Welcome to The Blessed Message—a peaceful space where reflections lead to renewal. Here, believers gather for meditation, encouragement, and the Word of God. Our messages are available in over 95 languages, reaching hearts across the world. Join our community as we grow together in Christ.
Today’s sermon: “The Power of Forgiveness” (Mathew 6:14-15).
Be blessed as you read or listen. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we praise and magnify Your holy name. Thank You for loving us unconditionally, not because of our perfection, not by what we have done or left undone, but simply because You are Love. Even before the foundation of the world, You prepared a way for our sins and unrighteousness to be washed away through the blood of Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for the precious blood of Christ that redeems, forgives, and makes us whole,a blood that speaks better things over our lives. We honor You for this gift.
Father, as we receive this message today, speak Your heart to us. Let Your Holy Spirit guide us. Set our hearts and minds fully on You, that we may receive Your word with openness. May it minister to us deeply, bringing freedom, deliverance, and reconciliation to every soul in need.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 6:14–15 (AMP):
For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.
Ephesians 4:30–32 (AMP):
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin]. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Forgiveness is not just about letting go of an offense; it is the key that releases God’s blessings, restores broken relationships, and helps us grow in Christ. When we forgive, we reflect the very heart of God, opening the door for His peace and power to work through us.
God has to make this message minister to me even more before completing this message.There is power in forgiveness. In fact, there is a miracle in it. There is freedom in it. Something profound happened to me today that showed me this truth in a way I will never forget.
I believe, intentionally someone offended me by holding on to what was mine, delaying it simply to hurt me. Naturally, I could have chosen to dwell on the offense, to become bitter and angry. But the Holy Spirit gently nudged my heart to forgive, to release it, and to look instead for a way forward. So I prayed, and I forgave the person. It was heavy on my spirit but I let it go.
As I searched for a solution, God was already at work. He had gone ahead of me and ordained someone to meet me right where I was. What I thought would cost me more didn’t even cost me anything. Not only was my need met, but God also brought a new friend into my life. It was no coincidence. I stood up and walked out, and God orchestrated two paths to cross at the exact moment I needed help. When I asked the person why he was there at that time, he simply said, “I don’t know. I just felt led to come and buy something in this shop.” But I knew, it was God’s hand at work. What if I had held on to bitterness? I could have sat in my bitterness, trapped by anger, replaying the hurt in my mind. But because I chose to let go, God stepped in. And where forgiveness flowed, His miracle and provision followed.
There is something profound that God continues to teach us about forgiveness, several instances in the bible we see where our elders of faith choose forgiveness instead of bitterness even in the most difficult situations. The very foundation God created us on was forgiveness.
When Peter asked Jesus how many times we ought to forgive, Jesus replied, “seventy times seven” Matthew 18:21-23 ‘‘Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven’’.
In other words, forgiveness is without limit. Imagine forgiving someone who intentionally offends you—again and again. Jesus was showing us that forgiveness cannot be counted; it must be continual.
Forgiveness requires endurance and long-suffering toward one another. Look at the story of Job. After years of trials and pain, the Lord restored him. But Scripture is clear—the restoration came when Job prayed for his friends (Job 42:10). Think about that. His friends mocked him, accused him of sinning against God, and spoke harshly against him in his darkest season. Yet Job interceded for them.
And when it was time for God to restore him, He used the very people who had known him, probably even those who had mocked him, to bless him. They brought him possessions, including silver and other items. This is why we shouldn’t shut the door on people just because they have offended us. Many times, God has used the very people we say we will never talk to or have anything to do with, to be a help to us.
That is the wisdom of God. How many of us can truly, intentionally pray for those who offend, hurt, or scorn us?
God is showing us that there is power in forgiveness. Forgiveness can open doors. Forgiveness can set us free. Often, when we forgive, it is less about the person who wronged us and more about us releasing ourselves from bondage. Forgiveness reflects the very heart of God—His patience, His long-suffering, and His love.
Think about how God forgave us. While we were still sinners, He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our redemption (Romans 5:8). Before we ever knew Him, before we even felt remorse, He had already ordained Christ’s sacrifice from the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20). Imagine the depth of love and forgiveness this reveals! Even before we sinned, God had already made a way for our forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
This is the wisdom of forgiveness. The miracle of forgiveness. The breakthrough in forgiveness. When you let go of grudges, whether from the past or present, you are not excusing the wrong; you are releasing yourself. You are saying, “Lord, I let go. You are the Judge, and I trust You to make things right. And He always does because He rules in the affairs of men.
The honest truth is that in this journey of life there will always be offenses, either from our very own family or the people we come across in life. We are all imperfect beings, and embracing each other’s imperfection is what will make the world a better place. If all we see is each other’s fault it would be difficult to see the good in people. We have to admit that at some point in life we have also wronged other people, hurt their feelings knowingly or unknowingly, we might not have met someone’s expectations in one way or the other,the same grace we expect from them is what we should extend to others. Forgiveness is acknowledging that we ourselves are not all perfect.
This doesn’t mean we lose our discernment. On the contrary, the ability to discern good from evil is a gift from God, given so that we don’t fall prey to the schemes of the enemy. Scripture reminds us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Many are influenced by unclean spirits, and if we are not discerning—knowing when to step back from unnecessary conflicts, discussions, or arguments—we risk allowing negative energies into our spirit.
We can never be careful enough, which is why we pray and live by the Word of God. One of the devil’s greatest weapons, especially at the verge of breakthrough, is offense. He wants us to fight, to hold on to bitterness, and to allow unresolved conflicts to take root. But by being discerning and knowing what not to allow into our spirit, we can remain guided by God.
Love conquers all. When we walk with true intentions and genuine love, our ability to discern spirits increases. Many have lost good relationships—helpers God assigned to them on their journey of life—because of offenses. Later, we realize that these conflicts were not worth losing a genuine connection. Yet the enemy seeks every opportunity to obstruct God’s plan, and contentions will always arise.
May the Lord restore every broken home and relationship, and grant us the wisdom, discernment, and love to navigate life in a way that aligns with His will. Forgiveness is not about anyone but us, what we keep locked up in and our relationship with God.
When Stephen was stoned to death for preaching the gospel, his final words were, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60). Even in his last breath, he chose forgiveness.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, spoke His final words: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Forgiveness was at the very heart of His sacrifice.
Joseph, after years of betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, looked at the very brothers who sold him and said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Before Joseph saw restoration, before he was lifted to a place of honor, he forgave his brothers.
We cannot say, “This person offended me, and I don’t need them in my life anymore” This is not an excuse to endure genuinely harmful or dangerous behavior. No. Forgiveness is about releasing the small things, those little offenses that separate couples, break friendships, and create division in society. These are the things meant to be forgiven, yet many hold onto them.
The more we hold onto offenses, the more they grow in our hearts. This is not from God. The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and anything that is outside of love is from the enemy. Bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness are not attributes of God; they are demonic seeds that can grow into destructive actions.
The Scripture encourages us: “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). It is okay to feel anger, frustration, or hurt—these are human emotions. Even God has emotions. Scripture shows God expressing anger and wrath toward sin, but also drawing His people back in love (Psalm 78:41, Isaiah 63:9). Emotions are not wrong, they become dangerous only when they lead to unforgiveness, hatred, or sin against others.
Holding onto bitterness can lead to terrible consequences. It can fester into jealousy, rage, or even thoughts of revenge. We see tragic examples in our world when hatred is left unchecked. Forgiveness is not just for the other person; it is for us. Many answers to prayer, breakthroughs, and blessings are at the gate of forgiveness, they are blocked by the seed of unforgiveness in our hearts (Mark 11:25).
Forgiveness does not mean:
- Endorsing someone’s harmful behavior.
- Allowing them back into your space if their values do not align with yours.
- Pretending the offense did not happen.
Forgiveness does mean:
- Releasing the offense from your heart.
- Praying for them genuinely (Matthew 5:44).
- Wishing them well and letting go of grudges.
- Refusing to let hatred or bitterness control your spirit.
We can pray for transformation in others without holding them hostage in our hearts. Forgiveness sets us free, protects our spirit, and opens the door for God to move in our lives.
Let us remember: forgiveness is power, not weakness. It restores peace, nurtures love, and aligns our hearts with God’s will. Today, I encourage you: let go. Release the seed of bitterness, release the anger, and step into the freedom God offers. For the Lord says: “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).
Forgiveness is the key to living a life of love, peace, and blessing. Choose to release the offense; choose to walk in God’s love. Beloved, this is the wisdom of God: forgiveness is the key that unlocks restoration. No matter how trivial the offense may seem, or how deep, unfair, and unreasonable the pain feels—choose forgiveness. Walk through your emotions if you must, if you feel like crying, let it out ita okay,even Jesus wept, If you need counsel or therapy, take it. If you need to talk it out, please do. But at the end of it, forgive, release it and let go.
Forgiveness is not just for the offender—it is for you. It is your release. It is your freedom. With the Word of God guiding your spirit, let go of the bitterness, the anger, and the pain. Release it at the feet of Jesus, and walk in freedom, peace and clarity of mind.
So, my encouragement for you today is this: if there is anyone you are holding in your heart, release them through forgiveness. Pray for them, bless them, and let God heal you. For in forgiveness, you will find freedom, restoration, and peace.
Forgive, as Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Who do you need to forgive today? Do it now, tomorrow might be too late, for no one is promised tomorrow.
If you are ready to release any burden on your mind, the anger lingering somewhere you don’t know how to move past, that situation that seems unfair, remember Joseph. He was sold as a slave, yet in the end, it was for God’s glory. Let go and pray this prayer after me:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for opening my eyes to the bondage and obstacles that unforgiveness can cause. Thank You for forgiving my sins and transgressions, for loving me unconditionally despite my shortcomings. Lord, I ask today that You purge my heart. I release every burden of unforgiveness. I let go of anything that has hindered my prayers. I forgive anyone who has wronged me, intentionally or otherwise. I pray that the hearts of those who have offended me also find rest. Lord, please purify my soul, realign my heart, and keep me rooted in Your love. I let go today and receive the peace and rest only You can give. You are the Judge of all, and nothing, absolutely nothing, is hidden from Your sight. Take Your rightful place in my life and receive all the glory, now and forever. Amen.
Key Reminders:
- Forgiveness is obedience to God (Matt 6:14-15)
- Forgiveness brings, restoration and blessing (Job 42:10)
- Forgiveness sets us free from bitterness.
Hebrews 12:15
“See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”
And now, to God be the glory, the Creator of the universe, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, be glory, honor, and adoration. Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your Word, for the entrance of Your Word gives light (Psalm 119:130). We thank You for this message, and for the reconciliation through the precious blood of Jesus. We worship You, we glorify You, and we magnify Your holy name. May Your name alone be praised, now and forevermore, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Luke 11:28 – But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Remain Blessed.
Written by: The Blessed Message
