FORGIVENESS
I thank the Lord for the great day of worship we enjoyed on
Sunday. Gathering together for Bible study, to pray, sing, fellowship, give and
listen to the Word proclaimed is refreshing and energizing.
Our sermon series on “Forgiveness” has gone very well. I am
so grateful for the way the messages have been received by our church family.
It is important that we each understand the great importance of forgiveness in
our daily interactions with one another.
There is no question about what Jesus taught on forgiveness
as recorded in Matthew 18. Here is a summary of the Sunday message:
If we are going to practice forgiveness we must…
1. SEE ourselves SIMPLY (vv. 1-4)
We need not think too much of ourselves. Jesus said that the greatest in the Kingdom is like a child. A child is dependent, trusting and has no real agenda or plans. In a word, Jesus says that true greatness is seen in our humility. We are each sinners forgiven by God’s grace. Humility is key to both receiving and giving forgiveness.
We need not think too much of ourselves. Jesus said that the greatest in the Kingdom is like a child. A child is dependent, trusting and has no real agenda or plans. In a word, Jesus says that true greatness is seen in our humility. We are each sinners forgiven by God’s grace. Humility is key to both receiving and giving forgiveness.
Next, it is important for us to…
2. SHUN what is SINFUL (vv. 5-14)
Known and unconfessed sin can make us ineffective in dealing with the sins of others. Why would we forgive others when we ourselves are struggling with our own unresolved sin issues?
No wonder we are instructed to “Keep watch on” ourselves as we seek to restore anyone caught in a transgression.
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Known and unconfessed sin can make us ineffective in dealing with the sins of others. Why would we forgive others when we ourselves are struggling with our own unresolved sin issues?
No wonder we are instructed to “Keep watch on” ourselves as we seek to restore anyone caught in a transgression.
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
With a humble attitude and a desire to shun our own personal
sins we are more inclined to actively…
3.
SEEK
those who STRAY (vv. 12-13)
The shepherd will leave the 99 sheep to find the one who has wandered away from the fold. You know that a stray sheep is vulnerable to attack, to hunger, to poor health and to other serious problems.
I want us to think of absentee members as those who are DANGER! We should think that way because that is the case. Those who do not gather together to worship with the body of Christ are in danger. They are vulnerable to Satan’s lies and attacks; because they are away from the fold and undernourished from lack of hearing the Word proclaimed. They are open to worldly thinking because their minds are being exposed to the truth of the word and the accountability of being in fellowship with other believers.
I think it is VITAL for us to have a concern that moves us to ACTION when we think of our missing and absentee members.
In fact, who can you call this week to encourage to be at church on Sunday? What wandering sheep are you going after? What lost one are you seeking to bring back into the fold?
The shepherd will leave the 99 sheep to find the one who has wandered away from the fold. You know that a stray sheep is vulnerable to attack, to hunger, to poor health and to other serious problems.
I want us to think of absentee members as those who are DANGER! We should think that way because that is the case. Those who do not gather together to worship with the body of Christ are in danger. They are vulnerable to Satan’s lies and attacks; because they are away from the fold and undernourished from lack of hearing the Word proclaimed. They are open to worldly thinking because their minds are being exposed to the truth of the word and the accountability of being in fellowship with other believers.
I think it is VITAL for us to have a concern that moves us to ACTION when we think of our missing and absentee members.
In fact, who can you call this week to encourage to be at church on Sunday? What wandering sheep are you going after? What lost one are you seeking to bring back into the fold?
Sometimes, as we seek those who stray, we will also need to…
4. SPEAK to those that SIN (vv. 15-16)
Those who remove themselves from regular fellowship with God’s people often need to be helped in regard to a sin issue in their lives. Our heart is one of restoration. We want to see men and women restored to a right relationship with God and with others.
As we encounter those who have “sinned” against us we have one of two choices. We can COVER the sin or we must CONFRONT the sin. Both are loving options. One or the other must be done.
Those who remove themselves from regular fellowship with God’s people often need to be helped in regard to a sin issue in their lives. Our heart is one of restoration. We want to see men and women restored to a right relationship with God and with others.
As we encounter those who have “sinned” against us we have one of two choices. We can COVER the sin or we must CONFRONT the sin. Both are loving options. One or the other must be done.
Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Proverbs 17:9 (ESV)
9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
If you are unable to cover the sin then you must in love CONFRONT the sinning brother. Matthew 18:15-16 gives a very clear and easy to understand process to follow in confronting a wayward brother.
Keep in mind that the goal is not vengeance or retaliation. The goal of confrontation is restoration.
But what if the brother refuses to listen? What if they do not want to seek forgiveness?
Well the next step is that we must…
5. SEPARATE from those who are STUBORN (v.
17)
For the sake of all involved; a REFUSAL, by the sinning brother, to listen is a REASON to separate from the individual.
We separate from the unrepentant as a means to call them to repentance. We pray they will understand the seriousness of their sin. We back away so God may step in and work events, circumstances and the consequences of their lives in such a way so as to draw them to repentance.
For the sake of all involved; a REFUSAL, by the sinning brother, to listen is a REASON to separate from the individual.
We separate from the unrepentant as a means to call them to repentance. We pray they will understand the seriousness of their sin. We back away so God may step in and work events, circumstances and the consequences of their lives in such a way so as to draw them to repentance.
Should they recognize their sin and repent; we then…
6. STAND ready to FORGIVE (vv. 21-35)
Peter understands the significance of what Jesus is saying. If you approach a sinning brother to restore the relationship HOW OFTEN should that be done?
The story the Lord shares, in answer to Peter’s question, is powerful. There is no mistaking what He is saying. In fact Jesus gives the point to the parable in the last verse of chapter 18. He says: “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
Peter understands the significance of what Jesus is saying. If you approach a sinning brother to restore the relationship HOW OFTEN should that be done?
The story the Lord shares, in answer to Peter’s question, is powerful. There is no mistaking what He is saying. In fact Jesus gives the point to the parable in the last verse of chapter 18. He says: “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
Yes, FORGIVENSS is a huge issue for the life of a believer.
We have been forgiven and we are now to be forgiving people.
Your response to two simple questions will reveal your
understanding of what Jesus taught in Matthew 18.
1. Do
I truly understand how much I have been forgiven?
2. Is
there anyone that needs to hear me say “I forgive you?”
Forgiving because I am Forgiven,
Pastor Mike
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