Matthew 18:23-35, "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Introduction:

A. Are you where you are (emotionally & spiritually) today because of a Direct Action --- or because of a Reaction?

1. Every Aspect of your life is affected by an unforgiving spirit.

2. Some of you may have an unforgiving spirit and Not Even Know It.

B. Hurt Feelings --- Resentment --- Bitterness --- Anger --- Hostility ...

C. The Reason:

1. For your lack of success in life (in your business) ...

2. Your marriage isn't working ...

3. You and your children don't get alone ...

4. Your social relations with others is not good ...

5. You and your parents aren't getting alone ...

6. Church services are not as enjoyable as you would like for them to be ...

7. There is something Deep Down Inside of you that keeps things from being right ...

It May Be: --- You Have An Unforgiving Spirit!

D. An unforgiving spirit will result in Resentment --- Bitterness --- Anger --- Hostility ...

1. Every hurt we have ever experienced --- If Not Treated Properly --- will result in an unforgiving spirit.

2. Even to the extent of --- Holding Grudges Against The Dead --- Parents --- Mates .....

E. Every aspect of your life is affected by an unforgiving spirit:

1. You cannot Walk In The Spirit --- with an Unforgiving Spirit.

--- Gal. 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love,..."

2. Unforgiveness and Love cannot abide in the same heart.

F. Because We Can Control Our Attitudes, we have the Ability to create An Environment:

1. Where Forgiveness Flows Freely

2. Or, one where Revenge, Hatred, and Distrust reign.

Why Is Forgiveness --- Man's Greatest Need?

I. Forgiveness Is Necessary For Our Emotional, Physical And Spiritual Well-Being.

A. Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Do you have a Broken or Bitter spirit? --- A spirit of Un-forgiveness?

B. An Unforgiving Spirit is the primary cause of --- Many of our Health Problems.

1. High blood pressure --- Ulcerated stomachs --- Accelerated stress --- Coronary problems --- Destroy your immune system.

2. You Can Forget About Healing Until You Learn To Forgive.

C. An Unforgiving Spirit is the primary cause of --- Unanswered Prayers ...

Mark 11:26, "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Luke 6:37, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Psalms 66:18, "If I regard iniquity (Unforgiveness) in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:"

D. If we Deny or Fail To Confess an Unforgiving Spirit --- It Only Gets Worse ...

E. Harbored Hatred Grows, Spread, and Contaminates all other emotions.

1. Trust turns into Suspicion ...

2. Compassion turns into caustic Criticism ...

3. Faith in others turns into cold Cynicism ...

4. Bitterness can freeze Reason and Emotion ...

5. Optimism darkens to Pessimism ...

6. Our Attitudes turn Cynical, Uncaring, and Critical.

 

II. Forgiveness Frees You From Debt And Bondage To The One You Resent.

A. When you are Filled With Resentment --- you are In Bondage to the one you resent.

1. "I owe that person ..."

2. "I'll get even if its the last thing I do ..."

3. "I just don't want to be hurt again."

B. Doing an injury puts you Below your enemy .....

Revenging an injury (to get even) puts you on the Same Level with him .....

Forgiving --- sets you Above him .....

1. Revenge harms the avenger --- while Confirming The Enemy In His Wrongdoing.

2. Isn't it strange that someone even thousands of miles away can still:

a. Control your life ...

b. Keep you from sleeping at night ...

c. Make your food taste bad ...

d. Make your heart beat fast ...

e. Give you a hateful attitude to others ...

C. You may be at a Ball Game, Party, etc. --- happy and joyful --- all of a sudden your eye catches a glimce of a certain person --- joy and happiness turns to anger, resentment.

 

III. Forgiveness Tears Down Walls That Have Shut Out Friends.

A. An unforgiving spirit will affect Every Relationship you have.

1. An Unforgiving Spirit Cannot Be Contained --- it will spill out --- onto the People You Love The Most.

2. It is impossible to be bitter against one person --- without building Walls That Shut Other People Out.

3. When you build a wall to protect yourself from one person --- you shut out many.

B. An Inability To Love --- or to Accept Love --- characteristic of a person who Can't Forgive.

1. This is what keeps many Married Couples from Giving Themselves To Each Other completely.

2. There is an Inability To Love!

C. People with an unforgiving (bitter) spirit --- who genuinely Wants To Love one another --- find that they Can't ...

1. Resentment ...

2. Rejection ...

3. Insecurity ...

4. Can not trust ... Suspicious ...

5. Becomes judgmental, critical and negative.

Church --- Friends --- Family ...

D. There is an Emptiness (lack of fulfillment) in your life --- but yet you are constantly busy ...

E. Nothing ever Completely Satisfies you --- Because of walls that have been built --- because of walls that you have built.

 

IV. Forgiveness Frees You To Be Satisfied With God.

A. When you fail to forgive --- you are expressing a Lack of Satisfaction With God.

Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

B. But, if you choose not to forgive someone, you are saying:

1. Your happiness, your joy in life is Not Just Determined By God --- it is God and that person that you won't forgive.

2. Until They come around and do what they are suppose to do --- you can't be happy --- no matter how good God is to you.

C. You are not able to say with Paul: --- "For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain." (Phil. 1:21).

 

V. Forgiveness Cleanses You of That Defiling Root of Bitterness That Makes You Unfit For The Master's Use.

A. Unforgiveness will place you in a prison of Uselessness.

Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness (unforgiving spirit) springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;"

B. If you Refuse To Forgive --- you can:

1. Go to a different church ...

Offended because of your children being corrected ...

2. Move to a different state ...

3. Get a different marriage ...

4. Obtain a different job ...

5. But, the fruit of your life will still be bitter --- because you are rooted in bitterness.

6. You will find that People Are The Same --- Anywhere You Go! --- (( Limburger Cheese ... ))

C. II Timothy 2:21, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work".

D. God will then restore Usefulness to your life.