1 00:00:00,516 --> 00:00:02,500 So we're in a series called Ask the 2 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:02,897 rabbi. 3 00:00:03,453 --> 00:00:05,461 And what we're doing is we're going through, 4 00:00:05,835 --> 00:00:07,581 like, for the month of June and July 5 00:00:07,581 --> 00:00:08,717 going through the gospel 6 00:00:09,343 --> 00:00:11,115 and looking at different questions 7 00:00:11,490 --> 00:00:13,080 that were asked of Jesus. 8 00:00:13,795 --> 00:00:15,487 And then we wanna find the context, 9 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:18,190 we wanna see how Jesus responds 10 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:20,980 And we wanna see who asked the question? 11 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:22,359 And and why 12 00:00:22,740 --> 00:00:23,940 did they ask the question? 13 00:00:24,580 --> 00:00:26,660 And it's been it's been really good. Like, 14 00:00:26,820 --> 00:00:28,831 for me as teacher. I know I... I've 15 00:00:28,831 --> 00:00:31,623 grown and and more in my understanding. My 16 00:00:31,623 --> 00:00:34,176 daughter chandler and I are doing a bible 17 00:00:34,176 --> 00:00:37,300 reading summer plan together. And so just really 18 00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:39,053 stand focused in the word and a lot 19 00:00:39,053 --> 00:00:41,125 in the the gospel pulls and getting to 20 00:00:41,125 --> 00:00:42,661 know Jesus better. But 21 00:00:42,972 --> 00:00:44,799 Today is a follow up to last week. 22 00:00:44,958 --> 00:00:47,047 If you were here last week, we did 23 00:00:47,738 --> 00:00:49,270 a message called questioning 24 00:00:49,803 --> 00:00:50,518 our limits. 25 00:00:51,329 --> 00:00:53,566 And the question to Jesus was from the 26 00:00:53,566 --> 00:00:54,066 ph, 27 00:00:54,605 --> 00:00:56,922 why do you eat with tax collectors and 28 00:00:56,922 --> 00:00:58,840 sinner? Why do you receive sinner? 29 00:00:59,654 --> 00:01:01,326 And we looked at that how the ph 30 00:01:01,326 --> 00:01:03,476 sees put limits on the grace of God. 31 00:01:04,114 --> 00:01:05,706 They put limits on the love of God, 32 00:01:05,945 --> 00:01:07,936 who did who could god love. 33 00:01:08,989 --> 00:01:09,628 Well, this week, 34 00:01:10,267 --> 00:01:12,025 that that was kind of the vertical look 35 00:01:12,025 --> 00:01:13,942 at at at limits. This week, we're gonna 36 00:01:13,942 --> 00:01:15,001 look at horizontal. 37 00:01:15,874 --> 00:01:18,292 Do we put limits on who we will 38 00:01:18,591 --> 00:01:19,091 forgive 39 00:01:19,549 --> 00:01:21,547 and and how will we would forgive or 40 00:01:21,547 --> 00:01:22,665 hold on to things? 41 00:01:23,479 --> 00:01:25,500 So today's question comes from 42 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,039 the apostle Peter to Jesus. 43 00:01:29,239 --> 00:01:31,775 And I think when he questions Jesus, he's 44 00:01:32,132 --> 00:01:34,060 He... This is a sincere question 45 00:01:34,751 --> 00:01:35,227 from Peter. 46 00:01:36,577 --> 00:01:38,640 He wasn't trying to trick Jesus like a 47 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:39,672 lot of other people were. 48 00:01:40,958 --> 00:01:42,870 Then Peter came up and he said to 49 00:01:42,870 --> 00:01:43,587 him, Lord, 50 00:01:44,224 --> 00:01:45,282 how many times 51 00:01:45,977 --> 00:01:48,446 shall my brother sit against me and I 52 00:01:48,446 --> 00:01:49,562 still forgive him. 53 00:01:50,532 --> 00:01:51,646 Up to 7 times. 54 00:01:52,601 --> 00:01:54,192 Jesus said to him, I do not say 55 00:01:54,192 --> 00:01:56,363 up to 7 times, but up to 70 56 00:01:56,499 --> 00:01:58,488 times 7. Pause real quick. 57 00:01:59,379 --> 00:02:01,772 Jesus isn't saying on the 490 58 00:02:01,772 --> 00:02:03,686 first time you can forgive. 59 00:02:04,484 --> 00:02:07,775 He... It's a Jewish eu. He's being facet 60 00:02:08,312 --> 00:02:09,784 exaggerating on purpose 61 00:02:10,162 --> 00:02:13,615 that forgiveness is always the thing to do 62 00:02:13,753 --> 00:02:14,493 when somebody 63 00:02:15,269 --> 00:02:15,748 offend you. 64 00:02:17,915 --> 00:02:19,979 He says, for this reason, the kingdom of 65 00:02:19,979 --> 00:02:22,678 heaven is like a king who wanted to 66 00:02:22,678 --> 00:02:24,901 settle accounts with his servants. 67 00:02:25,792 --> 00:02:27,465 And when he had begun to settle them, 68 00:02:28,102 --> 00:02:30,275 1 owed him 10000 69 00:02:30,413 --> 00:02:30,731 talents. 70 00:02:31,289 --> 00:02:34,077 Some scholars believe that was about 12000000 dollars 71 00:02:34,077 --> 00:02:35,524 in today's currency. 72 00:02:36,873 --> 00:02:38,381 And he was brought to him. But since 73 00:02:38,381 --> 00:02:40,444 he did not have the means to repay, 74 00:02:40,841 --> 00:02:43,319 12000000 dollars a lot of money, His master 75 00:02:43,319 --> 00:02:45,309 commanded that he be sold along with his 76 00:02:45,309 --> 00:02:46,526 wife and children 77 00:02:46,901 --> 00:02:49,607 and all that he had in repayment be 78 00:02:49,607 --> 00:02:52,097 made. In those days, if you 79 00:02:52,889 --> 00:02:54,810 you know, gathered up a bunch of debt. 80 00:02:55,530 --> 00:02:58,270 You didn't couldn't file chapter 11. You couldn't 81 00:02:58,490 --> 00:02:59,310 file bankruptcy. 82 00:02:59,689 --> 00:03:01,381 You had to pay it off. And the 83 00:03:01,381 --> 00:03:03,848 husband would go to to prison and the 84 00:03:03,848 --> 00:03:06,098 rest of the family would go into slavery 85 00:03:06,235 --> 00:03:07,747 until those debts were paid off. 86 00:03:08,715 --> 00:03:10,802 So he fell to the ground and pros 87 00:03:11,175 --> 00:03:13,952 himself before him saying, have patience with me, 88 00:03:14,269 --> 00:03:15,959 and I will repay you everything. 89 00:03:17,783 --> 00:03:18,683 And the master 90 00:03:19,061 --> 00:03:20,979 of that slave felt compassion, 91 00:03:21,698 --> 00:03:23,935 and he released him and he forgave him 92 00:03:23,935 --> 00:03:24,335 the debt. 93 00:03:25,068 --> 00:03:26,979 But that slave went out and found 1 94 00:03:26,979 --> 00:03:27,877 of his fellow 95 00:03:28,253 --> 00:03:31,041 slaves who owed him a hundred hundred Den, 96 00:03:31,598 --> 00:03:33,032 about 17 dollars. 97 00:03:34,083 --> 00:03:35,539 12000017 98 00:03:35,597 --> 00:03:35,915 dollars. 99 00:03:36,712 --> 00:03:38,466 And he seized him and he began to 100 00:03:38,466 --> 00:03:40,856 choke him saying, payback what you owe. 101 00:03:41,590 --> 00:03:43,349 So this fell slave fell to the ground, 102 00:03:43,509 --> 00:03:45,270 and he began to plead with him saying, 103 00:03:45,750 --> 00:03:46,870 have patience with me, 104 00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:50,159 and I will repay you. But he was 105 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:50,477 unwilling. 106 00:03:51,273 --> 00:03:52,784 And he went and threw him in a 107 00:03:52,784 --> 00:03:55,090 prison until he would pay back what was 108 00:03:55,090 --> 00:03:55,409 owed. 109 00:03:56,204 --> 00:03:59,088 So when his fellow slaves saw what had 110 00:03:59,088 --> 00:03:59,407 happened. 111 00:03:59,967 --> 00:04:02,763 They were deeply grieve and came and reported 112 00:04:02,763 --> 00:04:04,680 to their master, all that had happened. 113 00:04:05,414 --> 00:04:07,728 Then summon him, his master said to him, 114 00:04:08,207 --> 00:04:09,245 you wicked slave. 115 00:04:09,804 --> 00:04:12,517 I forgave you all that debt because you 116 00:04:12,517 --> 00:04:13,236 pleaded with me. 117 00:04:13,968 --> 00:04:16,113 Should you not also have had mercy on 118 00:04:16,113 --> 00:04:17,066 your fellow slave? 119 00:04:17,781 --> 00:04:19,926 In the same way that I had mercy 120 00:04:19,926 --> 00:04:20,324 on you? 121 00:04:21,212 --> 00:04:23,515 And his master moved with anger handed him 122 00:04:23,515 --> 00:04:26,873 over to the torture until he would repay 123 00:04:27,166 --> 00:04:28,278 all that was owed him. 124 00:04:29,168 --> 00:04:31,323 My heavenly father will also do the same 125 00:04:31,323 --> 00:04:33,397 to you if each of you does not 126 00:04:33,397 --> 00:04:35,392 forgive his brother from your heart. 127 00:04:37,645 --> 00:04:38,444 That's pretty intense. 128 00:04:39,564 --> 00:04:40,865 Pretty intense story 129 00:04:41,485 --> 00:04:43,585 in what Jesus is trying to convey 130 00:04:44,285 --> 00:04:45,939 to the disciples and to us 131 00:04:48,053 --> 00:04:49,111 Forgiving someone 132 00:04:50,764 --> 00:04:52,221 is leaving the judgment 133 00:04:53,236 --> 00:04:54,911 to the 1 who can rightly judge. 134 00:04:55,644 --> 00:04:57,558 Why we don't get to judge. We don't 135 00:04:57,558 --> 00:05:00,270 have all the facts. We don't know all 136 00:05:00,270 --> 00:05:02,743 that's going on, but he does. He knows 137 00:05:02,743 --> 00:05:04,279 and and sees everything. 138 00:05:05,788 --> 00:05:07,302 It takes grace to forgive. 139 00:05:09,293 --> 00:05:11,524 Some of you have been hurt deeply by 140 00:05:11,524 --> 00:05:11,842 people. 141 00:05:12,892 --> 00:05:15,199 It takes grace to forgive. Grace is the 142 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:17,586 power to do what you could never do 143 00:05:17,586 --> 00:05:19,177 on your own. That's what Grace is. 144 00:05:20,544 --> 00:05:21,498 C Lewis said, 145 00:05:22,214 --> 00:05:25,237 to be a christian means to forgive the 146 00:05:25,237 --> 00:05:25,737 in 147 00:05:27,163 --> 00:05:29,954 because God has forgiven the in excuse in 148 00:05:29,954 --> 00:05:30,194 you, 149 00:05:31,230 --> 00:05:32,028 powerful words. 150 00:05:33,384 --> 00:05:34,820 In 2015, 151 00:05:35,059 --> 00:05:36,096 I was reading an article. 152 00:05:37,067 --> 00:05:37,965 About a 153 00:05:39,056 --> 00:05:42,159 woman who was murdered in cold blood in 154 00:05:42,159 --> 00:05:42,637 her home. 155 00:05:43,432 --> 00:05:45,875 People broke into her home. She was pregnant 156 00:05:45,994 --> 00:05:47,584 at the time and had had a kid, 157 00:05:48,140 --> 00:05:50,605 someone broke into her home to rob her, 158 00:05:50,843 --> 00:05:52,115 and they ended up killing her. 159 00:05:53,387 --> 00:05:56,105 Well, her husband was a pastor at And 160 00:05:56,105 --> 00:05:58,492 a pastor of a church, lot like ovation 161 00:05:58,492 --> 00:06:01,117 had just planted a church outside of Indianapolis. 162 00:06:02,563 --> 00:06:03,063 And 163 00:06:03,437 --> 00:06:05,684 when they interviewed him 164 00:06:06,058 --> 00:06:08,281 about what had happened to his wife an 165 00:06:08,281 --> 00:06:09,155 un born child. 166 00:06:10,997 --> 00:06:12,611 His only response was 167 00:06:13,384 --> 00:06:16,270 I'm gonna try every day to forgive 168 00:06:16,725 --> 00:06:17,282 her killers. 169 00:06:19,837 --> 00:06:21,924 There another story I saw 170 00:06:23,487 --> 00:06:25,709 about a guy who was a a serial 171 00:06:25,709 --> 00:06:25,947 killer. 172 00:06:26,757 --> 00:06:28,507 He had killed 48 women. 173 00:06:29,780 --> 00:06:32,246 And when they were sentencing him, 174 00:06:33,533 --> 00:06:36,314 the each family member of the 48 people, 175 00:06:36,552 --> 00:06:37,449 whom he murdered 176 00:06:38,141 --> 00:06:39,889 got to say something to him. 177 00:06:41,099 --> 00:06:41,599 And 178 00:06:41,978 --> 00:06:43,656 everybody was like, I hope you rotten and 179 00:06:43,656 --> 00:06:45,573 hell you evil blah blah blah. 180 00:06:46,612 --> 00:06:47,651 And there was this 1 guy. 181 00:06:49,023 --> 00:06:51,018 And he didn't say things like that. He 182 00:06:51,018 --> 00:06:52,396 said, what he did 183 00:06:52,853 --> 00:06:55,406 was so wrong and it was evil. He 184 00:06:55,406 --> 00:06:57,412 said, but I follow Jesus, 185 00:06:58,128 --> 00:06:59,877 and he tells me I have to forgive 186 00:06:59,877 --> 00:07:00,036 you, 187 00:07:00,911 --> 00:07:01,786 and I forgive you. 188 00:07:02,581 --> 00:07:04,410 And the whole time all these other people 189 00:07:04,410 --> 00:07:05,938 were... Telling him I hope you rotten in 190 00:07:05,938 --> 00:07:06,257 hell, 191 00:07:06,894 --> 00:07:09,920 he's he's just very stoic in his look. 192 00:07:10,796 --> 00:07:12,867 But but once that guy said I forgive 193 00:07:12,867 --> 00:07:15,434 you, or he began to ball, like a 194 00:07:15,434 --> 00:07:15,992 little baby, 195 00:07:16,630 --> 00:07:19,820 the power of forgiveness, the power of forgiving 196 00:07:19,820 --> 00:07:21,335 those who wrong us. 197 00:07:25,498 --> 00:07:25,737 Now, 198 00:07:26,774 --> 00:07:28,869 most of us will not have to 199 00:07:30,044 --> 00:07:32,697 forgive something that intense. That's very 200 00:07:33,329 --> 00:07:36,280 dream. The question is, if those people can 201 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:36,780 forgive 202 00:07:37,237 --> 00:07:39,072 that kind of sin against them, 203 00:07:40,189 --> 00:07:42,182 why do we struggle so much with little 204 00:07:42,182 --> 00:07:42,741 petty things? 205 00:07:43,793 --> 00:07:46,985 And and irritation and resentment that builds and 206 00:07:46,985 --> 00:07:47,863 builds and builds. 207 00:07:49,060 --> 00:07:50,896 Each 1 of us have been hurt by 208 00:07:50,896 --> 00:07:51,215 people. 209 00:07:52,346 --> 00:07:54,415 We've been hurt. You look back on your 210 00:07:54,415 --> 00:07:56,325 life. Someone has hurt you. Maybe you're in 211 00:07:56,325 --> 00:07:58,315 the middle of a hurt right now. And 212 00:07:58,315 --> 00:08:01,180 though that pain has actually shaped your life. 213 00:08:02,787 --> 00:08:04,561 But maybe more importantly, 214 00:08:05,254 --> 00:08:06,630 how you respond 215 00:08:07,642 --> 00:08:10,427 to those offenses and pain is shaping you. 216 00:08:11,238 --> 00:08:13,389 Even in a deeper way, either for for 217 00:08:13,389 --> 00:08:14,128 for better 218 00:08:14,504 --> 00:08:15,221 or for worse. 219 00:08:18,263 --> 00:08:20,172 So why must we forgive others? 220 00:08:20,887 --> 00:08:22,000 Because in this parable, 221 00:08:23,352 --> 00:08:25,817 seems to me that forgiving 1 another? 222 00:08:26,547 --> 00:08:29,809 Is very important to Jesus that we learn 223 00:08:29,809 --> 00:08:31,184 to forgive as he's 224 00:08:31,718 --> 00:08:32,036 forgiven. 225 00:08:33,484 --> 00:08:35,322 Think the first thing is this. Why must 226 00:08:35,322 --> 00:08:38,599 we forgive others? Because God expects me to 227 00:08:38,599 --> 00:08:40,676 do for others as he's done for me? 228 00:08:43,006 --> 00:08:45,735 He expects us to forgive as we've been 229 00:08:45,952 --> 00:08:46,270 forgiven. 230 00:08:47,624 --> 00:08:50,331 Forgiveness is paying a debt you didn't know. 231 00:08:51,461 --> 00:08:53,611 That guy, the master paid off this guy's 232 00:08:53,611 --> 00:08:53,850 debt. 233 00:08:55,842 --> 00:08:58,492 When you forgive somebody, you pay a debt 234 00:08:58,630 --> 00:09:01,275 that you didn't owe. That's exactly what God 235 00:09:01,275 --> 00:09:01,833 did for us. 236 00:09:02,711 --> 00:09:04,407 Romans 06:23 237 00:09:04,545 --> 00:09:05,444 for the wages 238 00:09:05,901 --> 00:09:08,214 of sin is death. What we earn or 239 00:09:08,214 --> 00:09:10,144 the debt we earn by sin is death, 240 00:09:10,625 --> 00:09:13,764 but the gift of God is eternal life 241 00:09:13,824 --> 00:09:14,384 in Christ. 242 00:09:16,065 --> 00:09:17,985 God forgave us of our debt and gave 243 00:09:17,985 --> 00:09:18,865 us eternal life. 244 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,320 In that story, and the master of that 245 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:23,840 slave felt compassion, 246 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,820 and he released him, and he forgave him 247 00:09:27,039 --> 00:09:27,519 the debt. 248 00:09:29,045 --> 00:09:31,504 God has compassion on us sinner. 249 00:09:32,217 --> 00:09:33,749 He had so much compassion 250 00:09:34,201 --> 00:09:35,866 that he sent as 1 an only son. 251 00:09:36,279 --> 00:09:38,773 To come for us and to rescue us 252 00:09:39,150 --> 00:09:41,782 from our debt. The apostle Paul wrote the 253 00:09:41,782 --> 00:09:42,282 church 254 00:09:42,819 --> 00:09:45,531 in. He said don't be angry with each 255 00:09:45,531 --> 00:09:45,770 other. 256 00:09:46,344 --> 00:09:47,460 But forgive each other. 257 00:09:48,098 --> 00:09:50,969 If you feel someone has wrong you, forgive 258 00:09:50,969 --> 00:09:51,209 them, 259 00:09:52,245 --> 00:09:54,957 forgive others because the Lord forgave you. 260 00:09:56,008 --> 00:09:57,675 I mean, no forgiving is not an easy 261 00:09:57,675 --> 00:09:59,104 thing to do. It's not. 262 00:10:00,771 --> 00:10:03,391 But we become like God when we forgive. 263 00:10:03,803 --> 00:10:05,787 As we extend forgiveness. 264 00:10:06,819 --> 00:10:09,145 When we realize how much we've been 265 00:10:09,835 --> 00:10:12,399 forgiven ourselves, the only right 266 00:10:13,185 --> 00:10:16,762 response is to extend grace and forgiveness to 267 00:10:16,762 --> 00:10:17,080 others. 268 00:10:18,034 --> 00:10:19,544 And I... I've learned this over the years. 269 00:10:19,703 --> 00:10:21,236 You know this to be true. Sometimes 270 00:10:22,343 --> 00:10:24,119 Most of the time, we have higher 271 00:10:24,736 --> 00:10:27,529 expectations for others than we do ourselves. Is 272 00:10:27,529 --> 00:10:28,087 that not true? 273 00:10:29,699 --> 00:10:32,096 When we blow it or we fail. It's 274 00:10:32,096 --> 00:10:34,174 like, hey, forgive me. I'm so sorry. Extend 275 00:10:34,174 --> 00:10:35,053 me some grace. 276 00:10:35,932 --> 00:10:37,610 But then when somebody wrongs us, 277 00:10:38,504 --> 00:10:40,581 We find it hard to extend that same 278 00:10:40,581 --> 00:10:42,259 kind of grace. But you don't know what 279 00:10:42,259 --> 00:10:44,016 they did to me. You don't know how 280 00:10:44,016 --> 00:10:45,948 much pain they cause, and we... We play 281 00:10:45,948 --> 00:10:47,803 this little game of having higher 282 00:10:48,260 --> 00:10:50,413 expectations for others than ourselves. We need to 283 00:10:50,413 --> 00:10:50,812 flip that. 284 00:10:51,529 --> 00:10:52,428 Let's have higher 285 00:10:52,805 --> 00:10:55,211 expectations of ourselves and maybe less. In and 286 00:10:55,211 --> 00:10:56,667 how we're... We see 287 00:10:57,043 --> 00:10:59,830 in others. Second reason we must forgive is 288 00:10:59,830 --> 00:11:02,640 because it's evidence that I've received forgiveness 289 00:11:04,704 --> 00:11:06,537 I think that's part of Jesus point here. 290 00:11:07,493 --> 00:11:09,006 If you take a notes, write this down. 291 00:11:09,962 --> 00:11:11,020 Forgiven people 292 00:11:11,715 --> 00:11:12,432 forgive people. 293 00:11:13,957 --> 00:11:14,750 Forgiven people, 294 00:11:15,306 --> 00:11:15,940 forgive people. 295 00:11:16,813 --> 00:11:18,559 If you're not willing to forgive then have 296 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,018 you received the forgiveness of the father? 297 00:11:21,589 --> 00:11:22,470 I think that's the point. 298 00:11:23,350 --> 00:11:25,429 He said should you not also have had 299 00:11:25,429 --> 00:11:27,829 mercy on your fellow slave in the same 300 00:11:27,829 --> 00:11:29,909 way that I had mercy on you? 301 00:11:30,564 --> 00:11:32,642 And his master mood with anger handed him 302 00:11:32,642 --> 00:11:35,219 over to the torture until he should repay 303 00:11:35,837 --> 00:11:36,956 all that was owed him. 304 00:11:39,283 --> 00:11:40,397 Unforgiveness is a prison. 305 00:11:41,431 --> 00:11:43,578 It's a prison cell that we put ourselves 306 00:11:43,578 --> 00:11:46,282 in when we choose not to forgive. 307 00:11:47,012 --> 00:11:48,045 As we've been forgiven. 308 00:11:48,919 --> 00:11:50,110 Unforgiveness torture us. 309 00:11:51,064 --> 00:11:53,232 When you're holding a grudge resentment 310 00:11:54,177 --> 00:11:54,995 over somebody. 311 00:11:55,527 --> 00:11:58,228 It's it's only hurting you. It's not hurting 312 00:11:58,228 --> 00:11:59,738 them. They might not even know you're mad 313 00:11:59,738 --> 00:12:01,111 out. I'm in in 314 00:12:01,723 --> 00:12:02,835 unforgiving towards them. 315 00:12:04,759 --> 00:12:05,657 But forgiving 316 00:12:06,669 --> 00:12:08,897 to to forgive is that key that we 317 00:12:08,897 --> 00:12:11,616 have in our own prison cell that we 318 00:12:11,616 --> 00:12:13,046 just can unlock it. As soon as we 319 00:12:13,046 --> 00:12:15,429 say, Lord, I release them. Lord, I forgive 320 00:12:15,429 --> 00:12:15,986 that person. 321 00:12:16,701 --> 00:12:18,766 I'm not gonna hold this to them. 322 00:12:19,894 --> 00:12:21,572 We see that example in Jesus. 323 00:12:23,329 --> 00:12:23,829 Forgiving 324 00:12:25,167 --> 00:12:26,445 someone will cost you. 325 00:12:27,336 --> 00:12:28,450 It will cost you. 326 00:12:29,883 --> 00:12:31,178 But not forgiving 327 00:12:32,031 --> 00:12:33,066 will cost you your heart. 328 00:12:34,737 --> 00:12:35,873 Forgiving is gonna cost 329 00:12:36,344 --> 00:12:37,063 gonna take 330 00:12:37,623 --> 00:12:38,123 humble 331 00:12:38,582 --> 00:12:39,700 humble and grace, 332 00:12:40,419 --> 00:12:42,417 but not forgiving. Will cost you you your 333 00:12:42,417 --> 00:12:44,255 heart. I think that's what Jesus is point. 334 00:12:44,749 --> 00:12:46,739 Here is to Peter and to us. 335 00:12:48,013 --> 00:12:50,821 Jesus is saying that that if you can't 336 00:12:50,879 --> 00:12:52,095 forgive others 337 00:12:52,964 --> 00:12:55,114 you can't receive the father's forgiveness. 338 00:12:55,910 --> 00:12:57,344 And the problems not with God, 339 00:12:58,618 --> 00:13:01,348 God did everything in Christ in initiating 340 00:13:02,139 --> 00:13:04,696 forgiveness and salvation for us. 341 00:13:06,054 --> 00:13:08,472 Problems not with God, the problems with me 342 00:13:08,931 --> 00:13:09,410 in you, 343 00:13:10,223 --> 00:13:13,090 Romans 5 8 for God demonstrated his love 344 00:13:13,090 --> 00:13:15,081 for us, what while we were still sinner 345 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,129 Christ died for us. He initiated everything. 346 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:19,899 He initiated 347 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:21,399 reconciliation. 348 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,600 And as we see in second Corinthians 5, 349 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,808 that god was in The father was in 350 00:13:27,808 --> 00:13:28,445 in the son, 351 00:13:29,081 --> 00:13:31,810 reconciling the world to himself, not counting 352 00:13:32,425 --> 00:13:35,547 men's sins against them. Ace So from his 353 00:13:35,547 --> 00:13:36,425 perspective, he's good. 354 00:13:37,543 --> 00:13:39,379 But if we're not willing to forgive others, 355 00:13:39,698 --> 00:13:40,437 have we 356 00:13:40,816 --> 00:13:42,013 received that forgiveness? 357 00:13:44,024 --> 00:13:46,102 Thirdly, why must we forgive? Well, 358 00:13:47,061 --> 00:13:48,899 because unforgiveness makes you miserable. 359 00:13:49,378 --> 00:13:49,538 Right? 360 00:13:50,976 --> 00:13:52,095 It makes us miserable. 361 00:13:53,068 --> 00:13:55,536 People who are holding a grudge are are 362 00:13:55,536 --> 00:13:56,889 miserable on the inside. 363 00:13:58,163 --> 00:14:00,711 Emotionally, their soul is just bound up. 364 00:14:01,363 --> 00:14:03,431 With unforgiveness. Again, it's a prison, 365 00:14:04,544 --> 00:14:05,658 unforgiveness is a prison. 366 00:14:06,294 --> 00:14:07,669 And here's here's the beauty 367 00:14:09,650 --> 00:14:12,217 If you believe that god's commands 368 00:14:12,592 --> 00:14:13,705 are for your good, 369 00:14:14,739 --> 00:14:17,045 that if he says to do something or 370 00:14:17,045 --> 00:14:17,840 not to do some, 371 00:14:18,573 --> 00:14:20,566 he has your best interest at heart. 372 00:14:21,603 --> 00:14:23,677 And so if he commands us to forgive, 373 00:14:25,033 --> 00:14:26,867 it's because it's for our own good. 374 00:14:30,316 --> 00:14:30,816 Resentment 375 00:14:31,594 --> 00:14:32,094 is 376 00:14:33,591 --> 00:14:34,490 something that 377 00:14:35,681 --> 00:14:38,549 is like a cousin to unforgiveness. When you 378 00:14:38,549 --> 00:14:40,324 begin to resent somebody. 379 00:14:40,859 --> 00:14:43,727 Happens in marriage all the time and friendships, 380 00:14:44,697 --> 00:14:47,398 and the illustration came to to my mind 381 00:14:47,398 --> 00:14:49,622 yesterday that resentment is like, 382 00:14:50,813 --> 00:14:53,289 when you don't deal with your spouse, for 383 00:14:53,289 --> 00:14:54,558 those of you that are married. If you 384 00:14:54,558 --> 00:14:57,335 don't deal with wrongs that you do towards 385 00:14:57,335 --> 00:14:59,635 each other. There's not a coming together, hey 386 00:14:59,794 --> 00:15:00,532 I apologize. 387 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,080 I own that. Will you forgive me? 388 00:15:03,799 --> 00:15:06,200 Yes, I forgive you. If that act does 389 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,451 not take place from the heart, then it's 390 00:15:08,451 --> 00:15:10,142 like just putting a brick 391 00:15:10,832 --> 00:15:11,864 between you and your spouse. 392 00:15:12,975 --> 00:15:13,610 And at first, 393 00:15:14,166 --> 00:15:16,150 1 little brick doesn't seem like a whole 394 00:15:16,150 --> 00:15:16,309 lot. 395 00:15:17,198 --> 00:15:18,552 But as the years go by, 396 00:15:19,586 --> 00:15:21,577 brick brick brick brick brick brick brick, you 397 00:15:21,577 --> 00:15:23,885 can't see each other anymore. You can't hear 398 00:15:23,885 --> 00:15:24,682 each other anymore. 399 00:15:25,571 --> 00:15:27,740 Resentment has made its way 400 00:15:28,193 --> 00:15:31,211 into the relationship. Hebrews 12:15 401 00:15:31,211 --> 00:15:33,594 says, see to it that no 1 falls 402 00:15:33,594 --> 00:15:35,916 short of the grace of god god and 403 00:15:35,916 --> 00:15:39,183 that no bitter root grows up to cause 404 00:15:39,183 --> 00:15:40,879 trouble and def file 405 00:15:41,335 --> 00:15:41,654 many. 406 00:15:43,341 --> 00:15:45,988 The soil of a bitter heart is an 407 00:15:46,124 --> 00:15:46,760 unforgiving heart. 408 00:15:48,191 --> 00:15:51,474 And then a bitter root goes into 409 00:15:51,849 --> 00:15:52,349 our 410 00:15:52,739 --> 00:15:53,058 hearts, 411 00:15:53,617 --> 00:15:55,075 bitterness kills marriages, 412 00:15:55,772 --> 00:15:56,730 friendships, families, 413 00:15:57,208 --> 00:15:58,506 sometimes even churches 414 00:15:59,044 --> 00:16:02,010 that divide over some sort of bitterness and 415 00:16:02,010 --> 00:16:04,024 resentment and can't get over 416 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:05,755 an issue with forgiveness. 417 00:16:06,870 --> 00:16:10,456 So unforgiveness, bitterness needs to be d rooted. 418 00:16:12,230 --> 00:16:14,950 And those of you that that have a 419 00:16:14,950 --> 00:16:17,110 a lawn, like that you have to take 420 00:16:17,110 --> 00:16:18,410 care of on a 421 00:16:18,723 --> 00:16:20,794 weekly basis, water, etcetera. 422 00:16:21,511 --> 00:16:24,299 Now if your lawn has dan lyon, and 423 00:16:24,299 --> 00:16:26,370 you see those little yellow flowers or you 424 00:16:26,370 --> 00:16:27,087 see some weeds. 425 00:16:27,898 --> 00:16:30,125 When you take your lawn mower and you 426 00:16:30,125 --> 00:16:31,080 go and mow the lawn, 427 00:16:31,716 --> 00:16:34,182 those little yellow flowers are gone. And it's 428 00:16:34,182 --> 00:16:35,932 like, oh, I don't see those anymore. 429 00:16:36,745 --> 00:16:38,825 But that root didn't come out because what 430 00:16:38,825 --> 00:16:40,745 happens 2 days later, boop, they come back 431 00:16:40,745 --> 00:16:43,404 up again. You have to get some chemicals 432 00:16:43,798 --> 00:16:46,683 or actual physically get down and d root 433 00:16:46,977 --> 00:16:47,613 that weed. 434 00:16:48,249 --> 00:16:50,713 It takes work to do that. When it 435 00:16:50,713 --> 00:16:53,512 comes into a relationship that is that has 436 00:16:53,512 --> 00:16:55,742 now a bitter root. In the heart... You 437 00:16:55,742 --> 00:16:56,937 have to do the hard work. 438 00:16:57,813 --> 00:16:59,407 You have to do the hard work to 439 00:16:59,407 --> 00:16:59,907 get 440 00:17:00,616 --> 00:17:01,434 the weed 441 00:17:02,208 --> 00:17:05,074 of resentment and bitterness and unforgiveness out of 442 00:17:05,074 --> 00:17:05,472 your heart. 443 00:17:06,586 --> 00:17:07,621 You gotta go to Jesus. 444 00:17:08,115 --> 00:17:10,035 And you gotta look to the cross. You 445 00:17:10,035 --> 00:17:12,115 gotta look to what he's done and who 446 00:17:12,115 --> 00:17:12,855 he is 447 00:17:13,234 --> 00:17:14,994 and get that thing out of your heart 448 00:17:14,994 --> 00:17:16,515 before it def files many. 449 00:17:17,169 --> 00:17:18,208 Like the scripture said. 450 00:17:21,485 --> 00:17:23,563 So let's talk a minute about what forgiving 451 00:17:23,563 --> 00:17:24,762 others does not mean. 452 00:17:27,653 --> 00:17:29,112 Because right now you're thinking 453 00:17:29,491 --> 00:17:30,850 let's see talking about here. 454 00:17:31,968 --> 00:17:32,607 You kidding me. 455 00:17:33,487 --> 00:17:34,765 I'm supposed to forgive that. 456 00:17:35,496 --> 00:17:38,271 I can't forget that. I still feel mad 457 00:17:38,271 --> 00:17:39,064 at that person. 458 00:17:39,698 --> 00:17:42,394 Okay? Well, feel forgiveness is not a feeling. 459 00:17:43,043 --> 00:17:44,951 For sure and forgiveness as we're gonna see 460 00:17:44,951 --> 00:17:45,905 is not forgetting. 461 00:17:47,733 --> 00:17:50,436 But forgiveness, first of all, is not pretending. 462 00:17:51,802 --> 00:17:54,900 When you you pretend that everything's okay when 463 00:17:54,900 --> 00:17:58,077 your heart is still a mess towards each 464 00:17:58,077 --> 00:17:59,348 other or towards somebody. 465 00:18:01,032 --> 00:18:03,495 Forgiveness is what is required when there's no 466 00:18:03,495 --> 00:18:03,995 good 467 00:18:04,369 --> 00:18:06,515 explanation for what's gone on for what's happened. 468 00:18:06,992 --> 00:18:08,502 Think about Jesus on the cross. 469 00:18:11,061 --> 00:18:15,038 They're humiliating him, abusing him. He's been nailed 470 00:18:15,038 --> 00:18:15,993 to a piece of wood, 471 00:18:17,121 --> 00:18:18,710 and what was his response to that? 472 00:18:19,981 --> 00:18:22,603 Father forgive them for they know not what 473 00:18:22,603 --> 00:18:23,000 they do. 474 00:18:24,686 --> 00:18:27,315 He went through our worst nightmares and his 475 00:18:27,315 --> 00:18:27,815 response 476 00:18:28,271 --> 00:18:30,263 was father forgive them. They don't know what 477 00:18:30,263 --> 00:18:30,821 they're doing. 478 00:18:33,070 --> 00:18:34,208 He didn't pretend 479 00:18:34,745 --> 00:18:36,900 that something bad wasn't happening to him. 480 00:18:37,698 --> 00:18:38,916 He wasn't pretending 481 00:18:39,468 --> 00:18:42,414 And and sometimes we pretend in relationships, and 482 00:18:42,414 --> 00:18:43,232 we we 483 00:18:43,688 --> 00:18:44,666 excuse people's 484 00:18:45,201 --> 00:18:47,510 bad behavior. We give them a pass. 485 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:49,594 That's not forgiveness. 486 00:18:50,389 --> 00:18:51,446 That that's 487 00:18:51,821 --> 00:18:52,321 toxic 488 00:18:53,094 --> 00:18:53,332 relationships. 489 00:18:55,099 --> 00:18:57,813 To forgive is not to be a door 490 00:18:57,813 --> 00:19:00,308 at or anything like that. No, There's boundaries 491 00:19:00,367 --> 00:19:03,581 in relationships. But forgiveness is the 492 00:19:04,053 --> 00:19:04,553 the 493 00:19:05,325 --> 00:19:06,063 the 1 494 00:19:06,675 --> 00:19:08,980 antidote to all the bad problems that end 495 00:19:08,980 --> 00:19:11,046 up happening in most relationships. 496 00:19:12,015 --> 00:19:13,287 Forgiving is not forgetting. 497 00:19:15,832 --> 00:19:18,615 Forgetting this side of eternity might not be 498 00:19:18,615 --> 00:19:19,331 a reality. 499 00:19:20,302 --> 00:19:22,134 For what hurt you and who hurt you. 500 00:19:22,373 --> 00:19:23,728 It might not be a reality. 501 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:25,719 Now, 502 00:19:26,675 --> 00:19:29,279 scripture teaches us that God has forgot our 503 00:19:29,478 --> 00:19:29,797 sins. 504 00:19:30,672 --> 00:19:32,740 As far as the east is from the 505 00:19:32,740 --> 00:19:33,058 west, 506 00:19:33,774 --> 00:19:36,081 he's taken our trans from us. 507 00:19:37,934 --> 00:19:38,174 Now, 508 00:19:39,295 --> 00:19:42,115 God, the reason God can forget our sins 509 00:19:42,654 --> 00:19:43,875 and hear me on this 510 00:19:44,665 --> 00:19:47,370 is our sin has become irrelevant to him. 511 00:19:48,324 --> 00:19:50,074 Go read Romans 8 3. 512 00:19:51,203 --> 00:19:53,510 What Jesus did in his flesh on the 513 00:19:53,510 --> 00:19:56,215 cross is he did away with sin. It's 514 00:19:56,215 --> 00:19:57,966 what the apostle Paul says. 515 00:19:58,858 --> 00:20:01,253 Doesn't mean we can go on and sin 516 00:20:01,253 --> 00:20:03,248 and behave. However we want to. That's not 517 00:20:03,248 --> 00:20:03,727 the point. 518 00:20:04,525 --> 00:20:06,861 But to god, the father, he sees us 519 00:20:07,414 --> 00:20:09,989 He sees us clean. He sees us pure 520 00:20:10,526 --> 00:20:11,904 because of what Jesus 521 00:20:12,282 --> 00:20:12,782 did 522 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:13,559 for us. 523 00:20:16,286 --> 00:20:18,676 Forgiveness is what's required when we can't forget. 524 00:20:19,473 --> 00:20:21,545 That's important. And it's not a feeling. 525 00:20:22,102 --> 00:20:24,026 If you try to conjure up a feeling 526 00:20:24,026 --> 00:20:25,854 of forgiveness that might be impossible. 527 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,191 And then lastly on this, 528 00:20:30,557 --> 00:20:32,488 forgiving is not the same as 529 00:20:33,022 --> 00:20:34,215 reconciliation. It's not. 530 00:20:35,566 --> 00:20:37,951 Reconciliation is when 2 people that were dis 531 00:20:37,951 --> 00:20:39,303 disoriented, come back together, 532 00:20:40,510 --> 00:20:41,407 There's apologies. 533 00:20:42,177 --> 00:20:44,955 There's I'm sorry. I forgive you, and there's 534 00:20:44,955 --> 00:20:45,693 a a 535 00:20:46,145 --> 00:20:48,447 reconciliation that's happened. That's not always possible. 536 00:20:49,419 --> 00:20:51,419 The person you need to forgive might have 537 00:20:51,419 --> 00:20:53,659 already passed on to into eternity. 538 00:20:54,220 --> 00:20:55,980 But you still can make a choice in 539 00:20:55,980 --> 00:20:58,093 your heart to forgive but 540 00:20:58,547 --> 00:21:01,431 reconciliation. It's not always possible. I had a 541 00:21:01,964 --> 00:21:04,507 situation where someone had hurt me pretty bad. 542 00:21:06,037 --> 00:21:06,537 And 543 00:21:08,671 --> 00:21:10,587 a couple years went by, and I had 544 00:21:10,587 --> 00:21:13,221 prayed and said Lord, I forgive this person 545 00:21:13,221 --> 00:21:16,187 from my heart. I'd truly know knew from 546 00:21:16,187 --> 00:21:17,942 my vantage point I had forgiven. 547 00:21:19,617 --> 00:21:20,117 And 548 00:21:20,494 --> 00:21:22,669 it was kinda up to this other person 549 00:21:23,777 --> 00:21:24,913 if we were gonna have 550 00:21:25,286 --> 00:21:25,842 reconciliation or not, 551 00:21:26,796 --> 00:21:29,576 by their posture and their stance. But I 552 00:21:29,576 --> 00:21:32,435 prayed a lot. Lord, I pray before I 553 00:21:32,435 --> 00:21:32,674 die. 554 00:21:33,564 --> 00:21:35,875 There could be reconciliation with this person. 555 00:21:36,672 --> 00:21:39,164 Kept prayed that for 2 years. And 556 00:21:39,779 --> 00:21:40,758 finally, I gotta 557 00:21:41,308 --> 00:21:43,053 a note from this person said, hey, 558 00:21:43,925 --> 00:21:44,877 I wanna reconcile. 559 00:21:45,671 --> 00:21:46,702 And we met together. 560 00:21:47,416 --> 00:21:48,075 We hugged 561 00:21:48,384 --> 00:21:50,454 hugged it out, talked it out and have 562 00:21:50,454 --> 00:21:51,808 been reconciled ever since. 563 00:21:52,764 --> 00:21:55,153 So it's important. For... But it starts with 564 00:21:55,153 --> 00:21:57,007 this willingness to forgive 565 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:58,460 when there's a difficult 566 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,640 relationships, both people have to say, I'm willing 567 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:02,200 to forgive. 568 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,440 The 1 who says no I'm holding on 569 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:04,759 to this. 570 00:22:05,814 --> 00:22:07,971 They're gonna become the miserable person that gets 571 00:22:07,971 --> 00:22:08,691 that bitter root. 572 00:22:09,650 --> 00:22:11,727 So how do we forgive? This is important. 573 00:22:11,967 --> 00:22:12,766 How do we forgive? 574 00:22:14,377 --> 00:22:17,563 The first thing is if you've been offended, 575 00:22:18,598 --> 00:22:20,829 hurt, release it to God. 576 00:22:21,705 --> 00:22:22,421 Release it to God. 577 00:22:25,069 --> 00:22:25,867 How do you do that? 578 00:22:28,421 --> 00:22:28,660 Well, 579 00:22:29,378 --> 00:22:30,655 when I look at this cross, 580 00:22:32,505 --> 00:22:33,404 I think of 581 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:35,238 what the lord did 582 00:22:35,855 --> 00:22:36,653 for you and me. 583 00:22:38,966 --> 00:22:40,183 And I'm so thankful 584 00:22:41,855 --> 00:22:44,095 I'm so thankful that my son was nailed 585 00:22:44,095 --> 00:22:44,654 to the cross, 586 00:22:45,375 --> 00:22:46,755 and it's become irrelevant 587 00:22:47,615 --> 00:22:48,335 to the father. 588 00:22:49,710 --> 00:22:51,170 So how do I release 589 00:22:51,549 --> 00:22:53,869 the offense of others to the lord? 590 00:22:54,990 --> 00:22:56,589 I take it to this same cross. 591 00:22:57,643 --> 00:23:00,374 The same place where I am so joyful 592 00:23:00,432 --> 00:23:02,127 glad where my son 593 00:23:02,504 --> 00:23:03,381 is was nailed. 594 00:23:04,018 --> 00:23:04,576 I say Lord. 595 00:23:05,229 --> 00:23:06,263 You died for their sin. 596 00:23:06,979 --> 00:23:08,889 You died for their offense to me. 597 00:23:10,401 --> 00:23:12,470 And that's how you begin to release it. 598 00:23:12,708 --> 00:23:14,163 The other way to release 599 00:23:14,873 --> 00:23:17,664 people and and the the offense to God 600 00:23:17,664 --> 00:23:18,781 is to pray for people. 601 00:23:19,738 --> 00:23:22,370 Jesus said pray for those who per. You 602 00:23:22,370 --> 00:23:23,407 bless your enemies. 603 00:23:25,490 --> 00:23:28,427 Praying for the person that that has offended 604 00:23:28,427 --> 00:23:28,586 you. 605 00:23:29,776 --> 00:23:31,364 Past or present or future, 606 00:23:32,173 --> 00:23:32,673 is 607 00:23:33,128 --> 00:23:36,231 if you can pray blessings over that person's 608 00:23:36,231 --> 00:23:36,469 life, 609 00:23:37,106 --> 00:23:38,379 you can know you've forgiven them. 610 00:23:39,666 --> 00:23:41,495 If you choose not, I can't pray for 611 00:23:41,495 --> 00:23:43,006 them. You haven't forgiven them. 612 00:23:45,073 --> 00:23:46,266 I can't pray for them. Well, 613 00:23:47,793 --> 00:23:48,113 try. 614 00:23:48,751 --> 00:23:48,990 Start. 615 00:23:50,188 --> 00:23:52,103 Lord prayed for us while we were shouting 616 00:23:52,103 --> 00:23:54,577 cr him, give us B ab, We were 617 00:23:54,577 --> 00:23:55,295 in that crowd, 618 00:23:56,108 --> 00:23:57,066 I was in that crowd. 619 00:23:58,262 --> 00:23:59,858 And he prayed for me and you and 620 00:23:59,858 --> 00:24:01,932 said father for gifts, Scott. He doesn't know 621 00:24:01,932 --> 00:24:02,491 what he's doing. 622 00:24:03,301 --> 00:24:04,810 He did that for us. 623 00:24:06,477 --> 00:24:08,224 And then refused to take revenge. 624 00:24:09,495 --> 00:24:12,454 That's how you forgive. God says Vengeance his 625 00:24:12,454 --> 00:24:12,954 mind 626 00:24:13,570 --> 00:24:16,520 says the Lord. It's his job. Not not 627 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:18,274 ours. We don't get to stand in the 628 00:24:18,274 --> 00:24:19,470 the seed of judgment. 629 00:24:20,678 --> 00:24:22,212 But when we are holding 630 00:24:22,586 --> 00:24:23,063 unforgiveness, 631 00:24:23,778 --> 00:24:25,607 it... We're trying to take revenge on that 632 00:24:25,607 --> 00:24:25,925 person. 633 00:24:26,561 --> 00:24:28,628 We're trying to get even if you will. 634 00:24:29,596 --> 00:24:31,106 And it really all it does is make 635 00:24:31,106 --> 00:24:32,797 us a mess and a wreck 636 00:24:33,330 --> 00:24:34,204 on the inside. 637 00:24:36,269 --> 00:24:37,143 And then thirdly, 638 00:24:38,353 --> 00:24:40,187 refused to bring it up anymore. 639 00:24:40,905 --> 00:24:43,696 Once you've chosen to forgive and and hopefully 640 00:24:43,696 --> 00:24:44,436 there's been 641 00:24:44,893 --> 00:24:47,365 reconciliation. But once you've chosen to forgive, 642 00:24:47,938 --> 00:24:48,815 stop talking about it. 643 00:24:49,771 --> 00:24:51,045 That's not easy for me to do, 644 00:24:51,922 --> 00:24:53,776 because that's when I know. I'm still wrestling 645 00:24:53,833 --> 00:24:54,333 through 646 00:24:55,123 --> 00:24:57,038 what somebody did to me or what hurt 647 00:24:57,038 --> 00:24:58,973 me or or or any given 648 00:24:59,510 --> 00:24:59,670 situation. 649 00:25:01,983 --> 00:25:04,057 How do we know that we've forgiven? 650 00:25:06,623 --> 00:25:07,760 When it no longer 651 00:25:08,137 --> 00:25:09,014 consumes my thoughts. 652 00:25:09,971 --> 00:25:12,521 You've forgiven when it no longer consumes your 653 00:25:12,521 --> 00:25:12,760 thoughts. 654 00:25:13,651 --> 00:25:15,401 I no longer need to talk about it. 655 00:25:16,434 --> 00:25:18,025 And I know this is convict. 656 00:25:18,502 --> 00:25:20,967 I've been dealing with this all week long. 657 00:25:21,619 --> 00:25:23,932 And been very convicted as I go through 658 00:25:23,932 --> 00:25:26,267 this stuff myself. I've been on the 659 00:25:26,724 --> 00:25:27,441 going through it, 660 00:25:28,319 --> 00:25:30,574 myself, and it let it say Lord examine 661 00:25:30,632 --> 00:25:31,371 my heart 662 00:25:32,164 --> 00:25:33,143 Who am I holding 663 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:36,718 something against? I don't wanna do that. I 664 00:25:36,718 --> 00:25:37,676 wanna be like you. 665 00:25:39,608 --> 00:25:41,444 So here's where the rubber meets the road. 666 00:25:44,396 --> 00:25:45,593 Who do I need to forgive? 667 00:25:48,003 --> 00:25:49,622 Who do you need 668 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:50,720 to forgive? 669 00:25:52,637 --> 00:25:54,475 And saw some spouses is elbow in each 670 00:25:54,475 --> 00:25:54,635 other? 671 00:25:55,689 --> 00:25:56,808 Just kidding. I didn't see that. 672 00:25:58,486 --> 00:25:59,945 I think there's 3 tests 673 00:26:00,804 --> 00:26:03,621 on how we know who do we need 674 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:04,320 to forgive. 675 00:26:05,610 --> 00:26:07,918 And the first test is the blame test. 676 00:26:09,350 --> 00:26:11,362 Who do I blame for my circumstances 677 00:26:12,294 --> 00:26:13,169 and unhappiness? 678 00:26:14,458 --> 00:26:16,452 In other words, my life would be so 679 00:26:16,452 --> 00:26:18,845 much better if they hadn't done this to 680 00:26:18,845 --> 00:26:19,085 me. 681 00:26:19,882 --> 00:26:21,477 My life would be so much I'd be 682 00:26:21,477 --> 00:26:24,085 so much more happy if that person hadn't 683 00:26:24,284 --> 00:26:24,683 hurt me. 684 00:26:28,195 --> 00:26:28,993 Who do we blame? 685 00:26:29,951 --> 00:26:31,329 Who's coming to your mind 686 00:26:31,707 --> 00:26:32,186 on that? 687 00:26:34,512 --> 00:26:35,944 Then there's the bitterness test. 688 00:26:37,537 --> 00:26:39,527 And the bitterness test is who am I 689 00:26:39,527 --> 00:26:40,402 keeping score with. 690 00:26:41,610 --> 00:26:42,723 You got your score sheets. 691 00:26:43,438 --> 00:26:44,948 You did this to me. I did that 692 00:26:44,948 --> 00:26:46,379 to you back and forth back and forth 693 00:26:46,379 --> 00:26:46,935 back and forth. 694 00:26:48,778 --> 00:26:51,665 The definition of love in first Corinthians 13 695 00:26:51,881 --> 00:26:54,108 is love keeps no record of wrongs. It 696 00:26:54,108 --> 00:26:55,221 doesn't keep score. 697 00:26:56,907 --> 00:26:57,407 So 698 00:26:57,861 --> 00:27:00,429 in your marriage and your family and your 699 00:27:00,486 --> 00:27:02,020 friendships in this church 700 00:27:02,474 --> 00:27:03,429 at the workplace, 701 00:27:04,639 --> 00:27:06,956 Don't keep score. Just crumble that thing up, 702 00:27:07,196 --> 00:27:08,075 take it to the cross. 703 00:27:10,233 --> 00:27:11,591 And then the behavior test. 704 00:27:13,682 --> 00:27:16,218 Who do I find myself reacting to? 705 00:27:17,486 --> 00:27:17,986 Who 706 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:20,869 sets you off 707 00:27:21,626 --> 00:27:22,126 easiest. 708 00:27:25,128 --> 00:27:27,914 Proverbs says a fool vent is anger, 709 00:27:28,311 --> 00:27:30,381 a wise person rest him. 710 00:27:32,461 --> 00:27:34,788 We rest restrained that anger, and we learn 711 00:27:35,321 --> 00:27:37,942 to forgive and not react to people, but 712 00:27:37,942 --> 00:27:38,577 to respond, 713 00:27:39,148 --> 00:27:40,444 in truth, humility 714 00:27:41,456 --> 00:27:42,172 and in love. 715 00:27:44,718 --> 00:27:46,468 We're taking comm today. 716 00:27:48,473 --> 00:27:49,212 And in 717 00:27:49,749 --> 00:27:51,823 I'm gonna read and after we get the 718 00:27:51,823 --> 00:27:53,498 elements and sing a song, I'm gonna read 719 00:27:53,498 --> 00:27:54,477 a passage 720 00:27:54,934 --> 00:27:57,725 from first Corinthians where the apostle Paul is 721 00:27:57,725 --> 00:28:00,856 in obstructing the church at cor about comm. 722 00:28:01,416 --> 00:28:03,574 And after he talks about what the lord 723 00:28:03,574 --> 00:28:05,252 did on the night of his betrayal in 724 00:28:05,252 --> 00:28:07,111 the upper room with the disciples 725 00:28:08,065 --> 00:28:10,164 Paul says examine yourselves 726 00:28:11,265 --> 00:28:11,924 before you 727 00:28:12,224 --> 00:28:13,684 take comm, examine 728 00:28:13,984 --> 00:28:14,464 your heart. 729 00:28:15,664 --> 00:28:17,204 And I can't think of a better 730 00:28:18,476 --> 00:28:21,586 message to approach the comm table with to 731 00:28:21,586 --> 00:28:22,086 get 732 00:28:22,702 --> 00:28:25,414 transformation from eating the bread and drinking the 733 00:28:25,414 --> 00:28:26,552 cup and remembering 734 00:28:27,183 --> 00:28:28,220 what he's done for us, 735 00:28:30,133 --> 00:28:32,387 that we forgive is we've been 736 00:28:32,844 --> 00:28:33,163 forgiven. 737 00:28:34,039 --> 00:28:34,996 In the Lord's prayer, 738 00:28:35,887 --> 00:28:38,747 Forgive us our debts, forgive us our sins 739 00:28:38,747 --> 00:28:40,892 as we forgive those who have sinned against 740 00:28:40,892 --> 00:28:41,130 us. 741 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,307 I pray through the Lord's prayer on a 742 00:28:44,307 --> 00:28:45,022 weekly basis. 743 00:28:46,550 --> 00:28:48,085 And when I get to that portion 744 00:28:49,099 --> 00:28:51,351 of forgive as... I've been forgiven 745 00:28:53,017 --> 00:28:55,031 Say Lord, we you draw to my mind 746 00:28:55,806 --> 00:28:56,841 anybody that I'm holding, 747 00:28:57,478 --> 00:28:58,116 resentment to? 748 00:28:59,884 --> 00:29:01,720 And if somebody comes into my mind, I 749 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,354 just think Lord, I forgive them. I release 750 00:29:04,354 --> 00:29:04,992 them to you. 751 00:29:05,870 --> 00:29:07,946 It's so cleansing to forgive. 752 00:29:08,599 --> 00:29:09,711 Is so freeing. 753 00:29:11,299 --> 00:29:12,093 We stand with me. 754 00:29:22,861 --> 00:29:24,298 If you would, would you just take a 755 00:29:24,298 --> 00:29:25,655 moment and close your eyes with me? 756 00:29:30,132 --> 00:29:31,429 And just asked the Lord 757 00:29:33,319 --> 00:29:34,456 to bring to mind 758 00:29:35,961 --> 00:29:37,175 anyone that you are 759 00:29:38,499 --> 00:29:40,427 holding some resentment towards 760 00:29:40,799 --> 00:29:41,299 unforgiveness 761 00:29:41,672 --> 00:29:42,703 that you're bitter with. 762 00:29:50,309 --> 00:29:51,269 And if that happens, 763 00:29:54,468 --> 00:29:55,502 Release them to the Lord. 764 00:29:57,251 --> 00:29:57,966 Just say father, 765 00:29:58,761 --> 00:30:00,511 I forgive them as you forgave me. 766 00:30:09,141 --> 00:30:10,887 Father do you work in our hearts this 767 00:30:10,887 --> 00:30:11,284 morning. 768 00:30:13,269 --> 00:30:14,698 We wanna reflect your son. 769 00:30:26,198 --> 00:30:27,793 Maybe whoever came to your mind, 770 00:30:30,106 --> 00:30:31,940 you could be in a difficult marriage right 771 00:30:31,940 --> 00:30:33,557 now. Me having difficulty. 772 00:30:33,949 --> 00:30:35,726 It could be a person, some 773 00:30:36,184 --> 00:30:37,221 coworker. I don't know. 774 00:30:38,259 --> 00:30:38,759 But 775 00:30:40,015 --> 00:30:41,771 I find this to be super helpful. 776 00:30:44,012 --> 00:30:44,512 Picture 777 00:30:44,885 --> 00:30:45,702 that person 778 00:30:46,393 --> 00:30:47,186 as a little kid, 779 00:30:48,139 --> 00:30:49,409 maybe even a little toddler. 780 00:30:51,174 --> 00:30:53,962 Spouses I encourage you to get a picture 781 00:30:53,962 --> 00:30:55,715 of your spouse when they were a little 782 00:30:55,715 --> 00:30:56,591 boy or a little girl. 783 00:30:57,643 --> 00:30:59,637 And when you get really ticked off, 784 00:31:00,594 --> 00:31:01,711 pull out that little picture. 785 00:31:02,747 --> 00:31:04,582 And you see that person who had hopes 786 00:31:04,582 --> 00:31:06,916 and dreams of how life was gonna go 787 00:31:07,546 --> 00:31:08,182 go for them, 788 00:31:09,057 --> 00:31:09,557 and 789 00:31:10,011 --> 00:31:12,157 it melts your heart because we have a 790 00:31:12,157 --> 00:31:14,462 tendency to be way more forgiving to little 791 00:31:14,462 --> 00:31:15,655 ones than we do adults. 792 00:31:19,249 --> 00:31:20,760 Because I think we think they should know 793 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:21,794 better or whatever. 794 00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:26,276 But we're gonna forgive as we have been 795 00:31:26,276 --> 00:31:28,913 forgiven. The comm table is called the table 796 00:31:28,913 --> 00:31:29,413 of 797 00:31:29,952 --> 00:31:30,191 reconciliation. 798 00:31:32,759 --> 00:31:33,498 Where Jesus 799 00:31:35,226 --> 00:31:37,555 wrote bread and drank the cup 800 00:31:38,090 --> 00:31:38,828 with his 801 00:31:39,617 --> 00:31:41,769 his disciples, and he said do this and 802 00:31:41,769 --> 00:31:43,703 remembrance of me and it's been a sacred 803 00:31:44,877 --> 00:31:45,377 practice 804 00:31:45,833 --> 00:31:46,732 of the church 805 00:31:47,125 --> 00:31:47,684 ever since. 806 00:31:48,804 --> 00:31:50,085 And as we do that today, 807 00:31:51,125 --> 00:31:53,224 let's do that with with fresh 808 00:31:53,684 --> 00:31:54,005 hearts, 809 00:31:54,898 --> 00:31:57,681 that have been cleansed and and and pull 810 00:31:57,681 --> 00:31:58,578 off the toxicity 811 00:31:59,429 --> 00:32:02,076 of bitterness and unforgiveness in a 812 00:32:02,768 --> 00:32:03,268 commitment 813 00:32:04,932 --> 00:32:06,766 to be in people who forgive 1 another 814 00:32:06,766 --> 00:32:06,925 well. 815 00:32:08,121 --> 00:32:10,353 We're gonna take the come up and get 816 00:32:10,353 --> 00:32:11,092 the elements 817 00:32:11,947 --> 00:32:12,266 individually, 818 00:32:13,953 --> 00:32:16,341 you got 2 tables up here. There's tables 819 00:32:16,341 --> 00:32:16,898 in the back. 820 00:32:17,693 --> 00:32:19,603 Come and get the bread in the cup 821 00:32:19,603 --> 00:32:21,115 and take it back to your seat. We're 822 00:32:21,115 --> 00:32:23,363 gonna sing a song and we'll take the 823 00:32:23,363 --> 00:32:24,882 elements together as a family. 824 00:33:21,196 --> 00:33:22,253 That are 825 00:33:54,528 --> 00:33:55,028 free. 826 00:33:56,439 --> 00:33:57,416 My god. 827 00:34:15,725 --> 00:34:16,225 Amazing 828 00:34:33,498 --> 00:34:34,556 Past promise. 829 00:34:35,982 --> 00:34:36,482 Good 830 00:34:39,164 --> 00:34:39,664 Here's 831 00:34:41,072 --> 00:34:42,130 my whole 832 00:34:43,236 --> 00:34:43,736 secure 833 00:35:02,122 --> 00:35:02,622 are 834 00:35:08,742 --> 00:35:09,675 my god 835 00:35:27,981 --> 00:35:28,481 amazing. 836 00:36:22,192 --> 00:36:22,692 Make 837 00:36:24,025 --> 00:36:24,525 be 838 00:36:26,414 --> 00:36:26,914 be 839 00:36:28,326 --> 00:36:28,826 wherever 840 00:36:30,715 --> 00:36:30,929 my 841 00:36:51,097 --> 00:36:51,996 As we were 842 00:36:52,775 --> 00:36:53,275 getting 843 00:36:53,734 --> 00:36:55,731 the elements and in sing that song, 844 00:36:56,530 --> 00:36:57,224 I remember 845 00:36:57,981 --> 00:37:00,133 when I first was a believer, the age 846 00:37:00,133 --> 00:37:01,089 of 25. 847 00:37:02,045 --> 00:37:04,834 I had gone and spent a pretty good 848 00:37:04,834 --> 00:37:07,119 chunk of change on a brand new 12 849 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:07,953 string guitar. 850 00:37:09,222 --> 00:37:09,722 And 851 00:37:10,174 --> 00:37:12,737 I left the guitar in its case 852 00:37:13,189 --> 00:37:15,331 in the back seat of my car. 853 00:37:16,065 --> 00:37:17,424 We had a little... I lived in this 854 00:37:17,424 --> 00:37:18,625 little studio apartment. 855 00:37:19,424 --> 00:37:21,684 And I came out in the morning 856 00:37:22,065 --> 00:37:22,565 and 857 00:37:23,518 --> 00:37:25,500 Somebody had smashed out the window, 858 00:37:26,054 --> 00:37:27,956 stole my brand new 12 string guitar. 859 00:37:29,383 --> 00:37:30,097 I was ticked. 860 00:37:31,064 --> 00:37:33,137 And I said all kinds of bad things 861 00:37:33,137 --> 00:37:33,796 and deputy 862 00:37:35,289 --> 00:37:37,202 And the Lord was like, how much did 863 00:37:37,282 --> 00:37:38,398 I forgive you? Like, 864 00:37:40,483 --> 00:37:43,584 You forgave everything, Lord. And I forgave the 865 00:37:43,584 --> 00:37:45,731 person who stole and hope they became a 866 00:37:45,731 --> 00:37:46,606 really good guitar player. 867 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:49,071 Tried to pray a blessing over them. 868 00:37:52,516 --> 00:37:53,654 You apostle Paul 869 00:37:54,191 --> 00:37:56,026 says for I received from the lord, 870 00:37:56,839 --> 00:37:59,073 that which I also delivered to you that 871 00:37:59,073 --> 00:38:01,227 the Lord Jesus in the night in which 872 00:38:01,227 --> 00:38:02,185 he was betrayed, 873 00:38:03,142 --> 00:38:03,860 he took bread. 874 00:38:04,675 --> 00:38:06,515 And when he had given thanks, 875 00:38:07,075 --> 00:38:08,994 he broke it. And he said this is 876 00:38:08,994 --> 00:38:09,635 my body, 877 00:38:10,275 --> 00:38:13,075 which is for you. Do this and remembrance 878 00:38:13,075 --> 00:38:14,529 of me. Let's take the bread. 879 00:38:29,243 --> 00:38:31,558 In the same way, he took the cup 880 00:38:31,558 --> 00:38:32,915 also after supper. 881 00:38:34,204 --> 00:38:36,455 Saying this cup is the new 882 00:38:36,910 --> 00:38:37,410 covenant 883 00:38:38,183 --> 00:38:38,900 in my blood. 884 00:38:41,304 --> 00:38:44,045 Do this as often as you drink it 885 00:38:44,824 --> 00:38:45,944 and remembrance of me. 886 00:38:46,824 --> 00:38:48,905 For as often as you eat this bread 887 00:38:48,905 --> 00:38:49,864 and drink the cup, 888 00:38:50,679 --> 00:38:52,534 you pro the Lord's death 889 00:38:52,911 --> 00:38:53,630 until he comes. 890 00:38:55,783 --> 00:38:57,378 Lord, thank you for the cup of the 891 00:38:57,378 --> 00:38:57,936 new covenant. 892 00:39:02,182 --> 00:39:03,381 Life and the spirit, 893 00:39:04,820 --> 00:39:06,758 life and your love, life and your 894 00:39:07,137 --> 00:39:07,776 and goodness, 895 00:39:08,576 --> 00:39:09,315 your faithfulness. 896 00:39:10,503 --> 00:39:12,090 As we take the cup of the new 897 00:39:12,090 --> 00:39:12,487 covenant, 898 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:14,495 transform us 899 00:39:15,265 --> 00:39:16,241 in our minds 900 00:39:16,773 --> 00:39:18,043 and thought word indeed, 901 00:39:18,614 --> 00:39:19,811 to be like You, Jesus. 902 00:39:20,450 --> 00:39:21,248 Let's take the come. 903 00:39:33,214 --> 00:39:35,061 Now, may the god of all grace, 904 00:39:37,532 --> 00:39:38,888 may the God of peace, 905 00:39:40,642 --> 00:39:41,838 the god of joy, 906 00:39:43,366 --> 00:39:45,511 the God and father of our lord Jesus 907 00:39:45,670 --> 00:39:46,068 Christ, 908 00:39:47,815 --> 00:39:49,881 in comm with the holy spirit. 909 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:54,687 Bless you rich ritual and abundantly. 910 00:39:56,253 --> 00:39:58,399 By opening your mind and your heart to 911 00:39:58,399 --> 00:40:01,118 who you are in Jesus Christ. And because 912 00:40:01,118 --> 00:40:02,155 of Jesus Christ. 913 00:40:03,670 --> 00:40:06,063 And because of him, you can forgive the 914 00:40:06,063 --> 00:40:06,462 unforgivable, 915 00:40:08,376 --> 00:40:09,652 past present and future. 916 00:40:11,264 --> 00:40:12,625 You can forgive betrayal. 917 00:40:14,224 --> 00:40:17,025 You can forgive petty things, big things. 918 00:40:20,228 --> 00:40:22,478 May we together as the church 919 00:40:24,205 --> 00:40:25,182 demonstrate to 920 00:40:25,813 --> 00:40:28,389 unforgiving world what forgiving 1 another 921 00:40:29,406 --> 00:40:29,965 looks like. 922 00:40:31,402 --> 00:40:34,276 And our marriages, our families, our schools, 923 00:40:36,126 --> 00:40:36,924 our workplace. 924 00:40:39,876 --> 00:40:40,275 And may, 925 00:40:41,313 --> 00:40:44,907 we as individuals corporate together grow in our 926 00:40:44,907 --> 00:40:45,804 disciples ship 927 00:40:46,177 --> 00:40:48,559 to you, Lord Jesus to put into practice, 928 00:40:49,592 --> 00:40:51,838 how you've instructed us to live 929 00:40:52,148 --> 00:40:53,125 in the power 930 00:40:53,897 --> 00:40:55,090 of your holy spirit. 931 00:40:56,203 --> 00:40:58,429 We agree with you today, Lord Jesus that 932 00:40:58,429 --> 00:40:59,406 you are savior 933 00:41:00,099 --> 00:41:01,053 and that you are Lord. 934 00:41:02,585 --> 00:41:03,545 And everybody said, 935 00:41:04,425 --> 00:41:05,464 amen, amen.