THE PRINCIPLE OF FORGIVENESS !

THE PRINCIPLE OF FORGIVENESS !: Jesus taught much about forgiveness during His stay here on earth, and He included forgiveness as one of the essential elements of prayer. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (v. 12). In verse 14 and 15 He also said, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Prayer will not work in an unforgiving heart. When people say 'l'lI forgive but I won't forget," then they haven't really forgiven someone of their trespasses. We simply cannot hold a grudge against anyone and maintain a prayer life that gets results ! There are many instances where mental confusion and emotional frustrations can be attribute to harboring bitterness against others. Doctors have learned that people who hold resentment in their hearts are more susceptible to certain types of diseases. When they can get such patients to rid themselves of their resentment, although they have not responded at all to medical treatment, in most cases their trouble clears up. More and more, medical science is discovering how closely our inner feelings are related to our physical health. I have heard believers who were not walking in close fellowship with the Lord to help me how badly they had been treated by a certain person. They would say, "Oh, yes, I have forgiven him or her all right, but I never will forget what he or she did to me !" They really hadn't forgiven that person at all ! Resentment still lurked in the hidden corners of their heart. THE PRINCIPLE OF DELIVERANCE FROM TEMPTATION: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. . ." (v. 13). The word temptation means "test" or "trial." Many tests and trials could be overcome in advance by the child of God who is enjoying the fellowship with the father that a proper prayer life brings. Every man or woman is tempted by what is common to them when they are enticed and drawn away by their own lust (James 1:14). Then we come to the conclusion: ". . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen" (v. 13). The prayer that begin with praise also ends with praise. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).