SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Matthew 6:14-15) {14} “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” {15) “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
(Matthew 18:21-22) (21) “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (22) “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
(Matthew 18:23-28) (23) “Therefore, is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.” (24) “And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.” (25) “But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.”
(Matthew 18:26-28) (26) “The servant, therefore, fell, and worshipped him, saying Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” (27) “Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” (28) “But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.”
(Matthew 18:29-31) (29) “And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” (30) “And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.” (31) “So, when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.”
(Matthew 18:32-35) (32) “Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest me:” (33) “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?” (34) “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.” (35) “So likewise, shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”
PREFACE SUMMARY
This message on coping with and overcoming unforgiveness is essential to our advancement in the kingdom of God. How we respond instead of reacting to situations will demonstrate to others that we have the maturity and character needed to fulfill our purpose in that position.
Did you know that an old saying states that when you fail to forgive or even show resentment toward someone, you fall into the enemy's trap of becoming his or her slave? And did you not know that the stronger the resentment, the more time you spend thinking about it, including being caught up in the anger that fuels its fire, brings the unforgiving person into mental, emotional, and spiritual bondage?
Did you not know that the person holding the resentment is the one who suffers the most? I have found in my studies while seeking the Lord concerning this message that some experts have likened resentment to the one holding the hurt and grudge to be likened to the one drinking some poison, hoping and waiting for the other person to die.
Dealing with and overcoming unforgiveness can be challenging, but it is necessary for our emotional and spiritual well-being. We must acknowledge and accept the complex emotions that unforgiveness brings, whether they stem from feelings of anger due to hurt or betrayal or a lingering sense of resentment. Your feelings are valid, and understanding them is the first step towards healing.
Holding onto unforgiveness affects not only our mental and emotional health but also hinders our relationship with God and with others. Scripture instructs us that to be forgiven, we must first be willing to forgive. Scriptures teach us that forgiveness is a conscious decision we make that is not based on our feelings or emotions.
Unforgiveness often stems from deep-seated pride, self-righteousness, and a failure to fully comprehend the depth of God’s grace. Throughout God’s Holy Word, we are consistently reminded about the perils of harboring bitterness and unforgiveness. It is emphasized that such negative emotions can not only cause spiritual harm but also can hinder our prayers.
In summary, let me say that forgiveness is a continual process that requires time, effort, and patience. One effective way to overcome unforgiveness is to focus on the blessings in our lives and be mindful of how often our Heavenly Father has chosen to forgive us. Remember, forgiveness is not just a choice; it's a necessity for our emotional and spiritual well-being.
"WHY DID THEY HURT ME?"
Beloved, experiencing the emotional stress of being hurt by someone we genuinely care about can be painful, leading to feelings of betrayal, confusion, and low self-esteem.
Drawing from my personal experiences, I've come to recognize that the individual who caused this hurt may be struggling with unresolved past traumas, deep-seated insecurities, and emotional wounds that have not been appropriately confronted or addressed. These wounds could be deep-rooted emotions that may require professional help to get deliverance.
Beloved, there are good people today dealing with church hurts from would-be pastors that may have damaged them for life. Their pastor had led them to Christ and encouraged them to be faithful to their church, even bringing them into their inner circle of other pastors, but without warning, the pastor dropped them like they never existed, causing them to suffer agonizing moments, wondering what had happened and what they had done to deserve this kind of treatment.
These people have been faithful to their church and made sure their tithes were paid on time, but now they feel hurt, betrayed, and used. This even hurt more when the upcoming ministers felt comfortable enough around them to place their faith in the man instead of placing it in God and his word.
King David said in (Psalms 55:12) (12), “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:" {13} "But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and my acquaintance."
David said he could have endured it if it were an enemy or someone who hated him, but this is my equal, a man of God who has shared his life with him.
Someone may be going through something like this, haunted by thoughts such as, "The man I looked up to, the man that was raising me to be a minister in his church, has suddenly turned a cold shoulder toward me." "What have I done to cause him not to answer any of my phone calls, and what is causing him to not look my way as he ministers behind the blessed pulpit in our church?"
I have witnessed ministers dealing with church hurts so deep that they decided to step down from their calling, saying, "If this is what I must endure to be in ministry, then give my part to somebody else."
Beloved, this is getting close to injuring the inner man of a person, and the word deals strongly with those that offend his little ones, stating that it would be better to have a millstone around their neck and be cast into the outermost parts of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)
"INSIGHTS FROM THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT."
(Matthew 18:21-22) (21) “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (22) “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Beloved, notice how verse (21) speaks of Peter asking the Lord if his brother sins against him, should he forgive him seven times, but in verse (22), we find the Lord instructing his disciples to forgive them seventy times seven. Notice in this statement that the Lord attempts to instill a spiritual truth to his disciples concerning the love and forgiveness of our heavenly father.
(Matthew 18:23-35) speaks of the kingdom of heaven by giving a parable of a rich King who had a servant who owed him something like several million dollars, which would have taken the servant (10) lifetimes to begin to pay back the debt, but because the servant fell before the king asking for patience, the king chose to forgive him of the debt.
These scriptures illustrate a powerful narrative about a king who demonstrated compassion by forgiving a significant debt, about two million dollars, owed by one of his servants. However, upon encountering someone who owed him a small amount of money, the same servant chose not to extend the same compassion the king had shown him.
The servant refused the debtor's plea for additional time to settle the small debt and filed charges to have the man imprisoned for his inability to repay the debt. The wicked servant's action toward the man who owed him a small amount of money, something like fourteen dollars, deprived the man of his freedom and prevented him from providing for his family.
Beloved, some of the king's servants witnessed the actions of the wicked, unforgiving servant and told the king, who angrily summoned him to appear before him. Upon learning of the servant's unwillingness to forgive a man who only owed him a small amount of money, the king ordered the unjust servant to be turned over to the tormentors until he repays his debt to the king.
Notice how the Lord ended the parable by informing his disciples that our heavenly father will be the same way toward us, if we fail to show compassion and forgiveness toward those who trespass against us.
In summary, let's pause for a few moments and recall the countless instances where God, in His infinite mercy, chose to forgive us for our wrongdoing and provided shelter and comfort during our times of trial. Beloved, even when we were guilty, His grace enveloped us, choosing to forgive and cleanse us of our sins, granting us a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
"OVERCOMING YOUR EMOTIONS."
Beloved, I, like many others, have been hurt so severely that I attempted to take my life on three different occasions, and if God had not intervened, I would not be here today. I have learned a critical lesson in life: "No matter what we may be going through or how much we may think that we have lost, there is always someone going through worse situations who has lost many times more than we have."
I would not be where I am today and be mature enough to stay where I am if I had not suffered through these many years, which not only worked to develop my character but also gave me a good education on the character of others and taught me that my confidence must be in the Lord my God and not in any human person born on this planet.
The living God personally, through visions and dreams, taught me how to deal with past hurts and disappointments. The visions and dreams taught me that some people come into our lives briefly, either to teach or educate us, while others are assigned to go with us to support us. All our life’s circumstances have been designed to shape us for our destiny and the purpose for which we were born.
The Lord used the scriptures found in (Matthew 18:21-35) concerning the king and the unforgiving servant to reveal my need to break free from past hurts, especially for the ministry he was calling me to.
Did you know that the Lord is a high priest whom the feeling of our infirmities can touch, and did you know that he knows what it is like to be slandered and betrayed?
Beloved, when the blessed Lord came to me in a vision to speak about the feelings I was harboring inside, he said, “Jerry, you want me to judge those who have tried to destroy you?” I replied, “No, Lord, not really, but it would help if you allowed them to feel some pain before they attempt to hurt someone else.”
The Lord said, “Jerry, you must be willing to forgive them if you want my father to forgive you." The Lord said, "Jerry, I want you to understand something: Just because you forgive them does not mean I will forgive them, for they are accountable unto me for their transgressions.”
Beloved, I want you to know that this revelation shook me up, especially when God reminded me of King David, who, when caught in his sin, asked the Lord not to remove his Holy Spirit from him.
(Psalms 51:10-11) (10) “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (11) “Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Did you know that King David, even after being forgiven of his sin of having a man killed to take his wife, had to pay dearly for his transgression, which took more than forty years, causing him to suffer from a disease that caused his flesh to stink which helps us to realize that every transgression will be brought into judgment?
The word instructs us in (Romans 12:20) & (Proverbs 25:21-23) to pray for our enemies, including feeding them. In so doing, we shall heap coals of fire upon their heads, which means beloved when we obey these scriptures, these people will be brought before the courts of heaven for judgment, and many times, when I have had to do this, the enemy would bring them to my mind. When this happens, I would physically hold up my hands, telling God that this is his mail, not mine.
You may ask, Dr. Jerry, how did you get to a place where you could do this without holding them accountable. The answer to that question would be that God brought me to a place of humility by asking me questions that opened my spiritual eyes in a way I had never seen before.
The Lord visited me on several occasions, and in one vision, the Lord asked me if I would like to feel some of his hurt and how I would react if he informed me that I was guilty of breaking his commandments, which is plain in the scriptures that if we fail in keeping one, we are guilty of breaking them all and remember beloved, Jesus in (John 13:34) added an eleventh commandment which instructs us to love one another.
Love is an action word, and the scriptures speak in Luke 23:24) concerning our Lord being in agony on the cross, asking the Father to forgive those mocking, slandering, and even attempting to take his life, for they know not what they do, and in (Acts 7:54) we find Stephen in the holy scriptures doing the same thing, even as the stones were pounding his body.
Beloved, we need to understand that there is a place in God you can enter where you will be willing to forgive those who gave into temptations to bring harm your way. Once you get there, you will understand that hurting people are inclined to hurt others.
Once you enter this sacred realm of the Spirit, you will begin to understand why some earthly fathers do not know how to show love toward their family because, in truth, they did not have a father figure in their life, or they suffered from the hands of an abusive father.
My wife Tin and I have learned to deal with losses, including disappointments in ministry, by sowing them into the kingdom of God. This frees us from dealing with emotions, especially when we meet the ones who did us wrong.
The best illustration I can use to convey what I am speaking of is what financial executives do today in marketing when a company wants to be relieved of its debts: The company will seek another company to buy out its debt.
The company in trouble will market its debt to another company that will assume its obligations and financial loss. This frees up the company because it has sold the debt, but those who owe it still must pay the company that assumed the responsibility for the debt.
What if you meet the person who did you wrong on the street, and your emotions start rising within you? That's a good question, and my first reaction after many years of experiencing this would be, "Get your emotions saved."
In summary, when the enemy continues to bring a memory of how you have been unfairly treated to your mind, my advice is to physically hold up your hand and give it to God, even if you have to do it fifty times a day because beloved the scriptures teach in (Colossians 3:13-25) that we should forbear one another which means that we should not quarrel but give God time to work on both ends bringing us to repentance before God and our fellowmen.
"UNFORGIVENESS CAN CAUSE CANCER."
Did you know that unforgiveness can make us angry and cold toward others? Its impact on our lives can affect us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. When we decide not to forgive and hold onto the offense, we relive the pain concerning the person who offended us, especially when we encounter the offender on the street or maybe in our church.
(Ephesians 4:31-32) "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
The word of God in (Luke 16:20) speaks about Lazarus, the beggar full of sores, lying at the rich man's gate begging for the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Lazarus had sores on the outside, but people are sitting in churches today with sores on the inside. Yes, beloved, they are bleeding on the inside because they were wounded in some way by another person, mentally, emotionally, or even physically.
This past October 2023, many celebrated the days of “Yom Kippur,” which can better be defined as the “Day of Atonement” or “The Feast of Tabernacles.” People celebrate this feast by afflicting themselves in true repentance before the Lord and any wrongdoings toward their fellow man. The feasts are designed to get the focus off of their physical bodies and on their souls.
In this message, I want to focus on unforgiveness and show that if left unchecked, this evil mindset can turn into resentment and cause physical harm to our bodies, including cancer, because it causes the body to release harmful hormones that cause stress and prevent the body from producing killer cells needed to fight cancer.
Did you know that unforgiveness is listed in medical books as a disease? According to Dr. Steven Standiford, chief of surgery at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, "Refusing to forgive makes people sick and keeps them that way. Therefore, forgiveness therapy is now being used to help treat diseases such as cancer.
Did you not know that there are many people today sitting in church pews who are living in spiritual bondage because they have not dealt with past hurts and disappointments? You might ask, “How can this affect my body and walk with God?"
Did you know emotions are deeply tied to your physical well-being, and how you deal with them can affect your immune system? The magnitude that emotions can have on our bodies can lead to anxiety and depression, which can be very harmful to our health because they cause our bodies to feel overtired and run down, which results in a weakening of our immune system.
There are people today harboring deep-rooted unforgiveness deep within who are not even aware of it because, in their minds, they feel as though they have dealt with it. Still, the truth is that there is a little boy or little girl inside who is hurt so bad that they have learned to build walls up to protect themselves from being hurt again, and just like Lazarus (not Lazarus the beggar), who Jesus later raised from the dead.
In summary, Lazarus came forth in grave clothes which needed others to remove them to set him free, we need each other brothers and sisters to help get the grave clothes (bandages of past hurts and disappointments) unwrapped from our life and be willing to forgive those that have wronged us remembering the words Jesus stated in (Matthew 6:14-15) that if we do not forgive others of their trespasses, neither will our heavenly father forgive us our trespasses.
"UNFORGIVENESS CAN DAMAGE YOUR SOUL."
Beloved, did you know that withholding forgiveness from someone who has hurt you can cause harm to you both spiritually and physically? The truth is, “We may think we’re breaking the other person when, in reality, we’re harming ourselves.”
When individuals choose not to forgive and hold onto feelings of resentment toward someone else, they often lead to increased stress and anxiety, increasing the risk of developing various health issues, including gallbladder problems, kidney issues, heart disease, depression, diabetes, and even cancer.
The dictionary word for resentment means = "A bitter indignation at having been mistreated." "This could include anger because you have been forced to accept something that you do not like or approve of. The dictionary definition of Indignation is "Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment."
Beloved, medical studies have proven that unforgiveness can result in stress that significantly impacts our bodies. Chronic stress can lead to changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and immune response, leading to physiological changes. Over time, this can increase the risk of developing conditions such as depression, heart disease, diabetes, and other stress-related illnesses.
When individuals experience anger and unresolved conflicts, their bodies enter a heightened fight or flight mode, which increases cortisol levels (a hormone the body releases during stress), making individuals more susceptible to infections and various health issues, including sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and heightened anxiety levels.
In summary, forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but an intricate process beyond a simple verbal expression, requiring a deliberate and conscious choice. Choosing to forgive can lead to developing more compassion and understanding toward those who have caused hurt, which not only contributes to an individual's emotional and mental well-being but also has the potential to impact their physical health positively.
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, we are entering a climax with the kingdom of darkness, and we need to be trained in dealing with trauma and emotional crises in people. How will we fulfill that role if we need counseling and deliverance in our own lives? Therefore, the bottom line would be, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care,” which is sound advice from my mentor, the late Apostle Don Stewart.
The way we extend mercy to others could be compared to someone bringing sunshine into the life of a hurting person because the reality is that if we strive to be that kind of person, we will be unable to keep it from shining in our own lives.
May we absorb and use this teaching to make us a better person, one who is willing to look past the faults of others and consider ourselves, understanding that if God were to pull back his Spirit from us, we are just as capable of doing even worse things than people have done to us; therefore, let us humble ourselves before his loving arms and pray that he would cause the words of our lips and the meditation of our heart to be acceptable in his sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)
This message came about when I recently encountered the Spirit of God, who informed me why a person I had prayed for in a miracle service had never received healing. The person had needed a creative miracle concerning a growth in their body.
Beloved, I have witnessed God take growths away even after they had been admitted to the hospital, causing the doctors to want to learn more about our awesome God, but in this case, months had gone by and no healing.
It just so happened that my wife and I encountered the person who needed the healing before the end of the year.
We were going to the airport to return home after a successful ministry trip when someone was urged to stop and get some lunch. Through God’s province and divine encounters, the person needing healing was in the restaurant.
I walked over and informed them that I had never given up on believing God for their healing.
I told them that stipulations must be met to receive healing, including how we treat our spouses. I did not know what was preventing them from receiving their healing and deliverance. Still, as I began ministering to them, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to inform them that unforgiveness can lead to resentment, a dangerous roadblock that will prevent God's blessings.
I explained to them that, according to the scriptures and teachings, forgiving others is not just a proper act but can also affect our physical health. When we choose to forgive others, we release the debt burden owed to us and transfer it to God. This act doesn't release the wrongdoers of their accountability to God for the hurt they caused, but it does free us from holding onto unforgiveness, which can lead to resentment and the need for retribution.
Beloved, after praying over the couple, I rejoined the party at our table and bowed my head to thank the Lord for another opportunity to pray. While praying, I took authority over any spirit of retaliation that might have stirred up when I prayed for someone in need. I was in mid-sentence when the Spirit of God spoke out loud in my spirit, “Resentment!”
In summary, the Lord was letting me know that this person had not received their healing because unforgiveness had already turned into resentment, which means they had already opened themselves up to a demonic spirit. Deep down inside, they were harboring resentment and remember that the word speaks volumes in (Matthew 6: 15) that if we forgive not men their trespasses, neither will our heavenly father forgive us.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
MY CLOSING PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to close this message with a word of prayer to all who will take time out of their busy schedule and receive it with an open heart. Father, I ask that you move to bless each one that, through this message, has surrendered their life more to your purpose, and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry.
Lord, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally, and emotionally so that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others. Lord, from this day forward, I ask that your will, your purpose, your word, and your Spirit have a free course in their life and everyone that they meet, and Lord, I ask in Jesus mighty name that you will touch, heal and deliver all that pray this prayer and call upon your excellent name, that you will meet their need right where they are.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them will be broken. I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their lives count for your cause and purpose. Lord, as you awaken the gifts and talents placed in them from birth, may they become unified in the faith with other believers, realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine-tuned orchestra in the masters’ hands.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your tremendous love and blessing over our lives, and we find rest in knowing that you promised never to leave nor forsake us as your children and to go with us all the way, even to the end of the world.
Lord, please forgive us for failing to remember that you know our needs before we ask, for you were once one of us who was tempted in all points as us. Lord, you went to the cross to pay our sin debt so that we could be adopted into your royal family as Sons and Daughters sharing with you in your glory. "Thank You Jesus"
Lord, I ask you to enlarge our borders and place your hand of blessing upon us to guide us in the path you chose for us. We need your divine guidance so we might walk fully in your prayer and goodness as you lead us by your Spirit to divine appointments. Please deliver us from evil so we will not be tempted or cause pain.
Lord, I pray that your blessed holy name might be glorified throughout the Earth as you leave your signature through us to future generations. Lord, I ask that you assign an Angel to accompany this work into the home of every person who will take time to accept it.
Lord, help us stand firm together, activating our faith, for it is in these trying times, through your grace, that we can find rest in knowing that we can depend on you, our God, "Our Father," to come on the scene to direct our path and to guide our footsteps.
Dear Lord, help us understand that our survival depends upon you. Lord, help us realize that we represent your glorious body on Earth. Lord, help us know that there is strength in numbers, and we need each other to be fruitful and live prosperous lives as your people.
Lord, please help us not to be careless and prideful in our Christian Walk or resemble a bunch of used body parts. Help us realize, Lord, that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are a part of your glorious body as sons and daughters in your royal family and kingdom.
Dear Lord, my prayer is that you stir us up and burden our hearts for true revival, yes, Lord, in every country throughout the world and demonstrate to the people in these countries that you are the Unchanging God, for your word declares it, that what you were yesterday, you are today, and will be tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)
Lord, I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry in Jesus' mighty name, that all curses and words spoken against them would be broken, and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their life count.
Father, I pray that if anyone should need deliverance from some oppressing spirit, including some illnesses that may be attacking their body, Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would raise a standard against these attacks and set them free.
Lord, I pray that the power of your written and spoken word be activated through the authority made available to us in Jesus' name, and we apply the following scriptures to our prayer.
(John 16:23) "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you." and (Psalms 34:15) "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
Father, I close this prayer believing that you have heard and answered us according to your divine will and purpose, for it is in Jesus' mighty name that I pray and ask these favors. A-Men
