Words of Inspiration - Forgiveness

[00:00:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly

[00:00:49] [SPEAKER_00]: dividing the word of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_00]: You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast.

[00:01:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And now here's Elgin.

[00:01:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of Yeshua Hamashiyah to another episode

[00:01:09] [SPEAKER_01]: of Words of Inspiration, where we explore how God's Word leads us to abundant life.

[00:01:19] [SPEAKER_01]: And today we're discussing a topic that testifies every area of our lives.

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Forgiveness.

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_01]: Our inspiration comes from Colossians 3, verse 13, and reading from the new international

[00:01:34] [SPEAKER_01]: version it reads,

[00:01:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Bear with each other and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against someone.

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_01]: The primary thought being that we cannot experience the abundant life Jesus promised

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_01]: us when we hold on to unforgiveness, whether toward others or even ourselves.

[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_01]: So let's take a closer look into why forgiveness is essential for living a life of true freedom

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_01]: and peace.

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_01]: In John 10.10 Jesus says, I have come that they may have life and have it to the

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_01]: full.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_01]: The abundant life that Jesus promises is one of peace, joy and freedom.

[00:02:28] [SPEAKER_01]: But we cannot fully experience this kind of life if we are burdened by unforgiveness.

[00:02:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Holding on to grudges, bitterness or resentment weighs us down and keeps us from experiencing

[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_01]: the fullness of God's grace.

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_01]: When we choose not to forgive, we are essentially building a wall between ourselves and God's

[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_01]: desire for us.

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Colossians 3 and 13 reminds us that just as the Lord has forgiven us, we are called to

[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_01]: extend that same forgiveness to others.

[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_01]: It's not a suggestion, it's a commandment for our own good.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_01]: By forgiving, we release ourselves from the emotional and spiritual chains that hold us

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_01]: back from living freely in Christ.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_01]: One of the most important truths about forgiveness is that it's less about the other person

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER_01]: and more about you.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_01]: When we hold on to unforgiveness, we often think we are punishing the other person who

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_01]: has wronged us.

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_01]: But the truth is, we're the ones who suffer.

[00:03:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, which affects our emotional, spiritual and even physical health.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Hebrews 12 and 15 warns us about allowing bitter root to grow within us, which can

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_01]: cause trouble and defile us.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_01]: When we choose to forgive, we're not excusing the offense, we're freeing ourselves from

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_01]: the negative impact it has on our hearts and minds.

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Forgiveness allows us to let go of pain and trust God to handle the justice and healing.

[00:04:12] [SPEAKER_01]: While we often focus on forgiving others, we must also remember the importance of

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_01]: forgiving ourselves.

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Many of us carry guilt and shame from past mistakes and that self-condemnation

[00:04:26] [SPEAKER_01]: can be just as dangerous as holding a grudge against someone else.

[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Romans 8 and 1 tells us, therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in

[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Christ Jesus.

[00:04:41] [SPEAKER_01]: If God has forgiven us through Christ, who are we to continue punishing ourselves?

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Forgiving ourselves allows us to move forward in freedom, fully embracing the

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_01]: grace that God has given us.

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Holding on to self-condemnation only limits our ability to live in the

[00:05:00] [SPEAKER_01]: abundance that Jesus offers.

[00:05:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's liberating.

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_01]: It opens the door to healing, restoration and a closer relationship with God.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_01]: When we forgive, we are reflecting God's nature and His mercy toward us.

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_01]: We're also creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and guide us

[00:05:25] [SPEAKER_01]: toward greater peace and purpose.

[00:05:26] [SPEAKER_01]: When we follow the command of Colossians 3 and 13 to forgive as the Lord forgave us,

[00:05:36] [SPEAKER_01]: we are setting ourselves free from the burden that hinders our spiritual

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_01]: growth.

[00:05:42] [SPEAKER_01]: This is the pathway to abundant life that Jesus promised, a life filled with

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_01]: peace, joy and freedom.

[00:05:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Brothers and sisters, I want to encourage you to think about any area

[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_01]: in your life where you might be holding on to unforgiveness, whether towards others

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_01]: or yourself.

[00:06:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Remember, forgiveness is not just for their benefit, it's for yours.

[00:06:09] [SPEAKER_01]: It's the key to unlocking the abundant life that Jesus promised.

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_01]: So let go of pain, release the bitterness and trust God to heal what's

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_01]: been broken.

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_01]: In doing so, you will step into the freedom and fullness of life that

[00:06:27] [SPEAKER_01]: God has always intended for you.

[00:06:31] [SPEAKER_01]: I thank you for spending time with me on today.

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER_01]: I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to our conversation

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_01]: on Sunday.

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Until then, God bless.

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for your time.

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Please, share it with someone.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_00]: You can find the Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_00]: many more.

[00:07:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Follow us on YouTube at the Bible Speaks Online.

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_00]: You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582 or

[00:07:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Caller, Florida 34478 or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com.