Call Home: When does the party start?
Call Home • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsA part of “Calling Home” is asking for the forgiveness we know we need, and giving that forgiveness to those whom we know need it.
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“When does the party start?”
— great question, right?
— after all, isn’t the Christian life supposed to bring us Joy and Hope?
So… When does all that start?
— it starts with what is probably the most difficult thing for us.
What do you think that is?
— Forgiveness —
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and [to] discover that prisoner was you.” — Lewis B Smedes
Forgiveness is as much about you [us] as it is about them!
Newman tells the story of a school shooting in 2006, in Lancaster, PA.
— in a 1 room schoolhouse
— 10 girls were shot before the gunman took his own life
Now, here’s the remarkable part
— when the family of the shooter gathered for the funeral, they were joined by 40 members of the Amish community directly affected by the shooting.
— They weren’t there to protest… they weren’t there to condemn…
— They were there to mourn with the family… and extend forgiveness!
How many of us could do that?
Jesus tells us to “love our enemies”… to “forgive those who wrong us”… to “walk the extra mile” for those who mistreat and use us…
BUT… How often do we do the opposite when people disrespect and mistreat us?
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
I think many of us do a good job of praying this.
We pray:
“Father, You are the creator … the Holy One… the Sustainer of Life… You are sovereign over all… You are sovereign in my life… I set you aside as Holy, and I sanctify myself to You… Let Your will be done in my life… Forgive me as I forgive others…”
Amen?
BUT… We don’t mean it!
Forgiveness is a choice!
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
We can say the words… write the words… read the words… but still fail to embrace the opportunity and blessing contained within them!
These words have power, but only if we understand them.
(reread)
What do we need to understand about these words?
— We are in debt spiritually
— We owe God!
— — to many people pray this prayer, but don’t believe that they are sinners, debtors, and tresspassers.
— — they aren’t willing to admit that they are spiritually bankrupt! BUT… they don’t feel innocent either!
Look at:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
6 We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
Scripture is clear… WE ARE ALL SINNERS!!!
— we owe a debt
— we all deserve the consequences of our sin, and Rom 6:23 says:
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
BUT…
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
You see… unlike many today want you to believe, the Gospel Message — the central message of the Bible — is all about God’s love and forgiveness!!!
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
Jesus tells us to ask for forgiveness, but not just any forgiveness… What does He tie it to?
— forgiveness of others.
Why is forgiveness such a big deal?
— Our willingness to forgive is tied directly to our receiving of forgiveness.
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
We have a responsibility to forgive others, WHY?
— because God has forgiven us!
Look at Mt 18:21-25
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.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.
25 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.
What parable is this?
— the unmerciful servant —
How does it go?
— Peter asks about forgiveness. (the questions that prompt the parables are important)
— Jesus tells the parable
a king wanted to settle his accounts, so he called in his debtors
one servant owed so much that it would have taken him 150,000 years to pay it
he begged for mercy… which the king granted
You and I have a debt that we cannot pay… we could try for the next 150,000 years, but still couldn’t do it…
That’s the beauty of the Cross!!!
— our debt has been cancelled!
Christianity has something that no other religion has — Forgiveness!!
— look at the Ancient Egyptians… works… had a plan of how to get through the underworld…
But all we have to do is ask!
Back to the parable…
What happened when that servant left the king’s presence?
— found someone who owed him $
— over less than 100 days wages
— king threw him in prison!
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Message: Forgive because you have been forgiven!
Look @ Luke 11:4 again:
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
That doesn’t say “when” or “if”, WHY???
— because we are all sinners!
— we sin everyday…
When we understand that, we understand our NEED for forgiveness, and we cannot help but forgive others!
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Forgiveness is how we “throw of the sin that…”
BUT… that only happens if we admit who we are… recognize our need… and extend forgiveness to others.
Story — 3 men and their sacks
each man had 2 sacks tied around their necks - one in front, one in back
1st man asked — back - all the good things his friends and family had done for him, hidden from view… the front sack - all the bad things that have ever happened to him - “from time to time, I take them out, examine them, think about them…” — he didn’t do much in life…
2nd man — front sack - all the good things that had happened, looks at them often. — back - all the bad things, all the mistakes he had ever made. “I just can’t put them down.”
3rd man — front sack - “It’s great!” - all the positive thoughts… blessings… great things people have done… “It keeps me moving forward. Like a sail on a ship.” — back - “It’s empty! I cut a hole in it. I put the bad things in it that I think about myself or hear about others…”
That’s what forgiveness does! It cuts a hole in our sack and lets all the bad, negative stuff fall out!
What are you carrying in your sack?
The party starts when we begin to truly ask for and extend forgiveness…