Forgiveness

Rev Jameson Yeo

I want to talk about two things that the Lord spoke to us. When he came, he gave us the Holy Spirit and gave us the most powerful potential here on earth. But how come, we do not see it. The miracles. These things like miracles we should see every day. How come we don't see it? We should be overcomers but we do not see it. Most probably these things hinder us from receiving what God says we should become and be a blessing to others.

How many of you pray and it hits the ceiling and come back down? It does not penetrate the ceiling but your prayers bounce back and laugh at you. We want you to pray and it past the ceiling and your prayers are answered.

Matthew 6:5-8

6:9-13pp – Lk 11:2-4

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

God wants us to pray. Prayer is a means where God so design for you and me to show and demonstrate the power of God. When we pray we should not be hypocrites. Or play acting. When you are sincere in your prayer, led by the Holy Spirit, you pray.

These are Jesus' instructions. If he knows everything why does he need us to pray? He wants our sincere request from him acknowledging that we can do nothing without him.

Matthew 6:9-15

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

When you and I want our prayer to be answered by God, there are certain conditions that needs to be met.

If our prayer is not serious or sincere but only play acting, or it may be sincere but behind the scene there is unforgiveness he will not answer our prayer.

Forgive our debt, which means what we owe. In the Greek it's translated as what we owe, to our fellow man and God, transgression, going against what is right and lawful and sin, when you know what is right and what to do that is lawful and righteous but you refuse to do that.

Another word that you need to know is "as", should be translated as "even as" and not just "as" only. Even as give us the example of comparison. He has set an example for us. Even as the Lord Jesus Christ has set us an example. To forgive, ask for forgiveness and give forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness, receive forgiveness and give out forgiveness.

The privilege to pray is based on how you give out forgiveness, received forgiveness and ask for forgiveness.

How you and I as believers treat forgiveness. That is the basis of our prayer. If we are too proud to ask, receive or give forgiveness, our prayer will not be answered.

I pray that as you and I pray as individuals or the church, let's know what is our sin, our debt. I don't know you except for bro Allan but I pray for God to reveal what I need to preach to you. We never spoke to your pastor except for a room, we never talked.

The debt that you owe could be an apology, or love. Love will not harm the person you know. The debtors are one that has done you wrong, intentionally or unintentionally. It makes no difference. If you have unforgiveness, it is very very real. If there is Unforgiveness  in this church, God's hands are tied and he cannot answer your prayers. You must love one another. If you want your church to grow, love one another.

Forgiveness is deliberate. That you and I make to forgive the offender without terms and conditions. Freely you receive forgiveness, freely you give forgiveness. Love and forgiveness goes together. It's a choice that you and I make from the penalty of his or her debt, without terms or conditions.

The consequences of unforgiveness is that you are a disobedient child of God. A rebellious spirit. Unforgiveness is essentially self righteousness. It is direct disobedience to God and the sin of self righteousness. A sin that is very difficult to detect. If you refuse to forgive, you will possess as self righteousness attitude that will kill you. This curse will remain in you until you die. You ask if you can go to heaven? I'll say yes but you will have no reward.

You will not perform miracles where the sick will be healed and demons tremble, the characteristics of the kingdom of God will not be exhibited if you refuse to forgive.

You will hurt yourself and others and God. How you hurt God? God cannot give what he wants for you. God has feelings. You may say why should I forgive? I have asked myself this question when I was preparing the lesson for the  beatitudes. Do we forgive only if they felt sorry? No.

All those that put Jesus to the cross like Pontius Pilate, the Pharisees that plotted against Jesus, who was jealous that turned to hatred then to murder, were they sorry? Or the soldiers that nailed him to the cross or those that stoned Stephen, were they sorry? No. They were all self righteous yet Jesus and Stephen said God, forgive them for they do not know what they do. Our responsibility is to forgive.

When the Bible say forgive seventy times seventy times. What does it mean? Forgiveness is not about how many times. The quality not the quantity. If you forgive, never bring it up again. That is forgiveness.