Introduction

Have you ever done something that no one knows? Many of us have done things that we are ashamed of. But we must be careful because God says whatsoever you do in secret will be revealed in the open. (Luke 12: 2-3…For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops).

I am here to let you know you are forgiven. God will forgive you when you confess your sins to Him. You don’t need to tell anyone about it, just tell it to Jesus and He will forgive you. In Him you will find peace.

It doesn’t matter what you have done, God is willing to forgive. He said, cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Let go and let God. So many times we don’t let go of things, especially things that hurt. Why keep holding on to the pain in your heart, give your pain to Jesus.

Once there was a monkey, who wanted to escape from his trap. He put his hand in a jar to get a banana for his meal. He could not get his hand out of the jar with the banana. What the monkey didn’t know is: if he let go of the banana he would get his hand out and his life would be saved. You have some things in your life that you need to let go of, you know what it is. You can fool man (your family, friends, and others) but you can not fool God.

I don’t know what you are holding onto today/tonight, but God knows your heart (He knows what’s in your HEART). What are you going to do, when are you going to give it up? If you can not forgive yourself, you can not forgive others. God has already forgiven you, what are you waiting for? Come to the altar, come to God, the altar is open and God is waiting on you. Come now before it’s too late!

Maybe today/night you are a child of God…and you are not sure where you stand. You are struggling with something inside your heart, you have not forgiven yourself, you have not forgiven that person who has hurt you, abused you, misused you, and tells you you are no good. They may have told you: you are a failure, you are ugly, overweight, too short, too small, and put you down all the time. In order, for you to be free and have peace you must forgive them. To forgive them is to reclaim your power over them and God will forgive you and make them stop hurting you.

(Matthew 6:14-15, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses).

The Forgiveness of God

How do you know when God has forgiven you?

The peace of God will come over you (you can’t explain it) (Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:32)
You will smile and laugh when people try to hurt you again (A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15: 1)
You will continue to give and be kind no matter what (And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32)
You will be walking in the light of God (1 John 1: 9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin).

Receiving The Forgiveness of God

How do you receive the forgiveness of God?

You can not work for this favor of God. God says He will forgive whom He pleases (Romans 9:18). You must confess your sin to God, this is when you are sorry for all the wrong you had done. The bible says confession is made with your mouth and repentance is made with your heart. (Romans 10: 10, For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation).

Our Heavenly Father is willing to forgive us, even as we forgive each other. As people of God we must learn how to correct each other in love and humbleness. Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hands of God and He shall lift (bless you with favor among men) you up. It’s a great feeling to be uplifted by God. But you must first let go and allow God to take control of your life. Give Him your heart. Open up your heart door and let Him come in and cleanse you with His blood. Look around you, this world is full of evil, and man’s heart is in a dark place, but you can come to the light. Jesus Christ is the Light, come out of your darkness and come into His light and you will be saved and have peace. The peace that this world can not give. Destruction is all around you, and everyday people are dying without hope. But there is HOPE for you, don’t die in your sin (world of unforgiveness). Come to His arms of forgiveness, your wrongs are forgiven already on the cross of Calvary. He is waiting for you, yes you and you and you. Won’t you come to Him today/to night, He patiently waits. What are you waiting for, let us (me) pray for you and with you?