Living in Divine Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32
The title of the message is “Living in Divine Forgiveness.” We are in the seventh message of our Give Up Series. We started our last message looking at our critical need to GIVE OVER to God what we Can’t FIX, Can’t HANDLE, and Can’t CONTROL.
There’s a lot we have to learn to give over to God. But one of the hardest things for so many Christians to give over to God is the sin of unforgiveness. I’ve seen more Christians struggle and have righteous pride over the area of unforgiveness. I’ve been there myself, and so I know what it looks like really well. I know what it feels like and it’s one of the hardest things for Christians to come to grips with. So, I want to talk to you about it, again.
Last message, in Hosea, we saw an incredible picture of what God’s divine forgiveness looks like. In Matthew 18 we found out we are absolutely called to forgive at this same level. And we saw that refusing to forgive brings torture into our lives. (Matthew 18:35)
Many of us have or are experiencing that torture and God wants to heal you and free you from the bondage of unforgiveness. So, in this message, I want to give you a step-by-step process to “Living in Divine Forgiveness.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
32 . . . [We must] forgive one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven [us].
And Matthew 6, Mark 11, and Luke 6 all say clearly that our “right relationship” with God is directly conditioned upon our forgiveness of others. Unforgiveness is a relational sin that directly impacts our relationship with God. And many, many Christians have never come to grips with this critical truth. And so, we have all this destruction of unforgiveness occurring in our lives and in the Church.
But even if we do come to grips with this truth, we are still left with the question:
HOW can we LIVE in divine forgiveness?
HOW can we FORGIVE in the same proportion God has forgiven us?
HOW can we END the torture that unforgiveness brings?
HOW can we MAKE our relationship with God right by forgiving others as God commands us to?
Honestly? By GIVING UP, GIVING IN, and GIVING OVER.
By giving up our pride, giving in to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and giving over what we can’t fix, handle or control. In this message, we are going to deal with how we can begin to give over our unforgiveness and put on God’s divine forgiveness.
So, first, we need to know:
Divine forgiveness is not approving of or excusing sin.
It’s not denying the offense.
It’s not pretending we’re not hurt.
Divine forgiveness is being fully aware of the offense and still making a choice (outside your feelings) to:
1) Release that person from the debt.
2) Refuse to punish them.
3) Keep no record of the wrong.
That is how God, in Christ, has forgiven you and that is how we are called to divinely forgive. Divine forgiveness acknowledges the wrong done (including pain) and still chooses to forgive completely. You may think it’s impossible to forgive at that level, but it is only impossible in your own strength. And divine forgiveness does not exist in your own strength. Divine forgiveness is a supernatural gift that God pours into our hearts. Divine forgiveness is God’s nature poured into us.
Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
5 . . . the [Agape] love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
All steps to divine forgiveness are supernatural. And they all start with crucifying our self-will and seeking God’s will wholly and completely, earnestly praying God would pour a flood of his agape love into our unforgiving hearts.
Living in divine forgiveness is a supernatural process. It’s the supernatural process of God transforming our lives into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18.) So, here’s the best I could lay it out, in five easy steps, all starting with the same letter to help you remember.
5 Steps to Living in Divine Forgiveness
1) RECOGNIZE unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
2) RECEIVE God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
3) REPENT of your sin (with Godly sorrow)
4) REPLACE your hard heart with God’s heart (be transformed)
5) ____________
#1) Recognize unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
As we said last week, we must first, feel the pain of unforgiveness. We must recognize the damage and destruction unforgiveness is doing in our lives. And so often when we are in it, we can’t see it because unforgiveness blinds us. So, we must constantly pray with King David:
Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
If you will honestly seek God in this area, he will show you the “signs” of unforgiveness in your life.
Let’s turn to Colossians Chapter 3. Verses 12 and 13 show what it looks like when we are “putting on” (being clothed with) God’s divine forgiveness. God says to put on:
Verse 12, Compassionate Hearts – Kindness – Humility – Meekness – Patience – Bearing With one another
Verse 13, Be Forgiving each other As the Lord has Forgiven Us
But we’re looking for signs that we have not forgiven and those are just above in the “put off” section.
Look in Colossians 3:8 (ESV)
8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander . . .
These are some of the signs that unforgiveness has got you in a torture chamber.
Let me give the Definitions here:
Anger - state of mind marked by rage and pain
Wrath - outburst of retaliation
Malice - desire to see another suffer
Slander - words that harm a person
Most Christians who are controlled by this sin won’t admit these signs of destruction are in their lives. But if you will first recognize these signs, you’ll see the sin of unforgiveness in your heart. And if you need more convincing, just listen closely to the words coming out of your mouth. Because Jesus said in Matthew 12:
Matthew 12:34 (ESV)
34 . . . For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Listen to the words that are coming out of your mouth because unforgiveness is always revealed in your tongue, and as long as it’s there, it’s going to be constantly damaging your life.
#1) We must recognize unforgiveness in our heart (feel the pain)
#2) We must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
There is nothing here about “feelings.” Obedience to God is about faith and action.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
It’s not responding to God in faith to say:
I don’t feel like it.
It’s too hard.
I don’t want to.
As Hebrew 11:6 says, it is impossible to please God or even draw near to God like that. Faith is the opposite of feeling and God is waiting for you to say, “I receive your command to forgive, just as I’ve been forgiven. I believe your word and I surrender my own self will (my flesh) and I receive your command by faith.”
In this area of divine forgiveness, we often have to say with the man in Mark chapter 9, “I believe, help my unbelief.”
In Mark 9, as Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, a father brought his son who was demon-possessed. And his father says to Jesus:
Mark 9:22–24 (NLT)
22 . . . Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
(Jesus Responds) 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
This applies to you and to the sin of unforgiveness that is destroying your life. The father admitted the shortcoming of his faith. But with what little faith he had he said to Jesus, “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief” and Jesus healed his son right at that moment. And that is all God is looking for from you.
If you will truly receive God’s command to forgive – by faith, you will be on your way to experiencing the supernatural transformation of divine forgiveness. You must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone.)
#1) We must recognize unforgiveness in our heart (feel the pain)
#2) We must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) We must repent of our sin (with godly sorrow)
Unforgiveness is a sin that separates you from God and gives the devil a wide-open door to wreak havoc in your life. It is a sin that must be repented of, just like any other sin.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . .
“Godly sorrow” is literally “sorrow that is due (owed to) God.”
“Repentance” is “a change of mind, purpose, and action.”
Godly sorrow is sorrow that we owe to God for our sin and God says THAT the correct type of sorrow produces “a change of mind, purpose, and action” The correct type of sorrow produces the correct change in your thinking, your purpose, and your actions.
Probably the greatest display of Godly sorrow producing true repentance is found in Psalm 51. Psalm 51 should be required “in-depth” study for every Christian because we are terrible at recognizing, admitting, and repenting of our own sin.
Yes, Psalm 51 came out of extreme sin, but it fully applies to every one of us as sinners. In Psalm 51, King David displays true godly sorrow and we see a true change in his mind, purpose, and action. We can’t go through it all here, but you should take some time on your own and study Psalm 51.
Psalm 51:3–4 (NLT)
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Step 1 – Recognize (feel the pain)
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight . . .
Step 3 – this is godly sorrow
Psalm 51:7–8 (NLT)
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
That is Step 2 – Receiving God’s command to remove this sin
8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.
(The torture of unrepentant sin)
Psalm 51:10–12 (NLT)
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
(That’s Step 4 – Haven’t got there yet)
11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
(Recognizing sin separates from God)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
(Same as the father we just saw in Mark 9)
Then the killer verse of true godly sorrow that produces true repentance is in Psalm 51:17.
Psalm 51:17 (NLT)
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
This is true godly sorrow that produces true repentance. It is powerful and it is life-changing and we see it so seldom in Christian’s lives.
But, if you will put yourself in this place of godly sorrow that produces true repentance, you will be well on your way to being transformed out of the destruction of unforgiveness and into the healing of God’s divine forgiveness.
But to get there you must repent with godly sorrow of your sin of unforgiveness.
#1) We must recognize unforgiveness in our heart (feel the pain)
#2) We must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) We must repent of our sin (with godly sorrow)
#4) We must replace our hard heart with God’s heart.
At the Cross, there was an “exchange of hearts.” Jesus Christ took upon himself our heart of sin and he gave us his own heart.
Paul understood this when He said in Galatians:
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; …
This is a supernatural process.
If you will recognize the unforgiveness in your heart,
if you will receive God’s command to forgive – by faith,
if you repent of your sin with godly sorrow,
I promise you God will begin to replace your hard heart with his divine heart.
When we begin to crucify our self-will and our pride, our life will begin to die and the life of Christ will begin to live in us and we will be transformed from unforgiveness to divine forgiveness.
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind . . .
This is the supernatural transformation of your heart. It’s what God has called you to and it’s what you need. But you must choose to Give Up, Give In, and Give Over. You must choose to yield to God completely so that your life becomes a living sacrifice to God and his life begins to live in you and come through you.
This is what we see in Ephesians 4:17-32 and Colossians 3:1-17. Please study these verses.
1). Put off the old nature
2). Be renewed in the spirit of your mind
3). Put on the new nature (an exchange of hearts)
And then all that anger, wrath, malice, and slander… it all begins to heal. And you begin to live in God’s mercy and God’s grace, and you begin to be transformed into his image. These are attributes of God’s heart, not your own heart. But, in order to experience God’s life in us, we must replace our hard heart with God’s divine heart.
So that is the supernatural process of
Living in Divine Forgiveness
#1) Recognize unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
#2) Receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) Repent of your sin (with godly sorrow)
#4) Replace your hard heart with God’s heart.
But then there’s that pesky step number 5. The fifth step is actually the secret to living in divine forgiveness. Not just experiencing it temporarily, but living in it every day of your life.
The secret fifth step to living in divine forgiveness is:
#5) Repeat as often as necessary
This is the secret to a life of divine forgiveness. When the sin of unforgiveness rises up again to destroy your life, you must repeat the process!! Sometimes this needs to be a daily process for a while, but it will become easier as you allow God’s heart to replace your heart.
Living in divine forgiveness is a lifelong commitment because our flesh is a lifelong enemy. So, when your mind starts dwelling on that pain again; when you find yourself replaying an offense or a hurt, you must recognize that you are pouring poison right back into your heart again and you must immediately crucify the flesh, again, and begin to walk in the Spirit again.
You don’t have to be a slave to your unforgiveness. Anger, bitterness, and resentment don’t have to destroy your life. You can begin to get victory over the sin of unforgiveness right now. God is willing, and he is waiting.
The question is, are you willing?
Are you willing to:
#1) Recognize unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
#2) Receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) Repent of your sin (with godly sorrow)
#4) Replace your hard heart with God’s heart.
#5) Repeat as often as necessary
Let’s pray. We’re willing, Lord. Make us willing. We believe Lord, help our unbelief. Lord, we’ve heard you and now we’ve got to respond.
Right now, Lord, I recognize the sin of unforgiveness in my life. Holy Spirit you are bringing up to me a circumstance, a person, a situation. It’s a wrong. It’s an offense. It’s an injury. I recognize I haven’t forgiven. I recognize I’ve held on to the anger and the bitterness in that area. I recognize that, Lord. I receive the command to forgive as I have been forgiven. I receive it by faith, I don’t feel it – in fact, I feel everything contrary. But I choose to forgive because you call me to forgive, Lord. I choose it, God. Because I understand you are my Lord. I receive your command and I repent. That thing I have been driven by, that I have obsessed about for years, the thing that controls me, I repent of it. Lord, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for my rebellion and my sin. It’s against you and you alone that I have sinned and done this evil thing in your sight, Lord, by somehow thinking I don’t have to forgive, even after all you have forgiven me. I’m sorry, Lord. Please forgive me.
I turn from that sin right now and I turn to you. I turn away from that evil, Lord, and I turn to you. And Lord, I see that my heart is black. I see that this sin has given me a black heart. I need your heart – I need a new heart. I need to be transformed by your power; I need to be healed, Lord. I need to live in divine forgiveness today. Thank you, Jesus. Praise you Lord for what you are doing in my life. In your own name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
There’s a lot we have to learn to give over to God. But one of the hardest things for so many Christians to give over to God is the sin of unforgiveness. I’ve seen more Christians struggle and have righteous pride over the area of unforgiveness. I’ve been there myself, and so I know what it looks like really well. I know what it feels like and it’s one of the hardest things for Christians to come to grips with. So, I want to talk to you about it, again.
Last message, in Hosea, we saw an incredible picture of what God’s divine forgiveness looks like. In Matthew 18 we found out we are absolutely called to forgive at this same level. And we saw that refusing to forgive brings torture into our lives. (Matthew 18:35)
Many of us have or are experiencing that torture and God wants to heal you and free you from the bondage of unforgiveness. So, in this message, I want to give you a step-by-step process to “Living in Divine Forgiveness.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
32 . . . [We must] forgive one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven [us].
And Matthew 6, Mark 11, and Luke 6 all say clearly that our “right relationship” with God is directly conditioned upon our forgiveness of others. Unforgiveness is a relational sin that directly impacts our relationship with God. And many, many Christians have never come to grips with this critical truth. And so, we have all this destruction of unforgiveness occurring in our lives and in the Church.
But even if we do come to grips with this truth, we are still left with the question:
HOW can we LIVE in divine forgiveness?
HOW can we FORGIVE in the same proportion God has forgiven us?
HOW can we END the torture that unforgiveness brings?
HOW can we MAKE our relationship with God right by forgiving others as God commands us to?
Honestly? By GIVING UP, GIVING IN, and GIVING OVER.
By giving up our pride, giving in to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and giving over what we can’t fix, handle or control. In this message, we are going to deal with how we can begin to give over our unforgiveness and put on God’s divine forgiveness.
So, first, we need to know:
Divine forgiveness is not approving of or excusing sin.
It’s not denying the offense.
It’s not pretending we’re not hurt.
Divine forgiveness is being fully aware of the offense and still making a choice (outside your feelings) to:
1) Release that person from the debt.
2) Refuse to punish them.
3) Keep no record of the wrong.
That is how God, in Christ, has forgiven you and that is how we are called to divinely forgive. Divine forgiveness acknowledges the wrong done (including pain) and still chooses to forgive completely. You may think it’s impossible to forgive at that level, but it is only impossible in your own strength. And divine forgiveness does not exist in your own strength. Divine forgiveness is a supernatural gift that God pours into our hearts. Divine forgiveness is God’s nature poured into us.
Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
5 . . . the [Agape] love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
All steps to divine forgiveness are supernatural. And they all start with crucifying our self-will and seeking God’s will wholly and completely, earnestly praying God would pour a flood of his agape love into our unforgiving hearts.
Living in divine forgiveness is a supernatural process. It’s the supernatural process of God transforming our lives into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18.) So, here’s the best I could lay it out, in five easy steps, all starting with the same letter to help you remember.
5 Steps to Living in Divine Forgiveness
1) RECOGNIZE unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
2) RECEIVE God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
3) REPENT of your sin (with Godly sorrow)
4) REPLACE your hard heart with God’s heart (be transformed)
5) ____________
#1) Recognize unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
As we said last week, we must first, feel the pain of unforgiveness. We must recognize the damage and destruction unforgiveness is doing in our lives. And so often when we are in it, we can’t see it because unforgiveness blinds us. So, we must constantly pray with King David:
Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
If you will honestly seek God in this area, he will show you the “signs” of unforgiveness in your life.
Let’s turn to Colossians Chapter 3. Verses 12 and 13 show what it looks like when we are “putting on” (being clothed with) God’s divine forgiveness. God says to put on:
Verse 12, Compassionate Hearts – Kindness – Humility – Meekness – Patience – Bearing With one another
Verse 13, Be Forgiving each other As the Lord has Forgiven Us
But we’re looking for signs that we have not forgiven and those are just above in the “put off” section.
Look in Colossians 3:8 (ESV)
8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander . . .
These are some of the signs that unforgiveness has got you in a torture chamber.
Let me give the Definitions here:
Anger - state of mind marked by rage and pain
Wrath - outburst of retaliation
Malice - desire to see another suffer
Slander - words that harm a person
Most Christians who are controlled by this sin won’t admit these signs of destruction are in their lives. But if you will first recognize these signs, you’ll see the sin of unforgiveness in your heart. And if you need more convincing, just listen closely to the words coming out of your mouth. Because Jesus said in Matthew 12:
Matthew 12:34 (ESV)
34 . . . For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Listen to the words that are coming out of your mouth because unforgiveness is always revealed in your tongue, and as long as it’s there, it’s going to be constantly damaging your life.
#1) We must recognize unforgiveness in our heart (feel the pain)
#2) We must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
There is nothing here about “feelings.” Obedience to God is about faith and action.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
It’s not responding to God in faith to say:
I don’t feel like it.
It’s too hard.
I don’t want to.
As Hebrew 11:6 says, it is impossible to please God or even draw near to God like that. Faith is the opposite of feeling and God is waiting for you to say, “I receive your command to forgive, just as I’ve been forgiven. I believe your word and I surrender my own self will (my flesh) and I receive your command by faith.”
In this area of divine forgiveness, we often have to say with the man in Mark chapter 9, “I believe, help my unbelief.”
In Mark 9, as Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, a father brought his son who was demon-possessed. And his father says to Jesus:
Mark 9:22–24 (NLT)
22 . . . Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
(Jesus Responds) 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
This applies to you and to the sin of unforgiveness that is destroying your life. The father admitted the shortcoming of his faith. But with what little faith he had he said to Jesus, “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief” and Jesus healed his son right at that moment. And that is all God is looking for from you.
If you will truly receive God’s command to forgive – by faith, you will be on your way to experiencing the supernatural transformation of divine forgiveness. You must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone.)
#1) We must recognize unforgiveness in our heart (feel the pain)
#2) We must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) We must repent of our sin (with godly sorrow)
Unforgiveness is a sin that separates you from God and gives the devil a wide-open door to wreak havoc in your life. It is a sin that must be repented of, just like any other sin.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . .
“Godly sorrow” is literally “sorrow that is due (owed to) God.”
“Repentance” is “a change of mind, purpose, and action.”
Godly sorrow is sorrow that we owe to God for our sin and God says THAT the correct type of sorrow produces “a change of mind, purpose, and action” The correct type of sorrow produces the correct change in your thinking, your purpose, and your actions.
Probably the greatest display of Godly sorrow producing true repentance is found in Psalm 51. Psalm 51 should be required “in-depth” study for every Christian because we are terrible at recognizing, admitting, and repenting of our own sin.
Yes, Psalm 51 came out of extreme sin, but it fully applies to every one of us as sinners. In Psalm 51, King David displays true godly sorrow and we see a true change in his mind, purpose, and action. We can’t go through it all here, but you should take some time on your own and study Psalm 51.
Psalm 51:3–4 (NLT)
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Step 1 – Recognize (feel the pain)
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight . . .
Step 3 – this is godly sorrow
Psalm 51:7–8 (NLT)
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
That is Step 2 – Receiving God’s command to remove this sin
8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.
(The torture of unrepentant sin)
Psalm 51:10–12 (NLT)
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
(That’s Step 4 – Haven’t got there yet)
11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
(Recognizing sin separates from God)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
(Same as the father we just saw in Mark 9)
Then the killer verse of true godly sorrow that produces true repentance is in Psalm 51:17.
Psalm 51:17 (NLT)
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
This is true godly sorrow that produces true repentance. It is powerful and it is life-changing and we see it so seldom in Christian’s lives.
But, if you will put yourself in this place of godly sorrow that produces true repentance, you will be well on your way to being transformed out of the destruction of unforgiveness and into the healing of God’s divine forgiveness.
But to get there you must repent with godly sorrow of your sin of unforgiveness.
#1) We must recognize unforgiveness in our heart (feel the pain)
#2) We must receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) We must repent of our sin (with godly sorrow)
#4) We must replace our hard heart with God’s heart.
At the Cross, there was an “exchange of hearts.” Jesus Christ took upon himself our heart of sin and he gave us his own heart.
Paul understood this when He said in Galatians:
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; …
This is a supernatural process.
If you will recognize the unforgiveness in your heart,
if you will receive God’s command to forgive – by faith,
if you repent of your sin with godly sorrow,
I promise you God will begin to replace your hard heart with his divine heart.
When we begin to crucify our self-will and our pride, our life will begin to die and the life of Christ will begin to live in us and we will be transformed from unforgiveness to divine forgiveness.
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind . . .
This is the supernatural transformation of your heart. It’s what God has called you to and it’s what you need. But you must choose to Give Up, Give In, and Give Over. You must choose to yield to God completely so that your life becomes a living sacrifice to God and his life begins to live in you and come through you.
This is what we see in Ephesians 4:17-32 and Colossians 3:1-17. Please study these verses.
1). Put off the old nature
2). Be renewed in the spirit of your mind
3). Put on the new nature (an exchange of hearts)
And then all that anger, wrath, malice, and slander… it all begins to heal. And you begin to live in God’s mercy and God’s grace, and you begin to be transformed into his image. These are attributes of God’s heart, not your own heart. But, in order to experience God’s life in us, we must replace our hard heart with God’s divine heart.
So that is the supernatural process of
Living in Divine Forgiveness
#1) Recognize unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
#2) Receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) Repent of your sin (with godly sorrow)
#4) Replace your hard heart with God’s heart.
But then there’s that pesky step number 5. The fifth step is actually the secret to living in divine forgiveness. Not just experiencing it temporarily, but living in it every day of your life.
The secret fifth step to living in divine forgiveness is:
#5) Repeat as often as necessary
This is the secret to a life of divine forgiveness. When the sin of unforgiveness rises up again to destroy your life, you must repeat the process!! Sometimes this needs to be a daily process for a while, but it will become easier as you allow God’s heart to replace your heart.
Living in divine forgiveness is a lifelong commitment because our flesh is a lifelong enemy. So, when your mind starts dwelling on that pain again; when you find yourself replaying an offense or a hurt, you must recognize that you are pouring poison right back into your heart again and you must immediately crucify the flesh, again, and begin to walk in the Spirit again.
You don’t have to be a slave to your unforgiveness. Anger, bitterness, and resentment don’t have to destroy your life. You can begin to get victory over the sin of unforgiveness right now. God is willing, and he is waiting.
The question is, are you willing?
Are you willing to:
#1) Recognize unforgiveness in your heart (feel the pain)
#2) Receive God’s command to forgive (by faith alone)
#3) Repent of your sin (with godly sorrow)
#4) Replace your hard heart with God’s heart.
#5) Repeat as often as necessary
Let’s pray. We’re willing, Lord. Make us willing. We believe Lord, help our unbelief. Lord, we’ve heard you and now we’ve got to respond.
Right now, Lord, I recognize the sin of unforgiveness in my life. Holy Spirit you are bringing up to me a circumstance, a person, a situation. It’s a wrong. It’s an offense. It’s an injury. I recognize I haven’t forgiven. I recognize I’ve held on to the anger and the bitterness in that area. I recognize that, Lord. I receive the command to forgive as I have been forgiven. I receive it by faith, I don’t feel it – in fact, I feel everything contrary. But I choose to forgive because you call me to forgive, Lord. I choose it, God. Because I understand you are my Lord. I receive your command and I repent. That thing I have been driven by, that I have obsessed about for years, the thing that controls me, I repent of it. Lord, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for my rebellion and my sin. It’s against you and you alone that I have sinned and done this evil thing in your sight, Lord, by somehow thinking I don’t have to forgive, even after all you have forgiven me. I’m sorry, Lord. Please forgive me.
I turn from that sin right now and I turn to you. I turn away from that evil, Lord, and I turn to you. And Lord, I see that my heart is black. I see that this sin has given me a black heart. I need your heart – I need a new heart. I need to be transformed by your power; I need to be healed, Lord. I need to live in divine forgiveness today. Thank you, Jesus. Praise you Lord for what you are doing in my life. In your own name, Jesus, I pray, amen.