“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matt 6:14)
One of the reasons why so many people are in chains is because of unforgiveness. When the word tells us that we are not forgiven until we forgive, it means that there is a judgment against us by God. It means that the enemy has a legal right toward us. God’s word says to make no place for the enemy which means that there is a way that we can make place for him and one of those ways is through harboring unforgiveness. Our sins have been forgiven by God because of the shed Blood of Jesus but when we choose not to forgive we hurt ourselves and others as well. Our unforgiveness starts a chain reaction of terror in our lives while we are on this earth. We may be eternally saved but our time on this earth will be filled with much sorrow if we hold on to unforgiveness. Demons are attracted to the open door of unforgiveness. The devil knows when we are in disobedience to God’s word and that is when he comes in for the kill.
It was in the mid 90’s when I heard God speak to my heart and say,”Michael, if you do not forgive those who hurt and molested you, you will not live.” I was so angry. I felt God was being unfair, after all I was the one greatly hurt. I did not understand the great length God went to for the forgiveness of my own sins. I did not take into consideration the depth of pain and torture Jesus went through so that I could have the ability to see God forever. I chose not to forgive and as time went on, I found myself slowly dying in a terrible way. God had forewarned me that I would die but my anger overode any fear of God. Finally in my desparation years later, I cried out to God and He delivered me after I truly forgave those who deeply hurt me. The Lord started to show me things about my molester. He showed me his pain and his struggle and as I saw through the eyes of God rather than through the lens of my bitterness, I felt God’s love pour through me and I was able to forgive. So many times we depend on ourselves for the power to forgive others when in reality it is the grace of God that empowers us to walk in love and forgiveness. Grace is God’s power dwelling inside of us by His Holy Spirit.
God takes forgiveness seriously. He knows what it cost Him for our freedom, so we need to take giving other people freedom by forgiving them, seriously as well. After all, we are to be Jesus in this earth. Take time today to forgive all that you have had unforgiveness toward and watch the mighty hand of God deliver you from the bondage of the enemy. I believe diseases will be healed, families will be restored and dreams will be brought to fruition once the body of Christ forgives!
The Teaching Ministry of Michael Cannatello
TMMC
