Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Have You Forgiven That Person???




You know the one I mean.


Hmmm…  You don’t know? 


Well, here is how you find out.


How do you feel when you think about that person?  What about when someone else talks about them? 


Do you get angry all over again?  Do you want to tell everyone how much they hurt you?  And just what they did to you?   


If so, that means that you have NOT forgiven them!!! 


And you know what? 


You have to FORGIVE THEM!!! 



Ephesians 4:32 (NCV) Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.




IT ISN’T FOR THEM; IT’S FOR YOU!!!


FORGIVENESS DOESN’T HELP THEM OUT!!!  IT HELPS YOU OUT!!!  IT SETS YOU FREE!!!!! 


I heard the best analogy about UNFORGIVENESS!!!  I was listening to John Hagee preach and he used this analogy to explain unforgiveness. 


When you have anger and unforgiveness in your heart, it is like being locked in a jail cell and giving that person the key!!!


When you forgive that person, you are taking back the key and unlocking the door!!!  By forgiving others, you are setting yourself FREE!!!


We can forgive others because JESUS FIRST FORGAVE US!!!


I know, I know.  You don’t know if you can forgive that person.  NOT after what they did! 


You need GOD’S HELP TO FORGIVE OTHERS!!!  We ALL do!!!



And you know what?  If we ask HIM to help us forgive others, HE WILL!!! 

You have to remember that FORGIVENESS IS A CHOICE!!!  IT IS A CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE!!!  You have to CHOOSE TO FORGIVE!!! 


Colossians 3:12-13 (NCV)
12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.


Just remember.  First, you decide to forgive, and then your feelings will follow!!! 


I have to warn you!!!  It doesn’t end with just deciding to forgive someone. 


You have to make sure that you KEEP ON FORGIVING THEM EVERY DAY!!!


WHY?  What do I mean? 


Well, sometimes, even when you have truly forgiven a person, you see them (maybe even years later) and all of those old feelings of hurt and anger will try to rise up inside of you.  All of a sudden, you remember things that you haven’t thought of in years.

 
When those old feelings try to rise up, you have to tell yourself, that you have forgiven that person and that you are NOT going to be angry or upset.   


If you listen to the devil, he will tell you that you did NOT truly forgive that person!!!  But he is a liar and the truth is NOT in him!!!  John 8:44


That old liar will do ALL that he can to stir up feelings of anger and hatred in you.  He wants to keep you locked up in that jail cell!!! 


You have to learn to tell him to SHUT UP, because he will try to dredge up old feelings and past hurts. 


You have to learn to say, NO, NO, devil!!!  I HAVE FORGIVEN THAT PERSON!!!  


Do you know that Jesus forgave everyone of us, even those who crucified HIM?

Luke 23:32-34 (NKJV)

32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”


If JESUS can forgive the people who tortured, and crucified HIM, then surely we can FORGIVE others!!! 


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