God's Provision

A Key to Answered Prayer

There may be a real key that you have overlooked. One of the primary conditions to answered prayer is FORGIVENESS.

"The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till if overflows]." John 10:10 AMP

God wants us to walk in "kingdom living" [Romans 14:17]: that is, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The enemy does everything he can [lie and deceive] to rob that from us. So if your peace is gone, your joy is missing, you don't have that "open communication" with Jesus...guess who ha been at work? But the enemy can't do anything WITHOUT YOUR HELP! YOU  must give him the open door.

UNFORGIVENESS gives the enemy the right to take away your fellowship, your peace and your joy. And he does. EVERY TIME.

WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE LUXURY [or BONDAGE] of UNFORGIVENESS.  And it is a bondage. In fact, God Himself will put you in a prison with tormentors [and when you hold onto unforgiveness, it IS real torment!] when you "refuse to forgive your brother from your heart his offenses." MATT 18:35 KJ & AMP]

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We are very faithful to "name and claim" the promises according to Mark 11:23,24 AMP, but many times we overlook the CONDITION: And..."whenever you stand praying, if you have ANYTHING against ANYONE, forgive him and LET IT DROP [leave it, let it go], in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.] MARK 11:25 AMP

"But, but, but..." you try to explain, "...you don't understand...you don't know what he [or she, or they] did!! THIS IS DIFFERENT!"

NO, THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO YOU THAT YOU CAN NOT FORGIVE.

Corrie ten Boom, the precious woman of God who spent years in a concentration camp because her family hid Jews from the Nazi's, came face to face with the tormenting guard years after Hitler's reign was well over. God spoke to her as they both sat in a Christian church and reminded her of the importance of not only forgiving him, but verbalizing that forgiveness to him. The memory was horrible, tormenting and bruising to her spirit and heart. She had "by faith" forgiven him. But now...SHE WAS FACING HIM many miles and years away from that camp...and that torture. It was as though there was no one else in that crowded sanctuary. And God waited....

There was suddenly peace in her spirit and compassion in her heart, as she looked at this now old man, worn and weary from his own memories. He had been the cause of torment for many. He, too, had scars from his own actions.

But now a believer, this man was telling the world about the Savior he had found WHO HAD FORGIVEN HIM.... Corrie went to him and put her arms around him. With tears streaming down her face, she told him she had been one of those thousands who had been through the camp where he had been a guard.

THEY CRIED TOGETHER, tears washing away the memories and hurt, covering it all with the warm oil of forgiveness.

"Love COVERS a multitude of sins" and when they are COVERED....they can not be seen any more. [I PETER 4:5]

"But he [or she] KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!" 

Peter had that same problem. "But, Lord," he said, "How many times do I have to forgive him [in the same day for the same thing]?" [MATT.18:21]

"SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN," Jesus explained.

Now if you are counting...you still have the problem! 

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We GRIEVE the Holy Spirit Who lives within us when we refuse to forgive...or when we treat our brother with disdain. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed [marked, branded as God's own, secured] for the day of redemption [of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin].                                                                   Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath [passion, rage, bad temper] and resentment [anger, animosity] and slander [evil speaking, abusive or blasphemous language] be banished from you, with all malice [spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind],                                         And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted [compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted], FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER [readily and freely] as God in Christ forgave you."  [EPH 4:30-32 AMP]

And again, "Be gentle and forbearing with one another, and if one has a difference [a grievance or complaint] against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, SO MUST YOU ALSO FORGIVE." [COL 3:13 AMP]

"But," you complain, "He does not deserve to be forgiven!" JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR EVERYONE. He loved the WORLD so much....He gave His own life...[whether we think they are deserving or not]. [JOHN 3:16]

Larry Lea, pastor and teacher, said once, "DON'T REHEARSE IT...DON'T NURSE IT....INSTEAD, DISPERSE IT!" A good word.

But what does it mean? Paul told the Philippians, "I have not arrived yet. But this one thing I aspire to do: I forget what has happened in the past...I put that BEHIND ME. Instead, I press forward to all that God has for me to do today and tomorrow and for the rest of my life here on earth. I want to do those things that please the Father. I want to walk in what I have already learned."  [Yes, loosely paraphrased.]

Don't dwell on the things people have done to hurt you. FORGIVE EVERY ONE OF THEM. FOR EVERYTHING. STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. PUT IT TO REST. PUT IT UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS [through forgiveness] and allow Him to throw it into a Sea of forgetfulness...never to be remembered again.

It is self-pity that INSISTS that you remember it and tell others how you have been hurt, demeaned, etc. etc. etc. And SELF-PITY IS NOT OF GOD. 

If you're still feeling sorry for yourself, if you are still rehearsing it [going over and over it in your mind and conversation] YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN. YOU ARE BEING TORMENTED. [You're "locked up!"] [MATT 18:34,35]

While you insist on holding onto the "ought" [unforgiveness] YOU CAN NOT EFFECTIVELY MINISTER! [MATT 5:23] When you hold onto unforgiveness - you can become sick! Or even die prematurely! [I COR 11:26-31]  

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When you have unforgiven sin... you can not get your prayers answered. "If you regard sin in your heart, I WILL NOT HEAR YOUR PRAYER," God says. [PSALM 66:18; ISA 59:2] [PARAPHRASED] Sin is DISOBEDIENCE. Disobedience is NOT DOING WHAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU TO DO. God has told you to FORGIVE.

As part of the Lord's prayer: "...and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven [left, remitted and let go of the debtors, and have given up resentment against] our debtors.                        "....But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses." [MATT.6:12,14,15 AMP]

IF YOU FORGIVE, GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU.        IF YOU REFUSE TO FORGIVE, SO WILL HE!

Jesus, while suspended on the cross of Calvary, His body taking upon Himself all the sins, diseases and horror of this world, looked over the specific individuals facing Him. They had spit on Him, cursed Him, beat Him to ribbons of flesh, torn His body with whips, hammered nails into His beaten hands and feet. And in some of His last words before His death, He said, '"Father, forgive them....They really don't know what they're doing."

The person or persons that you are refusing to forgive has probably gone on with his life... not even knowing [and maybe not even caring] how you are hurt. They don't know what they did. Even if they were "aware" of the act, they need to be forgiven... so that you can receive forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF YOUR WILL.          IT IS A DECISION THAT YOU MAKE

If you are seeking the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and have not been able to receive...or pray in a God-given prayer language... think now whether you are holding unforgiveness.

If you are unable to be free in praise and worship, consider...are you holding unforgiveness against someone?

If you are tormented by a memory...consider if you are "holding on to it" through unforgiveness.

If you find your ministry ineffective...ask yourself if you are holding "ought" against someone.

If you are continually sick and can't seem to "stay well,".... think about it...have you forgiven your brother from your heart? Continually?

Walking in FORGIVENESS is essential to WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

LET GO OF IT

Do that in as many cases as the Holy Spirit shows you. You may actually have to forgive a whole company... a denomination...a local church fellowship ... a pastor... a nationality....a family member or God Himself... and especially, in many or most cases, YOU MUST FORGIVE YOURSELF.

Now put it under the powerful BLOOD OF JESUS...and don't bring it up again. If it is brought up in your mind or spirit, remember, satan is the ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN. He accuses believers to God night and day! [Rev. 12:10,11]