Dead Man Walking Matthew 18: 21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
The 3 biggest enemies of the soul of mankind are
1. Offense
2. Bitterness
3. Unforgiveness
These 3 have a way of getting into your life, controlling your thoughts and leading you on a daily basis.
Many of you are controlled by these 3, you are a dead man walking, a dead woman walking.
Dead Man Walking - A condemned prisoner walking to a death chamber or other place of execution. Someone who is soon to die. Someone who is about to face an unavoidable loss (though the person may not realize it). When used in this way it is a metaphor comparing this loss to dying.
They are controlled by someone else.
How many of you are controlled by someone else?
How many of you are controlled by offense, bitterness or unforgiveness.
Many of you have been through rejection, abuse, torment, hurt & pain.
You are not living in the trap of the incident you are living in the trap of the big three.
Offense, bitterness and unforgiveness is you holding someone else in slavery.
Jeremiah 34:8 – releasing slaves.
Offense, bitterness and unforgiveness is you sitting in the seat of a judge casting a verdict & sentence of judgment.
Matthew 7 - “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
1. Offense
Offenses happen when someone insults us with words or actions and the majority of the time the offender doesn’t know you’re offended.
Jesus said, Offenses must come. Offenses are inevitable.
Matthew 18:7 - Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Offense – sin
Stop trying to find a place where offenses don’t happen and learn how to deal with them.
When you don’t deal with offenses in a BIBLICAL manner you place yourself under the “Chains Of Offense.”
Offenses can be big or small, in person or not. Social media.
You become a “Dead Man Walking.”
How do I deal with offenses?
Most people don’t deal with offenses because of fear of confrontation.
The fear of confrontation is the devils closet of isolation.
There is a biblical format to confrontation, when followed it strengthens relationships when it's not followed relationships are destroyed.
Not handled through retaliation.
If Joseph would have retaliated, he would have never stepped in his destiny
If Caleb would have lashed out, he would have never received his mountain
If JESUS …………
How do I deal with my offense?
1. Take it to the cross. – (chains)
2. Ask for forgiveness – go to the person in the RIGHT way. Matt.18
3. Let it go/let it die. (David & goliath)
There is a difference between Sin against you and offenses must come.
You are responsible for the offense allowed to linger and grow in your heart
If you don’t it progresses to #2 BITTERNESS
2. Bitterness
Hebrews 12:15 - See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Ephesians 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Saul become bitter toward David – tormented.
Numbers 5: 18 – bitterness brings a curse.
Bitterness is a result of not dealing with offenses properly.
Bitterness is a curse that spreads to all around you.
Bitterness is the cancer of the soul.
Bitterness is you drinking poison on a daily basis and expecting to live.
(POISON)
Some people navigate their lives through the lens of bitterness.
You are a dead man walking, a dead woman walking, controlled by the waters of bitterness.
Exodus 15 they came to the land of Marah and the waters were bitter.
Bitterness caused the people to grumble, grumbling is a sign of bitterness.
Moses cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him a piece of wood to throw in the water and it sweetened the water and GOD said to them “I am the Lord who heals you.
How do I get rid of bitterness?
1. Take it to the cross. – (Moses at Marah)
2. Repent- (change of mind and perception) – word & prayer
3. Ask for forgiveness. If necessary (may have to go to someone)
4. Let it go/ let it die. (David & Goliath)
3. Unforgiveness
Unforgiveness is death sentence, the electric chair.
Many Christians are living their lives under the death sentence of unforgiveness.
You are a dead man walking, a dead woman walking.
Let’s look at – (Matthew 18:21-35 NIV) on SCREEN
Break down of the text will be as follows
V. 21-22
V. 23
V. 24-27
V.28-31
V.32-35
Judge of the old testament, many of you are TIED to the one you have unforgiveness toward and they don’t even know it.
(DUMMY ON MY BACK)
How do I deal with unforgiveness?
1. Take it to the cross. – (repent & pray for a strategy)
2. Choose to let it go/let it die.
3. Go and release if necessary.
Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
It’s better to forgive than to retaliate, react and retreat.
Live with a pure heart.
We’re contaminated by what comes out of us.
We have to have a healthy heart.
In closing, how do I keep my heart healthy?
Spiritual CPR
C – choose to forgive
P – pray
R – repent & release
