Introduction: Have you ever been MAD? So MAD that you could not get past the offense or problem. Are you angry right now at someone? Has it turned into bitterness? What can we do? Actually, we must CHOOSE to “LET GO” of the hurts and offenses or else they will become like a noose around our neck!

Please do not wait on a FEELING! Be on guard of letting your emotions CONTROL you! As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, we have the option of submitting and obeying the Holy Spirit rather than taking orders from the FLESH.

1. If Jesus, God the Son FORGAVE, then that means He will enable us to FORGIVE!

“3And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” (Luke 23:33, 34)

“Father forgive them…”

While being ridiculed and ultimately crucified for a crime He did not commit (Blasphemy & insurrection), Jesus “LET GO of the BITTERNESS”!

Why? How could He do that? His justice would be satisfied in His sacrificial death. His obedience even unto death, would be magnified (Phil 2:8, 9). His purpose would be fulfilled in laying down His life (John 10:17, 18)

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Little did they know—the Roman soldiers who crucified Him, that Jesus was dying for their sins, as well as for the religious Jews. But make no mistake about it, if they or others today do not turn from sin and turn to Jesus for FORGIVENESS, then the wrath of God will be on them. 

“17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:17-19)

2. If God the Father FORGIVES us, then that means He will enable us to FORGIVE!

“1Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4:31, 32)

“1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1John 2:1, 2)

3. If God the Holy Spirit lives within us, then that means He enables us to FORGIVE! 

“13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Col 3:13)

“3And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” (Col 2:13, 14)