Forgiveness
These are my notes from the sermon at Apex on Forgiveness that Brian Pelphrey(a house church leader) did. A very timely sermon at the end of a year. He did a great job with his real life examples.
Matthew 18:21-34
"Have you ever withheld or are you withholding forgiveness from someone?"
The New Testament is full of verses in the gospels telling us to forgive.
Matthew
The Lord's Prayer
Luke 6:37 "If you forgive others, you will be forgiven"
Mark 11:25 "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too"
1. It's not how many times or even what the offense is..you need to forgive continually.
When Jesus says "seventy times seven" he isn't being literal...he's saying continually forgive no matter how many times
2.You need to remember that you yourself need to repent and be forgiven and you need to forgive others who ask for forgiveness None of us are perfect.
3. No one's debt to us is anywhere near what our debt is to God. We owe God our lives. If you don't forgive as a Christian...you're a hypocrite.
"Wicked slave" Wicked in translation is "evil one" which is the same term used for Satan. You are on the same level as Satan.
4. If we have God's grace we need to be changed and grow in God's grace
Those who have been forgiven much..love much.
If you struggle with forgiveness..you need God to help you forgive..sometimes it can't be on your own strength. Cry out to God and ask for his help.
If you withhold forgiveness.then Satan outwits us..it keeps you at the same level that he's at.
It slowly destroys you.
He used an example of a house that from the street looked fine but when you got close you realize that water is pouring out the window and when you look in you realize that a pipe has burst. When you open the door the water rushes out and you realize that the beautiful woodwork has been damaged because of the water.
As humans...from the outside...people may not always pick up on lack of forgiveness but as you open your mouth and people get closer ..they realize that it has a destructive effect on you. The goodness inside you is slowly destroyed and it shows through eventually.
Matthew 18:21-34
"Have you ever withheld or are you withholding forgiveness from someone?"
The New Testament is full of verses in the gospels telling us to forgive.
Matthew
The Lord's Prayer
Luke 6:37 "If you forgive others, you will be forgiven"
Mark 11:25 "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too"
1. It's not how many times or even what the offense is..you need to forgive continually.
When Jesus says "seventy times seven" he isn't being literal...he's saying continually forgive no matter how many times
2.You need to remember that you yourself need to repent and be forgiven and you need to forgive others who ask for forgiveness None of us are perfect.
3. No one's debt to us is anywhere near what our debt is to God. We owe God our lives. If you don't forgive as a Christian...you're a hypocrite.
"Wicked slave" Wicked in translation is "evil one" which is the same term used for Satan. You are on the same level as Satan.
4. If we have God's grace we need to be changed and grow in God's grace
Those who have been forgiven much..love much.
If you struggle with forgiveness..you need God to help you forgive..sometimes it can't be on your own strength. Cry out to God and ask for his help.
If you withhold forgiveness.then Satan outwits us..it keeps you at the same level that he's at.
It slowly destroys you.
He used an example of a house that from the street looked fine but when you got close you realize that water is pouring out the window and when you look in you realize that a pipe has burst. When you open the door the water rushes out and you realize that the beautiful woodwork has been damaged because of the water.
As humans...from the outside...people may not always pick up on lack of forgiveness but as you open your mouth and people get closer ..they realize that it has a destructive effect on you. The goodness inside you is slowly destroyed and it shows through eventually.
posted by Rochelle @ 8:31 AM
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