Articles

Forgiveness Conspiracy

May 24, 2017  |   Blake Schellenberg  |   General

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As we look at our mandate in how Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We need to be looking for ways to release the Kingdom of Heaven to begin to transform cities and regions and to truly disciple nations. For us to be free we must forgive. For others to be free we must forgive. So my question is what would happen if we began to think of Forgiveness as an offensive weapon in advancing the Kingdom.
So the challenge is to Forgive, Release, and Bless the people and family around you. As you see in the study below, Jesus takes forgiveness very seriously and the implications for us and others are enormous. The challenge is to see what kind of testimony will the Father create because of our willingness to forgive and our co-laboring with Him?

  • Matt 4:17 – Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand – Jesus is saying, Change how you think, because I brought my world with me. It is for you to operate in with me.
  • Matt 16:19 – I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” – Matt 18:18 – 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
    • Forgiveness is one of the keys to the release of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.
    • We are very good at recognizing what needs to be bound on earth, but not very good at releasing what has been already loosed in heaven. Forgiveness and freedom open that world up so that you can see and hear from the Father cleanly and accurately.
  • Matt 6:9-15 – 9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ 14″For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
    • Vs.10 – your kingdom come, your will be done – it is a declaration not a request
    • Vs. 11 – Forgive us as we also have forgiven others
    • Vs. 14-15 – Forgive others so the Father will forgive you. Pretty clear that we need to forgive.
  • Matt 18:21-35 – Parable of the unmerciful servant – 34 “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35″My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
    • Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like this – Forgive as you have been forgiven or the Father will allow the torturers to torture you until you forgive.
    • Concept of Prisoner – We are held in prison by our own unforgiveness of others
  • Luke 6:37 – 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
  • Matt 11:25-26 – 25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26[“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]
  • 2 Cor 2:10-11 – 10 But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
    • Forgive so Satan does not take advantage of us and we are aware of his plans. Forgiveness opens us up to see Satan strategy of division.
  • Colossians 3:12-14 – 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
  • How does the Father Forgive?
    • Hebrews 8:12 – 12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”
    • I John 1:9 – 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    • He has made a covenant with us to forgive!
    • I John 2:12 – 12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. – He has forgiven us on account of His name sake.
  • John 20:23 – 23 “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
    • If you forgive the sins of any, their sins are forgiven. Your forgiveness of other has a profound effect on those you are forgiving.
  • James 5:13-16 – 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
    • Do forgiveness together and to one another.
    • There is a connection between healing, forgiveness, and confession.