The Basics of Faith Series #4 – FORGIVENESS!
Matthew 18:21-35 - Victory Fellowship
January 29, 2023 Rev. Roderick Grabski
Introduction:
In the first in this series I shared how important it is that we be good managers of our Obedience to God. Remember that w/o a desire to obey God we can’t properly manage any aspect of our faith.
The next week I shared how important it is that we manage our FEAR – not only of what gives us anxiety, but also FEAR of God. Last week I shared how important it is that we manage our PRAISE to God.
Today I want to share how we can embrace the basics of FORGIVENESS.
Bible on forgiveness:
The word “Forgiveness” is mentioned in the NIV bible exactly 14 times. Once in the Old Testament and thirteen times in the New Testament.
Forgiveness, as a concept, is mentioned more frequently. For example the word “Forgive” appears 42 times in the Old Testament and 33 times in the New Testament. The word “Forgiven” appears 17 times in the Old Testament and 28 times in the New Testament. And the word “Forgiving” appears 6 times in the Old Testament and 1 time in the New.
The important thing is that we must practice the basics of our faith by developing a forgiving heart.
(Toby Mac – Forgiveness)
Forgiving is easier said than done. But Jesus commands it with a conditional imperative.
How to F.O.R.G.I.V.E.
F—Forbid recurring thoughts of the wrongs done to enter your mind. Stop them as soon as they occur. Boldly say to yourself, “I refuse to keep a record of this. I refuse to keep a ledger.” “[Love] keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:5)
O—Overcome the temptation to bring up the matter again. After an honest confrontation with the offender and both sides of the situation have been dealt with—or if the other person refuses to talk about the problem—let the Holy Spirit do His work of conviction. Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, “[There is] a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Pray this passage: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)
R—Repeat Scripture in your mind. Allow God’s perspective to change your perspective. Allow God’s heart to permeate your heart. At times of testing, repeat over and over, “Love covers this wrong. Lord, may I be an expression of Your love. May I reflect Your love that covers over all wrongs.” “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” (Proverbs 10:12)
G—Give the situation to God. Jesus understands how much you have been wronged. When He was being persecuted, Jesus knew that the heavenly Father would judge justly ... in His way, in His time. And you can know the same. Your trial will make you either bitter or better. Say to the Lord, “I put my heart into Your hands. I entrust myself to You. I know You will judge this situation justly.” These words were said about Jesus: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)
I—Intercede on behalf of your offender. God does not present prayer as an option for you; it is a command. When you have been wronged, pray, “Lord, give me eyes to see him through Your eyes. May I care for her with Your care.” “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23)
V—Value what you can give rather than what you can receive. Pray for God to help you understand the offender’s past and how his or her inner pain has contributed to the injury you are now experiencing. Focus on how you might meet some of these inner needs, for it is more blessed to give than to receive. “The Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)
E—Extend God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Forgiveness is a direct expression of both God’s grace and God’s mercy. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve (pardon). Mercy is not getting what
you do deserve (punishment). Pray often, “Lord, may my life be an expression of Your grace and an extension of Your mercy.” “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:11)
Conclusion:
“How do I know whether I have genuinely forgiven someone?” After someone has offended you, you can test the “quality” of your forgiveness by asking yourself the following questions:
“Do I still expect my offender ‘to pay’ for the wrong done to me?”
“Do I still have bitter feelings toward my offender?”
“Do I still have vengeful thoughts toward my offender?”
To forgive someone does not in any way mean that you do not want justice, but it simply means that you are leaving the offense entirely in God’s hands. You are refusing to harbor hateful feelings toward your offender. Remember, forgiveness is an ongoing process which requires that you choose to forgive every time the offense comes to mind, and that you choose to pray for the offender every time the offense crosses your mind.
PRAYER
SONG: Lift Your Head Weary Sinner
Matthew 18:21-35 NLT
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. 31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. 35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
