As we continue to ponder the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and as we in the southeast are staring down the eye of Hurricane Rita this morning, the phrase, "an act of God," has been playing through my head. Just a few minutes ago as I watched the last update on the storm, I heard the broadcaster refer to the hurricane and the resultant devastation as "an act of God."
Yes, hurricanes are awesome examples of the power of our great God. They call to mind His power and His strength and His sovereignity over all the earth. And, whether God sends the hurricanes or merely allows them to occur, they are indeed, a mighty act of God.
But, as I have reflected on this phrase for a day now,it has struck me that the power of the storm is not the only act of God that we see associated with the hurricanes. I was reminded of the words of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-12:
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
In the aftermath of Katrina, the act of God that I witnessed most was in the gentle whisper, as He ministered to the people through the body of Christ. When the donations began to pour in to service organizations to help those affected by the storm, it was the whisper of God. When men and women sacrificially gave of themselves to help others, it was the whisper of God. When congregations in unaffected areas opened up their homes and their hearts to those fleeing the storm, it was the whisper of God.
While these storms have brought out the worst of man's behavior, it has also demonstrated the power of God's grace working through His people. Do you want to talk about an act of God? Then don't just mention the ferocity of the storm, but also talk about the whispers of love that followed.
Casting Crowns has a song on their newest album called "Praise You in the Storm." It could have been written with Katrina in mind, but it was actually written and recorded months earlier. The chorus of this song reminds us of the whisper of God, and calls us to praise Him in all the storms we face:
"As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, 'I'm with you.'
"And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives, and takes away.
"I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for You are who You are, no matter where I am.
Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand. You never left my side.
And though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm."
May we all praise God and continue to listen for His small soft whisper in the midst of these storms of life.
Friday, September 23, 2005
BUSY WEEK
Sorry for not being able to post more often over the past couple of weeks, but I am sitting at the end of a very busy week of ministry. We had homecoming at one of our churches this week, followed by revival for three nights. The preparations for this event took a lot of time, both physically and spiritually, and the event themselves -- on top of my secular job -- resulted in my being out and about from 6:00 am to about 9:30 pm daily.
And the week continues. Yesterday, I had a Chrysalis (youth version of the Walk to Emmaus) Board Meeting after work, and tonight I have a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for a wedding that I am officiating at tomorrow.
Thankfully, this is not a typical week of ministry and these weeks don't come along very often, or there is no way that I would be able to survive. I am praying that next week gets back to somewhat normal and that I can get back on my regular schedule again.
And the week continues. Yesterday, I had a Chrysalis (youth version of the Walk to Emmaus) Board Meeting after work, and tonight I have a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for a wedding that I am officiating at tomorrow.
Thankfully, this is not a typical week of ministry and these weeks don't come along very often, or there is no way that I would be able to survive. I am praying that next week gets back to somewhat normal and that I can get back on my regular schedule again.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
THE LORD'S PRAYER: HEALING FORGIVENESS
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
11 September 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 6:9-15
9. "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us today our daily bread.
12. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
14. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-- this morning, we are going to be continuing our thoughts from last week on forgiveness that we started as we looked at the Lord's Prayer -- as you read, Jesus taught us to pray in this prayer, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- the only petition in the whole prayer that has a condition built into it -- we are only forgiven by God as we find it within ourselves to forgive others
-- Jesus went on to expand on this teaching in Matthew 6:14-15, when He said, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
-- obviously, forgiveness is intended to be a part of our lives -- seeking forgiveness from God for our trespasses and wrongs -- for our sins -- that we committed against Him -- and forgiving others in our heart when they wrong us and sin against us
-- as Christians and as a church, we have done a pretty good job with seeking forgiveness from God for our sins -- that is a concept that we understand
-- as Christians, we recognize that, as David wrote in Psalm 51, that all sins are committed against God -- and so we preach and practice repentence and confession of our sins and seek forgiveness through the blood of Christ Jesus -- we hang our faith on the promise of 1 John 1:9, "if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"
-- so, we generally have no problem with going before God and praying, as Jesus taught us to, "Our Father, forgive us our trespasses"
-- however, we have had a bigger problem with the second part of that petition -- "as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- a lot of us -- a lot of Christians -- harbor resentment and hatred towards those who have wronged us and trespassed against us -- despite Christ's clear call to forgive others as God forgave us
II. What is forgiveness and why should we forgive?
-- my purpose in this sermon this morning is to encourage you to examine your relationships with others and to challenge you to forgive those who have wronged you and have trespassed against you in the past
-- before you can do that -- before you can come to the point where you can forgive someone that has trespassed against you -- you are going to need a better understanding of what forgiveness is -- why we should forgive -- and how we begin the process of forgiving others
-- so, what is forgiveness and why should we forgive? -- I think that a lot of us have a misconception about what forgiveness is and this misconception keeps us from forgiving others in our lives
-- typically, when we think of forgiveness, we think of restoration -- we think that forgiveness means telling a person that all is forgotten -- that everything is o.k. -- and then welcoming that person back into our lives -- restoring the relationship that once existed
-- for example, Gary Rosenberg tells the story of a couple that came to him for counseling -- the couple had been happily married for years and had two little children -- one day, the father goes into the baby's room to get diapers from the closet, and discovers a stack of love letters written to his wife -- the only problem was that he did not write these love letters -- he went downstairs and found his wife and said two words to her, "I know." -- immediately, she turned white as a ghost and said how sorry she was -- that it was a mistake and that it wouldn't happen again and begged her husband to forgive her and not to leave her
-- now, in our typical view of what forgiveness is, the husband, being a good Christian man -- turns to her and says, "I forgive you" and forgets it ever happens and they go on with their life just as before -- living happily ever after
-- but in reality, we know that is not what happens -- the husband in this case was deeply wounded by his wife -- she had sinned against him -- she had violated his trust -- there was a deep hurt in his heart that needed to be repaired -- and there was no way that he could simply forget what had happened and go on with life as it was
-- that is not what forgiveness is -- when Christ tells us here to forgive others their trespasses as God forgave us our trespasses, He is not telling us to just say "You're forgiven" and to forget the hurt and to go on with our life as if nothing happened -- He is not telling us to restore our relationship with the person who hurt us
-- forgiveness is not about restoring a relationship -- restoration and reunion may eventually come through forgiveness -- but that is not the primary purpose of forgiveness
-- I want you to listen to this -- I want you to understand this -- the primary purpose of forgiving -- the reason God calls us to forgive others -- is to heal the hurts and the scars in our heart that were caused when someone that we trusted trespassed against us and sinned against us and wronged us
-- forgiveness is not something that we do for others -- it is something that we do for our self -- forgiveness is something that happens within us -- within our hearts -- and it doesn't have to involve anyone else
-- true forgiveness is one-sided -- it occurs when you make the choice to heal the hurt that is within you -- when you decide to let God heal the hurt that another has placed in your life
-- you can forgive someone and never, ever restore your relationship with them or even let them know that you have forgiven them
-- let me show you an example
-- In two of Paul's epistles, Philemon and Colossians, we learn about Demas -- a friend of Paul's -- a fellow-worker for Christ -- someone who Paul had witnessed to and who was travelling with him and ministering with him throughout Asia -- Paul closes his letter to the Colossians in Chapter 4 by mentioning all those working with him and he says in verse 14, "Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings" -- Demas was a trusted friend and brother to Paul
-- but, Demas trespassed against Paul and wounded him deeply -- flip over to 2 Timothy 4
9. Do your best to come to me quickly,
10. for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
11. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
12. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
15. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
17. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
18. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Demas had abandoned the faith and deserted Paul when Paul was first arrested -- Demas refused to stand up for Paul and instead left him alone and in prison
-- but, in this closing to the second letter to Timothy, we can see how forgiveness in the life of a Christian should work -- Paul had evidently forgiven Demas for trespassing against him -- for wounding him and violating his trust -- that is why Paul says here, "may it not be held against them"
-- but, note that this forgiveness was one-sided -- Paul forgave Demas in his heart -- but Paul did not attempt to restore their relationship -- he did not attempt to reach out to Demas and bring him back into the fold of Paul's closest confidants -- Paul's trust had been violated and he could no longer trust Demas in the future -- in fact, it seems as if Paul is warning Timothy to watch out for Demas and not to trust him if he comes to Timothy
-- forgiveness does not mean restoration -- when someone hurts you -- when they wound you severely and violate the trust that you had in them -- then you may never trust them again -- in a lot of cases -- such as in the case of Demas and Paul -- such as in the case when a wife forgives an abusive husband -- you should never trust them again -- but, you can forgive them -- not for their sake, but for yours
-- you see, there is only one real reason for forgiving someone else when they trespass against us -- yes, Jesus does tell us that we should forgive others because it is a commandment of God -- but, it is a commandment of God for the same reason that we should go ahead and forgive on our own
-- when someone wrongs you -- when they sin against you -- it is like they have wounded your heart -- they have damaged your heart -- and you will never be well -- you will never be whole again -- until you have repaired the damage that they have done to you
-- hearts damaged by others keep us from loving God as we should -- it keeps us from loving others as we should -- it keeps us from living life as we should
-- hearts damaged by others gives Satan a stronghold into our lives -- and Satan fills up these damaged places in our hearts with anger and hatred and resentment and bitterness and a desire for vengeance -- things that hamper our Christian life
-- so, when God commands us to forgive others when they trespass against us, it is a commandment for our own good -- it is a call for the healing of our hearts -- not for those who wronged us -- but for us -- to cut out of our lives something that is hindering our walk with Christ and that is keeping us from becoming who God wants us to be
-- forgiveness is like the surgeon's knife that cuts cancer out of our body -- God uses this process of forgiveness to heal us and to make us whole once again
III. How do we forgive?
-- so, how do we forgive? -- what is involved in forgiving someone for trespassing against us? -- basically, it is the same process that God used when He forgave us of our sins
-- first, we need to recognize that there is a need for forgiveness and we have to have a desire to heal the hurts within us -- this takes time -- when we have been hurt -- when we have been violated -- it may take months, or even years, until we reach the point where we are ready to forgive the other person for the hurt that they inflicted in our hearts
-- it is okay to be angry at what happened to us -- in fact, we should be angry at what happened -- because someone we trusted violated that very trust in our lives -- and it is through that anger that our desire to heal should come
-- secondly, we should keep in mind that forgiveness is a process -- it is not something that happens just once and is over -- we may forgive and then find ourselves feeling those same hurts once again -- we may find that we have to continually forgive the wrong that was done to us -- that is okay and it is part of the healing process
-- in his book, "The Art of Forgiving," Lewis Smedes outlines the final three steps to forgiveness that we follow when we truly seek healing in our life
-- first, we begin the process of forgiving when we start separating the person who wronged us from the wrong that they did to us -- when someone wrongs us, in our minds, they become the wrong that they did to us -- we say things like, "he is nothing but a cheat -- he is nothing but a liar" -- we look at them and all we see is the sin
-- but, as Smedes points out, when we begin the miracle of healing, we begin to see our enemy through a cleaner lens, less smudged by hate -- we begin to see them as a person who did something wrong -- not as wrong itself
-- when God forgave us, the first thing He did was to separate us from our sin -- we were not the problem -- it was the sin that was the problem and that needed to be dealt with -- so God provided a way to cover our sins -- so, when God sees us, He doesn't see the sin any longer -- He sees the person underneath the sin, cleansed through the blood of Christ
-- the first step to forgiveness, then, is continuing to hate the sin but not the person who committed the sin against you
-- the second step to forgiveness is to surrender our right to get even -- when we are first wronged -- when we are first hurt -- we want to get even -- we want the other person to suffer like we have suffered and to know that they are suffering because of what they did to us -- we call this "vengeance"
-- when you start on the road to forgiveness, you are releasing your right to vengeance -- to hurting the other person unjustly -- keep in mind, though, that there is a difference between vengeance and justice -- vengeance is our pleasure of seeing someone who hurt us get hurt back -- justice is making sure that someone pays a fair penalty for wronging another -- vengeance is personal satisfaction -- justice is moral accountability
-- forgiveness does not do away with justice -- someone who wronged you may have to pay for the wrong that they have done -- but, forgiveness does mean that you don't desire them to be hurt in an unjust way simply as revenge for what they did to you
-- the final step to forgiveness is when you revise your feelings towards the person that wronged you -- you no longer hate them for who they are and you even can hope that God's grace might fall into their lives -- this does not excuse the wrong that they have done -- it does not mean that we are going to tolerate them trespassing against us again and it does not mean that we are going to restore our relationship with them
-- but it means that you no longer have a desire for them to suffer because of what they have done to you -- and it means that if God was to reach out and touch them and change their lives for the better, that you would be happy to see that happen
-- when you have reached this stage of forgiveness, you can know for sure that the hatred and the bitterness are now removed from your life and that your heart has been healed and restored by the miraculous power of forgiveness
IV. Closing
-- forgiveness is a gift from God -- through Christ, God forgave us for the sins that we committed -- He refused to pour out His vengeance and wrath on us but offered His very Son as a sacrifice to ensure that justice was done -- and, once justice was served, God poured out His blessings on us -- on the very people that once had trespassed against Him
-- in the same way, God calls for us to forgive others that have trespassed against us -- He knows that our hearts have been hurt and damaged by others -- and He knows that these wounded hearts can keep us from loving Him and loving others as He wants
-- so, He encourages us to offer forgiveness to others in our hearts -- so that in the process of forgiveness we might find healing from the hatred and bitterness and resentment that we have built up in our lives
-- when I went to my first Kairos -- the prison ministry similar to the Walk to Emmaus -- I saw the power of forgiveness in the life of another person -- those men in that place had deeply wounded hearts -- they were not only held in physical bars in that place, but they were bound up with spiritual bars of hatred and resentment and unforgiveness to others in their lives
-- a lot of them were in prison because of the hurts that others had inflicted upon them -- their wives -- their fathers -- their mothers -- friends -- others they knew
-- as part of the weekend, we led them through the process of forgiveness and helped them to release the hurts in their hearts through the power of Christ
-- and I watched as those men wept with joy for the first time in their lives -- as they forgave those who hurt them and as they were freed to allow the blessing and salvation of God into their hearts -- relationships may not have been restored that weekend, but lives were changed through the healing power of forgiveness
-- there is power in forgiveness -- and that is why Jesus commands us to pray daily, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us"
-- will you search your hearts now and offer up forgiveness to those who have wronged you in the past -- not for their sake -- but for the healing that God offers you in the process
-- let us pray
11 September 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 6:9-15
9. "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us today our daily bread.
12. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
14. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-- this morning, we are going to be continuing our thoughts from last week on forgiveness that we started as we looked at the Lord's Prayer -- as you read, Jesus taught us to pray in this prayer, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- the only petition in the whole prayer that has a condition built into it -- we are only forgiven by God as we find it within ourselves to forgive others
-- Jesus went on to expand on this teaching in Matthew 6:14-15, when He said, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
-- obviously, forgiveness is intended to be a part of our lives -- seeking forgiveness from God for our trespasses and wrongs -- for our sins -- that we committed against Him -- and forgiving others in our heart when they wrong us and sin against us
-- as Christians and as a church, we have done a pretty good job with seeking forgiveness from God for our sins -- that is a concept that we understand
-- as Christians, we recognize that, as David wrote in Psalm 51, that all sins are committed against God -- and so we preach and practice repentence and confession of our sins and seek forgiveness through the blood of Christ Jesus -- we hang our faith on the promise of 1 John 1:9, "if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"
-- so, we generally have no problem with going before God and praying, as Jesus taught us to, "Our Father, forgive us our trespasses"
-- however, we have had a bigger problem with the second part of that petition -- "as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- a lot of us -- a lot of Christians -- harbor resentment and hatred towards those who have wronged us and trespassed against us -- despite Christ's clear call to forgive others as God forgave us
II. What is forgiveness and why should we forgive?
-- my purpose in this sermon this morning is to encourage you to examine your relationships with others and to challenge you to forgive those who have wronged you and have trespassed against you in the past
-- before you can do that -- before you can come to the point where you can forgive someone that has trespassed against you -- you are going to need a better understanding of what forgiveness is -- why we should forgive -- and how we begin the process of forgiving others
-- so, what is forgiveness and why should we forgive? -- I think that a lot of us have a misconception about what forgiveness is and this misconception keeps us from forgiving others in our lives
-- typically, when we think of forgiveness, we think of restoration -- we think that forgiveness means telling a person that all is forgotten -- that everything is o.k. -- and then welcoming that person back into our lives -- restoring the relationship that once existed
-- for example, Gary Rosenberg tells the story of a couple that came to him for counseling -- the couple had been happily married for years and had two little children -- one day, the father goes into the baby's room to get diapers from the closet, and discovers a stack of love letters written to his wife -- the only problem was that he did not write these love letters -- he went downstairs and found his wife and said two words to her, "I know." -- immediately, she turned white as a ghost and said how sorry she was -- that it was a mistake and that it wouldn't happen again and begged her husband to forgive her and not to leave her
-- now, in our typical view of what forgiveness is, the husband, being a good Christian man -- turns to her and says, "I forgive you" and forgets it ever happens and they go on with their life just as before -- living happily ever after
-- but in reality, we know that is not what happens -- the husband in this case was deeply wounded by his wife -- she had sinned against him -- she had violated his trust -- there was a deep hurt in his heart that needed to be repaired -- and there was no way that he could simply forget what had happened and go on with life as it was
-- that is not what forgiveness is -- when Christ tells us here to forgive others their trespasses as God forgave us our trespasses, He is not telling us to just say "You're forgiven" and to forget the hurt and to go on with our life as if nothing happened -- He is not telling us to restore our relationship with the person who hurt us
-- forgiveness is not about restoring a relationship -- restoration and reunion may eventually come through forgiveness -- but that is not the primary purpose of forgiveness
-- I want you to listen to this -- I want you to understand this -- the primary purpose of forgiving -- the reason God calls us to forgive others -- is to heal the hurts and the scars in our heart that were caused when someone that we trusted trespassed against us and sinned against us and wronged us
-- forgiveness is not something that we do for others -- it is something that we do for our self -- forgiveness is something that happens within us -- within our hearts -- and it doesn't have to involve anyone else
-- true forgiveness is one-sided -- it occurs when you make the choice to heal the hurt that is within you -- when you decide to let God heal the hurt that another has placed in your life
-- you can forgive someone and never, ever restore your relationship with them or even let them know that you have forgiven them
-- let me show you an example
-- In two of Paul's epistles, Philemon and Colossians, we learn about Demas -- a friend of Paul's -- a fellow-worker for Christ -- someone who Paul had witnessed to and who was travelling with him and ministering with him throughout Asia -- Paul closes his letter to the Colossians in Chapter 4 by mentioning all those working with him and he says in verse 14, "Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings" -- Demas was a trusted friend and brother to Paul
-- but, Demas trespassed against Paul and wounded him deeply -- flip over to 2 Timothy 4
9. Do your best to come to me quickly,
10. for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
11. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
12. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
15. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
17. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
18. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Demas had abandoned the faith and deserted Paul when Paul was first arrested -- Demas refused to stand up for Paul and instead left him alone and in prison
-- but, in this closing to the second letter to Timothy, we can see how forgiveness in the life of a Christian should work -- Paul had evidently forgiven Demas for trespassing against him -- for wounding him and violating his trust -- that is why Paul says here, "may it not be held against them"
-- but, note that this forgiveness was one-sided -- Paul forgave Demas in his heart -- but Paul did not attempt to restore their relationship -- he did not attempt to reach out to Demas and bring him back into the fold of Paul's closest confidants -- Paul's trust had been violated and he could no longer trust Demas in the future -- in fact, it seems as if Paul is warning Timothy to watch out for Demas and not to trust him if he comes to Timothy
-- forgiveness does not mean restoration -- when someone hurts you -- when they wound you severely and violate the trust that you had in them -- then you may never trust them again -- in a lot of cases -- such as in the case of Demas and Paul -- such as in the case when a wife forgives an abusive husband -- you should never trust them again -- but, you can forgive them -- not for their sake, but for yours
-- you see, there is only one real reason for forgiving someone else when they trespass against us -- yes, Jesus does tell us that we should forgive others because it is a commandment of God -- but, it is a commandment of God for the same reason that we should go ahead and forgive on our own
-- when someone wrongs you -- when they sin against you -- it is like they have wounded your heart -- they have damaged your heart -- and you will never be well -- you will never be whole again -- until you have repaired the damage that they have done to you
-- hearts damaged by others keep us from loving God as we should -- it keeps us from loving others as we should -- it keeps us from living life as we should
-- hearts damaged by others gives Satan a stronghold into our lives -- and Satan fills up these damaged places in our hearts with anger and hatred and resentment and bitterness and a desire for vengeance -- things that hamper our Christian life
-- so, when God commands us to forgive others when they trespass against us, it is a commandment for our own good -- it is a call for the healing of our hearts -- not for those who wronged us -- but for us -- to cut out of our lives something that is hindering our walk with Christ and that is keeping us from becoming who God wants us to be
-- forgiveness is like the surgeon's knife that cuts cancer out of our body -- God uses this process of forgiveness to heal us and to make us whole once again
III. How do we forgive?
-- so, how do we forgive? -- what is involved in forgiving someone for trespassing against us? -- basically, it is the same process that God used when He forgave us of our sins
-- first, we need to recognize that there is a need for forgiveness and we have to have a desire to heal the hurts within us -- this takes time -- when we have been hurt -- when we have been violated -- it may take months, or even years, until we reach the point where we are ready to forgive the other person for the hurt that they inflicted in our hearts
-- it is okay to be angry at what happened to us -- in fact, we should be angry at what happened -- because someone we trusted violated that very trust in our lives -- and it is through that anger that our desire to heal should come
-- secondly, we should keep in mind that forgiveness is a process -- it is not something that happens just once and is over -- we may forgive and then find ourselves feeling those same hurts once again -- we may find that we have to continually forgive the wrong that was done to us -- that is okay and it is part of the healing process
-- in his book, "The Art of Forgiving," Lewis Smedes outlines the final three steps to forgiveness that we follow when we truly seek healing in our life
-- first, we begin the process of forgiving when we start separating the person who wronged us from the wrong that they did to us -- when someone wrongs us, in our minds, they become the wrong that they did to us -- we say things like, "he is nothing but a cheat -- he is nothing but a liar" -- we look at them and all we see is the sin
-- but, as Smedes points out, when we begin the miracle of healing, we begin to see our enemy through a cleaner lens, less smudged by hate -- we begin to see them as a person who did something wrong -- not as wrong itself
-- when God forgave us, the first thing He did was to separate us from our sin -- we were not the problem -- it was the sin that was the problem and that needed to be dealt with -- so God provided a way to cover our sins -- so, when God sees us, He doesn't see the sin any longer -- He sees the person underneath the sin, cleansed through the blood of Christ
-- the first step to forgiveness, then, is continuing to hate the sin but not the person who committed the sin against you
-- the second step to forgiveness is to surrender our right to get even -- when we are first wronged -- when we are first hurt -- we want to get even -- we want the other person to suffer like we have suffered and to know that they are suffering because of what they did to us -- we call this "vengeance"
-- when you start on the road to forgiveness, you are releasing your right to vengeance -- to hurting the other person unjustly -- keep in mind, though, that there is a difference between vengeance and justice -- vengeance is our pleasure of seeing someone who hurt us get hurt back -- justice is making sure that someone pays a fair penalty for wronging another -- vengeance is personal satisfaction -- justice is moral accountability
-- forgiveness does not do away with justice -- someone who wronged you may have to pay for the wrong that they have done -- but, forgiveness does mean that you don't desire them to be hurt in an unjust way simply as revenge for what they did to you
-- the final step to forgiveness is when you revise your feelings towards the person that wronged you -- you no longer hate them for who they are and you even can hope that God's grace might fall into their lives -- this does not excuse the wrong that they have done -- it does not mean that we are going to tolerate them trespassing against us again and it does not mean that we are going to restore our relationship with them
-- but it means that you no longer have a desire for them to suffer because of what they have done to you -- and it means that if God was to reach out and touch them and change their lives for the better, that you would be happy to see that happen
-- when you have reached this stage of forgiveness, you can know for sure that the hatred and the bitterness are now removed from your life and that your heart has been healed and restored by the miraculous power of forgiveness
IV. Closing
-- forgiveness is a gift from God -- through Christ, God forgave us for the sins that we committed -- He refused to pour out His vengeance and wrath on us but offered His very Son as a sacrifice to ensure that justice was done -- and, once justice was served, God poured out His blessings on us -- on the very people that once had trespassed against Him
-- in the same way, God calls for us to forgive others that have trespassed against us -- He knows that our hearts have been hurt and damaged by others -- and He knows that these wounded hearts can keep us from loving Him and loving others as He wants
-- so, He encourages us to offer forgiveness to others in our hearts -- so that in the process of forgiveness we might find healing from the hatred and bitterness and resentment that we have built up in our lives
-- when I went to my first Kairos -- the prison ministry similar to the Walk to Emmaus -- I saw the power of forgiveness in the life of another person -- those men in that place had deeply wounded hearts -- they were not only held in physical bars in that place, but they were bound up with spiritual bars of hatred and resentment and unforgiveness to others in their lives
-- a lot of them were in prison because of the hurts that others had inflicted upon them -- their wives -- their fathers -- their mothers -- friends -- others they knew
-- as part of the weekend, we led them through the process of forgiveness and helped them to release the hurts in their hearts through the power of Christ
-- and I watched as those men wept with joy for the first time in their lives -- as they forgave those who hurt them and as they were freed to allow the blessing and salvation of God into their hearts -- relationships may not have been restored that weekend, but lives were changed through the healing power of forgiveness
-- there is power in forgiveness -- and that is why Jesus commands us to pray daily, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us"
-- will you search your hearts now and offer up forgiveness to those who have wronged you in the past -- not for their sake -- but for the healing that God offers you in the process
-- let us pray
Friday, September 09, 2005
THE FUTURE OF KATRINA ASSISTANCE?
As I noted in an earlier post and as we have seen over the past week, the outpouring of offerings to those affected by Hurricane Katrina has been nothing short of miraculous. Churches, radio stations, secular organizations, and private individuals have been sacrificially giving of themselves, both in terms of finances and supplies and in sharing their own homes with those displaced by Katrina (still haven't learned what the correct term is -- evidently, "refugee" is controversial).
But, what is going to happen in the future? As we have seen with other catastrophes, such as 9-11 and the tsunami, there is a peak of giving early on but then that declines into almost nothing as time goes by. In the case of the tsunami, and now with Hurricane Katrina, we are going to be looking at months and even years before all is restored and before all the needs are met.
So, recognizing that there is going to be a continuing need for relief support for an extended time period, how can we keep our Christian communities involved? I fear that once the media coverage leaves and gas prices drop and the holiday season begins, the urgency that we are currently feeling will decline. In our south Georgia region, the Sylvester area was severely damaged by floods just a couple of months ago when Cindy came ashore. According to the reports I have heard from the UMC District and Conference, the giving for those affected by flooding in Sylvester has dropped to almost nothing. This can happen with Hurricane Katrina relief, too.
So, what can we do to ensure that those affected by the storm continue to receive love and support and grace from the church over the coming months and years? I honestly have no idea. I am hoping that by posting this that we can start a dialogue and come up with a plan for the church to step forward and not forget our brothers and sisters in need.
The only real suggestion that I have heard, other than taking refugees into your home, has come from Franklin Graham and has been picked up by others, including the Southern Baptist Convention -- namely, for congregations to "adopt" another church in the affected area and to commit to helping them financially and by praying for them over the next several months and years. I like this idea, but am not sure how to put this into practice. How do we find these congregations? How do we identify those in need? And, what about those who are in need but not associated with a particular church?
The only other idea I had, similar to Rev. Graham's, was to have an organization like Compassion International set up a program for the hurricane victims similar to its "adopt a child" program. If they could identify people in need -- perhaps those in shelters -- and have that person/family be "adopted" by a family or church through a monthly donation and through prayers, maybe that would be a way to keep interest alive. I know the monthly letter I get from Compassion International, as well as the letters from the child we sponsor, keep us interested in giving and investing in the life of a child. Could something similar be done for those affected by this natural disaster?
What do you think? What ideas do you have? How can we make sure the body of Christ continues to show the love and mercy and providence of Christ in the coming months and years?
But, what is going to happen in the future? As we have seen with other catastrophes, such as 9-11 and the tsunami, there is a peak of giving early on but then that declines into almost nothing as time goes by. In the case of the tsunami, and now with Hurricane Katrina, we are going to be looking at months and even years before all is restored and before all the needs are met.
So, recognizing that there is going to be a continuing need for relief support for an extended time period, how can we keep our Christian communities involved? I fear that once the media coverage leaves and gas prices drop and the holiday season begins, the urgency that we are currently feeling will decline. In our south Georgia region, the Sylvester area was severely damaged by floods just a couple of months ago when Cindy came ashore. According to the reports I have heard from the UMC District and Conference, the giving for those affected by flooding in Sylvester has dropped to almost nothing. This can happen with Hurricane Katrina relief, too.
So, what can we do to ensure that those affected by the storm continue to receive love and support and grace from the church over the coming months and years? I honestly have no idea. I am hoping that by posting this that we can start a dialogue and come up with a plan for the church to step forward and not forget our brothers and sisters in need.
The only real suggestion that I have heard, other than taking refugees into your home, has come from Franklin Graham and has been picked up by others, including the Southern Baptist Convention -- namely, for congregations to "adopt" another church in the affected area and to commit to helping them financially and by praying for them over the next several months and years. I like this idea, but am not sure how to put this into practice. How do we find these congregations? How do we identify those in need? And, what about those who are in need but not associated with a particular church?
The only other idea I had, similar to Rev. Graham's, was to have an organization like Compassion International set up a program for the hurricane victims similar to its "adopt a child" program. If they could identify people in need -- perhaps those in shelters -- and have that person/family be "adopted" by a family or church through a monthly donation and through prayers, maybe that would be a way to keep interest alive. I know the monthly letter I get from Compassion International, as well as the letters from the child we sponsor, keep us interested in giving and investing in the life of a child. Could something similar be done for those affected by this natural disaster?
What do you think? What ideas do you have? How can we make sure the body of Christ continues to show the love and mercy and providence of Christ in the coming months and years?
COULD KATRINA BE GOOD?
World Magazine has a post excerpted from a missionary's comments on the significance of Hurricane Katrina in regards to God. I think the post and the comments that follow are well worth reading and considering. You can reach the link here.
THE LORD'S PRAYER: "FORGIVENESS"
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
4 September 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 6
9. "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us today our daily bread.
12. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
14. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-- people in Russia celebrate the first day of school in a unique way -- on September 1st of each year, parents and their children dress in their finest clothes and head off to school for what is called, the "Day of Knowledge" -- when they get to school, the parents and children listen to talks from teachers and from other students, and finally, the oldest students in the school -- the "last graders" -- take the first year students -- "first graders" -- to their class
-- on September 1, 2004, terrorists took advantage of this school tradition and stormed Beslan Middle School in Russia, taking more than 1300 people hostage -- they moved everyone into the gym, and set up explosives on trip wires surrounding the compound and constantly harassed and terrorized the students, parents and teachers as they walked through them carrying machine guns and with explosives strapped to their chest
-- Irina Gigouev was one of the parents in the gym that day -- and as she huddled with her two sons, Mark, aged 9, and Arthur, aged 8, she led several in the group in singing hymns and worshiping God
-- as they were singing, a terrorist moved behind her holding an AK-47 -- and Irina prayed out loud for God to touch this man and to change his heart
-- after three frightening days and after the death of numerous hostages, Russian troops stormed the compound -- as soon as the Army begin their raid on the compound, the terrorists starting setting off explosives and shooting hostages -- Irina's sons were both hit by shrapnel, and died in her arms as the battle in the gym raged
-- despite the loss of her sons -- despite the fact that she was facing death herself at the hand of the terrorists -- Irina continued to pray out loud for God to touch the terrorist and to pray for God to forgive him for his role in the death of her sons
-- by the end of the siege, 338 people died, including many children and 31 of the 32 terrorists who were in the gym -- leaving behind a world shocked at the horror of terrorism and a story of Christ-like forgiveness by a mother grieving the loss of her sons
-- to this day, Irina still harbors no resentment or unforgiveness towards her captors -- towards those who killed her sons -- but continues to pray for terrorists to come to know the power of Christ in their lives
-- this morning, we are going to be continuing our series on the Lord's Prayer and will be looking at the petition that Christ told us to pray, "forgive us our trespasses -- or debts, depending on your translation -- as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- as William Temple has pointed out, this is the only petition n the Lord's Prayer that has any condition attached to it
-- out of any sermons that I have preached over the past six years, none have elicited the response that sermons on forgiveness have -- no one seems to mind if we talk about sin -- and repentance -- and moral woes -- no seems to mind if we talk about church responsibility -- or church discipline -- or proper stewardship of God's resources -- no one seems to mind when we talk about hell and about the paths leading to hell -- but, when we get to the topic of forgiveness, a lot of people get very upset
-- if there is one area -- one spiritual stronghold in the church today that is keeping us from seeing God's power move through our midst -- that is keeping us from seeing renewal and revival in our hearts and our homes and our congregations -- it is a lack of forgiveness by those who claim the name of Christ
II. Christ's Call for Forgiveness
-- in this petition, Christ issues forth a call for forgiveness in two ways -- first, He says that we should go to God daily and ask forgiveness for our debts and trespasses -- our sins -- that we have committed against Him
-- the Bible makes it clear that we are all sinners -- we have all committed wrong against God -- Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" -- and Psalm 51:4 says "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge."
-- every time we sin -- every time we commit a trespass or owe a debt -- even if it's to another person -- is ultimately a sin against God -- it is an example of how we failed to follow His commands and His standards and have missed the mark that He set before us
-- so, Jesus calls for us to go before God daily and to ask for the forgiveness of all the sins and debts and trespasses that we have committed -- because they were all committed against the holiness of God
-- we do this first when we come to Christ and accept forgiveness of our sins by believing in our hearts that Jesus was God -- that He died on the cross for our sins -- and that He rose on the third day in proof of victory over sin and death
-- but, even if you have become a Christian, every single one of you in here continues to sin every single day -- it's a part of life -- it's a part of being a human -- but, as you seek forgiveness and as the Holy Spirit works within you to sanctify you and make you more like Jesus, the fewer and fewer sins you are going to commit -- however, we're still going to sin as long as we live here on earth
-- therefore, since we continue to sin against God every single day, Christ calls us for us in this passage to continually come before God, seeking His forgiveness for our daily sins and trespasses so that we might walk in His light and in His life daily
-- but, there's a second aspect to forgiveness that Jesus gives us in this passage -- a second call for forgiveness -- Jesus tells us that God forgives us "as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- and then, in verses 14-15 He amplifies that thought by saying, " if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
-- this is one of the scariest passages in the Bible, because the implications are profound -- Christ is literally telling us here that if we do not forgive others -- if we do not forgive those who trespass against us -- those who have wronged us -- then we will not be forgiven by God
-- Is this what Jesus is actually telling us here? -- is He actually telling us that we will not receive forgiveness from God if we harbor unforgiveness in our heart? -- the answer, as best I can tell from my study of scripture, is "yes"
-- let's think about that for a minute and let's consider the context of this passage -- Matthew tells us that Jesus gave the Lord's prayer and this amplification of His thoughts during the sermon on the mount -- while He was speaking to first century Jews -- a people chosen by God to be His voice and His light and His deliverance to the world
-- the Jewish people had been severely wronged and harassed and persecuted over the ages -- during this time, their country was in bondage to the Romans -- and they suffered resentment and hatred and unforgiveness to those who had done them wrong -- according to one scholar that I read, the Jews were a people who sought revenge for trespasses and rarely showed forgiveness to others
-- but, in this petition, Jesus was calling them to a higher state -- He was calling them to put aside their hatred and their resentment and calling them to forgive those who had wronged them -- He is calling us to the same -- Why?
-- I think He gives us the answer in the way He links our forgiveness of others to the forgiveness from God
-- our ability to forgive others is a sign of God's love and forgiveness in our life -- it is a proof of our salvation -- a proof of our sanctification -- a proof that God has worked in our lives and changed us from who we used to be into people who live with the knowledge and power of God's grace and forgiveness in our lives
-- the Jewish people claimed to be the Chosen of God -- they were proud of the fact that God had established a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- they knew they were the keepers of His word and that the promise of eternal life rested with them -- but, instead of showing God's love and grace and mercy to the world, they showed resentment and hatred and unforgiveness
-- in the same way, a lot of us Christians claim to be filled with God Himself -- we claim to possess within us His truth and His light and His love, but then, rather than showing that love and mercy to others, we turn right around and show resentment and hatred and unforgiveness to others
-- I think that what Christ is trying to get us to see in this prayer is that if we are truly God's people -- if we have truly been touched by God's mercy and grace and forgiveness -- then we will live out the commandment to "love our neighbor as ourself" by pouring out God's mercy and grace onto others -- by forgiving others for the trespasses that they have committed against us
-- if we find that we cannot forgive others, then it may be that we have never actually accepted forgiveness ourself -- we may be like the Jewish people in Jesus' day -- claiming to represent God while not truly loving and serving Him with our whole hearts
-- as one scholar has said, "no one can reasonably imagine himself to be the object of divine forgiveness if he is deliberately and habitually unforgiving towards his fellow men"
-- Colossians 3:12-15 seem to sum up what Christ is saying in this passage -- listen as I read these words to you
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.
15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
-- God's people are called to demonstrate compassion and kindness and humility and patience with others -- God's people are called to demonstrate God's mery to others -- God tells us that we are to forgive whatever grievances -- whatever trespasses -- whatever wrongs that others have done to us, simply because we have experienced the loving grace and forgiveness of God
-- we are to forgive as the Lord forgave us -- as it says in Luke 6:36, "be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"
-- I want to close with a familiar parable this morning that Jesus told to graphically illustrate the point that He was making in this passage that we looked at this morning
-- if you would, please turn over to Matthew 18 and follow along as I read verses 21-35
21. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22. Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26. "The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything.'
27. The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30. "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32. "Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
34. In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
III. Closing
-- In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus told us to pray, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- in this petition, Jesus not only calls on us to go to God and seek forgiveness for our own sins and trespasses against Him, but He calls us on us to offer forgiveness for those who have sinned against us
-- He goes on to tell us that forgiveness is a matter of the heart -- it is only a heart that has been changed -- a heart that has been forgiven by God -- that has been filled with God's love and mercy and grace -- that is capable of forgiving others for wrongs done against it
-- Jesus tells us that our ability to forgive, then, is indicative of our state of grace -- it is a visible sign of whether we have been truly saved and are on the path to sanctification or not
-- we should not take this call for forgiveness lightly -- but we should pray over it and seek in our own hearts the truth of our forgiveness -- if we have received forgiveness from God, then we should be offering forgiveness in the same way
-- because this topic of forgiveness is so vital and so necessary to our growth as Christians, I am planning on continuing to talk about forgiveness next week as well, focusing on what forgiveness means and what it looks like in a Christian's life
-- as I close, I want to invite you this morning -- if you haven't already done so -- to experience the life-changing power of God's forgiveness -- we know that we have all sinned against God and that we all are in need of a Savior -- Jesus offers to you forgiveness of your sins and new life in Him -- eternal life in Him -- if you will simply acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior, believe in your heart that He is God and that He died on the cross for your sins and that He rose from the dead on the third day -- and confess with your mouth that He is God
-- God's forgiveness and His power can be yours today -- by simply asking Jesus to forgive you for your sins -- as I close in prayer and as we sing the final hymn, I am inviting you to make this decision in your heart -- if you would like me to pray with you, the altar is always open for any who wish to come
4 September 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Matthew 6
9. "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us today our daily bread.
12. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
14. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-- people in Russia celebrate the first day of school in a unique way -- on September 1st of each year, parents and their children dress in their finest clothes and head off to school for what is called, the "Day of Knowledge" -- when they get to school, the parents and children listen to talks from teachers and from other students, and finally, the oldest students in the school -- the "last graders" -- take the first year students -- "first graders" -- to their class
-- on September 1, 2004, terrorists took advantage of this school tradition and stormed Beslan Middle School in Russia, taking more than 1300 people hostage -- they moved everyone into the gym, and set up explosives on trip wires surrounding the compound and constantly harassed and terrorized the students, parents and teachers as they walked through them carrying machine guns and with explosives strapped to their chest
-- Irina Gigouev was one of the parents in the gym that day -- and as she huddled with her two sons, Mark, aged 9, and Arthur, aged 8, she led several in the group in singing hymns and worshiping God
-- as they were singing, a terrorist moved behind her holding an AK-47 -- and Irina prayed out loud for God to touch this man and to change his heart
-- after three frightening days and after the death of numerous hostages, Russian troops stormed the compound -- as soon as the Army begin their raid on the compound, the terrorists starting setting off explosives and shooting hostages -- Irina's sons were both hit by shrapnel, and died in her arms as the battle in the gym raged
-- despite the loss of her sons -- despite the fact that she was facing death herself at the hand of the terrorists -- Irina continued to pray out loud for God to touch the terrorist and to pray for God to forgive him for his role in the death of her sons
-- by the end of the siege, 338 people died, including many children and 31 of the 32 terrorists who were in the gym -- leaving behind a world shocked at the horror of terrorism and a story of Christ-like forgiveness by a mother grieving the loss of her sons
-- to this day, Irina still harbors no resentment or unforgiveness towards her captors -- towards those who killed her sons -- but continues to pray for terrorists to come to know the power of Christ in their lives
-- this morning, we are going to be continuing our series on the Lord's Prayer and will be looking at the petition that Christ told us to pray, "forgive us our trespasses -- or debts, depending on your translation -- as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- as William Temple has pointed out, this is the only petition n the Lord's Prayer that has any condition attached to it
-- out of any sermons that I have preached over the past six years, none have elicited the response that sermons on forgiveness have -- no one seems to mind if we talk about sin -- and repentance -- and moral woes -- no seems to mind if we talk about church responsibility -- or church discipline -- or proper stewardship of God's resources -- no one seems to mind when we talk about hell and about the paths leading to hell -- but, when we get to the topic of forgiveness, a lot of people get very upset
-- if there is one area -- one spiritual stronghold in the church today that is keeping us from seeing God's power move through our midst -- that is keeping us from seeing renewal and revival in our hearts and our homes and our congregations -- it is a lack of forgiveness by those who claim the name of Christ
II. Christ's Call for Forgiveness
-- in this petition, Christ issues forth a call for forgiveness in two ways -- first, He says that we should go to God daily and ask forgiveness for our debts and trespasses -- our sins -- that we have committed against Him
-- the Bible makes it clear that we are all sinners -- we have all committed wrong against God -- Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" -- and Psalm 51:4 says "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge."
-- every time we sin -- every time we commit a trespass or owe a debt -- even if it's to another person -- is ultimately a sin against God -- it is an example of how we failed to follow His commands and His standards and have missed the mark that He set before us
-- so, Jesus calls for us to go before God daily and to ask for the forgiveness of all the sins and debts and trespasses that we have committed -- because they were all committed against the holiness of God
-- we do this first when we come to Christ and accept forgiveness of our sins by believing in our hearts that Jesus was God -- that He died on the cross for our sins -- and that He rose on the third day in proof of victory over sin and death
-- but, even if you have become a Christian, every single one of you in here continues to sin every single day -- it's a part of life -- it's a part of being a human -- but, as you seek forgiveness and as the Holy Spirit works within you to sanctify you and make you more like Jesus, the fewer and fewer sins you are going to commit -- however, we're still going to sin as long as we live here on earth
-- therefore, since we continue to sin against God every single day, Christ calls us for us in this passage to continually come before God, seeking His forgiveness for our daily sins and trespasses so that we might walk in His light and in His life daily
-- but, there's a second aspect to forgiveness that Jesus gives us in this passage -- a second call for forgiveness -- Jesus tells us that God forgives us "as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- and then, in verses 14-15 He amplifies that thought by saying, " if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
-- this is one of the scariest passages in the Bible, because the implications are profound -- Christ is literally telling us here that if we do not forgive others -- if we do not forgive those who trespass against us -- those who have wronged us -- then we will not be forgiven by God
-- Is this what Jesus is actually telling us here? -- is He actually telling us that we will not receive forgiveness from God if we harbor unforgiveness in our heart? -- the answer, as best I can tell from my study of scripture, is "yes"
-- let's think about that for a minute and let's consider the context of this passage -- Matthew tells us that Jesus gave the Lord's prayer and this amplification of His thoughts during the sermon on the mount -- while He was speaking to first century Jews -- a people chosen by God to be His voice and His light and His deliverance to the world
-- the Jewish people had been severely wronged and harassed and persecuted over the ages -- during this time, their country was in bondage to the Romans -- and they suffered resentment and hatred and unforgiveness to those who had done them wrong -- according to one scholar that I read, the Jews were a people who sought revenge for trespasses and rarely showed forgiveness to others
-- but, in this petition, Jesus was calling them to a higher state -- He was calling them to put aside their hatred and their resentment and calling them to forgive those who had wronged them -- He is calling us to the same -- Why?
-- I think He gives us the answer in the way He links our forgiveness of others to the forgiveness from God
-- our ability to forgive others is a sign of God's love and forgiveness in our life -- it is a proof of our salvation -- a proof of our sanctification -- a proof that God has worked in our lives and changed us from who we used to be into people who live with the knowledge and power of God's grace and forgiveness in our lives
-- the Jewish people claimed to be the Chosen of God -- they were proud of the fact that God had established a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- they knew they were the keepers of His word and that the promise of eternal life rested with them -- but, instead of showing God's love and grace and mercy to the world, they showed resentment and hatred and unforgiveness
-- in the same way, a lot of us Christians claim to be filled with God Himself -- we claim to possess within us His truth and His light and His love, but then, rather than showing that love and mercy to others, we turn right around and show resentment and hatred and unforgiveness to others
-- I think that what Christ is trying to get us to see in this prayer is that if we are truly God's people -- if we have truly been touched by God's mercy and grace and forgiveness -- then we will live out the commandment to "love our neighbor as ourself" by pouring out God's mercy and grace onto others -- by forgiving others for the trespasses that they have committed against us
-- if we find that we cannot forgive others, then it may be that we have never actually accepted forgiveness ourself -- we may be like the Jewish people in Jesus' day -- claiming to represent God while not truly loving and serving Him with our whole hearts
-- as one scholar has said, "no one can reasonably imagine himself to be the object of divine forgiveness if he is deliberately and habitually unforgiving towards his fellow men"
-- Colossians 3:12-15 seem to sum up what Christ is saying in this passage -- listen as I read these words to you
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.
15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
-- God's people are called to demonstrate compassion and kindness and humility and patience with others -- God's people are called to demonstrate God's mery to others -- God tells us that we are to forgive whatever grievances -- whatever trespasses -- whatever wrongs that others have done to us, simply because we have experienced the loving grace and forgiveness of God
-- we are to forgive as the Lord forgave us -- as it says in Luke 6:36, "be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"
-- I want to close with a familiar parable this morning that Jesus told to graphically illustrate the point that He was making in this passage that we looked at this morning
-- if you would, please turn over to Matthew 18 and follow along as I read verses 21-35
21. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22. Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26. "The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything.'
27. The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30. "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32. "Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
34. In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
III. Closing
-- In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus told us to pray, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" -- in this petition, Jesus not only calls on us to go to God and seek forgiveness for our own sins and trespasses against Him, but He calls us on us to offer forgiveness for those who have sinned against us
-- He goes on to tell us that forgiveness is a matter of the heart -- it is only a heart that has been changed -- a heart that has been forgiven by God -- that has been filled with God's love and mercy and grace -- that is capable of forgiving others for wrongs done against it
-- Jesus tells us that our ability to forgive, then, is indicative of our state of grace -- it is a visible sign of whether we have been truly saved and are on the path to sanctification or not
-- we should not take this call for forgiveness lightly -- but we should pray over it and seek in our own hearts the truth of our forgiveness -- if we have received forgiveness from God, then we should be offering forgiveness in the same way
-- because this topic of forgiveness is so vital and so necessary to our growth as Christians, I am planning on continuing to talk about forgiveness next week as well, focusing on what forgiveness means and what it looks like in a Christian's life
-- as I close, I want to invite you this morning -- if you haven't already done so -- to experience the life-changing power of God's forgiveness -- we know that we have all sinned against God and that we all are in need of a Savior -- Jesus offers to you forgiveness of your sins and new life in Him -- eternal life in Him -- if you will simply acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior, believe in your heart that He is God and that He died on the cross for your sins and that He rose from the dead on the third day -- and confess with your mouth that He is God
-- God's forgiveness and His power can be yours today -- by simply asking Jesus to forgive you for your sins -- as I close in prayer and as we sing the final hymn, I am inviting you to make this decision in your heart -- if you would like me to pray with you, the altar is always open for any who wish to come
Thursday, September 08, 2005
WHEN WE ARE GOOD...
There once was a girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad she was horrid.
After a week of absorbing the sights of Hurricane Katrina and the effects of this hurricane on our society, especially in regards to New Orleans, I have to conclude that America is the little girl in the familiar nursery rhyme that I quoted above.
We have seen the best -- and the worst -- of America this week. From the selfless sacrifice of volunteers, police, firemen, military, and emergency personnel to the selfish behavior of some in the New Orleans area, we have seen it all.
I am constantly amazed at the goodness of America, for when we are good, we are very, very good. By and large, we are a Christian nation. Even if the majority of the country are just nominal Christians or Christian in name only, our country has been influenced by the Christian lifestyle and when events such as Hurricane Katrina or 9-11 happen, we see Americans pouring out God's grace through their actions as they serve and minister and sacrifice for their neighbors. Christian and other religious organizations have been spearheading relief efforts for the hurricane-stricken region, and giving -- both of supplies and money -- has been nothing short of miraculous. If you have been watching at all, you have seen example after example of how Americans have turned out their hearts and taken in or otherwise helped those who have been affected. Yes, when we are good, we are very, very good.
On the other hand, when we are bad, we are horrid. I was appalled, but not surprised, at the actions of the lawless few who looted and shot at and harassed those affected by the storms and those who were going in to help in the relief effort. If anyone doubts the doctrine of original sin, or the principle that we are, by our very nature, sinners in need of a Savior, then all you have to do is point them to New Orleans. As someone once noted, the doctrine of original sin is the only doctrine validated empirically by thousands of years of human history. This is exactly what we saw played out this week in New Orleans.
So, what is the take-home message for us from this natural disaster? I think it demonstrates that Christians have a lot of work to do in our country. Not only do we need to try to meet our neighbor's physical needs, but we need to use this disaster to help meet their spiritual needs, by demonstrating to them the love of Christ in action and introducing them to the Savior who can save them, not from the natural disasters of this life, but from death itself.
And, I think we need to recognize that Christ called us to go and make disciples at all times and in all ways, not just after a natural disaster. Perhaps Katrina will make us more aware of our neighbors around us who are currently drowning in sin and who are facing eternal death unless we can help them grab the hand of the only Rescuer who can save them.
After a week of absorbing the sights of Hurricane Katrina and the effects of this hurricane on our society, especially in regards to New Orleans, I have to conclude that America is the little girl in the familiar nursery rhyme that I quoted above.
We have seen the best -- and the worst -- of America this week. From the selfless sacrifice of volunteers, police, firemen, military, and emergency personnel to the selfish behavior of some in the New Orleans area, we have seen it all.
I am constantly amazed at the goodness of America, for when we are good, we are very, very good. By and large, we are a Christian nation. Even if the majority of the country are just nominal Christians or Christian in name only, our country has been influenced by the Christian lifestyle and when events such as Hurricane Katrina or 9-11 happen, we see Americans pouring out God's grace through their actions as they serve and minister and sacrifice for their neighbors. Christian and other religious organizations have been spearheading relief efforts for the hurricane-stricken region, and giving -- both of supplies and money -- has been nothing short of miraculous. If you have been watching at all, you have seen example after example of how Americans have turned out their hearts and taken in or otherwise helped those who have been affected. Yes, when we are good, we are very, very good.
On the other hand, when we are bad, we are horrid. I was appalled, but not surprised, at the actions of the lawless few who looted and shot at and harassed those affected by the storms and those who were going in to help in the relief effort. If anyone doubts the doctrine of original sin, or the principle that we are, by our very nature, sinners in need of a Savior, then all you have to do is point them to New Orleans. As someone once noted, the doctrine of original sin is the only doctrine validated empirically by thousands of years of human history. This is exactly what we saw played out this week in New Orleans.
So, what is the take-home message for us from this natural disaster? I think it demonstrates that Christians have a lot of work to do in our country. Not only do we need to try to meet our neighbor's physical needs, but we need to use this disaster to help meet their spiritual needs, by demonstrating to them the love of Christ in action and introducing them to the Savior who can save them, not from the natural disasters of this life, but from death itself.
And, I think we need to recognize that Christ called us to go and make disciples at all times and in all ways, not just after a natural disaster. Perhaps Katrina will make us more aware of our neighbors around us who are currently drowning in sin and who are facing eternal death unless we can help them grab the hand of the only Rescuer who can save them.
Friday, September 02, 2005
UMC BISHOP WATSON ON HURRICANE RELIEF
Just received this from Bishop Watson today. Thought I would share, especially for those of you in the south Georgia area. Our prayers and financial/physical assistance continue to go to those affected by the storms. Please share a special prayer for my brother-in-law, Mike, who is in Mobile today bringing food and other supplies to friends and family in the area.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 2, 2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
In the name of Jesus I greet you in love. "Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all
consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able
to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which
we ourselves are consoled by God." (2nd Corinthians 1:3 & 4)
I join with all of you in our heartfelt desire to offer Christ-like care
for the people recently devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The magnitude of
destruction is unlike anything most of us have ever seen in this country.
Our hearts ache as we see so many of God's children suffering.
Offers of help have begun to come to my attention. Thank you.
Our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working diligently in
the name of Christ. UMCOR is in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
mobilizing and offering assistance.
The South Georgia Conference Disaster Response Team is working with UMCOR
to determine the most strategic ways we can be of assistance. As
information comes forth, you will find updates on the conference website,
www.sgaumc.org. That site will be helpful to you if you are looking for
ways to help others.
The question being asked is how can we be involved immediately. Financial
assistance is the most effective and quickest way we can help. Financial
gifts to UMCOR will make a significant impact on the relief and long-term
recovery efforts. All gifts (100%) given to UMCOR go directly to meet the
needs of hurricane victims. Because of our United Methodist connectional
system and our annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering, no administrative
costs have to be deducted from gifts designated for relief efforts such as
this.
Your local church can forward your gift to UMCOR through the South Georgia
Conference Treasurer's Office, P. O. Box 52101, Macon, GA 31208. Make sure
that the check is marked for UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global.
You can also donate online at www.methodistrelief.org or by calling
800-554-8583.
UMCOR has issued an urgent appeal for flood buckets, health kits and
blankets. You will find more information about this on the conference
website. How you will transport the items you collect needs to be factored
into your planning.
One problem has arisen that we have not seen before. There is a need for
refugee/evacuee housing. We are currently researching ways to connect
people needing shelter with those who can provide it.
In the months to come there will be a great need for volunteer work teams
who are trained to go into the affected areas. Our Disaster Response Team
will be conducting additional training throughout the conference in
mid-September. This information will also be posted on the conference
website.
There is no quick-fix to this devastation. This is going to be a long-term
relief effort. I am confident that the United Methodist people of South
Georgia will unite in responding as Christ would have us do.
Let us continue to be in prayer for all of those affected and those in
ministry to them, and let us give generously to support the massive relief
efforts already underway.
Grace and peace,
Mike Watson
Resident Bishop
South Georgia Area
The United Methodist Church
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 2, 2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
In the name of Jesus I greet you in love. "Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all
consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able
to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which
we ourselves are consoled by God." (2nd Corinthians 1:3 & 4)
I join with all of you in our heartfelt desire to offer Christ-like care
for the people recently devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The magnitude of
destruction is unlike anything most of us have ever seen in this country.
Our hearts ache as we see so many of God's children suffering.
Offers of help have begun to come to my attention. Thank you.
Our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working diligently in
the name of Christ. UMCOR is in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
mobilizing and offering assistance.
The South Georgia Conference Disaster Response Team is working with UMCOR
to determine the most strategic ways we can be of assistance. As
information comes forth, you will find updates on the conference website,
www.sgaumc.org. That site will be helpful to you if you are looking for
ways to help others.
The question being asked is how can we be involved immediately. Financial
assistance is the most effective and quickest way we can help. Financial
gifts to UMCOR will make a significant impact on the relief and long-term
recovery efforts. All gifts (100%) given to UMCOR go directly to meet the
needs of hurricane victims. Because of our United Methodist connectional
system and our annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering, no administrative
costs have to be deducted from gifts designated for relief efforts such as
this.
Your local church can forward your gift to UMCOR through the South Georgia
Conference Treasurer's Office, P. O. Box 52101, Macon, GA 31208. Make sure
that the check is marked for UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global.
You can also donate online at www.methodistrelief.org or by calling
800-554-8583.
UMCOR has issued an urgent appeal for flood buckets, health kits and
blankets. You will find more information about this on the conference
website. How you will transport the items you collect needs to be factored
into your planning.
One problem has arisen that we have not seen before. There is a need for
refugee/evacuee housing. We are currently researching ways to connect
people needing shelter with those who can provide it.
In the months to come there will be a great need for volunteer work teams
who are trained to go into the affected areas. Our Disaster Response Team
will be conducting additional training throughout the conference in
mid-September. This information will also be posted on the conference
website.
There is no quick-fix to this devastation. This is going to be a long-term
relief effort. I am confident that the United Methodist people of South
Georgia will unite in responding as Christ would have us do.
Let us continue to be in prayer for all of those affected and those in
ministry to them, and let us give generously to support the massive relief
efforts already underway.
Grace and peace,
Mike Watson
Resident Bishop
South Georgia Area
The United Methodist Church
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