Embracing Freedom Through Forgiveness and Healing

"We determined last week that as Jesus followers, sons and daughters of God, that we aren't designed nor were we created to carry offense. Did you hear what I said? We weren't created to carry offense. But somehow or another, many of us as believers carry offense. We've been offended. We've been hurt. We've been lied to. Mistreated. Talked about." [00:01:03] (47 seconds)


"Some of us have been traumatized in the educational system by teachers and words pronounced over us. We'll be right back, calling us stupid, telling us that we would never amount to anything. Some of us have been traumatized in our own families. Sarcasm has traumatized many in our families. Am I alone in this?" [00:02:10] (32 seconds)


"And if you can remember, and we were in, let's see, Matthew chapter 18. Matthew chapter 18. If you remember, again, Jesus, before he had this discussion with Peter, he had just been talking to the disciples about what to do if somebody offends you. What to do if somebody sins against you? What to do if there is some level of offense that you are carrying involving another person?" [00:04:41] (43 seconds)


"He was real clear. I believe when you read the scripture, it's pretty clear. He says, if there's a problem, go to that individual and y 'all work it out. Right? If for some reason you can't work it out, in that circle of influence, bring another person with you to talk to that brother or that sister. Right? And then between the three of you, you all work it out." [00:05:25] (33 seconds)


"Every opportunity Jesus got, he was trying to show us what the kingdom of heaven looks like. Why was he interested in showing us what the kingdom of heaven looked like? Because he understood that he was talking to citizens of that kingdom. And if I'm, and you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, then we should have an interest in what our homeland is like." [00:10:59] (29 seconds)


"The story is of a servant who owes an extraordinary amount of debt. In modern time, it's about six million dollars. And he knows he's in for it. So he goes to the master and he begs his forgiveness. Now, the master is prepared to send him to prison. The Bible says, and you can read it right there. Him, his wife, his children and everything you have prison until I'm paid." [00:14:45] (42 seconds)


"Anger that comes and goes is part of our normal emotional alert system. Something's wrong, something's wrong. But it comes and it goes. It does what it's supposed to do, right? It creates the fight and flight inside of us. And then we respond accordingly. But anger that persists is an unclean spirit. And it's there to do harm." [00:24:19] (27 seconds)


"That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. That word wiles is the same word that Paul was using. It's the word methodias. That word wiles means devices. Schemes. Gadgets. Or apparatus. Let me tell you, brothers and sisters. That when the devil is out to take advantage of you. When he sees you carrying offense and unforgiveness." [00:32:29] (39 seconds)


"We've already established that when he gets in, he launches his schemes, his strategies, his plans, his apparatus, his gadgets. Oh, to short circuit us as sons and daughters, to render us ineffective. We learned that last week. To sever your intimacy with the Father. Oh, you won't lose your salvation. You'll just lose your intimacy." [00:35:55] (29 seconds)


"Seeds of anger turn into bitterness. The Bible says that bitterness has roots. Do your own word study. Research for yourself. I don't have time to go there. Bitterness has roots. That are poisonous. Let's go back. Lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble. And by this many become defiled. So now, the roots of bitterness that were born out of the seeds of anger." [00:37:01] (43 seconds)