(Matt. 6:12,14-15) “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.””... For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Prayer without forgiveness is dead. The prayers of an unforgiving Christian cannot be honored by God. Why? Because God commanded that those who seek forgiveness must not harbor unforgiveness in their hearts. Being offended is just a part of life, therefore how we handle those that offend us determines not just our fellowship with God but answered prayers. (Eph. 4:32) “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” We therefore must forgive others with just as much forgiveness as God has given to us! So, what happens to a Christian that does not practice forgiveness. 1) He Loses his fellowship with God. (Ps 66:18) “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Harboring the sin of unforgiveness is not only a bad idea, but its a sin that leads one into a whole group of other sins such as hatred, bitterness, resentment, anger, evil speaking, and the like. 2) He grieves the Holy Spirit. Grieving means that God’s Spirit is offended by one’s carnal behavior and cannot work. Though the Christian does not lose his/her salvation, he does lose the power and fellowship of The Spirit, as well as God’s ear in prayer 3) He also loses his joy. There is a great joy in a personal relationship with Jesus, but also a lack of joy when we do not love God and others the way we ought. Jesus said, (Jn 15:11-12) “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. this is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” Forgiveness not only restores our fellowship with God, but it also opens up the door to love and joy as well.
“Matt. 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” The above verse is the ending words of Jesus’s example on of how to pray. In the Lord’s prayer we are first taught to honor and glorify the Father and His Holy Name or (His Person). Then we are commanded to seek His will or (His Purpose) in life. After which, Jesus taught us to (Petition) him for our needs or “ daily bread,” as well as “forgiveness” and “deliverance from evil” when tested, but there is also another aspect of this prayer that most people miss; and that is (His Praise). You see the temptation to do sin or “evil” is as much a part of our daily life as breathing. We are tempted daily to lust, lie, steal, gossip, cheat, become jealous, hate, etc., so we need not just the forgiveness of God, but also His power in faith. Brethren, we have someone in heaven who knows the feel of temptation in the flesh, and his name is Jesu
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