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Restoring Relationships
Contributed by William Lock on Mar 4, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: What is God’s plan for restoring relationships and forgiveness
GENESIS 45
RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS
FORGIVENESS
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you
salach “to have anger in one’s fist and to release it”
FORGIVENESS
Do we have to forgive Tim McVeigh?
Do we have to forgive one another?
Relationships
Adam and Eve
Marriages and Families
The Church
Relationships
We need stories like Joseph and his brothers
Background--Growing Up
Genesis 42-44
Genesis 45
Famine
The Trap (Jacob and Benjamin)
The Second Trap (Judah)
Joseph reveals himself
Genesis 45
Restored relationships
A different Future and a different Hope
The world was watching, the world is watching
Restoration results in Celebration
“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.”And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.”
Genesis 45:4
A different Future & A different Hope
“And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Genesis 45:5
The world was watching & the world is watching
And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.
Genesis 45:2
When the report was heard in Pharaoh’ house, “Joseph’ brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.
Genesis 45:2, 16
The World is Watching
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35
salach--Is there an anger, pain or hurt in your life that you need to work on so that you can let go?
We need to reveal ourselves as Joseph did!
DON’T MAKE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THE OTHER PERSON. (v. 1)
“Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.”