FORGIVENESS AS THE KEY TO ANSWERED PRAYERS

Forgiveness is the key to answered prayers. To every door, there is a key. In many cars, there are different keys with which we open and drive them. In mathematics, there is a formula which represents various keys in solving problems. If you have a key to the door of a . room, it makes your entry to the mom easier, unlike someone who does not have a key but 18 trying to gain entry. Such a person will require extra effort to enter into the room. Many a time, people pray without the key to answered prayers. So, they pray with much effort trying to gain entrance into the throne of God. Sometimes, many fail to get through. But if we locate the key, our prayers will not be too labour intensive and lengthy. Some people enjoy repeating words, thinking that with much speaking, God would hear themwithout forgiveness in their hearts:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matt 6: 7)

Normally, a key is usually fixed at the middle of a door, not at the extreme top or at the bottom. That is why, when Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray right in the middle or it, immediately after asking for daily bread, the next thing that followed is forgiveness. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us” This is‘ because forgiveness must follow our request to God for our prayers to be answered speedily. The Bible says in the mouth of two or three, a matter is established (Matt 18: 16). To establish this point further in Mark 1 1:24, Jesus said that we can ask for anything in prayer as we believe and God will grant it to us. But immediately after the open cheque was given to us by Jesus, He immediately followed it with the condition through which the door of our prayers can be Opened by God in verse 25. This is because He knew that except God forgives us, our prayers will always be an abomination in the sight of God because the Bible says that the prayer or sacrifice of a sinner is an abomination unto God (Prov 15:8). He also knew that except we forgive others who have trespassed against us, God will not forgive us. That is why he said in the next verse after the request in Mark 11:25, that you should forgive as you pray:

And when ye stand praying, forgive if ye have ought against any; that your father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11 :25).

And for those who are stubborn, who may not want to listen to that advice for forgiveness as the key to answered prayers, Jesus said in verse 26:

But if ye do notforgive, neither will your father whichis in heaven forgive you your trespasses ( Mark 11:26).

Now when we think of it, we will realize that God will not answer our prayers if we do not forgive others their trespasses, so let us therefore use the key of forgiveness to the glory of God by forgiving anyone who has offended us or trespassed against us, so that our prayers will be easier and surer for God to answer.

Jesus Christ our perfect example realized that He needs the key of forgiveness for Him to regain His entry into the presence of God the Father. That is why He openly prayed for forgiveness for His persecutors.

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know notwhat they do .......... (Luke 23:34).

Our Lord Jesus, before using the key of forgiveness saw that the heaven doors were closed. Hence, He said, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” ,(Matt 27: 46). But when He applied the key of forgiveness, there was a clear indication that the heavens doors were opened. He said, “it is finished” (John19: 30), meaning the battle is over and victory is won through forgiveness:

Another man who also used the same key of forgiveness to gain entrance into the kingdom of God is Stephen. He used the key of forgiveness not only to gain entrance into the kingdom of God but also to make a transfer of his ministry to a much younger and highly educated person called Saul who Was the leadei of the persecution team that stoned Stephen to death whose name later became Paul Nothing would have made a transfer of duty so automatic more than the key of forgiveness which Stephen used as he prayed:

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge And when he had said this, he fell asleep...(Acts 7: 60)

I believe that it was the answer to that prayer of Stephen, that Paul was commissioned to do the work which Stephen would have done. Now, supposing Stephen prayed for Paul to die at the time of that action, would Paul have been around to do the much work he did in the bible? The answer is NO. Therefore, forgiveness makes for continuity and you can testify that the message of Paul became a great blessing to all Christians.

Paul also used the same key of forgiveness as he wrote to Timothy from Rome when he was brought before Nero the second time:

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge (2 Timothy 4.16).

In the Old Testament, David used the key of forgiveness to become a king without war and wastage (1Sam 24:1 20). Forgiveness is a very simple and nice key to use, but many people do not know about it. I have also used the key in a certain situation when somebody took me to court. In my prayers, I prayed that God should forgive the man, his children, his family and his lawyer. In the next court date, I was surprised when my opponent's lawyer told my lawyer that his client was wrong, even when the matter was still in court. Such an occurrence is not common but it happened because forgiveness key was used.

Unforgiveness creates iniquities in our hearts, which can make God not to hear and answer our prayers. It is like a key used in locking out our prayers. David knew that if he regards iniquity in his heart as in Psalm 35, God will not hear his prayers because he understands what God requires from

us when we pray, as a man after God's heart. How do we regard iniquities in our hearts? It is through unforgiveness in our hearts towards others. Therefore, David needs

forgiveness to remove iniquities from his heart, which will open the door of hls prayers to God. That is the reason why he said in the bible:

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalm 66:18).

I can assure you that any long-standing problem Can be resolved with a simple prayer of forgiveness for others. May GOd help us to hold on to the key of forgiveness and use it Continually in Jesus Name, Amen.

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