under no obligation to forgive us or even hear our prayers at all, nor do we even have the right to ask His forgiveness or expect Him to hear our prayers if or when we refuse to forgive anyone!

One of the greatest examples of the love of God whom I have met personally is Dr. Michael Murray, (Dr. Mike, as he is affectionately called) of Love and Faith Christian Fellowship, Cincinnati, Ohio. I have had the privilege of sitting under this man's teaching on several occasions. In his syllabus and study guide, God Hedge: Fruit of the Spirit, he says "Many Christians today are suffering from unanswered prayer. They pray, but nothing seems to work. They believe in the joy of the Lord, but they have very little. They believe in healing, but are always sick. They believe in the prosperity of the Lord, but they are always struggling. What could be wrong? Where's the Hedge?"

He goes on to say, "To live the Christian life with joy, peace of mind, health, happiness, victory and ANSWERED PRAYER, we must deal properly with the Lord's directive regarding forgiveness. We really have no choice. We must forgive!"

In Mark 11:24, Jesus gives us that classic, Pentecostal - charismatic promise that so many full-gospel folk have stood on, held to and claimed for years and years and a wonderful promise it is, to be sure. He says, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

(Author) - "Wow! That is a great word, Lord! Amen, you are really doing some great preaching now! That's the word I have needed to hear. Oh, what's that Lord, there is something more to go with that? Oh, how could it get any better? Okay, go ahead Lord. I am ready to receive some more of this good word."

Then in verse 25, He continues, "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."

(Author) - "Uhh,... you,&well,& I,& er,& gee Lord, there you go brow-beating again. It was a good word until you got to that part, then you had to go and ruin it for me." Isn't it funny how we can "amen"  the truth as long as we don't think that particular truth is applicable to us at that point? Then again, maybe its not so funny after all.

We can stand on Mark 11:24 until the cows come home, but it will profit us nothing if we aren't walking in verse 25. Again, after a lesson on prayer, the Lord emphasizes that if we want to see our prayer answered, we must make sure that we have taken care of the forgiveness issue. We, as Christians, must forgive anyone and everyone. It does not exclude your ex-husband or ex-wife. It does not exclude your slave-driving boss. It does not exclude that irate customer that just finished berating and embarrassing you to no end. It doesn't even exclude that person who has committed possibly the most heinous crime against you or a loved one. We must forgive, period!

Did I say it was easy? Nope. Neither did Jesus. He simply said we must do it. We must do it if we are to live a successful Christian life and have answers to our prayers.

Someone may be saying right now, "Oh, I think you are splitting hairs now, Brother Michael". Actually, I am not, however, Christ is. He is very emphatic and precise in his treatment of the subject. It's called "rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15)

So, let's watch the Lord split a few more, shall we? Check out what Christ says in Matthew 5:21-26 - "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. [23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. [25] Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. [26] Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing."

Of particular note is verse twenty-three. The word "gift" in this verse from the Greek is "doron", which means "a present; specially a sacrifice, gift, offering." Now the Bible teaches that, as Christians, we are to "…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1), since according to the New Covenant, we no longer sacrifice animals.

In that same verse the Greek word for "altar" is "thusiasterion" which means "a place of sacrifice, i.e. an altar." Now, Jesus, knowing that He was ushering in the new and better covenant, was again teaching something of extreme importance here in this passage.

To simplify, let's say that you, being a Christian, a living sacrifice, are presenting yourself at the place of sacrifice, or worship, before the Lord. In other words, you are in a corporate worship service with other members of the Body of Christ. While you are there with your hands, heart and voice raised in adoration and worship to the King of kings, the Spirit of God brings to your remembrance that there is a brother or sister out of sorts with you, they have "ought against you".

What the Holy Spirit is reminding you for, is so you can leave your "gift at the altar" and try to reconcile with your brother or sister. In other words, leave your worship there and get things in order, to the best of your ability, so that nothing will hinder your worship. Now, it may not be possible to leave the service at that very moment and take care of the matter, but just as soon as possible, you had better see to it, since the Spirit of God brought that to your attention.

This is a primary reason why many people are not comfortable with worship. They complain that they don't like the choice of songs or music, or they don't think all that hand raising, standing, dancing or almost any other expression is necessary, or the worship takes too long, or they don't like the pastor or the worship leader, etc., etc., and the list goes on and on. When in reality, it's difficult, nay impossible to draw close to God in worship when there is hidden, un-confessed sin in our life and probably the biggest sin that is occurring and reoccurring in the Body of Christ is un-forgiveness! That's why Jesus spent so much time emphasizing and re-emphasizing, over and over again, that we must be a people of a forgiving heart and nature. He knew un-forgiveness would hinder the Church more than any other sin that it would be confronted with.

Why? Because the devil also knows that is his best weapon against the Church and the Kingdom of God. Now, let me remind and reassure you that nothing or no one is going to stop the Church. Jesus said that He is building it and the gates of hell will not stop it. However, we are in a battle and can be hindered if we do not walk circumspectly, fully aware of the devil and his wiles. If we aren't careful, we can allow the Church to be hindered or slowed down, if we allow this hellish spirit of un-forgiveness to creep in.

With this weapon, he can stop our prayer life, put brakes on our worship, cause division, strife and gossip that wounds and tears the very fabric of unity away. You see, this cunning adversary knows that the Church has the power to be the answer to the prayer that Jesus prayed three times in John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."

In John 17:21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." And in John 17:23 "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

Isn't it amazing that in this case, you and I have the power to be the answer to a prayer that the Lord prayed? Of course, the devil knows that when the Church finally begins to advance in the unity and power that Christ intends for it to, his kingdom will crumble around him, so he is going to do all he can to insure that this doesn't happen.

"So, Brother Michael", you may be asking yourself right now, "what do you mean when you say that un-forgiveness is a sin unto death?" I am glad you asked. Go with me to Matthew, chapter 18.

The question that Peter asked Jesus in verse 21 was much more important than we realize, probably more than what Peter even realized when he was asking. It can really be considered a matter of life and death. Let's take a look.

Matthew 18:21-22 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." In other words, until 490 times, or indefinitely. I even heard one minister say that that was on a daily basis, also. Four hundred and ninety times a day.

Jesus goes on to give one of the greatest parables, I believe, that He has ever given.

Matthew 18:23-35 - "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents." Ten thousand talents is the equivalent of several million dollars. In fact if you measure it in gold it would equal $6 billion. A talent of silver was $7,500 so, 10,000 talents would be $75 million. Now I don't know how a guy on servant's wages could manage to get himself into that kind of debt, but he obviously did. I don't know about you, but where I'm from that's what we call a "heap" of money!

Now observe, "[25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Now his heart was in the right place, but I am not too sure about his head. I simply see no way that he could possibly pay back that kind of debt, regardless of how he may have gotten himself into it. Of course, he was grasping at straws and who could blame him? Wouldnt you, if your spouse and children were about to be sold into slavery and everything you owned was about to be taken and auctioned off? He was desperate, like most of us would be.

Then suddenly, an amazing thing happens. Watch - "[27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt." Wow!!! Isn't that something? This man has just been told by the debtor that the debt is considered paid! The books have been cleared, the slate is wiped clean! In essence he is told, dont worry about it, all is forgiven . You would think that he would have had a "shoutin' spell"! I believe I would have been doing some Holy Ghost hoppin' and hugged and kissed everyone I came into contact with on the way home, but not this guy. You talk about unappreciative, watch this:

"[28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. [29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." The first thing this fellow does is look up a "fellowservant", one who is in the same social standing and on an equal basis with him. This man approaches his peer and lays his hands on him, and the context here certainly doesnt mean to pray for him, but he get's the guy in a strangle hold and says, "Alright buddy, cough it up right now. You know, that 65 bucks you owe me, you deadbeat." "Whoa, back up", I hear someone say, "Brother Mike, are you telling me that this man who has been forgiven millions, perhaps a billion dollars of debt, is worried about a measly $65.00?" Nope, I'm not, but Jesus is telling us this. Sad, isn't it? You would think that $65.00 would be the least of worries to a man who has just had a several million dollar weight taken off his shoulders, right? But, it gets worse.

"[30] And he would not:" He would not what? He would not have patience with him, he would not even consider giving him time, "but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?" So this guy is called back before the man that forgave him all of that debt that he probably would have never been able to repay and he is asked why he would not forgive his fellowservant of just a small insignificant amount of money when he himself had just been released of millions. Isn't this the same question that our Lord must be asking of so many of His own people? The song is so true:

"He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay-

I needed Someone to wash my sins away-

And now I sing a glad new song, Amazing Grace-

Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay."

After what Jesus has done for us and forgiven us all of that sin-debt that we owed and He cancelled it, how can you and I harbor un-forgiveness of any kind towards anyone? Whatever we feel that someone owes us it can never equal what we have been forgiven and set free from in Christ Jesus! He expects us to have the same compassion that He demonstrated. Now notice what happens.

[34] "And his lord was wroth," or angry, not based on an amount of money, but the ability to forgive. One of the key phrases in this whole story, however, is: "and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him." "Tormentors" were jailers who had charge of prisoners and who also tortured them when ordered to do so. You see, when someone harbors a spirit of un-forgiveness they are turning themselves over to the tormentors who hold charge over that prison of un-forgiveness that has them bound. I'm sure you have heard before that un-forgiveness does more harm to the one that harbors it than anyone else, and it is true. Un-forgiveness tortures the person that holds it and, in turn is held by it.

It can cause physical problems; high blood pressure, ulcers and such. It can cause emotional and psychological problems as un-forgiveness, for many, slowly turns into an obsession - sometimes a dangerous one. But, the biggest threat and danger it poses is to our very spirit, which is where these other problems find their root. If allowed to get into our spirit it can suck the spiritual life right out of us until we become a cold, hollow shell of our former selves, ultimately causing spiritual death.

Now, Jesus never makes vain threats. He was talking to His disciples, those who knew Him and that He loved dearly, but He says, "[35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." He has said that God will not forgive us if we do not forgive and here He makes it plain that if we persist in un-forgiveness that God will allow us to be tormented by it. So, if we allow it to, un-forgiveness can kill us; body, soul and spirit! Notice He says that we must forgive "EVERY ONE"! If we would walk in the total blessing of God for our life, one thing we must do is walk in total forgiveness toward everyone!

I am talking about the kind of total forgiveness that Stephen offered as he was being stoned to death in Acts 7:60 - "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

How many times have I heard people say something like, "well, I don't feel like I owe them an apology," or, "I don't have to forgive them, because they were wrong and I was right?" However, forgiveness does not depend on who is right or wrong. Did Jesus forgive you because you were right? Which is more important& to prove ourselves right, or to be right with God?

A number of years ago, I was ministering in Lancaster, S.C. I spoke along the lines of forgiveness and releasing those who we are harboring an un-forgiving spirit toward, because in actuality, we are the ones who are in bondage if we are walking around in un-forgiveness.

At the end of the service, a young lady came to me, weeping. She stated that she had only been a Christian for about 3 months. She proceeded to tell me of some horrific things that her father had committed against her when she was but, a child. She said that even though she had given her life to Christ, she still hated him with such bitterness and resentment that she had not gone about him for several years. However, the Word of God touched her that morning and began to illuminate her spirit. She said that she now realized that she must forgive her father, so that she could walk in freedom and that the Holy Ghost had washed over her in such a way that morning that for the first time she actually felt an overwhelming love for her father that she had never felt. She asked me to pray with her, because she was leaving immediately to go and tell her father, face-to-face, that God loved him and that because of the work that Christ had done in her life, she loved him and forgave him, too.

There is yet another thing that un-forgiveness will kill - FAITH! You see, Galatians 5:6 tells us that "faith worketh by love."  Love and un-forgiveness cannot walk together, therefore if there is no love of God, faith does not work.

Of course our greatest example of how to walk in total victory is found in Jesus Christ. Our Lord hung on a cross, and those that stood before Him were wrong, but He lifted His voice and said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

(To be continued next blog post)

 

Pastor Mike