GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD pt. 5
Notes
Transcript
Total Forgiveness
Total Forgiveness
As for you, you planned evil against me, but God planned it for good, in order to do this—to keep many people alive—as it is today.
JOSEPH & HIS BROTHERS: DISFUNCTION JUNCTION
TOTAL FORGIVENESS
“AN ACT OF THE WILL TO RELEASE, TO LET GO AND TO PARDON OR CANCEL AS ONE MIGHT CANCEL A DEBT OWED TO THEM.”
So the master of that slave, because he had compassion, released him and forgave him the loan.
But he did not want to, but rather he went and threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed.
WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT:
I. IGNORING WHAT HAS HAPPENED
II. MINIMIZING WHAT HAS HAPPENED
III. CONDONING WHAT HAS HAPPENED
IV. NOT THE SAME AS RECONCILIATION
But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and taking hold of him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back everything that you owe!’
WHAT IS TOTAL FORGIVENESS AND WHY DO WE DO IT?
I. BELIEVERS ARE COMMANDED TO TOTALLY FORGIVE OTHERS BECAUSE JESUS HAS TOTALLY FORGIVEN US
And although you were dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having destroyed the certificate of indebtedness in ordinances against us, which was hostile to us, and removed it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.
II. WHEN WE FORGIVE OTHERS, GOD’S PROMISE IS A FULLER & DEEPER ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness.
ACTS 5.29, 32
Acts 5:29 (LEB)
But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “It is necessary to obey God rather than men!
And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
III. WHEN WE DO NOT FORGIVE, THE FRUIT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS IS MADE “LESS” IN OUR LIVES
And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the merciless jailers until he would repay everything that was owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts!”
A. TO NOT FORGIVE IS TO LOSE SOME PORTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PRESENCE IN MY LIFE
IV. WHENEVER WE DO NOT FORGIVE - JESUS SAYS “YOU WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN, EITHER.”
Matthew 6:14–15 (LEB)
For if you forgive people their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people, neither will your Father forgive your sins.
HOW DO I TOTALLY FORGIVE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HURT ME?
I. ASK GOD TO REEAL TO YOU THOSE WHO HAVE HURT YOU
II. CHOOSE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS:
*FORGIVENESS IS A CHOICE
*FORGIVENESS IS A PROCESS
A. SAY THESE WORDS IN PRAYER: “FATHER, I FORGIVE __________________ FOR ____________________.”
B. MEMORIZE A SCRIPTURE PASSAGE TO QUOTE TO YOURSELF WHEN THEIR OFFENSE COMES TO MIND.
i. YOU WILL BE TEMPTED TO GO BACK INTO THE HURT MENTALLY
ii. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS, DO WHAT JESUS DID WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED - USE THE WORD OF GOD
C. PRAY FOR THAT PERSON TO BE BLESSED
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
“THE OUTCOME OF OUR LIVES IS NOT DETERMINED BY WHAT HAPPENS TO US BUT BY HOW WE CHOOSE TO RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS TO US.” - NANCY DEMOSS, CHOOSING FORGIVENESS