3 But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, UNFORGIVING, slanderous … – 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3
I was reading the last chapter of Paul’s second letter to Timothy this morning and the word, ‘UNFORGIVING’, stood out to me. Paul said that there would be tough times in the last days, which likely implies that a lot of people, including followers of Christ, will be wounded and carry hurts. Unforgiveness, one of the identifying marks of this specific period of time will affect everyone, but the Lord Himself told His followers not to let it take root in their hearts. Unforgiveness is like a prison and it will taint every area of our lives if we don’t get rid of it. Deep wounds to the soul may require focused ministry to bring full healing, but we can always invite the Spirit of God to come into these areas ourselves.
Steve Shultz, leader of the Elijah Streams ministry, said that he had declared daily that he forgave someone for a deep hurt in his past life. He continued to do this until in time, after more than a year, the wound was just forgotten and no longer caused him pain. It had just gone from his life. Another brother, now with the Lord, said we’d know if the problem had finally gone, ‘WHEN WE NO LONGER TALKED ABOUT IT’. What comes out of the mouth does reveal the heart.
44 Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn-bushes, or grapes from briers.45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6, The Lord’s Prayer modelled for us.
Whether by intensive ministry with the help of others, or by persistent declaration and working with the Lord’s Spirit (OR BOTH), WE MUST DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO BE FREE OF UNFORGIVENESS, WHICH WILL POISON OUR SOULS.
The parable of the unmerciful servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’
22 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18
JESUS SAID KEEP DOING IT UNTIL IT’S GONE, BE RUTHLESS WITH IT!
May the Lord bless and keep our hearts free and full of His love in these days. Immanuel, God is with us.