Redeemer Church Mauritius
Unforgiveness is Ruining Your Life - Phil Kendon
Forgiveness means a conscious and deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person or group that has harmed you, whether they deserve it or not. So, unforgiveness must be a conscious and deliberate decision to hold onto feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person or group that has harmed you. We must never confuse forgiveness with condoning the hurt or offense. When we forgive someone, we are not giving in and admitting that they were right and we were wrong all along. We are letting go of negative feelings and emotions despite the fact that we have been wronged. Fortunately, the bible gives us some keys to overcoming unforgiveness in our lives.
Locations & Times
Redeemer Church Mauritius
Mauritius
Sunday 9:30 AM
1. What is unforgiveness?
- Unforgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision to hold onto feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person or group that has harmed you.
- Unforgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision to hold onto feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person or group that has harmed you.
2. How does unforgiveness show itself?
- Resentment, bitterness, and anger are all signs of unforgiveness along with anxiety and physical ailments that can be associated with unforgiveness.
- Resentment, bitterness, and anger are all signs of unforgiveness along with anxiety and physical ailments that can be associated with unforgiveness.
3. A bible example of unforgiveness - Naomi
- Unforgiveness assigns blame
Ruth 1:12–13 (NIV)
Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!”
- Holding a grudge leads to bitterness
Ruth 1:20–21 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
- Unforgiveness is like a replay button
Ruth 1:3–5 (NIV)
Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth 1:12–13 (NIV)
Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!”
Ruth 1:20–21 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
- Bitterness becomes an identity
Ruth 1:20–21 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
- Unforgiveness assigns blame
Ruth 1:12–13 (NIV)
Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!”
- Holding a grudge leads to bitterness
Ruth 1:20–21 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
- Unforgiveness is like a replay button
Ruth 1:3–5 (NIV)
Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth 1:12–13 (NIV)
Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!”
Ruth 1:20–21 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
- Bitterness becomes an identity
Ruth 1:20–21 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
4. How can we deal with unforgiveness in our lives?
Colossians 3:12–14 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
- Consider how God has forgiven you.
- Don’t give bitterness a chance to fester by practising kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience.
- Don’t grow weary in forgiveness (Jesus said 70 x 7 – Matthew 18:21).
- Learn to receive and give the love of God.
Colossians 3:12–14 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
- Consider how God has forgiven you.
- Don’t give bitterness a chance to fester by practising kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience.
- Don’t grow weary in forgiveness (Jesus said 70 x 7 – Matthew 18:21).
- Learn to receive and give the love of God.
Ask Yourself:
Will you let go of unforgiveness and bitterness this week?
Will you let go of unforgiveness and bitterness this week?
