How to Forgive
Last Sunday (October 2, 2022) I taught on the importance of forgiving your brother from Matthew 18 and said that forgiveness is not optional for Christians who have been forgiven.
After the sermon, I received several messages from church members who shared wonderful testimonies how the Lord led them on the difficult path of forgiveness.
As I read these messages and reflected on the sermon, I realized I did not say much in the arena of HOW to actually forgive.
So, as a follow up to Sunday, and to all of the sermons from Matthew 18, here are some suggestions from the scriptures, though I know there are many more.
1) CONFESSION
(1 John 1: 9 )
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2) PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES
(Matthew 5 :44)
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you...
3) PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
4) ASK FOR HELP
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the
prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
5) REMEMEBER THE HELPER
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
We have been forgiven much, so we, in imitation of our Master, must forgive much.
In Christ,
Max Reese