Forgive and Be Healed
This post expands on that conversation. Forgiveness is a Kingdom key. It's not sentimental fluff; it's strategy. It’s prophetic in that it reveals God's heart for reconciliation. It’s supernatural because we generally cannot do it in our own strength — we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to make it real. I’ll walk you through why unforgiveness is a prison, what forgiveness actually is (and isn’t), how to walk it out practically, the prophetic/supernatural element that enables it, and some scriptures that have helped me and so many others move from bondage into freedom.
Why Forgiveness Is a Kingdom Key
The clearest line I took away from my chat with Jay is this: unforgiveness is a prison. It’s not merely an emotional state — it becomes a spiritual architecture that shapes your choices, your relationships, and your destiny. When we hold onto offense, we hand someone else the keys to our life. That is not biblical living; it’s spiritual hostage-taking.
Unforgiveness Controls Where You Go
Jay used a blunt, true image — people who are stuck in unforgiveness often end up literally or figuratively homeless. I’ve seen this play out in relationships, families, and ministries: bitterness narrows your world. It determines who you’ll speak to, where you won’t go, and what you won’t receive. It taints joy, creativity, and prophetic capacity.
Forgiveness: Rescue, Release, and Rescue Again
One of the most helpful things Jay said was rooted in the Greek meaning of the word translated "forgive" — it carries images of rescue and release. When you forgive you toss a rope to someone who’s fallen overboard. You also release the hold that grievance has on you. That dual movement — rescue for them, release for you — is deeply Kingdom.
Scripture makes the stakes clear. Jesus teaches us the same truth when He links our willingness to forgive with our own forgiveness from the Father. Consider this teaching in the Sermon on the Mount:
"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." — Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)
That’s not a guilt-trip; it’s a spiritual law. Forgiveness is both command and key — obeying it unleashes rescue and healing in our lives.
Personal Reflections and Lessons from the Interview
As the host, I come away from that conversation humbled and energized. I’m a pastorally-minded podcaster who wants practical theology, not just niceties. Jay’s life story — stepping out of the prison of past abuse by choosing to forgive — is a living sermon. He didn't say, "I waited till I felt like forgiving." He said he obeyed God in a moment that was raw, and that obedience became the turning point for years of recovery.
Obedience Before Feeling
I want to underline this because it’s counter-intuitive to our culture: forgiveness is often an act of obedience before it becomes a feeling. The Holy Spirit empowers that decision. When Jay described his fist turning into a pointing finger and saying, "God loves you and I forgive you," he described a supernatural intervention that changed the trajectory of his life. That moment wasn't manufactured by willpower alone; it was prophetic — a move of God that spoke louder than the voice of anger.
Forgiveness as a Process
Forgiveness is not always a one-and-done. Jay was candid that after the first act of forgiveness he still had to forgive over and over when memories surfaced. This matches my experience working with people: forgiveness often looks like a season of small choices — repent, forgive, release, repeat — until the memory is no longer an active wound. The work of grace is steady and patient.
Repentance Where We Hold On
One of the strongest points from our conversation is that holding on to offense can become sin. We can cling to bitterness in a way that contradicts the gospel. Jay pointed to Ephesians as a corrective:
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." — Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
Sometimes repentance is needed — not necessarily because you committed the original act, but because you now repent for refusing the remedy God offered through forgiveness.
Biblical References and Teaching
Since I’m a fan of anchoring prophetic insight to Scripture (and I know many of you prefer KJV), here are the anchor passages that came up in the interview and why they matter:
Matthew 18:21–35 — The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
This parable is the disciplinary context: Peter asks about limits to forgiveness and Jesus responds that there are no limits — forgiveness is to flow continually. The parable ends with a sober warning about the consequence of withholding forgiveness.
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." — Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)
Matthew 6:14–15 — Forgiveness and Our Standing with the Father
We quoted this earlier, and it’s foundational: forgiveness is not optional for Kingdom citizens. It’s a mandate that also becomes an avenue of grace for us.
"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." — Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)
Ephesians 4:32 — Tenderhearted Forgiveness
This verse connects forgiveness to kindness and tender-heartedness. It places the motive of Christ at the center: forgiveness because we ourselves have been forgiven by Jesus.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." — Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
These Scriptures show forgiveness is doctrinal (we believe it), moral (we obey it), and practical (we live it). They also reveal the supernatural architecture: God expects us to participate in reconciliation and then supplies the grace to do it.
Practical Steps — How to Walk Out Forgiveness (A Field Guide)
Abstract talk is cheap. Here are pragmatic steps to move from theory into action — the same kinds of steps I encourage listeners and readers to try.
- Acknowledge the Wound. Name what happened. Don’t spiritualize it away. Honest naming is the first step toward healing.
- Decide to Obey. Say, “I will forgive.” You might not feel it — that’s okay. Obedience often precedes feeling. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower the decision.
- Speak the Release. Verb it. Say the words — in prayer, to a trusted friend, or even to the person if safe and wise. Jay’s turning-fist-to-finger moment is a perfect example: he spoke forgiveness and the atmosphere changed.
- Repent for Holding On. If you recognize that you made bitterness a companion, repent. This breaks the spiritual habit. Confess it to God — He’s already for you.
- Guard the Heart. When memories surface, take them captive. Forgive again. This is not failure — it’s maintenance. Habits of grace build over time.
- Offer Rescue. Remember the other side: forgiveness creates a rescue possibility for the offender. That doesn’t mean you excuse sin, but you seize mercy as a Kingdom weapon.
- Seek Wise Counsel. For deeper trauma, get help. Forgiveness does not mean staying in harm’s way. Healthy boundaries are biblical and necessary.
These are simple steps, but simple is not always easy. The supernatural dimension — asking Jesus to do in you what you can’t do — is central. When you obey, the Holy Spirit meets you in the moment and begins to change how you remember and respond.
The Prophetic and Supernatural Side of Forgiveness
If you’re like me, you want to know how to involve the prophetic and supernatural without mystifying the process. Here’s how I see it:
1. Prophetic Timing
Some acts of forgiveness are ordinary and some are timed by the Spirit. Jay described a moment where a sudden word from God intercepted a violent reaction. That’s prophetic timing — the Spirit interferes at the right second to enable obedience. Stay sensitive in prayer and say "Yes" when God prompts you.
2. Supernatural Empowerment
We often confuse willpower with spiritual strength. Jesus promised a Helper — the Holy Spirit — who enables us to live the Sermon on the Mount. Ask for power, and then exercise it by forgiving. The Spirit doesn’t circumvent responsibility; He enables our obedience.
3. Prophetic Language of Release
Prayers of release are prophetic acts. When you speak forgiveness, you are prophesying a new reality — you’re declaring that the offender is no longer legally able to hold you captive. This declaration is not magical, but it’s aligned with divine authority.
4. Corporate Dimension
Forgiveness isn’t just private. Families, churches, and communities carry generational hurts. Prophetic ministry that calls people to forgive can break cycles of anger and open doors for the supernatural healing of communities.
Testimonies and Real-Life Outcomes
The episode with Jay was full of testimony — not just abstract theology. He told a gritty story of abuse and hatred turned to forgiveness and recovery. I saw with my own eyes how that kind of testimony reshapes listeners’ expectations: liberation is possible.
I’ve also personally watched small things change when believers decide to forgive. A hard marriage softens. A parent-child relationship gets restored. People who once could not enter church without bitterness begin to pray again. Those are measurable outcomes — relational restoration, emotional stability, and spiritual increase.
Resources
- ConradRocks.Net — my hub for episodes, resources, and notes (internal link)
- StrategicFathering.net — Jay Cookingham's ministry (external link)
- Watch the full interview on YouTube
- Recommended Scripture reading: Matthew 6:14–15, Matthew 18:21–35, Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
Conclusion and Call to Action
Forgiveness is less a warm feeling and more a Kingdom strategy. It frees you. It creates rescue opportunities for others. It's prophetic and supernatural because Jesus walks the road with you. If you’re holding onto something today, consider taking one small obedience step: confess it to God, say you will forgive, and speak the release — even if you don't feel like it yet. The Spirit will show up.
If this post challenged you or helped you, do a few practical things: leave a comment below sharing a step you’ll take, and share this post with someone you think needs to hear it. If you want to dig deeper, listen to the episode with Jay on your favorite podcast app and check the show notes for his resources.
Let the KJV Scriptures close our meditation here — let them settle in the soul:
"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." — Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)
Go deeper. Go higher. Forgive — because Jesus already forgave you.
No comments:
Post a Comment