"Importance of Forgiveness" Recovery Program Session 3 Parts 2A, 2A-1, & 2A-2 Sept 16, 2014

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

1. Open each session with prayer; asking God to open your understanding as to the areas in your life which needs to be healed and give you understanding of each session. The goal of each session is to help you to heal everywhere you need to be healed so you can become whole.

2. Discussion (30 min):

“Importance of Forgiveness”- Part II

Conditions for Receiving Forgiveness – Part 2A: There are two conditions that Christians must meet to receive forgiveness. First, we must forgive others. Second, we must ask God to forgive us.

*First Condition for Receiving Forgiveness – 2A-1:

Matthew 6:9-12 says, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

What is verse 12 saying? Jesus says that we are to ask the Father to forgive us our sins, when or in the same way we forgive those that have sinned against us. Do you really want God to forgive you in the same way that you forgive others? God gave us a requirement to fulfill before He will forgive our sins. Our forgiveness is directly tied to others.

Matthew 6:14-15 makes the above statement from the Lord's Prayer very plain: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

This Scripture clearly show us that the manner or way that we forgive others set the standard by which God will forgive us. If we do not forgive, or in other words, judge others, we will be judged by God in the same way.

*The Second Condition For Receiving Forgiveness – 2A-2:

We must confess our sins. Once we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Saviors, we are forgiven of our sins but if we continue to sin, we must confess those sins asking God to forgive us. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us all unrighteousness."

James 5:16 says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

What happens if we do not confess our sins and forgive ourselves? We are not forgiven and the guilt, shame, anger, regret, sadness, hatred, bitterness, etc. is still in the memory and in our lives. If we harbor unforgiveness against anyone, including against ourselves, God will not — even cannot — forgive our sins. When we do not forgive others, they are not the one who will be suffer, we will; and not only us but everyone who is associated with us. To receive God's forgiveness and the blessing of healing, we must forgive those who have hurt us.

If you have ever forgiven someone, yet the pain of your anger or resentment persists, the bitterness is still there. The enemy does not want you to forgive because he knows that God will forgive you when you forgive others and repent of your sins.

If you bury a root of bitterness, what does it do? It grows. Satan's demons water and fertilize it, so that it will continue to grow. Our lives become so filled with pain that we are unable to forgive. This is Satan's favorite weapon, the inability to forgive.

We all have been hurt but we can’t walk around in denial, we must truly repent to God for holding unforgiveness against that person, walking in disobedience to His Word – He said to forgive, forgive from our hearts and ask God to uproot that root of bitterness. Otherwise, it will destroy us from the inside out.

3. Handout: Recap from Part 2A

4. If you have any questions, email me at [e-mail]

5. Close each session in prayer; asking God to continue to reveal the areas in you which needs to healed and the things you need to deal with.

“Importance of Forgiveness Recovery Program” Part II Recap From Part 2A (Sept 16, 2014)

1. What are the two conditions that must be met to receive forgiveness? Name them and explain with Scripture references.

a. We must forgive others - Matthew 6:9-12 - Jesus says that we are to ask the Father to forgive us our sins, when or in the same way we forgive those that have sinned against us. Do you really want God to forgive you in the same way that you forgive others? God gave us a requirement to fulfill before He will forgive our sins. Our forgiveness is directly tied to others.

b. We must ask God to forgive us - I John 1:9 - What happens if we do not confess our sins and forgive ourselves? We are not forgiven and the guilt, shame, anger, regret, sadness, hatred, bitterness, etc. is still in the memory and in our lives. If we harbor unforgiveness against anyone, including against ourselves, God will not — even cannot — forgive our sins. When we do not forgive others, they are not the one who will be suffer, we will; and not only us but everyone who is associated with us. To receive God's forgiveness and the blessing of healing, we must forgive those who have hurt us.

2.  What happens if we do not confess our sins and forgive ourselves? Explain

We are not forgiven and the guilt, shame, anger, regret, sadness, hatred, bitterness, etc. is still in the memory and in our lives. If we harbor unforgiveness against anyone, including against ourselves, God will not — even cannot — forgive our sins. When we do not forgive others, they are not the one who will be suffer, we will; and not only us but everyone who is associated with us. To receive God's forgiveness and the blessing of healing, we must forgive those who have hurt us.

3.  If you bury a root of bitterness, what does it do? Explain

It grows. Satan's demons water and fertilize it, so that it will continue to grow. Our lives become so filled with pain that we are unable to forgive. This is Satan's favorite weapon, the inability to forgive.

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God bless,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

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