Mark 11:25-26, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Jesus made forgiveness an important part of the life of faith. Faith works by love and forgiveness is an expression and release of that love. A victorious life not only requires God’s forgiveness toward us, but our choice to forgive and release others. We cannot make it through this life without God’s forgiveness for us, but we cannot have His forgiveness when we refuse to forgive.
While forgiveness is releasing others from our personal judgment, unforgiveness is a refusal to release others when they have tresspassed against us. Unforgiveness hurts us more than the one we refuse to forgive. First, unforgiveness is a destructive device that Satan uses to undermine our life of faith, giving him an advantage over us. Second, our relationship to the Father relies on the constant expression of forgiveness. Without forgiveness our fellowship with Him cannot continue. In like manner, forgiveness is also required to maintain our relationship to our mate, children, brothers, sisters, etc. Remember, forgiveness means, “I release you”; “You don’t owe me, and I’ll not make you pay.”
It is not possible to cover all the different aspects of forgiveness in one article, but I’ve often heard said, “Why should I forgive them, they were in the wrong, and they hurt me.” “If I forgive them, it will, as the expression goes, “let them off the hook.” Yes, forgiveness isn’t meant to be one sided or all the moral obligation to do the right thing is upon the person who was hurt. Yes, God cares about what has been done to you. Yes, and the offender is morally responsible too but we cannot take things into our own hands and in anger avenge ourselves. Romans 12:19 says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Leave that to the righteous anger of God. That doesn’t sound like they will be “left off the hook.”
The following are eight reasons why it is in your best interest to learn to forgive:
1. Unforgiveness toward others will prevent the release of God’s forgiveness toward you
(Mark 11:25,26).
2. Unforgiveness puts you in personal torment (Matthew 5:25-26; 18:32-35).
3. Unforgiveness gives Satan an advantage over you (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). Satan (the one
who seduces, oppresses, deceives torments, entices, tempts, hinders, binds, afflicts, buffets,
blinds, devours, and possesses) uses unforgiveness as a device to destroy your life.
4. Unforgiveness opens you up to physical and emotional trouble (Proverbs 11:17). While there
Is destruction in unforgivenes, there is healing in forgiveness (Luke 5:17-26) and forgiveness
in healing (James 5:14-15).
5. Unforgiveness can cause you in anger to say things that lead to judgment from men or God
(Matthew 5:22). In this verse, the word “Raca” stands for words in the category that would
offend Men and the word “Fool” stands for words in the category that would offend God.
6. Unforgiveness reduces your spiritual and supernatural walk to a natural one
(1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
7. Unforgiveness can cause bitter roots that make you mean, mad, complain, and pout
(Ephesians 4:31).
8. Unforgiveness (which is sin) hinders prayer (Psalm 66:18), giving (1 Corinthians 13:3), and
whatever we offer to God in worship (Matthew 5:28).
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John Rasicci 
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