30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 3-6 Faith and relationships 03 Experience God’s healing
📖 Luke 17:3-6
29Jun2020 - *Experience God’s healing* - _Luke 17:3-6_ - FAITH AND RELATIONSHIPS - _Matthew 6:14-15_
Relationships with one another are crucial in our walk with God. As God’s people, we are part of each other in the body of Christ. To build relationships with one another, we must *take heed to ourselves*.
Every joint, ligament, bone and muscle must do its share and supplies to one another what each has received from Christ, for the effectual growth of the body of Christ. This is not an option but necessary for the church.
We have seen the matter of rebuking that is needed within the body of Christ and we have said that rebuking has to be in an atmosphere of forgiveness. Both rebuking and forgiving are demonstrations of the love that we validate to one another in the body of Christ.
Now, let’s look at the matter of forgiveness. *Why should we forgive one another and especially someone who troubles us?*
_Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. (4) And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."_
We enter life with a forgiving spirit and it is not that we forgive only when the person, who has offended us, asks to be forgiven. Forgiveness is already in your heart. This is a dimension of the love of God in our hearts
How is it possible to have the spirit of forgiveness always in our hearts? It is possible because we have been forgiven by God when we did not deserve to be forgiven at all. This is what makes us able to carry a forgiving spirit for we are drenched with the forgiveness of Christ to us.
Remember the parable that Jesus shared about the servant who owed a large amount of money to the king. The master forgave him his debt but this servant ill-treated his fellow servant, who owed him a much lesser amount than what he had owed the master. The master was angry when he came to know what had happened and this was the master’s response to the wicked, unforgiving servant.
_Matthew 18:32-33 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. (33) Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'_
This is our basis to release forgiveness to people who hurt us. *We have been forgiven much*.
Moreover, it is not possible to have this forgiving spirit by our own effort. This is a work of the Holy Spirit in us. He, The Holy Spirit empowers and strengthens us to have the forgiving spirit. So, we do not try to forgive people. Let us be certain that we cannot forgive people by ourselves. It is completely the work of the Holy Spirit.
How foolish of us to try and forgive people in our own strength and experience the stress of trying to do so, when all that is required is to surrender to the Holy Spirit and invite Him to take over and enable us to forgive.
Forgiving others is not just a good thing to do, it is mandatory. _(34) And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. (35) "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses._
Since this is a mandate for us to forgive those who have harmed us, it is better that we learn and enjoy the experience of forgiving others, rather than hurting ourselves by holding on to unforgiveness in our hearts against people. There are many, who are experiencing physical sickness because they have not released forgiveness.
We also, in the power of the Holy Spirit, must learn to forgive ourselves for all of our foolish and rebellious ways. Sadly, many in the church are not enjoying God’s forgiveness by not forgiving themselves. They are still so full of remorse and sadness, regarding their life. It is important to receive God’s forgiveness and forgive ourselves since He has forgiven us. We stand cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
*Thought to ponder*
```Forgiven and forgiving has to be the ethos of our life.```