Scripture References:
- The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15, Luke 11:2-4)
- Matthew 5:38-48
- Hebrews 12:15
Intro:
Welcome to today's sermon. Over the past couple of weeks, we've been exploring the complex topic of forgiveness. If you missed those sermons, I encourage you to catch up on our website. Today, we're addressing the crucial question: How do we actually forgive? We all agree forgiveness is right, but putting it into practice is incredibly difficult. Many of us feel like we've tried everything and still feel stuck in anger and hurt. Today, we'll look at the Lord's Prayer for guidance, a model that has proven effective for thousands of years. Remember, unforgiveness is a spiritual problem requiring spiritual solutions.
Key Points:
- The Challenge of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling that automatically comes upon us. It's often difficult to reconcile our desire to forgive with the pain we feel.
- Jesus's Teaching and Prayer: Jesus's teachings before the Lord's Prayer highlight the radical nature of forgiveness (loving enemies, blessing those who curse you). These commands necessitate prayer. We must "respond with the energies of prayer" when we've been wronged.
- The Lord's Prayer as a Model: Jesus provides a model of how to pray, not just what to pray. It shifts our focus from ourselves to God, which is essential for forgiveness.
- Shifting Our Focus:
- God-Centered Prayer: The Lord's Prayer begins with "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." This prioritizes God's holiness and redirects our self-centered prayers to God-centered ones.
- God's Kingdom and Will: "Your kingdom come, your will be done..." This aligns our desires with God's, a crucial step in being able to forgive. Do you truly want to forgive, or do you want to be right?
- Provision: "Give us today our daily bread..." After seeking God's will, we can ask for His provision—what we need to be able to forgive (a softened heart, etc.).
- Our Responsibility: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors..." We are to actively participate in forgiveness, mirroring God's mercy.
- Deliverance: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one..." There is spiritual opposition to forgiveness. We need deliverance from the "evil one," who seeks to keep us in bondage to unforgiveness.
- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare: Satan's goal is to oppose God, and he does this by hurting us and keeping us in unforgiveness. He uses deceit to keep us bound to bitterness.
- The Deception of Unforgiveness: We often deceive ourselves, saying we've already forgiven when there's still pain and bitterness. Unforgiveness affects us and those around us.
- True Forgiveness: True forgiveness is a choice to keep no record of wrongs, a refusal to punish, the extension of mercy, and the absence of bitterness. It comes from the heart and is often an ongoing process.
- Dealing with Idols: Just as idols fell in the presence of the Ark, the things that keep us from forgiveness must fall in God's presence.
Conclusion:
Forgiveness is a spiritual battle that requires us to engage with God in prayer. By following the model of the Lord's Prayer, we shift our focus to God, align our desires with His, and find the strength to release the pain of the past.
Call to Action:
- Reflect on how you currently pray about forgiveness.
- Begin to pray using the model of the Lord's Prayer.
- Honestly examine your heart for any unf
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