Message by Darrell Pickle
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
I’m not talking about God’s forgiveness. We know that. Christians should find it easy to forgive, yet many wrestle with it. The disciples knew that 7 is God’s number of completion and thought that is how much God expected them to forgive. Jesus said no-70 times 7; in other words unlimited forgiveness. This is not a suggestion. It is a must do. It is a commandment. Not to do so will have great affects.
We can’t say “I’ve done all I’m going to do.” Matthew 6:9-15 states some serious facts. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Sin stacks up. Confession to God of our wrongs stops with our lack of forgiveness to others.
Forgiveness-what it’s not
- It’s not just saying the words when you don’t mean it.
- It’s not necessarily feeling any different toward the person. You can despise someone yet choose to forgive. Some people are impossible to like, yet we can forgive something they have done.
- It’s not necessarily accepting the person back into your life. Some have gone to the place that they can’t be accepted back where they were, yet they can be forgiven.
- It’s not necessarily going back into the other person’s life. Children can’t go back and live with drunken parents. A battered wife can’t risk her life. Forgiveness is not necessarily going back.
- It’s not necessarily asking that person for forgiveness. If the person dies, you can’t ask him. If he moves and you can’t locate him, you can’t ask. It’s good if it’s in person, but it’s not based on a face-to-face interaction.
Forgiveness is removing the desire for punishment from the other person’s life. We can’t say the words and secretly hope something happens to the other person. That’s not forgiveness. The desire for punishment must be removed. We can forgive and not want to see the person. We can forgive but not allow the person back into our life. We can forgive and not go back into the other person’s life. But the desire for punishment must be gone.
We have a God-given ability to forgive. Forgiveness and acceptance are different. One can forgive and not be accepted. Acceptance is a change of attitude. Forgiveness on one part does not mean acceptance on the other part. Forgiveness helps you. Acceptance helps the other person. Look at the life of Joseph. When his brothers came to Egypt, Joseph had already forgiven them, but he only accepted them back upon seeing their change.
God expects us to forgive others; why can’t we forgive ourselves. I’m somebody; you are too. Some Christians go through life hating themselves. They feel they don’t deserve forgiveness. We all need the peace of forgiving ourselves. Guilt in a person’s life is a killer with serious side effects.
If forgiveness is for someone else, then it’s for me too. Maybe you feel like you don’t deserve it. God forgave when we didn’t deserve. Why make it hard? If you can’t accept yourself, who can? Ask God to forgive you and then forgive yourself.
Nobody knows us better than we know ourselves. Not forgiving ourselves leaves us sour and unsettled. We can do everything just right and still be unhappy with ourselves. It’s like holding oneself over the fire of judgment all the while piling up sins because you can’t forgive yourself.
There is only one person you can “drag” to the altar–you. Do you need to pray and forgive yourself?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 