A stern warning against unforgiveness

I want to strongly warn you all against having any unforgiveness of any kind even if you call yourself a believer. You need to get rid of all unforgiveness with the Lord’s help to enter into heaven because the Lord does say in His word over and over again if you take offense too strongly that unforgiveness enters into your heart and bitterness takes over you cannot get to heaven as the Father then cannot forgive you of your own sins that you need to be forgiven of to enter into heaven.

 Yes, I realize that some people have been offended in a grievous way, but with the Lord’s help and sometimes prayers from other concerned people- do not be shy to ask for help on this matter as it is too important not too- it is all possible to forgive all offenses. I say don’t be shy about seeking help because Satan will cause offenses to be rehearsed over and over again on the minds of the offended, as he does know that if he can get unforgiveness and bitterness to take a strong root in anyone than he has won.

I will start this out by saying if you yourself have offended someone please go out and seek their forgiveness- here are the scriptures in Matthew 5 to encourage that

(Matthew 5:23)  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

(Matthew 5:24)  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

I want to encourage you at first with some scriptures from the bible about this

(Philippians 4:13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Lord’s grace is sufficient, too as stated in 2 Corinthians

(2 Corinthians 12:9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(Mark 9:23)  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

(Mark 9:24)  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Jesus gives the perfect example by forgiving those who were crucifying Him, a terrible death which also included a severe scourging and much other maltreatment. If He can forgive and pray for their forgiveness for the people who did all that to Him, than so can you forgive your foes

(Luke 23:34)  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Note how in Luke’s Lord’s prayer Jesus puts in forgiving others

(Luke 11:2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

(Luke 11:3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.

(Luke 11:4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

He also does say that in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew but also adds the warning that if you don’t forgive then neither will you be forgiven of the Heavenly Father.

(Matthew 6:9)  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(Matthew 6:10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

(Matthew 6:11)  Give us this day our daily bread.

(Matthew 6:12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

(Matthew 6:13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

(Matthew 6:14)  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

(Matthew 6:15)  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In the following verses in Mark chapter 11 Jesus says those who pray in faith can move mountains – anything but also repeats the warning to forgive others so that you can be forgiven by the Heavenly Father for again if you don’t forgive He won’t forgive you

(Mark 11:22)  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

(Mark 11:23)  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

(Mark 11:24)  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

(Mark 11:25)  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

(Mark 11:26)  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

These verses in Colossians encourage people to put on things like longsuffering and especially forgiveness commanding us to forgive as Christ forgave us

(Colossians 3:12)  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

(Colossians 3:13)  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

(Colossians 3:14)  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

In Ephesians chapter 4 Paul warns to put away bitterness and also to forgive one another too

(Ephesians 4:31)  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

(Ephesians 4:32)  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

In Luke chapter 17 then Jesus does warn that offenses will come and that we can rebuke in love but we are to forgive people too of them, even seven in a day’s time. If you do get rebuked for something you did please do repent.

(Luke 17:1)  Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

(Luke 17:2)  It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

(Luke 17:3)  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

(Luke 17:4)  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Matthew chapter 18 contains powerful teachings by Jesus on the topic of forgiveness, and offenses again stating we can go to people who offend but we must forgive those who offend us as many times as needed – 70 times 7 in the reply by Jesus to Peter’s question on how many times to forgive but who is counting, and also Jesus tells the parable of how someone is forgiven a great big debt yet won’t forgive a small debtor. This parable is yet another warning by Jesus to forgive others so our Heavenly Father won’t be able to forgive us our trespasses, which if unforgiven will leave us out of heaven.

(Matthew 18:1)  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

(Matthew 18:2)  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

(Matthew 18:3)  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 18:4)  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 18:5)  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

(Matthew 18:6)  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

(Matthew 18:7)  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

(Matthew 18:8)  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

(Matthew 18:9)  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

(Matthew 18:10)  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

(Matthew 18:11)  For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

(Matthew 18:12)  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

(Matthew 18:13)  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

(Matthew 18:14)  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

(Matthew 18:15)  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.

(Matthew 18:16)  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.

(Matthew 18:17)  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.

(Matthew 18:18)  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

(Matthew 18:21)  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

(Matthew 18:22)  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

(Matthew 18:23)  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

(Matthew 18:24)  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

(Matthew 18:25)  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.

(Matthew 18:26)  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

(Matthew 18:27)  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

(Matthew 18:28)  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.

(Matthew 18:29)  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

(Matthew 18:30)  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

(Matthew 18:31)  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

(Matthew 18:32)  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:

(Matthew 18:33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

(Matthew 18:34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

(Matthew 18:35)  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Now I will put a couple of more scriptures to help you. First if the devil brings up that offense again, just be submitted to God and resist the devil and he must flee

(James 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

(James 4:8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Also remember these verses in 2 Corinthians 10 about the pulling down of strongholds such as bitterness and unforgiveness

(2 Corinthians 10:3)  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(2 Corinthians 10:4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

(2 Corinthians 10:5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

(2 Corinthians 10:6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Also remember to enlist others help if need be as this verse says an effectual fervent prayer avails much

(James 5:16)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

By all means if you are struggling with bitterness and unforgiveness leave it to Jesus for as He says in John 8 He longs to set you free of these, as He can set you free for He wants His Father to forgive you, too

(John 8:31)  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

(Joh 8:32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

(John 8:33)  They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

(John 8:34)  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

(John 8:35)  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

(John 8:36)  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Please do all you can to forgive others for whatever they might have done to you in the past, no matter how grievous and severe the offense(s) might have been. It will bring you peace and clarity of mind, and save you from many troubles for those who carry grudges hurt themselves, are much more subject to sickness, disease and other things. And remember, as Jesus warned many times in scripture God the Father cannot justly forgive you of your sins without you forgiving all of the others. It is something to remember. I have struggled a little in the past, but I know God has helped me forgive all my offenders (people who teased me, my parents, all others). It is NOT worth it to carry ANY grudges, trust me. I have my peace now because I have made a conscious decision to forgive all those who may have offended me and to rebuke Satan for continuously bringing up and tormenting me with all these offenses, which he has done to me. Most of the time these were insignificant and meaningless yet they can be so magnified in our minds.

Also please pray this prayer with me to help you with this:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that you love me so much. Help me to love myself the way you want me to. I forgive myself for the things I have done that have hurt you or anyone else at all. My desire is to forgive all those who have hurt or offended me. Please help me to forgive them. Help me to love them as you love them. I pull down all strongholds in my mind that are keeping me from forgiving in the Name of Jesus. I cast down every imagination, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and I bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Now Lord Jesus, as the Captain of my salvation these thoughts are your prisoners, please take them away. I thank you that you are faithful to take them away and not let them return. Father, help me to forgive people the way Jesus forgave them. He forgave me before I even committed the sin. So, help me to be like Jesus, willing to forgive ahead of time. Help me to come to the place in my Christian walk where I let things go when people hurt me, offend me, or do anything against me. Help me not to allow unforgiveness to gain any kind of hold on my mind or heart. Help me to keep my thoughts only on good things, NEVER on evil or fleshly things. I rebuke all of those negative thoughts in the Name of Jesus, commanding that they depart my brain NOW. I apply the blood of Jesus to my mind and to every thought that I have. Help me to cleanse my mind, from all the things that lead to death, so that I may serve you. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen

Do you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus who did die for your sins so you could then be forgiven them by God so you can have a personal relationship with Him? All have sinned in God’s word and fallen short but God loved the world so much He gave His Son Jesus who did die on the cross to atone for all of mankind’s sins and thus restore the relationship between man and God that was cut off because of man’s sins. God sent His Son to do this because He longs for that loving relationship with His creation which is now possible because Jesus atoned and paid the price for our sins. There is nothing like a relationship with God and nothing can come close to it. Here now is a prayer that you can say that will invite Jesus in your heart and then begin this wonderful love relationship with which nothing can compare or come close to it. Please pray this prayer with me

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours