21} "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22} Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV).

[Within Judaism, three times was sufficient to show a forgiving spirit (based on Job 33:29,30; Amos 1:3; 2:6), thus Peter (seven) believes he has shown generosity.]

Jesus was obviously making the point to Peter that true disciples of Jesus are to forgive without keeping count. Some of you know the Lord's answer when his disciples entered a conversation about wealth.

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 KJV).

So, you see beloved, yes holding a grudge of unforgiveness with words such as, "I will never, never, ever forgive that person!! EVER!!" It puts your heart in prison. It chains you in bitter, bitter, bitterness that only the Lord can free you

I've met people who just won't let it go. I've heard the words, "You don't know what they did to me!" I may not know the hurt you've experienced, but I do know someone who does. He suffered separation and pain like no one else.

And yet he still had enough love in his heart (because he understood), to say these words, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." (Luke 23:34 KJV).

Unforgiveness, when allowed to grow deep roots into our mind and heart can only be removed with one remedy, the power of God and attaching yourself to "Jesus the Vine." Please read his living words into your spirit.

1} "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

4} Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5} I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7} If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:1,4-7 KJV).

[The grapevine is a useful, prolific plant. It produces fruit to eat, raisins to store, and wine for meals and ceremonies. A single vine supports numerous branches and bears many grapes.]

[In the Old Testament, grapes symbolize Israel’s fruitfulness in doing God’s work on the earth (Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 19:10-14).]

You see beloved, just as you would fertilize your plants and garden this year with the best food for their roots to have deep root growth, the same applies to staying attached to "Jesus the vine" and resisting the enemy of unforgiveness.

You see my beloved friends, you cannot hold onto unforgiveness against someone and follow Jesus. He will certainly bring it up each time your needs hit the floor to pray. God always keeps justice for those wronged.

14} "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15} But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15 KJV).

17} Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

 

18} If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19} Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21 KJV).


🗣📢 Last words: The only way to defeat a deep down unforgiving attitude is to abide in Christ until all that gunk is out of your soul. Jesus offers a good source of spiritual vitality, growth, and fruitfulness in your life.

Jesus wants to deepen your spiritual roots to withstand those demonic tentacle roots that Satan tries to trap you in. The writer in Hebrews warns believers to not allow a root of bitterness to spring up.

Like weeds in your garden. (Hebrews 12:14-15). These roots of bitterness can bring trouble and should remind you to always walk in God's amazing armor. (Ephesians 6:10-18). This helps in guarding your heart against resentment.

Just as weeds can spread and maybe choke out your beautiful garden, so can embracing or holding unforgiveness spread out and corrupt yourself and others. If it grows unchecked, it can be a poison to others.

As we close for the day, let's unpack the full remedy that comes with choosing Jesus as the vine to ground your life's roots in trusting God to achieve stability, spiritual growth, and fruitfulness in your life.

13} "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14} Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:13-14 KJV).

When you mess around with false teachers and false religions, you do risk spiritual blindness. You also allow Satan to bring spiritual weeds and confusion into your life. The word root in (Hebrews 12:15) (Greek- rhiza) is a root, sprout.

It can produce a kind of shoot or offspring from the sprouting. To be rooting in Jesus can have the same sprouting effect when you allow God's word to produce spiritual roots in your life.

6} "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7} Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7 KJV).

This encourages you in the word rooted (rhizoō) to be strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded. Are you grounded against unforgiveness today?

Please nourish your spiritual roots by reading (Jeremiah 17:7-8) into your thirsting soul. Please read it once more. There's nothing like positive repetitive words that can build you up. Especially those words that come with power.

Keep reading beloved. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3:17 KJV). Please read verses 18-21 also.

Psalm chapter 1 highlights the believer’s ability to delight in the law of the Lord and walk not in the counsel of the ungodly. Verse 3 makes me think of that garden that continues to produce a beautiful scenic view each season.

"A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved." (Proverbs 12:3 KJV). Unlike wicked people, the life of the righteous person’s life goes deep and withstands storms of life.

The "Sower and the seed" is a wonderful illustration of how you can grow apart from what is dangerous to your spiritual growth. Jesus' first words were Harken! (Listen!). Your ears must be open to hear him.

Have you ever tried to reason with someone who has been hurt or refuses to let things go and forgive the hurt done to them? Jesus has the love and power to break through the hardened "playdough" of unforgiveness.

Again, just as your garden may need "Miracle Grow" to maximize the health of your plants, here are four remedy choices to apply in your spiritual "Eden Garden" of life.

🌴 Keep stabilized when trouble or agitation comes. Keep your spiritual roots thrust deep in God. Especially when the storms of life, satanic heat, and trials come. (1 Peter 4:12-14; Ephesians 4:14-16; Matthew 13:1-9).

🌱 Keep growing spiritually. Stay away from false denominations and false teachers and cult religions. Allow God to start and finish his work in you. They will stunt your spiritual growth. (2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:1-2).

🫐 Keep fruitful and filled. Your strong roots are essential for producing good fruit. It helps in contributing to being good soul winners and seed planting. (Proverbs 11:30-31; Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

✝️ Keep building on Christ your foundation. Your roots represent who you are attached to. You cannot build upon two kingdoms. You either produce righteousness or dead roots, which produces dead works.

🏗 (Matthew 7:24-29; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Ephesians 2:20-22; Psalm 127:1; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Revelation 9:20-21).

We've all heard the phrase "April showers bring may flowers." Spring rain is good for our gardens. Just as a tree’s roots provide nutrients for it, we need the outpouring power of the Holy Spirit to grow in our walk with Lord.

His word is another nutrient that feeds us deeply. When we fail to read his word (the Bible) we become dried out and hardened like a rose bush in the desert. The Bible is the anchor of our souls. It can replenish us during dry days.

When we are not attached to Jesus, our only true vine, we open the door of bitterness to evade our lives. You are never too young or old to start growing your roots. We are to be rooted and grounded in the love of God.

"When you are rooted in the "Creator," you don't have to fear the creation."


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to stay rooted. "Heavenly Father, I have been exhausted from carrying this rooted weight of unforgiveness against someone who seems free and oblivious to the pain they caused.

Lord, I first come to you with bitter thorns that only you can remove. I humble myself as I come to you in the name of Jesus. I first ask for your forgiveness of all the sins knowing and unknowingly that I've done.

Forgive me for any words or deeds that I have said or done to hurt any family members involving children, grandchildren and other relatives. Wash away all past sins and words that I may have said or done.

Jesus, please cut away from the root any family curses or heredity curses that may have fallen on me or my children and all family members and all family members to come. I beseech you to wash away all sins from me, Lord.

Take any iniquity, anger, unforgiving spirits, strife and bitterness that we may have toward one another. Give me a new beginning and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Let no harm, illness or poverty come upon us.

Lord, Jesus, please wash me clean with your precious blood. Once again, forgive me of my sins. I choose Lord, to release those who have sinned against me. Any who have ought against me, Lord.

Jesus, release them that I might be released. Only through your eyes Lord can it be done. Break all harmful ties from relationships, associations, organizations or anything that does not line up with your will.

Give me strength to have discerning spirits to see evilness when it tries to trap me in its roots of giving in to an unforgiving spirit. Help me to answer questions with soft answers that turn wrath away.

Let my love become so strong that the enemy must flee. Help me to build on your foundation, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for your forgiving power. Thank you for your blood that makes me clean, in your bountiful mercy I pray, Amen."


❤ "If you would like to know Jesus as your Savior, please read the drop-down page entitled "How to know Jesus."


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🙏 Please remember to pray for the people in Israel. They are God's people because of his covenant promises to them. (Genesis 12:1-3; Numbers 6:22-27; 24:8-9). ✝️



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