Bible-Prayer-Europe Equipping Center

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a very important rule to follow in the ministry.  A minister’s wife will not be a blessing to anyone else unless she learns how to forgive.

The Bible states that forgiveness is imperative for any Christian’s well being. Christians must learn to forgive themselves, as well as, forgiving others.

A minister’s wife is to be free from the weight and load of guilt over past mistakes.  God promises Christians forgiveness and grace to help in time of need.

Ministers wives need to keep a constant communication with God in order that He might reveal any sin to them and then cleanse them from it as they repent and ask for forgiveness. Unconfessed sin causes a loss of spiritual power and blocks the Holy Spirit’s gifts and fruit.  Fear and guilt then begin to entrap the Christian into believing that God doesn’t or couldn’t love them.  A minister’s wife in bondage is not free to help others know the joy of serving Christ.

Forgiving of self must also include the forgiveness of others.  The Lord’s prayer states,   “ Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  If a minister and his wife want their church members to be a forgiving congregation, then the minister and his wife must demonstrate forgiveness to each other, as well as to members of the congregation.

The Bible also states that there is no limit to the times a person should be forgiven.   Generosity, not fearfulness of hurt, should be the attitude of a minister’s wife in forgiving others.  A humble attitude toward God and a gentle attitude toward others can bring God’s intervention into difficult and hurtful situations. 

Leaders have more to be held accountable for than just themselves.  They are accountable to God for their witness, and decisions concerning their congregation.  Ministers and their wives may at times make wrong decisions involving the “flock”.

If this situation occurs then the leader(s) involved must first go to God and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing.  This allows God to be able to work in the situation in order to bring about good.

Second, the leader(s) involved need to ask the forgiveness of any others that were hurt by the situation.  A word of caution needs to be spoken at this point.  A leader is not to go running around and asking anybody and everybody to forgive him.  Instead, the leader is to step back and assess the situation clearly in order to see if anyone was hurt by the sin and then the leader is to go directly to that individual and make things right.

When the leader(s) ask for forgiveness one of two things will occur. Either the person who was hurt in the situation will choose to forgive the leader(s) or the person will choose not to forgive the leader(s).

If the offended person chooses to forgive the leader(s) then God will bless them both.  However, if the offended person refuses to forgive the leader(s) the God will deal with the unforgiver.  The leader(s) have done what was right in God’s eyes by seeking forgiveness. God will be able to continue using the leader(s) because they have a right relationship with Him. 

Failures can be the point at which the greatest blessings occur.  It is at the point of failure that people confess their inabilities and thereby give God the opportunity to work in His sovereign powerful way.  God knows that leaders can’t make it on their own strength and abilities.  He has never intended for them to depend on themselves.  Instead God wants His leaders to live the abundant life available though salvation.

God not only cleanses His people from their present sin, but He also forgets their past confessed sins.

Therefore, God expects his children to forget those things which are behind (whether good or bad), and press forward to the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  A person can’t run a race if they are constantly looking over their shoulder.  Looking behind can only bring stumbling and more falls.

Godly leaders cannot live in the past.  They must go forward and make everyday a victory day in Jesus.  They must not quit, give up, or faint, but instead be more than conquerors through Jesus.