God does not reveal His will for our consideration; God reveals His will

for our participation...

1 John 4:7-11 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

1 John 4:7-11(cont.)

  “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

John 19:30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

1. Understanding – Know that the un-forgiveness you feel toward some does not harm them.

Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

2. Look at the Brightside

Make a list of the good things that materialize as a result of the experience. Ask yourself what is it that God is teaching me in this situation? Trust!!!

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

3. Look for the helpers

Think about God’s kindness and mercies. Practice Christ’s example, remember 7 times 70…

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven

John 14:16-18

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Luke 11:9-13

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

Luke 11:9-13 (cont.)

Or if He asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

4. Look at the bigger picture God wants you to have peace; He wants to forgive you your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you..

5. The Aramaic word for "forgive" means literally to "untie."

–Untie the bindings and loosen yourself from that ugliness. –Your un-forgiveness has tied you to the

person responsible for your pain. –To untie through forgiveness, frees you

from the chains of bondage.

Romans 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

6. Stop telling "the story” –To continue to tell the story makes one revisit the negative experience. –To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.–Forgiving your transgressors is the kindest thing you can do for you, your friends and family.

Luke 6:37

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

7. Retrain your thinking

Wish your transgressor well, send blessing along their way every time you think about the hurt that they caused you.

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing

“Do it this week”  

Pick a specific person to work through the forgiveness steps with.

See You Next Sunday!