Matthew 6:14-15
What do you do when you are the victim of sin? Because
the truth is, we all sin and we’re all sinned against. Jesus says that those
who have been sinned against must forgive. You can’t say, “God, I want you to
forgive me, but I refuse to forgive them.” So, how do forgive and still deal
with my hurt, especially when they continue to hurt me? Learn the power of
forgiveness.
God’s greatest gift was
the gift of faith.
God’s second greatest
gift is forgiveness.
To forgive is to grant pardon without harboring resentment.
The very nature of man and his weakness requires that, if we are to relate successfully, we must learn to forgive.
The very nature of man and his weakness requires that, if we are to relate successfully, we must learn to forgive.
Forgiveness is always people-centered
- not nature or systems. Only people can accept and respond to
forgiveness.
People hurt us:
- out of their weaknesses
- with their good intentions
- by their mistakes
- when they have been hurt
- by not meeting our expectations
Give your expectations to God
and let Him take care of how they are met.
Our hurt will tell
the direction needed for forgiveness.
The harboring of
bitterness is like a cancer.
When we are wronged, we
hurt, attach feelings and give them immortality.
Hate and bitterness are
often attached to loss...grief.
Before you can forgive,
you have to grieve.
Entombed bitterness is a
source of depression.
Depression = Anger turned inward. Psalm 32:1-5
There is no revenge
like complete forgiveness.
The only response to
wrong that the Word of God commends the Christian to is love.
