Blessed with the Ability to Forget
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Jeremiah 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities
will I remember no more.
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Matthew 6:9-15 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:25 I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Often we complain about our forgetfulness but forgetting plays a major part in living a Christian life. Let’s see where forgetting is a blessing. “Blessed with the Ability to Forget”
I. THINGS IN OUR PAST THAT WE NEED TO FORGET.
A. Some need to forget past successes. These could lead to pride and give us a feeling that we have already “attained” the goal. So keep your pride forgotten and keep serving the Lord.
B. Some need to forget past failures. Satan can, and will, use your past mistakes to cause you to give up serving Christ.
C. All of us need to forget past grievances.
II. ALL OF US NEED TO FORGET OUR FEARS.
365 times in His Word God tells us to “fear not”. It is an act of unbelief for the Christian to fear anything that God has told us not to fear. Jesus told us not to fear the future: "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NASB).
Hebrews 13:5-6 I will never leave you nor forsake you.
The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what can man do to me.
Jesus told us not to fear the storms of life. Mark says, Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But He was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They awakened Him and said to Him, "Teacher, don’t you care that we’re perishing?"
So He got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace Be Still!" Then the wind stopped and it became perfectly calm.
With Christ in our boat, we have nothing to fear.
Paul tells us not to fear death: O death , where is your victory ? O death , where is your sting?" Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4).
We need not fear the judgment to come: Romans 5:20-21.
"…But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Judgment holds no fear for the blood-bought believer.
The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son
cleanses the true believer from all sin (1 John 1:9).
Illustration – At summer camp a young boy didn’t have much spending money. One of his few, enjoyments was a box of Chiclets. One day he had a packet, and after chewing a few, he placed the remainder under his pillow. Later that day he went to get them and the box was gone. As he was leaving the cabin, a boy walked by holding a box of chiclets and giving him a “what are you going to do about it” look. His camp counselor saw how down he was. He told him what had happened and he said, “We just need to teach him a lesson don’t we?”
THIS WAS HIS PLAN: He bought TWO boxes of chiclets and told him to find the boy and share one package with him!
He asked the counselor, “Aren’t you going to punish him”?
The counselor explained, “No, that would only make him mad at you”. “But he’s a thief.” The Counselor replied, “I know. But try it... see what happens.” He reluctantly tried what he said, and before the week was over, the little thief had become his best buddy! In fact, he bought him chiclets every day! THAT WEEK HE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE,
AND THE BENEFITS OF FORGIVENESS!!!
Ephes. 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
You can only forget when you truly forgive !!!!!!!
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
Most of us know that we’re supposed to forgive and we understand what God says about forgiveness, but we still fight it. It could be because we think we have reasons to not forgive.
• It’s not fair. Forgiveness is not fair; but that’s the point of it.
• But you don’t know how bad he (or she) hurt me. That’s not the issue. People may still hurt you. But forgiveness is how you stop the pain. Forgiveness is for you, not them.
• I have to heal first—then I’ll be able to forgive. God says that forgiveness brings healing, not the other way around.
• But I want revenge! Hebrews 10:30 says: “For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay, saith the Lord…
• Why should I let him (or her) off the hook? If you don’t forgive, you’re still on the hook. They don’t “deserve” forgiveness, ,,,,,,,, no one does,,,, including you.
• Where’s the justice? It’s on the cross.
That leads to a question. Are you more interested in being “right” or being reconciled? You must forgive to forget.
But I Can’t Forget! You can if you truly forgive….
Hebrews 10:17: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” When God forgives, He chooses not to remember.
II. THE STEPS OF FORGIVENESS
A. Realize That We All Have Had Undeserved Forgiveness -
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
1. To do otherwise is hypocrisy – Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
a. Critical to God’s forgiveness is our willingness to forgive -
Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
B. Matthew 18:35 - Forgive "from the heart"
1. In this we see a major issue – The Need to Mentally
And Emotionally Release the Hurt or Debt
2. How do you forgive “from your heart”?
a. What is the heart biblically speaking?
The seat of emotions - a willful, mental release
3. Let’s face it – We are kidding ourselves if we say that we have forgiven, but we continue to remember the issue with bitterness! YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO!!!!
C. Accept the Person’s Response or Lack of Response
1. Forgiveness is not expecting compensation or reward -
2. If our forgiveness toward others hinges on their response – we will just ride an emotional roller coaster, up & down!
D. View Our Experiences with Others as Tools of Growth
1. Joseph did, and as a result God could used him mightily!
E. Reconciliation
Who is the real prisoner when we choose unforgiveness???? You are! It leads to a root of bitterness, it’s destructive
F. Develop a Lifestyle that Imparts Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. ( Ongoing )
– We know we have forgiven & forgotten when:
1. Our negative feelings and bitterness leaves
2. Our concerns for the needs of others outweighs our concern for the wrong they have done us.
Philippians 3:13 : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.
Blessed with the Ability to Forget
Special thanks to a great man of God and a wonderful friend, Pastor Terry Sisney.
My name is William Poovey, and I pastor at Bethel Church in Olar, SC. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a lot of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
William Poovey
