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-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --

Make allowance (bear with) for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 NLT

Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude. MLK

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22 NLT

The Stronghold of Unforgiveness!

Resentment - Anger - Bitterness - Guilt - Shame - Isolation

Judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 CSB

Unforgiveness is like being locked in a prison cell, holding the key in your hand but refusing to use it. You’re intention may be to punish the one who wronged you, but you’re the one locked up.

Summarize Matt 18: 23-31 - You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. Matthew 18:32-34 ESV

To choose unforgiveness is to build, brick by brick, the walls of your own spiritual and emotional prison.

So what do we do about it? - - 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. Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

Forgiveness isn’t explaining away the hurt, it’s working through the hurt with Jesus.

Forgiveness isn’t stuffing your anger, but rather resolving your anger by releasing the offense to God.

Forgiveness ins’t excusing a wrong, but letting God execute justice and mercy according to His will and wisdom.

Even the unforgettable isn’t unforgivable.

Forgiveness isn’t reconciliation and doesn’t require an apology.

Forgiveness isn’t a feeling but rather a grace empowered choice and act of the will.

Forgiveness Isn’t an option!

1) Forgiveness is you forgiving yourself and receiving the forgiveness Christ has given you. - Guilt and Shame!?

The unforgiven are generally also very unforgiving!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 ESV

Repentance is a God graced prerequisite to forgiveness and forgiving yourself.

A consistently self-condemning attitude will keep you incarcerated in the prison of unforgiveness.

Stop - 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. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 NLT

Self-condemnation is doubt in disguise.

2) Forgiveness is you giving what you’ve been given

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 NLT

There is connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. Matthew 6:14-15 MSG

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. C. S. Lewis

3) Forgiveness is trusting Jesus to bring your healing, restoration and redemption.

The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 ESV

Choosing forgiveness is how you let Jesus cleanse and heal any wound.

Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now, life for many people. Genesis 50:20 MSG

Forgiving others is an act of gratitude and trust and the only right response to the merciful Messiah who has so graciously completely forgiven us.

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