Forgive For Good Series

Lots of times, I share a personal story to start the message each week. But not today. Why not? I’m talking about the hurts of life that come from other people. And like everyone, I’ve been hurt. But my hurts don’t compare with a lot of yours. I know so many of your stories. Deep hurt. There is lots of hurt in this room every weekend.

As a child, your mother slapped you; your dad hit you; a parent left home and you felt it was your fault.

What do you do with all that hurt?

As a teen, you were damaged forever by the cutting words from your brothers and sisters; you were told by parents that you’ll to amount to anything; you were abused sexually.

What do you do with all that hurt?

As an adult, your spouse walked out; your ex has taken advantage of you financially; someone has turned kids against you.

What do you do with all that hurt?

I’ve often said at CVCC that the seven most difficult words in a relationship could be: “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” Gregg, our administrative pastor sometimes says, “Rick, I want you to know we are applying what we learn here.” So, he’ll talk about another staff member, “Jane was wrong and I forgive her!”

This week, I’ve been thinking that those really are hard words to say. When you’ve been hurt really badly, it’s probably easier to say, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” than “You were wrong and I forgive you.”

Lock in on a hurt. Do you have something/someone in mind? “You were wrong. And I forgive you.” When was the last time you said that… and meant it?

I know some things that are true I will sin against you and you will sin against me.

Next week, invisible war. How do you handle the people in your life who make things difficult for you?

Chances are, they’re not the real issue.

In this series, we’ll see what’s going on for what it really is - spiritual warfare, not just problems with those people.

This series will help you learn to fight and win against your greatest enemy – one you can’t even see.

When it comes to outreach, we encourage you to invest and invite. Hopefully, you’ve been investing in people outside the faith. In our program are some invite cards. Use them this week to invite some people for our services in July.

Today, forgive for good.

I like this title for the talk. Forgive for good means forgive forever. Let it go. Bury the hatchet. And forgive for good means that great good comes from forgiving. It’s good for the glory of God. It’s good for the person you forgive. And it’s good for you. Why? Forgiving others sets you free.

Is there anyone you

wouldn’t want to run into

in a long, narrow hallway?

O… and by the way, there are no doors! Lock in on someone who’s hurt you! Who is it? What did they do?

Jesus talked a lot about forgiveness. One of His followers, Peter, heard Jesus talk about it and saw Him give it. Peter had a question:

Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

3 x 2 + 1 = 7

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”

Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV)

Not 490 and then… wham! An indefinite number is the idea. The Jesus told a story. It’s a good one with a scary twist at the end.

(Show the Matthew 18:23-35 video clip…)

Receive.

Have you really received the forgiveness from God?

In the story, the King is God the Father. And we are the servant who owes the huge debt.

10,000 talents = 8 billion dollars. It’s huge. There is no way the man can pay that debt. But he begs for mercy… and gets it.

Out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:27 (ESV)

My name in the verse…

He came to pay a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I could not pay.

You married her and you had some expectations. She’s letting you down financially, sexually, emotionally. You are bitter and resentful and angry. Truth be told, you are in jail – in prison.

If that’s you, you need to receive God’s forgiveness.

To forgive for good… receive. You need to know that forgiving others sets you free.

Recall.

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.

Matthew 18:15a (ESV)

Compare verses 26 and 29.