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Christmas is For-giving Part 2 Forgoing
Introduction (taken from a series by Craig Groeschel)
Today- continue our series- Christmas is For-Giving.
Complete series on Christmas Eve- invite friends.
Last week- looked at forgiving those who have hurt us.
Today- initiating forgiveness toward those we- hurt. NNN
Forgoing
Many-love Christmas-others-sense of loss, pain, regret
Today- want God to bring healing to our relationships.
Survey- how many- allowed someone to borrow something and that low-down, no-good, person never brought it back? Flip side- how many low-down, no- good, people here have something someone loaned you- you have not returned it.
Interesting- fewer people than before- why?
It is easier to remember people who have hurt us, than to remember people we have hurt. N
Today- examine our hearts- have I wronged someone?
Mat 5:23-25
If you are going to worship and know you have hurt someone, do everything possible to settle it quickly.
Question- if- clothes catch fire, what should you do?
Stop, Drop, and Roll (picture) S
Relate them to spiritual truths-Stop, Drop, and Give. N
1. Stop and acknowledge those you have hurt N/S
Difficult- easier to point the finger at other people.
Mat 5:23-24
How many- actually do what Matthew tells us to do?
Have you ever been shopping- see someone you do not want to talk to- look away, walk opposite direction. Flip-side- you are out- somebody sees you and does not want to talk to you- looks the
other way, walks in opposite direction.
Sometimes- we like to avoid certain people/issues.
At family gatherings- elephants in the room that nobody wants to talk about. S
Family-outwardly successful-hold hands, carry Bibles.
After all, that is what spiritual families do- yet behind the scenes- physical/sexual/verbal abuse- issues.
Generally we judge others on one criteria- N
We judge others by their actions.
We judge ourselves by our intentions.
Why- we know what our heart felt or meant to do.
If I borrowed a book from you and have not returned it- I will, my intentions are good, it just slipped my mind or I am busy, but I am going to get it back to you- that is my heart’s intent.
I judge myself by my intentions- you by your actions.
In my heart I love someone, but my actions have not always demonstrated what was in my heart.
They judge me by my actions- but I would say my heart was right and my intentions were good.
First we are going to STOP- second we are going to-
2. Drop everything to make it right S/N
Mat 5:24-25
There is a certain urgency in what Jesus says.
As a parent- busy doing something or talking w/someone- child gets hurt- starts screaming- what do you do- drop everything/run to them.
Maybe we may have relationships where someone is crying out inside- silent scream- can we deal w/this.
We must learn to DROP everything and bring healing.
We need to pray and ask God to-
open a door for us to talk to someone we hurt,
give us a chance to initiate forgiveness.
When- talk about forgiveness-something to remember-
If you have something against somebody and they do not know about it, keep it to yourself. S
If you have been judging someone for years-
because of their actions, attitude,
the way they dress, they brown-nose the boss-
and suddenly you want to deal with it-
do not go to them and tell them you have had a problem with them for the past 10 years-
keep it to yourself- let God deal with your heart.
I do not want to hear- you have not liked me for years.
If I do not know about it- it is between you and God.
Do not go and create a wound because you have internalized something towards someone else.
STOP- acknowledge you have hurt someone, then DROP everything to make it right.
When making an apology-
If at all possible, do it face to face. N
Do not fax-it, Facebook it, or email it.
Here is how you need to do it- go to them and say-
I am sorry that I have hurt you. (Period) N
Do not add any fine print to your apology- I am sorry-
but here is what you did- made me do what I did
but here is what was going on in my life.
Then ask them to forgive you-
Will you please forgive me? N
I do not deserve it, I offer no excuses.
When making an apology-
Do your part and trust God with the rest. N
Three things can happen when you apologize-
First- they did not know- tell you everything is okay.
Second- acknowledge what you did/fully forgive you.
Third, they may say- forget it, game over, do not collect $200, our relationship is done.
Important to understand- you cannot control how others respond- all you can do- own up to your part.
Rom 12:18 (NAS) If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. S
It is not always possible to fix the problem.
First we are going to STOP, second DROP, and third-
3. Give your heart and gifts to God N
Mat 5:24
First we give ourselves to reconciliation and then we offer ourselves to God.
Rom 12:1 (NAS) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. S
No one deserves God’s forgiveness- appeal-His mercy.
We give ourselves to God and our sacrifice is acceptable because of His mercy towards us.
This is what worship is all about- not singing songs.
Two most important things that matter-
our relationship w/God and with one another.
Mtt 22:36-40
Conclusion
Christmas is forgiving. N
If we are going to call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ, then let us be one- inside and outside.
We are all earthen, broken vessels- this does not excuse our words, attitudes, and actions, but-
we do our part and trust God with the rest.
If you have broken and hurting relationships you want to see healed- come up- we will pray together.
