Episode Transcript
[00:00:12] Speaker A: Hello and welcome to another episode of Worldwide Wonderful Women. I am your host, Paula Harris and this podcast is for women who are all about learning how to live in God's divine power. It is produced on behalf of Transformed Worldwide Ministries. Thank you so much for being here.
[00:00:39] Speaker A: Hello. This is Episode #379 and it's entitled, "Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness."
First of all, I want to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to to all of you and I am so happy to have with me today my wonderful husband, William Harris. And I just want to take a moment to say, "Hi honey, how are you doing?"
[00:01:05] Speaker B: I'm doing fine, Paula. Thank you for having me share with you. This special topic of forgiveness is such a blessing and I look forward to what God is going to do.
[00:01:17] Speaker A: William and I just really felt led to share with all of you so that we would make sure that we understand during this Christmas season that it is really all about forgiveness. When you think about the Christmas season, it centers on the birth of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is really God the Father's way of delivering divine forgiveness for all of humanity's sin. And so this act of forgiveness from God inspires all of us as believers to extend forgiveness to others.
This holiday serves as a reminder that forgiveness is a gift to be both received and given. When you think about the birth of Jesus, it's not just a celebration of new life, but the beginning of a path of redemption and forgiveness of sins for all of us.
The name Jesus means Savior or Yahweh is salvation, and it's derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua. So Jesus came to save people from their sins, making forgiveness the core purpose of of his arrival and his entire life.
So by embracing this gift of freedom, you are freed from your sins and the penalty that comes with sin. From guilt, from carrying burdens, from having guilt and shame, and being under the power and the control of Satan and still having him as master of your life.
We don't want that. And William and I are here to just share some pointers with you briefly so that you can understand today, right at this time, how you can experience the freedom that God provides through forgiveness.
Now, the story of Jesus life, death, burial and resurrection inspires all of us to act on the same grace that we have been given and that we have received, so that in turn, we will give that same grace and forgiveness to others. Now, just as God forgives humanity, the holiday season encourages people to offer that gift of forgiveness to others.
So it's important, please, to pay attention to what we're going to share with you. And I know that this podcast is brief, but I believe that some of the points that we're going to share with you will lead to your freedom if you're not already walking in the freedom that Jesus came to provide for all of us.
Forgiveness is freedom. It is being freed first of all through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that we're not under the penalty or under the power of Satan, so that we are now free to be God's children, to be reconciled in a right relationship with him, and to walk in the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
John 10:10 says, "The thief (talking about Satan) only comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come (talking about Jesus) I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.
So he wants us to have an abundant life and to walk in freedom. And that's only possible when we receive the forgiveness that Jesus provides through his death, burial, and resurrection. And then also to be able to extend that forgiveness and freedom to others so that we're not walking in any guilt or shame or having a cloud of condemnation over us.
This season is a reminder to accept God's forgiveness so that we are not enemies against God any longer, but to be reconciled in a right relationship with him as God our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. Then in turn also to extend forgiveness to others so that we're not held in bondage or a trap of unforgiveness, anger, bitterness or wrath.
In Matthew 6:14-15, it says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
And then also in Matthew 18:21-22, it says, "Then Peter came to him and said, lord have how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? But Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to 70 times seven (which means continuously). And that might upset you right now. But I want you to continue to listen as we give you some more pointers that will help you with your freedom in regards to forgiveness.
Colossians 3:13 says, "Bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.
And then Mark 11:25 says, "And whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also, who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
And I know, honey, you have some scriptures and things you'd like to share too.
[00:07:14] Speaker B: Thank you for giving me this platform. And we all know that in today's world we live in some tough times. But In Ephesians 4:31-32, it says "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and and slander be put away from you along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.
Also, we go to Matthew 5:23-24, "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.
You see that to receive freedom is to receive forgiveness.
First, acknowledge the pain and your emotions without making excuses for the offense.
Then choose to forgive by consciously redirecting your thoughts from resentment to renewal, which may include praying for the other person who hurt you and practicing forgiveness as a daily process rather than a one time event. This journey is for your own freedom and only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Let's understand one thing what forgiveness is and isn't.
It's a process.
Forgiveness is an ongoing practice, not a single event. Some days will be harder than others and it's natural to have resentful thoughts to resurface.
It's about you.
The goal is to obey the Lord and release the burden of anger and resentment to free yourself from the control of the offense and any way Satan has gained entrance into your life.
It doesn't excuse the offense.
Forgiving someone does not mean what they did was okay or that you have to be buddy buddy with them at this time. It simply means you are choosing to let go the desire to get revenge.
It doesn't require forgetting.
You can forgive someone without forgetting what happened. You can forgive and still move forward with caution.
[00:10:15] Speaker B: Steps to take
Acknowledge the pain and your emotions. Be honest about your hurt without minimizing it.
Acknowledge how these feelings affect your behavior and ask God to help you to release them.
Redirect your thoughts when you find yourself replaying the offense. Consciously shift your focus from revenge to renewal through the power or praise of God.
Keep practicing.
View forgiveness as a skill that gets stronger with practice. Keep choosing to forgive each day and don't get discouraged when old feelings resurface.
Pray for the person who hurts you, even if it feels difficult.
[00:11:07] Speaker A: Oh, thank you William. Those are some really important points for us to remember.
Like William said, it's so important to understand that forgiveness is really a process and it's to help you, for you to be free. And it's not making an excuse for someone who offends you. It doesn't require that we forget it. But it's so important to take those steps that William said so that you can be free.
One thing that you need to understand too, about yourself and experiencing freedom through forgiveness is that it's important to focus on the future, look forward instead of being consumed by your past.
And then when you think about forgiveness, you have to relearn how to trust. Because when someone has offended you or hurt you, trust is broken. And so this is going to be a process over time in regards to learning how to trust again. It's not going to be immediate in regards to the moment that you know you decide that you're going to forgive.
And also be kind to yourself. Because forgiveness does take time sometimes, depending on how deep the hurt is or how big the offense is. Sometimes there are some offenses and hurts we can forgive and just walk away and it's fine. But some of those deep hurts, abuse, or deep pain that is happening to us (whether it's emotional or whether it's physical), we have to be patient and gentle with ourselves as we take the journey of forgiveness--which could have several layers.
And listen, I'm saying a lot, and if you don't understand what I'm saying, please go to our website, given at the end of the podcast and look on our homepage where you can receive new life in Jesus Christ. And also if you're listening to this podcast through our newsletter. In our newsletter this month, we're going to put the very steps that are necessary for you to receive the forgiveness of God so that first of all, you're set free with your relationship with God. And then you're able to, by the power of God to have him live in your life so that you can have the power to forgive others, those who hurt you.
And you know, there are times too, if you're still struggling with forgiveness and you are a child of God, a Christian, you might need to consider getting support from a pastor or a counselor or a godly friend.
Look, we're in the Christmas season when God thought it not robbery to send his son down here so that we could be freed from the penalty of sin and receive forgiveness and be reconciled back into a right relationship with God. And then not only that, that after we are reconciled in a right relationship with God, that we can have a right relationship with others.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
Reach out to us if you want to understand more about the freedom that you can obtain through forgiveness. I hope that we are at least causing you to think about the real gift of Christmas, which is forgiveness. That you need to receive it and then also you need to give it so that you can be set free and walk in the freedom that God intended by sending Jesus to earth; so that you can be reconciled to him and also be reconciled in your relationship with others.
Well, I'm so glad, honey, that you're here with me and we both want to say Merry Christmas to you.
[00:15:12] Speaker B: Merry Christmas to you and walk in freedom.
[00:15:16] Speaker A: Yes, that's what we want you to do.
So God bless you and Happy New Year too. And remember, smile, Jesus loves you!
[00:15:29] Speaker A: Thank you for listening. To make sure you do not miss any future episodes. Please subscribe to our podcast. We want all to be able to live in God's divine power. Also sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website: twmforjesus.org.
Please do share our podcast with others and Lord willing, we'll be together next month.
