How do I forgive others?

on your index card I want you to write down the worse thing that you can stand to write down that God has forgiven you for. no one will see this card but you.

Before we get to talking about forgiveness lets talk about what forgiveness is not.

Forgiveness is not cosigning bad behavior.

Forgiveness is not reconciliation. (reconciliation may occur after forgiveness, but reconciliation does not have to happen in order to forgive.

Text:

Mark 11:20–26 NKJV

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 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) We live in a time of false righteousness.

Luke 18:9–14 NKJV

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

we live in a time of self righteous rage.

we think we are so “self-righteous” and that’s why we feel as we have the right to put others down because they are less then.

once someone is less then, we are o.k. to treat people ugly.

that’s part of what is wrong with our society.

Titus 3:5 NKJV

5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

2) In our text we see that faith and forgiveness go hand in hand.

Mark 11:20–24 NKJV

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 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.

Jesus had cursed the tree the day before. Peter is baffled that the tree was withered. not just dead but withered as if it had been dead for a while.

faith in God. not faith in faith. what is faith in faith? there is a difference betwen the power of positive thinking.

the thing that Jesus said HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

faith in God is trusting that God can and will do whatever is needed to fulfill the purpose of God.

3. Forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian life.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Essential

2 a: of the utmost importance: BASIC, INDISPENSABLE, NECESSARY 〈an essential requirement for admission to college〉

The New King James Version Chapter 11

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.”

we no longer hold the person under penalty for the wrong they commited to us.

we do this not because we are so spiritual or because they are so deserving of forgiveness. rather we do this in light of what Christ has done for us.

what was on your card? do you realize that that is just one of the things that you have been forgiven of. you are a sin full person, you have sinned against a righteous God, that same God for gave you!

this is why we ask the Lord for help.

we ask him for help in the person of the Holy Spirit!