UNFORGIVENESS

SUBTHEME: HINDRANCES TO UNLIMITED ADVANCEMENT AND ALL-ROUND FRUITFULNESS

TOPIC: UNFORGIVENESS

TEXTS: Matt. 6:14-15; Deut. 5:32, 33; Jer. 17:7, 8

By prophetic mandate, this year has been declared that of Unlimited Advancement and All-Round Fruitfulness. This is achievable: being in line with God's plan for us, irrespective of many hindrances.

God made us in His image and likeness. We are thus gods (Ps. 82:6). We are superior over all other creations in that Adam gave them all their names.

We were created not to experience stagnation nor unfruitfulness (Jn. 5:17, Josh. 1:7 & 1 Kgs 2:3). This the scriptures remind us can only be by obedience and observance of God's Words.

To halt us from achieving God's mandate, Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), opposes man in various ways with sins, doubts, rejection of God, etc.

Unforgiveness is a major hindrance employed by Satan.

Forgiveness of sins is for God and by extension man (who was created in His image), as demons and even angels cannot forgive sins (Exo. 23:20 & 21). For forgiving sins, the Jews almost stoned Jesus (Mk. 2:5-7). We can forgive because of God's nature in us. If we don't, we deny His nature in us! In Hosea 4:6, by rejecting this knowledge of God in us, we qualify to be rejected by God.

According to Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus told Peter that we should forgive someone "seventy times seven" times. However, this is not meant to be taken literally but rather as a call to forgive without limit and throughout life.

Let's reject every unforgiving spirit in our lives that denies our claim to God (Matt. 6:14–15). By forgiving others, we qualify to be forgiven.

PRAYER:

God, fill my heart with your Spirit so that I might be a more Christ-like and forgive others without limits!