We can hold on to un-forgiveness. If we do hold on to it, are we punishing the person who hurt us or are we allowing Satan to punish us?

There is not one person who is walking around with un-forgiveness against another person, who is not being punished for it in some way, by Satan. It can affect the person for who you are carrying the un-forgiveness, but clearly you are allowing yourself to be punished by Satan.

Let us break this down:

How can God heal you if you have not forgiven somebody for something? He cannot! So, how can God bless and restore when Satan has access to that area of their life? He cannot! So, that goes back to the first point. Can Satan use what we have in un-forgiveness and anger to beat someone else up? Of course! Does it always go that far? No! Yet does it always punish the person that is holding it? Yes! That is the point! Until the person who is holding the un-forgiveness, gives it up, they will not be free. They are going to be in bondage to that emotion, in bondage to that memory and in bondage to that pain. That is the point, who does it really punish? When we hold un-forgiveness, who does it really punish? Does it punish the person? Yes, sometimes it can. If you have a person who is very revengeful, nine times out of ten it, will. But the real punishment comes to the person that is carrying it.

Remember, if you are the brunt of someone’s un-forgiveness, unless you are physically being hurt. E.g. beaten up, you are not being punished. You are being affected, e.g. persecuted, but it is not punishment. Satan will try to make you feel you are being punished, but you are not. They are! If nothing else ever came upon the person holding the un-forgiveness, their relationship with God would be out of whack, which brings us back to the verse in 1 John.

“The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (NIV) 1 John 2:4-6

It also brings us back to the verse in the very beginning of this teaching.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV) Matthew 6:14-15

So, who is getting punished? Who is the written Word calling the liar, whose sins are not being forgiven? Who is separated from God? The one holding the un-forgiveness! They are in Satan’s control that is a danger zone!

Forgiveness is not an option; it is a must. We only hurt ourselves in the long run. Un-forgiveness is from Satan, not God. Therefore, those who choose not to forgive are following Satan’s guidelines for living, not God’s!

When we keep blaming other people for our problems because we have not forgiven them, we will stay in our problems! They will remain! Why? Because you are never dealing with them.

(sw-h)