Agents of Reconciliation: Embracing Healing and Forgiveness

 

Summary

In our journey through the "Mission Possible" series, we have explored the core mission of Victory Christian Fellowship: to bring healing to broken hearts, restore relationships and families, and reconcile people to God. Each church has a unique purpose, and ours is to be a beacon of healing and reconciliation in Hamilton, Texas. We are called to emulate Jesus, who performed miracles not as God, but as a man filled with the Holy Spirit, setting an example for us to follow. Our mission is not just to exist but to actively build the Kingdom of God using our diverse skills and talents.

Today, we focus on the ultimate goal: reconciling people to God. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. This involves helping others understand that their debts, their sins, have been paid by the blood of Jesus. Just as I reconcile bank accounts, ensuring every transaction is accounted for, we must help others reconcile their lives with God, applying the grace and forgiveness offered through Christ.

Reconciliation is not just a spiritual concept but a practical one. In relationships, we should aim to make more deposits than withdrawals, building trust and goodwill. This principle extends to our relationship with God, where we help others understand that their spiritual debts have been cleared by Jesus' sacrifice. Forgiveness plays a crucial role in this process. Holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. Instead, we are called to forgive, releasing both ourselves and others from the burden of past wrongs.

Our mission is to be agents of reconciliation, helping others find peace with God and within themselves. This requires us to continually forgive and bless those who have wronged us, understanding that everyone acts from their own experiences and hurts. By transforming our minds and aligning our thoughts with God's Word, we can break free from cycles of dysfunction and live a life of contentment and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

1. Purpose and Mission: Every church has a unique mission, and ours is to bring healing, restoration, and reconciliation. We are called to emulate Jesus, who performed miracles as a man filled with the Holy Spirit, setting an example for us to follow. Our mission is to actively build the Kingdom of God using our diverse skills and talents. [06:13]

2. Reconciliation with God: God has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation, helping others understand that their spiritual debts have been cleared by Jesus' sacrifice. Just as we reconcile bank accounts, ensuring every transaction is accounted for, we must help others reconcile their lives with God, applying the grace and forgiveness offered through Christ. [12:57]

3. Forgiveness and Freedom: Holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. We are called to forgive, releasing both ourselves and others from the burden of past wrongs. Forgiveness is a continual process, requiring us to bless those who have wronged us and understand that everyone acts from their own experiences and hurts. [23:25]

4. Transformation and Contentment: By transforming our minds and aligning our thoughts with God's Word, we can break free from cycles of dysfunction and live a life of contentment and purpose. Dysfunction can be comfortable, but we are called to step out of familiar patterns and embrace the abundant life God offers. [36:24]

5. Embracing Challenges: Sometimes, the areas that cause us the most stress are where God wants to use us the most. We must learn to be content where we are, knowing that God has something greater planned for us. By pouring ourselves into our current situation, we gain new skills and prepare for the next step in God's plan. [49:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:13] - Understanding Our Mission
- [12:57] - The Ministry of Reconciliation
- [16:17] - Forgiveness and Its Power
- [20:18] - Jesus' Example of Forgiveness
- [23:25] - Personal Story of Unforgiveness
- [27:04] - The Burden of Unforgiveness
- [30:08] - Practicing Forgiveness
- [33:05] - Transforming Our Minds
- [36:24] - Finding Contentment
- [39:09] - Embracing Challenges
- [43:27] - Personal Testimony
- [49:22] - God's Timing and Promotion
- [52:06] - Learning from Experience
- [55:44] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Mission Possible

Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
- Romans 5:6-11
- John 20:21-23

---

Observation Questions:

1. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, what has God entrusted to us, and how does this relate to our mission as a church? [12:57]

2. In the sermon, the pastor used a banking analogy to explain reconciliation. What does this analogy illustrate about our relationship with God and others? [06:13]

3. How does the story of the paralyzed man in John 20:21-23 demonstrate the power of forgiveness and reconciliation? [20:18]

4. What role does forgiveness play in the process of reconciliation, as described in the sermon? [23:25]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding that Jesus performed miracles as a man filled with the Holy Spirit impact our view of our own potential to fulfill our mission? [06:13]

2. What does it mean to have the "ministry of reconciliation," and how can this be practically applied in our daily lives? [12:57]

3. The pastor mentioned that holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison. How does this metaphor help us understand the effects of unforgiveness on our spiritual and emotional well-being? [23:25]

4. How can transforming our minds and aligning our thoughts with God's Word help us break free from cycles of dysfunction? [33:05]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal mission. How can you use your unique skills and talents to contribute to the mission of reconciliation in your community? [06:13]

2. Think of a relationship in your life where you need to make more deposits than withdrawals. What specific actions can you take this week to build trust and goodwill in that relationship? [06:13]

3. Is there someone you need to forgive to release yourself from the burden of past wrongs? What steps can you take to begin the process of forgiveness and reconciliation? [23:25]

4. Identify a situation in your life where you feel discontent. How can you find contentment and purpose by aligning your thoughts with God's Word? [36:24]

5. The pastor mentioned that sometimes the areas causing us the most stress are where God wants to use us the most. Can you identify an area in your life where this might be true? How can you embrace this challenge? [39:09]

6. How can you actively participate in the ministry of reconciliation within your church or community? What specific actions can you take to help others understand that their spiritual debts have been cleared by Jesus' sacrifice? [12:57]

7. Consider a time when you felt like you were in a setback. How can you view this experience as a preparation for future opportunities and growth? [49:22]

Devotional

Day 1: Emulating Jesus in Our Mission
Our mission as a church is to bring healing, restoration, and reconciliation, emulating Jesus who performed miracles as a man filled with the Holy Spirit. This mission is not passive; it requires active participation in building the Kingdom of God using our diverse skills and talents. Each church has a unique purpose, and for Victory Christian Fellowship, it is to be a beacon of healing and reconciliation in Hamilton, Texas. By following Jesus' example, we can perform acts of love and service that reflect His heart for humanity. [06:13]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific skills or talents do you have that can be used to actively build the Kingdom of God in your community today?


Day 2: The Ministry of Reconciliation
God has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation, a profound responsibility to help others understand that their spiritual debts have been cleared by Jesus' sacrifice. Just as one reconciles bank accounts, ensuring every transaction is accounted for, we must help others reconcile their lives with God, applying the grace and forgiveness offered through Christ. This involves communicating the message that through Jesus, all sins are forgiven, and a new relationship with God is possible. [12:57]

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the reconciliation available through Christ, and how can you share this message with them today?


Day 3: The Power of Forgiveness
Holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. We are called to forgive, releasing both ourselves and others from the burden of past wrongs. Forgiveness is a continual process, requiring us to bless those who have wronged us and understand that everyone acts from their own experiences and hurts. By forgiving, we free ourselves from the chains of bitterness and open the door to healing and peace. [23:25]

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone you need to forgive. What steps can you take today to begin the process of forgiveness and release the burden of past wrongs?


Day 4: Transforming Our Minds
By transforming our minds and aligning our thoughts with God's Word, we can break free from cycles of dysfunction and live a life of contentment and purpose. Dysfunction can be comfortable, but we are called to step out of familiar patterns and embrace the abundant life God offers. This transformation requires a conscious effort to renew our minds daily, allowing God's truth to shape our thoughts and actions. [36:24]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What negative thought patterns do you need to transform today, and how can you align your thoughts with God's Word to live a life of purpose?


Day 5: Embracing Challenges
Sometimes, the areas that cause us the most stress are where God wants to use us the most. We must learn to be content where we are, knowing that God has something greater planned for us. By pouring ourselves into our current situation, we gain new skills and prepare for the next step in God's plan. Embracing challenges with faith and perseverance allows us to grow and be ready for the opportunities God has in store. [49:22]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What current challenge are you facing that God might be using to prepare you for something greater? How can you embrace this challenge with faith and perseverance today?

Quotes

"So we're in, we're finishing our series today called Mission Possible, and this is because this series is our mission statement for the church, for Victory Christian Fellowship. It's our mission statement, and what the mission statement is is what we are about, and so a lot of times we can go to church, and we can enjoy being with each other, and that's great. We enjoy eating together and all this kind of stuff, but we need to know what we're here for because every church, every church was placed in this city for a specific purpose. Not every church does everything because you have different congregations, different people, different culture sets put together, and so we have a duty. So Victory Christian Fellowship is a family in the body of Christ that has been placed in Hamilton, Texas to bring healing to broken hearts and lives, bring restoration to relationships and families, and reconciling people to God, okay? That's our mission statement. So if you want to know what this church is about, that's what it's all about, okay?" [00:00:24] (69 seconds)


"I don't mean to blow your mind, but you can do what Jesus did. Jesus did nothing on this earth exclusively as God. He did everything as a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He is our example. That's why we are being transformed into his image daily. We're transformed by the renewing of our mind. We are to be transformed to be like him because we have a mission on this earth. We're not here just to suck air, okay? We're here because we have a purpose. All of us have purposes. We all have individual purposes because we all have different skill sets. We have different talents. We have different things. So we can all do that, but we also have a mission to build the kingdom of God." [00:01:56] (45 seconds)


"Two weeks ago, we talked about that we're bringing healing, healing to broken hearts and lives. And we talked about broken hearts aren't just people that are brokenhearted because of relationships, but they're brokenhearted because they've lost jobs. Loss is always involved with a broken heart. And so we are to bring healing to those broken hearts and lives. Last week, we talked about restoration to relationships and families. We are to help bring restoration. That's our job here. And God has caused us to be a body of Christ that has certain gifts that are attracted to this body. And we did the study on the motivational gifts. And by and large, the largest percentage of people, their larger gifts are serving and helping, you know, that sort of thing. Mercy's up there big. There's a couple of us that have leadership at the front, and we're the bossy ones. And so you'll, you know that. But there's a lot of you, this congregation has a lot of people that are, that are helpers, that are serving, love serving people and helping people. So that's why he has chosen this for this body. So this week, we're going to wrap up. And the ultimate thing that we are here to do is reconcile people to God." [00:02:53] (83 seconds)


"All these two things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ. And listen to this. He reconciled us to himself, that's God, through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them. And he has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Paul uses the word reconcile, reconciliation, a jillion times right there in those two verses. And God has given us, and he said that in the first, in chapter, verse 18, he said, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. That's what we are to do. We are to reconcile because Jesus reconciled, God reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ. Okay?" [00:04:30] (60 seconds)


"So what I do, and those of you that have balanced a checkbook, which you should balance your checkbook, that's just a practice, because you need to know where you are, is I have to print off the bank statement, and I look at the beginning balance, and I make sure that the system's beginning balance is the same. All right? And then I look at the ending balance from the statement and make sure that the ending balance on the system, I enter the ending balance. All right? So then there are credits and debits all throughout that month that I have to go through and I have to verify. So what I'm doing is I am taking and I am making sure that we have recorded everything in our system that actually transpired in the bank. So that's why I have the statement. So I'll go through and I'll go through all the credits, all the deposits and things like that, and I'll check them off. And then I use QuickBooks, and so you can do just a check. So I go through and I check all the credits, make sure those are all there. Then I'll go through and all the debits. So all the money that we spent, I have to go through and make sure those are there and check them off individually. So when I get to the end, there should be zero difference. There should be no discrepancies. However, that doesn't happen every month because some of us forget to enter a transaction. Ain't nobody calling nobody's names, but my lovely assistant helps me." [00:06:13] (89 seconds)


"So we have so many debits because we have sinned against God, because we have done so many things, and there is provision to bring all those negatives back to zero, to bring it back to balance, to pay all those debts. And what paid all that? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. That debt was paid. Now, what we have to do is help people to apply that blood to their credit, to all the debits, all the things in their life. We have to help them. We have been given the ministry of reconciling people with God. We have been given that ministry, okay? This is what it said, and I'll give you some proof here in a minute, and it may blow your ever -loving mind, but stick with me. Go with me to Romans chapter 5, Romans chapter 5, and I'm going to tell you something. I struggled with this message. I struggled putting this thing together. It just didn't seem to happen, and I got what I got. So if I get done sooner than later, okay, but here's what we got. Romans chapter 5 says, For while we were still helpless, this is the New American Standard Version, while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Now, can you imagine, do you understand, Jesus did it at the perfect time?" [00:10:32] (83 seconds)


"Another scripture says, while we were at enmity, when we were enemies with Him, He died for us. Much more than having now been justified by His blood. The word justified, think about this, is just as if I'd never done it. So He made it just as if I'd never. We shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. People talk about God's wrath being poured out on people. Don't worry about God's wrath. Jesus took God's wrath on Him for us. Don't let religious people say, well, God's pouring out His wrath. They're always saying God's pouring out His wrath on California. That's just because Christians love to blast California. I'm here to tell you, God's not pouring His wrath out on people. They just are suffering the consequences of their decisions. That's just, there's always consequences to decisions, good or bad. So don't let doomsday prophets get to you and say, oh, the wrath of God is going to be poured out. The wrath of God has been satisfied. The wrath of God has been satisfied through Jesus." [00:13:09] (67 seconds)


"So, verse 10, for if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. That's a little spoiler for two weeks. We're going to be saved by His life. We were freed from sin by His death, but we are saved by His life because He's alive. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. We have received it. In other words, all the debits that we have in our life, He brought them back to balance. He paid all those debts, and we are now at zero. Amen? But the problem is, not the problem, I don't mean problem. Really, the good thing is, is we don't stay at zero because we can actually go into the positive. We can go into the positive. Amen? All right." [00:14:57] (70 seconds)


"Because he made that statement, he made the statement, he was in this house, Jesus was in this house, and it was packed with people. And he was teaching. There was people everywhere, stacked on everything. And he was in the middle of this house, and four dudes carrying their friend on a mat who was paralyzed, couldn't walk. Four of his friends were carrying him and wanted to get him into Jesus so he could pray for him and heal him. He wanted to heal him. They couldn't get in. What did they do? They climbed on the roof and start tearing the roof up. You know, tear the roof off, lift the roof off, you know, that kind of stuff. They tore the roof off. They, because it was just, you know, this thatched roof and stuff like that. And I can imagine Jesus sitting there talking, and all of a sudden, straw and stuff starts falling in front of him. It's like, y 'all see this? And they opened a hole in the roof and lowered him down in front of Jesus. And he said, he said, son, your sins are forgiven you. Did he come to get saved? No, he came to get healed. He said, your sins are forgiven you. And the religious people said, oh, no, he didn't. He came for, only God can forgive sins. I know some of y 'all have said that a while ago when I just said you can forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins. No, no, no. Jesus said, is it easier for me to say your sins be forgiven or get up and walk? Well, so that you know that the Son of Man has authority to do that stuff, get up and take up your bed and walk. And he got up and he was healed. And so Jesus just told his disciples that they can do that." [00:20:37] (105 seconds)


"So if you forgive someone of a sin that they have committed against you, they are forgiven. You can hold that against them. You can hold that. It's like, and I forget who the originator of, but unforgiveness is like drinking poison expecting them to die. When you hold unforgiveness in their heart, they're unforgiven in your heart. And you hold the weight of that unforgiveness. You hold the weight of that sin in you. And so you can either carry that all of your life, and I can tell you I've seen it firsthand what happens to someone that does that. My grandmother, my mother's mother. She was a loving woman, but she had a hard time getting it out. She had a hard time explaining and expressing that. So she and my grandfather divorced, and my grandfather didn't have a place to go. He was an alcoholic, and he was a truck driver, and by that time he had kind of gotten himself to a place where he didn't have a place to go. So my mom's youngest, my mom's twin sister took him in, and her mother disowned her for taking him in. And so I went through all of my life being the only, my mom and her baby brother being the only ones that could have anything to do with my grandmother. Now, I was the first grandkid on that side, so I reaped the benefits of that, okay? She bought my senior ring. She did, I mean, she did everything for me. But she could not forgive my aunt and the other, the younger aunt, because they were taking care of their dad. So she disowned them." [00:22:27] (127 seconds)


"That unforgiveness ate her up. Now, there's a good ending to that story. My mom, though she always, my mom was still one that she could associate with. She always treated my mom like she was four. And when my grandmother got ready, was passing away, she was in the hospital, and my mom was in her 50s, and my grandmother's still talking to her like she's four. You know, she never allowed my mom in the kitchen until it's time to wash dishes. So my mom didn't know how to cook. So my dad's mother had to teach her how to cook. I thank Jesus, because Mama Hooper knew how to cook up in here. But she didn't have a loving family. All they knew how to do was yell at each other. That's the only way they could relate with each other is yell. And so my uncle, her younger brother, that's how he raised his family. And that's kind of how it was perpetuated. But she was on her in the hospital, and she was, you know, we didn't know how long it would be before she died. And my mother always, she's always been the go -between. She's always been the go -between. And so she asked my grandmother, she said, would you like to see Carlene and May? That's her, Carlene's her twin sister, and May is their younger sister. And she said, yes, I would. So we had all of the family, all of the family come into her hospital room, and they reconciled. And they hugged, and they cried, and all this kind of stuff. It was great. And then, this is the cool part. My mother led her mother to the Lord, and she got saved. And two weeks later, she passed away. So there's redemption. But see, I know firsthand what it's like for somebody to live with unforgiveness in their heart." [00:25:11] (118 seconds)


"Sometimes God disguises his promotions with setbacks. He's counterintuitive that way. He's God. He knows what he's doing. I would think, oh, okay, we're going from glory to glory. Okay, it's all going to get gooder and gooder and gooder. Oh, I hate this song from, I forget what the name of the band is, back in the 60s. Oh, child, things are going to get better. Oh, child, things are going to... It's like, no, you're lying. Y 'all lying to people? They were 60s children. They didn't know any better. They probably wiped out on something. Oh, things are going to get better. Well, things can get better, but things sometimes look like they're worse before they get better. And I love this is because I think it's God wanting us to get a running start at something. Listen, you can go back, and Sharon and I have talked about this before and said, listen, she said, we can't start over at our age. I said, we're never starting over because we've got a lifetime of experience at our disposal that we didn't have when we first started. We've got an understanding of things that we didn't have when we... So you never start over. You start at another place. You start at a place of, this is where I'm going from. So we can't get frustrated with where we are. We just know that God has something for us, something better for us. Yes, there's discontentment. Yes, do things get on your nerves when you're... I shouldn't even be here. I don't want to be here. This is not where I want to be. But what we have to do is we have to say, God, I know you have something better planned for me, and I'm going to pursue it with all my heart, but I'm going to do what I can while I'm here. I'm going to... And that's what I've always done. Every time I've gone anywhere, I've gone all in with everything." [00:48:43] (106 seconds)


Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 06, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?