Finding the Father through Forgiveness
Matthew 6:12-13
October 17, 1999
Morning Worship
INTRODUCTION
I. Sir Alexander Fleming and Winston Churchill
A. Young Churchill saved from drowning
1. Winston Churchill nearly died at a young age
2. He was swimming with friends and got in too deep and began to drown
3. A gardener herd the commotion and dove into the water
4. Churchill’s father asked how they could reward the man
5. Gardener’s request: “I want my son to go to college and become a doctor."
B. Churchill saved again
1. Many years later Churchill fell ill with pneumonia
2. The best physician in England was summoned – Sir Alexander Fleming: The creator of penicillin
3. Fleming was the son of the gardener who saved Churchill as a boy
4. Churchill: “Rarely, has one man owed his life twice to the same person.”
II. Formula for spiritual success
If you want to be distressed – look within.
If you want to be defeated – look back.
If you want to be distracted – look around.
If you want to be dismayed – look ahead.
If you want to be delivered – look up!
III. Biblical Examples of Deliverance
A. OT Examples
1. Moses led God’s people out of Egypt
2. Joseph freed from slavery
3. Daniel saved from the lions den
B. NT Examples
1. Peter rescued from prison
2. Paul and Silas rescued from prison
C. Our God is a god of deliverance
1. God is in the deliverance business
2. God has been faithful to deliver in the past and will do so right now
3. God wants to bring you a spiritual deliverance
BODY
I. The Basis of Forgiveness
A. The meaning of Sin
1. Six New Testament terms for Sin
a.) Sin – Hamartia: To miss the mark
b.) Transgress – Parabaino: To step across the line
c.) Lawlessness – Anomia: Open, flagrant rejection
d.) Trespass – Paraptoma: A falling or slipping away
e.) Wickedness – Ponreia: Evil desire
f.) Debt – Opheilema: What is owed or personal obligation
2. The impact of debt
a.) Opheilema is a specific legal term used to account for personal debts
b.) Opheilema is the only term for sin that reveals the results of sin
c.) Debt is the price or consequences of our sinful behavior
B. Power of the prayer
1. Forgive the debt of sin
a.) Forgiveness for the results of sinful behavior
b.) Forgiveness for the consequences
2. Forgive the debt of guilt or punishment
3. Forgive the debts just as the person has forgiven his debtors
C. The duties in forgiveness
1. Our duty to God is to ask forgiveness when we fail
2. Our duty to others is to forgive their sins against us
II. The Road of Temptation and Deliverance
A. God does not lead us into sin
1. Pray God will save you from the pull of temptation
2. Pray God will save you from evil
a.) The evil of sin
b.) The evil one - Satan
B. Essential once we receive forgiveness
1. Deliverance from temptation
2. Deliverance from evil
C. This request is necessary for every believer
1. You will face temptation
2. You can easily be trapped by sinful behavior
D. Temptation must be prayed against
1. Sin causes great hurt and pain to God
2. Sin causes great trouble, guilt and grief for you and others
E. You must have help to overcome the power of Satan
1. Satan attacks by deception
2. Satan attacks by direct assault – Seeking to devour
F. Things to remember when dealing with Satan
1. Alone you are no match for Satan
2. Satan only has power over you – If you allow it
3. Jesus has already defeated Satan
4. When God is for you no one can stand against you
CONCLUSION
I. You need the forgiveness of God
A. Forgiveness is a gift
1. Forgiveness is a gift from God – God loves you!
2. Forgiveness has a price – Jesus paid it all!
3. Forgiveness has a place in your life – All you need is to accept
B. Forgiveness brings us life
1. We gain eternal life through Christ
2. We are given life and life that is abundant
C. Forgiveness brings us relationship with God
1. Sin has separated us from the Father that loves us
2. Christ has come to bridge that spiritual gap
3. By forgiveness we can have a living and loving relationship with God
II. You need the assistance of God
A. Dealing with temptation
1. Temptation is real
2. Temptation is powerful
3. Temptation is deadly
B. Dealing with evil
1. Satan is a reality
2. Satan is your enemy
3. Satan wants to keep you where you are in life
a.) A Christian who is not growing spiritually is a Christian who is dying spiritually
b.) The goals of Satan
1.) Keep you from being effective in your spiritual walk with God
2.) Keep you from being effective in your service for God
3.) Keep you comfortable in life – Change never happens when people are comfortable
4. Satan is at work wherever God is working
a.) We are at war with Satan – We win
b.) Satan is working against us
1.) Satan doesn’t want this church to grow
2.) Satan doesn’t want this community to see revival
3.) Satan doesn’t want to see the Kingdom of God expanded
