F = FORGIVENESS Series - RELATIONSHIP RESCUE - Part 3 - Pastor Chuck Bernal - 04-26-15

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A REWIND OF THE SERIES SO FAR - “S - A - F - E - L - Y”

SUPPORT: We must support each other ________________________________,

____________________________ & ____________________________________

Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings. (Galatians 6:2 – GWT)

ACCEPTANCE: Because Jesus accepted _____, you must accept __________

Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God. (Romans 15:7 – NCV)

BITTERNESS OR FORGIVENESS – WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Bitterness is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die. (John Otrberg)

BITTERNESS = PIKRIA (GREEK) Anger or disappointment because of another person, resentment

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Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you . . . (Hebrews 12:15 - NLT)

Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—these are poison. (Ephesians 4:21 - Voice)

By all means don’t brag about being wise and good if you are bitter . . .

that is the worst sort of lie. (James 3:14 – LB)

PERSONAL COST: Bitterness is a ______________ and it will always harm you

RELATIONAL COST: Bitterness is a _________ and it will spread to everyone

SPIRITUAL COST: Bitterness is a _______ and it will lead you away from God

Do not seek revenge or hold a grudge against anyone. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Leviticus 19:18 – Voice)

You can become bitter or you can become better – it’s your choice. And forgiveness is the key.

FORGIVENESS = CHARIZOMAI (GREEK) Freely show favor to, to grant pardon, extend kindness, unconditional mercy

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Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 – Msg)

Try to understand other people. Forgive each other. If you have something against someone, forgive him. That is the way the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 - NLV)

But if anyone has ca used harm . . . I encoura ge you to offer him the grace of forgiveness . . . So instead of continuing to ostracize him, I urge you to demonstra te your love for him once again. (2 Corinthians 2:5-8 – Voice)

Forgiveness is ____________________ how much you’ve been _____________

The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. One servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be

auctioned off at the slave market. “The p oor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt. “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up.

Now!’ “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when

you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And tha t’s exactly what my Father is going to do to each one of you who

doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy. (Matthew 18:23-34 – Msg)

Forgiveness is ___________________________ your right to get ___________

Forgiveness is _______________ the process as long as __________________

Forgiven people forgive people. That is the starting point for genuine forgiveness. If you don’t feel forgiven, you won’t want to forgive anybody else. If y ou’re hard on yourself, you’re going to be hard on

others. But the more grace you receive from God, the more gracious you’re going to be to others. The more forgiven you feel by God, the more forgiving y ou’ll be toward others. How can you tell when you’ve really forgiven somebody? When y ou can look at that person’s hurt and not just your own and pray for God to bless him or her. You ask, “How could I ever do that for the person who’s hurt me?”

You can’t unless you allow the love of God to penetrate your life. Only the love of God can help y ou do something like that.

SUPPORT: We must support each other unconditionally, tangibly & continually

ACCEPTANCE: Because Jesus accepted you, you must accept others

PERSONAL COST: Bitterness is a poison and it will always harm you

RELATIONAL COST: Bitterness is a cancer and it will spread to everyone

SPIRITUAL COST: Bitterness is a sin and it will lead you away from God

Forgiveness is remembering how much you’ve been forgiven

Forgiveness is relinquishing your right to get even

Forgiveness is repeating the process as long as necessary