JESUS FORGIVES (2)

MATT. 18:21-35

THE SCRIPTURE ADDRESSES PETER IN THIS PERISCOPE-ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU SHOULD FORGIVE A PERSON WHO HAS OFFENDED YOU-KNOWING THAT THE RABBIS TAUGHT THREE TIMES…JESUS STEPS OUTSIDE THE RULES OF THE RABBIS AND TEACHES PETER NOT TO LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF TIMES BUT ALWAYS BE WILLING TO FORGIVE.

I’M SURE THERE ARE THOSE WHO QUESTION -WHAT IF YOU FORGIVE AND THAT PERSON ISN’T TRULY REPENTIVE…THEN WHAT?

HOW ABOUT THE PASSAGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING OVER THESE PAST WEEKS ABOUT RESTORATION, REPENT AND REJOICE: THE SCENE WHERE MOSES CONFRONTS THE PHAROAH TEN TIMES AND IT WASN’T UNTIL THE LORD CAME THROUGH WIPING OUT THE FIRST BORN OF EVERY MALE IN EGYPT THAT THE PHAROAH PRETENDS TO BE WILLING TO LET THE ISRAELITES GO UNHARMED.

BUT WE KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT-WHILE THE ISRAELITES WERE FLEEING-THE PHAROAH REMEMBERED THESE PEOPLE SUPPLIES ALL THE LABOR-I CANNOT LET THEM GO…HE ORDERED ALL HIS BEST HORSES AND SOLDIERS TO PURSUE THEM, LOOKING BACK IN FEAR THE ISRAELITES SAW THE ARMY PURSUEING THEM. NOTICE HOW THE ANGEL LEADING THEM IN THE LIGHT SWITCHED HIS POSITION AND REMOVED HIMSELF BETWEEN THE ARMY AND THE FLEEING ISRAELITES…WHAT HAPPENED ST. JOHN’S —THE PEOPLE ARRIVED TO THE SAFETY OF THE SHORE WHILE THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS STOOD BETWEEN THEM…CAUSING EVERY HORSEMEN, CHARIOT, DROWN IN THE SEA…OH THEY LACKED TRUST, THEY WERE OBSTINATE AND STIFF NECKED —THEY TURNED AWAY TIME AND TIME AGAIN…THE LORD FORGAVE. BUT THE DAY CAME WHEN HIS PATIENCE CAME TO AN END. HE STRIPPED AARON OF HIS PRIESTLY ROBE -AND IT WAS HIS BROTHER MOSES WHO WALKED HIM UP ON THE MOUNTAIN TO WATCH HIS PERISH.

IF HE SAID AS”HAVE FAITH”

OH HE HAD A CLOUD THAT BROUGHT DARKNESS TO THE ONE SIDE AND LIGHT TO THE OTHER SIDE…SO NEITHER WENT NEAR THE OTHER ALL NIGHT LONG.

LACK OF CONFIDENCE

LACK OF TRUST

HYPOCRISY

THROUGH THE DARKNESS..BUT GOD WAS FAITHFUL…HE OFFERED THEM MERCY ACCOMPANIED WITH COMPASSION…CONCERN —CARE-SYMPATHY--

YET HE DID NOT ALLOW THE ENEMY TO GET THE VICTORY.

SO THE ISRAELITES WERE LOST, SO THEY COULD NOT SEE THE “HANDWRITING ON THE WALL” LOOKED TO MOLDING A GOLDEN IDOL AND FORCING AARON TO FOLLOW THEM —ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE…GOD IS NOT A GOD TO BE MOCKED.

THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

THE LORD WILL BE WITH YOU THROUGH EVERY SMALL AND LARGE SITUATION…EVEN AS WE SEE THE PLIGHT OF THE EGYPTIANS, GOD DID WARN THEM 10 TIMES…YET THE ENEMY -CAME UP AGAINST THE LORD TO BRING FURTHER HARM TO HIS PEOPLE…OH IT APPEARED THAT WAS EGYPT’S MISTAKE…WHEN ALL GOD ASKED WAS—LET MY PEOPLE GO.

PAUL SAID WE ARE HARD PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE BUT NOT CRUSHED ---PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR, PERSECUTED BUT NOT ABANDONED…

STRUCK DOWN BUT NOT DESTROYED.

OH MY FRIENDS, THESE TWO PASSAGES MIRROR EACH OTHER...

GOD SHOWED UP TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE —ANNIHILATED THE ENEMY AND BROUGHT THE PEOPLE TO SAFETY PROVING THAT HE IS THE GREAT I AM…ONLY THE PEOPLE WERE OBSTINATE, UNAPPRECIATIVE AND SO SELFISH THEY COULD NOT SEE THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.

AND BECAUSE OF SUCH LITTLE FAITH THEY PERISHED.

2 COR.4: 1 SAYS SINCE THROUGH GOD’S MERCY WE HAVE THIS MINISTRY, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART, RATHER WE HAVE RENOUNCED SECRET AND SHAMEFUL WAYS, WE DO NOT USE DECEPTION, NOR DO WE DISTORT THE WORD OF GOD.

BUT WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY TO SHOW THAT THIS ALL SURPASSING POWER IS FROM GOD AND NOT FROM US.

THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE FAITHFUL IS TO STAND STILL. DON’T BE AFRAID, FOR IF HE SAID HE WOULD DO IT…TRUST HIM TO DO IT.

DON’T LET YOUR ATTITUDE GET IN THE WAY OF BEING GRATEFUL.

TOUGH TIMES ARE CHARACTER BUILDING TIMES…FOR IF WE NEVER HAD A TEST…WE COULD NEVER HAVE A TESTIMONY OF HIS GOODNESS.

THE ROAD TO FREEDOM IS PAVED WITH DEEDS OF FAITH, THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE WANTED TO DO, BUT DID IT FOR JESUS’ SAKE.

EVIL AND GOF CANNOT CO-EXIST.

WHERE EVIL IS —YOU WILL NOT FIND RIGHTEOUSNESS OR GOD.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. GOD AND THE DEVIL DON’T HANG OUT TOGETHER.

IF YOU READ THE CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH SATAN IN JOB, IT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE SATAN IS PART OF GOD’S HEAVENLY ARMY OR THAT THERE IS ANY LOVE BETWEEN THE TWO. BUT WHAT IT DOES SHARE IS THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL.

GOD HAS MEASURED EVERY INCH AND EVERY MILE…EVERY OUNCE AND EVERY POUND…WHEN WE FEEL DEFEATED -WHEN WE FEEL OVER-WHELMED-WHY NOT TRY GOD. WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH HEARTACHE AND PAIN-WHEN GOD CLEARLY SAYS- MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT..

FOR GOD;S SAKE—TURN IT OVER TO HIM AND LET HIM WALK WITH YOU,

TALK WITH YOU AND LEAD YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS HEAVENLY LIGHT…JESUS SAYS FORGIVE 70 TIMES SEVEN-BUT WHAT HE’S REALLY SAYING—THERE IS NO NUMBER OF TIMES WRITTEN OR PUT INTO LAW…IF WE WANT TO BE MADE WHOLE-IF WE WANT TO WALK THE ROAD OF FREEDOM —DROP THE BAGGAGE…OF WHAT SOMEONE DID TO HURT YOU. KNOWING THAT WHEN IT’S FAMILY WHEN ITS YOUR OWN BLOOD-YOU ARE SO WOUNDED THAT —YOU FEEL BETRAYED AND ALONE…GIVE THAT THING THAT PAIN OVER TO JESUS…AND WALK AWAY LIGHTER, HAPPIER AND FREE. DON’T DO IT FOR PASTOR JUDY—DO IT FOR YOUR SOUL’S SALVATION…FOR IF JESUS CHRIST DID IT-IF HE ALLOWED HIS ENEMIES TO NAIL HIM TO A CROSS-HANG THERE 3 DAYS REALIZING THAT THIS ACT OF LOVE WOULD SAVE YOU AND ME…I DO BELIEVE WE CAN WALK AWAY FROM SOMEONE WHO MEANS YOU NO GOOD AND JUST SAY-I FORGIVE YOU, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT FULLY REPENTIVE...AND YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART, FORGIVE THEM JUST THE SAME…

SONGWRITER WROTE:

BE NOT DISMAYED-WHAT ERR BE TIDE…GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU…GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU THROUGH EVERY DAY, OH ALL THE WAY…HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU…GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

LEAVE THE REST UP TO JESUS.

FOR VENGEANCE IS MINE—SAYS THE LORD.

DO THIS AND KEEP YOUR HEART PURE. DON’T LET THE ENEMY STEAL YOUR JOY....AMEN?