What if…. there was no such thing as forgiveness? 
Have you ever thought about what it would be like if there was no forgiveness?

John Lennon wrote a song called “Imagine” which was about a world full of peace, love and harmony.
Have you ever imagined a world without forgiveness? 
Imagine... no forgiveness between Elohim and man. 
Imagine... no forgiveness between men. 
Imagine… a world without forgiveness.

Such a world would be full of anger, strife, bitterness, hatred, animosity, hostility, war.  
You get the picture …massive chaos !!….

That’s a really sobering thought. We all sin. We all make mistakes. We all have regrets. We all have things in our past that we would change if we could. But we can’t change the past.  So the only alternative is forgiveness.

Forgiveness brings hope to the soul and a chance to start over with a clean slate. Forgiveness brings reconciliation, compassion, harmony, fellowship, freedom from guilt, peace..Shalom.
  
We could say un-forgiveness is the curse of chaos and forgiveness is the blessing of peace…shalom.
Shalom with Elohim.  Shalom with man.

Let us remember Yahweh is the originator of forgiveness. He forgives us and we are set free.  Messiah told us that we are to forgive others and by our forgiveness of others not only are they set free but we are also set free.

I have heard it said that un-forgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

In the parable recorded in Matt. 18:23-35 Messiah warns us that if we do not forgive, our King will not forgive us. The servant, who had asked for mercy for the huge debt he owed the King, was forgiven of the debt.
Later, that same servant was unwilling to forgive his fellow servant a minor debt. Because the servant would not forgive his fellow servant, the King was furious and calls him wicked and orders him to be turned over to the tormentors.

That is what happens to us when we do not forgive.

Un-forgiveness is actually a sin of the heart that is tucked away where no one but Yahweh sees and it opens us up to the curse. The blessings are stopped, our prayers are hindered and we are turned over to the tormentors. It is a barrier to receiving physical, emotional and mental healing. That’s a heavy price to pay just to hold a grudge.

 

What are the steps towards forgiving someone?

1. Ask the Ruach HaKodesh to bring to mind anyone you need to forgive. Recognize and admit you have had un-forgiveness towards a particular person. Be honest. Yahweh already knows but He just wants you to realize  it so you can be set free.
2. Understand that forgiveness is not a “ feeling” it is an act of the will… a decision. Forgiveness is a spiritual response based on the instructions in the Torah.
3. James 4:7  instructs us to … Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
   How do we submit ourselves to Elohim?  We willfully forgive in spite of how we feel about it.
   Forgiveness and un-forgiveness are spiritual weapons but on opposite sides.
   
   Un-forgiveness is hasatan’s greatest and most successful spiritual weapon in his arsenal.  It is subtle and does  the most damage to us. Forgiveness is the “counter punch” that completely disarms and destroys the enemy and his plans and puts him on the run. When we forgive, we take away hasatan’s legal access to our life and his legal rights to keep us under the curse.
4. Go before the Lord and declare that you forgive that person. Our spoken words are very powerful..say it out loud…Lord, I forgive so and so and name them. Say it many times if you need to, listening to your own voice declaring this before Yahweh. The prayer of declaration is very powerful.
5. The battle ground is the mind. Don’t dwell on the past.  You control your mind with the help of the Ruach HaKodesh.  When wrong thoughts come, replace them with the positive.
   
   Phil.4:8. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,  whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
6. Bless and pray for the person.
   Luke 6:28   bless those who curse you, pray for those who  mistreat you.
   
7. After having forgiven others, ask the Ruach HaKodesh if there is anyone you need to go to and ask forgiveness of your offenses to them.

What if…we all freely forgave each other just like Yahweh forgives us?
Imagine…That’s the Kingdom of heaven on earth!!

I would like to close with this sample prayer that you can use if needed.  

Father, I come before you in Yeshua’s Name. I want to be forgiven of all my offenses and I see that your Word shows me I have to forgive others in order for You to forgive me.  I forgive all who have hurt or rejected me and I specifically forgive _(Name)_ just like I want you to forgive me. I now declare I have forgiven them and I bless them in your Name. I ask that You forgive me and I thank you for it, Father.  I ask to be released now from any and all claims the evil one has against me in Yeshua’s Mighty Name.

Amen