Our sins were forgiven when we gave over our lives to Jesus. Colossians 2:13-15 “13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” However, because we still live in the flesh, we are still prone to sin and that is why God has made a provision in Christ. This is however not a free ticket to continue in sin.

Mark 11: 25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Un-forgiveness is a big problem in the church today and number one hindrance to answers to prayers. God respect and honors his word. He is also faithful in everything he does. He is always available to us even when we have done wrong or gone astray.

1 John 1:7-10 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” Our fellowship with one another is dependent upon our ability to forgive one another when they hurt us. God cannot be mocked. We must confess, forgive, as well as ask for forgiveness in order to have a true fellowship with the father and one another.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” We cannot be effective in prayer when we hold each other in our heart. As an intercessor its terrible to pray from a heart that cannot forgive. God cannot trust you. We must let every sin out of our heart.

Hebrew 12:1-2 “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” There are certain sins that are so close to us that we turn not to notice them. We may have been committing the same sin and it has become a habit. Let us examine ourselves and ask God to help us:

Psalm 50:1-2 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” The best thing a man can do is to cry unto God for Mercy. It takes humility to ask for mercy. Plead for mercy as indicated by this psalm.

Proverbs 28:13 – “No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Isaiah 30:18 – “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” God is mercy and kind. As we ask for forgiveness, he also is able to have mercy upon us. If we hide our sin, his mercy cannot reach us. Repentance and asking for forgiveness brings humility as well as takes us to the place of God’s mercy.