We started our discussion on Forgiveness but discussing forgiveness as a conscious choice, a physical act, or is it a feeling, an emotional state of being? The Bible offers insight and answers about forgiveness. We are going to wrap up our in depth look to find out what the Bible says about forgiveness.
Let us pray,
Father God, We are so thankful for everything in our live, how you have unconditionally loved us and sent your only begotten Son to save us from our sinful nature. Fill us with your holly spirit, give us strength to stand strong against evil and help us forgive as you have forgiven us. Open our ears, our minds, our hearts and allow us to feel your presence as we hear your Word, and everyone said Amen and Amen.
Before we start, let's review Part one.
We discussed how it is only human nature. our flesh that holds us back from forgiveness and we talked about how important it is to forgive because God wants us to forgive so we too can be forgiven by God.
We talked about how we can just go through the motions but do not really forgive?
How we live in denial, we forget so we can forgive but this just does not work! We must forgive first, then and only then if we truly forgive, we can then we heal our hearts and the offense that was against us can be forgotten.
Denial is merely a delusion: flimsy, fake, and shallow. Forgiveness is real: healthy and solid and deep. It is not avoiding the truth, but dealing with it squarely and honestly, however painful.
If we are going to really forgive, we are going to have to do it His way: with our eyes open.
Heb 8:12 (NIV) "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
We talked about revenge but God says.
Rom 12:19 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
We talked about to what extent we must forgive.
The Scriptures tell us to love our enemies. What would happen to our society if everyone REALLY did this? Is "loving our enemies" something that appeals to our feeling? Does it even make any sense to the natural man?
Let us recognize that only God can forgive. It is not humanly possible. If we "get it" at all, it will be by God's very nature being challenged to us. And right here is the secret to real forgiveness. It is divine.
Wrapping up last week's message by saying this. the only way to truly forgive is to have His life in us. All else is play-acting, denial, or surrendering to sin.
What Comes Naturally To The Spirit In Us
Mat 6:12 (NIV) Forgive us our debts, AS WE also have forgiven our debtors.
In other words, this forgiveness stuff should be expected as normal and intuitive for Christians. And it is. Grace working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now forgiveness can become hard to pin down even seemingly impossible. It is not as if God has failed, or that we do not know better, or what should happen, we just cannot, for some reason, enter into obedience. If this is the case, here is some practical Biblical advice to find God's nature and Spirit in and through you. For the way of forgiveness should be "second nature" for us.
Remember What We Have Been Forgiven From!
Mat 18:21-27 (NIV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times." Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."
Mat 18:28-35 (NIV) "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow-servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow-servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Where this servant failed, then, is in FORGETTING the merciful treatment His master gave him. He FORGOT the great sin he was forgiven of.
2 Pet 1:9 (NAS) ...For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Let's not make the same mistake. Let's remember our salvation from former sins, even if it means some people (who think they are serving God!) accuse us of being "negative".
Various people and teachers will have various opinions and advice about forgiveness. But by Biblical revelation, not remembering appears to be the MAJOR reason for "blocking" the supernatural flow of forgiveness in our lives. Are we less in need of forgiveness than those we are judging and holding in unforgiveness? Really? Have we so quickly forgotten the great mercy God has shown us when we needed it?
Luke 18:9-14 (NIV) To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God..."
Mat 5:21-22 (NIV) "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment..."
Think about this one.. Read Again
1Sam 16:7 (NIV) ...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Authorized By Grace... We Can Do What God Does
Col 3:12-13 (Jer) You are God's chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.
1 Pet 2:21-23 (NEB) To that you were called, because Christ suffered on your behalf, and thereby left you an example; it is for you to follow in his steps. He committed no sin, he was convicted of no falsehood; when he was abused he did not retort with abuse, when he suffered he uttered no threats, but committed his cause to the One who judges justly.
1 Pet 3:9 (NEB) Do not repay wrong with wrong, or abuse with abuse; on the contrary, retaliate with blessing, for a blessing is the inheritance to which you yourselves have been called.
Luke 6:27-37 (NRS) "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you... Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same... But love your enemies, do good... and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful... Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Eph 4:31-32 (Phi) Let there be no more bitter resentment or anger, no more shouting or slander, and let there be no bad feeling of any kind among you. Be kind to each other, be compassionate. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Heb 12:15 (Jer) Be careful that no one is deprived of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness should begin to grow and make trouble; this can poison a whole community.
Rom 12:17-21 (Phi) Don't pay back a bad turn by a bad turn, to anyone. See that your public behavior is above criticism. As far as your responsibility goes, live at peace with everyone. Never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends: stand back and let God punish if he will. For it is written: "It is mine to avenge, I will repay," says the Lord. And it is also written: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Don't allow yourself to be overpowered by evil. Take the offensive--overpower evil with good!
I pray that you see what pain and suffering comes from unforgiveness. That you must let it go, turn it over to the Lord and pray for strength. The reason I speak of the need for forgiveness is because you are just depriving yourself from the blessings of God. You are the one who has become bitter, angry and focused on the things that are unimportant to God. Forgive. and God will remove all the rest from your heart and last love your enemies. And everyone said.Amen
