First Baptist Church
Fairbanks, Alaska
805 Sixth Avenue
(907) 456-4923
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Fairbanks, Alaska 805 Sixth Avenue (907) 456-4923 |
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“Forgiveness” Colossians 3:13 Mark Howdeshell (November 4, 2007) Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you Introduction The message today is tough. It is about a very serious topic…one that affects every one of us. Each of you take a moment…and think about any person that you think has ever wronged you. I don’t care if it can be proven or not…or what the circumstances are behind it…or whether or not you’ve ever even told anyone else about it. All that it takes is your personal perception of being wronged. This can be at work, at a supermarket, or even at church. Isn’t it enough to make you mad every time you think about it sometimes? If a face flashed in your mind during the last few moments, then this message is directed at you. I’m quite certain that this message is directed at each and every one of us. Let me tell you about Jerry Butler. Jerry was an acquaintance of mine during high school. I never hung around him, but I knew him. Next let me tell you about my first girlfriend, Shelley Crouch. Shelley has bright red hair and all the freckles in the world. She was a very special young lady. (Jo knows her and her family…in case you’re wondering.) Shortly after Shelley and I “broke up,” Jerry Butler tried to rape her. Thankfully, he was unsuccessful. (I think the red-headed mentality came out!) Jerry eventually was convicted of attempted rape and served time for the crime. ------- I tell you this, to tell you of a festering hatred I carried for Jerry for a number of years. I would tell people that heaven help me……..and Jerry………if I ever set eyes on him again. Tell me-------- who was affected most by my unforgiveness of Jerry? It certainly wasn’t him! Heart of the Matter Forgiveness is a double-edged sword. It can be the most overwhelming emotion and the most subtle destructive force in a person’s life. More lives have been “destroyed” by wanting revenge, eaten away by feelings of hatred, or simple irrefutable anger that changed the inner being. Today we’ll look at how to unlock the key to forgiveness with the help of the “Master Forgiver.” The Meat of the Message
Luke 15:11-32 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs . 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
i. Love for son more important than anything else. ii. Instantly brought happiness and joy. iii. Forgave without reservation.
i. Instantly brought anger ii. Instantly affected his brother’s actions iii. Caused judgment by brother upon brother iv. Clouded reality that the father had to point out to him.
Col 3:12-14 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
i. If you cut yourself and keep picking at it, will it ever heal? ii. Odds are, it will get infected and be worse off than the original injury! iii. Satan uses unforgiveness as a tool to cut us to the heart. DON’T LET HIM USE YOU!!! Matt 9:2 "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven ."
Acts 26:15-18 "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
The Bottom Line I finally came to the realization that my hatred for Jerry was only affecting me. It was a black spot in my heart…a spot that needed to be filled by the light. Jerry never was affected by my unforgiveness…I was and Jesus was. I gave that dark spot of my life back to Jesus and He has healed me. He wants to heal you, too. Ask Him to help you forgive those that you pictured in your minds. Let Him heal your wounds. He may desire you to humble yourselves enough to ask for forgiveness. This may be very scary, but trust Him! He will glorify your obedience, no matter how the other person may react. INVITATION This morning I’d like everyone close your eyes and bow your heads. If you pictured someone in your minds earlier…someone that you need to forgive…please raise your hand in the air and put them back down. Remember, no one is looking. With your eyes closed and head bowed, simply picture the face of Jesus as I pray…
If you would like me to pray with you now, please come to the altar. If you need to settle something, settle it now. If you need to come to the altar and pray, then do it. Do not merely listen to the Word, DO WHAT IT SAYS! |
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