Luke 23:34a (NKJV): 'Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
At the time of this verse, Jesus was already up at the cross, having been scourged, mocked, and humiliated, even though He did no wrong, and even after Pontius Pilate found no wrong in Him (Luke 23:4).
But because He forgave, this led to God's power and resurrection being released, so much so that even death could not hold Him! You see, He released forgiveness just before He died, and He then reaped the 'benefit' of resurrection (on the 3rd day). Such is the power of forgiveness!
In Acts 7:54-60, as Stephen was being stoned to death, he cried out, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And you know what? Jesus actually stood up and took notice!
Note: Also, not long after the stoning of Stephen, Saul (the person behind Stephen's death) was so dramatically changed by God's power (i.e. through a great light experience) that he eventually became a man greatly used by the Lord! (see Acts 9:1-9)
People of God, when you make the choice to forgive, God will also stand up (for you) and take notice!
There's a co-relation between 'forgiveness' and 'God's power being released'. In other words, forgiveness releases God's power to flow through your life! This power is His very own power, His resurrection power. And as you forgive, you'll see His resurrection power flowing (in & through you) in any area of your life that has been 'powerless' or 'dead'. This may be in your family relationships, health, career, business, ministry, or in any other areas.
Imagine the pipe of your wash-basin (or sink) getting clogged up. More often than not, this doesn't just happen overnight! Little by little, here and there, the tiny bits of grains or fragments would accumulate, and eventually become a huge 'blockage' that causes 'flooding' and 'clogging'! When this happens, the running water cannot flow as freely as it should anymore. Now, the same it is in life! Those tiny bits of grains or fragments are like those little hurts and unforgiveness (here and there) that clog up your 'passage'!
Have you been 'running out' of God's power recently? Or it seems many prayers of yours also went unanswered nowadays. People of God, it's time to allow God to 'purge' your 'passage' again!
You see, God doesn't just want you to know you are forgiven of all your trespasses (Colossians 2:13), He also wants you to receive His grace to forgive others (see Matthew 18:21-35).
When Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21) Then, Jesus answered, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22)
The word 'forgive' here is 'aphiemi' (pronounced 'af-ee-ay-mee') in Greek, which means 'to lay aside (a situation or issue), to let go (of a situation or person)', while the expression 'seventy times seven' simply means 'to forgive perfectly, or to forgive all the time'.
"Wow, pastor, that's no easy feat at all. It's easier said than done!"
You see, just as no one is able to keep the law (The Ten Commandments) perfectly (not even Moses himself), likewise, no one in his or her own self-effort is able to 'forgive perfectly' and in every situation, all the time. All have fallen short of God's 'standard' (Romans 3:23). Only Jesus can keep the law perfectly (i.e. fulfill the law perfectly). And that's exactly why we need His grace (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). It's when you cannot, that's when He can! And one definition of 'grace' is 'God's ability to do for you what you cannot do for yourself'. True forgiveness is therefore supernatural. It's by receiving His grace to forgive.
'To forgive' a person is 'to let go (of him or her) from the prison of your mind or emotion'. As you let go, your burden and stress will also be lifted away. Any medical doctor will agree that burden or stress in the soul can in turn lead to many forms of physical sicknesses (e.g. high-blood pressure, hypertension, etc).
Is there anyone you've been keeping in the 'prison of your mind or emotion'? Or has there been any hurt, offense, strife, or unforgiveness you have not let go of? How about any 'unfair treatment' you've been receiving?
'Forgiveness' is about 'letting go' the person (or issue) into God's care and blessing, even to the point of wishing that person well. 'Unforgiveness', on the other hand, is about 'keeping the person (or issue) in the prison of your mind or emotion, which in turn causes unnecessary burden or stress to your own life'.
"But, pastor, it isn't fair at all!" I used to say this too, and that's when I heard, "Was it fair for Jesus to die on the cross?" And yet, He forgave. Yes, even when He was in such great pain.
So, it really doesn't matter who's more right or more wrong here. The irony is that many times, that other person may not even know you have been 'keeping' him or her in your emotional 'prison'. See, you got so stressed up and burdened by 'keeping' (or 'servicing') him or her in your emotional 'prison', while he or she may currently be having a jolly good time somewhere on earth! I don't know about you, but I think it's not worth it at all!
So, make the choice to 'let go' now, and God will take over and help you. Allow Him. His grace is more than enough for you, and He's here with you. He'll stand up and take notice the moment you make this choice! That's how powerful forgiveness is! As you 'release', His 'river' ('running water') is going to flow through you again! This 'river' is His very own resurrection power! Not only that, you'll also see many areas that have been 'dead' be revived again by this 'river'. And the good news is you'll also start to see your prayers being answered easily from now on! You'll begin to walk in favor after favor, not failure after failure!
Notice there's also a co-relation between 'forgiveness' and 'prayers answered'. Read Mark 11:23-26 as a whole, and you'll know what I mean. Notice the word 'forgive' in the midst of Jesus talking about 'whenever you stand praying' (see Mark 11:25). See? Not only 'unforgiveness' blocks God's power, it also blocks your prayers from being answered! The Bible says so.
People of God, as you receive His forgiveness, He also wants you to receive His supernatural ability to forgive others! The choice is yours. Make the choice now, and you'll begin to see His grace flowing like never before. Amen!
