The Sickness within - UN-Forgiveness

The Poison of Unforgiveness

Introduction:

Have you ever been hurt so deeply by someone that you couldn't imagine forgiving them?

Perhaps you were wronged by a friend or family member, or maybe it was a stranger who caused you harm.

Whatever the case may be, unforgiveness is a poison that can destroy your life from the inside out.

A study conducted by Universities

A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that people who hold grudges and are unable to forgive have higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can lead to physical and mental health problems.

Another study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that unforgiveness is linked to higher blood pressure, lower immune function, and increased risk of heart disease.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that forgiveness leads to lower levels of anxiety, depression, and hostility.

Research by the University of California, Berkeley found that forgiveness is associated with better sleep quality, increased happiness, and improved overall health.

These studies and others like them suggest that holding onto unforgiveness can have negative consequences for both our physical and mental health, while forgiveness can have positive effects on our well-being.

In this sermon, we'll explore what the Bible says about forgiveness and why it's essential to our spiritual health.

I. The Biblical Basis for Forgiveness

A. God's Forgiveness

The Bible is full of examples of forgiveness, starting with God's forgiveness of us.

In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother who sinned against him, and Jesus replied, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

Matthew 18:21–22 NKJV

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

This means that we are to forgive others as many times as it takes, just as God forgives us repeatedly when we confess our sins to Him.

B. Our Forgiveness of Others

In Colossians 3:13 , Paul tells us to "bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

We are called to forgive others as God has forgiven us.

Jesus even made forgiveness a condition of our own forgiveness when He said in Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 6:14–15 (NIV)

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

II. The Consequences of Unforgiveness

A. Bitterness and Resentment

Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and resentment, which can eat away at our souls.

Hebrews 12:15 warns us to "see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

When we hold on to unforgiveness, it can take root in our hearts and spread to others, causing division and strife.

B. Physical and Emotional Health Problems

Studies have shown that unforgiveness can lead to physical and emotional health problems such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety.

In his book "The Bait of Satan," John Bevere writes, "Unforgiveness is the number one trap that Satan uses to ensnare Christians. It is the single most effective tool in his arsenal."

Satan wants to keep us in a state of unforgiveness because he knows it will destroy our lives.

"The more we focus on the offense and the person who has offended us, the bigger they become in our eyes, and the more difficult it is to forgive them. But when we focus on God and his love and mercy towards us, the offense and the offender shrink in comparison."

III. The Power of Forgiveness

A. Freedom and Peace

When we forgive others, we are set free from the bondage of unforgiveness.

We experience peace and joy that comes from releasing the hurt and pain to God.

Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, said, "Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness."

B. Restored Relationships

Forgiveness can also restore broken relationships.

In his book "The Art of Forgiving," Lewis B. Smedes writes, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

"The Bait of Satan" emphasize

"Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice. It is a decision to release the person who has offended us from the debt that they owe us, just as God has released us from the debt of our sins through Jesus Christ."

"When we forgive others, we are not excusing their behavior or saying that what they did was okay. We are simply choosing to let go of our hurt and anger and to trust God to bring justice and healing in his own way and in his own time."

"Forgiveness is not a one-time event; it is a process. We may need to forgive the same person over and over again as new offenses arise or as old wounds are triggered."

When we forgive others, we open the door for healing and reconciliation.

Jesus Himself said in

Matthew 5:23-24 “23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

We cannot fully worship God if we have unforgiveness in our hearts towards others.

Illustration:

There was once a man who held a grudge against his neighbor for years. The neighbor had unknowingly offended him, and the man refused to forgive him. One day, the man went to see a wise old sage and asked for his advice. The sage told him to fill a sack with rocks and carry it around with him for a week. The man did as he was told, and after a week, the sage asked him how the rocks had affected him. The man replied that they were heavy and burdensome. The sage then told him to forgive his neighbor and release the burden of unforgiveness from his heart. The man did as he was told, and he felt lighter and freer than he had in years.

Conclusion:

Unforgiveness is a poison that can destroy our lives from the inside out. It leads to bitterness, resentment, and even physical and emotional health problems.

However, forgiveness is the key to freedom, peace, and restored relationships.

As Christians, we are called to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Let us release the burden of unforgiveness from our hearts and experience the joy and peace that comes from forgiveness.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

there have been many scientific studies conducted on the consequences of unforgiveness. Here are a few examples:

Parallel between Easter

Yes, there is a powerful parallel between Easter and the concept of forgiveness.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was crucified and died on the cross for the sins of humanity.

Through his sacrifice, he made it possible for all people to be forgiven and reconciled to God.

In the same way, when we forgive others, We are choosing to let go of our hurt and anger, just as Jesus let go of his life on the cross.

When we forgive, we are also reconciling with others, just as Jesus reconciled humanity with God through his death and resurrection.

Furthermore, just as Jesus forgave those who crucified him, we too are called to forgive those who have wronged us.

Jesus' forgiveness was not based on the actions of those who crucified him, but on his own character and nature.

In the same way, our forgiveness of others should not be based on whether they deserve it or not, but on our own character and nature as followers of Christ.

So, as we celebrate Easter, let us remember the power of forgiveness that is at the heart of this holiday.

Just as Jesus' death and resurrection made it possible for us to be forgiven and reconciled to God, let us also choose to forgive others and experience the freedom, peace, and joy that comes from letting go of unforgiveness.

These quotes and others like them in "The Bait of Satan" emphasize the importance of forgiveness

"The Bait of Satan" is a powerful book on the topic of offense and forgiveness, written by John Bevere. Here are a few quotes from the book that highlight its key themes:

"Offense is the bait of Satan. It is a trap designed to ensnare and entangle us, to make us get our eyes off God and onto ourselves and the person who has offended us."

"Unforgiveness always leads to bitterness, which poisons our hearts and minds and keeps us in bondage to the person who has offended us."

"Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice. It is a decision to release the person who has offended us from the debt that they owe us, just as God has released us from the debt of our sins through Jesus Christ."

"When we forgive others, we are not excusing their behavior or saying that what they did was okay. We are simply choosing to let go of our hurt and anger and to trust God to bring justice and healing in his own way and in his own time."

"Forgiveness is not a one-time event; it is a process. We may need to forgive the same person over and over again as new offenses arise or as old wounds are triggered."

"The more we focus on the offense and the person who has offended us, the bigger they become in our eyes, and the more difficult it is to forgive them. But when we focus on God and his love and mercy towards us, the offense and the offender shrink in comparison."

These quotes and others like them in "The Bait of Satan" emphasize the importance of forgiveness