Unforgiveness gives Satan an advantage, a way to control you… the bible says we are aware of his devices and we are commanded to avoid giving him a foothold in one area, that could very well affect every area of our lives until it is resolved.

Many people look at other Christians and they think they are so sweet and love the lord, so what happened… they got sick and did not receive their healing… why? Chances are that’s not the only thing that they didn’t receive of all of the promises that God had for them.

Forgiveness is a choice; based on obedience of God’s command, that is clearly set forth in His Word... that we "walk in love".

2 Cor 2:10-11 States “whom you forgive I also forgive, for if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ lest Satan take advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

One of the things we learn is that unforgiveness is one of Satan’s devices, an instrument, a weapon, a plot, a scheme, a tool, that he uses. People that Satan couldn’t get to to rob a bank or shoot someone, he gets to them through strife, bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness… things that many people wouldn’t describe as awful sins. Some people look at some folks and say oh, they are a wonderful Christian, they love God, they read their Bible, they pray, and yet that person could be soaking with strife and unforgiveness. Why? Because we don’t always identify it as one of the things that is a “major” sin. Yet, the scripture says that it is a device of Satan. Paul said “forgive, lest Satan should get an advantage of us”;. That tells us that unforgiveness in our heart can give Satan an advantage over us, a way of controlling us, robbing us of our joy, our deliverance, our peace, our love, harmony in the home, the victory of overcoming, from possessing all of the 7000 promises of God, our prosperity, our salvation… If Satan gets an advantage, a foot hold, all of those things are stopped. All of them. We can’t possess them when there is bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness in our lives, which makes this a very important issue: don’t fall for it. Wake up and understand that we are in a culture right now in the world that is fostering, festering, stirring up, strife, bitterness and unforgiveness. Talk shows are really into it, talking about how upset they are, angry, and how they are going to take revenge and get people back that hurt us. Ultimately, bitterness and unforgiveness takes people in that direction, and it begins with strife.

There are a multitude of blessings waiting for us to receive, to possess by faith… that’s how we possess all of the promises of God. We are saved by faith. We are healed by faith. We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith. We walk by faith. We live by faith… but faith works by love. Unforgiveness is the opposite of love. Bitterness and resentment are all the kin folks of unforgiveness. When you get into that family, it is a family that stops the love of God from operating and, therefore, it shuts your faith down.

Think about being out in your yard, watering your garden and your flowers, and you get a kink in the hose… the water stops flowing. If you don’t water your flowers and plants, eventually they will die. Here you are, you have ten million gallons of water sitting in a water tower somewhere, but one little twist, a kink in the hose stops it from flowing. Listen: We have all of God’s power, God’s blessing, and God’s grace, but a kink, a twist in your heart, of bitterness or unforgiveness can stop it from flowing in your life. It is important that we get all of those areas free, and the river of life flowing at all times. See, out of the heart flows the issues of life. Guard your heart, keep it with all diligence, Solomon said. We know that Jesus dealt with the inner man, the “hidden man of the heart“, as Peter referred to it. Paul spoke of the inner man, guarding, keeping on the inside. This is an hour that we hear what the Holy Spirit is saying: that we need to determine to walk in love. How can we forgive, where do we get the strength? We get it through God’s forgiveness of us. That He forgave through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Because He forgave us, when Jesus died and bore our sins and took our penalty, was crucified and barried and then raised from the dead, so that God could offer forgiveness and salvation to every person… that is our pattern, our example, and our help, through faith and obedience, to forgive others.

Ephesians is a good example; it’s not only in Ephesians, but throughout the Bible. This principle is given to us: that in the same way that God forgave us, we are to “choose” to forgive others. Ephesians 4:31-32 states “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor (quarreling) and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice (malice gets into that area of hatred because of bitterness and resentment).” Notice these are all cousins, they are all related, and they are in the unforgiveness family. Bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, evil speaking (folks talk ugly about people they are bitter against, they say vile things, slanderous reports, remarks that degrade) and malice (that angry, hatred) let it be put away (that means get rid of it; get over it; deal with it; overcome it) it is a command from the Lord. (v. 32) the Lord commands us to be kind toward one another, tenderhearted, forgiving (so don’t just get rid of it, but put positive things in its place) in place of being unkind, heard-hearted, and unforgiving. (verse 32, continued) …even as God in Christ has forgiven you.

God was willing to forgive you before you even thought about repenting. Jesus didn’t wait to die on the cross until after you decided to repent. He died on the cross long before you thought about repenting… He chose to forgive you. If we choose forgive, as God forgave us, then when are we actually going to forgive? Secondly, God’s forgiveness is based on God’s love, not based on that person’s response, actions, repentance or restoration… it’s our being the bigger person and forgiving, that will allow restoration with people who don’t yet know how. You say “how can I forgive them, they don’t even want my forgiveness, they might not even be alive today.” It doesn’t matter, your choosing to love and to forgive is not based on their response, it is based on God’s love that is inside of you. Thirdly, forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. We speak our choice to walk in love, and God gives us the strength to let it go, to overcome feelings and emotions, but we must first speak it out of our own mouth by faith, in obedience to God’s command, that we choose to forgive. It wasn’t a suggestion, it wasn’t a pick and choose which person you want to forgive and who you will not; it was a command of God to put away anger, malice, strife, and get rid of it - and learn how to walk in love by keeping it out of your life.

Have a conversation with the Lord, and choose to forgive “anyone” and “everyone” who has ever offended you. He may bring to your remembrance people who have hurt you and you have not yet forgiven. Speak out of your mouth, through faith, that you choose to forgive and let it go. Whenever that person comes to your mind, and you think of how you were hurt or offended, or even destroyed, remind yourself that you have chosen to forgive, and each time it will get easier because the Lord will give you the strength.

Once you have done this, and choose to walk in love through faith and obedience in the future, hold on to your chair because the Lord will begin to release all those things you have been believing Him for, as you weed the garden of your heart and keep all things that are not of love far away from you. We are called to be overcomers, not through our strength, but through His, and this will be a new beginning for you to be able to let things go sooner, before allowing them to get out of control. Thank You, Lord, for Your Word and Your Promises! Thank You for Your forgiveness! I choose to walk in love and obedience through the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit… and restore peace in every area of my life.

We are commanded to forgive ... completely. To forgive completely, we must never hold anything against that person, ever again, or talk about it, ever bring it up again or tell anyone what they did to us.