TEXT: MATHEW
18:23-35
23 Therefore
is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account
of his servants.
24 And when
he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand
talents.
25 But
forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his
wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The
servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the
lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him
the debt.
28 But the
same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an
hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that
thou owest.
29 And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he
would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when
his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told
unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his
lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest
not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on
thee?
34 And his
lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all
that was due unto him.
35 So
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if
ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
INTRODUCTION
The primary reason why the Lord, Jesus
Christ, came to this world is for the sins of man to be forgiven and for man be
reconciled back to God through this forgiveness.
Isaiah 53:10 says this about the coming of
the Lord, Jesus Christ. I encourage you to read the scripture from verse 1 to
10.
Isaiah 53:10b
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise
him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an
offering for sin.
We can see from the underlined scripture
above that the soul (death) of our Lord, Jesus Christ, was used as an offering
for sin. In other words, it meant an atonement or forgiveness for sin.
Forgiveness brings reconciliation.
This lecture becomes imperative at this
time so that we can learn forgiveness from our Lord. Jesus Christ and drop all
our unforgiveness that can hinder us from making it at rapture at the foot of
his cross.
NATURE
OF OFFENCES
Some people have held unforgiveness in their
hearts because they never taught that the person that offended them could have
offended them. Many church members are holding unforgiveness in their hearts
against Pastors because they never taught their Pastor could behave he did.
After all, Pastors are human being. Many believers will even say ‘I can never
forgive you’, perhaps because of ‘where’ ‘how’ and ‘through whom’ the offence
came. It may even be fro a very trusted person.
The Lord, Jesus Christ, warns us in advance
that offences must come, no matter what.
Luke 17:1
1 Then said he
unto the disciples, It is impossible but that
offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they
come!
This will prompt us to look briefly at the following
natures of offence.
1. Offences cannot be stopped from happening.
2. Offences can come at any time, any day.
3. Offences can come several times, several occasions, everyday.
4. Offences can come from any place; office, home, public bus, school,
church, e.t.c.
5. Offences can come from anybody; husband, wife, pastor, relatives,
friends and even strangers.
6. Offences could be deliberate or accidental.
7. Consequences of offence could range from being minor to extreme.
If we are conscious of these natures of
offence, then we should not be totally caught unawares when one comes or let me
say we will have been made ready to deal with it when one comes our way.
WHAT
IS UNFORGIVENESS?
We say that somebody has not forgiven
another person when the formal still holds, in his heart, the offence committed
by the latter against him or when he demonstrates a negative attitude towards
the latter because of the offence. Unforgiveness could result in the following
negative attitudes vengeance, malice, bitterness, fighting,
divorce, striving, hatred, curse, abuse, and
many more.
Unforgiveness is a serious sin before God.
God hates it. And unless one forgives, he may not be able to earn forgiveness
of God. Anybody that harbours the spirit of unforgiveness or does not forgive
cannot go with the Lord, Jesus Christ, at rapture.
SPIRITUAL
DANGERS OF UNFORGIVENESS
1. It hinders prayers.
2. It can cause one to miss rapture.
3. It can lead one to hell.
4. Exposure to attacks from satan.
5. One will not be forgiven by God.
HOW
TO OVERCOME UNFORGIVENESS
1. Pray for Spirit of forgiveness.
2. Don’t be angry without cause.
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment:
3. Reconcile quarrel on time. Mathew 5: 23-24
The following steps are
biblical for reconciling quarrel.
i. tell directly the
offender of his fault.
Mathew 18:15
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against
thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall
hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
ii. Engage godly peace
brokers if necessary or the church.
Mathew
18:16-17
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee
one or two more, that in the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect
to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
iii. if offender is not
ready for peace, forgive him and treat him as unbeliever.
4. Lay it off at the feet of Christ. – I know it
pains you. Yes! Offences can hurt so much. It pained and hurt the Lord, Jesus
Christ, on the cross, also. But He held nothing against anybody. Tell the
offence to Jesus and ask Him to heal your heavy heart of the offence and just
let everything ends for Christ’s sake without even telling the offence to the
offender, if possible.
FORGIVE
THAT YE MAY BE FORGIVEN
Though, our God has power to forgive all
sins, yet, He will not forgive the sin of unforgiveness. For God to forgive the
sins of anyone that is pleading for mercy, the person must also have forgiven
whomever that had offended him.
Not too long ago, I preached to a young
lady who was pregnanted and dumped by a young man. And because of that pregnancy
and rejection, that young lady lost her job and suffered a lot till she
delivered her child. At a point, I got to know that both the lady and her
mother had both cursed the young man and had held unforgiveness in her heart
against the young man.
After having
explained the dangers of unforgiveness to the lady and pleading so much with
her to forgive the young man, she was touched in her heart. She then forgave the young man. I prayed
with her for God to forgive her and we cancelled the curse placed on the young
man.
Offences may be so great to somebody that
he/she may find it so difficult to forgive. I tell you. You must still forgive.
When you forgive an offender, you are only setting yourself free from the
spiritual prison of unforgiveness.
In other words, receiving mercy for sin of
unforgiveness is conditional. If you forgive, God will forgive you. If you hold
unforgiveness, God will not forgive you.
JESUS
DEMONSTRATED FORGIVENESS ON THE CROSS
The Lord, Jesus Christ demonstrated the
gravity of forgiving our offenders to us on the cross when He had just been
crucified and was bleeding to death. Even those that crucified Him were still
spitting on Him. They were tearing His clothe into pieces and were mocking Him.
Yet, He forgave them.
Luke 23:33-37
And when they were come to the place, which
is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on
the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then
said Jesus, Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and
cast lots.
35 And
the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved
others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And
the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And
saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Through the event of the scripture above,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, demonstrated a very high premium placed on forgiveness.
With that act of forgiving those that crucified him, he had taught us that no
matter how big we think that the sin against us was, we could still forgive.
Perhaps, the greatest offence that can be done is for somebody else to take
another person’s life. And that was what was done against our Lord, Jesus
Christ, and still, He forgave. We, also, must forgive all offences.
One instruction that The Lord keeps passing
to me as we prepare for His coming is the need to forgive and make peace with
all people at all cost, no matter what.
HOW
TO FORGIVE
1 - It should be timely and promptly. – Forgiveness
should not be delayed. While you delay to forgive a person of an offence,
rapture may take place or the death may come.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the
altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then
come and offer thy gift.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down
upon your wrath:
2 – It should be from the heart.
Mathew 18:35
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if
ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
3 – It must not be selective. – Forgiveness should not
be selective. All the people that offend us must be forgiven at all times
irrespective of the magnitude of the offence. You must not select which offence
to forgive and which ones to still hold on to.
Mathew 18:35
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye
from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
4 - Forgiveness must be rendered at all times we are offended.
Mathew
18:21-22 21 Then came Peter to
him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? till seven times?
22 Jesus
saith unto him, I say not
unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
5 – Vengeance should not be taken.
Romans 12:17-19 17 Recompense
to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If
it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
6 – Bitterness should not be retained. Some believers
will just say with their mouths that they have forgiven their offenders but
will still hold bitterness in their hearts towards the offender. This is not
also good. Bitterness brings defilement to heart.
7 – Record of offence should not be kept. – Many
believers always write the offences against them in a diary so that they can
always go back and read the detail of the offence. This is also not good. If
truly you have forgiven your offender, don’t keep record or recall the offence.
SATAN’S
PLAN TO PROVOKE BELIEVERS TO UNFORGIVENESS
One of the constant warnings that The Lord
has been sending to us is the need to be careful against provocations and the
need to maintain peace and forgiveness at all times, no matter what.
Satan is really planning to use people, especially
close associates, to provoke bride of Christ to fighting, bitterness or
unforgiveness. We need to be watchful and prayerful. When you see that your
neighbor, colleagues, boss, wife, husband, church members, and so on starts to
behave provocatively and are not yielding to corrections, it is time to start
praying.
For instance, the wife that has been
submissive, all this while, may just start nagging and not yielding to
correction to provoke the husband. The boss that has always been satisfied with
your work may suddenly start to be harsh. He may even give you bad appraisal
for good works. False accusations may just spring up against you and so on.
Once these begin to happen, this is not
time to respond back with an offence. It may be satan that is manipulating those
people against you to offend you. Please, don’t them in unforgiveness. Rather,
begin to pray that God should fill you more with Spirit of gentleness, Spirit
of temperance, Spirit of meekness, Spirit of longsuffering (Galatians 5:22-23) and
the power to lay every offence and provocation at the feet of Christ. Also,
pray that God should touch those that you suspect that satan is manipulating
against you. Once the enemy sees that you resist all his attempts to get you
provoked into fighting or unforgiveness he will flee.
CONCLUSION
Who offended you that you have vowed not forgive? You are not as big as God. Yet, God forgives. What did they do to you that you said you would not forgive them for? What was done to the Lord, Jesus Christ, on the cross, was more serious than that. Yet, He forgave.
You cannot continue to hold on to unforgiveness and say you are expecting the Lord at rapture. Clear your heart of that bitterness. It is an heavy weight that will hinder your flight at rapture.
SUMMARY
We have learnt from this teaching that it
will be an anomaly to seek forgiveness from God while we, ourselves, still hold
some people in unforgiveness. It will amount to working contrary to the main
reason why the Lord, Jesus Christ, suffered so much and bled to death on a
rugged cross.
We can see that
without forgiveness of our offenders, we cannot receive forgiveness of God and
without forgiveness of God, our salvation is not guaranteed. We have also seen
that there is no offence that could be greater than that which was done to the
Lord on the cross and yet, He forgave. If Jesus Christ is our perfect example,
then we must strive to be like Him in all aspects, including forgiveness as we
prepare for His return at rapture.
PRAYERS
1. O Lord, I
repent of all my sins of unforgiveness. I forgive everyone of everything that
has been done against me. O Lord, forgive them and show them mercy.
2. Holy Spirit,
touch the hearts of all I might have offended and cause them to forgive me.
3. Lord, fill me
with Spirit of forgiveness, temperance, gentleness, longsuffering and meekness.
4. O Lord, frustrate
all the plans of the enemy to provoke me to unforgiveness.
ACTIONS
Are you an elect of Christ? Are you truly
saved? Are you on the narrow road? Do you want to make the rapture/heaven? If
your answers are yes, then,
• Make all efforts to heed the warnings of Jesus Christ.
• Be watchful. Pay attention to what is happening around the World and see whether they match what the scriptures say.
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit and be in the Spirit all the time.
• Fast, consecrate yourself, run away from sin and worldliness.
If
your answers are NO, then you can repent today. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord
and Saviour. Kindly sincerely and faithfully pray the prayer of repentance
below and make a determination never to commit sin again.
PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
Lord,
Jesus Christ, I am sorry for all my sins. I confess them with my mouth and I
ask for mercy. Please forgive me and wash me in your blood. I accept you as my
personal Lord and Saviour. Write my name in the book of life. Give me power
over sins and fill me with your Spirit and Joy of Salvation. When rapture
trumpet sounds, let me make it. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, I pray.
Begin
to read bible. Begin with the book of John. Pray always. Fast regularly (you
can begin with once in a week). Look for a bible believing church where they
teach repentance, holiness, salvation and fellowship with them. Pray before you
go. Always run away from SINS.
NEED MORE
INFORMATION?
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We
will like to get as many people as possible ready for rapture. We wish nobody
goes through the great tribulation. What are happening now are child’s play.
Shalom.
TO MAKE RAPTURE:
Confess your sins to
JESUS CHRIST and ask Him to save you.
Repent of your sins
constantly on daily basis and run away from sins.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit
Live in Holiness and Righteousness
Do all Restitutions
Be filled with the Holy Spirit
Live in Holiness and Righteousness
Do all Restitutions
Cut off all worldliness.
Forgive all people.
Pray and fast.
Consecrate and study the
bible.
Watch.
