YOU ASKED FOR IT
Forgiveness
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:20-23
SPIRITUALLY, OUR HEARTS REVEAL THE HEALTH OF OUR LIVES.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23
Surely resentment destroys the fool. Job 5:2
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:14-15
ROOTS ABSORB, STORE, AND GROW.
THE TWISTED TRUTHS OF UNFORGIVENESS:
IF YOU FORGIVE, YOU’RE SAYING THAT THE OFFENSE WAS NOT WRONG.
IF YOU FORGIVE, YOU’RE JUST MAKING EXCUSES FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
IF YOU FORGIVE, IT WILL MINIMIZE THE HURT YOU FEEL.
IF YOU FORGIVE, THERE WILL BE AN INSTANT RESTORATION OF TRUST.
IF YOU FORGIVE, THE RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT CHANGES.
THE TRUTHS OF FORGIVENESS:
1. I NEED FORGIVENESS.
My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. Psalms 38:4-8
YOU CANNOT PERSONALLY BURY YOUR PAST AND THINK IT WILL JUST GO AWAY.
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalms 32:3;5
2. FORGIVENESS IS NOT EARNED.
THE ROOT OF UNFORGIVENESS IS UNBELIEF.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” Acts 16:30-31
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO EARN GOD’S FORGIVENESS, YOU WILL MAKE OTHERS EARN YOUR FORGIVENESS.
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13
3. FORGIVENESS MUST LEAD YOU TO BLESS.
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God…. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:17-21
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this weeks episode. You can find us on social media, instagram, and facebook @churchbloom.