House of Hope Online

October 1, 2023

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Back in the day, we used to call it the baby pool.  Today it is called a wading pool. You know, a place of shallow water where the young ones can get acclimated to the water without much risk of drowning.  The same concept applies at the ocean, where even we adults can wade into the shallow water without committing to getting fully wet, and without risking much in terms of a shark attack.

So, wading into shallow waters in the natural realm makes sense. But the Lord has been impressing upon me that wading into the waters of unforgiveness is a dangerous thing that has significant consequences for us in the Spirit.  There is no “baby pool” of unforgiveness where it is safe for the believer to be.

What do I mean by “wading into the waters of unforgiveness?”  We wade into the waters of unforgiveness when someone offends us and we do not immediately forgive them, as Jesus did for His persecutors while He was still on the cross.  When the wound is fresh, it is difficult to forgive.  If you are like me, you tend to wallow for a while in self-pity, or worse, in anger toward your perpetrator.  You might think: “I am not ready to forgive.”  That is wading into the waters of unforgiveness.

While we may think we have good reason to wade into unforgiveness, there is a biblical mandate and much spiritual wisdom not to go there even for a short while.  Here are six biblical truths about God’s requirement that we forgive.

1 FORGIVENESS IS NOT OPTIONAL

We know that forgiveness is not optional but is required by our Lord and Savior Jesus. In the Lord’s prayer, He taught us that our own forgiveness, and by extension, our salvation depends on our willingness to forgive our transgressors.

Matthew 6:

 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]’

 14 “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

 15 “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

No room for debate here.  We must forgive.  If we do not forgive, the Father will not forgive us.  There is no reason we can point to for an exception to this commandment.  Jesus forgave His murderers as He hung on the cross.

2 JESUS REQUIRES MEEKNESS AND LOVE

Jesus forgave on the cross and even today forgives because He first loves.  He loves not only those who love Him back, but also those who are His enemies.  In Matthew 5, our Lord and Savior not only expects us to forgive, but also to love our enemies and meekly endure their transgressions.

Matthew 5:

 38 ¶ “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’

 39 “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

 40 “And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

 41 “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.

 42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

 43 ¶ “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.’

 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you

Jesus is teaching a meekness principal here that is so foreign to our fleshly nature that it seems impossible.  But it is possible.  Meekness is not weakness.  In fact, it takes more strength to be meek than it does to retaliate.  Jesus is telling us to endure the sins against us, to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us.

3 LOVE MUST FORGIVE

There is no question about what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:44.  He requires us to love our enemies.  This is a commandment of the Lord.  It follows then, if we must love, we must forgive.

1^st Corinthians 13:

 4 ¶ Love is patient, love is kind, [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant,

 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,]

If we love our enemies, we cannot act unbecomingly toward them.  This means we cannot insult them, tell them off, talk behind their back, or stop talking to them.  Further, love is not provoked, meaning we must not become angry when someone sins against us.

Finally, the definition of love in verse 5 says love does not take into account a wrong suffered, meaning we must forgive and forget those sins against us.  Some say: “I will forgive, but I will never forget.”  That is not love, and Jesus requires love.  When the Father forgives us in the name of Jesus, He forgets our transgressions.  It is as if we never committed those sins.  And He requires us to do the same.

4 HELP IS AVAILABLE

Avoiding the waters of unforgiveness is not easy, but Jesus would never require something of us that He is not willing to empower us to do.  We said last time in the Easy Button Word – Part 2 that Jesus is our Pathway to avoid sin.  That includes avoiding the sins of anger and unforgiveness.

In Romans 5, we learn that unconditionally loving those who persecute us is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit moving in us.

Romans 5:

 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Paul teaches that even in tribulation, the love of God – the agape love that loves us more than we can love ourselves – has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  If you are trying to love your enemies, you know how impossible that is.  None of us wants to forgive those who have hurt us, or damaged our reputation, or caused us financial loss or embarrassment.  But with God all things are possible, and He pours into us an agape love for others.  The Greek word for “love” in verse 5 is “agape,” which means deep affection, benevolence; a love-feast, or dear love.  This means, if we are sincere in wanting to forgive, the Holy Spirit will pour into us a love for others that is an affectionate, benevolent, well-wishing deep love, a dear love.  Benevolent means disposed to doing good.  So, the Holy Spirit takes us from anger in the flesh to a lover who wishes well to even our enemies and transgressors.

Knowing that the Word of God promises to help us with love and forgiveness, it is important to speak the words “I forgive” even if in the flesh you do not feel like forgiving.  That is because your flesh will never want to forgive a true enemy.  But speaking forgiveness into the atmosphere is the equivalent of praying and asking the Holy Spirit to pour in the agape love of the Father.  In the Spirit realm, you are affirming your faith in the Word of God that He will pour in His love.  In the Spirit realm, the Father responds to our faith, and it is done for us!

5 BATTLE THE ANGER IN THE SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit’s help is also much needed because the devil will constantly bring to mind reasons to be angry, and we must battle in the Spirit to overcome this deed of the flesh, especially after we have spoken “I forgive” into the atmosphere.  The Apostle Paul encourages us to engage in spiritual warfare to bring down any strongholds that the devil may be using to cause anger.

2^nd Corinthians 10:

 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

 5 [We are] destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and [we are] taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

In the King James Version, the phrase “destruction of fortresses” in verse 4 is expressed as “the pulling down of strong holds,” meaning any strong hold the devil has in our life would be brought down.  These strong holds could be, for example, fear of monetary loss, the need for approval from others, fear of rejection, pride, jealousy, the comfort of self-pity, and a tendency to have a victim’s mentality.  The devil will use any and all of our strong holds to keep us wading into the waters of unforgiveness.  Therefore, Paul says though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  Our weapons are in the Spirit and by using them we bring down those strongholds and any other lofty thing that opposes God.  And we take our thoughts captive to our obedience to Christ.  This means we question all our thinking to make sure it is obedient to Jesus and His commandments, especially the commands to love and forgive.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are also able to bless even those who persecute us, as we are taught to do in Romans 12.

Romans 12:

 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.

The Helper will also deliver us from the fleshly desire for revenge.

Romans 12:

 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath [of God,] for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.

As we battle anger, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to cling to kindness and truth as guiding lights, which entitle us to the favor of God.

Proverbs 3:

 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.

 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

 7 ¶ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

 8 It will be healing to your body, And refreshment to your bones.

6 TRUSTING JESUS IS THE KEY TO FORGIVING

If we trust Jesus with all things in our life, we will find it easier to forgive.  Remember He is our Easy Button.  Many of our barriers to forgiveness are centered around fear and insecurity.  Here are just a few promises from the Word that will help us forgive.

Matthew 6:

25 ¶ “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, [as to] what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, [as to] what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and [yet] your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

If you are angry with your employer and cannot forgive your boss, perhaps you lack trust in Jesus’ promise to feed you and provide all you need.

John 10:

 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have [it] abundantly.

The abundant life comes from Jesus, not the job.  True joy comes only from Him.

Hebrews 13:

 5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

 6 so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME?”

If we need others’ approval and therefore cannot forgive rejection, perhaps we are not trusting this promise that the Lord will never forsake us.  Our self-esteem and our identity must be rooted in His agape love.

John 16:

 7 ¶ “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

John 16:

 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

 14 “He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose [it] to you.

When we trust and depend on Jesus only for our love life, for our provision, for the abundant and joyful life, and for the Holy Spirit, we will no longer desire to wade into the waters of unforgiveness.  Unforgiveness keeps us tied to the darkness of the offense.  Forgiveness releases us from the sin which caused the offense, and the Spirit of Life will then lift our spirits to the fullness of joy.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank you for the Spirit of Truth, whom Jesus sends to guide us by disclosing what is to come.  Father, we ask for help in avoiding the waters of unforgiveness.  Your Word is clear – we must forgive.  But Your promises are true: the Holy Spirit will pour Your love into our hearts, so that we may love and forgive even our enemies.  Quicken us to say “I forgive” even though our flesh does not want to. And please pull down any strong holds in our lives that are barriers to forbearing and forgiving.  In Jesus’ precious name we ask.  Amen.