Prayer Study Week Four Group Lesson

“Forgive Us Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors”

Jesus placed this portion in the prayer He gave us in order to teach us to seek God personally for forgiveness. First, we ask for forgiveness for ourselves and then we forgive others before God’s throne.

It’s like when the flight attendant tells us to place the O2 mask on ourselves before we place O2 mask on others. We have to be made right with God first so we have the ability to forgive others.

Asking for Forgiveness

When we ask God for forgive us, we have to humble ourselves before Him. It takes faith to lay our weaknesses down in front of Him and ask Him to forgive us. We know that He will forgive because why would Jesus tell us to ask for forgiveness?

This was a new concept for the disciples. They had always depended upon the High Priests to offer up burnt sacrifices on behalf of the people. Here Jesus flipped that on its head. He knew that He would be the final sacrifice for the world’s sin.

1 John 1:8-10 (NIV) 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Confessing our sins to a Holy God requires truthfulness. We can’t be forgiven unless we admit we are wrong. If we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we don’t lose our salvation, but our prayers will be hindered and the weight of our sin will drag us down.

Jesus knew that unconfessed sin was a hinderance in prayer, so he made sure we included it in our prayer lives.

If we think we haven’t really sinned, then we are liars and because we belong to Him, we have also called Him a liar. HEAVY!!!

God is faithful and full of justice and mercy. His grace is freely given to us. All we have to do is take the grace he offers when we lay down our sins in confession before Him. By faith we confess our sins. We have to be truthful with ourselves and God.

Romans 3:21-24 (NIV) 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God knew that sin kept people from Him. He made a way to Himself through the sacrifice of His Son. If we claim to be without sin or a need for forgiveness, we are denying what Christ did for us. How can we deny this incredible gift of sacrifice? 

Where are you in the process of confession? Is it hard to really be honest with yourself and tell God what He already knows? We are ALL sinners. God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness through Jesus is the only way to make it right.

Confession of sin is essential to an effective prayer life and living without the burden of our sins that weigh us down.

Forgiving Others

Who wants to let go of the right to hate another for what they did to us? Holding onto bitterness and hatred for a wrong committed against us, is the world’s way of dealing with it. But, Jesus teaches us to pray, “...as we forgive our debtors.”

Let’s look at the answer Jesus gave Peter an answer to his question about forgiveness:

Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV) 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Peter had one idea about forgiving others and I bet he thought that forgiving someone seven times was a big thing. Jesus had another answer and that was to forgive 70x7. That equals 490 times. He meant to forgive over and over again. It was hard for Peter to understand. I can see the confusion in his eyes as Jesus answered him. As was His usual practice, Jesus told a story to explain what He meant.

Matthew 18:23-35 (Message) 23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
    26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
    28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
    29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
    32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

The point is that we have all been forgiven an eternal debt by a God who is merciful. How then can we not forgive others who have sinned against us? Jesus knows we can’t do this on our own. It is a faith issue. It is by asking the Holy Spirit for the power to forgive.

The Greek word for “forgive” is “aphiemi” and means, “to let go from further notice, release from care, attendance, occupancy; to leave or let alone.”

When we are forgiven, God no longer “notices” our sin. He doesn’t see our sin, He sees us covered by the sacrifice of His Son. We are to do the same thing to others. We have to let go of the occupation their sin has in our hearts and minds. We must see only Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us.

We can’t do it on our own power. It is the power of the Holy Spirit within us that does the forgiving. By faith we release others of their “debt” so we can live fully in Jesus.

Unforgiveness is a common reason we don’t always feel God near or have unanswered prayers. Is there something you are holding onto? We must examine our hearts and be honest with ourselves before God. We have to forgive; to release those we hold accountable for the transgression against us. If we don’t God won’t forgive us.

James 3:13-18 (NIV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
   17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

You may be saying, “This doesn’t make sense,” “I can’t forgive them,” “Forgive them? That’s ridiculous.” It is ridiculous according to the world’s wisdom. But, through the eyes of Jesus, the Eternal One, it is true wisdom that comes from the Most Holy Place. You are right, we can’t forgive others. We can’t forgive others on our own, but only through the power that comes from the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. By faith, we must lay our will aside for His will and forgive others as He commands us to.

Are you ready to lay down your will for His? Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart and mind and release those you haven’t been able to forgive. By faith we live and breathe and forgive.