How Does God Help Us Forgive Others?

1. How Does God Help Us Forgive Others?

2. One of the greatest challenges we will face is when a brother has hurt us. • It is no small thing to have a problem in either giving or receiving forgiveness. • Forgiveness is a product of the love of God and is the basis of having a relationship with God. • Without this understanding and realization of how the love of God acts towards us, we will not be able to work with our brethren! (Jn 13:34-35)

3. One of the greatest challenges we will face is when a brother has hurt us. • John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

4. One of the greatest challenges we will face is when a brother has hurt us. • Our most basic perceptions are affected by this! (2 Pt 1:9)

5. One of the greatest challenges we will face is when a brother has hurt us. • 2 Peter 1:9 - For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

6. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Have you heard of brethren that would have nothing to do with one another? (1 Jn 3:14-16)

7. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • 1 John 3:14-16 - We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

8. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Do you have animosity (hatred) for various people who have done you wrong? • Until we learn to get out of ourselves then these things are impossible. • Will you be “cheated” by showing mercy and longsuffering? • There is a wonderful burden lifted when you are no longer thinking this way.

9. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Going from a child to being a parent gives us perspective! • We must develop an attitude of forgiveness. • Why did Jesus and Stephen pray for forgiveness of those in sin? (Lk 23:34; Acts 7:60)

10. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Luke 23:34 - Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

11. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Acts 7:60 - Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

12. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Did they receive forgiveness without any repentance in their own hearts? • No, they were later given opportunities to repent. (Acts 2:36-38) • Can we release our desire for personal vengeance and give it to God under all circumstances? (Rom 12:19-21)

13. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Romans 12:19-21 - Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

14. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • This goes against every instinct the world has taught us. Our failure to learn this will guarantee a defeated life. • This is a must for us to move forward in a life of faith! (Phil 3:13-14)

15. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

16. Many of our problems in a local church can be traced back to a failure to forgive • Without it we will be burdened and will be enslaved to past hurts.

17. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • What does forgiveness mean to God? • He blots out our sins! (Acts 3:19; Isa 43:25)

18. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • Acts 3:19 - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

19. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • Isaiah 43:25 - " I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

20. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • God does not remember our sins any more. (Heb 8:12)

21. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • Hebrews 8:12 - "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

22. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • He is described as casting them into the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)

23. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • Micah 7:18-19- Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

24. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • When God forgives our sin is long gone! Do you believe this? • "When God buries our sins in the deepest sea, He posts a sign which reads: No Fishing!" • God receives us back to a full fellowship. (Lk 15:20-24)

25. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • Luke 15:20-24 - "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son

26. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

27. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • There is no grudge holding with God. Men are another matter! • Our biggest problem is in believing this. • What do we mean? This is where the deceitful heart can do the most damage. • “I will forgive you but I do not have to like you.” (1 Jn 3:18-19; 1 Pt 1:22; 2:1)

28. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • 1 John 3:18-19 - My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

29. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • 1 Peter 1:22 - Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

30. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • 1 Peter 2:1 - Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

31. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • The church is not a social club to cater to your social needs. It is a group of people who have been crushed by their own sin and have the forgiving love of God as their only bond.

32. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • How do I know if I have forgiven another? Here is a test. • 1. Do we get pleasure in their hurt? • 2. Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence? • 3. Do we vividly remember what we have suffered? • 4. Are we uncomfortable when they are praised?

33. Are we honest with God and ourselves when we say we have forgiven others? • 5. Do we go out of the way to be helpful to that person? • 6. Are we willing to pray for the person?

34. We must learn how to forgive others • When the Lord tells us to “put on” something, we are dealing with a learning, growing process. (Col 3:12-15)

35. We must learn how to forgive others • Colossians 3:12-15 - Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

36. We must learn how to forgive others • 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

37. We must learn how to forgive others • I have seen is where brethren separate themselves under the banner of the “grace of God” by planting bitterness and strife in the hearts of their disciples. • God’s love helps us to work out our problems. (James 3:17-18)

38. We must learn how to forgive others • James 3:17-18 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

39. We must learn how to forgive others • How can I develop a greater love for God? Do you remember you are forgiven? • Consider the parable Jesus used to open the heart of a Pharisee. (Lk 7:40-43)

40. We must learn how to forgive others • Luke 7:40-43- And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

41. We must learn how to forgive others • 42 "And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."

42. We must learn how to forgive others • Let you and I answer the question. Who loves more? The one forgiven more! • How much have you been forgiven? (Lk 7:47)

43. We must learn how to forgive others • Luke 7:47- "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

44. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • The first man decides that he will follow the “common sense” of the world. • He will take hurts personally and dwells on them. • He will seek a broader personal attack on the “transgressor.” • Human standards are sought – “eye for eye”; “probation”; “a time of exile.”

45. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • The fault is never forgotten and can be quickly brought up if “needed.” • The first man will in time experience problems with his relationships. (Jas 3:14-16)

46. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • James 3:14-16- But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

47. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • He will live in a world of “throw-away people.” • He will learn to trust no one and those that know him will learn not to trust him! • The second man decides to follow the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus.

48. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • Any faults he sees in others he first remembers what Jesus did for him. (1 Tim 1:15-16)

49. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • 1 Timothy 1:15-16- This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

50. Two men respond to those who have hurt them • He wants to restore the offender’s relationship to God and the relationship to himself. (2 Cor 2:7-8, 11)