SERMON - FORGIVE AND FORGET...GOD'S WAY

Forgive and Forget

God’s Way

 

 

How many times have you had a dispute with a friend, loved one or even your wife and ended up apologizing and asking for forgiveness and been told, “I forgive you?” Over the next few days, months or even years another dispute arises with that same person and you hear, “Remember when….?” ; and you are reminded of the initial dispute and are ‘beat over the head’ with it.

 

Was that person honest is his/her telling you, “I forgive you?”

 

Are you maybe the person doing the reminding or rehashing old disputes? If so, ask yourself, “Did I truly forgive that person?

 

If you recall Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount you will recall His Words that were very specific on the subject of forgiveness. Fact is, every time you recite the Lord’s Prayer you ask God to forgive you …

 

Matthew 6:16 “… forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.”

 

The plea we make to God as we ask for forgiveness we avow to have forgiven. “those who have sinned against us.” The word 'us,' in the prayer, is YOU. You are talking to God and telling Him that you have forgiven any that have sinned against you.

 

The question is, if you then bring this up in a future dispute and ‘beat’ your adversary ‘over the head’ with the past, did you really forgive as you said you did?

 

I ask this as you have told God one thing and maybe did not really mean it! There is cause to reflect on your words as this is a most serious matter.

 

Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you.”

 

Now, you must ask yourself a serious question and make a serious decision. You must ask yourself, “Have I truly forgiven the person who sinned against me or am I only saying words to end a dispute?” Next, your decision must be made to truly forgive the person who wronged you and then be willing to FORGET IT!

 

This is something you must come to grips with and get used to doing. I say that as that same person may wrong you again, again and again. Then, if you choose to remain in that person’s company, you must FORGIVE REPEATEDLY.

 

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?  

 

If you will recall, Jesus gave an emphatic and immediate reply.

 

Matthew 18:22 “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!”

 

Multiply it out! 70 X 7 = 490! Even then I think Jesus was saying…”as many times as it takes you to forgive!”

 

My reason for pointing all of this out and making you aware of the absolute necessity to forgive and to forgive repeatedly is that the same thing is applicable in your sins against another; with that ‘another’ being God.

 

As humans we are weak. We fall, we fall and we fall again. We ask God, “Please forgive me, “and what does He do?

 

Hebrews 8:12 “…and I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins.”

 

 Forgive and forget. That is God’s way and that must be our way if we are to be truly Christians.

 

There will be times that we will be in the company of another Christian that, for one reason or another, falls to the wiles of Satan. It is our Christian duty, not just a matter of being a friend, but a real duty to set that Christian straight. At such times we must be bold in our actions and faithful in our beliefs.

 

Luke 17:3 “I am telling you! If another believer sins, rebuke him, then if he repents, forgive him.”

 

 We live in a world that presents so many temptations and pitfalls to our faith that we must always, and I mean always, BE ON GUARD. Just as we are on guard, we must make others aware of what the true path is.  To do that we must not walk around with an attitude that says, “I am holier than thou.” That will not work and we all have seen it. We have to be ever aware of the traps set by Satan and his dominions and be forever on guard against evil. No matter what form it may take, we must see it for what it is.

 

To ensure our remaining in God’s grace, we must be forever in prayer. We must always be aware of the necessity to be true in our forgiveness of others who have wronged us and be true in our asking God to forgive us our sins.

 

We all have been in situations that caused us to form a grudge against someone. Many reasons exist that might make this so. Just as we MUST forgive, we must not hold grudges against anyone. To hold a grudge against anyone is saying, “This person has wronged me.”

 

Mark 11:25 “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too.”

 

 The bottom line is, FORGIVE AND FORGET.  God does and we must be God’s children and DO AS HE SAYS!

 

(Closing prayer)

 

Father, Almighty God, our Creator please hear out prayer. Lord, we praise You and come before You as Your children and Your servants. You alone are our God and our salvation. We ask that You accept our worship and our thanks for all You have done for us over our lifetimes. El Shaddai, our Provider, thank You for everything.

 

Father, there are time we fall. You know this and You, as our Yahweh Tsidkeanu forgive us our trespasses and we ask that You give us the strength to forgive any that have sinned against us. Our reason for this plea is that as humans, with our weaknesses, we often do not realize our own human weakness. Be with us O Lord and hear our prayer.

 

Lord, as we pray to you for our needs allow us to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world. Be with them, protect them and send Your angels to guide them.

 

Father, we ask that You enter the hearts of our enemies and shine Your heavenly Light and illuminate paths and bring them to You. Protect our military, our elected officials and those who keep us from harm. Bless them with Your Holy Spirit and keep them from harm.

 

Father, we ask these things in the name of Your Divine Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is One with You and the Holy Spirit. One God forever and ever,

 

Amen, amen and amen.