RESTORATION THROUGH FORGIVENESS

By Danna Shirley
Lesson taught in Bible study in 1994 at Hario Chapel, Japan

GOD’S FORGIVENESS TO US:

"The human capacity to forget God’s gracious gift of forgiveness and allow smallness of soul to breed unforgiveness is soberingly warned against. Jesus teaches how the spirit of unforgiveness exacts its toll on our bodies, minds, and emotions." (footnote in my Bible)

Ps 86:5 “ready to forgive…abundant in mercy”

Ps 103:10-12 “…great is His mercy”

Is 1:18 “your sins…shall be as white as snow”

Is 43:25 “blots out transgressions”

Jer 31:34 “I will forgive iniquity…and remember no more”

Col 1:13 “He has delivered us…and conveyed us into the Kingdom of His Son”

Col 2:13-14 “you…He has made alive…forgiven all trespasses…nailed to the cross”

Heb 8:12 “merciful…lawless deeds I will remember no more”

WHY WE SHOULD FORGIVE:

Prov 19:11 “his glory is to overlook a transgression”

Prov 24:17-18 “do not rejoice when your enemy falls…the Lord is displeased”

Prov 25:21-22 “if your enemy is hungry, give him bread…water…the Lord will reward you”

Mt 5:7 “blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy”

Mt 5:44-45 “love your enemies, bless, do good, and pray…to be sons of your Father in heaven”

Mt 6:14-15 “forgive men their trespasses, your Father will forgive you”

Mt 18:21-22 “how often shall I forgive…seventy times seven”

Mk 11:25-26 “whenever you pray…forgive, that your Father may also forgive you”

Mk 12:31 “love your neighbor as yourself”

Lk 6:37 “judge not…condemn not…forgive”

Lk 17:1-4 “woe to him through whom offenses come…rebuke him…forgive him”

Jn 20:23 “forgive sins, they are forgiven…retain sins, they are retained”

Rom 12:14, 17, 19 “bless those who persecute you…repay no one evil for evil…do not avenge”

Eph 4:32 “be kind…tenderhearted…forgiving”

Col 3:13 “bear with one another…forgive one another”

Heb 4:12-13 “the Word is a discerner of the thoughts/intents of the heart…nothing is hidden”

Heb 12:14-15 “pursue peace…lest any root of bitterness spring up and defile many”

1 Pet 3:8-9 “have compassion, love as brothers, be tender/courteous, not return evil or reviling”

1 Jn 4:11 “love one another”

1 Jn 4:21 “he who loves God must love his brother also” 

“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Cor 2:10-11 NIV)

And what are his schemes?
Tempting mankind to sin/disobey (Gen 3:4-5; Acts 5:3; 2 Cor 12:7)
Slandering/accusing the saints (Job 1:9-11; Rev 12:10)
Inflicting disease (Job 2:7)
Opposing the righteous (Zec 3:1)
Sowing tares among the good seed (Mt 13:38-39)
Ruining soul and body (Lk 9:42, Lk 13:16; Heb 2:14-15)
Kill, steal, destroy (Jn 10:10)
Lying (Jn 8:44; 2 Thes 2:9-10)
Preying upon mankind (1 Peter 5:8)
Blinding the minds of unbelievers (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor 4:3-4)
Battling the saints (Eph 6:12; 1 Thes 2:18)

“Forgiveness is a decision I make to obey God and to walk, as a lifestyle, in a higher realm by not allowing someone else’s actions or attitudes to dictate my actions or attitudes.” –Doug Easterday

Through forgiveness God can work in your life and God can work in the other person’s life, but not if you have placed a wall of unforgiveness around you both! –unknown

THE FRUIT OF UNFORGIVENESS:

“. . . for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Gal 6:7)

So, if a man sows:

bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice (Eph 4:29-32)

criticism/judgment (Rom 2:1-3)

depression/ (Prov 12:25)

discouragement (Heb 12:3-4)

envy/jealousy (Gal 5:19-21)

fear (2 Tim 1:7)

gossip (Gal 5:15)

guilt/condemnation (Rom 8:1-2)

offense (Mt 18:7)

strife/discord (Prov 6:14, 19)

he will reap these things back into his own life . . . sometimes to the point of manifesting a physical illness!

Unforgiveness binds circumstances to an undesirable level of perpetual problems . . . for yourself and the person you can’t forgive. Where “two of you agree on earth” (Mt 18:19) can also bind that person to you in a negative way. You cut your own throat and stop up the flow of God’s blessings to yourself.

THE FRUIT OF FORGIVENESS:

“ . . . for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Gal 6:7)

So, if a man sows:

forgiveness, amnesty, clemency, grace, mercy, pardon, reconciliation, restoration, renewal, revival, harmony, unity, peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

he will reap these things back into his own life . . . and walk in health, happiness, and blessings.

(1 Peter 3:9)

STEPS TO FORGIVING:

1.  Tell God how you feel about the hurt. Be specific (write it down if necessary). God already knows, He just wants you to know. Sometimes we are not honest with ourselves; we can even deceive ourselves (1 Cor 3:18).

2.  Give yourself a reason to forgive; i.e., to obey God’s Word, to restore a relationship, to bring family members back together, for peace of mind and health, etc.

3.  Face the hurt! Examine your actions, words, attitude, and feelings. Did you say or do anything to contribute to the situation? Was your attitude wrong?

4.  Confess your unforgiveness as sin and ask God to forgive the wrong on both sides (1 John 1:8-10).

5.  Speak to your unforgiving heart (2 Cor 10:4-5; Phil 4:8).

6.  By faith in God and trusting Him to perform it through you . . . FORGIVE!

7.  Don’t keep reliving, dwelling on, or reinforcing the hurt. Forget what is behind and press on toward your life ahead (Phil 3:13-14).

8.  Begin to love and pray for the person (Mt 5:44).

9.  Form a habit of forgiveness.

Pray and ask God to show you if you have a root of bitterness in your garden. Begin to identify the weeds and start using your weed killer—FORGIVENESS!

I brought all these things to the Bible study as a visual lesson:

UNFORGIVENESS                                       FORGIVENESS

Rotten, stinking tomato                                    Beautiful, luscious tomato

Thorny bush                                                     Rose

Barbed wire                                                      Ribbon

Moldy bread                                                     Fresh baked yeast roll

Rock—cold, heavy (your burden)                    Cotton ball—light (Jesus’ burden) 

Large plastic ladle (hard to swallow)               Silver spoon (easily goes down)
Easy-Off Oven Cleaner (toxic, lethal)             Potpourri (perfumed fragrance)

                                 On which side will you live?