Father Forgive Them

Intro - Story of changing the weights because they were too heavy. Realizing no one was looking at me or even noticed I was there.

In the context of forgiveness, unforgiveness is impossible to beat when its all about you!

Luke 23.34 - “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” - Jesus was able to see past His difficult situation and see the broken people on the other side.

Pray

Title - Father Forgive Them

The Idea - Forgiveness Produces Freedom

Forgiveness is always hard for me to talk about because people can do some nasty things. Many in here have experienced abuse, rape, and other horrible things that I by no means want to make light of. And the good news is that forgiveness always produces freedom! Forgiveness is not justification, forgiveness is healing.

3 components to forgiveness

Empathy - Fishing story of this guy getting mad for walking through his yard.

Empathy isn’t justification the offence but it humanizes the offender

Empathy put me in his shoes and I would’ve been mad too! I hate people parking on front of my house lol\

When you see the situation through their perspective it is easier to begin the process of forgiveness!

Acts 7.55-60 - 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Theologically lets take this approach, Jesus wasn’t standing to congratulate him, He was standing to defend him!

Stephen like Jesus before him was able to look past his situation and see the broken people on the other side and forgive them

practice this saying, “I would feel this way too if I was in this situation”

Forgiveness is YOUR responsibility

Me forgiving my Dad and having a great relationship during his last few years

people are not thinking of how they hurt you they are thinking of themselves. Many people might hurt you and never even know but you have been waiting 15 years for them to ask for your forgiveness!

Matthew 5.23-24 - 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

The Gospel according to Matthew a. Murder, 5:21–26

the angry person must take care how he worships.

Jesus does not want angry bitter worshippers. It is your job to forgive!

Forgiveness creates strength

I love nature! Everything we can come up with is not quite as good as what God made thousands of years ago lol! Birds planes - medicine vs natural meds gmo food vs organic…

In nature broken bones always heal stronger than before. Muscles grow by little tears when you work out.

Matthew 18.21-22 -  Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Maybe Jesus promotes forgiveness because He knows how good it is your you! Think about this, who are the people who are closest to you? Probably the people you have forgiven the most!

Just as working out builds strength or a mending bone heals stronger than before, forgiveness in relationships creates stronger bonds to those around you!

Closing

Matthew 7.12 -  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

I want to close with this because the truth is we are much more forgiving and gracious with ourselves than we are with others.

If you desire forgiveness sow forgiveness in others, think the best of people and remember forgiveness is freedom!

Empathy

Forgiveness is Your responsibility

Forgiveness creates strength