You Must Forgive

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Matthew 18:21-22, 34-35

When we are bitter we put ourselves in bondage. We become bitter when we fail to keep pace for what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in us. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse to forgive because we are not living out our true identity.
-He freed us from bondage (Ephesians 2:6)

Why should we forgive?
– We should forgive those who have sinned against us because bitterness grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
– Forgiveness means giving up your right to hate the person that hurt you.

Steps We Must Take If We Are to Forgive Those Who Have Transgressed Against Us:
1. You have to accept the consequences of what that person has done to you.
2. Tell God specifically what this person did to you and then ask God to forgive that person.  
3. Ask God to forgive you for grieving the Holy Spirit by holding bitterness in your heart.
4. Renew your mind (Romans 12:2) with the Word of God and every time that thought comes to your mind pray for that person to help heal your emotions.