[Faith-talk] FW: [URCTCPrayerGroup2] URCTC Prayer Group 2 Teaching: Spiritual Warfare: How to forgive others Part 1 by Great Bible Study

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "BeeJay" <beejayokla at cox.net>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: [URCTCPrayerGroup2] URCTC Prayer Group 2 Teaching: Spiritual
Warfare: How to forgive others Part 1 by Great Bible Study
Date: 
Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:43:32 -0600

Spiritual Warfare: How to forgive others

Wounds can fester into infections if left untreated. That's exactly how
unforgiveness works. Whatever was done to us pierced our skin, but if we
keep prying it open and looking at the wound, it won't be able to heal...
instead, because it is continually exposed to the dirty air, it becomes
infected. That infection in the spiritual realm is welcoming to unclean
spirits, which fester the wound even more. If something isn't done, the
person ends up facing demonic harassment and torture, and becomes a very
bitter and unhappy person. 
I have an idea of what you may be saying right now, "This person has NO
clue what they've done to me! They don't deserve anything at all! Much less
MY forgiveness!!" They certainly don't deserve your forgiveness, much less
God's... but none of us deserve what Jesus did for us either. Those who
killed Jesus didn't deserve anything at all, but look at what He said just
before He died, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!"
Look at the deep and rich mercy and love that Jesus has towards us... none
of us deserve it! But He loves us for who we are, not because of what we've
done. He wanted a relationship with us so much that He gave His life for
it! When we grasp what Jesus has done for us, it makes it a lot easier to
pass that grace along to others. We aren't letting them off God's hook, we
are merely releasing our souls from bondage that un-forgiveness brings us
under. You aren't forgiving them for their benefit, but for your own good!
Your soul, not theirs, is what is being held in bondage because of the
feelings you've allowed yourself to harbor inside. Why should you allow
what they've done to continue to bring you under bondage? I wouldn't! I
would let that poison out of my heart... give it to the Lord and seek Him
to heal the wounds they have caused.

Forgiving others is sometimes very hard, but it is essential if you want
to break out of the bondage that it's brought you under. Forgiving others
opens you up for the Lord to begin healing your soul (inner healing). Since
unforgiveness blocks us from receiving God's forgiveness of our sins
(Matthew 6:15), it puts up a wall between us and the source of our healing.

The steep price of unforgiveness

I have seen so many people in spiritual bondage due to unforgiveness. It
is a common source of bondage and demonic harassment, as Jesus warns us
about in Matthew 18:23-35.

Matthew 18:34-35, "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."

That is nothing less than a strong literal warning that a person can fall
into the hands of demonic spirits for torment and harassment if they are
unforgiving and bitter inside. I have seen it again and again, it is not an
uncommon scene to find a person harassed by demons because of bitterness in
their heart. Bitterness is also known in the Bible as spiritual poison:

Acts 8:23, "For I perceive that thou art in the gall (poison) of
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

Unforgiveness not only gives demons the right or ability to torment us,
but it also prevents God from forgiving our own sins! Now this is serious,
this means that when we cry out for God's help, but have unforgiveness in
our hearts, He looks down and our sins are before Him. It puts up a wall in
our relationship with our heavenly Father. Jesus was very clear that if we
are to be forgiven, we cannot be unforgiving towards others:

Matthew 6:15, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses."

Beyond this, bitterness is also a very common means for a born again
believer to become spiritually defiled, that is, polluted or unclean
spiritually:

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

Notice the word 'many' in the above verse... this is a very common means
for people to become defiled and open themselves up for spiritual
harassment from the enemy.

Give to God the things that belong to Him

Unforgiveness is actually taking something that belongs to God, and
taking matters into our own hands. God's Word tells us clearly that we
should allow God to bring His wrath upon that person, and let Him have the
room to repay those who wrong us:

Romans 12:19, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give
place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord."

Those who have wronged us will reap what they sow. If you chose to
forgive somebody, they may be off your hook, but that doesn't mean they are
off God's. God's Word tells us clearly that what we sow, we shall reap:

Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap."

What unforgiveness actually is

Unforgiveness is actually a form of hate against another person. If a
person hates somebody, it is a sign that the person is lacking love in
their heart. Why? They are not firmly rooted and grounded in the love of
Christ, and Christ's love is not flowing through them. As simple as that
sounds, that's how it works.

What somebody may have done against us is one thing, but if you take
Satan's bait of unforgiveness to heart, it will do much more harm than they
did. Do you want to continue to allow their mess to trouble you even more?
Have they not done enough damage? Allowing yourself to hang onto hard
feelings and become bitter is only causing your wound to become even more
infected spiritually. Honestly tell yourself, what good is it doing you to
hold onto the hurt and bitterness that the enemy has tried to plant within
you? It is doing nothing but harm, and is holding you in bondage
spiritually. The only reason you are holding onto those feelings is because
it feels good inside. Don't let this fool you, bitterness is known in the
Bible as spiritual poison:

Acts 8:23, "For I perceive that thou art in the gall (poison) of
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

The reason Satan wants you to hold onto that bitterness is because it is
poison to your soul. Jesus said that the devil came to steal, kill and
destroy. Satan wants to do just that to you. Know wonder Satan makes
unforgiveness 'feel good'... he wants your soul to be poisoned!

Don't let him do this to you... stop him dead in his tracks! Release
yourself from those hurt feelings, and let them go... stop holding onto
those feelings, and let that poison out of your soul!



Join us every Thursday night at 7PM Central time for the URCTC Prayer
Group 2 telephone conference call, non-denominational bible study. Everyone
is welcome. The number is: 1 (213) 406-8520. The access code is: 364-4831