53. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - Forgiveness, what is in it for you? Part 2

We are busy discussing forgiveness the way Jesus instructed us in His model prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” (Matthew 6:12).

Forgiveness usually is automatic or immediate and usually includes a blessing and forgetting. However, it is easy to say you forgive somebody but later catch yourself speaking negatively about him. You may have forgiven him for what he did, but you still feel bitter toward him. Then the next time the person does the least wrong, your flesh is more than ready to accuse and criticize.

This happens because you have not blessed the person, and you do not trust the Lord to deal with him. Maybe the person will forever irritate you, and you will have to forever forgive and bless him. Why do you think the Lord told us to love and forgive our enemies? We are to use the exact words that Jesus used on the cross as recorded in Luke 23:34: “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’”

Since the evil one is behind most bad relationships and sin, most humans

do not know what they are doing. Not even Judas knew what he was doing when he betrayed Jesus. Only when the devil released the blinding grip of lies he had on Judas did he realize what had happened. He had remorse and returned the money. We are not to keep anything against anybody, ever.

James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (KJV).” This passage has much more to it than we may see at face value. We are to confess our sins to each other, which includes anybody in the church of Christ all over the world. Second, the healing can range from curing disease to freeing one from errors and sins to bringing about one’s salvation. Lastly, the prayer must be effectual and fervent and must come from a righteous person, one who has forgiven and who is forgiven, one in right standing with God.

            How often do we pray because we must? When we work, do we

simply want to get the day over with, or do we get satisfaction from the results? Do we work with an I-am-here-because-I-must-be attitude, or are we energetic and enthusiastic about our work?

In the same way, the only prayer that will heal is an energetic, fervent prayer that expects results. Do you remember the widow with the unrighteous judge in Luke 18:1-8? She continued until she got results. How much opportunity is given for such prayer in our church, prayer that includes confession of sin? How much time is spent in your church in public spiritual warfare?

In the NIV, the model prayer ends with “and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.” This is spiritual warfare in its basic form, resisting the activities of evil through the power of God. In the model prayer, Jesus teaches that the devil is a reality and is to be fought. We fight him using the authority of the name of Jesus. We can tell the devil, “The Lord rebuke you,” (Jude 1:9) or “We resist you in the name of Jesus,” (James 4:7) or “Get behind me, Satan, in Jesus’ name,” (Mark 8:33) or simply the words of the model prayer. This also must be fervent and effectual.

Why are we commanded to use the name of Jesus? If you are a civilian, and you jump in front of a speeding car with your hand up, would the driver stop? No, but if a police officer does it, the driver will obey. Why? It is because, in his uniform, he represents the authority of the government. The name of Jesus represents the victory Jesus had over Satan at Calvary. Jesus is now Satan’s boss. Satan has to bow at the mention of Jesus’ name (Philippians 2:10). We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12), and we need to resist them.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen (Matthew 6:13 KJV).

If there is one thing the devil desires passionately to steal from Christians, it is time and energy to pray, because prayer moves the mighty arm of God. That is why the model prayer ends with the above words.  It is a declaration that Almighty God, to Whom the Kingdom with all its power and all its glory belongs, is the One who backs our prayer. If a politician stands up and says certain radical things, which his party instructed him to say, he stands there comforted by the fact that he is backed by his party, especially if the party is the ruling party.

Therefore we declare at the end of our model prayer: “O God You rule over the universe; therefore we know that our prayer is not only backed by You, but that You wait for our prayers as Your mandate to do great and wonderful things.” Bringing Glory to God declares where we stand in the spiritual realm. It shows our faith in the defeat that Jesus brought over Satan, who constantly tries to turn our faith away from God. Satan’s main purpose is to get us discouraged and so lose our faith in God. Therefore, bringing glory to God defeats Satan and pleases the Lord.

For children and adults who are prepared to learn in a childlike way. For more information see http://t-a-c.co.za.