Fake News: I Can’t Forgive That
LISTEN:
Fake News: I Can’t Forgive That
Luke 17, Matthew 18
September 29th, 2024
The Truths About Truth & Lies
The origin of lies is Satan.
The intent of a lie is to control (imprison) and destroy.
The power of lie is in what we do with it.
The origin of truth is in the reality of Jesus.
The intent of truth is freedom and life.
The power of truth is found in following Him.
The enemy uses lies against us with intent to harm, dissuade, dishearten and to discourage.
God leverages these fights to mature, strengthen and equip us.
Luke 17:1-6 (New King James) 1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
1a Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come. Jesus is not saying it is impossible to not be offended. He is saying that it is impossible to avoid opportunities to be offended.
A captive of an offense is separated from…
Freedom
Peace & Wholeness (Shalom)
Purpose
Common Characteristics of Effective Traps
Camouflage. They blend into surroundings.
Placement. They placed in familiar and frequented places.
Enticing. They are baited with appealing food. There is something appealing to our old nature to pick up an offence.
Verse 1b, 2. but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 reasons why Christians should be the most difficult group of people to offend.
Our wholeness and identity are found in Jesus not in what others, think, feel or say about us.
We should be able to see the offense for what it really is, spiritual warfare more than a personal attack.
We are the direct recipients and the primary carriers of the redemptive message of forgiveness.
Verses 3 – 4 If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Step 1. Rebuke.
Rebuke means to show them their fault – help them understand – not tell them off!
White Board Notes
Never be afraid of the repercussions of telling the truth in love. One of those repercussions is freedom.
Step 2. Meet their repentance with your forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a gift. Trust is earned.
Verse 5. Increase our faith.
Are you living in that faith gap?
Closing the Faith Gap
1. Grasp the real cost of your salvation.
2. Trust the impact of a small application of forgiving faith.
Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV) 1Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
1 talent = 75 lbs.
10,000 talents = 750,000 lbs.
750,000 lbs. x 16 ounces = 12,000,000 ounces
12,000,000 x $2,690.90 = *$32,290,800,000.
*The financial value of our salvation based on this parable the price of gold on 9/25/2024.
1 denari =1 days wage
100 denari = 100 day’s wages
$59,384 divided by 365 days = $162.69 per day
$162.69 x 100 = *$16,269
*The financial value of what others owe us based on the median US Wage 2024
What makes forgiveness so hard?
Pain – “This” hurts too much to forgive.
Pride – I will look/feel weak if I forgive.
Pre-judice – Judgement. They deserve to hurt too.
And yet forgiveness lifts the weight of the offense (brings peace), heals the wound of the offense and in many cases restores the relationship.
Luke 17:6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Forgiveness doesn’t take tree sized faith it, it takes seed size faith.
Mustard Tree Facts
The mustard seed is less than 2 mm in size and yet the mustard tree can grow between 20-30 feet in height (3 stories). And its canopy coverage could be as wide as the tree is tall.
A mustard tree can grow to those dimensions in just 80-90 days.
The mustard tree is a flowering plant –it produces fruit in as early as 6 weeks.
The mustard tree is extremely resilient and adaptable plant that can grow in harsh and arid climates.
Extracts from the plant are widely used in toothbrushes due to the tree’s antibacterial properties which come in handy preventing plaque (stuff that wants to stick to your life and discolor you).
The fruit and seeds are also consumed as nutrient supplements believed to help with hypertension, migraines, rheumatism and asthma.
Conclusion
Seed Forgiveness Faith grows deep, fast, provides a wide covering, is resilient and is good for our health.
Feed your faith not your offense.
Slide
The Truth about Forgiveness
Forgiveness begins with the realization of the limitlessness nature of the salvation we have received.
Every act of forgiveness begins with a decision based on obedience, not a feeling.
Your heart will catch up to your head.