Lifestyle of Forgiveness
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Forgiveness is the hinge on a door that swings both ways.
SKANDALON: the trigger of a trap
Offense is not just a human emotion. Offense is a premeditated attack from the enemy himself.
1. Offense will leave you stuck.
2. Offense will leave you sick.
Proverbs 14:30 MSG
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
3. Offense will leave you separated.
I curse it.
I nurse it.
I rehearse it.
I verse it.
I burst it.
Matthew 6:14-15 CSB
“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.”
OPHEILEMATA: what is owed
HAMARTIAS: falling short
Romans 3:23-24 NLT
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
3 Keys to Living a Lifestyle of Forgiveness:
1. Confess my offense
Psalm 51:1-4 NLT
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
David was fully reliant upon God’s mercy but was equally aware of his own humanity.
1 John 1:9 NIV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3 Keys to Living a Lifestyle of Forgiveness:
2. Release their offense
Matthew 6:12 KJV
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
- Forgiveness is not denial.
- Forgiveness is not suppression.
- Forgiveness is not dismissive.
- Forgiveness is not trusting.
- Forgiveness is not reconciliation.
- Forgiveness is not forgetting.
- Forgiveness is not impossible.
Matthew 18:32-33 NIV
“’You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’”
If you think you are EARNING God’s forgiveness, you will expect other people to EARN your forgiveness.
You will never walk in love and forgiveness apart from knowing that you are loved and forgiven.
3 Keys to Living a Lifestyle of Forgiveness:
3. Resist future offense.
- Look in the mirror before out the window.
- Examine your expectations.
- Have courageous conversations.
- Choose forgiveness now.
So, don’t wait until it comes to decide how you’re going to react.
“At last, I understood: In the final analysis, forgiveness is an act of faith. By forgiving another, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am. By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness for God to work out. I leave in God’s hands the scales that must balance justice and mercy.” — Phillip Yancey
Forgiveness Prayer:
God, I repent for withholding forgiveness from (name the person) ________________. Today, I make a decision to forgive them for (name their offense) __________________.
Father, when they did this it made me feel (share your emotions with God) _________________________.
God, I no longer want to carry this wound. Today, I make a choice to give You the pain, and I lay it at the foot of the cross. I hand (name the person) ________________ over to You and choose to allow You to be my justice maker.
I pray Your blessings upon (name the person) ________________. I pray that they will have an authentic, personal, and growing relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Bring healing to their heart, mind, and body. Surround them with Your love and grace.
Right now, I receive the gift of joy, hope, peace and love that’s found in You. Thank You for continually healing my heart, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
