PRINCIPLES OF POSTURE IN PRAYER 10: Freedom to Receive Through Forgiveness

Freedom to receive through forgiveness -This is the final post on this series, but not the least one of all the things we have mentioned that will help us receive answers to our prayers. None of them will work if there is unforgiveness in our hearts. We can name it and claim it (Mark 11:22-24), pray together in agreement with others because the Bible says that where two or more are gathered together to ask for anything in agreement, it will be done of our Heavenly Father (Matthew 18:19), or try to use other postures of prayer. However, we need to meet two main conditions when we ask God for anything:

1-   What we ask needs to be the will of the Father for us (Matthew 7:21).

2-   We need to come to Him free of unforgiveness when we pray. Mark 11:25-26 warns,

²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults.²⁶ But if you will not release forgiveness, don’t expect your Father in heaven to release you from your misdeeds.” TPT

It is paramount that we take time to examine our hearts and allow God to show us if there is unforgiveness towards anyone in us because if we have not released those who have hurt us, offended us, mocked us, slandered and gossiped about us, or mistreated us in any way, we cannot receive what we are asking God to do for us. Let’s look at a couple of examples of this important principle of forgiving others or ourselves before we receive answers to our prayers found in the Bible.

Job’s example - we mentioned in other posts of this series that Job received a double portion of inheritance when he prayed for his friends. But the reason his friends came to him for prayer is because they had talked about him and blamed him for the process God allowed him to go through before he could be entrusted with the true riches of heaven and higher ranks in the spirit. They thought and even said that Job must have been in sin, and that is why he was going through everything he went through.

However, they did not know that by doing that, they provoked themselves to enter in to the very same process in the wilderness of testing that Job went through because they judged wrong the anointed vessel of God. Their judging violated the principle that says ‘touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm.” 1 Chronicles 16:20-22 says,

²⁰ “When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
²¹ He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
²² Saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.’” NKJV

So, in order for them to not receive what they have opened themselves to, God ordained Job’s friends to go and give him an offering that He specified to them for Job, and Job would pray for them because God was answering Job’s prayers, but not the prayers of those who slandered and accused him falsely. There is also the aspect that Job needed to forgive them. Without forgiveness, he could not have prayed and received answers from God. His heart needed to be clean and free from unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment towards them, because he understood that God had a purpose in allowing even those who accused him and had wrong attitudes towards him because that helped him make sure that his heart was right with God in spite of what others thought about him.

Joseph’s example – We know that Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and wanted to kill him. Joseph had told them about his dreams which did not help things for him. Rather than killing him, His brothers threw him in a pit and later sold him to an Egyptian slave driver. There in Egypt, he had to jump over a lot of hurdles. Among those, Joseph had to flee from the lustful luring of Potiphar’s wife which landed him in prison because he was false accused.

There in the prison he was promoted as an administrator, and the Holy Spirit gave him the interpretation of the dreams of the baker and the butler which restored the butler back to the palace to serve Pharaoh. The butler had promised Joseph that he would remember him and ask that he would be released from prison, but a couple of years passed before that became a reality. Joseph did make it to the palace after a while, and became second in command to Pharaoh. His position was strategic which helped make Egypt the wealthiest and most important country in the world at that time due to the wisdom for administration God had given to Joseph.

However, when famine had broken out in other parts of the world, including the land where Joseph’s father and brothers lived, they ended up coming to Egypt to find relieve from the famine. After some encounters with his brothers, Joseph finally told them who he was because his popularity and rank had made him wealthy and his brothers had not recognized him. Once he revealed himself to them, he had the option of choosing self-revenge or forgiveness towards them. He chose to forgive them and the family was reconciled. He also was able to see his father again and be the one who helped them be completely relieved from the famine as they moved to Egypt to be with Joseph.

Without forgiving his brothers, Joseph would not have been able to enjoy fully the reward that God had for him in Egypt, the place where he suffered most. What is more, his position and influence in the land would have been short lived because had he used his authority for revenge, God would have removed him shortly for the reason God sent him ahead of his family, was to help them during the time when they needed him the most. Thankfully, he chose to reconcile with his family and to make sure they would not suffer the famine that others had to endure for seven long years.

Finances and unforgiveness – Another major aspect of our walk as believers when it comes to giving offerings to God is that, as we come to the altar to give of what He has given to us, if our heart has something against another person, or another person has something against us and we know about it, we are required to do the best we can to resolve the issue, making sure that we forgive and are forgiven, so that we can give to Him a clean offering. Matthew 5:23-24 says,

²³ “Therefore, if you are bringing an offering to God and you remember that your brother is angry at you or holds a grudge against you, ²⁴ then leave your gift before the altar, go to your brother, repent and forgive one another, be reconciled, and then return to the altar to offer your gift to God.” The Voice

This is key to obey is because money has a voice, and if what it is speaking about us is the revelation of what is in our hearts towards others, or that others were hurt or harmed by us and we have not done anything about it, and this way are violating them and this principle of the Kingdom, our offering will speak against us, instead of on our behalf. Remember what Galatians 6:7 says,

^“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.” AMP

We certainly do not want to sow God not releasing us from our trespasses because we have not forgiven our brother or sister’s trespasses against us (Matthew 6:14-15). We also do not want to see harm or hurt come to us because we were careless towards others and sowed the wrong seeds for ourselves in our time of need. Luke 6:36-38 offer for us the pattern we should follow in order to receive from God in abundance when we give to Him offerings, including offerings of money. It says,

³⁶ “So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these].

³⁷ Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.

³⁸ Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.” AMPC

We cannot claim verse 38 while neglecting the verses above it in this passage. We need to follow the proper procedure and we can see in these verses that first, we need to make sure we do not speak against others, including those who have offended us or hurt us. We are also admonished to not try to take God’s position as judge to point fingers and condemn or declare others guilty. But we are to leave vengeance in God’s hands alone (Romans 12:19). What is expected of us instead, is that we forgive them and release them from what they have done against us, and seek help if the wound and offense was severe and we need a deep healing touch from our Lord. 

There are other sources, but I am including in this post an article by Katie Souza of Extended End Ministries in Maricopa, Arizona posted by elijahlist.com that I use to help me whenever I see the need for healing in my soul or God prompts me to seek Him in order to be healed from past wounds. Follow the link here. "Three Basic Steps for Inner Healing"

We have mentioned before that when we judge and point the finger and choose to walk in unforgiveness towards others from what was done to us, we open ourselves for the same spirit that oppressed those who hurt us to come and oppress us and cause us to do to others what was done to us. We need to remember the adage which says that when we point a finger at others, four fingers are also pointing at us.

This is true because we become what we did not release others from if what they did was bad for us. We cannot live our lives being legalistic and thinking that everyone should be punished and that we can keep scores of what was done to us, but forget that others may also be keeping scores of what we have done to them. Seeking the healing of our hearts helps us discern and assess the circumstances around us and the motive of other people’s hearts in the right way.

It also helps us walk as mature believers that are known for the love of God in our hearts (Matthew 5:5) which is demonstrated in how we approach the issues in our lives and the people involved so we can separate them from the things they have done against us. In other words, we judge the sin, but not the sinner. This is another way in which we are separated from the world because we have become agents of salvation, healing, deliverance, and restoration as we allow the perfect love of God in us to cast out their fears. 1 John 4:18 says,

“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].” AMPC

Living in fear, opens the way for unforgiveness, pride, anger, resentment, bitterness, and all other sins because we do not want to be hurt or harmed again, and it is why most people do not forgive. But as we permit our loving Father to do a deep work of removing every layer of hurt and idea that He does not love us or that others cannot love us, we can be set free from an orphan heart, and instead, allow His peace that surpasses all understanding to guard our minds and our hearts (Philippians 4:6-7), and that way, we can extend that same peace to those around us as much as we can for we are commanded to live at peace with others to the best of our ability.

Romans 12:18 says this, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” AMPC

Choosing to walk in obedience to this command and asking God to help us obey His Word to be at peace with those around us as much as possible, help us to be developed in the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-24 which says,

^2-23 “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

^23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.” MSG

What is more, walking in the fruits of the Spirit outlined by the New King James Version in Galatians 5:22-23, ²² “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 ]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” can make way for the gifts of the Spirit to be in operation in our lives and through our lives when we determine to flow in the fruits of the Spirit for others to find hope in God.

 We want to see the signs and miracles God promises that will follow us because we believe (Mark 16:17-18) and choose to walk in love and forgiveness towards others. In turn the gifts of the Spirit are outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:6-11 will operate through us for the benefit of others. The Scripture says,

⁶ “The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he energizes and activates them.
⁷ Each believer is given continuous revelation by the Holy Spirit to benefit not just himself but all.

Varieties of Spiritual Gifts

⁸ For example:

The Spirit gives to one the gift of the word of wisdom.

To another, the same Spirit gives the gift of the word of revelation knowledge.
⁹ And to another, the same Spirit gives the gift of faith.
    And to another, the same Spirit gives gifts of healing.
¹⁰ And to another the power to work miracles.
    And to another the gift of prophecy.
    And to another the gift to discern what the Spirit is speaking.
    And to another the gift of speaking different kinds of tongues.
    And to another the gift of interpretation of tongues.

¹¹ Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as he chooses for each believer.” TPT

Therefore, let’s be people that forgive quickly and often, for we are commanded to forgive even 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:27). This means that we forgive always and forgive everyone because we also need forgiveness when we do things knowingly or unknowingly that may hurt or offend others. So, let’s remember that if we want to be used of God mightily, we need to release others who have caused us hurt or harm if we do not want to be oppressed in a way that causes us to do the same to others. To God alone be all the glory. ■

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