02-11-24
Our Mission: Bringing Hope and Impacting Our Community by Leading People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus
S2E2 – THE “F” WORD
FORGIVENESS IS NOT
- JUSTIFYING SOMEONE’S ACTIONS
- LETTING THEM OFF THE HOOK
- A GUARANTEE OF RECONCILIATION
- A GUARANTEE WE’LL DO LIFE TOGETHER
FORGIVENESS IS
- ABOUT FREEDOM
- A WAY OF LIFE
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)
WHY SHOULD WE FORGIVE?
- _______________
- YOUR ___________ IF YOU DON’T
6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. Galatians 5:6 (AMP)
- UNFORGIVENESS _________ HOLY SPIRIT
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin]. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. Ephesians 4:30-31 (AMP)
- UNFORGIVENESS ____________ YOUR WORSHIP
23-24 “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. Matthew 5:23-24 (MSG)
3 STEPS TO LIVING A LIFE OF FORGIVENESS
1. ___________ TO FORGIVE
2._________ ON GOD
5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to Me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from Me you won’t be able to do anything.” John 15:5 (ERV)
3. ________ & ___________ THOSE WHO HURT YOU
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,… Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV)
NEXT STEPS:
- Remember forgiven people forgive.
- Take time this week to examine yourself and ask Holy Spririt “who do I need to forgive?”
- Do It!