Disarming the Devil (Cultivating a Spirit of forgiveness)
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. [NKJV]
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. [NLT]
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. [NIV]
ľ There are many ways a person can backslide and lose out with God. It may be over the love of money, popularity with the world, adultery, smoking, drinking, etc. But the most subtle and deadly way that Satan has to trip up a saint of God is to inject bitterness into his heart. Bitterness is a violent inward displeasure against others. It is usually caused by a feeling that someone has taken advantage of you. One of the easiest things in the world to do is to become bitter. You can become bitter against your wife, your husband, your pastor, your country, the Church, your employers, your parents, etc.
ľ Bitterness is like carbon monoxide, a highly poisonous, odorless and colorless gas. Bitterness is seldom, or not easily, detected by others or the backslider until the life of the victim has been snuffed out. There are many outward sins easy to be seen in the life of a backslider, but the bitter heart is often not detected until the soul of the victim has been eternally poisoned.
ľ Bitterness is like a root. You see the branches and the fruit. The root goes undetected under the soil. No one suspects a problem with the root system until it is too late. Likewise, bitterness is hidden under the soil of the heart. Like an ugly root, it grows undetected to the natural eye until its fruit is developed.
ľ Bitterness is like a cancer. It is sure to spread. One bad apple in a barrel will surely spoil the others. Likewise, listen to the tongue of the bitter soul. It will almost certainly continue to wag until others, both in and out of the church, are contaminated.
ľ Bitterness is universal. Talk to almost any backslider, or someone on the verge of losing out with God, and you are sure to find bitterness lurking in the shadows of his heart.
Beware of bitterness
ƒæ Anger is an emotional that all people, even great saints of God, contend with in their lives. When we become born again let us be reminded that we still have our emotions. But the warning is this do not let the anger persists into bitterness. Anger is Satan’s strategy to create bitterness, stress, illness and broken relationships among people.
ƒæ God’s Word is very clear to state that the Christian response to anger must be forgiveness. That God feels so strongly about forgiveness by the fact it is a conditional principle of the Bible. If there is bitterness in your life you have given Satan power over your life. All Satan wants to do is to get you bitter and once you are bitter you have allowed him to have a hold of you in your life.
Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. [NKJV]
2 Cor. 2:10-11 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. [NKJV]
ƒæ When you don’t forgive, you are ignoring its impact on your destiny. Hate is a prolonged form of suicide of your dreams. How much more grievous are the consequences of unforgiveness than the cause of it!
ľ It destroys your desire for God.
ľ If you want to be miserable, hate somebody. Unforgiveness does a great deal more damage to the vessel in which it is stored than the object on which it is poured.
ľ "Life is an adventure in forgiveness" Every person should have a special cemetery lot in which to bury the faults and loved ones. To forgive is to set the prisoners free and discover the prisoner was you."
ľ If we nurture feelings of bitterness we are little better than inmates of an internal concentration camp. We lock ourselves in a lonely isolation chamber walled in by our own refusal to forgive.
ľ You see we have a choice in our everyday life. If someone offend us you can either choose to forgive or not to and hold the grudge against that person.
ľ And once you hold that grudge against that person Satan got you!
ƒæ To be honest with you the devil is a whimp and has no authority over your life unless you give Satan the power or right, The only way Satan has power in your life is if your life is not under subjection to God’s Word and there is sin or bitterness in your life.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. [NKJV]
ƒæ Every time you have some stressful situations in your relationship and even though you are the innocent party Satan, the father of all lies will want you to react in anger than forgive. Satan will try to deceptive you that the person that is causing you so much stress is your enemy. Sometimes we are even tempted to say things like if only he would change things won’t be like that. So we focused our prayer that God change that person.
ľ Satan has no power in your life until you begin to give it to him by accepting his lies, and through sin. We give Satan the advantage he cannot take it himself. Give no ground to Satan!
ľ Does this mean that I cannot get angry I have to suppress my anger. No we are humans but what we are saying is that we do not let the anger control your life.
Ephes. 4:26-27 ¡§Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place to the devil. [NKJV]
Ephes. 4:26-27 And "don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. [NLT]
Let¡¦s study the life of Joseph
1.) It was the will of God for Joseph to be Prime minister. He had a dream.
2.) His brothers hated him and when Joseph came to see them while they were working fifty miles away with the sheep herd they did not say, ¡§here comes our wonderful brother.¡¨ They did say, ¡§here comes our brother that is so blessed of the Lord and he has great dreams and visions for the future.¡¨ Instead they said, ¡§here comes the dreamer¡¨ , and they planned to his death. They willed to kill and destroyed him. One of his brothers talked them out of it so they sold him.
3.) But it was the will of God for Joseph to be a Prime Minister. Joseph did not get bitter.
4.) Joseph became a servant. He had to scrub the floors and clean the toilets and carry garbage out of the house. But it was the will of God for Joseph to become the Prime Minister. What did Joseph do? Did he get bitter? No! He was the best servant Potipher ever had. The Lord blessed him. He was such a good servant that Potipher made him manager of all his business.
5.) Instead of things turning around for him it got worse! Potipher¡¦s wife seduces Joseph but Joseph did not fall into temptation. Because of her wounded spirit she lied against Joseph. Did Joseph become bitter? No. Was he hurt? Of course!
6.) He was thrown in the prison and because he always did his best in any given circumstance they made him a assistant warden. The warden like him so much that he put him in charge of the prisoners. At this point it was still the will of God for Joseph to be Prime Minister.
7.) He was able to prophecy to a couple of prisoners that were there and his prophecies became true. One of them was killed and hanged and the other was restored. As the prisoner was restored Joseph told him not to forget him. But guess what happened the prisoner forgot about Joseph. Joseph lingered on in prison for three more years after that. Hurt! Yes, he was hurt. He was wounded but not bitter. Because he never allowed himself to become bitter God eventually brought him to be the prime minister of the whole known world.
ľ Whatever the will of God for us in our life, and whenever men frustrate that will, do not become bitter. Sometimes even good men or righteousness men become wrong; but do not become bitter towards them. If you dare to become bitter towards your leader or anyone else you are not going to make it.
We need to be the "RIGHTEOUS FACTOR¡¨
ľ We as the children of God can turn the situation around we have that authority.
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." [NKJV]
ľ God looks at the righteous not the unrighteous.
ľ In Genesis 18:16-33 (Sodom & Gomorrah) But God did not eventually destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah only because of the activity of sinners, but He could not find ten righteous people in it. Ultimately it was not the sin factor that destroyed the city, but the lack of a "righteous factor."
Genesis 18:32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." [NKJV]
ƒæ In Genesis 38:31-42 Laban’s cattle enterprise was blessed only when Jacob came to work for him. Even though Laban changed his contract with Jacob ten times, God still blessed the business. It doesn’t matter if your boss is saved or unsaved, (if he is honest or dishonest in his ways, God can still bless his establishment because of you. In this example Jacob was motivating FACTOR, AND AS LONG AS HE OBEYED God, Laban experienced prosperity.
ƒæ In Jonah 1:10-17 On the other side of the picture, the unsaved are sometimes cursed because of the sins of the righteous. Jonah was in the boat, running from God. A storm blew upon the vessel and threatened the lives of everyone aboard. Jonah quickly explained that he was the problem and that everyone should was suffering because of his sin. Jonah had the men throw him overboard and the storm ceased because Jonah entered into the belly of God’s will, which happened to be a whale going in the right direction.
ƒæ At times it is so difficult especially when you’re are the innocent party. But bitterness is always based upon someone else’s sin - whether real or imagined. We Christians need to realise that we are in warfare and the enemy is not human beings but demons. Wrong thoughts pattern are his ways for getting us. And if we are not careful we entertained the thoughts and than retaliate and hold resentment in our hearts. And once you have bitterness you are nothing to him. His target is you (Christians) because he knows what potential you have. Be careful now.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. [NKJV]
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [NIV]
ƒæ Do not be deceived. We need to recognise the voices around us Satan influence us through our minds. The only way we expose his lies through a truth encounter. This means we need to honestly evaluate our thoughts & actions. The word of God is like a Night Vision Goggles. In the National Service we wear the NVG in the night so that we can clearly see our enemy. That’s God’s word for us Christians.
ľ As Christians you and I can are the righteous factor. You and I can make the differences in our nation.
2 Chron. 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. [NKJV]
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. [KJV]
God is still looking for that man today. Are you going to that man?
ľ When men slam a door shut, if you will not become bitter, and you will cultivate a spirit of forgiveness, God will open another door for you. And if they slam the door shut God will open another one. As long as you do not get bitter.
ľ There is a difference between being hurt and being bitter. When you become bitter you start hating that person. When you hate that person you are bitter and you are finished unless you can get that bitterness out of your heart, eventually God will open those doors for you.
ľ In order to make an impact in our world today, we need to cultivate a spirit of forgiveness.
Make a decision everyday to forgive!
ƒæ It doesn’t mean who is right and wrong choose to forgive. Didn’t Jesus Himself says not to resist an evil person. Didn’t Jesus says to do good to those that hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you?
Luke 6:32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. [NKJV]
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. [NKJV]
ƒæ But this doesn’t mean that we deny our emotions. Be angry at sin but not the victim.
1 Thes. 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. [NIV]
1 Thes. 5:15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. [NKJV]
ľ Remember one thing through human flesh this things are impossible. But through the spirit of god all things are possible.
ƒæ You have a choice to forgive or not to. Don’t justify. Be responsible for your action! No one can force you to do anything. Don’t justify any wrong action. Most people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying or defending themselves. It seems to me these days that people who admit they are wrong get a lot further than people who prove they’re right". What poison is to food, alibis are to productive life.
ľ Living a life of unforgiveness is like leaving the parking brake on when you drive the car. It causes you to slow down and lose momentum. One of the most deep seated grudge in your life eats away at your peace of mind like a deadly cancer, destroying a vital organ of life. In fact, there are few things as pathetic and terrible to behold as the person who has harbored a grudge and hatred for many years. Never reject forgiveness or the opportunity to forgive. The weak can never forgive because forgiveness is a characteristic of the strong.
ƒæ When you live life of unforgiveness, revenge naturally follows. But revenge is the deceiver. It looks sweet , but it’s most often bitter. It always cost more to avenge a wrong than to bear it. You never can win trying to even a score.
ľ Be the first to forgive. Forgiveness can be your deepest need and highest achievement. Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation. What a dreadful waste of effort. "He who has not forgiven the enemy has never yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life," When you live in your life with a spirit of forgiveness you are actually building a force field around you that the devil cannot to anything to you because there is no bitterness.
ľ As disciples of Jesus Christ we are to follow His example.
Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. [NKJV]
Hope of us.
ƒæ You may say, "I can’t forgive this person because he hurt me so badly. Yes, the pain is real. Nobody has really forgiven someone without admitting the hurt and hatred involved.
1. Acknowledge the need to forgive but confess your weakness in this area.
2 Cor. 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [NKJV]
1 Peter 5:5 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." [NKJV]
2. Take the people that have offended you in the past and their wrong doing that you suffered. Acknowledge the hurt and you feel about their offences. Remember it is not a sin to admit the reality and pain of their offences. If you bury your feelings you will bypass the possibility of forgiveness. Remember Jesus understand the hurt you went through. And He identifies with that hurt as He also went through the sufferings as a man. Allow God to bring healing to your soul.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. [NKJV]
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. [NKJV]
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [NKJV]
3. Now with the pain you are feeling that is how Jesus Christ felt. He was hurt because of us. We nailed Him to the cross. This is just a glimpse of what Jesus Christ when through for you and I. Start praising Jesus for the precious blood on Calvary and realise that the cross of Christ makes forgiveness possible.
Isaiah 53:3-12 3He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9And they made His grave with the wicked--But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. 10Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
4. Decide that you will bear the burden of each person’s sin. This means that you will not strike back at the person in future by using the information about sin against him.
5. Decide to forgive. Forgiveness is an act of will, a conscious choice to let the person off the hook and free yourself from the past.
6. Take the list to God and pray the following: :I forgive (name) for (list of offenses). Let God bring to the surface every remembered pain. Stay with that person until every pain, rejection, injustice, abuse, betrayal or neglect is specifically identified.
7. Do not expect that your decision to forgive will result in major changes in the other persons. Instead, pray for them, asking God to forgive them so that hey may find the freedom of forgiveness.
8. Expect positive results of forgiveness in you.
9. Thank God for the lessons you have learned.
10. Be sure part of the blame confess your failure to God and to others. Do not justify be responsible for your own actions.
