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Psalms 15:5 – Abiding in God’s Presence

10. Money Matters

No Interest Charged, on Loan – Psalm 15:5a (NIV) “Who lends money without interest” – Psalm 15:5a (NKJV) “He who does not put out his money at usury (interest).”

First, David in Psalm 15:5a highlights the importance of financial integrity, fairness, and compassion!

He who does not: The Hebrew Phrase “ʾăsher lōʾ” means he who does not, emphasising the idea of refraining from or avoiding a particular behaviour.
Put out his money: The Hebrew Phrase “nōtēn bəyādō” means to lend his money, highlighting the idea of financial transactions and lending.
At usury: The Hebrew word “nəśhek” means at usury or with interest, emphasising the idea of charging excessive or unfair interest rates.

Second, the themes of Psalm 15:5a (NKJV) “He who does not put out his money at usury (interest).”

Financial Integrity: Psalm 15:5a emphasizes the importance of financial integrity, fairness, and compassion in financial transactions.
Avoiding Exploitation: The Phrase “does not put out his money at usury” highlights the need to avoid exploiting or taking advantage of others through unfair or excessive interest rates.
Qualifications for Worship: Psalm 15:5a is part of the larger Psalm that outlines the qualifications for Worshiping God, emphasizing the importance of living the life of integrity, fairness, and compassion.

Third, the Biblical Parallels of Psalm 15:5a (NKJV) “He who does not put out his money at usury (interest).”

Exodus 22:25 “If you lend money to any of My People who are Poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.”
Leviticus 25:35-37 “If one of your brethren becomes Poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you.”

Fourth, the implications of Psalm 15:5a (NKJV) “He who does not put out his money at usury (interest).”

Practice fair and compassionate Lending: Believers should strive to practice fair and compassionate lending, avoiding excessive or unfair interest rates that can exploit or harm others.
Prioritize the well-being of others: Psalm 15:5a encourages Believers to prioritize the well-being of others, particularly those who are poor or vulnerable, and to act with fairness, compassion, and integrity in financial transactions.

Fifth, the concern is not with receiving interest for money loaned, though it seems to indicate that, but rather with whom the interest for the money loaned is taken from. In other words, Psalm 15:5a addresses that justice should not be circumvented by greed. The Person does not have a covetous spirit, and he does not take advantage of the Poor or less Privileged, lending his money and not exacting interest. The Person “who abides in God’s dwelling Place (tabernacle)” (Psalm 15:1a), refuses immoral financial gain.

Exodus 22:25 “If you lend money to one of My People among you who is needy, do not be like a Moneylender; charge him no interest.”
Leviticus 25:35-37 “If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countrymen may continue to live among you. you must not lend money at interest or sell him food at a profit.”
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (NIV) “Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest. You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite, so the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.”

It is not without cause that God has in Leviticus 25:35-36, forbidden interest, adding this reason: “And if one of your brothers become Poor, and falls in poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a Stranger or a Sojourner, that he may live with you. Take no interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you.” We see that the end for which the Law is framed is that man should not cruelly oppress the Poor, who ought rather to receive sympathy and compassion.

The Hebrew word for interest is “Neshek” which David employs, being derived from another word which signifies “to bite,” significantly shows that interests are condemned in so far as they involve in them, or lead to, a license of robbing or plundering their fellowmen, those that are Poor/Needy.
God’s Law allows reasonable interest of acceptable commercial practice, entered to the mutual advantage of Lender and Borrower alike, but the heartless and cruel grinding of the Poor amongst God’s People is detected (Deuteronomy 23:19-20).

Whence it follows, that the gains which the Person who lends his money upon interest acquires without doing injury to anyone, is not to be included under the head of unlawful interest.

Sixth, the Person is not he who loves money lending but is willing to help the Poor from a generous heart (Exodus 22:25). He is not interested in profiting financially at the expense of others; and thus – “He puts not out his money to lending.”

In relation to material wealth, he rejects the typically grasping practices of interest (Leviticus 25:36,37; Proverbs 28:8).
Open generosity is more the mark of the children of God (Matthew 10:8). Interest, when one Israelite borrowed of another, was strictly forbidden by the Law (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 23:19).
When the borrowed was a Foreigner, it was lawful (Deuteronomy 15:3); and no discredit can attach to the practice so long as the rate of interest charged is moderate (Matthew 25:27).

The Puritanic Divines are almost all of them against the taking of any interest upon money and go to the length of saying that one penny per cent per annum will shut a man out of heaven if persisted in. The demanding of excessive and grinding interest is a sin to be detested; the taking of the usual and current interest in a commercial country is not contrary to the law of love.”

11. No Bribe

He Does Not Take Bribe – Psalm 15:5b “Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.” – Psalm 15:5b (NIV) “And does not accept a bribe against the innocent.”

First, David in Psalm 15:5b highlights the importance of justice, fairness, and integrity in all aspects of life!

Nor: The Hebrew word “wəlōʾ” means nor or and not, emphasising the contrast between the previous phrase and this one.
Does he take: The Hebrew Phrase “yiqqāḥ” means does he take or does he accept, highlighting the idea of receiving or accepting bribe.
A bribe: The Hebrew word “šōḥad” means a bribe or a gift, emphasising the idea of receiving something in exchange for favours or influence.
Against the Innocent: The Hebrew Phrase “ʿal nāqî” means against the Innocent or against the Blameless, highlighting the idea of harming or exploiting those who are Innocent or without Fault.

Second, the themes of Psalm 15:5b “Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.”

Justice and Fairness: Psalm 15:5b emphasises the importance of justice and fairness in all aspects of life, highlighting the need to protect the Innocent and avoid exploiting or harming them.
Integrity and Moral Uprightness: The phrase “nor does he take a bribe” highlights the importance of integrity and moral uprightness, recognising that accepting bribes or gifts can compromise one’s values and principles.
Qualifications for Worship: Psalm 15:5b is part of the larger Psalm that outlines the qualifications for worshipping God, emphasising the importance of living the life of justice, fairness, and integrity.

Third, the Biblical Parallels of Psalm 15:5b “Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.”

Exodus 23:8 “And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.”
Proverbs 17:23 “A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.”

Fourth, the implications of Psalm 15:5b “Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.”

Uphold Justice and Fairness: Believers should strive to uphold justice and fairness in all aspects of life, recognizing the importance of protecting the Innocent and avoiding exploitation or harm.
Maintain Integrity and Moral Uprightness: Psalm 15:5b encourages Believers to maintain integrity and moral uprightness, recognizing that accepting bribes or gifts can compromise one’s values and principles.

Fifth, allied to the covetous spirit is the practice of taking bribes to pervert the course of justice.

The Person does not stoop to bribery in taking a reward against the Innocent.
The Person refuses to take a bribe, either as Judge or a witness, when a charge is made against an Innocent Person.

The contrary conduct was practised by Israelites in later times (Isaiah 1:23; 5:23). He will be clear as light, bright as day, true as steel, firm as rock.

12. The Reward

Psalm 15:5c (NKJV) “He who does these things shall never be moved.”

First, David in Psalm 15:5c makes the powerful conclusion to Psalm 15, emphasising the stability and security that come from living the life of integrity, righteousness, and obedience to God:

“He who”: The Hebrew Phrase “ʾăsher” means he who, emphasising the idea of Someone who consistently lives out the qualities described in Psalm 15.
“Does these things”: The Hebrew Phrase “ʿōśeh ʾēlleh” means does these things, highlighting the idea of putting into practice the principles and qualities described in Psalm 15.
“Shall never be moved”: The Hebrew Phrase “lōʾ yimōṭ” means shall never be moved or shall never be shaken, emphasising the idea of stability, security, and firmness.

Second, the themes of Psalm 15:5c (NKJV) “He who these things shall never be moved.”

Stability and Security: Psalm 15:5c emphasises the stability and security that come from living the life of integrity, righteousness, and obedience to God.
The Blessings of Obedience: The Phrase “he who does these things” highlights the idea that obedience to God’s Commands and Principles brings blessings and benefits, including stability and security.
The Character of the Righteous: Psalm 15:5c concludes the Psalm’s description of the Character of the Righteous, emphasising the importance of living the life of integrity, righteousness, and obedience to God.

Third, the Biblical Parallels of Psalm 15:5c (NKJV) “He who does these things shall never be moved.”

Psalm 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”
Psalm 112:6 “Surely he shall not be moved forever; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”

Fourth, the implications of Psalm 15:5c (NKJV) “He who these things shall never be moved.”

Live a life of integrity and obedience: Believers should strive to live a life of integrity, righteousness, and obedience to God, recognizing the stability and security that come from doing so.
Trust in God’s Sovereignty and Care: Psalm 15:5c encourages Believers to trust in God’s Sovereignty and Care, recognizing that He (God) is the Person who provides stability and security in times of uncertainty and challenge.

Fifth, the Person who cultivates the desirable moral character of Psalm 15:2-5b, in answer to the question: Psalm 15:1 “LORD, who may abide in Your Tabernacle (House), who may dwell in Your Holy Hills,” will never be shaken (moved). The Person is well-founded and firmly anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is like Mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abides forever. Thus, the teaching of Psalm 15 ends with a Postscript: Psalm 15:5c “He who does these things shall never be moved.”

Sixth, the Reward in this Life for the Person who lives according to the twelve requirements in Psalm 15 is that the Person will never be shaken under any circumstances. The Person will not be shaken when God arises to judge the People. In effect, he will be permitted to remain in the House of the LORD all the days of his life and has an abundant entrance into God’s Presence.

Summary

David’s concern as shown in Psalm 15 is with the totality of life determined by God’s Character. This includes right speech with our neighbour and integrity in legal and financial matters. God’s Promises are to stand. Money is to honour God. The Innocent are to be protected. We see these “standards” fulfilled in Christ and then fulfilled in the Individual’s life, who abides and dwells in God’s Presence and Walk “not…according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:4).

When the Person lives righteously, there is no storm that can uproot him from God’s Assurance from His Word. God’s Promise – “He that does” (Psalm 15:5c) – The Person who meets God’s Expectations is the Person who “does these things.” (Psalm 15:5c).

The Person not only knows what God expects of him, but he puts these 12 Principles into Practice. The note of stability of Psalm 15:5c “He who these things shall never be moved,” gives the Proper Climax to Psalm 15.

On the other hand, it is to have security and steadiness or consistency of Character and Conduct, whatever the circumstances, so that, he shall never be moved, that is, he will enjoy safety and display stability:

No convulsions can disturb such Person. His Rest in Divine Love is Person who is secure against any catastrophe whatever (Romans 8:38,39).
Time is on the side of such the Person. For both the Graces of Faith and Obedience will strengthen with Age; while God who is his Stronghold is the same “Yesterday, and Today, and Forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Such Characters, moreover, can never get out of date.
No discoveries in science nor in any department can dim the lustre of such a life. To trust in the Great Eternal God and to aspire to His Likeness (2Corinthians 3:18), is surely that of which no advance in human thought can ever make us ashamed.
The faithful God will never desert such the Person. Whosoever clings to God in faith, love, and obedience will never find His love unreciprocated or his trust unrecompensed.
The Promises made to such the Person will never fail. They are all Yea and Amen in Christ (2Corinthians 1:20); they are sealed by “the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant” (Hebrews 13:20). And hence the Person who reposes his trust in them can never be moved.
Bishop Perowne remarks: “Faith in God and spotless integrity may not be sundered. Religion does not veil or excuse petty dishonesties. Love to God is only then worthy the name, when it is the life and bond of every social virtue.”

1.4 Application

Much for the Christian to ponder here 12 Moral Principles are unchanging. Here is the Standard for the Saints. If God be among the Generation of the Righteous (Psalm 15) then the Character must be conformed to His requirements of Holiness.

Psalm 14 shows the Natural Person; Psalm 15, the Spiritual Person.
Psalm 14 God with His People; Psalm 15 God’s People with Him.

Fellowship with God and the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) go together. Righteousness has the Negative aspect as well as the Positive: it not only consists in what the Person does, but what he does not do.

God’s Grace alone makes the Believer the Guest of God, but the Guest is bound by the Laws of hospitality no less than the Host: While Security is recognised, Sincerity is required. Holiness in God (1Peter 1:16) is exhibited not by emotion, but by Character; it affects feet, hands, heart (Psalm 15:2), tongue, ears (Psalm 15:3) and eyes (Psalm 15:4).

Second Psalm – The Messianic (Part 3)

1.4 Submission

Psalm 2:10-12a “Now therefore, be wise, O Kings; be instructed, you Judges of the Earth. Serve the LORD with fear (reverential fear) and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.” The Admonition of God the Father is to the Kings and Rulers of the Earth, the Executive and Judicial Branches of Government. True wisdom is in submission while there is time and before the judgement falls. If the rebellious men do not bend, they will break. In the light of this, Five Important Instructions are given to the Totality of God’s Requirements:

1.4.1 Be Wise

Psalm 2:10-12a “Now therefore, be wise, O Kings; be instructed, you Judges of the Earth. Serve the LORD with fear (reverential fear) and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.” The Admonition of God the Father is to the Kings and Rulers of the Earth, the Executive and Judicial Branches of Government. True wisdom is in submission while there is time and before the judgement falls. If the rebellious men do not bend, they will break. In the light of this, Five Important Instructions are given to the Totality of God’s Requirements:

1.4.2 Be Instructed

Psalm 2:10b “be instructed (taught), you Judges of the Earth.” – Be taught by experience, as addressed to the Judicial Officers – if they (Judicial Officers) are not wise enough to know beforehand, that opposition towards God, is futile. Learn the Divine Purpose and Plan concerning His Son, the Anointed One (Jesus Christ). Compare the advice of Gamaliel (Acts 5:38-39). A colloquial translation might render the first two instructions: “Wise up; get smart.” With such enlightened attitudes and divinely illumined spirits they then could Serve, Rejoice, and Kiss (pay homage) to the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1.4.3 Serve the Lord

Psalm 2:11a “Serve the LORD with fear (reverential fear).” – The term “Serve” includes the surrender of the will and the submission of the heart. It means to come under King Jesus’ Rule and to obey Him. The NASB renders Psalm 2:11a: “Worship the LORD with reverence.” In the Old Testament and New Testament, Serve is often used in parallel with the attitude of “Worship” (Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20; Matthew 3:10; John 9:31; Romans 1:25):

Psalm 100:2 summons us to Worship: “Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His Presence with Singing.”
That Worship means Submission is seen in Psalm 95:6 “Oh come, let us Worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”

The Fear (Reverence) in Service comes from a sense of awe and even terror before God’s Majesty, Power, and Holiness (Exodus 20:18-21). If the Rebels will not Serve Him (Honour and Obey Him) from love, they will do it from fear, when God’s Wrath is kindled.

1.4.4 Rejoice

Psalm 2:11b “An rejoice with trembling.” – Worship includes joy; do not content with fear. Go on from fear to joy. A good Person “Rejoice in God always” (Philippians 4:4). This joy comes from the God’s Presence: “In Your Presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). It is not sentimental, however; it includes the “fear” (reverence) of the previous phrase now manifest by “trembling.” So, such rejoicing must be “with trembling;” or, with reverence, since no service is acceptable to God, but such as is rendered “with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). Fear (Reverential Fear) without joy is torment; and joy without holy Fear (reverence), would be presumption.

Perhaps the typical Charismatic Church needs: “Rejoice with trembling” underscored. We sometimes forget that it is possible to put these two things (“rejoicing with trembling”) side by side. Often when we rejoice, we lose our sense of dignity, and when we fear God, we forget to enjoy our positions of Sonship to rejoice.

1.4.5 Kiss the Son

Psalm 2:12a “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.” – The attitude of submission to the Lord Jesus Christ and joy and awe in His (Christ’s) Presence leads then to an Act (“Kiss” = Honour) of submission. Kissing the Son is an Act of Worship and Honouring. It is the Sign of Surrender. Thus, the Greek word for Worship, Proskuneó, means “Come toward to Kiss.”

To Surrender to our Lord Jesus, to Rejoice in His Presence, and to Kiss (Worship) Him (Jesus) in an Act of Submission, means that Rebellion is over, and Reconciliation has taken place. Apart from this, there is only His (God’s) Anger, Wrath, and the Perishing.

Repentance – In Luke 7:38 it is a Sign of Repentance. The poor woman who came into the house of Simon and stood behind Jesus did five things: She wept, she washed His feet with tears, she wiped them with the hairs of her head, she kissed His feet, and she anointed them with the ointment. The tears and the kiss were evidence of true Repentance. Our Lord Jesus said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.”
Forgiveness – The Kiss is also a token of Forgiveness (Luke 15:11-24) the Prodigal Son came back home to his father, and after his confession, received a Kiss of Forgiveness, a ring, a robe, shoes on his feet, and a welcome home banquet.
Homage and Loyalty – (Genesis 41:40; 1Samuel10:1). The ARV renders the expression, “with trembling kiss His feet.” The Kissing of Royal feet and hands was a symbol of Homage. The negative example is Judas, who crowned his treachery with a kiss

To “Kiss the Son” means more than to pay homage to Him. It means to embrace Him, depend entirely upon Him; to kiss Him, and not be ashamed of that fact (Song of Sol. 8:1). “Kiss the Son” is the Old Testament way of saying: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31)

1.5 Son

Psalm 2:12a “Kiss the Son.” – It is interesting to notice that two words for “Son” are used in Psalm 2:

Psalm 2:7, the term “Son” is “ben.”It is the Jewish word “Ben-jamine”
Psalm 2:12a, the term “Son” is “bar.” It is a Gentile word “Bar-abbas.”

Why the difference? The first “ben” (Psalm 2:7) is Christ relationship with God as the Son of His Right Hand; the second “bar” (Psalm 2:12a), Christ relation to the Gentile Powers referred to in Psalm 2. At the Crucifixion they cried, away with Him, give us Bar-abbas. The use of the word here would be a stab at their conscience. Judas gave Him the kiss of hypocrisy and treachery, but here the admonition is to Kiss the Son in true Contrition and Repentance. If Psalm 2 was written at the time of the Absolom’s rebellion, what a tragic local reference it has!

1.6 The Pleas

Psalm 2:12a “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.” – Psalm 2 ends with two Powerful Pleas:

God’s Anger – “Lest He (God) be angry” – The omission of a customary token of respect is an insult which naturally angers the object of it. The compassion, gentleness, tenderness of Jesus, are sometimes dwelt on to the exclusion of His (Jesus’) Majesty and Righteousness. There is no more greater Warning in the Scripture that the “Wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16-17).
Perish – “And ye perish from the Way.” If an Individual refuses, he perishes from the Way (the Lord Jesus Christ – John 14:6); the Individual wanders; he misses the Way (Jesus) and is seriously lost; he perishes as the result of being lost. Professor Cheyne’s rendering is: “You (Individual) goes to ruin.” To make the Son (Jesus) is to bring destruction on himself or course in life –because of God’s Wrath – “When His (God’s) Wrath is kindled but a little.”

1.7 The Blessings

Psalm 2:12b “Blessed are all they who put their trust in Him.” – Psalm 2 ends of “blessing” echoes Psalm 1:1 and links the two Psalms together. It ends with the phrase described the Believer’s Place of Blessedness. The Person arrives there by putting his trust in God. Psalm 2 ends with the Promise, using the same line of thought with which Psalm 1 begins: “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”

It is foolish to fret and chafe against God’s Government. All Mankind is under Christ, whether in this state of being or in any other. Christ has the Heart of Love as well as the Sceptre of Power; and He rules to Save. Those who will not submit to the Sceptre of Christ’s Grace must feel the weight of His iron rod. True Blessedness is found in submission to Christ; this Blessedness is Greater than Tongue can Express or Heart Conceive.

In Psalm 1 we see the Wicked driven away like chaff (Psalm 1:4); in Psalm 2, we see the Wicked (Rebellious) broken in Pieces like the Potter’s Vessel.
In Psalm 1, we beheld the Righteous, are blessed and like the Tree planted by the Rivers of Water (Psalm 1:3); and in Psalm 2 we contemplate Christ the Covenant Head of the Righteous, made better than a Tree Planted by the Rivers of Water, for He is made King of the whole Universe, and all the Nations and People will bow before Him (Philippians 2:10).

1.8 Evangelistic

Psalm 2 is Evangelistic. It is addressed to the Nations. It beats with Missionary Heart. It is the Nations who are in revolt against Christ (Psalm 2:2). It is the Nations, however, who are promised to Him (Psalm 2:8). And it is the Nations who are called to Him (Psalm 2:10).

Psalm 2 directs the Nations to the Son (Jesus), warns the Nations of God’s Judgement to come, and Promises the Blessing if the Nations Worship (Serve) Him. Thus, Psalm 2 is for all the Nations and People. It is for the Nations, the Gentiles who submit to God’s Son and King.

In Psalm 2, the learning is: “Serve the LORD with fear, rejoice with trembling,” and “Kiss the Son.” Psalm 2 is also structuring an Evangelistic Invitation. It defines the problem, the Nations’ Revolt.

Psalm 2 offers the Solution: “God’s Son (Jesus).” Psalm 2 warns of judgement to come and calls us to surrender to Him (Jesus) in Worship (Serve). The road back to God the Father is already marked and the Way (Jesus) is open. Christ who stands at the Way, we must come and receive Him….”Kiss the Son.”

Forgiveness (Matthew 6:12) (Part 2)

Unanswered Prayer

Mark 11:24-26 “Therefore, I say unto you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought (anything) against any, that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father, who is in heaven, forgive your trespasses.” This is the root cause of Unanswered Prayers. Unforgiveness is not changed by time. The Person may have resentment in his/her heart for years. That Person still has to take the appropriate action to forgive. Unforgiveness is not changed by the fact that it has happened a long time ago. The Person that is closest to us is the one that is going to hurt us the most. To maintain a spirit of forgiveness is therefore essential to our walk with the Lord Jesus. One of the main problems with the Younger Generation is their relationship with their Parents. Parents have to carry the share of the blame, the “missing fathers” – Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; And He shall turn the heart of the fathers to their children and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

Remit or Retain

John 20:22-23 “And when He (Jesus) he had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive you the Holy Spirit: Whosesoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins you retain, they are retained.” A tremendous responsibility on the Holy Spirit in-breathed Christian. The Person becomes “a Sin-Remitter” or “a Sin-Retainer.” The words of our Lord Jesus Christ were for all Christians rather than the earlier Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The unforgiving Person is bounded by an invisible cord to the Person who he has not forgiven. The only way to break loose is Forgiveness.

The Steps

When the Person is confronted with this requirement that we have to forgive others as we want God to forgive us, I often heard people say, “I can’t forgive.” But this arises from the misunderstanding of the nature of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not an emotion it is a decision. We cannot work up the emotion, but we can make the decision. This means that we can forgive if we know how. Six steps to forgiving others:

Recognise our need to forgive by God. Be honest with ourselves. Do not try to be too religious or too pious. Do not pretend that they are no “bad feelings” in our hearts against that Person or Situation. Acknowledge that there are some people that we are really bitter against, we really hold resentment against. Do not covers it up. Be willing to name the Person(s) we need to forgive.
Submit to God’s Word – Excepts the teaching of God’s Word on forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:15-35; Mark 11:24-26; John 20:22-23). Forgiving others is not being spiritual but enlightens self-interest. The measure we forgive others is the measure God forgives us.
Make the right decision, remember, do not wait for feeling, because our feelings are not fully under our control. But our wills are fully under our control. Forgiveness proceeds from the will not from the emotion. Willed to forgive that Person(s). Make the decision.
Affirm to forgive verbally. Do not let it be an inner thought that passes through our mind. Affirm it with our words. “Lord Jesus I forgive…….” Affirming it with our spoken words give it tremendous power.
Confirmation – Suppose that hurt and resentful feelings come back. We keep thinking about the Person(s) and the hurts. What are we going to do? Are we going to forgive again? My advice is that you do not reaffirm that forgiveness again. This will weaken our first forgiveness. What we need to do when we are tempted to give up the forgiveness, tempted to go back to resentment or bitterness, is this just say: “Lord Jesus, I have forgiven……” do not go back to it but just state it that it has been done. I have forgiven.
Exercise Love – Replace the negative image you have created in your mind about that Person with the goodness in that Person, also speak into the spiritual world, the Person’s goodness. In other words, every time we begin to think of that Person that we have a hard time to forgive, do not dwell on the Person and the issue but thank God for that Person and the Situation. And begin to Pray for that Person and his family.

Prayer

God, I acknowledged my need of Your Forgiveness. I believe that You are willing to forgive me for our Lord Jesus’ Sake. But I also acknowledge that I need to forgive Mr/Miss……….., so by the decision of my will, I now forgive Mr/Miss……… as I will have You to forgive me. Trusting in Your Grace and Mercy, I now affirm that I have forgiven Mr/Miss…….. as You have forgiven me. Thank you in Jesus’ Name. Amen.