The Prayer of Forgiveness

Good morning and welcome to Living Faith Church. I am so excited to be able to worship Jesus Christ with you on this amazing Sunday. If we have never met before, my name is Aaron. My wife Stella and I are honored to be able to serve on the Pastoral team at LFC. Today we are going to wrap up this teaching series, Prayers That God Will Answer.

James 4:3 NASB95

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Proverbs 21:13 NASB95

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.

1 Peter 3:7 NASB95

You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

I don’t know if you have ever tried to pray to God while offended at your spouse, or parent. I know for certain that I have, and it does not work. One time, after Stella and I got into a disagreement that we could not resolve, I stormed upstairs into my room, because that is what mature men do. Certain had nothing to ask forgiveness for, I began to pray that God would fill me with his Holy Spirit and peace. I knew that I was right, and Stella was wrong… And so God would certainly answer my prayer, while allowing her to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and she would come running up to seek forgiveness. However, while praying, I just could not shake the feeling of guilt. I finally gave in and went and made things right with her, knowing well that we were both a little in the wrong.

And today, we are going to address an area of our prayer life that many are to proud to address. A prayer that if not prayed will destroy the rest of your prayer life. This is more than just a prayer that God desires to answer, this is what I would classify “A Dangerous Prayer”. I say it is a dangerous prayer because it is a keystone prayer; meaning, it has the power to unlock the heavens open the windows for God to answer so many other prayers in your life. This is the Prayer of Forgiveness.

I’m basing this prayer of the prayer of Jesus, let’s listen to that prayer.

Luke 23:33–34 NASB95

33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

The God of Forgiveness

It amazes me to think about the fact that while on the cross, while looking down upon His own abusers and murderers, Jesus was thinking “Lord forgive them”. While everyone else would be thinking of revenge, pity, or justification, Jesus thought of forgiveness. But then, this fits perfectly with Christ nature. Our world is full of all kinds of gods. The Greeks have the god of the sea, the god of the sun, the god of the skies, and so many more. Guess, what? We have the God of forgiveness. Listen to Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 9:17 NASB95

17 “They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not forsake them.

Daniel 9:9 NASB95

9 “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;

Many have wondered if God could forgive them because of the many sins they have committed. I am here to tell you, no matter how far in to sin you have found yourself, you are in the presence of God who, not only can forgive sins, but He is the God of forgiveness. Meaning, forgiveness is His subordinate, forgiveness moves on His command.

The very first message John the Baptist ever preached, preparing the way for Jesus is found in Luke 3:3

Luke 3:3 NASB95

3And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;

It seems as if today, there is almost a war for the union of these two works of Christ. We either hear a message of “repentance” or we hear a message of “Forgiveness”. Yet, John the Baptist taught the two together. To repent was to be forgiven of sins. Why? Because God is the God of forgiveness. So when we turn to Christ, forgiveness is a natural flow of grace. But hear me out my friends. If we are professing to be Christian, we should resemble the Christ way. Meaning, we, like Jesus should preach forgiveness, but we should also model forgiveness. Just 43 days after Jesus uttered this famous prayer on the cross, we find Peter preaching:

Acts 2:38 NASB95

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And yet, countless men and women who call themselves “of Christ” are withholding forgiveness from others, while seeking forgiveness from God. And believe it or not, Jesus knew this would happen, and had something to say about it.

Matthew 6:15 NASB95

15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Mark 11:26 NASB95

26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

The Prayer of Forgiveness Releases Grace

Three thoughts as we move on today. The first thought is this; The Prayer of Forgiveness Releases Grace. Grace is defined as the “undeserved, unmerited favor of God”. Jesus made it very clear to us that if we do not forgive our offenders, that He will not forgive us. That is why The Lords Prayer includes the language:

Matthew 6:12 NASB95

12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

That word debtors is also translated sinners, speaking of forgiving those who have sinned against us. That is why verse 14 reads

Matthew 6:14 NASB95

14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Leviticus 19:18 NASB95

18‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

So what Jesus is telling us is simple, the key to experiencing the release of Gods grace over your life, the secret to feeling the weight of sin lifted off of you, path to greater joy is through the door of forgiveness. If you will forgive those in your life who have hurt and offended you, you will live with greater joy, greater peace, greater clarity in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Prayer of Forgiveness Releases Peace

The second thought is found in Hebrews 12.

Hebrews 12:15 NASB95

15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

This word trouble is not used often in Scripture; only twice to be exact, and the exact definition is “To trouble, to annoy, to harass, or to overburden with work”. The second place we find this word is in Luke 6:18

Luke 6:18 NASB95

18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.

Troubled with a harassing spirit, an annoying spirit, a spirit that causes everything in life to hard. Paul says to his audience, there is a grace from God, or there is a root of bitterness. You can been seated in divine favor, or you can beet seated in trouble, harassment, and overburdened with work.

Now, look at how Paul chooses his words. He doesn’t just call it bitterness, he calls it a “root” of bitterness. What do roots do? The primary function of the roots is to take in water and nutrients. Roots stretch themselves down and out to find water and nutrients. Paul chooses his words carefully to you something. When you withhold forgiveness, and hold on to resentment, and annoyance, your roots stretch out to seek nutrients from what; more bitterness, more resentment, more unforgiveness. This is why bitter people become more bitter, because the root has set in and seeks bitter nutrients, bitter water. It literally needs bitterness to survive!

The reason everything becomes so hard for the bitter is because the bitter person lives without the grace of God. This is why Paul says: “See that no one comes short / lack / fall behind / without, the grace of God”. For the bitter, for the resentful, for those who choose to not forgive, there is no ease, there is no rest, there is no divine favor of God.

But the prayer of forgiveness releases the grace, gives God the burden, and opens human spirit to the healing work of God.

The Prayer of Forgiveness Releases Love

The final and third thought of today is this. What if you could make people love you more? How many in this room would say, I want people to love me more? Of course we do. How many of you, you don’t have to raise your hand for this, but, how many of you have that one person, that one special person, that one person that, just the sound of their name makes you shiver a bit; how many of you have someone like that, that you would be amazed if they loved you more?

Some of you may even be thinking, “I just dare you to love me more”. Well, Jesus challenged one of his disciples in Luke 7, let’s read this together.

Luke 7:40–43 NASB95

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

For so many people, the reason they don’t forgive is because the actions of others have made them feel unloved; and this hurts; and their actions are even reasonable. But Jesus says to you, the cure to a broken heart is forgiveness. The reason Jesus prayed this dangerous prayer on the cross was to provoke love.

I want to charge you today to forgive. If there is someone in your life that you have become hurt by, bitter at, or resentful toward; pray the simple prayer of Jesus; “Lord, forgive them…”. The way of Jesus is to love first, to pre choose love. Let us model the ways of Christ and choose today to love tomorrow, forgive today, anyone who may offend you tomorrow.

If you are here, and have hurt built up in your heart, if you need to release forgiveness, and are willing to pray this prayer that God will answer, I want today to pray with you.

“Lord, I come before You with my heart open. I know I have sinned against you by allowing unforgiveness to take root in my heart. I let go of the account and forgive “SAY THEIR NAME”. Please fill my heart with your Spirit, Love and Grace. I love you, Jesus and I open myself up to love again and be loved. In your name I pray – Amen

Salvation Response

Maybe you are here today and have not yet let Jesus take the leadership of your life. I want to remind you that over 2000 years ago, Jesus forgave you for the sins you have committed today. He pre chose you! The book of Romans tells us this Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He didn’t wait for you to ask for forgiveness, or confess your sins, or get it all right. He loved you and forgave you in advance. And that is why, today, you need to respond to Him. Because, in His great love, He is preparing you a place - a place called heaven, where He longs to spend eternity with you. And, His grace will divinely empower the rest of your days on earth. If you are here, and are ready to commit the rest of your days to live for Jesus, simply raise your hand so I know who I am praying for.

“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”