"We have been sent into the world to implement
the rule of God on earth. Where there is discord
we are to replace it with harmony. Where there
is hatred we are to replace it with agape. Where
there is an offense simmering into a murderous
conflict, we are to replace it with forgiveness.
When we choose to forgive, we invade the realm
of darkness and defeat those dark forces with
the power of a resurrected life."
As
we mature in our destiny to reach the nations,
there are things that can hinder our progress
towards God's plan for us. One of the greatest
hindrances is unforgiveness. Realize that the
enemy will try to trip you up as you move forward
in your destiny, he will bring people in your
path who irritate or hurt you, he will remind
you of past hurts, and he will do everything he
can to cause division. Why does he do this? Satan
is afraid of the salvation of the lost. He is
afraid of your destiny in reaching the nations.
He knows that if you forgive others, then you
will have a greater ability to set the captives
free wherever you go. He tries everything to stop
and entrap you. One of his main tactics is relational
difficulty that leads to unforgiveness. If he
has you here, he really has hindered your progress
and your effectiveness. We have seen the damage
caused by unforgiveness on the mission field again
and again. It damages whole teams and hinders
the work of God.
Forgiveness
is one of the most important Christ-like responses
that we could ever have. In fact, forgiveness
is the power to set nations free. If you learn
to forgive, you can help others to do likewise.
The steps in forgiving others are not easy. The
love of Christ is the only way that we can set
free those who have deeply wounded us. But it
is possible. There is perhaps no greater gift
you can offer to God than a heart that knows the
power of forgiveness, chooses to forgive, and
sets others free. It is time to access this life-changing
grace of forgiveness as we go to the nations."Who
has offended or wounded you? Release them from
unforgiveness. This release of divine power is
resident, even now, in our capacity to set one
another free from indebtedness. Forgive your debtors
and maintain forgiveness." Francis Frangipane
Many
of us don't realize the power released when we
truly forgive one another. It is a power that
can affect the whole world as each one of us chooses
to walk in forgiveness on a daily basis, because
it sets the captives free. Forgiveness defeats
darkness on a massive scale because it involves
the resurrection power of Jesus. There is nothing
that can defeat the healing release that is in
one act of forgiveness. This is why Jesus and
the Biblical writers emphasize it so strongly.
Paul says in Colossians 3:13, "Bear with each
other and forgive whatever grievances you may
have against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you."
Steps
in Forgiving Others
"Forgiveness
openly acknowledges God as sovereign Lord of
our lives. It makes room for God's perspective
being larger and more encompassing than ours.
It confirms that He is using everything in our
existence for our good and His glory. Nothing
gets through his hands that cannot mold us and
mature us. He guarantees the grace to respond
to every offense. He has promised to be in charge
of all vengeance."
-
Recognize and call sin what God calls it
- Be specific and thorough. Remember forgiveness
is not excusing and approving of the behavior
of others or saying that the offense is not
important. Be honest with yourself, and recognize
your emotional response. You may feel angry,
sad, let down or disappointed. It isn't wrong
to have emotions. They are natural. It's what
you do with your emotions that can be sinful.
Make sure there is no offensive way in you.
"Search
me, O God, and know my heart; test me and
know my anxious thoughts. See if there is
an offensive way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Share
with God honestly, and let Him heal you
- Share with God what happened to you and how
you feel. He knows your pain. Look at His evaluation
of the situation, and focus on Him and His faithfulness.
Spend time with Him, and let Him restore where
sin has destroyed. Forgiveness releases God's
divine healing power.
"But
he was pierced for our transgressions, he
was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment
that brought us peace was upon him, and by
his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
- Set
the offender free, understanding that it is
a process - Declare forgiveness. Say, "I
forgive (name individual or group) for (name
the offense)." Don't say, "I want to
forgive." Let them off the hook, and set
them free. It takes time to go through the process
of forgiveness. The hurt can come up at different
times, and we must choose to forgive again.
It doesn't mean that we automatically forget
the offense.
"Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave
you." (Ephesians 4:32)
-
Release the offender to God, trusting Him
as your Judge - Repent of your desires to
punish and take revenge. Let God deal with the
offense. Focus on today rather than the past.
Declare God as Judge over the person and the
situation. Transfer what happens next to God.
Know that He is your protector.
"Do
not take revenge, my friends, but leave room
for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is
mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."
(Romans 12:19)
- Bless
the offender - Apply God's forgiveness.
Trust and reconcile when possible. Realize that
forgiveness does not always mean that we have
to relate in the future. In some cases, this
is not possible.
"Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse." (Romans 12:14)
"When God forgives us, He not only accepts
the consequences of our debt; He imparts the
ability to forgive. In the same way, we can
to the same degree enable others to forgive
when we forgive them. Forgiveness is a power
that can be transferred." Unnamed quotes by
Dudley Hall
May
God give us the grace to fully free others.
May we be like Jesus who was the first one to
love, to forgive and to bless people. May the
river of God's life flow through each one of us
so that we bless everyone we meet. May we remind
people of how much they are loved by God. As we
give our lives away in love and in forgiveness,
we become free ourselves. Through a life that
models forgiveness, we help enable others to forgive.
Forgiveness is powerfully effective in setting
nations free from hatred, disharmony and darkness.
We are God's called out people. We must know who
we are in Christ and walk in love with God and
one another.
"Forgiveness
is the very spirit of heaven removing the hiding
places of demonic activity from the caverns
of the human soul. It is every wrong made right
and every evil made void. The power released
in forgiveness is actually a mighty weapon in
the war to save our cities." Francis Frangipane
For
additional training in setting nations free; an
anointing for missions, a passion that will burn
like fire and God's powerful light in a dark world,
read the book called Go Forth in Power or
Intercessors Arise by Norman and Debbie
Przybylski.
Training
in World Missions
To
learn more about the Elijah Company please read:
|
