THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 8
MATTHEW 6:14–15 FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. 15BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS, YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
OPENING ILLUSTRATIONS: DR. JANES BOICE WRITES IN HIS COMMENTARY OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, “ONCE, AS I WAS TALKING TO A CHRISTIAN PSYCHIATRIST, I TOUCHED ON THE PROBLEM OF FORGIVENESS AND THE NEED MEN HAVE FOR IT. THE PSYCHIATRIST SAID, “AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED MOST OF WHAT A PSYCHIATRIST DOES IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO FORGIVENESS. PEOPLE COME TO HIM WITH PROBLEMS. THEY FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THEIR PART IN THESE PROBLEMS. THEY ARE SEEKING FORGIVENESS. IN EFFECT, THEY CONFESS THEIR SINS TO THE COUNSELOR AND FIND THAT HE FORGIVES THEM. THEN A PATTERN IS SET UP IN WHICH THEY CAN SHOW THEIR CHANGE OF HEART IN TANGIBLE WAYS TOWARD THE OTHER PERSON OR PERSONS.” THE PSYCHIATRIST CONCLUDED BY OBSERVING THAT THE GREAT NEED TO BE FORGIVEN BY MEN THAT MANY PERSONS FEEL IS ONLY A SHADOW OF A FAR GREATER NEED THAT ALL MEN HAVE TO BE FORGIVEN BY GOD.”
IN HIS BOOK CONFESS YOUR SINS DR. JOHN R. W. STOTT, MINISTER OF ALL SOULS CHURCH IN LONDON, QUOTES THE HEAD OF LARGE ENGLISH MENTAL HOSPITAL AS HAVING SAID, “I COULD DISMISS HALF MY PATIENTS TOMORROW IF THEY COULD BE ASSURED OF FORGIVENESS.” HE CITES THE SCOTTISH CHURCHMAN GEORGE MACLEOD AS HAVING WRITTEN, “WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF CHURCH MEMBERS [NOT TO MENTION OTHERS] ARE IN NEED OF … RELEASE.… WE LIVE … IN A VACUUM WHERE MEN SIMPLY ARE NOT FREED.” NONE OF THESE STATEMENTS IS IN THE LEAST EXAGGERATED. FOR IN OUR DAY, AS IN ALL AGES OF MAN, PEOPLE ARE CRYING OUT FOR REAL FORGIVENESS AND AN ASSURANCE OF IT.
INTRODUCTION: AS WE COME TO THE CLOSE OF THE LORD’S PRAYER, WE ARE MET WITH A SORT OF COMMENTARY. JESUS HIMSELF, HAS NOT ONLY GIVEN HIS DISCIPLES AND EACH OF US A MODEL FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYER, HE HAS ALSO TAKEN A MOMENT TO RE-ENFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS.
THIS SHORT VERSE APPROACHES THE MATTER OF FORGIVENESS FROM BOTH THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SIDES:
THE POSITIVE – WE AS BELIEVERS SHOULD FORGIVE OTHERS AS WE HAVE RECEIVED FORGIVENESS – JUDICIAL FORGIVENESS FROM GOD.
THE NEGATIVE – IF WE DO NOT FORGIVE, THE GOD THE FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE OUR SINS. AN UNFORGIVING HEART, ACCORDING TO HEBREWS 12:15 – ONE THAT DOES NOT EXPRESS THE GRACE OF GOD, ALLOWS BITTERNESS TO GROW, FORFEITS BLESSING AND INVITES JUDGMENT.
HEBREWS 12:15 SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE MISSES THE GRACE OF GOD AND THAT NO BITTER ROOT GROWS UP TO CAUSE TROUBLE AND DEFILE MANY.
TRANSITION: FORGIVENESS, AS I HOPE YOU WILL SEE, IS LINKED TO OUR RELATIONSHIP/FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND OUR RELATIONSHIP/FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. WE ARE TO BE FORGIVING PEOPLE!
I. LIVING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
a. THE DEFAULT POSITION AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS THAT OF BEING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
i. WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST
ii. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE BODY WITH EAH OTHER
iii. WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
iv. TOGETHER ARE THE BRIDE
v. WE ARE CALLED SONS OF GOD AND FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST
WE CANNOT DIVORCE OURSELVES FROM THE SIMPLE TRUTH THAT WE ARE, AS BELIEVERS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER.
b. EACH AND EVERY RELATIONSHIP REQUIRES SOME MEASURE OF INTERACTION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO EXIST
i. IN THE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP
1. INSTRUCTION
2. PREPARATION
3. LOVE AND RESPECT
ii. IN THE WORK RELATIONSHIP
1. EXPENDING OF TIME AND ENERGY
2. RECEPTION OF WAGES
iii. IN THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP
1. PROTECTION
2. RESPONSIBILITY
c. FOR THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, FORGIVENESS IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH GOD AND OTHER BELIEVERS.
i. REDEMPTION AND SALVATION RESTS OF THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THAT FORGIVENESS BY GOD THE FATHER.
ii. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD RESTS ON THE CONTINUAL CONFESSION OF SIN AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF GOD’S ALREADY PROVIDED FOR FORGIVENESS.
iii. IN THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN, WE ARE TOLD THAT IS WE SAY WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES AND THE LOVE OF GOD IS NOT IN US.
1 JOHN 1:5–10 THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND DECLARE TO YOU: GOD IS LIGHT; IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 6IF WE CLAIM TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM YET WALK IN THE DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT LIVE BY THE TRUTH. 7BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS, HIS SON, PURIFIES US FROM ALL SIN. 8IF WE CLAIM TO BE WITHOUT SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. 9IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 10IF WE CLAIM WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM OUT TO BE A LIAR AND HIS WORD HAS NO PLACE IN OUR LIVES.
JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND SEE ALL THE FACETS OF FELLOWSHIP THAT ARE AFFECTED BY OUR LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGING OUR NEED FOR FORGIVENESS AND ACTIVITY TO SEEK FORGIVENESS.
• CAN’T CLAIM TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP AND STILL BE IN DARKNESS. WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES AND NOT LIVING TRUTHFULLY
• TO CLAIM TO BE WITHOUT SIN IS SELF- DECEPTION. WE COULD CALL THIS A LACK OF FELLOWSHIP WITH OURSELVES
• THE CLAIM TO BE WITHOUT SIN IS ALIE PERPETRATED AGAINST GOD AND HE IS NOT IN OUR LIVES – FELLOWSHIP LOST
ILLUSTRATION: CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, AUGUSTINE SAID IT THIS WAY, “ AUGUSTINE WHO CALLED THIS REQUEST “THE TERRIBLE PETITION” BECAUSE HE REALIZED THAT IF WE PRAY “FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS” WITH AN UNFORGIVING HEART, WE ARE ACTUALLY ASKING GOD NOT TO FORGIVE US FOR OUR SINS.”
II. WHAT HAPPENS TO US WHEN WE HAVE AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT
a. IT DUPLICATES THE PERSON WE ARE BITTER TOWARDS – WE BECOME LIKE THEM!
i. WE BECOME LIKE THOSE WE RESENT BY BECOMING RESENTFUL OURSELVES
ii. BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT GROW UNTIL THEY CLOUD AND DISTORT OUR SPIRITUAL VISION
iii. BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS HAVE A WAY OF TAKING AND KEEPING OUR FOCUS OFF THE LORD AND HIS DESIRES FOR US AND ONTO THE PERSON WE ARE NOT WILLING TO FORGIVE
SPIRITUAL CLARITY COMES WHEN WE REMOVE THE UNFORGIVING ATTITUDE FROM OUR LIFE AND CHANGE OUR FOCUS TO THE FORGIVENESS WE HAVE RECEIVED AS THE CATALYST TO FORGIVE ANOTHER.
THE SOONER THE BETTER!
ILLUSTRATION: ONE DAY A LITTLE BOY NAMED JULIAN FELL DOWN WHILE CHASING BUTTERFLIES IN A FIELD OF TALL GRASS. SOON AFTERWARD, THE BOY’S LEFT EYE STARTED HURTING, SO HE WAS TAKEN TO A DOCTOR. THE DOCTOR COULDN’T FIND THE SOURCE OF THE IRRITATION, SO HE JUST GAVE THE BOY SOME OINTMENT AND SENT HIM HOME. EVENTUALLY JULIAN’S EYE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THOUGH, THE BOY STARTED COMPLAINING OF CLOUDY VISION. HIS PARENTS TOOK HIM TO AN EYE SPECIALIST, WHO WAS STUNNED BY WHAT HE DISCOVERED. APPARENTLY WHEN JULIAN HAD FALLEN A YEAR EARLIER, A TINY GRASS SEED HAD IMPLANTED ITSELF IN HIS CORNEA. SLOWLY THE SEED HAD GROWN AND HAD ACTUALLY SPROUTED TWO LITTLE LEAVES IN JULIAN’S EYE. THE SEED HAD TO BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO SAVE THE BOY’S VISION.
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, READ MATT 18:23-35, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO US WHEN WE HAVE AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT
FORGIVENESS OF A GREAT DEBT SHOULD MAKE US WILLING TO FORGIVE OTHERS
UNWILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE OTHERS IS NOT LOOKED ON WITH FAVOR BY GOD
ILLUSTRATION: LEONARDO DA VINCI LEARNED THIS LESSON ABOUT BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS. AT THE TIME THAT LEONARDO DA VINCI PAINTED “THE LAST SUPPER,” HE HAD AN ENEMY WHO WAS A FELLOW PAINTER. DA VINCI HAD A BITTER ARGUMENT WITH THIS MAN AND DESPISED HIM. WHEN DA VINCI PAINTED THE FACE OF JUDAS ISCARIOT AT THE TABLE WITH JESUS, HE USED THE FACE OF HIS ENEMY SO THAT IT WOULD BE PRESENT FOR AGES AS THE MAN WHO BETRAYED JESUS. HE TOOK DELIGHT WHILE PAINTING THIS PICTURE IN KNOWING THAT OTHERS WOULD ACTUALLY NOTICE THE FACE OF HIS ENEMY ON JUDAS. AS HE WORKED ON THE FACES OF THE OTHER DISCIPLES, HE OFTEN TRIED TO PAINT THE FACE OF JESUS, BUT COULDN’T MAKE ANY PROGRESS. DA VINCI FELT FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED. IN TIME HE REALIZED WHAT WAS WRONG. HIS HATRED FOR THE OTHER PAINTER WAS HOLDING HIM BACK FROM FINISHING THE FACE OF JESUS. ONLY AFTER MAKING PEACE WITH HIS FELLOW PAINTER AND REPAINTING THE FACE OF JUDAS WAS HE ABLE TO PAINT THE FACE OF JESUS AND COMPLETE HIS MASTERPIECE.
ONE OF THE REASONS THE PAINTING TOOK FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE WAS THAT WHEN DA VINCI WAS ALMOST FINISHED, A FRIEND COMMENTED ON HOW INCREDIBLY MOVING THE PAINTING WAS—ESPECIALLY THE SILVER CUP ON THE TABLE. “IT WAS BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL!” HE SAID. “MY EYES WERE IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO IT.” DA VINCI GOT SO ANGRY THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PAINTED OVER THE CUP, BLOTTING IT OUT. THE FOCUS OF THE PAINTING WAS TO BE JESUS, NOT THE CUP. ALL ATTENTION HAD TO BE DRAWN TO HIM AND ANYTHING THAT DETRACTED FROM HIM HAD TO BE REMOVED. THE SAME TRUTH HOLDS FOR OUR OWN LIVES. REMOVE YOUR BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVING SPIRIT. IT IS A DISTRACTION.
b. IT AFFECTS US IN MANY WAYS
i. IF YOUR MARRIED IT DAMAGES YOUR SPOUSE COLOSSIANS 3:19 HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES AND DO NOT BE HARSH WITH THEM.
ii. IT DEFILES YOU! -- HEBREWS 12:15 SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE MISSES THE GRACE OF GOD AND THAT NO BITTER ROOT GROWS UP TO CAUSE TROUBLE AND DEFILE MANY.
iii. UNFORGIVENESS MAKES US MORE LIKE THE DEVIL THAN WE WANT TO BE -- JAMES 3:14–15 BUT IF YOU HARBOR BITTER ENVY AND SELFISH AMBITION IN YOUR HEARTS, DO NOT BOAST ABOUT IT OR DENY THE TRUTH. 15SUCH “WISDOM” DOES NOT COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN BUT IS EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, OF THE DEVIL.
iv. UNFORGIVENESS HAS A PROFOUND AFFECT ON OUR ABILITY TO LOVE GOD -- 1 JOHN 4:20–21 IF ANYONE SAYS, “I LOVE GOD,” YET HATES HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR. FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAS SEEN, CANNOT LOVE GOD, WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN. AND HE HAS GIVEN US THIS COMMAND: WHOEVER LOVES GOD MUST ALSO LOVE HIS BROTHER.
III. SINCE UNFORGIVENESS IS SO DANGEROUS TO OUR CHRISTIAN WALK, HOW CAN WE OVER COME IT?
a. REALIZE THAT GOD IS AT WORK EVEN THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF THOSE THAT HURT US
i. JOSEPH IS A PRIME EXAMPLE
ii. HATED BY HIS BROTHERS
iii. WANTED TO KILL HIM
iv. SOLD HIM INTO SLAVERY, WHERE EVERY TIME JOSEPH SEEMED TO BE DOING WELL HE SUFFERED A SET BACK
1. THROWN IN THE WELL
2. SOLD INTO SLAVERY
3. FALSELY IMPRISONED
4. FORGOTTEN BY THOSE HE HELPED
v. IN THE END HE WOULD TELL HIS BROTHERS WHO STARTED THE BALL ROLLING THAT WHAT THEY SOUGHT AS HARM, GOD ACTUALLY HAD FOR GOOD.
WE SHOULD NOT BE TOO QUICK TO JUDGE SITUATIONS ON FACE VALUE ALONE
b. REALIZE THAT GOD HAS A BLESSING IN EVERY OFFENSE
i. PAUL WRITES TO THE THESSALONIA CHURCH 1 THESSALONIANS 5:15 MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY PAYS BACK WRONG FOR WRONG, BUT ALWAYS TRY TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND TO EVERYONE ELSE.
ii. PAUL WRITES THAT ALL TINGS WORK TO GETHER FOR GOOD, ….
ROMANS 8:28–30 AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. 29FOR THOSE GOD FOREKNEW HE ALSO PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BROTHERS. 30AND THOSE HE PREDESTINED, HE ALSO CALLED; THOSE HE CALLED, HE ALSO JUSTIFIED; THOSE HE JUSTIFIED, HE ALSO GLORIFIED.
PLEASE NOTE A FEW THINGS
YOU HAVE TO BE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE IN ORDER FOR EVERYTHING TO WORK OUT FOR GOOD
1 PETER 1:2 WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT, FOR OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST AND SPRINKLING BY HIS BLOOD: GRACE AND PEACE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE.
• WE WERE CALLED, EVEN BEFORE WE KNEW IT.
• THE RESULT OF OUR CALLING IS WE HAVE THE PLAN OF GOD LAID OUT ALREADY
• EVERYTHING GOD IS DOING IN US IS MEANT TO BRING US FROM PREDESTINED TO GLORY
THE HARDEST THING TO DO IS ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A BLESSING COMING!
c. IF GOD NEVER DOES ANYTHING WITHOUT PURPOSE, THEN THERE IS A LESSON TO LEARN. PERHAPS GOD IS TRYING TO DEVELOP US IN GREATER WAS
i. OUR UNDERSTANDING – WHEN WE TAKE A MOMENT TO UNDERSTAND ANOTHER, FORGIVENESS IS EASIER
ii. OUR MEMORY. PERHAPS GOD IN HIS WISDOM WANTS US TO FORGET THE OFFENSE SO WE CAN MOVE ON
iii. PERHAPS GOD WANTS TO TEACH US TO LOVE
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE THINK, GOD DOES HAVE A PURPOSE AND A PLAN, AND HE IS MOLDING US SIMPLY BECAUSE HE MAKING US MORE LIKE HIM. AND AT TIME, IT HURTS.
