THE FAITH TO FORGIVE
LUKE 23:34
1.INTRO. ALL OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF HURT, RESULTING IN ILL FEELINGS TOWARDS THE PERSON WHO HURT US, CONSEQUENTLY, WE HAVE HELD GRUDGES FOR YEARS. THESE GRUDGES CAN AFFECT US INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. ALSO, ALL OF US HAVE INFLICTED OUR SHARE OF PAIN TO OTHERS. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT FOR THE KINGDOM, WE MUST HAVE THE FAITH TO FORGIVE.
2.TEXT. DESCRIBE JESUS’ SUFFERING.
a)THE LIFE OF ONE FOR THE LIVES OF THE MANY.
b)INSPITE OF HIS TREATMENT, HE DID NOT SEEK REVENGE, ISAIAH 53:4, “HE WAS OPPRESSED, AND HE WAS AFFLICTED, YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH: HE IS BROUGHT AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, AND AS A SHEEP BEFORE HER SHEARERS IS DUMB, SO HE OPENETH NOT HIS MOUTH.” MARK 10:34, “AND THEY SHALL MOCK HIM, AND SHALL SCOURGE HIM, AND SHALL SPIT UPON HIM, AND SHALL KILL HIM: AND THE THIRD DAY HE SHALL RISE AGAIN.” MARK 14:65, “AND SOME BEGAN TO SPIT ON HIM, AND TO COVER HIS FACE, AND TO BUFFET HIM, AND TO SAY UNTO HIM, PROPHESY: AND THE SERVANTS DID STRIKE HIM WITH THE PALMS OF THEIR HANDS.”
c)IF ANYONE HAD THE RIGHT TO RETALIATE, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN JESUS.
d)INSTEAD HE PROVIDES AN ILLUMINATING EXAMPLE FOR US TO FOLLOW BY ASKING HIS FATHER TO FORGIVE THEM.
3.REASONS TO FORGIVE.
a)IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT MIGHT BE PAINFUL, BUT IT’S RIGHT.
b)WE SHOULD HAVE THE FAITH TO RESOLVE HOSTILITY, EPH. 4:26-27, “BE YE ANGRY, AND SIN NOT: LET NOT THE SUN GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH: NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL.” ROM. 12:18-19, “IF IT BE POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS LIETH IN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN. DEARLY BELOVED, AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE UNTO WRATH: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.” ISAIAH 1:18, “COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER.”
c)IF WE DO NOT FORGIVE, WE WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN, MATT. 6:14-15, “FOR IF YE FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU: BUT IF YE FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.” MATT. 18:21-22, “THEN CAME PETER TO HIM, AND SAID, LORD, HOW OFT SHALL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME, AND I FORGIVE HIM? TILL SEVEN TIMES? JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I SAY NOT UNTO THEE, UNTIL SEVEN TIMES: BUT, UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.” LUKE 6:37, “JUDGE NOT, AND YE SHALL NOT BE JUDGED: CONDEMN NOT, AND YE SHALL NOT BE CONDEMNED: FORGIVE, AND YE SHALL BE FORGIVEN.” LUKE 17:3-4, “TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES: IF THY BROTHER TRESPASS AGAINST THEE, REBUKE HIM; AND IF HE REPENT, FORGIVE HIM. AND IF HE TRESPASS AGAINST THEE SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY, AND SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY TURN AGAIN TO THEE, SAYING, I REPENT; THOU SHALT FORGIVE HIM.”
d)MATT. 5:23-24, “THEREFORE IF THOU BRING THY GIFT TO THE ALTAR, AND THERE REMEMBEREST THAT THY BROTHER HATH OUGHT AGAINST THEE; LEAVE THERE THY GIFT BEFORE THE ALTAR, AND GO THY WAY; FIRST BE RECONCILED TO THY BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER THY GIFT.”
e)FORGIVENESS IS BATHED IN LOVE.
f)FORGIVENESS OPENS THE DOOR TO RECONCILIATION, SO THAT THE HEALING PROCESS CAN BEGIN.
g)AS A CHURCH AND AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO FORGIVE.
h)PHILIPPIANS 2:5, “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS.”
4.WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON’T HAVE FAITH TO FORGIVE.
a)OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS STAGNANT.
b)WE DISHONOR GOD.
c)WE POSTPHONE OUR BLESSINGS.
d)WE BECOME ALIENATED AND ESTRANGED FROM OTHERS.
e)WE CAN DO PHYSICAL HARM TO OUR BODIES.
5.WHEN WE FORGIVE.
a)GOD IS GLORIFIED.
b)CHRIST IS MAGNIFIED.
c)THE HOLY GHOST IS SATISFIED.
d)THE BODY OF CHRIST IS EDIFIED.
e)THE SITUATION IS RATIFIED.
f)LOVE IS PERSONAFIED.
g)FAITH IS AMPLIFIED.
