#S073 - No More Excuses For
Refusing To Forgive (Part 1)
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I want to invite
you to go with me
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to the Book of
Matthew, chapter 18.
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Matthew Chapter 18.
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And we're going to begin
together at verse number 21,
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a very, very familiar
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verse of scripture,
Matthew 18 and verse 21.
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And for those who are
watching online, I would ask
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if you are an apple
apostle or digital disciple,
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if you're an
electronic evangelist,
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if you would do the work of
sharing, if you are on Facebook
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copying the link and
sending it to somebody
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on YouTube that they
might be blessed as well.
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Matthew Chapter 18
and verse number 21.
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When you get there,
let me hear you say amen.
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Matthew Chapter 18
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and we're going to
look together at verse 21.
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Now, let me just go
ahead and say from the outset
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that today's message,
if you receive it, Saints,
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is there anybody in
the house with me today?
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If you receive this word,
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it is not going to
change your life down the line.
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It is going to
change your life today.
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And I need you
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to be clear that
sometimes a good sermon
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can be like surgery.
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You never look forward to it,
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but you're better for
having gone through it.
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And so
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I'm going to encourage you
to listen with spiritual leaders
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to what the Lord has
to say to the body today.
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Matthew, Chapter 18,
Matthew 18 and verse 21,
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the Bible says.
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Then Peter came and said, Lord,
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how often shall my
brother sin against me?
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And I forgive him
up to seven times.
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And Jesus said to
him, I do not say to you
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up to seven times,
but to 70 times, seven.
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Therefore, the Kingdom of
Heaven is like a certain king
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who wanted to settle
accounts with his servants.
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And when he had begun
to settle accounts, one
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was brought to him
who owed 10,000 talents,
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but as he was not what
able to pay his master commanded
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that he be sold with his wife
and his children and all that.
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He had that payment be made
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and the servant therefore
fell down before him, saying,
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Master, have patience
with me and I will pay you all.
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Then the master of that
servant was moved with what?
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With compassion
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released him and
did what forgave him.
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Did you catch that?
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He didn't put it in forbearance.
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He didn't put him
on a payment plan.
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The Bible says
he forgave the debt,
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but the servant went out
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and found one of his
fellow servants who owed him
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100 naira and laid hands on him
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and took him by the throat
saying, Pay me what you owe.
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So his fellow servant fell
down at his feet and begged him
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Sing, Have patience with
me and I will pay you all.
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And he would not, but went
and threw him into the prison
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till he should be
able to pay the debt.
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So when his fellow
servants saw what had been done,
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they were very grieved
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and came and told their
master all that had been done.
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Then his master, after he
had called him, said to him,
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You wicked servant,
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I forgave you.
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Are you all here to church?
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Are you here? Me, church?
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Are you all with
the pastor today?
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I forgave you
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all the debt
because you begged me.
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Should you not also have
had compassionate compassion
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on your fellow servant,
just as I have pity on you
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and his master was angry and
delivered him to the torturers
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until he should pay
all that was due to him.
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So My Heavenly Father
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will do to each of
you from his heart,
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who does not forgive his brother
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his trespasses.
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Today, Saints, I
want to talk to you
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for a little
while under the subject.
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No more excuses for
refusing to forgive.
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No more excuses for
refusing to forgive.
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Let's pray together, Father.
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I pray that you would
to the ground of the soul
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that your word might have
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a safe lodging place
in which in order to grow.
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And so, Father, I'm
praying for a strange
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anointing for the
preaching of the word.
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And then, dear God,
would you give a sufficient
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anointing that we would be
able to hear it rightly digested
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and be swift in the application
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and so, Father, I'm
praying that the faith to obey
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would multiply exponentially
in the hearing of the word.
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Would you please hide me in
the shadows of the cross that
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Jesus alone might be seen, that
Christ alone might be heard?
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And at the end of
our time together,
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let Jesus alone
be praised. Bless us.
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To this end,
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we ask in the wonderful
name of Jesus, our Lord,
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let them that
believe, say together.
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Amen. And a man.
You may be seated
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in the House of the Lord again.
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No more excuses
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for refusing to forgive.
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You know,
saints, you should know
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that Satan is a
master of misdirection,
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so that if you're
alert and on guard
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and paying attention
over here, rest assured
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that attack and assault is
going to come from over there.
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In fact, Song of Solomon 215
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says To Catch the Foxes, for
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it is the little foxes
that destroy the harvest.
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So in ancient times, a
farmer would be on guard
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against locusts and raid
wars and inclement weather.
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But yet it was some tiny
baby foxes that threatened him.
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The well-being of the harvest.
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And sometimes saints weep again.
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We remain alert to very obvious
threats while we overlook
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some threats that have potential
to destroy the harvest.
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In other words,
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we maintain diligence
about certain issues of morality
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so that we are on guard
against sexual temptation.
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We have a high
standard about drinking.
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We have a
standard about smoking.
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We won't even allow certain
food inside of our house.
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Yet we have an open
door policy for offenses
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and we leave our
guests room for unforgiveness.
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In fact, friends, my fear
is that some will have lived
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a life of moral excellence
where you learned not to smoke
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and you chose not to drink and
you avoided vile conversation.
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But you will wind
up lost in eternity
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because you never
learn how to handle offenses
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and you never learned the
discipline of forgiveness.
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In fact, friends,
if I read the Scripture
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correctly, unforgiveness
is more deadly than porn,
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adultery,
homosexuality and crack cocaine
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because the man who does
those things can be forgiven.
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But the one who refuses to
forgive cannot be forgiven.
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In fact, the refusal to forgive
is the only human practice
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that nullifies the grace of God
and the life of the believer.
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Because the truth is that
grace abounds above lying.
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It abounds in fornication,
it abounds in addiction.
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The only thing
that nullifies grace
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is when we refuse to forgive
those that have harmed us.
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And the reason that
some will miss the mark
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is because we don't see
refusing to forgive as immoral.
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In fact, it is the one saying
that we don't confess to God.
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We see unforgiveness as
morally benign, as morally
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neutral, as morally
indifferent, not realizing
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this is the one thing
that can destroy your harvest.
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And so even in the
church we get irritated about
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sessions, about forgiveness,
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we get annoyed that this
is a biblical requirement.
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But my hope and prayer,
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friends, is that we shift
our perspective on forgiveness
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and get to a place where
we stop seeing forgiveness
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as a mandate and start
seeing forgiveness as medicine.
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Let me say it again
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that forgiveness
is not just a mandate.
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It is actually
medicine that heals.
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In fact,
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studies show that forgiveness
helps with depression,
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anxiety, toxic anger, sleep
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deprivation and
post-traumatic stress disorder.
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And the problem is
that we see forgiving
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as a sacrifice that depletes us
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when in truth, it's a
sacrament that releases us.
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In fact, I need somebody to know
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that forgiving is not
kryptonite that weakens us.
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It's the vibranium that
makes us indestructible.
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And God's word to somebody
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today is that your
victory is in forgiving.
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Your healing is in forgiving
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your deliverer is in forgiving.
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Your next level is in forgiving.
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In other words, closure
doesn't come when somebody comes
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and finally says, I'm
sorry, you are healing comes
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when regardless of what
they do, you release the burden,
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you release the pain, you
release the toxic sincerely
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by allowing the soul to breathe
by the power of forgiveness.
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And the word to somebody
is, you got to stop trapping
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your anger.
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You got to stop
nourishing your pain.
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You've got to stop
nurturing your hurt.
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And you've got to allow Jesus
to do surgery in your soul.
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Today.
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In fact, let me
let me say it this way.
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I don't know.
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Some of you ever
seen this ridiculous
00:10:51.78\00:10:53.28
series of movies
called John Wick.
00:10:53.31\00:10:55.88
You are here today.
00:10:56.42\00:10:57.29
And for those who
are converted, John Wick
00:10:57.32\00:10:59.82
is the John Wayne
of this generation.
00:10:59.85\00:11:02.99
And what makes it
crazy is that John Wick
00:11:03.89\00:11:05.89
can be shot 32
times and still live.
00:11:06.70\00:11:09.03
And what allows him to live
00:11:09.70\00:11:11.17
is that when he
goes to his surgeon,
00:11:11.20\00:11:13.27
he doesn't just have him
patch up the bullet wound.
00:11:14.37\00:11:16.30
The surgeon
actually removes the shrapnel
00:11:17.27\00:11:19.44
and he removes the bullet
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because he knows that he
can withstand being shot.
00:11:21.51\00:11:24.65
But he can't remain
if he allows the poison
00:11:25.58\00:11:27.92
or the bullet to stay
inside your missile point.
00:11:28.98\00:11:31.15
In other words,
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in the journey of faith,
you can't avoid being shot,
00:11:32.72\00:11:36.96
but you can make sure you allow
Jesus to remove all the poison
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and the emotional shrapnel
that people leave inside of you.
00:11:43.53\00:11:47.64
And I need you to know that
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when you forgive, you're
allowing the great physician
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to remove all of the poison
and toxicity that keeps you bam
00:11:54.61\00:11:58.98
and keeps you from becoming
who God has ordained you to be.
00:12:00.25\00:12:03.12
You are with the pastor today
00:12:03.82\00:12:04.49
and so go back with you.
00:12:05.52\00:12:06.82
Go with back with
me, if you don't mind.
00:12:06.86\00:12:08.66
To Matthew 18 versus 21.
00:12:08.69\00:12:11.23
We're going to walk
through this thing today,
00:12:11.26\00:12:13.40
Matthew 18 and
verse 21, the Bible.
00:12:13.43\00:12:16.83
Since then, Peter came and
said to him, Lord, how often
00:12:16.87\00:12:20.57
shall my brother sin against me?
00:12:20.60\00:12:22.80
And I forgive him
up to seven times.
00:12:23.67\00:12:26.98
And Jesus said unto
Him, I say unto you,
00:12:27.01\00:12:29.88
not up to seven
times, but 17 times seven.
00:12:29.91\00:12:34.75
Now, friends, I
need you to get today
00:12:35.58\00:12:37.29
that this particular dialog
is set against the backdrop
00:12:38.49\00:12:42.62
of Jesus teaching on offenses
and so what happens is in verse
00:12:43.86\00:12:47.86
six, Jesus talks about
the danger of offenses,
00:12:47.86\00:12:52.00
and in verse 15, he
describes how to handle
00:12:52.97\00:12:55.50
when a brother or sister
sins against you, he says,
00:12:55.54\00:12:59.01
If one sins against you,
go and tell it to him alone.
00:12:59.04\00:13:03.41
But if they don't receive
you take two or three witnesses
00:13:04.65\00:13:07.75
that every word
may be established
00:13:08.58\00:13:10.12
and if they don't
receive their group,
00:13:11.02\00:13:12.19
take the matter
00:13:12.22\00:13:13.36
before the entire church
and from this dialog emerges.
00:13:13.39\00:13:17.79
Peter's question about
how often we should forget.
00:13:17.83\00:13:21.40
Now, to be clear, Saint
00:13:21.96\00:13:23.70
Peter asked this
question in a very cunning way.
00:13:23.73\00:13:27.74
In fact, friends, this
is a self-congratulatory
00:13:28.80\00:13:32.47
inquiry designed
to impress Jesus,
00:13:32.51\00:13:36.21
by the way he puts it
for because Peter knows
00:13:36.24\00:13:39.61
that rabbinical law requires
that you only forgive a person.
00:13:39.65\00:13:44.55
Three times.
00:13:44.59\00:13:45.85
But Peter says, Jesus, I'm
here for this conversation.
00:13:45.89\00:13:49.69
When I ask, I'm going to
say three times two plus one.
00:13:50.86\00:13:54.50
So he's saying, I
forgive up to seven times.
00:13:54.56\00:13:57.77
And then Jesus
rebuffs his hubris
00:13:58.57\00:14:01.04
when he says not up
to seven times, but seven
00:14:01.97\00:14:04.57
times, 70 times, and
understand friends that Jesus,
00:14:05.64\00:14:09.61
when he says this, is not
trying to give him a larger
00:14:10.68\00:14:13.35
number of insists
that is to be forgiven.
00:14:14.25\00:14:16.82
What he is
essentially teaching says
00:14:17.69\00:14:19.12
is that people are not to
be treated as indispensable.
00:14:19.15\00:14:23.06
We I start to forgive as often
00:14:23.76\00:14:26.36
as offenses are bound
00:14:26.39\00:14:28.86
but but the larger
point friends stay with me
00:14:29.80\00:14:32.43
is we've got to change the
way we approach forgiveness.
00:14:33.60\00:14:36.40
Number one, saints,
00:14:36.94\00:14:37.94
I need you to know
that the decision to forgive
00:14:37.97\00:14:41.34
must be made
before the offense occurs.
00:14:42.24\00:14:45.91
Okay, let me say it
again for those in the back
00:14:45.95\00:14:48.68
that the decision to forgive
00:14:49.35\00:14:51.29
must be made even
before an offense occurs.
00:14:52.25\00:14:55.56
In other words, I
don't decide to forgive
00:14:56.52\00:14:59.06
after I evaluate the
nature of the offense
00:15:00.10\00:15:02.56
y'all going to
get to here today.
00:15:02.60\00:15:04.60
See how many of us know
that forgiving is not something
00:15:04.63\00:15:07.64
I have to pray about.
00:15:07.67\00:15:11.51
Forgiving is not
something I have to think over.
00:15:11.54\00:15:14.48
Say, forgiving is not something
I have to vacillate on.
00:15:15.61\00:15:18.21
I need you to know that.
00:15:18.78\00:15:19.68
I've got to make
the decision to forgive
00:15:19.71\00:15:22.52
well before the offense arises.
00:15:23.22\00:15:25.39
Because, friends, forgiveness
00:15:26.09\00:15:27.62
is supposed to be
offered infinitely.
00:15:28.52\00:15:30.69
I've got to
make it up in my mind
00:15:30.73\00:15:32.99
that forgiveness
is a way of life.
00:15:33.83\00:15:35.66
Are you all? With
the past of today?
00:15:35.70\00:15:37.57
Forgiveness has
to be a lifestyle.
00:15:37.60\00:15:40.37
Forgiveness has
to be a doctrine.
00:15:40.40\00:15:43.30
How many of us know
that forgiving is a part
00:15:44.24\00:15:46.57
of the Christian's brand?
00:15:46.61\00:15:50.88
See, the problem is saints.
00:15:50.91\00:15:52.11
We want to run around
00:15:52.15\00:15:53.28
and we want to evaluate
the depth of their contrition.
00:15:53.31\00:15:56.79
And we want to judge
00:15:57.32\00:15:58.49
the nature of their remorse
before we decide to forgive.
00:15:58.52\00:16:02.66
But if you're going to
live out the standard of Jesus,
00:16:03.76\00:16:05.96
you've got to get to a
place where forgiving is
00:16:07.00\00:16:09.20
not an occasion, but forgiving
is a lifestyle for the believer.
00:16:09.23\00:16:13.67
See how many of
us know like that?
00:16:14.87\00:16:16.50
Some of the best folk
who stay in the best shape
00:16:16.54\00:16:19.04
are not the folk
00:16:19.47\00:16:20.61
that get in shape because
there is an occasion coming up.
00:16:20.64\00:16:23.55
In other words,
when they go to the gym
00:16:24.41\00:16:25.91
because there's a
high school reunion
00:16:25.95\00:16:27.72
or they've got a fit and
some jeans are dressed, no,
00:16:27.75\00:16:30.62
the ones who are
in the best shape
00:16:30.65\00:16:32.49
are the ones that
work out as a lifestyle.
00:16:32.52\00:16:35.06
So they don't get
up when it's cold.
00:16:35.92\00:16:37.13
They don't go when it's hot,
they don't go when it's early.
00:16:37.16\00:16:39.86
In other words, they're not
getting ready for an occasion.
00:16:39.89\00:16:42.83
It's just a part
of the way they live
00:16:43.73\00:16:46.33
and see friends.
00:16:47.67\00:16:48.67
If you're going to be
our show nuff Christian,
00:16:48.70\00:16:50.84
you got to make forgiving
are part of your lifestyle,
00:16:52.01\00:16:54.84
are ya hear me today
00:16:54.88\00:16:55.94
and see the reason
you've got to forgive
00:16:57.25\00:16:59.28
even before the offense comes
is because if you take the time
00:17:00.58\00:17:03.65
to evaluate the offense,
00:17:03.69\00:17:05.42
if you take the time
to evaluate the details
00:17:05.45\00:17:08.32
and try to judge
who's worthy of it,
00:17:09.19\00:17:11.33
you will mess
yourself up in two ways.
00:17:12.23\00:17:13.93
Number one, I need you to know
that if forgiving is medicine,
00:17:13.96\00:17:19.77
if forgiving is removing
the bullet, I can't be selective
00:17:19.80\00:17:25.34
about removing the
bullet based on who shot me.
00:17:26.41\00:17:28.71
Okay. All right.
00:17:29.81\00:17:31.18
In other words,
this is my thing.
00:17:32.01\00:17:33.18
I'll only remove the bullet
if I was shot by a nice person.
00:17:33.21\00:17:37.15
Y'all not hear me today and
00:17:37.19\00:17:38.72
say I'll only remove the bullet
if they stop me accidentally.
00:17:38.75\00:17:42.49
But how many of us know
friends that it doesn't matter
00:17:43.59\00:17:44.86
if they shoot you at
a 3845 or machine gun?
00:17:44.89\00:17:49.20
It still hurts just the same.
00:17:49.90\00:17:51.57
And you got to make
00:17:52.10\00:17:53.13
a decision to say, I'm
going to remove the poison
00:17:53.17\00:17:56.54
no matter what
00:17:56.97\00:17:57.97
the intention was of the
one who fired the weapon.
00:17:58.01\00:18:01.74
And so I need somebody
to stop getting to a place
00:18:02.81\00:18:04.81
where you stop counting
how many times they've offended
00:18:05.95\00:18:07.38
or the reason they offended
are the motives for offending.
00:18:08.62\00:18:11.12
Because how
many of us understand
00:18:11.95\00:18:13.09
forgiving is not about
how much they deserve grace.
00:18:13.12\00:18:18.16
It's about how much
you deserve healing.
00:18:18.19\00:18:20.70
Let me say it again.
00:18:21.20\00:18:22.40
See, forgiving is not
about how much they deserve
00:18:22.43\00:18:25.53
to be forgiven.
00:18:25.57\00:18:26.87
It's about how much
I deserve to be healed.
00:18:26.90\00:18:30.31
Is there anybody in the
room today that realized
00:18:31.37\00:18:33.71
that you deserve to be
happy, you deserve to be free.
00:18:33.74\00:18:39.45
You deserve to not have
to avoid certain spaces.
00:18:40.45\00:18:43.59
You deserve to be able
to sit across from them
00:18:44.55\00:18:46.45
and not get mad.
00:18:46.49\00:18:47.69
You deserve to operate in peace.
00:18:47.72\00:18:50.09
You deserve to operate in joy.
00:18:50.79\00:18:52.89
You deserve to
operate in wholeness.
00:18:53.76\00:18:55.70
So I have seven folks
00:18:56.26\00:18:57.27
that are tired of
walking around with bullet holes
00:18:57.30\00:19:00.44
in your spirit and
realize I deserve wholeness
00:19:01.40\00:19:04.64
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:19:06.14\00:19:08.58
Now, now, now, stay with me.
00:19:08.61\00:19:10.48
Church The other reason
00:19:10.51\00:19:12.38
you're not supposed to
evaluate somebody is worried.
00:19:12.41\00:19:16.12
The list for forgiveness
is that God never set you
00:19:16.15\00:19:20.42
up to be a judge
over anybody else.
00:19:20.46\00:19:23.16
Okay?
00:19:24.33\00:19:26.83
So see, God never
wanted one of his children
00:19:26.86\00:19:30.07
sitting around
and trying to evaluate
00:19:30.93\00:19:33.17
who's deserving of
worthy of something.
00:19:33.20\00:19:36.14
Because I understand
that when I place myself
00:19:37.17\00:19:40.04
as judge of somebody's
motives, their contrition,
00:19:41.11\00:19:44.05
their remorse, you
realize that the Bible says
00:19:45.01\00:19:47.52
that the same way I judge you,
00:19:48.22\00:19:52.72
the same way that judgment
is going to be aimed at me
00:19:52.75\00:19:55.69
by God Almighty,
quiet in his church today.
00:19:55.72\00:19:58.16
In other words, for his.
00:19:58.73\00:19:59.83
How many of us understand
that when you are exacting
00:19:59.86\00:20:03.03
and critical and
scrutinizing of others follow?
00:20:04.10\00:20:07.27
I bring that same scrutiny
and detail to my own thing.
00:20:08.44\00:20:12.67
When God is dealing with me
00:20:12.71\00:20:15.01
as He prays, let me tell
you why, why, why, why, why?
00:20:16.71\00:20:19.51
I'm able to forgive
people who stand against me.
00:20:19.55\00:20:23.42
Because as a sinner,
any sinners in this room,
00:20:23.45\00:20:26.09
as a sinner, I need
God to overlook some stuff
00:20:27.29\00:20:30.56
I need God to
win, get some stuff.
00:20:31.39\00:20:33.73
I need God to
bypass some things.
00:20:34.50\00:20:36.63
I need God to show
grace to some things.
00:20:37.57\00:20:39.60
And because I
know I'm not worthy,
00:20:40.44\00:20:42.67
I'm not trying to discern
if somebody else is worthy.
00:20:43.84\00:20:46.47
Because how many of us know
00:20:47.14\00:20:48.21
that none of us are
deserving of the grace of God?
00:20:48.24\00:20:51.91
Is there anybody thankful
today that Jesus doesn't
00:20:52.95\00:20:55.32
just bless those that
are worthy or deserving?
00:20:55.35\00:20:58.52
It is why the Psalmist says
that God does not deal with us
00:20:59.75\00:21:02.76
according to our iniquities
or according to our sins,
00:21:03.93\00:21:06.46
but according to his
multitude of his tender mercies,
00:21:07.60\00:21:10.23
has the Lord dealt with
each and every one of us?
00:21:11.30\00:21:13.34
The truth is that
God has blessed you
00:21:14.14\00:21:15.97
when you didn't deserve it.
00:21:16.64\00:21:17.87
God provide it when
you didn't deserve it.
00:21:17.91\00:21:21.04
God protected
00:21:21.48\00:21:22.78
when you put yourself in
harm's way, God favors you.
00:21:22.81\00:21:26.31
When you were not
praying, God showed grace
00:21:27.28\00:21:29.42
on top of grace and
mercy on top of mercy.
00:21:30.39\00:21:33.59
And because I've received much,
00:21:34.29\00:21:36.99
then it is my obligation
00:21:38.03\00:21:40.43
to give much even
00:21:40.93\00:21:43.53
to those who don't deserve it.
00:21:43.57\00:21:46.03
Are you all here
in the word today?
00:21:46.87\00:21:49.44
And so the word
says here in Matthew 18
00:21:50.37\00:21:51.91
and verse 25, the
Bible says, but as he was
00:21:52.91\00:21:56.54
not able to pay
00:21:56.58\00:21:58.81
his master commanded
that he be sold with his wife
00:21:59.91\00:22:02.42
and children and all that he
had and that payment be made.
00:22:02.45\00:22:05.32
Then the servant therefore
fell down before him, saying,
00:22:06.52\00:22:07.96
Master, have patience
with me and I will pay you.
00:22:07.99\00:22:10.79
I'll pay it all.
00:22:10.83\00:22:11.96
Then the master of that servant
was moved with compassion
00:22:11.99\00:22:15.80
released him and the
Bible says he forgave the debt.
00:22:16.93\00:22:20.97
Now him be lying
Churchman This text is so rich
00:22:21.00\00:22:23.14
I'm going to have to come
back and do a part two or three
00:22:24.34\00:22:25.57
somewhere down the line.
00:22:26.14\00:22:27.24
But when you're managing
offenses, France, one of the
00:22:27.28\00:22:30.95
things you've got to do
00:22:30.98\00:22:32.21
is you got to make a difference
between those who are unwilling
00:22:32.25\00:22:35.68
and those who are unable.
00:22:36.42\00:22:40.46
Let me say it again.
00:22:40.49\00:22:41.69
When you're managing
offenses with people,
00:22:42.66\00:22:44.03
you have to make a distinction
between those who are unwilling
00:22:44.06\00:22:46.66
and those who are unable.
00:22:47.30\00:22:48.60
In fact, Jesus illustrates
00:22:48.63\00:22:50.17
this through the
King who goes forward
00:22:50.20\00:22:52.30
to settle the accounts now
knows he comes across a man
00:22:53.40\00:22:55.87
who is a poor steward of
that which was entrusted to him.
00:22:57.11\00:23:00.24
And as he gets ready
to settle accounts, notice
00:23:01.28\00:23:03.85
that the Bible doesn't say that
the man was unwilling to pay.
00:23:03.88\00:23:10.05
He had gotten in so upside
down that the Bible says that
00:23:10.09\00:23:13.79
he was simply unable to pay,
00:23:13.82\00:23:17.06
so that if the man is
just withholding from the king
00:23:18.19\00:23:20.43
and he is unwilling,
00:23:20.96\00:23:22.06
there is going to be
00:23:22.10\00:23:23.06
a much more harsh
penalty for his behavior.
00:23:23.10\00:23:26.13
But the issue is not
that the man won't pay.
00:23:27.14\00:23:29.24
The issue is that
the man can't pay.
00:23:30.21\00:23:32.41
And so notice a part of
the king's cancelation process
00:23:33.58\00:23:36.34
is he realizes
that by selling him,
00:23:37.18\00:23:39.45
he still won't
get the money back.
00:23:39.48\00:23:41.68
By punishing him, it
still won't make him whole.
00:23:42.75\00:23:45.55
By torturing him, he still won't
have the money reckoned sire.
00:23:46.79\00:23:49.69
By being punitive and
petty and being tit for tat.
00:23:50.79\00:23:54.46
No matter how much he harms
the man, it won't make him.
00:23:55.63\00:23:59.50
Well, you all missed it.
00:23:59.53\00:24:02.54
And see, this is why,
friends, I want to encourage you
00:24:02.57\00:24:04.87
to make no investment in
getting even getting back.
00:24:06.01\00:24:09.98
We're people going
tit for tat are going
00:24:10.01\00:24:13.18
eye for an eye.
00:24:13.21\00:24:15.85
You see the
problem with vengeance.
00:24:16.72\00:24:18.02
Friends, is that it brings
more trouble than solution.
00:24:18.05\00:24:21.82
It provides
00:24:21.86\00:24:23.66
because how
many of us understand
00:24:23.69\00:24:25.43
that if somebody creates
a deficit for you, harming
00:24:25.46\00:24:29.20
them won't turn your
deficit into our surplus.
00:24:29.23\00:24:32.47
See, the
00:24:33.94\00:24:34.97
problem with vengeance
is that it solves nothing.
00:24:35.00\00:24:37.34
It improves nothing.
00:24:37.87\00:24:39.01
It helps nothing.
00:24:39.04\00:24:40.48
In fact, friends, by the time
you finish getting vengeance,
00:24:40.51\00:24:44.31
you are actually
00:24:44.75\00:24:45.75
in a darker place than
when you first started out.
00:24:45.78\00:24:49.38
In other words, if
they broke your heart,
00:24:49.42\00:24:51.62
getting even with them won't
make your heart whole again.
00:24:52.82\00:24:55.99
If they cheated on
you, then cheating on them
00:24:56.96\00:25:00.90
isn't going to turn around
00:25:01.50\00:25:02.36
and bring
reconciliation to your soul
00:25:02.40\00:25:04.63
withholding from your spouse
because they withheld from you
00:25:05.87\00:25:08.70
is not going to
get your needs met.
00:25:09.54\00:25:10.94
It's only going
00:25:11.37\00:25:12.44
to bring more resentment
to the home lying on them
00:25:12.47\00:25:15.61
because they lied on you
00:25:16.18\00:25:17.91
is not going
00:25:18.31\00:25:19.51
to vindicate your character, but
it makes the false accusation
00:25:19.55\00:25:22.98
more believable.
00:25:23.02\00:25:24.22
If you harm someone that harms
your loved one, you realize that
00:25:24.25\00:25:28.99
it still doesn't help
the loved one that was harmed
00:25:29.02\00:25:32.49
and see the
problem with vengeance.
00:25:33.86\00:25:35.33
Friends of mine
00:25:35.36\00:25:36.50
is that it only satisfies
during the act of vengeance.
00:25:36.53\00:25:40.97
But as soon as you say
it, withhold it, do it.
00:25:42.00\00:25:44.64
Then your life is filled with a
darkness and a guilt and a void
00:25:45.91\00:25:49.18
that actually teaches
us that getting vengeance
00:25:50.15\00:25:52.88
is more depleting
than actually forgiving.
00:25:53.78\00:25:55.55
Thank you for joining
us for The Breath of Life
00:25:56.52\00:25:58.75
Television Ministries
broadcast with Pastor Debleaire
00:25:58.79\00:26:02.52
Snell. We hope and pray that
you have been blessed by this
00:26:02.56\00:26:06.56
sixth message in the
sermon series ExcuseLess
00:26:06.59\00:26:10.77
Join us next week for
part two of the message.
00:26:10.80\00:26:14.27
“No More Excuses For
Refusing To Forgive”.
00:26:15.34\00:26:19.01
Don't want to listen.
00:26:19.04\00:26:20.98
Hello, I'm Pastor Debleaire
00:26:21.01\00:26:22.94
Snell, Speaker/
Director for The Breath of Life
00:26:22.98\00:26:25.51
Television Ministry.
00:26:25.55\00:26:26.88
This ministry was established
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00:26:26.92\00:26:30.45
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00:26:30.49\00:26:34.22
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00:26:34.92\00:26:37.56
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00:26:37.59\00:26:40.23
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We thank you for your financial
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