How To Escape The Stress of A Wounded Spirit
Matt 18:21-35 AMP
21 Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?
22 Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! [Gen 4:24.]
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants.
24 When he began the accounting, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents [probably about $10,000,000],
25 And because he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.
26 So the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, Have patience with me and I will pay you everything.
27 And his master’s heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [cancelling] the debt.
28 But that same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii [about twenty dollars]; and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe!
29 So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you all !
30 But he was unwilling, and he went out and had him put in prison till he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow attendants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and told everything that had taken place to their master.
32 Then his master called him and said to him, You contemptible and wicked attendant! I forgave and cancelled all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me to.
33 And should you not have had pity and mercy on your fellow attendant, as I had pity and mercy on you?
34 And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed.
35 So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses.
Unforgiveness, Bitterness And Broken Relationships
Matthew 6:9-15 NKJV
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “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.
Who Are The Torturers That Jesus Warns Of?
Matthew 4: 24 NKJV
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments…
Matthew 8:6 NKJV
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
1/ Not all sicknesses are tormentors
2/ palsy–analogy of cause/effect
KJV say palsy…
paralutikos, par-al-oo-tee-kos’; from a derivative of Greek 3886 (paraluo); as if dissolved, i.e. “paralytic” :- that had (sick of) the palsy.
3/ autoimmune disease = body destroys itself, and unforgiving…
4/ church = devour one another
analisko, an-al-is’-ko; from Greek 303 (ana) and a form of the alternate of Greek 138 (haireomai); properly to use up, i.e. destroy :- consume.
Galatians 5:14-15 AMP
14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev 19:18.]
15 But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another.
1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians 11:29,30 NKJV
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
– not in full harmony with other members of the Body of Christ
1/ Forgiveness is the opposite of Bitterness
2/ True forgiveness is not an emotion, but an act of your will
3/ Forgive 7 X 7 = focuses on God’s forgiveness of all our sin
4/ forgive 7 times = focuses on the sin of our offender
5/ Forgiveness is showing others the same mercy God showed us, for a debt we could not pay
6/ when you truly see the magnitude of your own sin, it is easy to forgive others
7/ Unforgiveness is a trap you will not escape without God’s power
8/ God puts our debt so far away it cannot be found again
9/ The devil uses offenses to make us bitter; God, to make us better
10/ Forgiveness comes easily when you agree God will bring justice
So examine yourself
1/ Is there someone you just cannot forgive?
2/ Is their offense greater than your offenses against God?
3/ Think, how have you offended God?
4/ Due to the lack of forgiveness, are you suffering tormentors?
5/ Forgiveness is choosing to release your offender for what he has done to you.
6/ Have you forgiven him, but still feel bitter? Design a verbal blessing to him then!
1 Peter. 3:8-9
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Nine Commitments To Escape Unnecessary Stress and Torment
1/ I will choose to forgive, keeping me safe from tormentors
2/ I will trust God to give me justice
3/ I will verbally bless my offenders, not curse them
4/ I will focus on my sins to God, not my offenders sins against me
5/ I will show mercy just like God showed mercy to me
6/ I admit my offenses put Christ on the cross
7/ I will not destroy the Body of Christ through unforgiveness
8/ I will praise God for using offenders to fulfill His greater purpose
9/ I will rejoice in suffering because my greater reward is coming
About Post Author
