Embracing the Command of Forgiveness in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Forgiveness is a Divine Command

Forgiveness is a command from God, not an option. The Bible is clear that forgiveness is not something we need to pray about whether to do; it is a direct command from God. However, we do need to pray for the strength and guidance to forgive. This distinction is crucial because it shifts the focus from questioning whether to forgive to seeking God's help in the process of forgiveness.

When we understand that forgiveness is a command, it changes our approach. We no longer see it as a choice based on our feelings or the actions of others but as an act of obedience to God. This perspective helps us to rely on God's strength rather than our own, recognizing that forgiveness is a reflection of His character and His work in our lives. [03:12]

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

Reflection: Think of a situation where you have struggled to forgive someone. How can you shift your perspective to see forgiveness as an act of obedience to God rather than a personal choice?

Day 2: The Danger of Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness starts with an offense and can escalate to anger, wrath, and ultimately bitterness. Each stage hardens our hearts and distances us from God's presence. Recognizing this progression helps us to intervene early, addressing offenses and anger before they calcify into bitterness.

Understanding the progression of unforgiveness is crucial for spiritual health. It begins with a small offense that, if not dealt with, can grow into anger and wrath. Over time, these feelings can turn into a deep-seated bitterness that affects our relationship with God and others. By recognizing this pattern, we can take steps to address our feelings early on, seeking God's help to forgive and let go of offenses. [06:46]

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV): "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

Reflection: Reflect on any lingering anger or bitterness in your heart. What steps can you take today to address these feelings and seek God's help in forgiving?

Day 3: Forgiveness as Debt Cancellation

Forgiveness is not about forgetting or reconciling but about canceling a debt that can never be repaid. This concept, rooted in financial terminology, emphasizes that forgiveness is a choice to release someone from the obligation to make amends for their wrongs. This understanding helps us to see forgiveness as a liberating act for both parties.

When we forgive, we are choosing to release the person from the debt they owe us, just as God has released us from the debt of our sins. This act of canceling a debt is not about forgetting the offense or necessarily reconciling with the person, but about freeing ourselves from the burden of holding onto the wrong. It is a powerful act of grace that reflects God's forgiveness towards us. [12:25]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Think of someone who has wronged you. Can you make the conscious decision today to release them from the debt they owe you, even if reconciliation is not possible?

Day 4: Receiving God's Forgiveness

Before we can forgive others, we must first receive and understand God's forgiveness for us. This involves faith, confession, and prayer. Recognizing that God has forgiven us of much empowers us to extend that same forgiveness to others, reflecting the grace we have received.

Receiving God's forgiveness is foundational to our ability to forgive others. It requires us to acknowledge our own need for forgiveness and to accept the grace that God offers through Jesus Christ. When we truly grasp the depth of God's forgiveness towards us, it transforms our hearts and enables us to extend that same grace to others. This understanding is crucial for living a life of forgiveness. [20:59]

Psalm 103:12 (ESV): "As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

Reflection: Spend time in prayer today, reflecting on God's forgiveness towards you. How does understanding His grace help you to forgive others?

Day 5: Forgiveness as a Lifestyle

Forgiveness is not a one-time act but a continuous lifestyle for Christians. It involves a conscious decision to be unoffendable and to forgive others regardless of their actions or responses. This lifestyle choice keeps our hearts free from bitterness and open to God's anointing and presence.

Living a lifestyle of forgiveness means making a daily choice to let go of offenses and to extend grace to others. It is about cultivating a heart that is unoffendable, choosing to forgive quickly and completely. This way of living keeps our hearts soft and open to God's presence, allowing His love and grace to flow through us. It is a powerful testimony of God's work in our lives. [39:58]

Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV): "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"

Reflection: Consider how you can make forgiveness a daily practice. What steps can you take to cultivate a heart that is quick to forgive and slow to take offense?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound and often challenging topic of forgiveness. The central theme is that there are certain things in the Bible that we don't need to pray about whether we should do them; forgiveness is one of those things. We began by reflecting on the series' previous messages, which emphasized having a heart for missions, living fully devoted to Jesus, discipleship, and serving others. Today, we delved into the necessity of forgiveness, a command that doesn't require prayer for confirmation but does require prayer for execution.

Forgiveness is a complex process that starts with an offense, leading to anger, and potentially escalating to wrath, vengeance, and ultimately, bitterness. Jesus' teachings challenge our natural inclinations towards reciprocity and vengeance, urging us instead to forgive as we have been forgiven. The sermon emphasized that forgiveness is not about forgetting or reconciling but about canceling a debt that can never be repaid. This act of canceling a debt is rooted in our understanding of God's forgiveness towards us.

We discussed the theological foundation of forgiveness, highlighting that we are a theological organization first and foremost. The ability to forgive others stems from our own experience of being forgiven by God. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate act of forgiveness, and our ability to forgive others is a reflection of our understanding and acceptance of this divine forgiveness.

The practical steps to forgiveness involve prayer, confession, and a conscious decision to release the debt owed by those who have wronged us. Forgiveness is a choice, not dependent on the other person's actions or responses. It is a lifestyle for Christians, essential for maintaining a heart free from bitterness and open to God's presence.

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Key Takeaways

1. time act but a continuous lifestyle for Christians. It involves a conscious decision to be unoffendable and to forgive others regardless of their actions or responses. This lifestyle choice keeps our hearts free from bitterness and open to God's anointing and presence. [39:58]
### [39:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:51] - Series Recap
[01:22] - Heart for Missions
[01:53] - Living Fully Devoted
[02:31] - Introduction to Forgiveness
[03:12] - The Necessity of Forgiveness
[03:56] - The Challenge of Forgiveness
[04:33] - Jesus' Teachings on Forgiveness
[05:12] - Theology of Forgiveness
[06:20] - The Progression of Unforgiveness
[07:27] - Anger and Wrath
[08:46] - Vengeance and Bitterness
[12:25] - Forgiveness as Debt Cancellation
[20:59] - Receiving God's Forgiveness
[30:26] - Extending Forgiveness to Others
[39:58] - Forgiveness as a Lifestyle
[41:26] - Prayer for Forgiveness
[42:19] - Practical Steps to Forgiveness
[43:07] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:12-15 (ESV) — > "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

2. Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
> "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

3. Colossians 3:13 (ESV)
> "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

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Observation Questions

According to Matthew 6:12-15, what is the relationship between our forgiveness of others and God's forgiveness of us?
In Ephesians 4:31-32, what behaviors are we instructed to put away, and what are we encouraged to do instead?
How does Colossians 3:13 describe the manner in which we should forgive others?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of forgiving others in the Lord's Prayer? How does this reflect our understanding of God's forgiveness? [31:42]
What might be the consequences of holding onto bitterness and wrath, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:31-32? How does this affect our relationship with God and others? [09:49]
How does the concept of "canceling a debt" in forgiveness, as discussed in the sermon, help us understand the nature of true forgiveness? [12:25]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you struggled to forgive someone. What steps did you take, or could you take, to move towards forgiveness? [03:12]
The sermon mentioned that forgiveness is a choice and not dependent on the other person's actions or responses. How can you apply this principle in a current situation where you need to forgive someone? [13:43]
How can understanding God's forgiveness towards us empower you to forgive others? Share a personal experience where this understanding made a difference. [20:59]
The sermon highlighted the progression from offense to bitterness. Identify a recent offense in your life and discuss practical steps you can take to prevent it from escalating to bitterness. [06:46]
Forgiveness is described as a lifestyle for Christians. What daily practices can you incorporate to maintain a heart of forgiveness and avoid bitterness? [39:58]
How can you support someone in your small group who is struggling with unforgiveness? What practical advice or encouragement can you offer them based on the sermon? [41:26]
Think of a person you need to forgive. What specific prayer can you say for them this week to help you move towards forgiveness? [42:38]

Sermon Clips

1. "You ain't even got to pray about repenting from your sin. Just walk away from it. That was a challenge. Man, that still just chews on me. About living fully devoted to Jesus, fully surrendered and oriented towards the Lord. You ain't even got to pray about this. It's God's will for you." [00:51] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You ain't even got to pray about loving God and loving people. You ain't even got to pray about having a prayer life, going to church. You ain't even got to pray about that. You ain't even got to pray about repenting from sin, paying tithes, being generous. You ain't even got to pray about being kind, choosing joy, loving your neighbor, hating cats. Come on, can I hear an amen from somebody today?" [01:53] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "But my job is to push you into greener pastures and into still water. And so today's message, the final one, is you ain't even got to pray about forgiveness. Yeah, all right. Here's the moans." [02:31] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Now, what I mean by that is you don't have to pray about if I'm supposed to forgive, but you will have to pray about how to forgive. And you will have to pray about your heart of unforgiveness. And you will have to pray about how to forgive. And you will have to pray about the people that you're trying to forgive." [03:12] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Forgiveness is a choice. Forgiveness is your choice. It's irregardless. That's not even a word. Your forgiveness is regardless of the other person's response to your choice to forgive. They don't need to be alive to forgive. They don't need to actually hear that you've forgiven them. They don't need to agree with your forgiveness. Forgiveness is your decision. Regardless of their decision. It's your choice. It's God's will for you." [13:43] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Forgiveness doesn't require reconciliation. It may not be returned by the other person. Forgiveness is not contingent on the other person changing. Well, I forgive them if they get their lives right. Well, then they have a lot of power over you. Forgiveness is your choice. Forgiveness is your decision. And you and I, we get to make this decision to set someone free of the debt we believe they rightfully owe us because something they've done, they've abandoned us, they've spoken ill of us, they've hurt us." [14:49] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Forgiveness is a lifestyle for the Christian. Years ago, I just decided, and I've had people over the years say, Pastor Mike, I need to give you an apology. Or I've had people say, Pastor, I need to ask your forgiveness for something. And my immediate knee-jerk reaction is, you're forgiven. And I've had people say, what do you mean you haven't heard what I did? I said, I don't care what you did. I choose to walk in forgiveness. And no matter what you did, you're not going to stop me from being willing to forgive that." [16:02] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Unforgiveness is a place of poison, lack of anointing. Unforgiveness is a hardening of our heart that keeps God's presence out of our lives and will keep us cold towards others. I'm going to talk about it theologically first. Let me just show you the progress of how it happens. We start with offense. Then it goes to anger and wrath. And if I can tell you to stop unforgiveness here, you'll have a lot of victory." [17:19] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Before we learn to forgive others, we have to learn to receive God's forgiveness. It's like loving people needs to be an overflow of loving God. Listen, you can't give away what you haven't received. You can't give away forgiveness if you've not learned to receive forgiveness. It's like money. You can't give away money you ain't earned or else that's stealing. Did you know this, everyone? You can't give what you haven't earned. You can't give away what you haven't received." [20:59] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Forgiveness is a choice. It's a hard choice, it's a choice. And it's part of our Christian witness. I want to recommend everybody get this book R.T. Kendall called Total Forgiveness. He pastored Westminster Chapel in London, England, but he's from Ashland, Kentucky. This old boy was over there with all those highfalutin people. And he's over there like, hey boy, get over here, check this out. I mean, he's Kentucky dude." [35:11] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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