Are You Good at Forgiving?
The Christian and Forgiveness • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Are You Good at Forgiving?
Are You Good at Forgiving?
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
In the past 3 weeks, we have been in a series on Sunday nights entitled:
“The Christian and Forgiveness”
We looked at:
The Call to Forgive
An Unforgiving Heart
Judgement and Forgiveness
Tonight we are going to finish up this series, but the necessity of forgiveness is not coming to an end… The call to forgive is continuing forward.
And this call is not an option - it is a command - a mandate from our Savior Jesus Christ.
It is not the pastor’s idea
It is not the churches platform… It is God’s plan for His people...
Some harbor injuries, injustices and instead of dealing with them and letting go of them - we hang on to them - and like the game “telephone” it keeps growing and changing as time goes on...
The injustices or perceived injustices are magnified, blown farther out of context, proportion and reality… The misunderstanding, wrong was probably an unfortunate misunderstanding - and even if it was planned - it should still be forgiven!
Tonight as we look into the Word of God, I want to ask you a question...
Are You Good at Forgiving?
Let me ask that again -
Are You Good at Forgiving?
Be honest…
Because if we are not good at forgiving - our relationship with the Lord is hindered… hampered...
You cannot be right with God, if you are wrong with man...
I have had people that there were issues with…
I have apologized when I have been in the wrong...
I have apologized when I have been in the right...
Some relationships have been restored...
Some relationships have not...
But I will not stand before God for their response - I will stand before God for my life - I will stand before God for whether or not I have forgiven...
Let me ask that Question again...
ARE YOU GOOD AT FORGIVING?
PRAY:
The Lord - as God was prayed to...
The Lord - as a man - Prayed...
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
luke5.16
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
The need for Jesus to communicate w/ God the Father - He prayed...
This was a central theme in the Lord’s life and his example to us - prayer...
But when the Lord taught the disciples to pray, we find some qualifiers and expectations on our prayers… a connection - a tie - between praying and forgiveness.
In the model prayer of , we find 9 statements… The first 4 are directed to and are about the Lord - The 5 that follow are about us...
but in these statements - we find that connection between forgiven and being forgiven.
Few Observations:
The teaching on forgiveness - in the parable of the unjust steward as well as in this passage, the Lord’s forgiveness is not speaking of our salvation...
When a person is saved, their eternal destiny is changed…
They are born into the family of God -
it is speaking of our fellowship and closeness to the Lord.
It is not speaking of losing our salvation.
In one of the messages, I used an illustration of people who had owed me and my businesses $ -
several people came up to ask if the debt was ever paid… No is the answer...
I still love them, I have no bitterness towards them -
If they and their family had need - I would help them out...
I have had people owe me money, or wrong me in other ways and we have put food on their table anonymously, $ in their mailbox for Christmas for them and their children, I have purchased clothes for people who have wronged me...
I am not putting myself up as the perfect example - I have just learned how to forgive...
1. Forgiveness is Needed
1. Forgiveness is Needed
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We need forgiveness
2. Forgiveness is Given
2. Forgiveness is Given
…for we also...
As the Lord forgives us… we forgive
Unconditionally
…for we also forgive....EVERY ONE....
3. Forgiveness is Basic
3. Forgiveness is Basic
We are not speaking of the deep things of God...
We are not looking into the mysteries of the Kingdom...
We are not delving into Prophecy and Eschatology
We are looking at the model prayer for believers -
Baby christians
New believers
this isn’t rocket science - this is Christianity 101...
And when you do not forgive - you are showing your immaturity as a believer
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
mat6.
Let’s look at one who forgave… great injustices...
Of course we know that the Lord has forgiven the most -
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
But - what about Joseph???
15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Are you good at forgiving?
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
mat5.21-
Are you Good at forgiving?