Forgive Part 1 Series

May the peace of the Lord be with you.

Topic: FORGIVE (pt. 1)

Matthew 18:21-22King James Version (KJV)

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Beloved forgiveness is a difficult thing to do on your own, by your strength and might. Forgiveness is possible only when Jesus comes in.

If you have no Jesus in your heart you cannot forgive. The presence of the Spirit of the Lord in our hearts, helps us to forgive.

The seed of God that remains in us which is His Word, also grows and matures as we study and get deeper into the Word, this causes us to know more about forgiveness and how it benefits the one offended than the one who committed the offence.

As a Christian, a true follower of Christ, you have no option but to forgive no matter who is involved. You have to always forgive and have to forgive everything not selected situations.

The Apostle Peter, the rock on which the church was built, asked Jesus about forgiveness. Wanting to sound extremely good and considerate, asked if seven times was the perfect number of times to forgive a brother who offends you.

In the Jewish system back then, three was the perfect or complete number of times to forgive or avenge but Peter pushed it to seven, that is twice what the system required plus an extra and seven is also a perfect number of God.

But Jesus who is God and knows all things, carries all power and is everywhere at everytime told him, "Not seven but until 70 times 7".

Beloved if we should do this calculation it's about 490 times. For you to do this you need a tally book for all people you meet and engage with and be ready to carry all of them around, tallying each and every wrong.

But beloved the Apostle Paul teaches us something, that, *love does not keep track of wrongs.* Aside the fact that it is impossible to carry your tally books around and mark every wrong, true love also, does not do that.

As children of God carrying His seed and Precious Holy Spirit in our hearts the fruits we bear is LOVE as stated in the Book of Galatians. So if love does not keep track of wrongs and you bear love always you would not be keeping track one by one to get to 490 to have the chance to avenge the offence.

God said "vengeance is Mine" , leave it for Him and don't get involved. He doesn't need your help to deal with anybody.

Beloved you need to forgive all persons for all wrongs done to you or family or friends. Whatever hate or bitterness or worry in you because of an offence let it go this morning.

Beloved before you react, or do anything to avenge your offence ask yourself the big question.... *"HAVE I FORGIVEN THIS PARTICULAR PERSON 490 TIMES"?*

Your answer is as good as mine, NO! So please let it go. There is no better person than God to avenge an offence for you.

Which man could have rained fire on a city?

Which man could have brought down rain to produce water that covered over 168 feet of height?

Beloved forgive always and leave the rest for God.

I know it's not easy, But, that's because you have not surrendered it to Jesus in prayer for Precious Holy Spirit to take charge and empty your heart of the pain and disappointment and hurt and all so He fills you with His special love full of peace, joy and grace.

Beloved, surrender all to Jesus and live a forgiving life which is a life that always empties you of garbage and fills you with a life giving Spirit.

God bless you and keep you surrender it all to Him and He will empty your heart of all the offences, pain and hurt so He fills you with His life giving Spirit.

Prayer: Father in the mighty name of Jesus please fill me and cause me to forgive all situations under all conditions no matter what, in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus I pray. AMEN.

_CHANGING OUR MINDSET TO ENJOY ALL OF JESUS AND HIS FINISHED WORKS ON THE CROSS_

#AMKGSERMONS