SF739 - WE EXTEND GOD'S PARDON - 6 HOW TO PRAY - JESUS WAY (Matthew 6 12b 14-15)
Matthew 6: 12b, 14-15
INTRODUCTION
Review
True prayer centers on God’s glory.
John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
True prayer results in our joy.
John 16:24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
We have discussed God’s paternity and priority (6:9); God’s program and purpose (6:10); God’s provision (6:11) and God’s pardon received (6:12a).
Today we will learn about the necessity of extending God’s pardon (6:12b, 14-15).
Our sins have put is debt to our creator
To forgive means to cancel the debt - it still costs to cancel the debt.
Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”
Jesus Christ paid the debt of our sin
Ø Forgiveness is not something to be experienced only between man and God
Ø Forgiveness is to be experienced in every human relationship
We are to extend God’s Pardon…
1A. The Compelling Reasons for Forgiving
1B. The grace factor
Because God has forgiven you
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
2B. The guilt factor (6:12)
If we do not forgive, then we will not be forgiven
An unforgiving spirit is unforgivable
“Jesus is here stating a principle in God’s dealing with His children. He deals with us as we deal with others. The prayer is not ‘Forgive us because we forgive others’ but ‘Forgive us even as we have forgiven others.’” (J. Oswald Sanders)
James 2:13 “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”
3B. The grief factor
An unforgiving spirit keeps you in prison.
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear”
When we forgive we do not descend to their level we bring them up to our level.
Romans 12:20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
4B. The gain factor
You gain your brother.
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”
Matthew 5:24 “leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”
When we fail to forgive
Ø We disgrace the Father
Ø We discourage the saints
Ø We disgust the lost
Ø We delight the devil.
The person you forgive is more that a person who hurts you, he is a person who needs you.
2A. The Costly Requirements of Forgiving
1B. We must forgive freely
Matthew 10:8 “...Freely you received, freely give.
Some forgive only after they have exacted their revenge - this is not forgiveness.
Romans 12:19 “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.”
We are to be quick to forgive
Matthew 5:25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way...”
We are to always take the initiative
Luke 17:3 “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
Ø Repentance is necessary for forgiveness
2B. We must forgive fully
Pride will cause us to act as if we were not hurt.
Ø This is not forgiveness
Forgiveness is not politeness, or simply accepting an apology
Ø Forgetting is not the means of forgiveness, it is the result of forgiveness.
3B. We must forgive finally
Put it away for good!
Ø Just like God!
Hebrews 8:12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”
Ø When God forgives me he does something for me and in me, he teaches me to forgive others!
If you want to know how serious God is about forgiveness go to Calvary!
3A. The Certain Results of Forgiveness
1B. You will experience release
“When you forgive you set a prisoner free then you discover that you were that prisoner.” (Adrian Rogers)
2B. You will initiate reconciliation
3B. You will facilitate revival
Application
Are you forgiven? Are you forgiving? (Matthew 18:23-35)
1A. The Compelling Reasons for Forgiving
1B. The _____________________________ factor
Because God has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)
2B. The ________________________ factor (6:12)
If we do not forgive, then we will not be forgiven
An unforgiving spirit is unforgivable
3B. The _____________________________ factor
An unforgiving spirit keeps you in prison. (Psalm 66:18; James 2:13)
When we forgive we do not descend to their level we bring them up to our level. (Romans 12:20)
4B. The _____________________________ factor
You gain your brother. (Matthew 18:15; Matthew 5:24)
2A. The Costly Requirements of Forgiving
1B. We must forgive ________________________ (Matthew 10:8)
Some forgive only after they have exacted their revenge - this is not forgiveness. (Romans 12:19)
We are to be quick to forgive (Matthew 5:25)
We are to always take the initiative (Luke 17:3)
2B. We must forgive _____________________
3B. We must forgive _____________________ (Hebrews 8:12)
3A. The Certain Results of Forgiveness
1B. You will experience _____________________
2B. You will initiate reconciliation
3B. You will facilitate _______________________
Application
Are you forgiven? Are you forgiving? (Matthew 18:23-35)