"breaking The Chains Of Unforgiveness."

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.”

PREFACE SUMMARY

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 their slave? Therefore, the stronger the resentment, the more time you spend thinking about it, including being caught up in the anger that fuels it, and the more it brings the unforgiving person into mental, emotional, and spiritual bondage.

This message is essential to our advancement in the kingdom of God. How we respond, rather than react, to situations will demonstrate to others that we have the maturity and character needed to fulfill our purpose in that position.

Dealing with and overcoming unforgiveness can be challenging, but it is necessary for our emotional and spiritual well-being. 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.

We must acknowledge and accept the complex emotions that unforgiveness brings, whether they stem from anger over hurt or betrayal, or from a lingering sense of resentment. Thus, recognizing that 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, not based on our feelings or emotions. Hence, unforgiveness often stems from deep-seated pride, self-righteousness, and a failure to comprehend the depth of God’s grace.

Throughout God’s Holy Word, we are consistently reminded about the danger of harboring bitterness and unforgiveness. It is emphasized that such negative emotions can not only cause spiritual harm but also hinder our prayers.

In summary, forgiveness is a continual life-long 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 forgiven us. Remember, forgiveness is not just a choice; it's a requirement for our emotional and spiritual well-being.

"WHY DID THEY HURT ME?"

There are people today dealing with church hurts from would-be pastors who may have damaged them for life. Yes, their pastor had led them to Christ and encouraged them to remain faithful to their church, even bringing them into the pastor's inner circle of other pastors. Still, 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 hurt them even more when the upcoming ministers felt comfortable enough around them to place their faith in the man rather than in God and his word.

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. Hence, these wounds could be deep-rooted emotions that may require professional help for deliverance.

David said he could have endured it if it were an enemy or someone who hated him, but he stated that this is my equal, a man of God who has shared his life with him.

(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."

The fact is, someone somewhere, right now, may be going through something like this, haunted by thoughts such as, "The man I looked up to, the man who 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 not to look my way as he ministers behind the blessed pulpit in our church?"