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DELIVERANCE: UNFORGIVENESS
Unforgiveness: The Major Hindrance to Enjoying Abundant Life
Mark 11:23-26 says, "For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Did you know that 80 to 85% of adults in the world will have some type of back problem during their lifetime? Some because they work lifting heavy weight all day long; some because they're on their feet all the time; others as a result of an injury. But you are going to be surprised to discover that half of these adults' problems are the result of bitterness of some kind. You may not believe what I'm saying, but it's true that a large percentage of these people have nothing wrong with their spines, but rather an overabundance of adrenaline in their bodies caused by bitterness and resentment. The excess of adrenaline will find its refuge in the joints causing arthritis, or in the spine causing chronic pain. The Word of God warns us regarding the danger of being angry: "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Eph. 4:26-27). In James 1:19-20 it says, "My brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." The reason the Bible warns us is because all bitterness and resentment begins first with anger. Anger itself is not a sin, but it will lead to sin if not dealt with. On the other hand, bitterness and resentment are sins because they are rooted in pride. Even though we have received grace and forgiveness from God for the evil we have done to Him, we withhold grace from those who have hurt us because we feel that what they have done to us is somehow worse than what we have done to God. The Word of God establishes a condition. "Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:25-26). Unforgiveness gives Satan a foothold (Eph. 4:27). In other words, where unforgiveness is being harbored, the devil will find no resistance in placing diseases or curses and the like because he has already been given an opening to do so by our holding things against others. Unforgiveness can be compared to a cancer. It kills little by little. It has power to destroy marriages, families, health and friendships. It has power to kill. The condition to be forgiven by God is to forgive others. The condition to be healed of your back problems (or other health problems) in some cases is also to forgive those who have hurt you. Let me suggest a practical exercise. If you have some sort of back pain, or if you know somebody who does, try the following: Close your eyes and examine your heart to see if you hold unforgiveness against anybody, or instruct the other person to do the same. Once you've identified that you hold something against someone, stand up, raise your arms and say, "Father God, I know I hold this against (the person's name) and I cry out to you asking for help. Lord, I forgive (the person's name) with all my heart and I won't hold anything against anybody anymore. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen." After forgiving somebody and releasing them from the prison of your resentment, you are going to realize that your back pain will be gone. Remember that the Word of God is the ultimate authority and whoever follows its instructions is wise. Some other diseases might also be caused by bitterness and resentment. Every time you hold bitterness and resentment against others you are simply giving Satan an opening for him to work in your life, and the Bible says that "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy . . ." (John 10:10). His scheme doesn't change. He will usually cause some sort of sickness in order to steal or to kill or to destroy you or to destroy your family. Believe me, if you cleanse your heart from all bitterness and resentment you will experience abundant life full of peace, joy and happiness. Matthew 5:43-48 says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Job 3:25 tells us, "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me." In Job 1:6-8 the Bible records, "One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?' Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.' Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.'" These verses reveal that Job was a righteous man, although what he feared came upon him, and what he dreaded happened to him (Job 3:25). Fear is not a respecter of persons. Whoever allows it to take root in their life will be overtaken by it. Fear has the opposite effect of faith, and is equal in its power. When activated, it will attract destruction. It will bring evil toward the one (wicked or just) who is being overtaken by it. Let me give you an example: One day I was in my office when a woman came to me asking for prayer. She told me that she had cancer in her throat. She also told me that she used to sing in the choir at her church every Sunday. Because of the disease she had stopped singing and had begun her treatment at a nearby hospital. She asked me to pray for her, and I did. The first time I prayed for her I remember she began to cry. I asked her why she was crying, and she said, "I'm crying because I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to sing anymore." I told her, "Don't even think about that. You are going to be able to sing again," and soon afterward she left. A month later she showed up again asking me to pray for her once more. The same thing happened. I prayed and she cried. Again I asked her, "Why are you crying?" She answered, "I'm crying because I used to sing in my church and now I can't sing anymore." I said to her, "I want you to sing your favorite song," and she sang a song with some difficulty, but she did it. When she was finished she was still hopeless and a little depressed. She returned to her home in this condition. Three months later I was in my office when one of her friends came and told me that she had died. That news surprised me because I had prayed for her and I was expecting her healing. Later on, after seeking God regarding her death, I was convinced that what she had feared—death—overtook her. Never allow the fear of anything to overtake you. Defeat fear by developing desire in your heart. If fear shows up telling you that you are going to die, just fill your heart immediately with the desire to live a long life, and start quoting biblical passages that talk about life. Psalm 91:16 is one of them: "With long life will I (God) satisfy him (you) and show him my salvation." Proverbs 10:24—"What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted." Excerpt taken from "The Creative and Transforming Power of Desire" by Carlos A. Oliveira (Copyright 1998)
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Last Updated: July 10, 1999 |
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