The Tribune

By Bishop V G Clarke

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matt. 6:12)

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed , and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:23, 25, 26).

In the above scriptures the lord is teaching the power there is in prayer. He declares that the prayer of faith will cause the very mountains, if need be, to be rooted up and cast into the sea. But he also speaks of a condition, which if not met, could not only hinder the fulfilment of such a prayer, but could be the means of a man being denied divine forgiveness.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.” Has God forgiven us? The answer is clear.

To the extent we forgive others, we are forgiven. Here is a matter of crucial importance in the art of praying to change things.

Jesus announced that prayer can move a mighty mountain from its foundation and hurl it into the depths of the sea. Yet such prayer may be lawfully prayed only by those who freely “forgive their debtors”. Without that, all praying is vain.

Prayer with an unforgiving spirit will never be accepted at the throne of grace. This is a difficult lesson for some people to learn. It is common knowledge for who fancy they have been wronged, who have developed a bitter spirit. Such a spirit makes it absolutely impossible for prayer to be answered. Bitterness sets on fire the whole nature and makes man a victim of his own passion.

Some people forgive in part, but hold mental reservations which can also be disastrous. Some people conduct themselves so that they can no longer be fully trusted, but our forgiveness of them must always be generous and complete. We dare not retain even the smallest part of bitterness, lest such an attitude disease our own soul as well as deprive us of access to the throne of grace.

One of the most beautiful illustrations of forgiveness is found in the story of Joseph. Few men were ever treated worse by their own brothers than was the boy Joseph. Sold into slavery, the lad at a tender age was torn from his home and carried captive into a foreign land.

There he was subject to sore trials and temptations; and through malicious accusation which was entirely false he was cast into prison to languish for two (2) long years. The time came, however when he was in a position to execute full retribution on his brothers who had shown him no mercy. But he chose to extend to them kindness for their evil, and in so doing received the divine blessing above all others. (Gen. 49:22-26).