Forgiveness – The Open Door to the Power of God

Faith Will Not Work in an Unforgiving Heart

Mark 11:20-26 – “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” (vv.25-26).

Jesus connected the teaching of faith with that of forgiveness.

Jesus established a victory attitude (ask and receive).

Jesus also established the attitude of when you stand praying, forgive.

Unforgiveness will destroy the victory attitude.

Avoid Strife at All Costs

Matthew 18:15-17 – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

Why does God want us to do this? In order to stop strife.

Don’t let strife stop your faith. Forgive and forget it.

The Power of Disharmony

Matthew 18:18-20 – “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Harmony and agreement open the door to the power of God; Jesus will carry out the agreement.

Discord and strife open the door to confusion and evil work. Satan is in the midst when  this happens.

James 3:16 – “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

2 Timothy 2:23-26 a. In the midst of strife, the man of God should teach the Word.
The opposers will acknowledge the Word and repent.
The Christian is captured by Satan at his will through strife.

Unforgiveness Will Stop the Things of God

Strife broke up a team that God put together. a. Acts 15:37-39

Strife will hinder your prayers. a. 1 Peter 3:7

Strife will stop you from receiving revelation knowledge. a. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Strife will stop the effectiveness of the gifts of the Spirit. a. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Pride causes contention. a. Proverbs 13:10

Become a Vessel of Honor

2 Timothy 2:15-21 – “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (v.21).

Stop corrupt communication, and forgive even as God forgave.

Ephesians 4:22-32 – “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old  man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (v.22). “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true  holiness” (v.24).

How to get rid of strife and unforgiveness:
Confess the sin of unforgiveness and strife. 

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

Receive your forgiveness. 

Forget it, let it go, and refuse to bring it up again. 

Praise God for your freedom