The King & Queen Of Unforgiveness (The Five Kings: Part 5)

Key Points





The king/queen of unforgiveness is the only unwanted ruler that
can cause hatred in your heart. 


The Greek word, aphesis (ἄφεσις), is used when referring to
forgiveness more than 40 times in the New Testament. It means to
send the obligation of debt away.


To not work towards forgiveness is a sin.


The first step to forgive someone is to count the cost:
acknowledge the hurt, the injustice, and the loss. Do not try to
forget it.


The second step is to identify the wrongdoing as the sin of
another sinner. Do not judge them any differently than God would
judge you for your own sin.


The third step is to release them from the obligation to pay the
debt and absorb the cost, just like Jesus did to forgive yours.


Imagine releasing them from the choke hold of your hate.


The fourth step is to aim for reconciliation if/when possible.
This is what Jesus did and continues to do for us after
forgiveness occurs.





Discussion





Have you experienced a journey of unforgiveness? Please share.


How would you help others when they are stuck in unforgiveness?


Explain what it means to absorb the debt.


Pray for those who are struggling to forgive.





"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God
has forgiven the inexcusable in you." - C. S. Lewis, Mere
Christianity (New York: HarperOne, 2001), 125.