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Gods will regarding forgiveness (Pastor Joe Nipah)!
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Sunday 16th November!

Text: Proverbs 4:23!

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (ESV)!
above everything else, guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life (ISV)!
keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life (NKJV)!

Bitterness can clog our heart but it is important to guard our hearts as out of the abundance of the
heart, the mouth speaks (mat 12:34). One way to do this is to constantly ask God for the grace to
help us keep our hearts clean and pure. As humans, getting hurt is inevitable. the closer the
relationship, the more likely we are to get hurt. The bible says that for it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work for his good pleasure(Phil 2:13)!

Why is it difficult to forgive, even when we know that the benefits are clear? Feeling hurt is a
legitimate human emotion in many situations. Even Jesus was hurt when he saw the temple of
God being defiled. However, even when we are hurt, it is important to not allow our hurt lead to
unforgiveness and sin. The bible teaches that we should not sin when get angry.!
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger (Eph 4:19)!

God wants to save us from the destruction that comes with a bitter heart. !
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to
it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes
trouble, and by it many become defiled (Heb 12: 14-15)!

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Bitterness can cause us to loose the grace of God.!

- Bitterness is like a root that can take hold in our life. Roots are usually not seen, but they !
grow downwards. Once that has happened, it becomes difficult to deal with it. Take for example
certain weeds - once they have taken root, even if you kill the plant, it will sprout again if the root
is left alone. Many believers today are struggling with issues which have their root in deep
seated bitterness!
- Bitterness will invariable trouble us.!
- Bitterness will affect others around us. It spills over to others around us and eventually leads to
division and backbiting, the kind of environment that the devil thrives in.!

Choosing to remain in bitterness is a choice to remain a looser. We loose out of all God has for us.
Light and darkness cannot remain together. So, when we fill our hearts with bitterness, we leave no
room for the Spirit of God to dwell in us.!

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A heart that is filled with bitterness will struggle to remain in the presence of God. !
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something
against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and
then come and offer your gift (Mat 5: 23-24)!

Bitterness can deprive us of Gods forgiveness. When Jesus taught us to pray, he taught us as
follows and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses (Mat 6: 12-15)!

There is no limit to the number of times we ought to forgive our neighbours. When the disciples
tried to pin Jesus down to state a number he told them I do not say to you seven times, but
seventy- seven times.(Mat 18:21) He didnt mean we should physically count 7 times 70 offences

before we stop forgiving, but that was his was of saying we need to continue forgiving, regardless
of how many times we are offended.!

Jesus went on to illustrate his point by telling the parable of the unforgiving servant. (Mat
18:21-35). At the end of the parable, Jesus stated that So also my heavenly Father will do to every
one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart' (Mat 18:35) There is no offence
against a believer that is unpardonable seen as we owe so much more to our loving Father in
heaven who keeps forgiving us, over and over again.!

Bitterness gives the devil a foothold in our lives. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go
down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil (Eph 4:26-27) !

If we do not forgive, we will end up being imprisoned by our past. Rick Warren says: We are
products of our past but we dont have to be prisoners of it. Gods purpose is not limited by our
past. God specialises in giving people a fresh start.!

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive (Col 3:12-13)!