NOV 3
Theme: GIVING
Made in God’s image so God being a giver, an exceeding great rewarder, then we are made for giving – there is a place in God for getting. Indeed, Jesus died on the cross so we could be forgiven and when God forgives, our sins are forgotten which frees us to be getting on with eternal life now living to be giving and forgiving of others.
When there are things we perceive as getable but for some reason especially where things happen that are undesirable and cause the getable not to take place, then we often end up with a sense of the outcome being regrettable. However, for the most part, all such things are forgivable and if forgivable then no need to remain regrettable. Indeed, with God, if it’s forgivable then it’s forgettable and if forgettable no need to be regrettable.
Topic: FORGIVING
GOD
THE FATHER’S LIVING, LOVING NATURE: MODELED BY JESUS
John 3:16 God so loved the world
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
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.
GOD’S FORGIVENESS REMOVES CONFESSED SIN
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
UNFORGIVABLE SIN
Not specifically defined but contextually statement made by Jesus when responding to specific accusations, particularly the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the demons Vs 24 i.e. So be warned , don’t go there and major on affirming the unction to function in the Holy Spirit knowing that in order for it to be the real Holy Spirit it has to be rooted and grounded in holiness.
Matt 12:1-37 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
US
BEHOLDING
Begin and end with gratefully beholding Jesus and what He demonstrated; on, around, after the cross.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Revelation chapters; 4, 5 and 6, Isaiah 6:1-7: Biblical beholding scenes
THE FORGIVEN AND LOVE LIVING LINK
Ideal log: start with log in our own eye.
Logs in the eye are generally at least in part made up of philosophical, political, and prejudicial ideals that in themselves can have merit but are held onto in such a way that we lose sight of the greater importance of relationship,
Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 18 Handy Link
Luke 7:47 “ Her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven the same loves little
Stephen applying Jesus lead
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.
GODLY SORROW
Godly sorrow, full repentance, complete forgiveness
2 Corinthians 7:10: see Create to relate Bible Foundations course session 6 for a full breakdown
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Victim or victor: do we want to hold onto having someone or something else to blame, or do we choose to take responsibility and be totally set free from shame? This includes forgiving ourselves
Forgiving does not mean condoning, nor that the person forgiven does not have consequences to face
Luke 19:8 “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Psalm 51 - David’s repentance
2 Sam 12: 15-18 - David and Bathsheba’s baby conceived in sin died
John 8:11 (and full chapter) Go and sin no more
“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
UNFORGIVENESS
Unforgiveness: bound for bitterness. Unforgiveness leads to offense which leads to shallowness of roots and shortness of any fruitfulness
Stoney ground - lack of foundations leads to being without depth on which to forgive and be free from offense.
Psalm 119:165 They that love your word will have great peace and nothing will offend them.
This kind of peace includes freedom from bitterness, vengefulness, spite, envy, vindictive hatred
Root of Bitterness
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
OUR PRIESTLY PRIVILEGE
Luke 11: 1 -4 Handy Link
Matthew 6: Prophetic Pattern. Praying “our” not “my”, “us” not “me”
Mat 6:8-14
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Nehemiah 1 - PRAYER OF IDENTIFICATION
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.