JAIL BREAK (Breaking the Chains of Unforgiveness) -
Forgiveness: The Key to Our Relationship with God and Others
September 8, 2024
Matthew 6:5-15
Introduction:
In the book, “When Godly People Do Ungodly things” Beth Moore writes:
“Whether we realize it or not, God formed every one of us with a wick just waiting to be lit. He created us for the fire of the Holy Spirit. If we quench His fire, we’ll look for another one elsewhere. That’s when we’re liable to be burned. I’m not just talking about sensual passions alone. Anger, rage, and all manner of lusts are also counterfeit passions or self built fire starters.”
Let me share with you…the Holy Spirit… the fire from God is the only fire that can burn intensely without destroying us.
When Paul writes to Timothy he tells him: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6)
It’s also why he boldly tells the Christians in Thessalonica… “DO NO QUENCH THE SPIRIT.” (1 Thess. 5:19)
God’s fire isn’t destructive in a believers life…its essential. Lust destroys…anger destroys…rage destroys.
Here’s the question…Are we fanning the Spirit’s fire in our lives and others or are we people with water hoses?
Are we breaking out of the jail of unforgiveness…or are we continually slamming the cell door shut, for ourselves and others?
Jesus makes it clear…
I. FAKE FIRES ARE FOR APPEARANCES ONLY
Jesus dealt with a lot of people who pretended to be something they weren't....In Matthew 23 He tells them they wash the outside of the cup (for appearances) but the inside is dirty and unclean!!!! Listen to what He starts our study with
MATTHEW 6:5-8
Salvation and a relationship with God always starts with a prayer that calls out to God
“Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
It’s not all that’s involved…but it’s the first reaction of someone who believes and experiences conviction of sin and a desire to repent… “God be merciful to me a sinner” is the starting place in the journey…
It’s a genuine…Holy Spirit ignition that lights the fire of salvation…It’s real…it’s powerful…it’s the cutting of our hearts that makes us ask “What should I do?”
God always desires this kind of honesty and intimacy when we pray. It fans the flame…it strokes the fire…It awakens our soul to His Spirit.
It’s a prayer to a Father, who knows what we need even before we ask Him. You don’t need others to witness it…in fact you’d rather talk with Him privately so you can pour out your heart…It’s not about using the right words or a lot of them…in fact many times you won’t even know the right words…Paul describes this majestic confusion in this way…
ROMANS 8:26-27
Jesus knew that prayer wasn’t about appearing religious…It was about a very real relationship with our Father in Heaven…
[I’ve got this fireplace in our basement that has a ceramic heater in it…and the front has a picture of a fire…it’s made with lights and other materials…but one day, when it was real cold…one of the kids had pushed the button that kept the fire picture going, but turned off the ceramic heater from blowing…it was weird to stand looking at a roaring fire in a freezing room.]
Jesus described religion hypocrites in this way…active and loud in church (or the synagogue) to be seen by others…They like to be heard praying or babbling on and on about “biblical stuff.” Like Diotrophes in John's 3rd letter to the church..."They like to be first and will do most anything to remain first."
Jesus says: “They do religious stuff so other people will notice them…they’ve already received their reward…but what He’s really saying is They are like a fireplace movie…all appearance…no fire.
Those 5 words from Jesus in verse 8 are His purpose for sharing all this…What are those 5 words? “DO NOT BE LIKE THEM.”
If you and I want to fan the flame…
Pray privately…alone with God…share your deepest secrets and fears…Thank Him for your greatest joys…Don’t worry about doing it right or saying the right thing…He already knows…He’s your Dad and just wants to spend time with you…That ignites His Spirit within you. This is when His fire can consume you without destroying you.
And then Jesus, God’s Son does something extremely transparent and powerful…He give us…
II. AN EXAMPLE OF HIS PRAYER LIFE
This is how you should pray…
[Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from the evil one.] (53 words)
53 words…and even if you add what later manuscripts do…“For yours is the kingdom, power and glory forever, Amen.”
It takes less than 30 seconds to pray.
It’s a prayer of PRAISE, PURPOSE, PETITION, PARDON AND PROTECTION.
It’s important we understand that Jesus isn’t sharing a few magical words that we can repeat…He’s sharing His heart…He’s giving us a glimpse into His inner closet.
“God you are our Father…you are Holy…I want to be 100% in your will while I’m here on earth…I depend on you daily for the simplest of things…Forgive me of my sins…in the same way I’ve learned to forgive others. Keep me on a righteous path…deliver me when the evil one attacks.”?
Praise, Purpose, Petition, Pardon, and Protection.
This prayer is a glimpse into Jesus’ heartfelt, private communication with His Dad.
And I find it beautiful that He says, “Our Father”... he includes us in a request for forgiveness…when He doesn’t need forgiveness for anything…It’s for us.
This is a lesson about intimacy…it’s an example of what a real conversation with your father is like in comparison with the Hypocrite who stands on the corner loudly praying so others can hear him and congratulate him.
Private intimacy with God fans the flame of the Holy Spirit. Public religious activity is a fake fire, if it’s just for your ego.
[My favorite prayer time isn’t at a UK game (hated the echo) or at the North American Christian Convention. My favorite time with my Father is when I'm on the tractor mowing, or on my back porch at night…or in the woods by myself…It’s not that I’m fake at the other…but when I’m alone with Him…I can hear Him speak to my heart easier.]
And let me end with this vital truth…one Jesus makes clear in His prayer and in His teaching…
III. IF OUR RELATIONSHIPS AREN’T RIGHT HORIZONTALLY…THEY WON’T BE RIGHT VERTICALLY
“Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
MATTHEW 6:14-15
Here’s the truth…you and I cannot have a saving relationship with God that doesn’t affect our relationship with other people…even people who hurt us.
There is nothing that puts out the fire and quenches the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life more than unforgiveness.
NOTHING!!!
Religious people will do stuff people can see…Real disciples will focus on forgiveness in private.
[The word Jesus uses for “Hypocrite” in out text…the one’s we are not to be like, is “Hypokrites.” (Hoop-ok-ree-tace). It literally means: “One who wears a mask, A stage actor.”
What Jesus is saying is… “We can live our life wearing a mask before God and others, pretending to be religious…play acting before both…He says, “Don’t be like that…Don’t be that kind of person!!!”
That’s a horrible jail to be trapped in…wearing that laughing mask when your heart is broken or weary…that crying mask so others will feel sorry for you…neither are the real you…and you’ve done it so long you can’t or won’t take the mask off…because others will see the real you…the real you God knows intimately…and loves passionately.
Fake fires in the corner of a cold basement might look good…but they provide no warmth. Fig trees that have a lot of leaves but bear no fruit look good but provide no nourishment.
Actors on a stage…performing for others while wearing a mask or entertaining…but they’re not real…and there’s no relationship.
If we want a real relationship with God our Father that connects us with other people, we’d better take off the mask.
