FORGIVE
Genesis 50:17-19Matthew 6:9-14
(KJV)
Gen 50:17 - 19
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
Matt 6:9-14
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For
if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you:
Ø Many churches have this prayer as a part of their liturgy.
Ø We repeat it every Sunday.
Ø Do we truly listen to the words, especially the part about forgiveness?
Ø Forgiveness is an integral part of the Bible. An integral part of Christ’s life and our lives in Christ and an essential part of our physical and spiritual health.
o Look at story of Joseph
o Look at Prodigal Son
o Look at Peter asking how many times should I forgive
o Ask why Christ and the Bible place such an emphasis on our forgiving.
Ø Not forgiving is detrimental to spiritual health. It can also be detrimental to the non-forgiver’s physical and mental health.
o Often not forgiving has little effect on the unforgiven person
o Not forgiving brings judgment on the unforgiving much more than the person not forgiven.
o Often changes in physical health, mental health, spiritual health & personality happen.
o Unforgiveness in one area can breed unforgiveness in other areas,
o Mark 11:25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
o Not forgiving has such a great effect on us we are told to put things right with our brother or sister before we try to put things right with God.
o In fact, if we are not forgiving we cannot expect forgiveness from God.
Ø Joseph is a study in both an unforgiving and forgiving attitude.
Ø Joseph was a painful person as a young man.
o He was dad’s favorite and made sure everyone knew it.
o His dreams added fuel to the fire and even upset his parents.
o He felt he was special and thought everyone else should recognize that.
Ø Joseph’s brothers were unforgiving and it almost cost Joseph his life.
o It did cost Joseph his freedom and the brothers a lifetime of living with a lie, guilt, possible regret, etc.
Ø Joseph was forgiving.
§ Over time he learned that God is in charge.
§ Over time he learned to trust God.
§ Over time he recognized the brother’s actions, although from wrong motives, resulted in God using them for good.
Ø Some of the results were:
o A reuniting g with his family.
o Much less stress for his brothers
o Positive influence on all around d him (Pharaoh, etc.)
o A lesson for all concerned
o I am not sure Joseph’s brothers quite learned the lesson about true forgiveness since they lied to Joseph to obtain continued forgiveness after their father died
Ø As Joseph learned not forgiving and holding a grudge does not bring about God’s righteousness.
o James 5:9 9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
o The “judge” may be more immediate than we might think
o Story of me & Dean Landis
§ Results of my grudge
§ Results of my confession to Dean
§ Results of God’s forgiveness
§ Results of Dean’s forgiveness
Ø Can we say we have learned and practiced the same lessons Joseph did?
o Have we learned to trust God?
o Have we learned God is always in charge?
o Have we learned not forgiving is counterproductive and, from a Christian perspective, just plain wrong?
Ø First steps
o James 1: 19-20 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.
o Do not take offence easily. Christ did not.
o Listen to a matter completely before responding.
o Be much for careful for the Lord than for ourselves.
o Remember, our wrath does NOT further God’s work.
Ø Forgiving others is not limited to forgiving our Christian brothers and sisters.
Ø Forgiving is not limited to forgiving others but includes forgiving ourselves.
Ø Not forgiving accomplishes nothing and actually is very detrimental to the unforgiving person and, to a certain extent, the unforgiven person.
Ø Truly forgiving
o 2 Corinthians 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (Goes back to person who had relations with father’s wife in 1 Corinthians 5:1-6)
o Forgiving & forgetting
§ It can often be easier to forgive than to forget.
§ Often the world tells us it is OK to forgive but foolish to forget.
§ God both forgives us and then forgets our sin.
o Truly forgiving pays both forward and backward
o Have we forgiven those who have offended us?
o Do we need to forgive others.
o Have we asked for forgiveness where needed?
o Have we asked our Lord for forgiveness?
Forgiveness is a fundamental of Christ’s teachings and therefore must be a fundamental for us.
o With Love comes forgiveness.
o We cannot say we truly have the Love of Christ in us if we have not truly forgiven others.
o We forgive through the Love of Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit. We do not go it alone.
PRAY
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