DANGEROUS PRAYERS
Forgiveness is not weakness—it’s spiritual warfare.
You don’t forgive because they deserve it—you forgive because you’re free.
FORGIVENESS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT KILLS YOUR RIGHT TO STAY OFFENDED.
JESUS PRAYED IT FIRST — EVEN WHEN IT HURT
LUKE 23:34 — “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
IF JESUS COULD FORGIVE IN PAIN, WE CAN FORGIVE THROUGH PAIN.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT OPTIONAL — IT’S A COMMAND
MATTHEW 6:14-15 — If you forgive others… your Father will forgive you.
COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 MSG So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
YOU CAN’T RECEIVE WHAT YOU REFUSE TO RELEASE.
UNFORGIVENESS WILL POISON YOU
HEBREWS 12:15 — A root of bitterness springs up and defiles many.
HEBREWS 12:14-17 MSG Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
EPHESIANS 4:31-32 MSG Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
UNFORGIVENESS IS DRINKING POISON AND EXPECTING THEM TO DIE.
FORGIVENESS DOESN’T MEAN WHAT THEY DID WAS OKAY
ROMANS 12:19
YOU FORGIVE BECAUSE YOU WERE FORGIVEN
EPHESIANS 1:7-10 MSG Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
WE FORGIVE BIG BECAUSE WE WERE FORGIVEN BIGGER.
FORGIVE YOURSELF
PRAYER
“Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus.
Your Word says in Matthew 6:14-15 that if I forgive others, You will forgive me.
So today—I choose to forgive.
According to Colossians 3:13, I forgive as You forgave me.
I release every offense.
I let go of every hurt.
Your Word says in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to You—so I give it to You.
Uproot every bitterness in me according to Hebrews 12:15.
Jesus, You said, ‘Father forgive them’—so today I say the same.
Heal my heart.
Free my soul.
And teach me to walk in forgiveness.
I release them, so I can be released!
I forgive by faith—even before I feel it!
I drop the offense and pick up freedom!
No bitterness will live in me!
I will not let pain turn into poison!
Jesus, I choose forgiveness.
Not because it’s easy—but because You commanded it.
I release every name, every face, every wound.
Heal me, free me, and make me whole.
In Jesus’ name—Amen.”