When You Can't Forgive Yourself: How To Experience Total Forgiveness Series

Joseph: Living the Dream

When You Can’t Forgive Yourself:

How to Experience Total Forgiveness

Genesis 50

On September 6, 2018 a tragic event that happened in Dallas. Botham Jean who was a worship leader in his church moved into the South Side Flats apartments in Dallas while also working for the Price Water House accounting firm there.

At about 10 p.m. at night, Amber Guyger, a former Dallas Police Officer returned home. By her explanation, she walked into the apartment above hers, allegedly thinking it was hers when it was actually her apartment, and thinking it was an intruder, shot and killed Botham.

Amber who admittedly distracted by sending a sexually explicit message just before the shooting, was said to have her mind on autopilot and fatigued when she noticed that the door was not completely shut and when she shoved it open, pulled out her gun, and saw a large silhouette and shot.

Amber was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her negligence resulted in the death of Botham but I want you to see how Botham’s brother responded at her sentencing.

Video – Botham Jean’s brother – ABC News- “I forgive you” hug. (2:02)

It is notable that after this occurred, Amber admitted to not only even owning a Bible. The Judge who had one on the stand said this: “You can have mine. I have three or four more at home. This is the one I use every day. This is your job for the next month. This is where you start, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world …”

Here’s a picture of Amber leaving the courtroom with the Bible in hand.

Transition:

When God gets involved in our failures and mistakes; miracles happen, not just in courtrooms, but in the hidden rooms of our heart.

Today as we meet Joseph’s brothers, we find that deep in their heart, they still felt that they were not forgiven. This is proven as their father Jacob dies and they felt that now their brother Joseph would retaliate.

For 17 years the brothers had lived in Egypt, yet for the entire time, they still sensed that they were not forgiven. The reason? They still had not forgiven themselves.

Today, there are many people that have brought their sins to Jesus, been born again, but still feel condemned, unsaved, and have a fear of facing judgment.

Likewise, many often look back at their checked past and still condemn themselves. Satan rewinds the memories in their mind of their mistakes and failures; and while their soul has been set free; their mind isn’t--- and they consistently condemn themselves.

If you ever struggle with self-condemnation; I want you to know that God wants you to be set free and through Joseph’s example of forgiveness; God helps us learn how to forgive ourselves. God wants us to experience “total forgiveness.”

Transitional Sentence: How can I experience “total forgiveness?”

I. Accept the Fact: Guilt is Godless

Vs. 15-19- “When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, ...

Explanation:

One of the greatest results of guilt is that it causes us to struggle with trust.

If you understand God, you will understand that He deeply desires not only for our sin to be taken away’ but He also desires for our guilt to be taken away.

To do this, when we are forgiven, he wants us to adopt a new identity, an identity of being forgiven. He notes this in Bible verses such as:

1. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus not only died for your sins, He took your sins upon Himself so He could give you His righteousness—His right standing with God.

2. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

I like to say that “God throws our sins in the sea of forgetfulness and puts up a no fishing sign.”

Yet, one of the most godless acts we can participate in is to consistently remind God of what He has already forgotten.

Joseph had made a choice to forgive and seek to forget his brothers sins against him. We know this because of Genesis 41:51 that tells us that Joseph named his first-born son, Manasseh. The verse says: “Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget

all my trouble and all my father’s household.”