Concept

An unforgiving spirit causes us to hold on to the offenses of others and our own mistakes, or not to consider the mistakes of others or our own sins as acceptable and forgivable, and it disturbs, accuses, and even attacks us to acknowledge and live out our undeserved great salvation brought about by the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and choose to pass on the forgiveness that Jesus gave us to other equally imperfect people.

It manifests itself as "anger at God" and unforgiveness toward others and oneself.

• Resentment, judgment, revenge, illness, accusations, exhibitionism, violent fights, gluttony, blindness, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, anorexia, cancer, anger, racial hatred, witchcraft, smoking addiction, anger, the occult, drug abuse, alcoholism, family feuds, recollection of traumatic memories, lack of love.

• It paralyzes our souls and makes it impossible for us to see that our souls are heavily in debt.

• Destroying all kinds of relationships will also make us become the evil person, often acting like an innocent victim and feeling that others have wronged us.

Reasons for unforgiveness:

1. Unforgiveness towards others: Bad role models growing up

When we grow up in a family environment with chronic, irreconcilable conflicts and harsh punishments for minor offenses, “forgiveness” becomes grudging and joyless. Therefore, it is difficult for us to understand true forgiveness—because it has never been properly demonstrated to us.

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. (Matthew 23:9-10)

2. The invincible pressure of worldly affairs

We live in a world that tells us we have to “take charge of our lives” or “can’t lose” and in Asian cultures “can’t lose face”. As a result, forgiveness doesn’t seem right for us. The reality is that unforgiveness makes us weak and vulnerable, and it’s easy to be distracted from God by what seems righteous or comfortable.

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. (Proverbs 19:11)

3. Past disappointments

We’ve all heard the saying, “Once bitten, you’re afraid of the rope.” Some people may have been disappointed in past experiences with forgiving others and therefore decide that it’s not worth the effort.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22)

4. The offender is unwilling to admit his or her fault

What if the person who offended us does not repent, change, or even admit that he or she did something wrong? It is important to remember that forgiveness is between God and us. When we forgive, we are clearing our record before God. We should not be swayed by what others do or do not do.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

5. Unresolved emotions

Some of us want to forgive but don’t have the strength to do so and don’t understand why we should because we feel stuck. No matter how many times we think we have forgiven our offender, when we think of them, the agitation and familiarity of the emotion still comes back to us. This is a symptom of repressed emotions that are related to past hurts that have not been properly processed.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:3-4)

Source: Pastoral Ministry Department of End-Time Ministry (Please notify us promptly if any copyright infringement is involved.)