The Power of Forgiveness

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

It’s interesting that these verses follow the Lord’s prayer. To me this shows great importance to the power of forgiveness. It is one of the ways that bring “Heaven on Earth” or Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Let’s go to Matthew 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21–35 NSFLB

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. “And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. “But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. “The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. “So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

To some this may sound like a threat! But it is simply the consequences of not allowing forgiveness to do its work.

Forgiveness starts its work in us.

We have to know that we have sinned allow God’s mercy to restore us through forgiveness - This servant, I believe, didn’t think he did anything wrong, or at least that it wasn’t his fault.

In return, he couldn’t forgive his servant as well. Which created a bondage for the both of them.

Tell the story of my parents asking for forgiveness from me at Bible School

If I hadn’t allow myself to to accept God’s grace through forgiveness, I would not know what to do with my parents request.

Matthew 18:18–19 NSFLB

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

We have the power to bind and to loose

My parents released me from bondage I had with them and return I was able to call my my biological mother and release her.

Jesus came to restore all things. And He did that by dying on the cross which forgave us of all our sin’s. Plus, now that we are in Christ Jesus, we have been given that same ministry

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 NSFLB

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Forgiveness is the fuel to this ministry of reconciliation!

But we first need to know that we have sinned and need His forgiveness. This will empower us to forgive those around us, no matter what they have done to us.

Tell the story I heard at Tres Dias

Forgiveness is the heavenly power that can restore all things.

Romans 14:17 NSFLB

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Related Media

Related Sermons