Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
The Blessings of Forgiveness are tremendous. When we choose to forgive, we cut off the root of bitterness that is so destructive. As we have proven over the past several days, bitterness will rob you of your health, mental stability, spiritual well-being and your salvation. Yes, every part of us is detrimentally affected by bitterness. There is nothing good about it.
However, when we forgive and give the situation to Jesus to handle for us, everything changes. Yesterday, the Holy Spirit gave me a vision of a brick wall of bitterness bricks. Every day we allow bitterness to grow, we build that wall thicker and higher. We build it as a defense mechanism but it doesn’t work. We only get more and more bitter behind that wall. The only answer to bitterness is forgiveness and surrender.
Jesus said, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14) When we forgive and surrender the person or situation to Jesus, it puts us in a receiving position with our Heavenly Father. Then, and only then, can we receive Forgiveness from Him. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:15)
Forgiveness on our part opens the door for our prayers to be answered. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:24-25)
Since unforgiveness hinders our spiritual growth and the production of good fruit, it would be obvious that forgiveness on our part would enhance our spiritual growth. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you keep My Commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s Commandments and abide in His love. This is My Commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:5;10;12)
Forgiveness ensures our Justification, Salvation and Eternal Life in Heaven. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. He who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has Eternal Life abiding in him. (1 John 3:14-15)
Forgiveness allows us to be on the receiving end of every Blessing God has for us. Bitterness and unforgiveness blocks it all. It’s football season in America. There is nothing more exciting than watching a wide receiver break through the defensive line, run down the field and be wide open to receive the pass from the quarterback. To do this, he must break away from all the defensive blockers and get open to receive. Forgiveness in our lives does exactly that! It causes all the blockers to fall down and allows us to become an open receiver in the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Forgiveness is something you do for yourself. It has nothing to do with the people who have hurt you. If you want to be an open receiver of God’s Blessings, you must forgive. When you do, all the blockers will just fall down.
When the blockers fall, God will……….turn the tide……...in your life.
Wide open to receive! Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
