The enemy says that the greatest power on earth is retaliation.

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The Lord says that the greatest power on earth is forgiveness.

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"...as we also have forgiven our debtors" is the only portion of the Lord's prayer pattern that Jesus reemphasizes immediately following the prayer.  "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins". Matthew 6:14-15

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WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT

• Not minimizing the offense

• Not excusing the offense

• Not denying the hurt

• Not subjecting yourself to continued abuse

• Not merely an emotional response

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WHAT FORGIVENESS IS 

• Giving up my right to get even

• Saying "I will not hurt you for hurting me"

• A decision of the will

• An act that makes us like Christ

• Voluntary putting down my weapons (surrender) of anger, vengeance, and retaliation

• Transferring legal authority of the situation from Satan to God

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Jesus forgave " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" Luke 23:24

Stephen the martyr forgave " Lord, do not hold this sin against them.  And when he said this, he fell asleep" Acts 7:60

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WHY WE FORGIVE 

• God forgave us (Psalm 13:3)

• Jesus tells us to forgive (Matthew 6:12)

• It will assist us in getting answered prayer (Mark 11:24-25)

• It makes us like Jesus (Philippians 3:10, Luke 23:24)

• It validates God's forgiveness for us (Matthew 6:14-15)

• It releases  others from their bondage. "If you firgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withold forgiveness from any, it is withheld" (John 20:23)

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HOW TO FORGIVE 

• Admint your pain to the Lord Jesus Christ

• Decide to obey Christ and forgive the offense.  Forgiveness is not based upon whether the person deserves forgiveness; it is based on what Christ has done to forgive us.

• Give up your right to Goid to be angry or to get even.

• Ask God to forgive others

• Go one step further...ask God to bless them

• Receive the healing, grace, and deliverance of Jesus for the wounds in your own heart. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32)

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FORGIVENESS PRAYER

Name of person, it hurt me when you (describe how they hurt you) and it made me feel (describe the emotions you felt or feel now).

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Because I am by nature a forgiving person in Christ, I now choose to forgive you. There is nothing you need to do, for me to forgive you. I do it willingly. I give up the right to be judge, jury and prosecuting attorney, and give it to God, whose job it is.

I choose to trust Jesus alone to meet my needs for love, affirmation, acceptance, worth, and security.

 

Lord, I receive your healing, grace and mercy in this matter.

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As believers, Matthew 16:19 applies to us – “whatever you bind on earth, will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.