Power of Forgiveness
Psm 32:1-5
We’re talking about the forgiveness of God.
Admitting we are in need of God’s forgiveness implies that we have in some way failed. That’s why we need God’s forgiveness, because we’ve all sinned or failed God in one way or another.
What does the Bible say about our sin and what Has God done to deal with our sin?
First thing….
Church God has made prepared for our sin.
Look at Vs.1 &2
God gives us three words for sin.
1. he says (Transgression) which means –going away form or departing, the act of rebellion against God.
2. he says in vs. 1 whose sin- meaning the coming short of what God intended and defying his authority When we fail according to God’s Law, and are condemned by it.
3. He says in Vs. 2 Iniquity- meaning the corrupt, twisted and crooked.
Twisting God’s grace to fulfill our desires.
But the writer doesn’t stop there with three words he gives us three words for What God does with sin.
1. forgiven – which means he has literally lifted our sins off. That is Burden removing.
2. Covered- the blood on the mercy seat. Ark of the Covenant. The Greek word for Mercy seat is translated. Propitiation.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
3. Impute- means that he does not count it against us.
You say pastor I know God has made preparation for my sin but why do I still feel so dead inside?
I want to share with you Four ways to rid your self of condemnation and guilt.
The first. Thing you need to do is
1. Declare your Disappointment’s:
Share your heart with God. Confess your sin and guilt
Not with other people First…
Why?
Because we tend to try and manipulate people with our feeling’s
3 ministers who went fishing one day, all friends who pastored different churches in the same town. While they were fishing they began confessing their sins to each other...
The first pastor said, "Do you know what my big sin is? My big sin is drinking. I know it’s wrong, but every Friday night I drive to a city where no one will recognize me and I go to a saloon and get drunk! I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it, it’s my big sin." The second pastor said, "Well fellas, to be honest with you, I’ve got a big sin too...my big sin is gambling. As a matter of fact, you know all the money I raised for that mission trip to India? I took it to Las Vegas instead and lost it all! I’m so ashamed, my big sin is gambling." Finally it was the third pastor’s turn. He said, "Guys, I probably should have gone first, because my big sin is GOSSIP--and I can’t keep a secret!"
Question???
(((( Are you trying to Get from people, What only God can give you?))))
( Far, to many are hiding from everything: When we confess, we help set our selves Free)
This little statement is really three four-word sentences, which when taken together give you the key for moving forward with your life.
I can’t go back.
I can’t stay here.
I must go forward.
Forgiveness is God’s means of letting go of the past and moving forward with God.
When I said last week that forgiveness is "simple" I don’t mean that it is easy. If you have been deeply hurt, nothing will be harder for you than letting go. But the message of our text is clear:
Unless you let go of the past, you are doomed to live there forever
You say How do I let it Go?
2. Determine who your Deliver is:
You have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God can and will forgive and cleanse you>>>>>
And declare it to God, Satan, other’s and Yourself
Because if you don’t Satan will intimidate you, and intimidation lead’s to Isolation and Isolation to bring Hopelessness, is a killer..
Question?
Are you lead by condemnation or conviction?
Conviction-to find wrong.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Condemnation – to pronounce to be guilty
3. Do as God Directs:
Forgive others- constantly
Do what God has told you to do,
Now I don’t know what your sins are, but something I do know is that we are all sinners—and the one thing that we need most is forgiveness.
Fortunately we have a merciful, forgiving God.
But if we have truly experienced God’s Forgiveness, then we will have a readiness to forgive others.
Col. 3:13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another if any one has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Church unforgiveness is designed to destroy you!!
unforgiveness will short-circuit a church.
Psm.66: 18 says; If I regard wickedness in my heart God will not hear me.
The true condition of our heart is revealed in the way we treat people who we feel have hurt us.
Having a forgiving spirit is not only something God wants us to do individually—He also wants us collectively, as a church, to be characterized by a forgiving spirit.
For years the problem of unforgiveness has plagued churches: people who won’t speak to each other because of some disagreement; people who look down their noses and say, "But, she had an abortion—he hasn’t had a job in 6 months—he used to be an alcoholic—I heard they had to get married— she’s been divorced"...etc....We have to be the kind of church where anyone and everyone feels welcome—no matter who they are or what their past has been. God has given us a second chance; let’s do the same for each other.
Regardless who has wronged you. You owe it to Jesus to forgive…
Say that; I owe it to Jesus to forgive.
Why? Because sin will always be reaped
The final effect of unforgiveness.
1. disease
2. death
3. damnation
We need continual forgiveness-
Form God and each other…
And Hallelujah
That is what God provides
Everything leads to the issue forgiveness
You say Pastor how do I know if I have unforgivnesses?
You need to do 4 things
1. ask God to open your eyes of unforgiveness
2. seek genuine forgiveness from those individuals
3. Ask for God’s grace to help you forgive.
4. Ask God to forgive you, and cleanse you from the pain, and sorrow.
You say Pastor I have asked forgivness but I still feel the guilt and scars.
4. Desire a Divine Encounter with God:
Tell God that you want to Hear from Him…
Go to that secluded place to be with God alone.
Church only God can Heal you!!!
In the secret place you will find three thing’s
1. The Holy Spirit’s Guidance:
He will always ask us the tough Questions
Bad attitudes, Wrong perspectives, Motives
2. The realization of who I really AM:
Integrity:, Intimacy:, Influence:
The Greatest achievement in this life is Knowing Jesus.
3. The Direction From God:
God’s holiness always causes us to look within.
God’s Grace always comfort’s us.
I hear you saying but, Pastor I feel I have wasted my life.
I could have done this and that.
((( Don’t drag the failures of your Past into the opportunities of the Future))))
Can I tell you? God wants you to be you. Not any one else.
Question?
Have you sought genuine forgiveness?
Seeking forgiveness is to get it right it God not to clear our conscience.
I John 1:8-9 If we confess our sins
Asking forgiveness is confessing
Sin that is not confessed can never be forgiven.
To confess means; to agree with, and when we confess our sins, We are agreeing with God about them, How wicked they are, and I will not have any part of them.
The bible says blessed is the man, whose sins are forgiven,
Psm 32Vs. 1
I know it is difficult to confess;
But Proverbs 28:13- He who conceals his sins shall not prosper, but whose confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy…
It is also important to remember that confessing sin’s, Gives God glory.
In Jeremiah 31:34, He says, "I will forgive your wickedness and will remember your sins no more."
Something I think that many of us need to be reminded of is that "if God has forgiven you, then forgive yourself." So many Christians today live in constant guilt and self-condemnation.
From time to time, we all get hurt, but the person who won’t forgive is the one who remains miserable. On the other hand, the person who can overlook hurt, will thrive and be happy.
Being hurt by people is inevitable, but with forgiveness, relationships can be mended and restored.
Remember, very few of the hurts we suffer are given intentionally. Occasionally people are going to hurt you...just like you sometimes hurt them.
Those things just happen—even in the best of relationships.
While we’ve emphasized that God is merciful and gracious, and is willing to forgive our sins, let us not lose sight of the fact that even though He forgives us, we still suffer the consequences of our sin.
Knowing this to be true should be a strong deterrent to sin.
I want to give you a true assurance…God will forgive us when we commit adultery, abuse alcohol and drugs, dishonesty, sexual sin, mistreating parents or children, but the scars remain.
We need to take our sin more seriously.
Too often we’re sort of like the man who had defrauded the government on his income tax return. He finally felt so guilty that he wrote to the IRS. He sent an unsigned letter which said, "Enclosed you will find $500.00 cash, and if I still can’t sleep, I’ll send the balance of what I owe."
We can be like that sometimes—we’re more interested in ridding ourselves of the guilt than we are of ridding ourselves of the sin.
God is willing to forgive. God is anxious to forgive, but let’s not take advantage of His kindness. Instead, His patience ought to motivate us to get more serious in dealing with the sin in our lives.
CONCLUSION
Be as honest with yourself as you possibly can:
How have you failed God? Don’t rationalize it, shift the blame, or sugarcoat it. How have you failed God?
I John 1:9 "If we will confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us."
Some of us know all too well what it’s like living with the dark cloud of guilt hanging over our heads.
I heard of a man who was once involved in a hit and run accident. He had been drinking and somehow sideswiped another car. The other car stopped, but the offender took off. Finally, he couldn’t live with the guilt any longer—so he went to the police station and turned himself in and confessed to what he had done.
Maybe that’s what you need to do today in a spiritual sense—to "turn yourself in" and confess your sin before God. No matter how difficult it is to face those failures, God demands that you step out from the shadows of self-deception and acknowledge your sin. Just say "Lord, I am a sinner. I have failed You in many ways." Can you do that right now? It’s just between you and God. Confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness.
