The Discipline of Forgiveness

The Discipline of Forgiveness

This was a very profound teaching we had today at CFNI from our teacher in Personal Discipleship. Pastor Adam McCain. I took notes on paper so I will attempt to reproduce it as compiled as possible. This teaching was too revelatory not to share so here it is.

Hebrews 12:15 is the core scripture for this teaching. I prefer scripture in the Amplified Bible so it is posted as such below.

¹⁵Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it-- (Hebrews 12:15 AMP)

Two Sources of Bitterness:

1. Personal Offense- Intense feelings of emotional hurt because you feel you have been wronged by someone.

2. Secondary Offense- Intense feelings of emotional hurt you feel because someone close to you has been wronged.

Bitterness will literally make you bitter and poison your whole body. It will not only effect just you but also those close to you and around you.

Stages of Bitterness: Absalom. 2 Samuel 13:1-29

I'm not going to post the scripture here due to it's length but I encourage you to look it up for yourself.

1. You perceive an injustice
2. You are offended ("That is not right"!)
3. Emotions arise (Anger, Insecurity, Resentment)
4. You desire the other party to make it right
5. Bitterness sets in

Negative effects bitterness will have on your life.

1. Bitterness will place a strain on your relationships with others
2. Bitterness places a strain on your relationship with God
(Matthew 6:15 AMP)¹⁵But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
3. Bitterness causes you to live with a victim mentality instead of a victorious mentality
4. Bitterness will effect your emotional and physical health. Luke 17:3-5, Romans 12:17-21, Colossians 3:12-13, Matthew 5

Proof that you have forgiven

1. You stop replaying the offense in your mind
2. You are able to speak kindly of the other party
3. There is no desire to see them hurt
4. You are able to sincerely pray for them

And here's the stinger. A quote from Pastor Adam McCain himself:

You only love God as much as you love your worst enemy!
Ouch! That ought to make us really take a good look within and ask ourselves those questions of often the closest people in our lives. I wish I could convey all the dialogue that went with this teaching today because it truly was life changing and thought provoking. Forgiveness is absolutely required to be forgiven but aside from that it will prolong our own lives. Bitterness and unforgiveness has been medically and scientifically proven to be the largest stimulants to cancer and other life threatening diseases. God's commands are not easy, challenging and sometimes have the initial response of you wanting to vomit because of what He asks of us. These things are good. They grow and stretch us, make us better people and effect our society positively. And God knows we need that!

May He bring revelation and insight to you through this study.

Shalom

Matt                PYXRUEEKV6KP