HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH RUMUAPARA BREAKTHROUGH SERIES n
HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH RUMUAPARA BREAKTHROUGH SERIES n 4 WEDNESDAYS PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGH 01/02/2022 VENERABLE JOHN C. ADUBASIM Ph. D 1
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS n OUTLINE. DEFINITIONS OF UNFORGIVENESS. n THE DESCRIPTION OF UNFORGIVENESS. n n EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS n THE DISOBEDIENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS. n DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS. n DEMONSTRATING FORGIVENESS. n RESULTS OF REAL FORGIVENESS
DEALING WITH THE SPIRIT OF UNFORGIVENESS n IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND UNFORGIVENESS, n YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHAT FORGIVENESS IS. n IT IS THE WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP YOUR RESENTMENT TOWARD SOMEONE WHO HAS WRONGED YOU,
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS n n n WE CAN IDENTIFY THREE ELEMENTS TO FORGIVENESS: TO GIVE UP RESENTMENT ABOUT THE WRONG; TO GIVE UP RESENTMENT TOWARD THE WRONGDOER;
DEALING WITH THE SPIRIT OF UNFORGIVENESS n FORGIVENESS IS TO GIVE UP PLANS FOR RETALIATION. n FORGIVENESS IS MORE THAN JUST SAYING SOME WORDS; IT MUST COME FROM THE HEART.
DEFINITIONS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n UNFORGIVENESS, IS A DELIBERATE MINDSET TO RESENT THE WRONG AND THE WRONGDOER, AND TO SEEK REVENGE. IN EPHESIANS 4: 31, PAUL ASSOCIATES UNFORGIVENESS WITH BITTERNESS, WRATH, ANGER, CLAMOR, SLANDER, AND MALICE
THE DESCRIPTION OF UNFORGIVENESS. n THE UNFORGIVING HEART CLINGS TO THE PAST, REFUSING TO EXTEND TO OTHERS WHAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS EXTENDED TO US.
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n n UNFORGIVENESS CAN CREATE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESS. BECAUSE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH RESENTMENT AND UNFORGIVENESS INTERACT WITH THE BRAIN, THE BODY’S REACTIONS CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC—AND SOMETIMES SERIOUS— PHYSICAL AILMENTS
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS CAN TAKE MANY FORMS, FROM EMOTIONAL STATES SUCH AS GRUDGE-HOLDING, n BITTERNESS n AND RESENTMENT TO SUBTLER MANIFESTATIONS OF UNFORGIVENESS SUCH AS IRRITABILITY AND STRESS. n
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n WHEN UNFORGIVENESS PERSISTS, THE PROLONGED ANGER INVOLVED HEIGHTENS A PERSON’S MEDICAL RISK. IN FACT, PROLONGED ANGER CAN MAKE PEOPLE 500% MORE LIKELY TO DIE BEFORE THE AGE OF 50.
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n HARBOURING OF GRUDGES CAN INCREASE RISK OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER, AND STROKE. DUE TO INCREASED AROUSAL AND STRESS LEVELS, MANY WHO EXPERIENCE PROLONGED RESENTMENT SEEK TO SELF MEDICATE THROUGH ALCOHOL
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n DRUGS, TOBACCO OR UNHEALTHY EATING PATTERNS— WHICH CAN LEAD TO SECONDARY HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS CAN ALSO HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN.
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n UNFORGIVENESS CAN LEAD TO NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS SUCH AS ANXIETY DISORDERS, DEPRESSION, AND SHAME. UNFORGIVENESS CAN ALSO CREATE A PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL “CRASH” INTO DEPRESSION, ONCE INCIDENTS OF HYPERAROUSAL SUBSIDE
EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS n n UNFORGIVENESS ROBS US OF OUR FRIENDSHIPS, IT STEALS OUR JOY, IT KEEPS US FOCUSED ON THE PAST, n IT SAPS OUR ENERGY TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT. n
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS n n THIS ROOT OF BITTERNESS WILL KEEP YOU FROM BEING THE PERSON GOD WANTS YOU TO BE, AND PREVENT YOU FROM CARRYING OUT HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE.
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS n n . THE REFUSAL TO FORGIVE IS AN ACT OF PRIDE AND REBELLION DELIBERATE DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. WHEN HE TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY, JESUS ADDED, “IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS, THEN YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS” (MATTHEW 6: 15).
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS n n WE ARE NEVER GIVEN THE RIGHT TO HARBOR AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT. IN MATTHEW 18: 22, JESUS TEACHES US THAT WE MUST FORGIVE “SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, ” WHICH MEANS WE MUST ALWAYS FORGIVE.
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS n n PAUL, TOO, WRITES THAT WE SHOULD BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE, IN THE SAME WAY, GOD HAS FORGIVEN US.
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF UNFORGIVENESS n ALL OF THESE PASSAGES FROM GOD’S WORD MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT UNFORGIVENESS IS NEVER AN OPTION FOR THE COMMITTED BELIEVER.
THE DESTRUCTION OF UNFORGIVENESS n n n WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT? JESUS TEACHES US THAT GOD WANTS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, BUT THAT WE MUST FIRST FORGIVE OTHERS.
THE DESTRUCTION OF UNFORGIVENESS n n n IF WE DON’T, IT WILL MAKE US BITTER AND WILL AFFECT OUR PRAYER LIFE. LIKEWISE, OUR WORSHIP WILL BE AFFECTED. JESUS TEACHES US THAT WHEN WE ARE IN CONFLICT, WE ARE TO STOP—EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR WORSHIP—AND GO TO SET MATTERS RIGHT.
THE DESTRUCTION OF UNFORGIVENESS n n n OUR WITNESSING, OUR GIVING, AND OUR OVERALL SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARE TERRIBLY WEAKENED BY A HEART THAT CARRIES BITTERNESS. EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF LIFE IS AFFECTED AS WELL BY UNFORGIVENESS MAY EXPLODE SLOWLY, BUT IT DESTROYS US JUST THE SAME
THE DESTRUCTION OF UNFORGIVENESS n n WHEN WE ARE LOADED DOWN WITH STRESS, ANXIETY, AND RESENTMENT, PHYSICAL ILLNESS MAY RESULT. FINALLY, BECAUSE OTHERS DON’T ENJOY BEING AROUND BITTER PEOPLE, OUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE POISONED.
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS. n n TO CONFRONT AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT, THE FIRST REQUIREMENT IS TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN DECISIONS AND ACTIONS.
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS. n n WE ACKNOWLEDGE UNFORGIVENESS AS A SIN AND CONFESS IT HONESTLY TO GOD THE NEXT STEP IS TO LAY OUR ANGER DOWN—STRIP IT AWAY— BECAUSE THEN WE CAN ASK GOD’S FORGIVENESS
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS. n n AFTER THAT, WE SHOULD BEGIN PRAYING FOR THE OTHER PERSON. IF THAT PERSON HAS BEEN AWARE OF OUR BITTERNESS, WE SHOULD GO TO THEM AND ASK THEIR FORGIVENESS.
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS. n WE CAN LIVE OUT GOD’S GRACE BY ASKING HIM TO SHOW US SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON THAT PERSON’S BEHALF—SERVING THEM INSTEAD OF RESENTING THEM.
DEALING WITH UNFORGIVENESS. n n FINALLY, WE MUST PREVENT THE DEVIL FROM TRAPPING US AGAIN BY REFUSING TO REHASH THE SAME OLD ISSUE OR ALLOWING THE BITTERNESS TO SEEP BACK IN. THIS DEBT MUST BE FORGIVEN AND CANCELED IN THE SAME WAY OUR SINS ARE.
DEMONSTRATING FORGIVENESS n n SOME CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THEY HAVE FORGIVEN THE PERSON THAT’S WRONGED THEM, BUT THE ROOTS OF BITTERNESS ARE STILL DEEP IN THEIR HEARTS. SO HOW CAN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TRULY FORGIVEN SOMEONE?
DEMONSTRATING FORGIVENESS n n THERE ARE TWO INDICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN OBEDIENT TO CHRIST IN THIS AREA. FIRST, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE FORGIVEN WHEN YOUR FEELINGS TOWARD THE OTHER PERSON HAVE CHANGED.
DEMONSTRATING FORGIVENESS n n SECOND, YOU KNOW YOUR FORGIVENESS IS GENUINE WHEN YOU FEEL CONCERN FOR THE OTHER PERSON— YOU CARE ABOUT HIS OR HER SPIRITUAL WELFARE AND YOU WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR HIM OR HER. JOSEPH AND STEPHEN DEMONSTRATED FORGIVENESS. SEE: GEN. 50: 17 -20, ACTS 7: 57 -60 n
RESULTS OF REAL FORGIVENESS 1. WE ARE REMINDED OF OUR OWN NEED OF FORGIVENESS MATTHEW 6: 12, 14 -15 12 ‘AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS “FOR IF YOU FORGIVE OTHERS FOR THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. 15 “BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS, THEN YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS. (NAU)
RESULTS OF REAL FORGIVENESS 2. WE WILL BE MORE UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS AND LESS PETTY. PHIL. 2: 3 -4 DO NOTHING FROM SELFISHNESS OR EMPTY CONCEIT, BUT WITH HUMILITY OF MIND REGARD ONE ANOTHER AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELVES; DO NOT MERELY LOOK OUT FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. (NAU)
RESULTS OF REAL FORGIVENESS 3. WE WILL BE FREE TO LIVE EACH DAY FULLY. LET GO OF YESTERDAY, SO GOD CAN USE YOU TODAY.
RESULTS OF REAL FORGIVENESS n n CONSIDER TWO QUESTIONS: IS THERE AN OFFENCE YOU HAVE REFUSED TO FORGIVE AND FORGET? ARE YOU A VICTIM OF SELF-PITY AND PARALYZED BY ANGUISH AND DESPAIR? GOD’S WORD HAS THE ANSWER.
RESULTS OF REAL FORGIVENESS n WE NEED NOT CLIMB UP INTO HEAVEN TO SEE WHETHER OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN: LET US LOOK INTO OUR HEARTS, AND SEE IF WE CAN FORGIVE OTHERS. IF WE CAN, WE NEED NOT DOUBT BUT GOD HAS FORGIVEN US. THOMAS WATSON
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