CBC THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
MATHEW 18: 21-35
INTRODUCTION: FORGIVENESS IS APPARENTLY A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO MASTER. IT SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST THING TO ACCOMPLISH.
1. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO SAY: “I’M SORRY”?
2. SOMEONE ONCE SAID THE TWO HARDEST WORDS TO SAY ARE: “I’M SORRY”, AND “I LOVE YOU”.
3. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON’T LIKE CARRYING AROUND A BURDEN SO HEAVY AS BITTERNESS AND AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT.
4. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE FORGIVING OTHERS AND SOME EVEN HAVE TROUBLE FORGIVING THEMSELVES.***
5. THERE IS A POWER OF FORGIVENESS, AND IT LIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR TEXT TODAY.
6. WE WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE FULL JOY OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS UNTIL WE LEARN TO FORGIVE OTHERS AS HE HAS COMMANDED US TO DO.
I. WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO FORGIVE OTHERS? LUKE 17: 3--5 IF THY BROTHER TRESPASS AGAINST THEE, REBUKE HIM; AND IF HE REPENTS, FORGIVE HIM*** IF HE TRESPASS AGAINST THEE SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY, AND REPENTS SEVEN TIMES, FORGIVE HIM**** THE APOSTLES THEN SAID TO THE LORD: INCREASE OUR FAITH.*****
(A) PRIDE AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.
LUKE 18: 9-14: PARABLE OF THE TWO MEN WHO WENT UP TO PRAY.
ONE WAS A PHARISEE, THE OTHER A PUBLICAN*
THE PHARISEE THANKED GOD THAT HE WAS NOT AS OTHER MEN, EXTORTIONERS, UNJUST, ADULTERERS, EVEN AS THIS PUBLICAN WHO STANDS BESIDE ME.****(WOW) I FAST TWICE A WEEK, GIVE TITHES OF ALL MY POSESSIONS, **
THE PUBLICAN, STANDING AFAR OFF, COULD NOT EVEN FACE GOD**
HE JUST BEAT UPON HIS CHEST AND SAID”LORD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER”. VERSE 14: THIS MAN WENT DOWN TO HIS HOUSE JUSTIFIED, RATHER THAN THE OTHER.
1. ONE BEAT HIS CHEST IN SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ARROGANCE, WHILE THE OTHER BEAT HIS CHEST IN REPENTANCE AND ASK FORGIVENESS.
2. WE CANNOT USE THE FAULTS OF OTHERS TO BUILD OURSELVES UP. SIN’S RESPONSIBILITY IS OUR OWN PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WE WILL STAND BEFORE GOD AND ANSWER FOR OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
3. “I’M AS GOOD AS MY NEIGHBOR” WELL, YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOUR NEIGHBOR IS BETTER THAN YOU.
4. OFTEN TIMES WE WANT TO POINT TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE AGAINST US TO JUSTIFY OUR SHORTCOMINGS. IT WONT WORK!!!!!
GENESIS CHAPTER 3: GOD SAID: ADAM, HAVE YOU EATEN OF THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT?” (FORBIDDEN FRUIT CAUSES MANY JAMS)
ADAM REPLIED: “ THE WOMAN YOU GAVE TO ME***, SHE GAVE IT TO ME”.***********
GOD SAID: “EVE, WHAT ABOUT IT?” EVE REPLIED: “THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT.”*****************
(B) PAYBACK IS PERVERSELY SWEET.
1. WE OFTEN WANT TO HURT THOSE WHO HAVE HURT US, HOLDING A GRUDGE SEEMS LIKE THE PERFECT WAY TO REALLY MAKE SOMEONE PAY.
2. WE PERVERT THE GOLDEN RULE TO READ: “DO UNTO OTHERS WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE UNTO US”.
3. IF WE FORGIVE, WE CANNOT GET BACK AT SOMEONE, BUT OH THE JOY OF HAVING A CLEAN HEART AND A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.
(C) THE TRUTH IS, WE ONLY HURT OURSELVES BY SUCH UN-CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOR. MT 6:14. FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN.**
II. WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO FORGIVE OTHERS?
(A) WHEN WE WANT TO HAVE A “PITY PARTY”, FAILING TO FORGIVE OTHERS WILL INSURE SUCCESS.
1. MISERY HAS IT’S OWN STRANGE ATTRACTION. JOHN CHAPTER 5: VERSE 6. THE IMPOTENT MAN AT THE POOL OF MERCY.
2. IT IS OFTEN EASIER TO FEEL SORRY FOR OURSELVES, THAN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR CONDITION. EVEN IF WE HAVE DONE TERRIBLE THINGS. (WOE IS ME. THE FROGS IN THE CHURN STORY.)
(B) WHEN WE DON’T THINK WE HAVE ANY VALUE, WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE A RIGHT TO BE FORGIVEN.
1. HOW CAN GOD FORGIVE ME?*******(APOSTLE PAUL)
2. HOW COULD GOD LOVE ME?*********(WOMAN AT THE WELL, WOMAN CAUGHT IN ACT OF ADULTERY)
(C) SADLY, FAILURE T0 FORGIVE OURSELVES**, ONLY MAKES MATTERS WORSE.
1. WE FEEL EVEN MORE WORTHLESS, BECAUSE INSTEAD OF SERVING GOD AND BEING A WORTHWHILE ADDITION TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST, WE INDULGE IN OUR “SELF-PITY” AND SINK LOWER AND LOWER.
(D) GOD WANTS TO FORGIVE YOU AND BLESS YOU AND USE YOU.
THAT IS, IF HE CAN GET YOUR ATTENTION.
III. THE CURE. (FOUR STEPS)
(A) SELF-DENIAL. LUKE 9: 23-25.
1. QUIT WANTING EVERYTHING YOU WANT AND START WANTING WHAT GOD WANTS FOR YOU, AND FOR HIS CHURCH.
2. IT’S HIS CHURCH. HE FOUNDED IT, HE PAID FOR IT WITH HIS OWN BLOOD,
(B) RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL (ROMANS 12: 17--21)
1. HOLDING A GRUDGE, AND HAVING BITTER FEELINGS TOWARD SOMEONE WILL CHEAT YOU OUT OF A BLESSING.
2. THE ROOTS OF BITTERNESS, NOT ONLY RUN DEEP, BUT CHOKE OUT THE GROWTH OF GOOD THINGS ALONG THE WAY.
(C) GET A LIFE. ROMANS 12: 1, 2: PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE. AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED(CHANGED) BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.
1. GOD’S WILL, NOT MAN’S WILL.
2. FOLKS GET MAD AT THE CHURCH AND TAKE OUT ON GOD, BECAUSE GOD’S WILL WAS DONE AND THEY DIDN’T GET THEIR WAY, AND THEY SIT AROUND AND COMPLAIN IN BITTERNESS, WHEN THEY COULD BE A PART OF GOD’S BLESSINGS AND ENJOY BEING IN THE WILL OF GOD.******
(D) DO WHAT GOD SAYS. 1 JOHN 4: 20, 21: IF A MAN SAYS I LOVE GOD, AND HATES HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR.***FOR HE THAT LOVES NOT HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAS SEEN, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD, WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN?
AND THIS COMMANDMENT HAVE WE FROM HIM: THAT HE WHO LOVES GOD, MUST LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO.
IV. THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS. LUKE 7: 36--50
(A) IT FREES US FROM THE BURDEN OF PLAYING GAMES: TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CANNOT DO------ PROVE OUR OWN WORTHINESS.
ROMANS 3:10: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE.
1. OUTSIDE OF CHRIST WITHIN US WE ARE ALL JUST HOPELESS AND HELPLESS FLESH. IT IS THE INNER MAN THAT IS CHANGED.
2. YOU CAN DRESS UP THE FLESH AND MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL, EDUCATE IT AND MAKE IT ADMIRABLE, PROSPER IT AND MAKE IT WEALTHY, BUT TAKE AWAY ALL OF THAT AND IT IS STILL FLESHLY MAN THAT MUST HAVE JESUS AS PERSONAL SAVIOR TO EVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING WORTHWHILE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
(B) IT ALLOWS BROTHERHOOD TO FLOURISH. EPHESIANS 4: 31, 32
LET ALL BITTERNESS AND WRATH AND ANGER AND CLAMOUR, AND EVIL SPEAKING(THIS INCLUDES UN FOUNDED STATEMENTS**)
BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU WITH ALL MALICE: AND BE YE KIND, ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIS’S SAKE HAS FORGIVEN YOU.
(C) IT BRINGS CONSTRUCTIVE PATTERNS TO OUR LIVES.
1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 1: 15, 16 PAUL SAID: THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING: AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE LOST SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.*** AND FOR THIS CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME FIRST , JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL LONGSUFFERING , FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO EVERLASTING LIFE.
1. PAUL SAID IF I LIVE CHRIST-LIKE , IT WILL SHOW A PATTERN OF HOW TO LIVE FOR CHRIST FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE SAVED.
(D) IT REMOVES THE AWFUL WEIGHT OF GUILT. MT 11: 28--30: COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME, FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART, AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT
CONCLUSION: AREN’T YOU READY TO LAY DOWN THAT BURDEN?
