Articles and Reflections

Impact Nations is witnessing radical transformation in families and communities in Uganda. For over a year our partner Annabelle and I have been conducting Hope Alive seminars to expose, challenge, and provide tools to combat systemic sexual violence and abuse, teen pregnancy and early marriage. We go to different districts to share statistics, train and minister in inner healing, and help the participants initiate local strategic plans to foster change. These groups include political figures, educators, medical practitioners, business people and leaders of different faiths. One of the biggest keys to change is the power of forgiveness. Participants are testifying to the surprising change that occurs when they share about forgiveness and put this key into practice.

The story I begin with imparts faith in the power of God that is released when we choose to forgive. Some years ago, in a women’s conference in Kenya, a participant asked the question, “Do you have to forgive someone who is dead?” My response was to help her see that this person was still causing pain, even though they were no longer alive. When she thought about them, remembering what they had done, it was as if the person in the grave had a chain around this woman’s neck, and pulled on it to cause more pain and distress. When we choose to forgive, we set ourselves free, through God’s power, to let go of the power of that memory to bring ongoing pain. I prayed for her, and for all the participants in the conference, to access God’s grace to forgive, given to us by Jesus, and choose to let go of the offense and the desire to have revenge.

A year later, in the women’s conference, I asked for testimonies from the previous year. A woman stood and reminded me of the question she had asked, and of my answer and prayer. She said that I didn’t know that she was a pastor. That she felt so guilty about not being able to forgive she had planned her suicide, believing that as a pastor her sin of not forgiving disqualified her. When we prayed, she chose to forgive the person who had harmed her and cut the ties that bound them to each other. She experienced great freedom, canceled her plan for suicide, and began to share on forgiveness with everyone. A wonderful story of Jesus’ abundant life.

But that wasn’t the end of that story. I shared it on an Eastern African tv and radio show and there were over 26,000 responses of freedom from crippling pain from unforgiveness, as well as freedom from suicidal thoughts. When I shared it at a maximum-security men’s prison, 984 prisoners chose to forgive and turn to confess to Jesus as their Savior.

Why is forgiveness so powerful? Jesus gave us the ultimate example on the cross, when He said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34.

God invites us to come to Him with “pure hands and a clean heart” (Ps. 24:4). Forgiveness is the key to blessing and freedom. Forgiveness is a Kingdom principle which is made very clear in the scriptures. When we choose not to forgive, God’s hand of protection, mercy and restoration is hindered or even stopped. It is as though we step out of intimacy with him. We may feel God has turned away, but He promises never to leave us. We may not realize it, but we have created a hinderance to being in His presence. Forgiveness and repentance open our hearts to allow the river of God’s love, healing, and new life to flow in.

In Matthew 18:21-35 Peter asked Jesus how many times we need to forgive someone who has sinned against us, with the hopeful suggestion of up to seven times being sufficient. In response Jesus says, “not seven times but seventy times seven”. Then he tells the parable of the unmerciful servant. This servant is forgiven a huge and impossible debt by his master, but then refuses to cancel the small debt owed to him by a fellow servant. In response he is called a “wicked servant” by the master for not being merciful, and hands him over to jailers to be tortured. Jesus concludes with “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

That is a very sobering scripture. But at the cross Jesus empowered us to have the strength to choose to forgive. The consequence of not forgiving is torture (v 34), which is separation from God. It is not because God is mean or turns away from us, it is because by not forgiving we choose to step out of the flow of God’s love and forgiveness. All we need to do to restore that flow is to repent for not forgiving, and freely give away mercy from the grace of God that we walk in through Jesus.

When asked about prayer in Matthew 6:12 Jesus includes ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment] …v14 For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.” (Amplified version).

Forgiveness is the setting of our will, the making of a decision that a release or pardon is granted to the offending person or situation. It is letting go of the sense that they owe us something, they should pay.

Forgiveness is not saying that what happened to you doesn’t matter. It is not denying your hurt. It is not saying that what they did or what happened was God’s will. It is not saying that you must go and tell the other person that they are forgiven (this can create a new problem and more hurt). It is not saying that you must now trust them (God may ask you to, but sometimes His wisdom is to not subject yourself to the same pain again).

What does operating in forgiveness do? It cleanses our body, soul and spirit so we can face God without shame or hindrance. It cuts the chains that bind us to the person or the offense through bitterness, hatred, resentment, desire for justice or vengeance. It sets us free to heal and removes the ground for the enemy to have access to us. It sets God free to work in the other person’s life; “whatever you loose on earth is loosed in and from heaven” (Mt. 16:19).

In scriptures God says vengeance is his; this is another reminder of how important it is that we be under the grace that comes with repentance and forgiveness:

• Leviticus 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
• Rom. 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
• Heb. 10:30 This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing,” and, “God will judge his people.” (The Message)

We get what we give. If I try to exact justice, I have fallen from the place of mercy and grace (remember the unmerciful servant in Mt. 18:21-35). Mercy always triumphs over judgment. James 2:13...because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

The desire to get even is a trap from the enemy; if we demand judgment for others rather than mercy, then the devil has legal ground for us to reap in our own lives what we have sown in our hearts towards others; judgment, not mercy.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

We can’t expect and desire judgment for others but mercy for ourselves; it is all or nothing; judgment without mercy or mercy without judgment.

Sin always damages our relationship with God and with people. Unconfessed sin can damage our physical, emotional and spiritual health. Sin takes us out from under God’s protection and blessing the steps to forgiveness are first to ask God for revelation of those you need to forgive. Confess your own sin of not forgiving and choose to forgive others. Receive forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration from God.

We also need to remember to forgive ourselves. This is often easily overlooked and most difficult. We can be hampered by pride; “my sin is too great”, or a sense of unworthiness “I don’t deserve forgiveness”. Both are saying that the cross wasn’t enough, that more must be done for us to be forgiven. We must forgive ourselves before God can remove our guilt, shame, and condemnation.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1

When Jesus responded to Peter with choosing to forgive “seventy times seven” He was helping us to understand that forgiveness may be a process. We choose to forgive and cut the ties that bind us to our offender. But then we may remember again what they have done, and we step back into that place of hurt and judgment. If we quickly choose again to forgive, we continue to walk in the freedom that only Jesus can give. Don’t let the enemy pull you back to that prison and isolation that comes with choosing not to forgive.

On the second day of the Hope Alive seminars, after hearing this teaching, and choosing to forgive, people return with testimonies of the Holy Spirit coming with great power to bring freedom and restoration to their families. The surprising factor is that these are not all followers of Christ. Participants from other faiths as well as those who do not yet know Him share about the power of forgiveness. When we invite them to turn to Christ, to acknowledge and follow Him, many do. Through them God is bringing transformation to a nation.