Seeking Him Week Nine—Forgiveness: Setting Your Captives Free

Welcome to our Summer 2021 Book Club-Style Bible Study! We are using the book Seeking Him by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom.

How would you like to seek personal revival with us this summer and change your life forever! I have done this study twice now, and let me tell you, it is life changing!

​Join us for 12 weeks this summer on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 est beginning June 1 through August 17. If you can't come then, come when you can.

Whether you are a brand new lover of Jesus Christ, or you’ve been a Christian for years, this insightful study will impact your life in a transformative way. Seeking Him will reward you with a deeper walk with God and set your life on a path to be used greatly by our Savior. ​

Forgiveness: Setting Your Captives Free

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

It is one of the first verses we learn as children—“Be kind to one another.” Kindness, when it is taken to the highest degree, must be forgiveness. Forgiveness is the ultimate display of kindness.

Forgiveness is also one of the most necessary components, not only for personal revival, but revival within a body of believers. It is the key that sets us free from the bondage of bitterness against another and against God. When we forgive, we not only are released from bondage, but we are releasing that one that we forgave. It opens the floodgates of peace and joy!

Sometimes it is easier to forgive someone when they have made a mistake, admit it, and ask for forgiveness. It is most difficult when the offender has done what I think may be irreparable damage, emotionally and physically, to me or to someone I love. I may try to forgive, but I just can’t get over it. I can’t stop thinking about it. The hurt just won’t let me forgive.

But God. God is sovereign over all. Even our hurts. And He can use them for our good if we let Him. In Genesis when Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, he forgave. He also acknowledged and accepted the fact that God had a purpose even in the evil that his brothers had committed against him.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:19-21

As Romans 8:28 teaches us, all things do work together for good for those who love God. It is all for His purpose. We can trust Him.

Jesus demonstrated this perfectly as He hung on the cross in agony as a result of the torture inflicted on Him by His people. He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He knew that this was a spiritual battle. We are also a part of this battle. Forgiveness is a weapon against the enemy. And no, our enemy is not the one who hurt us. It is Satan.   

What about those times when we forgive, but we can’t forget what they did? The pain is real. It is deep. We are teetering on the edge of bitterness each time we see them—or even think of them.

Forgiveness is a choice. We must, out of obedience to our Father, make a conscious decision to forgive. We have said, “I forgive you,” and whenever those thoughts of bitterness creep in, we must say it again.

 ”I forgive you.”

How often? As often as it takes (Matthew 18:21-22). This is only possible through Christ. It will take much prayer, but God will give grace.

We have been forgiven an insurmountable debt. No debt against us can be greater. We must forgive others as God, through Christ, has forgiven us. Completely and freely.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

I have often said, "Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself." I've had to give myself that gift on many occasions. It can be very difficult, but this too is part of Seeking Him. How will you seek Him this week?​

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