TOPIC : UNFORGIVENESS
TEXT: Luke 6:27 – 28 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Memory Verse : 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.
FOCUS
Today, we are looking at another enemy of faith and it is, unforgiveness. Am going to be taking this topic in another dimension the church has watered down. There were messages that were preached before, that spoilt the love of God in the heart of people. The Bible says, love your enemies, pray for those who despise you. The Bible never gave us a prayer point yes I know but if we love only those who love us then we are not actually christians.
Don’t forget that the first set of christians were called christians in Antioch because they saw Christ like nature in them. If your enemy wants water, give it to him. By doing that, you are heaping coal of fire so, they will begin to bring themselves under judgement by their own hands.
God is a powerful God. One thing I know is that, God is a just God. He says those that are using you, pray for them, love the unloveable. It is unlike today that even when someone hasn’t really offended you, you see the christian brother or sister putting the person aside. Where is the Christ love? The church has somuch watered down the message of forgiveness and made it look like you can hold people in your heart forever; No. The love of Christ has been shared abroad in our heart and God expects every man and woman to love.
God has already given us a prototype of forgiveness; if your brother has anything against you, call him, if he doesn’t want to hear, call the elders and these are the stages of forgiveness. When you do this and he doesn’t want to hear, then talk to your father in heaven. That’s the only way you can prove that you are a child of God. Unforgiveness will puncture your faith, it will make your faith watery. It is time to forgive.
LESSON
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Unforgiveness is when you refuse to let go of offenses and the truth about it is that, it cages you. It is like a bird in the cage, as in as much as the cage is locked, the bird is inside. So, whosoever you have locked in your heart, this morning go and loose them. God doesn’t want anyone of us to perish, even when we were sinners, Christ died for us.
One of the reasons why the church is not generating so much power, is unforgiveness. When people offend you, you can’t open your mouth and just tell them and some people when they tell them, they build a war of Jericho, they feel what else do they have to do. The Bible says, we should be tender hearted, kind hearted, forgiving, loving one another, standing before God without anybody in your heart.
God is a wise God, the God that said we should forgive, we should let go. The God who owns everything knows the reason He said what he said in His word. If only we will practice the word of God, there are battles that are not necessary. There’s nothing that punctures faith like unforgiveness because the same heart that bring forth good cannot bring forth evil. Most people hide under hypocrisy especially in the christiandom. If sinners love only those who love them, then christians should love the sinners and not the sin. But have come to realize that this days, we hate both the sinner and the sin so how do we preach the love of God to them, how do we tell them about the kingdom of God. Faith needs your heart to be forgiving before it can work. Stay blessed!
PERSONAL CONFESSION
I receive forgiveness for my sins as I forgive others.
PRAYER FOCUS
I receive grace to forgive those that offend me in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Until you forgive others your forgiveness is not guaranteed.
Forgiveness strengthen your faith in Christ.
Don’t forget to share with friends and family.
