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A Time to Forgive

Matthew 6:6-15

 

Forgiving is one of the most Christ-like things you or I can do. We begin to understand the forgiveness of God by forgiving those who have hurt or wronged you. 

Five Symptoms of an unforgiving spirit

  1. You can’t stand to be around certain people
  2. You want to strike out at people when certain subjects are discussed
  3. You lose your temper over little things
  4. You struggle with guilt over things that happened in the past
  5. You find yourself hurting the ones you should love the most

 

An unforgiving spirit always hurts you more than anyone else.

 

Forgiveness is not:

  • Justifying, understanding, or explaining away why the person acted toward you as he or she did.
  • Just forgetting it!
  • Asking God to forgive the person!
  • Asking God to forgive you because you are angry!
  • Denying you were really hurt!

 

Some folks live their whole lives without realizing or understanding the forgiveness of God. What we know in our heads needs to take hold of our hearts, emotions and actions.

 

Hebrews 12:15 - Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. 

 

An unforgiving spirit leads to bitterness and bitterness will destroy you.

Forgiveness is the act of setting someone free of an obligation to you that is a result of a wrong done against you.

 

If you have been hurt by someone, set yourself free by forgiving that person.