September 25 & 29, 2019
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-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 bags of gold 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.
“At this 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.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. 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 it 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 outraged 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 handed 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 or sister from your heart.” —Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness is the LIFESTYLE of BELIEVERS!
WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR HURT?
1. What forgiveness is NOT …
A. Forgiving is NOT Forgetting
B. Forgiveness is NOT Removed Consequence
C. Forgiveness is NOT Trusting Immediately
The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. —Proverbs 14:15
2. What Forgiveness is …
A. Forgiveness is refusing to seek payback
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, > and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. —1 Peter 2:21-23
B. Forgiveness is refusing to be absorbed by the Past
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:30-32
C. Forgiveness is refusing to withhold from others
FILL OUT THIS WEEK’S CONNECTION CARD HERE
- Today, I accept Jesus in my life for the first time.
- I am able to forgive now by knowing what true forgiveness is.
- I have consequences in my life that are heavy … I need strength.
- I have the tendency to discard relationships at the sign of difficulty rather than growing thru forgiveness.