The Ultimate Surrender is Forgiveness
The Ultimate Surrender is Forgiveness
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“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. ”
Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy sometimes. I know many times for me forgiveness has been repeating the words, “I forgive” daily and again and again until I start to mean it. Forgiveness isn’t natural, its supernatural.
The word at the very beginning of this verse is ‘Then.’ What provoked Peter to THEN go to Jesus? What had Jesus been teaching before?
This Week’s Bible Study
Peter. Strong willed, bold. Quick to judge, often zealous, easily angered Peter. How many times had been offended? How many times had his purpose of being a lonely, poor fisherman been ridiculed? How many more times would he be rejected for the cause of Christ in the years soon to come? But at this moment, Peter isn’t yet the hero of our faith. Here he is simply a follower of Jesus, a disciple sitting at Jesus’ feet trying to wrap his head around all that Jesus is teaching. Trying to justify himself, his actions, his rights and his unforgiveness.
In Matthew 18, Jesus compares the greatest in the kingdom to children. He declares that it is better to cut off whatever is causing you to stumble. He says the father will leave the 99 to search for the one. He gives authority to bind and loose and to come together and ask and agree in his name.
After all these things are said, after these words strike the head and hearts of the listeners, after they begin to mull over these fantastical, upside down, counter cultural ideas, “THEN, Peter came to Jesus…”
‘I’ve heard what you said Lord, but just to be sure…what about forgiveness?’
Have faith of a child. What is forgiveness Lord?
Cut off whatever causes you to sin. Forgiveness?
Leave the others for the one. Forgiveness.
77 times until completion.
“Whatever you bound on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven…again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them…” Matthew 18: 18-19.
When we loosen whatever is binding us on earth, we surrender it to the father. When we come together and ask in agreement for God’s will, which always includes forgiveness, it will be done. There is Victory in forgiveness. Forgiving another always requires ultimate surrender.
How can we surrender the unforgiveness in our hearts and lives?
Bind it. To bind is to fasten with chains. Whatever has hurt you, chain the lies and declare that those words or actions have no hold on you any longer.
Loosen it. Release whatever is holding you down or back. Destroy the insecurities and uncertainties and release them to the father.
Gather one or two together and pray. Share your heart with two or three that you trust and pray together. Ask the Lord to reveal his truth, to bind and to loosen, to turn your adversary from you and to pour blessings upon them.
The Lord calls us to surrender always and to move an unforgiving heart from mercilessness to compassion, from harshness to gentleness, from blame to blessing. Ask the Lord to move you towards forgiveness in these ways, for when we do, we are moving in the same form of surrender as Jesus did when he moved toward the cross for you and I.
Loosen blessings, gentleness and love to all this who have come against you and see his blessings and faithfulness overwhelm you 77 times until completion, knowing that He who began a good work in your is always, always faithful to complete it.
I HAVE TO recommend Lysa Terkeurst’s new book, Forgiving what you can’t Forget. I bought it for a sweet friend who has walked through much pain recently and was able to read the first few chapters. Let me just say, the introduction had me on my knees crying for myself and for the pain so many of us walk through. For the unforgiveness we didn’t realize was captivating our hearts. I think this is a book for EVERY SINGLE WOMAN. We all at some point have to forgive another. Lysa does a beautiful job of walking us from unforgiveness to freedom. It is available November 17th, but you can pre-order today!
Surrender is Forgiveness
Scripture Memorization
