Forgiving Others

OFFENSE: Greek – skandalon, a trap or snare
Proverbs 14:30 MSG
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions
corrode the bones.
Matthew 18:21-35 NIV
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I
forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven
times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to
settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man
who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since
he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and
his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “The
servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged,
‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on
him, canceled the debt and let him go. BUT when that servant went
out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred
silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back
what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees
and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.” But he
refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until
he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had
happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their
master everything that had happened. Then the master called the
servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I canceled all that debt
of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had
mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger his
master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should
pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each
of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.
The Truth About Forgiveness:
1)There Is Real Hurt and Pain in Our Lives
God cannot heal what you’re unwilling to reveal.
Forgiveness is not:
DENIAL – Pretending it wasn’t a big deal
APPROVAL – Saying what happened was okay
FORGETTING – Forgive and Forget isn’t real
RELATIONSHIP – That relationship may need to change
John 20:26-28 NIV
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was
with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and
put it into my side.”
You may carry the SCAR with you, but you don’t have to carry the
WOUND with you forever.
The Truth About Forgiveness:
2)God Really Wants Us to Live “Debt-Free”
Forgiveness – To release someone from paying back a debt that IS
owed.
The most tortured people are the ones who refuse to forgive.
Colossians 2:13-14 NLT
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature
was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he
forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against
us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
Matthew 6:11-12 NIV
Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors.
The Truth About Forgiveness:
3) There Is Real Power to Forgive
Matthew 18:33 NIV
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had
on you?
Colossians 3:13 TPT
Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one
another in the SAME WAY you have been graciously forgiven by
Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this SAME
GIFT of forgiveness to them.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as
well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ
has forgiven you.
The power to forgive others comes from the fact that I have been
forgiven in Jesus Christ!
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God
has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis
Forgiveness is not:
DENIAL – Pretending it wasn’t a big deal
APPROVAL – Saying what happened was okay
FORGETTING – Forgive and Forget isn’t real
RELATIONSHIP – That relationship may need to change
EASY – Forgiveness is a choice
ONE-and-DONE – Forgiveness is a continual process
Forgiveness Prayer:
God, I repent for withholding forgiveness from (Name the person).
Today, I make a decision to forgive them for (Name their offense).
Father, when they did this it, made me feel (Share your emotions with
God). God, I no longer want to carry this wound. Today, I make a
choice to give you the pain. I hand (Name the person) over to you
and choose to allow you to be my justice-maker. Right now, I receive
the gift of joy, hope, peace and love that’s found in You. Thank You
for beginning to heal my heart, in Jesus’ name.