GREATER>than (Part 5)

Week 1: PROVISION>lack

Week 2: BLESSING>curse

Week 3: FAITH > sight

Week 4: WORDS > mountains

1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is GREATER > than he who is in the world.

Today: FORGIVENESS > offense

It has been said:

“Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Mark 11:23–26 NKJV

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

1) Unforgiveness stops the power of the Word over your circumstances. Forgiveness empowers your confession.

2) Unforgiveness stops the flow of mercy in your life. Forgiveness open the flow of mercy.

3) Unforgiveness is in opposition to the nature of God. Forgiveness reflects God’s character.

Colossians 3:8–16 NKJV

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

4) Unforgiveness breeds division. Forgiveness brings Unity.

Bro. Mac Story.

[Verse 1]

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

[Refrain]

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

[Verse 2]

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze

[Refrain]

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

[Verse 3]

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

[Refrain]

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

[Verse 4]

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration

And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Ephesians 4:29–32 NKJV

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

5) Unforgiveness grieves the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness allows the Spirit to Move.

Matthew 5:21–24 NKJV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

6) Unforgiveness stop the blessing of God on your obedience. Forgiveness opens the flow of blessing.

7) Forgiveness is a requirement (according to Jesus).

What Forgiveness is Not:

Saying it’s OK.

Forgetting.

Releasing the other person from their guilt.

What Forgiveness Is:

1) Forgiveness is a conscious decision to stop carrying the weight of someone’s wrongdoing.

2) Forgiveness is giving up my “right” to punish the person for their wrongdoing.

3) Forgiveness is acting as though I’ve forgotten when I remember.

4) Forgiveness starts in your mouth but is implanted in your Heart by the Holy Spirit.

Is it REALLY Possible?

VIDEO: The Power of Forgiveness

Prayer for forgiveness: