Cost of Unforgiveness

Cost of Unforgivness

Mark 6:21–26 NKJV

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

. There is actually so much in this short story! the family line of King Herod was so messed up, filled with incest and all kinds of weird things and stuff that just makes you think, what the heck was wrong with those people!

. the reason that John was in prison in the first place was because after king Herod had married Herodias who was his brother wife but also his niece ( weird right!) John openly spoke out and criticized him so he was thrown into jail.

. the interesting thing is that king Herod actually respected John and did not want to harm him and actually enjoyed listen to John speak. but Herodias hated John and was unable to let go of the fact that he openly criticized her.

. so she had it in her heart that she wanted to kill him, she just never had the chance to do it.

. That brings us to the scripture we read, Herod’s birthday, Herodias daughter comes into to dance, so she is his step daughter and great niece, and this dance is not a nice dance the kind of dance its referring to is one that is usually performed by prostitutes (again really weird)

. its the promise and the oath that king Herod made that i want to focus on, because he and those with him were pleased with the way she danced he said to her “Ask me whatever you want and i will give it to you” and “whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom”

. This is not some trivial offer this is huge this is actually an outrageous and ridiculous offer if you really think about it! but yet as king his word is an oath and he cannot go back on it now.

. This is an opportunity for this girl to have anything she wants, she could become owner of half of the kingdom if she wanted, this is her time to take hold of everything she had been dreaming about her entire life!

. in reality she was already the daughter/ niece of the king, so she was already well off and not really in desperate need of anything, but this is her chance she can have anything she wants!

. So she goes to her mother, mum what should i do what should we get out of this??

. The mother doesn't even really need to think about it, she just gives an answer that comes straight out of the un-forgiveness that is in her heart, the thing that has been eating her up inside, the torment that she allowed to grow inside her, now comes out in this moment where anything is possible.

. But the un-forgiveness overpowers any sense of opportunity to get anything else, she is not even thinking about her daughter at this point its all about what she wants and how she wants to respond because of the un-forgiveness in her heart.

. Think about this as well, the opportunity was not even presented to the mother! but because of the poison of unforgiveness in her spirit, the mother took this great opportunity away from her daughter to take her revenge for something that happened to her!

. The daughter who was the one who had pleased the king and to whom the promise had been made. Missed out on a great opportunity because of the unforgiveness of someone who was close to her.

“Things this scripture teaches us about the cost of unforgivness”

1. Un-forgiveness clouds the judgment of not only the one who harbors it but also on the people that person speaks to, which means that the pain of unforgivness can actually be passed onto those around us!

2. Unforgivness causes us to not see the full potential of a situation or opportunity, because out mind is focused only on ‘getting even’

3. Unforgivness stops us form being able to see what God is wanting to do in our lives, because all we think about is what we wish God would do to that person who ‘hurt us’

4. Unforgivness also causes us to say NO to opportunity's God is giving to us, because we don't want to be near or work with that person who wronged us.

. The cost of unforgivness is very substantial its robs you of so much it robs you you of the past, because you no longer think about the good things that happened you think about the things that has caused your unforgivness.

. It robs you of the present, because you wont be able to see the opportunity's coming your way, or hear the things God is saying to you because again your focused on.

. and it robs you of the future, because you missed all those opportunity, and all those things God was saying, because you wanted pay back, instead of personal growth.

Matthew 6:14–15 NKJV

“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.

. If you ever needed another reason to forgive, there it is!

. Do not let the cost of unforgivness be paid in your life!

Lets pray