Dedicated Christian

Click to go to THE LORD’S PRAYER Part 8 (OUR DAILY BREAD)

Matt 6:9-13

(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

(11) Give us this day our daily bread.

(12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

(13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

After having prayed verse 11 “ Give us this day our daily bread “ which is to nourish us body, soul and spirit as well as meet the needs of our body, soul and spirit, we come to verse 12 which is also meant to keep us in relationship with God, cause us to grow spiritually, and to keep us free from captivity or the bondage of sin.

To be forgiven of our debts is to be forgiven from sins, faults and trespasses. God initially forgave us and cleansed us from sin when be where born again.

Rom 4:7-8

(7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven , and whose sins are covered.

(8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

 

But what about the sin we have allowed in our lives after being born again ?

1 John 1:8-10

(8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(9) If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This is why Jesus in teaching us to pray included “ Forgive Us Our Debts “ so that we could be cleansed from all unrighteousness. But there is a second part to that verse, “ As We Forgive Our Debtors “.

There are several verses that tell us to forgive so that we may be forgiven.

Matt 6:14-15

(14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

(15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25-26

(25) And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

(26) But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

By asking for forgiveness and by forgiving it keeps us in relationship with God but it also causes us to grow spiritually and helps to keep us free from bondage. We are created in the image of God and should be as He is in this world.

Rom 8:29

(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Col 3:10

(10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

1 John 2:6

(6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked.

God forgave us and forgives us and we should walk in that forgiveness to others as He walked in that forgiveness to all men.

By walking in forgiveness we grow spiritually being conformed to His image. We also put into practice the spiritual law of seedtime and harvest.

Gal 6:7-8

(7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap .

(8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

2 Cor 9:6

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

 

By sowing forgiveness we shall also reap forgiveness. We want to be forgiven our trespasses so our prayers will not be hindered.

We looked at relationship and spiritual growth, the third part will be freedom from bondage that results from not forgiving others. It’s a nasty thing to be taken captive when you are offended by someone and you hold on to that unforgiveness. God forgave us when we where all still sinners and we are to be like Him. When we choose to stay offended rather than to forgive, it does not hurt the other person.

That unforgiveness comes back at you. It hinders your relationship with God, you are in disobedience. It brings hatred to your heart, you may want to harm the other person and your life becomes full of bitterness instead of joy. Meanwhile, the other person is skating free and you are miserable. You have been taken captive by unforgiveness. Forgiving someone is not for their benefit, it is for your benefit.

Matt 5:22-26

(22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

(23) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

(24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

(25) Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

(26) Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing .

 

Once bitterness and hatred get into your heart from unforgiveness you have been taken captive and thrown into a prison forged by you and your unforgiveness. It carries a high price for not forgiving, and you are the one paying the price. Here’s another explanation that Jesus gives Peter about forgiveness.

Matt 18:21-35

(21) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

(22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

(23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

(24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

(25) But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

(26) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

(27) Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

(28) But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

(29) And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

(30) And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

(31) So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

(32) Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant , I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

(33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

(34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

(35) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

 

When you pray “ forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors “ that seed of God’s word is planted in your heart to grow into a harvest and bring itself to pass. You become empowered with God’s forgiving power inside of you so that you are enabled to forgive as God forgave you. Call upon the Lord to help you to forgive and stay free of the captivity and torment that unforgiveness brings.

 

An anonymous poet wrote:

We are most like beasts when we kill.

We are most like men when we judge.

We are most like God when we forgive.

 

FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS

 

Let us place that in our hearts and keep it on our lips as we walk with God.

 

GOD LOVES YOU

 

If you haven’t made Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour I would like to encourage you to do so. ( Romans 10:13 ) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Pray this prayer God in heaven, I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he died for my sin and was raised on the third day. I repent of my sins and receive Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Lord Jesus come into my heart and make me a child of God. Thank You Lord. Amen. Note: All scripture references are from the King James Bible