Sow to Grow Pt. 3
Today, we’re going to talk about learning to grow through forgiveness.
Nobody makes it through life free of hurt or personal injury. Either someone somewhere at sometime has hurt you, or they will.
How are you going to respond?
Christ commands us as believers to forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV
12 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.
Unforgiveness can cause anger, which results in bitterness, which becomes like a cancer that spreads.
Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
When we don’t forgive, we give the devil a foothold in our lives. He will start to build a stronghold if we don’t evict him.
Luke 6:27-28 NKJV
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Psalms 32:1 NKJV
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
Matthew 18:21-35 NKJV
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Our Father in Heaven, the master in this story, was moved with compassion.
Matthew 18:27 NKJV
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
Jesus said that not forgiving others after our Father in Heaven has forgiven us is wickedness. Why? Because we are not doing for others what Christ has done for us.
Matthew 18:35 NKJV
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Unforgiveness is a bondage that stifles our ability to love others. It chokes out the abundant life Christ promised to those who would believe. When we refuse to forgive others for their wrongdoing, we withhold love, acceptance, respect, service, kindness, and patience.
That is why Jesus commanded us not only to forgive them, but also to: Love them Do good to themBless themPray for them
My Beginning. My Forever. 