I FORGIVE YOU

RUN DOWN OF CHAPTER 6...

THE APOSTLES WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE WIDOWS WERE BEING OVERLOOKED IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD

SO THEY GOT TOGETHER AND COME TO THE AGREEMENT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL TO BE NEGLECTED IN ORDER TO WAIT ON TABLES SO......

THEY DECIDED TO CHOOSE 7 MEN TO PUT IN CHARGE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND WAITING ON TABLES

AMONG THOSE MEN WERE WAS A GUY BY THE NAME OF STEPHEN....

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES HIM AS A MAN FULL OF GOD’S GRACE AND POWER

WE SEE THAT.....

STEPHEN WAS WITNESSING AND PERFORMING GREAT WONDERS AND SIGNS AMONG THE PEOPLE.

THE MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE AND MANY OTHERS WERE MAD AND FURIOUS WITH STEPHEN AND WANTED HIM STOPPED.

SO THEY STARTED TO SPREAD LIES ABOUT HIM AND THE THINGS HE WAS SAYING.

AT THE END OF CHAPTER 6....

STEPHEN GETS THROWN INTO A CIRCLE OF PEOPLE CALLED THE SANHEDRIN

IT SAYS IN VERSE 15 THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTENTLY AT STEPHEN

THEY WERE FRUSTRATED AND BITTER TOWARD HIM

AND IN THE FIRST VERSE OF CHAPTER SEVEN THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE SANHEDRIN ASKED STEPHEN A QUESTION.

ARE THESE CHARGES TRUE?

I WANT TO TITLE MY SERMON TODAY....

“I FORGIVE YOU”

TURN TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU AND TELL THEM.......I FORGIVE YOU!

COME ON YOU CAN SAY IT…LOL

3 OF THE MOST POWERFUL WORDS IN THE WORLD IN MY OPINION.....

- I FORGIVE YOU

THESE WORDS CAN HEAL FAMILIES

HEAL RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGES

THESE WORDS CAN STOP SOMEONE FROM HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHER PEOPLE

IF ONLY WE WALKED IN MORE FORGIVENESS OUR WORLD WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE.

WOULD YOU AGREE.....???

THOUSANDS OF TIMES WE SEE THIS IN SCRIPTURE

ALL THE WAY FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

NOT JUST HOW WE NEED TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF WE DON’T BUT...

MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW WE NEED FORGIVENESS FROM GOD

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE SEE THAT AS SOON AS MAN SINNED AGAINST GOD

HE RAN AND HID FROM HIS SHAME

HE THOUGHT THAT GOD COULD NEVER FORGIVE HIM FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE

SO HE RUNS AND TRIES TO HIDE FROM GOD

THE FURTHER WE READ IN GENESIS....

WE SEE THAT THIS SIN AND BITTERNESS WAS PASSED ONTO THEIR KIDS...

CAIN AND ABEL

WHAT HAPPENS TO ADAM AND EVES SHAME AND UN-FORGIVENESS?

IT LED TO MORE HURT

WE KNOW THAT CAIN KILLS ABEL BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY AND BITTERNESS

UN-FORGIVENESS THAT IS NOT DEALT WITH PASSES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

FROM CAIN AND ABEL IT WOULD BE PASSED TO....

NOAH AND HIS KIDS

THEN TO ABRAHAM AND LOT

AND THEN TO ISAAC AND ISHMAEL

AND THEN TO JACOB AND ESAU

AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THESE BROTHERS HATING EACH OTHER

PASTOR CHRIS WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT IM GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE STATE OF OUR NATION IN 2022?

MY FRIEND......WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR NATION TODAY, HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH UN-FORGIVENESS, BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT.

I BEGAN TO STUDY AND RESEARCH THIS WEEK…DIFFERENT MASS SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS

I LEARNED THAT 99% OF THESE VIOLENT CRIMES....

STEM FROM EXTREME HATRED AND UN-DEALT WITH RESENTMENT.

DON’T GET ME WRONG THERE ARE DEMONIC STRONGHOLDS THAT MESS WITH PEOPLES MINDS BUT...

ULTIMATELY IT STEMS FROM ANGER AND RESENTMENT THAT IS NOT DEALT WITH AT AN EARLY AGE.

THEN IT’S PASSED DOWN FROM ONE DAD TO ANOTHER DAD TO ANOTHER DAD AND THEN TO A SON AND ANOTHER SON AND ANOTHER SON

CHURCH...

ANY UN-DEALT WITH ANGER BEGINS TO FESTER AND BITTERNESS BUILDS UP CAUSING RESENTMENT AND HATRED

AND SO....TODAY WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GUARD OUR HEARTS AGAINST THIS TRAP FROM THE ENEMY...

WE SEE STEPHEN IS FACED WITH ALL THESE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

AND BY THE END OF CHAPTER 7 WE SEE THAT THESE SAME PEOPLE PICK UP STONES AND BEGIN TO STONE YOUNG STEPHEN TO DEATH.

I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE STORY OF ACTS 7 THOUGH.....

BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY A STORY OF FORGIVENESS

The New International Version Chapter 7

2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.

WHEN GOD SPOKE TO HIM AND TOLD HIM TO GO TO A PLACE THAT WOULD BE UNKNOWN TO HIM.

GO SPOKE AND SAID THAT HE WOULD GIVE ABRAHAM CHILDREN

SO WE SEE THAT GOD BLESSED HIM WITH A CHILD NAMED ISAAC

AND THROUGH ISAAC CAME JACOB

AND THEN IN VERSE 8 WE SEE THAT JACOB HAD 12 PATRIARCHS

THEN WE GET TO VERSE 9…IT SAYS....

The New International Version Chapter 7

9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

NOW STEPHEN THE MARTYR IN THE BOOK OF ACTS IS PREACHING A SERMON ABOUT JOSEPH

I JUST THINK THIS IS IRONIC

THAT STEPHEN IS ABOUT TO SHOW RADICAL FORGIVENESS AND HERE HE IS TALKING ABOUT A GUY WHO HE BELIEVES MODELS FORGIVENESS BEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT…JOSEPH

JOSEPH WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF FORGIVENESS THAT WE CAN LOOK TO IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

FORGIVENESS IS NOT AN EASY....

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW AND WOULD AGREE THAT FORGIVENESS IS SOMETIMES HARD

LET TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND...

WHY IS FORGIVENESS HARD?

ULTIMATELY I THINK WE NEED TO DEFINE WHERE UN-FORGIVENESS COMES FROM.

THIS BITTERNESS OF WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OF US WHEN WE ARE HURT

BITTERNESS - ANGER AND DISAPPOINTMENT AT BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY; DEEP RESENTMENT AND SADNESS BECAUSE OF WHAT SOMEONE DID.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY AT SOME POINT

ALL OF US HAVE BEEN OFFENDED AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER

LUKE 17:1 SAYS

OFFENSES WILL COME

IN OTHERS WORDS YOU WILL BE OFFENDED AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE

DISAPPOINTMENT - WE ALL GET DISAPPOINTED AT TIMES.

IT’S NOT IF YOU GET HURT OR

IF YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED OR

IF YOU GET OFFENDED

IT’S WHAT YOU DO WHEN IT HAPPENS

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IN OUR LIFE...

TO GET ON A PATH TO FORGIVENESS THAN TO GET ON A PATH OF REVENGE AND BITTERNESS

WHEN IM ON A PATH TO FORGIVENESS

MY FAMILY IS BETTER

I GET BETTER

IM NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH CYNICISM, RESENTMENT AND ANGER

I DON’T REPEAT THE CYCLE OF PAIN ON MORE PEOPLE.

IF I CAN GET ON THE PATH OF FORGIVENESS.......

THIS DOESN’T MEAN THAT I’VE ALL OF THE SUDDEN FORGOTTEN WHAT THEY'VE DID TO ME

OR IM EXCUSING THEIR POOR CHOICES

IT’S DOESN’T MEAN THAT WHAT THEY DID IS OK

IT JUST MEANS THAT....

I AM NOT GOING TO LET THIS FESTER

I AM NOT GOING TO LET BITTERNESS AND ANGER RUIN AND CONTROL MY LIFE

DEEP RESENTMENT.....IT’S A SWELLING AND A SADDNESS....

IT’S “ I JUST CAN’T GET PASSED THIS” (EXPOUND)

WHAT THEY DID TO ME WAS WRONG AND THEY DESERVE TO FEEL MY PAIN

(JOHN MAYER STORY)

HE SAID “YOU KNOW WHAT, I FINALLY MADE ENOUGH MONEY IN MY LIFE TO PURCHASE A GOOD HOUSE IN THE HOLLYWOOD AREA, DOWN THE STREET WAS JAIME FOX, ROBERT DOWNEY JR. I HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD A GOOD WALL SO THAT PEOPLE COULDNT SEE INTO MY YARD, I HAD A GATE THAT WAS 12-14 FEET HIGH AND THE BEST SECURITY MONEY COULD BUY, ARMED GUARDS 24/7. NOBODY COULD GET INTO MY HOUSE OR ONTO MY PROPERTY BUT YOU KNOW WHAT....I SAT DOWN AT MY LAPTOP AND STARTED READING REVIEWS OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT MY SONGS AND ABOUT MY LIFE AND MY RELATIONSHIPS AND SUDDENLY THESE COMMENTS HOP OVER THE WALL AND BYPASS THE ALARM SYSTEMS AND THE GUARDS AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT INTO MY HEART.”

HE SAID AS CELEBRITIES WERE THE WORST AT GUARDING OUR HEARTS

WERE THE BEST AT GUARDING EVERYTHING ELSE BUT NOT OUR HEARTS

AS CHRISTIANS…WE KNOW THAT WE ARE CALLED TO GUARDS ARE HEARTS ABOVE ALL ELSE

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE LIVE WITH UNGUARDED HEARTS

WHERE ANYTHING CAN COME IN

SPEAKING OF THAT.....

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT UN-FORGIVENESS OPENS A DOOR FOR THE ENEMY TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE?

BY NOT FORGIVING OTHERS YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY GIVING POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER YOUR LIFE TO DEMONIC FORCES.

IT’S A SCARY THING TO THINK ABOUT BUT IT’S TRUE, IT’S REAL

NOT ONLY DOES UN-FORGIVENESS CAUSE BITTERNESS WHICH LEADS TO OTHER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS BUT...

IT ALSO KEEPS YOU FROM BEING FREE FROM THE POWER OF THE ENEMY

UN-FORGIVENESS IS A STRONGHOLD AND WILL KEEP YOU UNDER THE ENEMIES AUTHORITY.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY...

I AM NOT TRYING TO SCARE YOU

I AM TRYING TO INFORM YOU OF THE REALITY OF DARKNESS IN THIS WORLD

THE WAY WE FIGHT AGAINST THE ENEMY IS....SPREADING THE GOSPEL

GETTING PEOPLE DELIVERED FROM SIN

LEADING PEOPLE TO SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS…OUR WAR IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT THE RULERS OF DARKNESS AND DEMONIC FORCES.

WE FIGHT THEM BY DOING THINGS LIKE FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER

SURRENDERING OUR LIVES TO JESUS

TURNING AWAY FROM SIN

BY DOING THESE THINGS WE ARE MAKING THE DEMONIC REALM LESS POWERFUL IN THE WORLD.

BY CHOOSING YOUR KINGDOM COME AND YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

THIS IS WHY JESUS TOLD PETER “GET BEHIND ME SATAN”

HE KNEW THAT AT THE MOMENT SATAN WAS USING PETER TO GET INTO JESUS'S HEAD AND THOUGHTS

THE ONLY WAY THE ENEMY HAS AUTHORITY OVER US IS IF WE GIVE IT TO HIM.

WHEN WE MAKE CHOICES TO SIN AND TO HARBOR UN-FORGIVENESS

THIS GIVES AUTHORITY OVER TO HIM

YEAH BUT PASTOR....YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DID TO ME

OR

“YOU KNOW WHAT, IM NOT GONNA JUST KEEP LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH TREATING ME THAT WAY”

I WOULD SAY TO YOU....YOU CAN’T THINK THAT WAY AS A CHRISTIAN WE ARE CALLED TO FORGIVE...

IM REMINDED OF THE PARABLE IN MATTHEW 18:21-22

Matthew 18:21–22 NIV

21 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?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

SO 490 TIMES???

NO! HE SAYING FORGIVE WITHOUT CEASING

THERE IS NO LIMIT TO FORGIVENESS

JUST AS THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HIS FORGIVENESS

LETS LOOK AT THIS SCRIPTURE AGAIN IN VERSE 9 OF ACTS 7

Acts 7:9 NIV

9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

GOD WAS WITH HIM......

YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOUR ALL ALONE

YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOUVE BEEN HURT AND ABANDONED

YOU MAY FEEL BETRAYED AND DISOWNED

BUT GOD IS WITH YOU

The New International Version Chapter 7

10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

11 “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.

THE SAME BROTHERS WHO SOLD JOSEPH WERE SENT OUT…IT SAYS

The New International Version Chapter 7

12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. 13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.

LETS GO BACK REAL QUICK TO GENESIS 42:5-7

Genesis 42:5–7 NIV

5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. 6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

NOW JOSEPH IS STILL HURT AND FRUSTRATED AT THE FACT THAT HIS BROTHERS SOLD HIM...

LIKE HE THOUGHT HE FORGAVE THEM UNTIL HE SAW THEM

OH COME ON YOU KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT....

YOU THOUGHT YOU FORGAVE THEM UNTIL YOU SAW THEM AT MAR-VAL

THEN YOU SEE THEM AND WHAT HAPPENS?

YOUR HEART STARTS BEATING FAST AND YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE STARTS TO RISE.

CAN I TALK TO SOME REAL PEOPLE HERE THIS MORNING

FORGIVENESS IS A PROCESS

I WOULD RATHER BE IN A PROCESS THAT IS PAINFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE BUT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THAN STUCK IN BITTERNESS THAT LEADS TO FAMILIES BEING RIPPED APART AND YOU SAYING THINGS LIKE

“I AM SO DONE WITH THEM”

I NEVER WANT TO SEE THEM

I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THESE PEOPLE EVER AGAIN.

COME ON....THIS IS THE MENTALITY AND SIN THAT LEADS TO VIOLENCE AND DECISIONS THAT RUIN PEOPLES LIVES.

OFFENSES ARE LIKE ROCKS

( GIVE ILLUSTRATION OF ROCKS FILLING BACKPACK)

WE THINK WERE GUARDING HEARTS BUT WHERE REALLY HANGING ON TO THINGS

THESE ROCKS OVER TIME BEGIN TO WEIGH US DOWN AND WE CAN’T EVEN STAND UP STRAIGHT

BITTERNESS AFFECTS YOUR POSTURE

OH COME ON SOMEBODY

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU CAN’T STAND AGAINST THE ENEMY

INSTEAD YOUR BOWING TO THE OFFENSES BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR POSTURE

THERE ARE MOMENTS IN THE BIBLE WHERE JESUS ENCOUNTERS PEOPLE WITH POSTURES JUST LIKE BENDING OVER

BECAUSE OF WHAT LIFE HAS DONE TO THEM

THEY COULDN’T LET IT GO

LET IT GO.....TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR

LET IT GO

WATCH WHAT FORGIVENESS DOES TO YOU...

UNPACKING THE BACKPACK THROUGH FORGIVENESS

WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FORGIVE

OUR POSTURE CHANGES SO THAT WE CAN WALK IN THE AUTHORITY OVER OUR LIFE THAT JESUS CALLED US TO

UN-FORGIVENESS IS LIKE DRINKING POISON AND WAITING FOR THE OTHER PERSON TO DIE.

TURN TO GEN. 45:1

The New International Version Chapter 45

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

The New International Version Chapter 45

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence

The New International Version Chapter 45

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

HE SAID.....

YOU MEANT TO HURT ME

YOU MEANT TO KILL ME

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE GOD HAS USED IT FOR GOOD

THE MAY HAVE WRONGED ME AND MISTREATED ME BUT

I FORGIVE YOU BECAUSE

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME HAS ONLY MADE ME STRONGER

WHAT YOU TRIED TO END IN ME GOD HAS ONLY USED THE OFFENSE TO PREPARE ME FOR MY PROMOTION

TO PREPARE ME FOR MY DESTINY

SO I FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID

GOD HAS USED IT TO...

GROW ME

TO PURGE ME

TO BUILD MY CHARACTER

WHAT THE ENEMY MEANT FOR EVIL GOD HAS USED IT FOR MY GOOD

I FORGIVE YOU, I FORGIVE YOU

UN-FORGIVENESS IS LIKE BEING BOUND BY CHAINS.

...........WORSHIP TEAM JOIN ME........

CHAINS HOLD YOU BACK

YOUR TRYING TO REACH FOR YOUR DESTINY BUT YOUR BEING HELD CAPTIVE BY THE HISTORY OF UN-FORGIVENESS

THERE IS A STORY IN ACTS 8

ABOUT A MAN CALLED...

SIMON THE SORCERER

THIS MAN SIMON WANTS THE POWER THAT WAS BEING MANIFESTED THROUGH PETER AND JOHN

The New International Version Chapter 8

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

The New International Version Chapter 8

20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

The New International Version Chapter 8

23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

SOME VERSIONS SAY....I SEE YOU ARE IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS

THE GREEK WORD FOR GALL IS CHOLE(CO-LAE)

IT LITERALLY MEANS POISON

CHURCH YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT UN-FORGIVENESS IS KILLING YOU

IT’S ROBBING OF YOUR DESTINY

IT’S ROBBING YOU OF YOU JOY

YOUR PEACE

IT’S ROBBING YOU OF THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR YOUR LIFE

LIKE A POISON IT IS SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF YOU

GOD WANTS TO HEAL YOU OF THAT THIS MORNING

HE WANTS TO DELIVER YOU FROM ALL THE HURT AND PAIN THIS MORNING

HE SAID I CAME TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE

DO YOU WANNA BE FREE THIS MORNING?

......STAND TO YOUR FEET.......

SOME OF YOU IN HERE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO FORGIVE SOMEONE

I WANT TO REITERATE THAT FORGIVING IS NOT YOU SAYING THAT WHAT THE OTHER PERSON HAS DONE IS OK

IT’S SAYING NO LONGER AM I GOING TO ALLOW MY JOY AND PEACE AND BLESSINGS TO BE STOLEN BECAUSE OF UN-FORGIVENESS

IT’S SAYING THAT I AM RELEASING THE OFFENSE OVER TO GOD

Romans 12:17–19 NIV

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

VENGEANCE IS MINE SAYS THE LORD

IT’S TIME TO LET IT GO

RIGHT NOW JUST LIFT YOUR HANDS

BEGIN TO PRAY

BEGIN TO RELEASE IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE LORD

AS THE WORSHIP TEAM PLAYS....

IF YOUR READY TO FORGIVE AND BE FREE THIS MORNING......

WOULD YOU COME THIS MORNING AND LET US PRAY FOR YOU.