Forgiveness: The Path to Healing and Freedom

In today's sermon, I focused on the transformative power of forgiveness and the necessity of removing the veils of betrayal that obscure our vision and hinder our relationship with God and others. I emphasized that forgiveness is not an optional Christian virtue but a divine mandate, a spiritual process that Jesus himself modeled for us.

I began by acknowledging the pain and difficulty of betrayal and the challenge of walking in forgiveness. I reminded us of the sacrifice of Jesus and His example of forgiveness, even in the face of betrayal by those closest to Him. I pointed out that Jesus knew betrayal intimately, not just from Judas but from the very people He came to save. Yet, He chose to forgive, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." This ultimate act of forgiveness empowers us to forgive others and to be free from the bondage of hurt and betrayal.

I delved into the Scriptures, particularly Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:12, which call us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, just as Christ forgave us. I stressed that forgiveness is not about excusing the behavior or ignoring the pain caused but about releasing ourselves from the emotional bondage that unforgiveness causes. I explained that forgiveness is a decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender, a concept that is counter-cultural but deeply spiritual.

I also highlighted the importance of being equipped with the Holy Spirit to handle offenses when they come, as they inevitably will in a fallen world. I pointed out that unforgiveness can lead to physical and spiritual consequences, obscuring our vision and understanding of God's plan for our lives.

I invited the congregation to respond to the message by coming to the altar to make a decision to forgive and to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus. I encouraged everyone to take this step of faith, assuring them that through forgiveness, we can move from veil to victory.

I concluded by praying for those preparing to give, thanking God for the opportunity to sow into the vision of the church, and celebrating the progress we've made in our building project. I encouraged the congregation to continue giving generously towards the completion of our new home for ministry.

Key Takeaways:

- Forgiveness is a divine mandate that requires us to follow Jesus' example, who forgave even in the face of ultimate betrayal. It is not about ignoring the wrong done to us but about freeing ourselves from the emotional chains that bind us to the past. When we forgive, we reflect the heart of Christ and open ourselves to healing and restoration. [01:17:13]

- The veil of betrayal can obscure our vision and understanding, leading us to question God's love and plan for our lives. It is essential to recognize this veil and actively work to remove it through the power of the Holy Spirit. Only then can we see clearly and walk in the fullness of what God has for us. [01:19:31]

- True forgiveness allows us to see the situation, the betrayer, and ourselves more clearly. It prompts us to ask deep questions about our own hearts and what God is revealing to us through the offense. This self-reflection is crucial for personal growth and spiritual maturity. [01:21:52]

- Unforgiveness can have physical repercussions, manifesting as stress, tension, and even illness. It is a weight that hinders us from running the race God has set before us. Letting go of unforgiveness not only brings spiritual freedom but also physical well-being. [01:24:49]

- Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continuous process that we must walk out daily. It is an act of obedience to God, who forgives us repeatedly. As we practice forgiveness, we become more like Christ and experience the true freedom He offers. [01:28:10]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Ephesians 4:32** - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
2. **Colossians 3:12** - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
3. **Luke 17:3-4** - "So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 4:32, what are the qualities that believers are encouraged to exhibit towards one another?
2. In Colossians 3:12, what virtues are believers instructed to "clothe" themselves with?
3. What does Luke 17:3-4 say about the frequency and conditions of forgiveness?
4. How did Jesus model forgiveness in the face of betrayal, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:18:35]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is forgiveness described as a divine mandate rather than an optional virtue in the sermon? [01:23:29]
2. How does the veil of betrayal obscure our vision and understanding of God's plan for our lives? [01:19:31]
3. What are the physical and spiritual consequences of harboring unforgiveness, as discussed in the sermon? [01:24:49]
4. How does the Holy Spirit equip us to handle offenses and walk in forgiveness? [01:10:11]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt betrayed. How did you handle it, and what could you have done differently to align with the principles of forgiveness discussed in the sermon? [01:19:31]
2. The sermon mentioned that forgiveness is a continuous process. What steps can you take daily to ensure you are walking in forgiveness? [01:28:10]
3. Identify a person in your life whom you need to forgive. What practical steps can you take this week to begin the process of forgiveness? [01:39:38]
4. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you forgive someone who has deeply hurt you? What specific prayers or actions can you incorporate into your routine? [01:10:11]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of trusted community. Who in your life can you turn to for support and accountability in your journey of forgiveness? [01:21:07]
6. Consider the physical symptoms of stress and tension mentioned in the sermon. Have you experienced any of these, and could they be related to unforgiveness? What steps can you take to address this? [01:24:49]
7. How can you cultivate a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in your daily interactions, as instructed in Colossians 3:12? What specific actions will you take this week? [01:13:03]

Day 1: Embracing Forgiveness as Divine Command
Forgiveness is not merely a suggestion but a commandment from the divine, reflecting the very essence of Christ's teachings. It is a profound act that goes beyond the surface of our emotions, touching the core of our spiritual journey. When we forgive, we are not dismissing the wrong that has been done to us; instead, we are choosing to release the hold it has on our hearts and minds. This release is not a sign of weakness but a testament to strength, a strength that comes from a place of deep faith and understanding of the grace that has been extended to us. Forgiveness is a mirror of the divine love that forgives us infinitely, and in practicing it, we align ourselves with the heart of Christ, finding healing and restoration in the process [07:40].

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

Reflection: Who is someone you have been struggling to forgive, and how can you take a step towards forgiveness today, reflecting Christ's love and command?

Day 2: Removing the Veil of Betrayal
The veil of betrayal is a metaphorical barrier that clouds our perception, causing us to doubt the love and plan God has for us. It is essential to recognize this veil and actively seek its removal through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we hold onto betrayal, we are unable to see the world, God, and our circumstances with clarity. The act of forgiveness is the key to lifting this veil, allowing us to perceive the truth of our situation and the love of God that surrounds us. By removing this barrier, we open ourselves to the fullness of God's vision for our lives, stepping into a place of victory and purpose [07:40].

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." - Mark 11:25 (ESV)

Reflection: Is there a betrayal that has been obscuring your vision of God's love? How can you begin to lift this veil through forgiveness?

Day 3: The Clarity of True Forgiveness
True forgiveness brings clarity to our lives, allowing us to see situations, others, and ourselves with a new perspective. It prompts us to delve into deep self-reflection, questioning our own hearts and what God is revealing to us through the offense. This process is not easy; it requires honesty and vulnerability. However, it is through this self-examination that we grow and mature spiritually. Forgiveness is not just about the other person; it is also about our own transformation and the path to becoming more like Christ [07:40].

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" - Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

Reflection: What has forgiveness taught you about yourself, and how can this understanding help you grow in spiritual maturity?

Day 4: Unforgiveness and Its Physical Toll
Unforgiveness is not just a spiritual issue; it can manifest physically in the form of stress, tension, and illness. It is a weight that we are not meant to carry, hindering us from running the race set before us with endurance and grace. Letting go of unforgiveness is not only an act of spiritual obedience but also a step towards physical well-being. As we release the burden of unforgiveness, we allow our bodies to heal from the inside out, embracing the wholeness that God desires for us [07:40].

"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." - Hebrews 8:12 (ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify any physical symptoms that may be connected to unforgiveness in your life, and what steps can you take towards healing both spiritually and physically?

Day 5: The Continuous Process of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not a one-time event but a journey that we embark on daily. It is an act of obedience to God, who forgives us time and time again. This daily practice of forgiveness is what shapes us into the likeness of Christ, allowing us to experience the true freedom He offers. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to forgive, and as we commit to this process, we find that our capacity to love and extend grace grows exponentially [07:40].

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13 (ESV)

Reflection: What is a situation where you need to practice forgiveness today, and how can you commit to making forgiveness a daily part of your spiritual walk?

Hey Limitless family, it's Pastor Keenan with a very special announcement, and I need your attention. Focus in right here. Everybody, stop what you're doing. Focus right here. Got me?

Easter is coming. March 31st, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. is our services, but I need you to do me a favor. Please. Most of you who've been here, you know that God has been multiplying our church. We want to make sure that we have a seat for you, a seat for your family members, your friends, even your neighbors. So do me a favor and register for our Easter service. We have two options, 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. We want you to save your seat. So please, the QR code on the seat pocket in front of you or around you. Register, and we can't wait to see you for Easter at Limitless.

Hey Limitless, it's our birthday! Yes, so excited that we will be celebrating three years as a church. April 7th, we have our 9 a.m. and our 11 a.m. service, and both services are dedicated to celebrating what the Lord has done over these past three years. So I would encourage you to make sure that you are here April 7th, whether it's 9 a.m. or the 11 a.m. service to come celebrate with us in all that God has done. Happy birthday, Limitless!

A lot of you have been asking, "Hey Pastor Keenan, I want to give to the building fund. How do I do that?" Well, what we've done is we've actually separated the ways that you can do that to make it a little bit easier for us. So if you go into the Limitless app and you go to the bottom right-hand corner, you'll see a tab there that says "More." It's in the bottom right-hand corner. And once you tap that tab, a sidebar will open up that'll say "Limitless Giving" and another one will say "Limitless New Home Fund."

Or you can go to the QR code. Once you click the QR code, that tab and that section will open up, and you'll see all of the different options there, and you'll see one that says "Limitless Church New Home Giving." In our Tively and on our website, you can do the same thing as well. You can go to giving, you can go down, and it'll say "Limitless New Home Fund," and you can give there. So those are the three ways that you can participate in helping us fulfill the vision that God has called us to in moving to our new home. God bless.

Here we go.

Him, I'll die for her.

Behold our King.

Behold Him.

Last week we had this amazing opportunity to celebrate one year of us being in this building. That's right, one year ago last Sunday we moved into our new property. We've had some amazing, some exciting things that have happened. We had our baptisms that have taken place, our communions that have taken place, baby dedications, wonderful service, worship nights, and so much more.

Now while we've been here, we've done these things, I want us to remember that God has called us forward. That's right, we are not done. While your seat may be comfortable and you may have this place where you come to and you sit and you enjoy being there, this is not your permanent seat. We have to move next door. God has called us to this building. He's called us to this place so that we can finish the vision for eternity that God has given us.

One thing about our church is we love our people, and specifically we have a desire to minister to our middle school and our high schoolers. And guess what? If you're sitting in a chair right now, it's there not being ministered to. So we need to do what we can. Let's partner together. Let's finish strong and move forward.

We have a desire to raise $430,000. Last year we started that goal, and we've been moving towards it. But I believe in God that by the end of this year, we will have raised that money to finish phase two of our new home project. So I ask that you would pray, that you would consider, that you would see what God would place on your heart above your tithes and offerings to sow and to finish in phase two so that we can move next door and minister in this building to our middle schoolers and high schoolers.

But let me recap and tell you everything that we've done in phase one and phase two. First, we trenched our parking lot so that we now have water running to our new building for our new restrooms. We had to dig up a portion of the parking lot, lay new piping down, cover the parking lot, and then connect that piping to our new restrooms. Yes, that's right! We will have restrooms in the men's sanctuary. So they have been built. The piping is there. There's a corridor that leads directly into the men's restroom and another one that leads into the women's restroom.

And on top of the restrooms are a brand new balcony! So excited about this. A beautiful view from up there. We will be able to see approximately 44 to 50 people on that balcony for additional seating. A wonderful view! Also, we've installed T-bar ceiling in our new tech room. And so we had a group of people come, and they installed that, and we're almost finished with that as well.

We have reinforced the ceiling in the back of the sanctuary. Forget this! Drum roll please! For our brand new air conditioning units! That's right! Our air conditioning units are here, and they have been installed on the ceiling of the church. So AC and heat will not be a problem. So we're very, very excited about that. And along with that, the brand new electricity that has been serviced and placed in our new building. Because to run those AC units, to run the lights and everything in our new property, we need power. So we now have that installed, and so much more ready to do. And there's so much more left. So let's make sure that we finish strong.

Good morning! Well, I am excited to see every one of you this morning. Y'all came to church this morning, huh? Well, it is good to see each and every one of you. Do me a favor, as you're walking, especially if you're holding little ones, the floor might be a little damp because we just celebrated baptisms as the people were walking to the bathroom. So just definitely be careful. We definitely don't want you to slip or fall.

I have two things real quick before we start our service. The first thing is we have our Roots and Wings that's coming up. What is Roots and Wings? Roots and Wings is our membership class, and it is available for anyone who's here at Limitless Church. And the question we get a lot is, what is our membership class for? Why do we have a membership class?

And I say it very specifically like this: that it's this process of moving from just being at church and just coming here to investing and being an owner in what's happening here at our church. If I go to a restaurant and I see something out of place, you know, I may say something, but I'm personally not going to do anything about it because I'm not invested in it. I don't have ownership in it.

But if it's my house, if I'm an owner or if it's my restaurant and I'm an owner, then I'm going to do something about it when I see it. When I see coffee on the floor or I see some assistance, I'm not just going to walk past it like, "No, I'm going to take my part." Because I'm invested in it, I'm going to clean it up. I'm going to pick it up. I'm going to do what's necessary.

And so this Roots and Wings class is an opportunity for you to say, "Hey, this is my church. I am investing in it. I'm a part of this church. I want to participate in the upbuilding of this church, not only for myself but for the future generations and people who are going to be here. This is my place. I am planting my roots here at Limitless Church." And that's what our Roots and Wings is all about.

And so you'll have an opportunity to find out anything and everything about our church, hear about our values, hear about our statutes, and also ask any questions that you might have. And so that is coming up. Please, if you will say, "Hey, that's me," go ahead and click the QR code, and we would love for you to be there.

And lastly, somebody say, "Easter is coming!" Easter is coming up, and we need for you to save your seats. Do me a favor and look to the left and to the right of you. All right, notice the empty seats. And it's not Easter, okay? So we want to make sure that we're prepared for you. And so we're asking you to save your seat for Easter.

And the way that you do that is by the QR code. And just register, and all you're saying is, "Hey, me and two people are coming," or "me and three people are coming," so that we can be prepared to receive you when you come. We don't want you to get here and our team is struggling, and we're putting out seats and we're trying to find a spot for you. We want to be prepared to receive you when you get there.

So do me a favor, register for service. And then on your way out at our Team Limitless table, we have our invite cards. It says on the back here, "You are invited to Easter at Limitless," and on the back, it's the QR code to register, and it tells the times and the service. Grab one of these. I'm not saying grab 10, grab 20, grab one and commit to inviting one person to service at Easter.

I'm very excited about this message, especially if you have people who haven't been to church in a while, unbelievers who may be on the fence. This would be an awesome service for you to invite them to.

All right, let's dive into this word.

Heavenly Father, thank you. Thank you for bringing us together today. God, this is the day that you have made, and so we make a decision to rejoice and to be glad. So much for us to be grateful for, God. But I am specifically glad for those who made a decision to go public in baptism today. God, I thank you for the opportunity to share with them in their public declaration of their faith in Jesus.

God, as we're here today, would you speak to us? We need to hear from you. For some of us, it's been a rough week. We've walked through some things, and we need to be filled up. So God, would you speak to us? Would you open our ears so that we can hear what you're saying? Open our hearts so that we can receive it, and not just receive it, but that we would be able to be doers of the word and not just hearers of your word.

God, light a fire on the inside of us. We thank you for it, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. If you would just give me 10 seconds, and I just want to acknowledge Ms. Clayton. Mama Clayton, it's so good to see you. I know that you made it today, and I know that you haven't been here in a while, and you've been walking through some things, and we've been praying for you. And I just want to let you know that we love you and that we're glad that you're here. I know it's been difficult, but you pressed your way this morning, and it does my heart good to see you. We love you, and we're excited that you're here. Amen.

All right, and we're going to continue to keep you in our prayers. We're praying for a full recovery. Amen.

All right, so we're starting this new series, and the series is called "From Veil to Victory." From Veil to Victory. As we approach Resurrection Sunday each week, we're going to walk through different aspects and events leading up to Jesus' sacrifice and ultimately his victory over death, which brings us to the celebration of Easter. I'm calling it "Veil to Victory."

And through this series, it's my hope that you would be able to walk from whatever veil it is to victory in your life. And this will be a three-part series, and today we're going to launch part one.

Now, do me a favor and put your seatbelt on. Okay, please, I'm telling you, put your seatbelt on now. The second thing I'm going to ask you to do is if you can't say amen, say ouch. Okay, yes. I want you to get the laughs out now. This might be the last time before we get in.

But today is an opportunity to mature. Today is an opportunity to mature. You have a child. Your child grows up, and when the child is young, the child is in diapers. At some point, you have to... The child goes through a maturity process and a training so that he can get out of diapers into regular underwear.

No, it's a baby analogy, but it's all I got, all right? You wouldn't want your child to remain in diapers in first grade, second grade, fifth grade just because he's lazy. And we know the older they get anyway. So there's a process that happens of training and maturity so that they can move from one step to another.

Today I'm going to invite you to walk through a process of maturity. Today part one of our series "From Veil to Victory" is called "The Veil of Betrayal." The Veil of Betrayal. I want to define what a veil is. A veil is a thin barrier or a shroud that obscures vision, that obscures understanding or perception.

A veil is a thin barrier or a shroud that obscures vision, that obscures understanding or perception. Today we're talking about the Veil of Betrayal. We're talking about hurts and betrayals. I know that many of us have at one time or another dealt with the pain that comes with hurts and betrayals, whether it was something done to you intentionally or personally, or something done unintentionally, whether it be a misunderstanding or lack of communication. Whatever the cause may be, one thing that I know for sure is that it hurts.

It does not feel well. It is not comfortable. It is not something that you want to walk through. Betrayal hurts, and sometimes it leaves us with painful wounds and scars and hurtful places. And if you're here today and you've recently walked through that or you are walking through that, I want to commend you for showing up. Sometimes it's hard to just show up.

But I also want to let you know, and I want to show you that you're not alone. Matthew chapter 26, verse 14 says, "Then one of the 12 disciples who was called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?' And they weighed out 30 pieces of silver. And from that moment, Judas began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus."

The scripture said, "Then one of the 12 disciples." Not then an onlooker. Not then a casual acquaintance. He said, "Then one of the 12 disciples." This wasn't just a random person who did this. This was someone who walked with Jesus daily, who ate with Jesus daily, who saw the miracles, who heard the sermons. This was someone who was given a leadership responsibility in Jesus' ministry that betrayed Jesus.

If Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, experienced betrayal, then we would be foolish to think that it wouldn't happen to us. We would be foolish to think that it wouldn't happen to us. We live in a fallen world with fallen people, and offenses and hurts and betrayals are a reality of this life.

However, how we handle them when they come makes all the difference. How we handle betrayals, how we handle hurts when they come makes all the difference. When betrayals, when hurts happen in our lives and we don't handle them correctly, it begins to form a veil around us.

Now we said that a veil is a thin barrier or a shroud that obscures vision, that obscures our understanding or perception. When we don't handle these things correctly, it begins to form a veil around us. And this veil obscures our vision and our understanding of God's plan for us.

"God, why would you allow this to happen? You said that you loved me. Why would you allow someone so close to me to hurt me? God, you said that you would take care of me." It begins to obscure our vision and our understanding of God's plan for us.

The next thing it does is it distorts our perception of what is true and what isn't. It distorts our perception of what is true and what isn't. "How you feeling?" "I'm fine. I'm good. I promise I'm good." It distorts our perception of what is true and what isn't.

It's a lie. "No, no, no, no, I'm good. I really am. I'm fine." And then as soon as you see them, this thing begins to spark up on the inside of you. And this, this, why? Because you're not good. Because it has distorted your perception of what is true and what isn't.

Second thing: Someone may have, let's just say, for instance, someone may have offended you and hurt you and not even known it. Okay, because it happens. Not even known it. "I knew it. I knew that they were going to do that. I knew that it was too good to be true. I knew that eventually something was going to happen. I knew it."

And I bet this whole time that they've been faking this whole time. That they've been... and didn't even know that they did anything. Because it distorts our perception of what's true and what isn't.

And what happens is it leads to feelings of bitterness. It leads to feelings of anger and disillusionment. And as a result, what do we do? We begin distancing ourselves first from God. "Oh, I'm not coming to church. I'm not coming to women's. I'm not coming to men's. I'm not going to serve. I'm not going to, no, no, no."

Why? Because I begin to distance myself from God. "Come on. I'm not praying this morning because I'm mad at God." Yeah, that sounds right. But we begin distancing ourselves from God.

And then secondly, we begin distancing ourselves from others. "You know what? I'm just going to be by myself. I am fine all by myself. I don't need nobody." It leads to feelings of bitterness, anger, and disillusionment. And as a result, we begin distancing ourselves.

Just like a literal veil obscures the sight, the veil of hurt and betrayal obscures our ability to see as well. This is why we have to be equipped when these things happen. We have to be equipped when these things happen. Not if, but when. Not if, but when.

Luke chapter 17, verse 1 says, "Then he said to the disciples, 'It is impossible, but that offenses will come. But woe unto him through whom they come.'" He said, "It is impossible, but that offenses will come." Since there's nothing you can do about it, there is no way that you will walk through this life and that offenses won't happen.

So that alone, even before you move on to the rest of the Scripture, tells us that there will never be an environment where offenses don't come. And if you're looking to be at, to go to, or live in a place or a church where we will never be offended, then you're looking for a utopia, and one doesn't exist.

Come on now. So what do we do? We must be prepared when betrayal, when hurt, and offenses come. God said they will come. And so since they will come, that means he's also given us a process to deal with the offenses, to deal with the hurts, to deal with the betrayals so that the veil doesn't form. He has a process for this.

And even better, because he knows us and he knows who we are, if the veil and the hurt and the betrayal has already formed, he has a process for that too. The process still works. There's a process either way. That's how his love for us is. He says if you have a problem forgiving or you're recently in a situation where you need, then there's a process, and that process is forgiveness.

The process is forgiveness. Let's define what forgiveness is. Forgiveness is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender. Yeah. Let's say offenses are like a charge card, a credit card. Every time you charge that credit card, there is a credit that has been posted to your account. Fashion Nova, gas, Dutch, Starbucks.

Every time you swipe, there is a credit that's being posted to your account. Every time we sin before Jesus came, every time you sin, a credit would be posted to your account. A debit, if you will, would be posted to your account. But what forgiveness is, forgiveness is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender.

It is letting go of resentment and any claim to retribution or vengeance. Letting go of resentment and any claim to retribution or vengeance. Now please understand this is a spiritual concept. This is not something that the world would advise you to do. No, if somebody does something to you, if they sin for you, come for them.

If they do something to you, you do it right back to them and seven times. "Hey, you ain't finna step on me. You ain't finna walk over me. If you do something to me, know that I'm coming for you." That is what the world tells you to do. Vengeance is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender.

Well, the Lord is taking too long. No, you do something to me, I need my retribution. I need my get back. That is what the world says. That is why this concept is spiritual. That's why forgiveness is a spiritual thing. It is not something that you can do in the flesh.

Luke chapter 17, verse 3 says, "Pay attention to yourselves. Says if your brother sins, rebuke him. And if he repents, again forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day and turns to you seven times saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."

And the apostle said, "Lord, you're going to have to help me. That ain't me, Jesus, that ain't me. You're going to have to work with me." He says the apostle said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." In other words, they said, "Because the faith that we have, the state that we're in, this is impossible."

And he goes on to say, "No, no, no, no, no. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will obey you." It is not about the amount of faith that you have; it is about using fully what I have given you.

He says, "If he turns to you seven times saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." Now let's talk about this forgiveness. Now what it doesn't mean is it doesn't mean that you move on and act like it didn't happen. Okay, don't get it twisted. It doesn't mean that we excuse the behavior or ignore the behavior.

But what it does mean is that we make a decision to no longer relate to the person based on their infraction. I don't treat you like what you did to me. I make a decision to no longer relate to you based on their infraction. It is not about condoning the betrayal, but it is about being free from the emotional bondage that it causes.

This is a big deal. This is something that takes maturity. This is something that takes growing up. This is the process of growing. This is something that takes effort. This is not something that is easy. C.S. Lewis says, "Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely thing until they have someone to forgive."

Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely thing until they have someone to forgive. This is a hard thing. But can I tell you something? We are anointed for hard things. We are anointed for hard things. I know we don't want to do hard things. I know we don't like hard things. We want to do all of the easy things and not do the hard things.

But we are anointed for hard things. We don't need the power of the Holy Spirit to do easy things and act like everyone else. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to do hard things and be set apart like God has called us to be. That is why we need the Holy Spirit—to do the things that seem unfair, to do the things that seem like it's not right, to do the things that seem impossible.

We have the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, and that is why we have the ability to forgive. We have been called to forgive, and we have been equipped to forgive. And when we choose to forgive, the veil of betrayal is removed, and it has no power to obscure our vision. It has no power to obscure our perception, and it has no power to obscure our understanding.

This is the power that forgiveness holds. Ephesians 4, verse 32 says, "Be kind and helpful to one another. Be tenderhearted, be compassionate, be understanding. Here we go, forgiving one another readily and freely, just as God in Christ also forgave you."

I don't want to forgive readily. I don't want to forgive freely. I understand, but please know that you are daily forgiven readily and freely. Daily. "God, I'm coming to you. I know this is time 9,364,007. But God, I promise you, I promise you, I promise you 64,007, but God, I promise this is the last time. If you could, God, I just need your forgiveness. God, I know I keep coming with this thing, with this issue, with this problem, and this thing that I'm struggling with. God, I just need your forgiveness."

And not one time has God said, "No, no, no, no, you said that the last time." Not one time has he said that. As a matter of fact, what he says is, "I made a decision over 2,000 years ago to already forgive you. I died on the cross, and forgiveness was taken care of."

Colossians chapter 3, verse 12, all right, it's a setup. He says, "So as God's chosen people who are holy, who are set apart, sanctified for his purpose and well beloved by God, by God himself, he says put on a heart of compassion, of kindness, of humility, of gentleness, and patience."

Stop right there, don't read ahead of me because you're going to miss it. He says, "Put on a heart of compassion." This is not something that we have a lot of in today's world. We don't have compassion. We are numb to things that happen. We're numb to hurts. We're numb to the hurts of other people. We're numb to the things that are going on in the world around us and to people that are happening around us.

God says, "No, we have to put on a heart of compassion. Be compassionate." Then he says, "Kindness." How hard is it for us to just be kind? Just be kind. Just open the door if you see somebody coming. Just prefer someone before yourself. Just say hello, smile, respond, pay attention when someone's talking. Be kind.

Then he says, "Humility." He says to not think of yourself. The definition of humble: not think of yourself more highly than you ought to. Remember what a wretched person you are and that the only person, the only way that you're here is because of what Christ has done. Be humble.

Then he says, "Gentleness." Be gentle. And he says, "Have patience." Why? Why would he tell us that we need these things? Why would he make it a point to say these things? Because he says these things have the power to endure whatever injustice and unpleasantness comes.

So he says that if you're filled with compassion and kindness and humility and gentleness and patience, then when hurts, then when betrayals, then when offenses, then when these things come, you have the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes with a good temper.

Because we want to go through it and be mad the whole time, be upset, angry, twisting your face up. But he says this is how you get the... why? Because when I'm full of these things, when an offense happens to me, then what's in me is going to come out of me. The joy is gonna... offense happens. "God, just Lord, I forgive them. God, I thank you for them, for their family, for every..."

Why? Because it's inside of me. "God, I know that they're going through something, and I know that offense was not directed to me." Why? Because I'm compassionate. When I'm full of these things, these things begin to come out of us, and we have the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes.

This is what he is saying. This is what the word is saying. Why do we do this? We do it in light of everything that has been done for us. As great and as wonderful as we like to think we are, the truth is we aren't. Why? Yet Christ died for us. He knew that we would betray him. He knew the things that we would do, and yet he died for us.

Because the amazing thing about the Lord and the word of God is God never asked us to do anything that he hasn't done himself. Jesus knew betrayal, not just from Judas. Let's not forget that Jesus was crucified by the very people that he poured his life into, that he was crucified by the very people that he fed, that he was crucified by some of the same people that he even healed.

Imagine being there and looking at people that you've literally changed their life. You've healed them, and they scream, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" And instead of harboring that anger, instead of harboring that unforgiveness and that vengeance that would have been completely justified, because a lot of times we want to be justified, and we want to say we have a justification for not walking in forgiveness.

We have a justification for being angry. We have a justification for doing... No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Jesus had the ultimate justification, and instead of walking in that, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

This is what gives us the power to forgive. Jesus set the ultimate example for us to follow, and he let us know that we do not have to be in bondage to hurt and in bondage to betrayal, but that we can remove the veil and walk in freedom and forgiveness.

I'm going to tell you, harboring hurt and betrayal can lead you to some very dark places. The veil it brings can blind you like nothing else. And not only that, it takes you and begins to take you off the course for the will and the plan that God has for your life.

And here's the thing: because it is a veil, you don't even see it happening. You're blind; you don't even see it happening. This is why it is vital that we are in tune with the Holy Spirit. This is why it is vital that we have a relationship with Jesus for ourselves, where he can speak to us and we can hear him, so that he can direct us and warn us about the blind spots that we're walking in.

How many times have we been driving and we're about to switch a lane, and that thing says... and our heart begins to race, we don't make the turn, and we see the car speed past us? It was in a blind spot. This is why it is important to have a relationship with yourself with the Holy Spirit so he can say, "Hey, hey! Hey, you need to forgive! Hey, hey, let go of that hurt. Let that thing go."

This is why it's important to have a relationship with Jesus. Not only do you have to have a relationship with Jesus, this is important: why we have trusted community. We need to have trusted community, not just family and friends and yes men. This is why this is important.

You need to have people in your circle who don't benefit from you but who care for your soul. People who care for your soul who will say, "Hey, you need to get it together." Who will bring the mirror and allow you to see yourself and say, "Wake up! Get it right!" This is why you need to have trusted community.

Because not only will they show it to you, but they'll help you remove it. And my prayer today is that we would make a decision, make a decision to remove the veil of betrayal and allow the Lord to truly heal us so that we can walk in true forgiveness.

Because through forgiveness, we begin to see the situation, the betrayer, and ourselves more clearly. "Why did I get offended? What is it that I haven't dealt with that keeps allowing me to get offended? What is the thing that I need to work on that every time something like this happens, I keep finding myself in this position? What is it about me that the Lord needs to show me? Why do I keep running into this thing over and over and over again? Why do I keep dealing with this? What is it that I need to fix?"

True forgiveness allows us to see the situation, the betrayer, and ourselves more clearly in light of Christ's love and redemption. Forgiveness is how we move from veil to victory. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate victory over betrayal, over sin, and over death. It offers new beginnings and it shows us that nothing, not even the deepest betrayal, can separate us from the love of God.

Listen, forgiveness is not just a suggestion. It's not a "Hey, you know, if you get around to it or if you feel like it." It is a divine mandate and a path that has been paved by Jesus himself. And so my desire is that we would just open our eyes, that we would take a moment and reflect on the veils of betrayal that might be obscuring our vision and hindering our relationship with God and others.

God desires for us to walk in freedom, and we cannot allow the veil to keep us in bondage any longer. Not only spiritually, but physically there are things that happen when you walk in unforgiveness. "Why do I keep having all these headaches? Why is my blood pressure always high? Why am I facing these aneurysms? Why is my body so stressed and so tense and so tight all the time?"

Could it be because you haven't let go? Come on now. Could it be because there's some unforgiveness that you're walking in and some freedom that needs to take place? See, the veil, that's why you don't see it. But God loves us so much, he says, "I'm going to send a word for you. I'm going to send a word for you because I don't want you to allow the enemy to distract you any longer."

Can I tell you something? God sees you, and he cares about you, and he loves you. He can handle your situation. He can handle your hurt. He can handle your betrayal. And he is there. He said, "I will never leave you. I will never forsake you."

But we live in a fallen world, so hurts will happen, but I'm here with you. You don't think I'll take care of you? I will. You don't think I'm going to make sure that you're okay? I will, if you allow me. You're holding on to it because you really don't believe that I love you. You really don't believe that I can handle it. But I do, and I'm here.

So let it go, because when you do, the weight will be lifted from you, the veil will be lifted from you, and you can run the race that I've called you to run. So set aside the weight that does so easily beset you. Let it go, and watch what God will do and how he will move in your life and your perception and your vision and in your understanding.

Move from veil to victory.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word today. I thank you for what you've called us to this morning, God. I thank you for the medicine in reminding us that you've called us and equipped us to forgive. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to walk in forgiveness. Thank you, Jesus.

God, sometimes the hurts are so deep, the betrayal is so deep, but thank you for reminding us that you walked through it as well, and you chose forgiveness so that we could be empowered to choose forgiveness. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.

So God, I thank you. I thank you, Jesus. God, I pray over every person under the sound of my voice and those watching online right now. God, I pray for those who are walking through hurt and betrayal right now, those who are having a hard time walking in forgiveness. I pray for them right now.

God, I pray that you would just remind them of your sacrifice. Remind them of your love and begin working on the inside of them, God. Rise your spirit up on the inside of them so that they can be free from the veil that has blinded them. I thank you for freedom in this congregation today. I thank you for freedom in those watching online today. I thank you, Jesus.

Thank you. Thank you for speaking to us today, God. Thank you for loving us enough to send your word. God, this week, this week we will have an opportunity to walk this out. Today in the parking lot, on the way home, we will have an opportunity to walk this out, and I thank you, God, that today we will be doers of the word and not just hearers.

I thank you, God, that the veil today has been removed. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

I'm going to have our usher team come forward right now, and today we have an opportunity, as I say every week, to sow into vision. When I think about this message and I think about the goodness of God, I think about the sacrifice that he made. I think about all the things. I have a heart that says, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for sending your son. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your word. Thank you for your promises."

Today we have an opportunity to express our gratitude, to say, "Thank you, God. I'm giving today because I am grateful. I'm giving today because I recognize what God has done and is doing in my life."

And I don't make a decision to just give out of compulsion because somebody's passing a bucket. I don't make a decision to give because I feel bad. I'm giving because, "God, this is what you called me to do, and it's my opportunity to sow into vision."

This is good ground. Our resources are a seed, and we have an opportunity to sow. There are three ways for you to give here at Limitless Church. The offering bucket will come by. There's an envelope on a seat pocket in front of you. Our QR code is there as well. And if you're watching online and you want to give, you can text the word "give" to 833-879-0161.

Father, I pray for everyone preparing to give right now. I thank you for their willingness to give, and God, I pray that you would speak right now. What is it that you would have them to give, God? We don't give out of habit, and we don't give out of compulsion. We give because you've called us to out of a cheerful heart.

So God, in the next few seconds, would you speak to us on what you would have us to give? God, I believe that you have spoken, and we have heard you, and so we make a decision today to give out of obedience. Thank you for it in Jesus' name, amen.

As you give, the offering buckets will go by. Please do me a favor. Would you stand as those offering buckets go by? And Adriana is going to lead us in worship, and then I have one more thing for you before we dismiss.

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for.

To be... Limitless, would you stretch your hands towards your giving today? Thank you, Jesus.

God, we thank you for the seed that has been sown into vision, into this house today, God. We believe that Limitless Church is good ground, and we command our seed to go, to grow, to multiply, and to do exactly what you've called it to do. God, we thank you that we depend on you for our sufficiency. We honor you with these gifts in Jesus' name, amen.

Amen.

Listen, very quickly, if you're here today, I'm going to have my altar team come forward right now. Do me a favor: 60 seconds, nobody walking, nobody moving. If you're here today and you've never made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, the only way to have the power to walk in forgiveness is to make sure that you have the Holy Spirit in you, and that happens with a relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is impossible for you to do it on your own. You need Jesus. So if you've never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life, maybe you say, "I know God when emergencies happen," or "I've made him Lord on Easter and Christmas." "I've made him Lord when there's some horrible things that are happening in my life. I make him Lord on Sundays." No, that's not Lord.

He says if you make him Lord of your life, if you believe in your heart and confess him as Lord, then you shall be saved. So I want to offer you the opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day you walk in freedom. Today is the day that you make a decision that will change the course of your life forever. Today's the day.

So if that's you today, I want you to do me a favor. Altar team, if you will come forward at this time. If that's you today, I want you to do me a favor, and I want you to grab your Bible, grab your notebook, grab whatever it is, and I want you to make your way to this altar.

There is no decision that is going to be more important than this. There is nothing that you will do in your life that will be more important than this moment right here and right now. So if that is you today, I want you to make your way to this altar.

Secondly, if you're here today, you say, "Pastor, I heard what you said. I realized that there has been a veil over my heart, over my mind, over my life, and today I want to remove that veil. Today I want to make a decision to forgive and walk in all that God has for me." I want you to make your way to this altar.

Remember, today people will be set free. This is why we are here. This is what matters. Do not leave here without getting what God has for you at this altar. It may be hard, but remember you are equipped to do hard things. Today is the day of salvation.

So as we dismiss, our altar team is going to be standing over here to the left. You see them here. They'll have a lanyard on. They'll be standing over there on that wall. Go get what you came for. Go get your freedom. Go get your breakthrough. Go get your healing and get some of this Jesus.

I cannot wait to see you guys next week. Bring somebody with you. I know it's not... we got more chairs. Don't worry about it. Bring some. I got tons of them in the garage. Bring somebody with you so that they can participate in what you're getting.

Go outside, please grab a card, invite somebody to Easter. If this is your very first time, welcome! I should have done that earlier, but welcome! I'm glad that you're here. I'm glad that you joined us this morning online. I'm glad that you joined us in person.

Listen, we got a gift for you outside. There's a card on the QR seat in front of you. We got cards outside. Let us know that you're here. I'd love to call you this week and check in on you. I will send you... if you're here, I will send you a message personally today to welcome you. That's how much I care about you.

Some of y'all got some messages last week, but we want to make sure that I get an opportunity to say hello, and I don't get a chance always to shake hands, but I want to at least send a message to say, "Hey."

All right. God bless you. We love you, and don't forget, live limitless! Peace!

Bring it all to peace, storm surrounding me.

"And we have the power to endure Whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes This is what he is saying This is what the word is saying Why do we do this? We do it in light of everything that has been done for us As great and as wonderful as we like to think we are The truth is we aren't Why? Yet Christ died for us He knew that we would betray him He knew the things that we would do And yet he died for us Because the amazing thing about the Lord and the word of God Is God never asked us to do anything that he hasn't done himself" [01:17:13](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Jesus knew betrayal Not just from Judas Let's not forget that Jesus was crucified by the very people that he poured his life into That he was crucified by the very people that he fed That he was crucified by some of the same people that he even healed Imagine being there And looking at people that you've literally changed their life You've healed them And they scream crucify him Crucify him And instead of harboring that anger Instead of harboring that unforgiveness and that vengeance That would have been completely justified" [01:18:20](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Forgiveness is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender Yeah Let's say offenses are like a charge card Credit card Every time you charge that credit card There is a credit that has been posted to your account Fashion Nova, gas, Dutch, Starbucks Every time you swipe there is a credit that's being posted to your account Every time we sin Before Jesus came Every time you sin a credit would be posted to your account But what forgiveness is Forgiveness is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender" [01:04:46](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"True forgiveness allows us to see the situation the betrayer and ourselves more clearly Why did I get offended What is it that I haven't dealt with that keeps allowing me to get offended What is the thing that I need to work on that every time something like this happens? I keep finding myself in this position. What is it about me? That the Lord needs is showing me. Why do I keep running into this thing over and over and over again? Why do I keep dealing with this? What is it that I need to fix?" [01:21:52](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"God I pray for those who are walking through hurt and and and betrayal right now Those who are having a hard time walking in forgiveness I pray for them right now God, I I pray that you would just remind them of your sacrifice Remind them of your love and begin working on the inside of them god rise Your spirit up on the inside of them so that they can be free from the veil that has blinded them I thank you for freedom in this congregation today. I thank you for freedom in those watching online today" [01:29:17](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Why do I keep having all these headaches? Why is my blood pressure always high? Why am I facing these aneurysms? Why is my body so stressed and so tense and so tight all the time? Could it be? Because you haven't let go Come on now Could it be? because there's some Unforgiveness that you're walking in and some some freedom that needs to take place Seville that's why you don't see it But god loves us so much he says i'm gonna send a word for you i'm gonna send a word for you" [01:24:49](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Move from veil to victory heavenly father. I thank you for your word today I thank you for what you've called us to this morning god. I thank you for the medicine In reminding us That you've called us and equipped us to forgive With the power of the holy spirit we have the ability to walk in forgiveness Thank you jesus God sometimes the the hurts are so deep the betrayal is so deep But thank you for reminding us that you walked through it as well And you chose forgiveness so that we could be empowered to choose forgiveness" [01:28:10](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"We've had some amazing, some exciting things that has happened We had our baptisms that have taken place Our communions that have taken place Baby dedications, wonderful service, worship nights, and so much more Now while we've been here, we've done these things I want us to remember that God has called us forward That's right, we are not done While your seat may be comfortable And you may have this place where you come to and you sit and you enjoy being there This is not your permanent seat We have to move next door" [42:55](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"First grade, second grade, fifth grade Just because Just because he's lazy And we know the older they get anyway So there's a process that happens Of training and maturity so that they can move From one step to another Today I'm going to invite you To walk through a process of maturity Today part one of our series From Vale to Victory is called The Vale of Betrayal The Vale of Betrayal I want to define what a Vale is A Vale is a thin barrier Or a shroud that obscures vision That obscures understanding or perception" [53:16](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Since there's nothing you can do about it There is no way that you will walk through this life And that offenses won't happen So that alone, even before you move on to the rest of the Scripture Tells us that there will never be an environment where offenses don't come And if you're looking to be at, to go to, or live in a place or a church Where we will never be offended Then you're looking for a utopia and one doesn't exist So what do we do? We must be prepared when betrayal, when hurt and offenses come" [01:02:42](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)