Pastor Tim encourages us this week to let God have our past and all the offenses that come with it. To forgive those that have hurt us. With out forgiveness occurring in our lives we are preventing our own freedom from occurring.
February 26, 2012 – Pastor Tim – Stop the Pain – Click to download
This week’s scripture references (all verses quoted in New King James Version unless noted):
– 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
– Matthew 18:34-35
– Luke 6:36
– Ephesians 4:31-32
– Hebrews 10:17
– Psalm 103:12
– Romans 2:4
– Matthew 18:35
– Matthew 5:23-24
– Ephesians 4:26-27
The following are a few key points from this weeks teaching:
- – Forgetting may be a result of forgiveness, but it is never the means of forgiveness.
- When we bring up the past against others, we haven’t forgiven them.
- – Your need to forgive isn’t an issue between you and the offender; it’s between you and God
- – Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another person’s sin.
Ask God to bring to your mind those you need to forgive.
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the riches of Your kindness, forbearance, and patience, knowing that Your kindness has led me to repentance.
Romans 2:4 I confess that I have not extended the same patience and kindness towards others who have offended me, but instead I have harbored bitterness and resentment. I pray that during this time of self-examination You would bring to mind only those people that I have not forgiven in order that I may do so. Matthew 18:35, I also pray that if I have offended others You would bring to mind only those people from whom I need to seek from forgiveness and the extent to which I need to seek it.
Matthew 5:23-24, I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Face the cross; since God has forgiven you, you can forgive them too.
Decide that you will bear the burden of their offenses by not using the information about their offenses against them in the future.
- Don’t try to rationalize or explain the offender’s behavior.
- Forgiveness deals with your pain, not another’s behavior.
- Remember: Positive feelings will follow in time; freeing yourself from the past is the critical issue.
For each person on your list:
Say “Lord, I forgive ( name ) for ( offenses ).”
Don’t say, “Lord, please help me forgive,” because He is already helping you.
Don’t say, “Lord, I want to forgive,” because you are bypassing the hard-core choice to forgive, which is your own personal responsibility.
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