God Sent a Great Wind

Jonah 1:4, 11-16

SUBJECT:  God’s Chastisement and Jonah

THEME:  Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters and great wind storms in an attempt to persuade his people to repent and obey his will.

RELEVANCE: Chastening is any instruction, correction, teaching, rebuke or circumstances God uses to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. In this account God sovereignly uses the natural element of the wind, which is related to Jonah’s circumstances to get this wayward prophet back on track. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Clearly, one goal of chastening is to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. A person who repents turns from his old ways to wholeheartedly commit himself to doing the will of God.  

INTRODUCTION:

No matter how you look at it, Jonah had rebelled against the Lord in a most flagrant manner. He had utterly refused to accept the missionary ministry to Nineveh; instead he elected a cruise in the opposite direction to Tarshish, a Pheonician colony on the southwestern coast of Spain about two thousand miles west of Israel. The last thing the wayward prophet wanted for the city of Nineveh was the mercy of Jehovah, so he rebelled rejecting God’s directive.  

Accordingly, the Lord has a way of dealing with wayward believers who insist on their way thus negating His will. God “sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4). No doubt someone will insist that the Lord only “allowed” the great wind to come…in an attempt to vindicate or defend the notion that God is a “good” God. However, the statement of this Scripture is transparently clear. “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea…!” God is directly responsible for these developments in the light of His servant’s rebellion and willfulness. Yes, God “sent out” the great wind, which means he threw it down or hurled it far out there. Beloved, this was a deliberate and calculated attempt to turn this rebel, Jonah, around and set him back on track to reach a wicked people! God does not need to be defended on this point; His character is good, His actions are good and His motives are good. Why do we feel the need to defend Him concerning such passages?

MESSAGE:

God uses Great Winds to Chasten His Rebellious People (Jonah 1:11-16).

Beloved, it may not be an actual wind storm at sea for you and me, but God in his sovereignty over all things uses whatever means necessary to turn our hearts from rebellion back to Him. Obviously, he can use great winds and great fish, but he can use anything else he deems fitting to get our attention and redirect us in his will. So, God used a great wind, but why?

A.    To show Jonah how his rebellion negatively impacted innocent people (Vs. 11-13).

1.     I have heard people say in defense of their substandard Christian living, “I am not hurting anybody but myself” or “I am minding my own business, and what I do is no one else’s concern.”

2.     But this is not at all what God’s Word reveals; Jonah’s rebellion affected this captain and his entire crew and literally put their lives in mortal danger (1:11-17). 

3.     Often our sin does negatively impact others.

                                          i.     The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”^[1] (1Cor. 5:6-8)

                                        ii.     Leaven here is a picture of moral sin. The apostle is saying that if they tolerate a little moral sin in the church, it will soon grow and expand until the whole fellowship is seriously affected. Righteous, godly discipline is necessary in order to maintain the character of the church.^[2]

                                      iii.     Our failures to confront our sinfulness will certainly impact others in negative ways.

4.     Lot’s worldliness compelled him to move to Sodom where he eventually lost his spiritual credibility (Gen. 19:24-38), his two daughters were corrupted by that society, and he lost his wife to worldliness well before she turned to look back on Sodom. The Lord Jesus warned, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

                                          i.     Although Lot’s wife was taken almost by force out of Sodom, her heart remained in the city. This was indicated by the fact that she turned back. She was out of Sodom, but Sodom was not out of her. As a result, God destroyed her by turning her into a pillar of salt.^[3]

                                        ii.     We cannot afford to be so attached to possessions, luxuries and earthly comforts when commitment to Christ demands prioritizing eternal and spiritual realities over worldly things. Beloved, our worldliness will impact others. Often what we parents practice in moderation, our children will practice in excess!

5.     Acchan’s sinful greedy heart compelled him to take the gold and silver, but his entire family died with him as punishment for his sin (Josh 7:16-26). Clearly, our sins impact others!

                                          i.     Romans 14: 7-8, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.^[4]

                                        ii.     The lordship of Christ enters into every aspect of a believer’s life. We don’t live to ourselves but to the Lord. We don’t die to ourselves but to the Lord. It is true that what we do and say affects others, but that is not the thought here. Paul is emphasizing that the Lord should be the goal and object of the lives of His people.^[5]

B.    To show Jonah how God could still witness to His power, nature, and character (vs. 14-15).

1.     God did not leave Himself without a witness because the natural world responded to His will and evidenced His awesome strength.

2.     God wanted to show these mariners their need to fear the Lord (16), therefore He taught these pagans something about the “fear of the Lord” (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 14:26, 27; 15:33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4).

C.    To correct Jonah’s rebellious attitude…. (Vs. 11-17).

1.     Jonah’s resentment and rebellion broke fellowship with the Lord. He brought these developments on himself when he departed from God’s will for his life. While we cannot live free of all troubles and challenges, some of the “winds” and storms we face are self-inflicted. That is correct, we invite the Lord’s correction through our carelessness and rebellion. In addition, the natural consequences of sin are a punishment in and of themselves.

2.     Tragically, the great winds did not produce the repentance God desired. Though the ship’s crew suggested something had to be done concerning Jonah in order for them to survive, Jonah’s response in verse 1:12 is absolutely shocking. He intimated that the only means of the sailors surviving was to cast him into the sea…since it was his fault they were in jeopardy. Though the sailors had suggested this, they were not ready to act on this notion of sacrificing the prophet. So, they worked even harder against the winds to bring the ship to safety, but they failed utterly. The great winds prevailed! Finally, accepting the apparent inevitable, they begged God to not hold them accountable for the death of Jonah, and they cast him into the sea. Instantly, the storm ceased from her ragging! What’s so tragic about that? Though Jonah had experienced all this trouble, fear and anxiety at sea, he still was not willing to go to Nineveh and preach God’s warning to them. He had not repented…he would rather have died first than to obey God!

                                          i.     What frightful bitterness and resentment is this! How stubborn can a human heart be to persist in such rebellion? What awful lying intoxication sin holds? Will we dare God kill us because we refuse to get right? Rational behavior is completely abandoned here.

                                        ii.     Beloved, this is jaw-dropping off the charts ridiculous! No wonder God had to turn up the heat and prepare a “great fish to swallow up Jonah.” There is zero repentance in this prophet’s heart at this time!

3.     But God initiated the process of restoration. In chapter 1:17, God prepared the great fish to swallow Jonah. This was an act of loving mercy on God’s part. He provided a means of Jonah’s safety, a means that brought him to repentance, confession, and to prayer. 

4.     God purpose for chastening His people is to produce righteousness in our lives: “... but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” “...nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:10-11)

5.     Many times we resent what God places in our pathway, but we need to see and consider His mercy, for He is working towards restoration. How far would Jonah have gone had it not been for the storm and the great fish?  How far would you and I have gone if it hadn’t been for the storms and the great fish (or whatever it was that God sent) into our lives?

6.     All things God bring to us, directly or indirectly, come for our good.  What kind of fruit did the chastisement of God produce in Jonah's life? It eventually produced repentance, and from a heart of repentance, Jonah sought the Lord in prayer.

CONCLUSION:

Clearly, Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters like this great wind storm at sea in an attempt to persuade us to repent and obey his will.

What does all this mean for you and me? Honestly, we need God’s chastening—his instructions, corrections, teachings, rebukes or circumstances as he seeks to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. We should appreciate His initiatives to convict us and bring about a godly sorrow. To our shame, we tend to persist in sinful attitudes and behaviors. We truly need the Spirit of God to deal with us fervently at times.

In our experiences, God will sovereignly use natural elements like the wind, or some other natural element related to our circumstances to get us back on track. He has used sickness, disease, financial straits, stock market crashes and even the death of loved ones to help us reconsider the course we have chosen. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Please do not miss this point: God’s corrective measures are acts of love towards his children. It is not because he hates us that he corrects us, but because he loves us. Clearly, chastening is designed to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. We have truly repented when we turn from our old ways to wholeheartedly commit ourselves to doing the will of God.  

A believer pursuing sin will experience God’s chastening. Although not all pain and suffering are related to chastening, certainly chastening can include pain, suffering, loss, and trouble. A believer who refuses the prompting of the Holy Spirit to repent and be transformed in character and behavior will experience a few semesters in “Whale University.” Jonah provides us with a great case study of how God in his sovereign love will use a number of means to steer us back to a lifestyle of obedience, submission, and conformity to His plan for our lives.

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^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 5:6–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1760). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1437). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 14:7–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1736). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Courage to Obey God Anyway

JOSHUA 1:7

Adversity acts in our lives as a mirror of sorts. It reveals the areas in which we need to improve, from God’s viewpoint. What a benefit there is for us to gain from divine perspective! Often, we feel we know where we are in life and what’s going on in our world. What we need is an objective view of reality...one that is not tainted by our assumptions. You see, just as a college chemistry examine can reveal our fitness for further study of the hard sciences, so life’s adversities reveal precisely where we are strong and whether we are fit for life's challenges. We need this perspective.

As with all other situations, we want to consciously look to the Lord during hard-times. When troubles come your way, also look inward to see what God is trying to show you about yourself.  Our Father is a relentless teacher and people developer. While this requires real honesty with oneself, use these self-evaluations to identify areas which need improvement and refinement. After all, none of us have arrived…right?  In this respect difficulties can be used to our advantage to further our spiritual progress in the Lord.  

I am certain you will agree we must move forward. Yes, this requires real courage and a deepening trust in the Almighty. We must keep growing in the Lord, and this demands bravery because we tend to grow more during adversities. Adversity is God’s tool of examination; accepting this requires real nerve.  Therefore, we need to understand how to use adversity for spiritual benefit. Ultimately, we want to be found obedient to the plan of God.

LESSON: 

COURAGE TO OBEY THE LORD’S WILL

Keeping God's Word Requires Courage

Joshua 1:7, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

God here encourages Joshua, the new leader of Israel.  Perhaps Joshua was feeling a bit intimidated by the new responsibilities and the future in general for himself and his people. I can recall my first ministry as a missionary-pastor...though I was full of hope and excitement, I still felt deeply my need for assurance and power from on high. There were times I was overwhelmed with the challenges, expectations, and needs. Still the job was mine and it needed to be done in a fashion that honors Christ. Likewise, the plan of the Lord for the nation and his servant Joshua requires courageous faith of the highest order. Yes, like Joshua we need to summon our finest courage to obey the will of Jehovah anyway.

To follow the Lord faithfully requires courage. It always has. Fear of failure, fear of screwing up, fear of embarrassment, fear of not being able to sustain/maintain, fear of people, fear of the unknown, fear of conflict, and a host of other fears have stopped many people from even attempting to follow the Lord's plan for them. Yes, I do understand that God expects extraordinary things of us. No one can make our adrenalin flow and our hearts pump like the Lord and His plans for us. God habitually thinks big regarding his will for our lives…to say that He is ambitious about our futures is a massive understatement. We feel acutely that things could go wrong if we are not attentive enough or capable enough. However, God-sent adversity enable us to see if we are truly keeping pace with His plans.


Obviously, God was calling Joshua to faithful obedience. He wants him to stick to His will with great loyalty. There was no room for wandering here and there indiscriminately, and there was no allowance for a relaxed approach to the task ahead. God impressed his servant with the need for obedience and commitment. Such a standard generates motivation and tension in the same heart. 

DON’T ALLOW TROUBLES TO KNOCK YOU OUT OF GOD’S WILL

Adversity can knock us off stride. Often our routines or locations change in a time of trouble. A flood may force us from our home; an illness may force a change in work habits. A loss of employment can devastate a family with a series of changes…second and third order effects. The death of a love one can change the surviving family member’s lives in significant ways…. Life can be tumultuous; feeling trapped and without any other options we acquiesce to demanding and life-draining necessities…forgetting our own dreams…. The chances of being blown off track with God can suddenly escalate exponentially. What can we do?

1.  Remain Undaunted and Persistent in Obedience!

2 Tim. 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We need courage to remain true to God's Word and to live according to God's commandments to us. This is especially important when we confront discouragement, disappointment, or despair in the aftermath of adversity. Recognize the spirit of fear that is threatening you did not come from God; it came from the enemy-Satan. Rest in the powerful resources God has equip you with to withstand the strains you must face. God gave you “power,” “love,” and a “sound mind;” employ these helps to sustain you through adversities.

When God called Ezekiel to the ministry of the prophet to Israel during their exile in Babylon, He also challenged him to be tough-minded and determined.  He made it extremely clear that Israel will not respond favorably, but Ezekiel was to remain undaunted by their lack of response to the message.  God told Ezekiel to refuse to allow himself to be discouraged and to Preach the Words of God.  Ezekiel 3:7-11, But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. [8] Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. [9] As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. [10] Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. [11] And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Beloved, this is precisely what Ezekiel did though it was accomplished through extremely hard conditions. Likewise, we need to be tough-minded and determined to see God’s will through!

     A.  Troubles Will Temp You to Give Up. Our loss or pain may lead us to think, What's the use? Why bother? Why live a godly life if this is what happens to Christians?

      B.  Keep Your Eyes on the Lord and Eternal Rewards.  Remember always that the Lord doesn't promise us worldly success and circumstantial ease in this life. He promises us His unfailing presence and His eternal rewards. Recall the words of the Psalmist in,

Psalm 27:13-14, I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. [14] Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

When troubles come many began to reduce or neglect their spiritual activities and their zeal for service is greatly dissipated. 

1.  Don’t Allow Trouble to Knock You Out of Church & Christian Fellowship.

2.  Don’t Allow Trouble to Knock You Out of Witnessing & Soul Winning.

3.  Don’t Allow Trouble to Knock you out of Bible Reading, Praying, & Devotion.

4.  Don’t Allow Trouble to Knock you out of Growth and Maturing.

5.  Don’t Allow Trouble to Knock you out of God’s Calling and Ministry for Your Future!

Insist on continuing in the fundamental areas of obedience and commitment to the Lord. The trial will only reveal the level of your constancy in Christ!

2.  In Troubled Times, Cherish and Obey God Anyway!

A.    Time and again in the law of Moses we find the word keep.

B.     The children of Israel were commanded to keep the feasts, to keep the law and commandments, to keep the Sabbath day holy, to keep the ordinances, to keep their oaths to God, to keep themselves from evil, to keep God's judgments.

C.     To keep means to hold fast and to cherish at the same time.

When adversity strikes, this should be our mind-set: above all else, we need to hold fast to the Lord and cherish our relationship with Him. Rather than blame God or turn from God, we need to turn to God and rely on His help. Do not allow troubles to push you farther away from your heavenly Father; use them to cling to God even more tenaciously.

REALIZE THAT WE PROSPER AS WE CONTINUE IN THE LORD’S WILL REGARDLESS!

Joshua 1:7, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

God prescribed blessing for His people and ensured they understood how to secure His great blessings upon themselves. There was no secret formula and Israel did not have to struggle under great rigor to figure out how to be blessed of God. God told them up front. Yes, from the very start God made it abundantly clear that obedience brought tremendous benefit, fortune, prosperity, and good to God’s people.

     1.  Consider What Moses Said About Obedience and Prosperity.

Deut. 29:9, Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

Moses said to the children of Israel as he led them into a covenant relationship with God to: “do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.” (Deut. 29:9). Keeping God’s laws in the face of adversity truly leads us toward prosperity—a better state of being...a more ideal situation. Our obligation is to follow through obediently and God is free to bless as He sees fit.

     2.  Consider What David Said About Obedience and Prosperity.

1 Chron. 22:13, Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

That was the advice of King David to his son Solomon. He said this to Solomon as part of his final blessing to him. As New Testament believers, we enjoy so many spiritual blessings simply because we are the children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. While we are not guarantee financial or material wealth as Israel was, we are privileged to enjoy some of God’s highest and most profound blessing. Beloved, we really do not miss out on anything of eternal value because of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Let us sing with the Psalmist of Israel in,

Psalm 27:13-14, I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. [14] Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Yes Beloved, life can be hard…really hard. It may seem at times that obeying God is the last thing you want to do. You may have occasions where you wonder if your obedience even matters…still follow your Lord faithfully. I urge you to refuse to allow bitter feelings, doubts, and frustrations to obscure what is truly important. Just as King David left a way of blessing for his son Solomon, our King Jesus is our generous source of blessing for all eternity. Trust and obey Him even when life makes no sense at all.

Remember troubles should be used for spiritual progress and benefit.  When adversity comes your way, it is time to look inside to see what areas may need to be strengthened to continue to grow spiritually and to stay on course with God’s specific plan for your life.  Self-examination should not be limited to areas of sinfulness or pride; it may also involve areas of weakness we need to strengthen and develop.  Fear is often a natural response to difficulties, and troubling circumstances.  But God calls us to use these challenges to grow in the areas of courage, hope, and faith.  Remember we should never waste an adversity. Learn all you can from each one. Realize that you can grow when you are willing to examine yourself closely and make the necessary changes. Beloved, have courage to obey God anyway. 

Can We Justify Our Anger?

Ephesians 4:26-27

SUBJECT: ANGER

THEME: Recognize anger in its various forms and root it and its destructive power out of your life.

INTRODUCTION:  The Scriptures admonish us clearly, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: [27] Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephes. 4:26-27). Wrath is linked closely with the work of Satan in our lives.  Accordingly, we should speak truthfully, but free of wrath. Our anger should be restrained, short-lived, and used for righteous ends.

Distinguish Between Righteous Indignation and Ungodly Anger

Some people attempt to justify their anger under the banner of righteous indignation. They often point to the behavior of Jesus when He drove the money changers from the temple. They conclude, “I can be angry because Jesus was angry.”

A.  LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE EXAMPLES OF CHRIST.

  1.  It is True That Christ Expressed Anger on Occasions.

       A.  Christ’s Expressions of Anger Consistently Rejected Sinful Behavior in Others.

             — QUOTE:  “Jesus became angry with his disciples when they forbade children to be brought to him (Mark 10:14) and with the hardhearted member of the Capernaum synagogue (Mark 3:5). Similar expressions of anger were directed at the Saducees (Mark 12:24-27), the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 23:13-36), and Peter (Matt 16:23) and on each occasion represented his rejection of unrighteousness.”   — Evangelical Dictionary of Theology

       B.  Our Lord’s Actions in the Cleansing of the Temple on Two Different Occasions Were Expressions of Anger.  Let's look at that incident more closely.

             1.  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer,’ but ye have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them (Matt. 21:12–14; see also Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46). 

             2.  Mark added in his account that Jesus would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple (Mark 11:16). Immediately upon the removal of those who were buying and selling, Jesus engaged in a healing service.

             3.  His righteous indignation was completely without sin and without any diminishing of His spiritual anointing.

   2.  It is True That Christ Used a Whip to Drive People Out of the Temple (Jn. 2:13-17).

Jesus was in the Temple with a whip whirling and eyes blazing as He cleanses the temple. Jesus is obviously angry. But is it justified?

John 2:13-17,  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, [14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: [15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; [16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. [17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

       A.  Jesus did use a whip and his actions did overturn the tables of the money changers.

       B.  Throughout the incident, Jesus' actions were calculated and measured. No riot resulted. Nobody was out of control.

   3.  It is Not True that Jesus Actions Were Sinful.

Throughout the scene, Jesus' behavior was

      A.  Without Real Violence. We have no record of any person being hurt, but the Savior was forceful and assertive.

      B.  Without Resentment. For example, Jesus did not call upon His disciples to continue the behavior. Nor did He cite any past wrong done to Him as a reason for what He was doing.

      C.  Without Bitterness. Jesus had no heldover feelings against those who were cast from the temple. He never mentioned them again.

Jesus' action was vented not against the individuals themselves but against their actions, and against the system that allowed buying and selling in God's house of prayer. In every way, Jesus acted in accordance with righteous indignation–holy rejection of sin.  (See Eph. 4:26.)

   4.  Jesus Was Indignant or Angry in a Righteous Way.

He did not sin in what He did or the way He did it.

       A.  Righteous Indignation Is a Healthy Response to Evil.

It is an agitation in the spirit against something that is wrong in God's eyes, without any partiality toward or against the perpetrators of the wrong. The behavior or circumstance is wrong, apart from the personality of any person.

       B.  Righteous Indignation Is Expressed in a Measured and Calculated Way. It does not bring physical or emotional harm to another human being. It is thought through in a rational way, and it is behavior that has been pre-approved by God through prayer.

Throughout the Scriptures, we are admonished to speak God's truth boldly and to do so in love. I believe that is what Jesus was doing in the temple those occasions. His words bore great conviction because they were a statement of truth. When we speak the truth boldly, we can expect results, too.

       C.  When You Take an Action or Speak the Truth with Righteous Indignation, you must be prepared to reap the consequences that may be associated with the act. Jesus certainly did. The chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people sought to destroy Jesus after He took this action in the temple. (See Luke 19:47–48.) God stayed their hand until Jesus' ministry among the people was complete, but very soon after, Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified. Jesus was prepared to die for the good that He had done, including this act of cleansing the temple.

If you truly act in righteous indignation against evil, then you must be prepared to put your life on the line for what you believe and do. The angry person doesn't do this. To the contrary, an angry person tends to act in hopes of destroying the enemy and then to live with a sense of smugness at the victory. The angry person isn't at all interested in suffering or dying for the very person who has done wrong in his eyes.

B.  THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE ANGRY WITHOUT SINNING.

Ephes. 4:26, Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

   1.  Anger Can Be a Holy Response to Sin.

Mark 3:5, And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 

         A.  Jesus was angry about the Pharisees' uncaring attitudes. Anger itself is not wrong. It depends on what makes us angry and what we do with our anger. Too often we express our anger in selfish and harmful ways.

         B.  By contrast, Jesus expressed his anger by correcting a problem -- healing the man's hand. Use your anger to find constructive solutions rather than tear people down.

         C.  We may react to sin in the way that Christ did-in holiness and without desire for personal vengeance (Rom 12:19-21).

   2.  Anger Does Not Have to Lead to Sin.

Mark 11:17, And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.  

        A.  Jesus became angry, but he did not sin. There is a place for righteous indignation.

        B.  Christians are right to be upset about sin and injustice and should take a stand against them.

        C.  Unfortunately, believers are often passive about these important issues and instead get angry over personal insults and petty irritations. Make sure your anger is directed toward the right issues.

   3.  Anger Is a Danger Signal Though.

Matthew 5:22, But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

        A.  Moses said, "Thou shalt not kill [murder]" (Ex 20:13), Jesus taught us to avoid anger because it is committing murder in your heart. The Pharisees read this law and, not having murdered, felt righteous. Yet they were angry enough with Jesus that they would soon plot his murder, though they would not do the dirty work themselves.

        B.  Killing Is a Terrible Sin, but Anger Is a Great Sin Too Because it Also Violates God's Command to Love. Anger in this case refers to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, and spiritual damage.

        C.  Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God. Have you ever been glad that you didn't strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self-control is good, but Christ wants us to practice thought-control as well. Jesus said we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.

Trust the Lord to Overcome Sinful Anger

Unchecked anger acts as acid on the soul—eating away at your spirit and eventually destroying all feelings of love toward others. You must neutralize anger as soon as you are aware that you are experiencing it. (Stanley)

A.  TURN TO YOUR PASTOR OR A GODLY FRIEND FOR HELP.

If you don't, you may very well

   1.  Restrain or repress it, which is dangerous to you internally, both physically and emotionally.

   2.  Restrict or suppress it, which is like burying anger alive. It will erupt eventually.

   3.  Reveal or express it, generally in a way that is hurtful to others.

The Lord has capable servants available to you who understand how to help you overcome the anger and learn to love again. It is vital for you to understand that you are not alone. Victory over anger is more than possible in Christ.

B.  TRUST GOD TO HELP YOU CHANGE.

The alternative to repeating failures is God; He provides grace, strength, power, and the very real hope of positive changes. First there are some things you need to do. 

   1.  Confess Your Anger.
We turn to God immediately upon learning we have failed Him in some way. 

      A.  Admit to God that you are angry. Ask for His forgiveness, help, power, and healing. Denying your anger will only make things worst! 

      B.  If you have manifested your anger to another person, go to that person and confess that you have acted in a way contrary to God's plan and desire for your life. Ask the person's forgiveness. Realize they have been hurt deeply by your actions. 

      C.  Make certain that your confession to the other person does not turn into another bout of confrontation. The potential for further conflict is very high because hurting people tend to hurt others--they will lash out because they feel disrespected and violated. They may have become defensive or self protective in the wake of you angry actions. They may have difficulty trusting you for quite some time. Do not permit these developments to anger you further.          
      D.  The point of your confession is not self-justification. Do not make excuses or minimize what you said or did. Once you have confessed your sin to the person, walk away. Thank God for His forgiveness!

  
  2.  Choose to Trust God Fully.

Anger is one evidence that you aren't trusting God fully.

       A.  Many people who are angry with others are really angry with God for something they think God has done to them or has failed to do for them. If you are angry with God, you cannot trust God. The cycle is deadly, and the consequences may be eternal; deep anger at God can keep a person out of heaven.

       B.  Don't let that happen! Confess your anger to God, and ask Him to forgive you for it. Make a new commitment in your heart and mind to trust God with your entire life, and in following through on that commitment, ask the Holy Spirit daily to lead you, guide you, and protect you from all evil.

       C.  Also, go to God's Word and read every verse you can find that promises God's sure and ready help to His children.

Deut. 32:35-36, To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. [36] For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Romans 12:19-21, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Proverbs 22:8-9, He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. [9] He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

No, we cannot use the Lord Jesus' example of righteous indignation as an excuse for our ungodly anger! Yes, there is a great difference between holy anger and unholy wrath. Jesus was burning hot with a high regard for the honor of His Father God. He moved intentionally and forcefully without losing control. He was entirely free of malice, resentment, and hatred.

Too often we get upset for entirely selfish or self-focused reasons. Our anger has nothing to do with righteousness, holy honor, or the injustices of  the helpless, weak, or oppressed. Many times we simply want to intimidate others or hide our insecurities. We have used our anger to manipulate and control people to get what we want. The alternative to trusting your ability to manipulate and control people is to trust God! Fully and deeply trust the Lord with your fears and anxieties. Trust Him with those issues that are really beyond your control. God says this is sinful behavior and we need to repent.

There is no excuse we can offer or reason we can present to justify ungodly wrath. No, God's solution is confession, repentance and making it right with those we have hurt. Get in the Word and allow the Spirit of God to change the way you think and behave. God will empower you to overcome wicked anger! Trust Him for victory.

Struggling To Forgive!?

Mark 11:25-26; Eph. 4:31–32

Old hurts cannot be ignored. We must forgive those who have hurt us to obey the Lord, and to prevent personal destruction and spiritual shipwreck. As stated in a related article, an unforgiving heart is an issue that nearly all of us are confronted with along our journeys. An unforgiving attitude that is permitted to take root in our hearts, fester, and grow is both painful and destructive. Some regard it as the essential source of many physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual problems plaguing our society.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians saying: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:31–32)

·                Paul was describing the manifestations of an “unforgiving heart” when he spoke of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking.

·                An unforgiving spirit goes beyond a temporary unforgiving attitude, which is the period in the life of a Christian between the time a person is hurt and the time he forgives the one who has hurt him.

·                An unforgiving spirit develops when we choose to remain in an unforgiving state toward a person who has wronged us. It is when we opt to hold on to the pain!

An unforgiving heart is summed up in this remark: “I don't think I could ever forgive that” (Stanley). We feel we have been dealt with in such an unjust, harsh, embarrassing, unfair, harmful way that we refuse to let go of the pain.

·                We all must face the fact that we all will be hurt. We have been hurt, are hurting now, or are going to be hurt by somebody in some area. The only way we can insulate ourselves against being hurt is removing ourselves completely from the possibility of love. To risk love is to risk being hurt along this journey.

·                Hurt is unavoidable, but we can deal with hurt. No pain is too deep or too widespread to be beyond the power of God’s forgiveness working in and through us. Being unforgiving is a choice we make with the will, and it is a bad choice.

Today we need to look at three areas related to Forgiveness:

·                Why Can’t I Forgive? (Mark 7:20-23)

·                Why Should I Become Forgiving? (Heb. 12:14-17)

·                Where Do I Begin? (Mark 11:25-26)

I.                  Why Can’t I Forgive? (Mark 7:20-23)

The Reason for an Unforgiving Spirit is a Carnal Heart; until we deal with our lack of spiritual power and grace we will never develop a forgiving heart. People have an unforgiving spirit for three primary reasons.

A.     BECAUSE OF CARNALITY IN THE FORM OF PRIDE.

                                                 1.      Mark 7:20-23, says, “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. [21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [22] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: [23] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

                                                 2.      We simply do not want to forgive because we believe that in some way, forgiving the other person will diminish us (Stanley). We’re afraid that people will think we’re weak, and our pride cannot tolerate such ‘additional humiliation.’

                                                 3.      In other cases, we may not want to admit that we have indeed been hurt, or to confess that we are finding it difficult to forgive. We fear people will look down on us for feeling hurt or for having an area of weakness in our spiritual lives.

                                                 4.      And in still other cases, we may enjoy the attention and consolation that we receive from others who know we have been wronged. To forgive would be to step out of the limelight of their concern (Stanley).

                                                 5.      In all of these cases, our unforgiving spirit stems from pride and saving face with associates. For many people this is a good enough reason for hanging onto an offense against us. Actually such actions only reinforce a highly detrimental stronghold in our lives and contribute to our downfall (Prov. 16:18)!

B.     BECAUSE OF CARNALITY IN THE FORM OF CONTROL.

                                                 1.      Not only carnality at the core of our spiritual expression, but also the need or desire to control life, developments, situations, and even people.

                                                 2.      The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

                                                 3.      Again in Romans 12:21, he said, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

                                                 4.      This is closely linked to pride, but differs with respect to motives and actions.

i.         To fail to forgive is to harbor a desire for revenge—to make certain that the person who has wronged us is punished according to our standards of what is right and wrong, or according to our standards of what is a fair punishment.  We want to make sure that the person who has wronged us is punished in the way we choose. The only way we can ensure that is to hold on to the person, even if it’s only holding on to the person in our hearts.

ii.       We Refuse to Let Go and Leave the Person in God’s Hands because that requires giving up control in the matter. The desire for vengeance is so strong that we cannot and will not trust even God to handle the matter adequately.

C.     BECAUSE OF CARNALITY IN THE FORM OF IGNORANCE. Paul, the apostle, tells us in Colossians 3:12-13, to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; [13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

                                                 1.      Evidently the Believers required such knowledge and instruction to improve the quality of their interpersonal relationships. If they understood these matters, they had failed to employ this biblical strategy. Either way ignorance is the problem!

                                                 2.      Some People Don’t Know How to Respond to Old Hurts and Painful Situations. They have never been taught how to forgive and so they have not practiced forgiveness. Many are plagued with gross misunderstanding about what forgiveness actually is according to the Bible. Obviously they do not respond God’s way to offenses.

                                                 3.      Others Have a Faulty Understanding of What it Means to Forgive.

i.         Though Christ has bridged the gap between us and God so that we are forgiven once and for all, we only experience God’s forgiveness in personal, practical ways as we learn to forgive others from day to day.

ii.       None of us has experienced as great a wrong against ourselves as that which we have all done to God (Matt 18:33). God had to give up his only Son to forgive us; we have nothing to give up but our selfish natures and our unwillingness to forgive those who have wronged us.”—The Life Application Commentary Series

iii.      Worldly ideas surrounding forgiveness guide Believers more often than the Word of God and the example of God. Because these often faulty ideas are perpetuated in literature and movies they are a part of our cultural fiber. As a result Christians operate with these worldly assumptions while disregarding God’s motives and model of forgiveness.

                                                 4.      Also, Nonbelievers Find it Difficult to Forgive Others Fully Because They Have Not Experienced Forgiveness from God in Their Own Lives.  This biblical requirement is prescribed in Ephesians 4:31-32 … “forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

i.         God's forgiveness to us is the model for our forgiveness of others.

ii.       And in part, it is because of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we are enabled to forgive and release another person fully.

                                                 5.      If You Are Struggling Today with being Unforgiving, Ask Yourself Why You Refuse to Free the Other Person. What compels you to hang on to that hurt and memory? Is it Pride, Control, or Ignorance?

II.               Why Should I Become Forgiving? (Heb. 12:14-17)

We Should Develop a Habit of Forgiveness Because an Unforgiving Spirit Is Extremely Costly to You and Those Around You. Hebrews 12:14-17, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: [15] Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. [17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Bitterness is the key thought from this passage that relates to our subject of forgiveness. Sometimes bitterness is rooted in an offense or hurt that has not been dealt with properly or God’s way.  The hurt individual can become a “root of bitterness” and thus poison the lives of anyone within their influence.  This means damage in our fellowship with the Lord as well as any relationships we may cherish. This potential should motivate us to cultivate a habit of forgiveness.

A.     OUR HURT CAN CAUSE US TO HURT OTHERS (Heb. 12:15) “many be defiled”

                                                 1.      Our Pride and Our Desire for Control Are at the Heart of Our Trying to Have the Upper Hand over the person who has wronged us, to seek an advantage over the one who has caused us hurt.

                                                 2.      Our Hurt Can Also Cause Us to Take out Our Bitterness and Resentment on Others, even those who may not have hurt us directly. (See also Matt. 18:23–35)

B.     WE HAVE NO REASON TO HARBOR AN UNFORGIVING ATTITUDE (Heb. 12:15)

                                                 1.      Every Believer Has God’s Available Grace. “lest any man fail of the grace of God” The word "grace," refers to all the benefits that God has bestowed on his children. Believers should “diligently” encourage each other to appropriate these blessings, because these will help us remain faithful. Too often we "miss out" because we are not aware of certain of God’s promises, teachings, or guidance.

                                                 2.      No One Has a Right to Harbor an Unforgiving Spirit (Eph. 4:31–32). The Cross strips us of that right. If Jesus Christ—pure, sinless, without guile or any shadow of deceit—died on the cross to forgive you, you have no right or privilege to deny that forgiveness to another person who, in reality before God, is in the same position you have been in: a sinner in need of forgiveness (MacDonald).

                                                 3.      Forgiveness of Others Is Essential. There may be excuses for us to harbor an unforgiving spirit, but no excuse is a justifiable reason before our heavenly Father. He commands us to forgive.

C.     THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT ARE MANY (Heb. 12:15). Note these words in Hebrews 12:15, “lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you.”  I’ll list four troubling consequences of an unforgiving spirit:

                                                 1.      You Will Suffer Damage in Your Fellowship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit will continually bring your unforgiving attitude to your mind until you deal with it. You will feel deep restlessness and uneasiness in your spirit until you do. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit cannot empower you as an unforgiving believer. Your ability to minister to others will be stunted.

                                                 2.      You Will Experience Damaged Relationships. You are likely to have relationships marked by anger and fighting—sometimes with what seem to be volcanic eruptions of rage.

                                                 3.      You Will Experience Emotional Bondage. Your memories may torment you, causing you to relive again and again the pain you have experienced. You very likely will find that you have little capacity to love others or to receive love. Intimacy may be difficult for you (Stanley).

                                                 4.      You Will Suffer Damage to Your Physical Being. Unforgiving attitudes put an overload on the nervous system, and eventually, a fuse will blow in some area of your body. The physical body was not designed by God to endure the long-standing stress caused by an unforgiving spirit (Stanley).

                                                 5.      But There Is Good News! You Do not Have to Settle for an Unforgiving Spirit (Eph. 4:31–32).

III.           Where Do I Begin? (Mark 11:25-26)

      You Must Deal with Your Unforgiving Spirit; this is inescapable.  To be responsible with the information you have received you need to develop the discipline of forgiveness.  

A.     NOTICE THE RECOURSE WE MUST TAKE.  The Lord Jesus said in Mark 11:25-26, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. [26] But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

                                                 1.      The First Step is Turn to God for Help.  To conquer an unforgiving spirit, recognize your need for God’s help to remove this mountain and the power of believing prayer (Mark 11:20-26). 

i.         I also personally believe that God ministers grace to His people as we abide in prayer before him in utter humility (Prov. 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

ii.       Confess to Him that you have harbored an unforgiving spirit. Ask Him to forgive you for your unforgiving attitude.

iii.      Ask Him to release you of the pain as you take these steps. And believe, by faith, that He will do so. Remember His grace is always sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).

                                                 2.      The Second Step is Identify the Offender.  In dealing with an unforgiving spirit, identify the person or persons who have hurt you. They may be someone you encounter frequently or someone who lives miles away. It may be someone close to you or someone who has died. It is vital that you give a face to your violator and offender.

                                                 3.      Thirdly, Follow The Steps of Forgiveness.

i.         Forgive Them. Because you are in the right, you have power over the other persons. Please don’t abuse that power (Matt. 18:28-33).

a.       Forgiveness and “forbearing one another” are important to relationships because it is inevitable that we will hurt each other (Col. 3:13). We fail. We blow it. This is reality. We are all wounded human beings who wound each other. We cannot have lasting relationships unless we know this and know that we will have to forgive ourselves and the other person (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).

b.       Forgiveness, however, does not mean that we are to pretend that everything is fine when it is not. Forgiveness is not a bandage. It is a process.

c.       Forgiveness involves (1) facing the hurt we have experienced, (2) talking about the hurt, (3) feeling whatever we feel, (4) trying to solve whatever problems are involved, (5) asking for what we need, (6) accepting the other person’s limits and (7) letting go of the hurt and of our demands.

ii.       To Forgive is to Forget.  This does not mean that the memory of an offense against us will immediately disappear, but it does mean we will not bring up the offense again in the future.  It also means we refuse to allow the offenses to control or dominate the relationship.  We reduce it to a nonfactor once it has been forgiven. Though we may still remember what transpired, it exerts no meaningful influence on the relationship.

iii.      Explain That The Violation Must Never Happen Again.  Forgiving others does not mean allowing them to continue to hurt you.

iv.     Remember Their Better Moments. We all have our highs and lows. It takes maturity to treat people according to their best qualities.  It takes love to believe the best for them and about them (Phil. 4:8; 1Cor 13:7, 8).

                                                 4.      Fourthly, Weigh Carefully the Consequences and Choose to Exercise Godly Wisdom.

i.         James 3:17-18 says, But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

ii.       Choose to be easy to approach and work with and consciously pursuit peaceful relations whenever possible. Be willing to show mercy to others as we all will need mercy from others.

iii.      God will not forgive you as long as you harbor a bitter unforgiving spirit (Mark 11:26).

iv.     Remember Jesus promised we will have the things we utter in prayer (Mark 11:23-25).

v.       Then draw a line between all your pain and the hurt that has occurred in the past. And declare, “By the grace of God, I release them today. I refuse to hold these things in my heart and memory any longer. I choose to be free of the pain they have caused me.” (Stanley)

                                                 5.      Trust the Lord to Help You.

i.         Choose to take a new direction in your life, one that is free of pain and bondage associated with old hurts and past suffering.

ii.       If you continue to think of things the hurtful party has said or done, do the exercise again. If other people come to mind, release them also. If you have an unforgiving spirit, you may very well need to forgive several people. Deal with each person you believe has hurt you.

B.     NOTE THE RESULTS WE CAN EXPECT. Hebrews 12:14 counsels us to, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”.  Peaceful relations and a holy walk before the Lord are priceless outcomes! Life is happier, free, and filled with spiritual riches! The results of taking this act of your will are these:

                                                 1.      Your Memory Begins to Be Healed. You will think less and less often of the offending person, and each time with less hurt.

                                                 2.      You’ll Begin to See the Person You Have Forgiven in a New Light. You are likely to see the person you have forgiven as a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness, and you likely will have more compassion for him or her.

                                                 3.      You’ll Begin to Experience Freedom in Your Emotions and in Your Ability to Relate to Other People. You are no longer in bondage to that person and you are likely to feel free to relate to other people more readily. If you have been afraid to risk loving another person, you likely will have the courage and strength to take that risk.

                                                 4.      You May Also Experience Reconciliation with the Person You Have Forgiven. That is not always the case, but sometimes it is possible for there to be a coming together again in friendship or love (Stanley).

Thus through the previous article “Forgiving is Liberating” and this one we have considered five areas related to forgiveness:

I. Forgiveness is Setting Someone Free (Luke 7:39-43)
II. An Unforgiving Spirit Is Hatred (Luke 6:27-31, 35-37)
III. The Reason for an Unforgiving Spirit is Carnality (Mark 7:20-23)
IV. An Unforgiving Spirit Is Extremely Costly (Heb. 12:14-17)
V. You Must Deal with Your Unforgiving Spirit (Mark 11:25-26)

Those who receive forgiveness from God are expected to extend forgiveness to others. And those who extend forgiveness to others are in a position to receive God’s forgiveness. Jesus said so in Mark 11:25–26. The challenges of life sometimes reveal to us that we have not forgiven others, and therefore, we must stand in our own sin and are subject to its consequences, which are never pleasant.

The Lord calls us to willingly forgive others. When we forgive those who may have wronged us, we are in an advantageous position to receive forgiveness from the Father.

To fail to forgive is to harbor resentment, which can grow into bitterness, which in turn always brings us into adverse relationships with others. To fail to forgive is also to harbor a desire for revenge—to make certain that the person who has wronged us is punished according to our standards of what is right and wrong, or according to our standards of what is a fair punishment. The Scriptures teach that we are to leave vengeance to the Lord and not take it upon ourselves (Rom. 12:19). Anytime we attempt to act as the judge, jury, and law for another person, we are in danger of being judged ourselves.

Again, if you choose to remain in an unforgiving state, the effects are like a slow poison that works in the soul and spirit (Stanley). An unforgiving spirit is always corruptive, destructive, and degenerative. Choose to be free of the bondage associated with an unforgiving heart. Choose to forgive!