Name (optional):

  Expression ^{(Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)}

  E-mail address (optional):

* Type your message here:
>>>One of the privileges of getting to preach to a >>>Biblically literate congregation is that when I make >a >>>mistake you all are not afraid to point that mistake >>>out according to Scripture. You may remember last >week >>>in this sermon series on the Lord's Prayer, I made >the >>>comment on verse 13 of Matthew 6 (the phrase "Deliver >>>us from evil") I said that you and I are not to do >>>combat with Satan. We are to flee from Satan and >leave >>>the combat to God. Well, one of you was kind enough, >>>gracious enough to point out to me that's really not >>>what Scripture says. In fact if you look at James >4:7, >>>what Scripture tells you and me to do is this: >"resist >>>the devil and he will flee from you". Now I stand by >>>the idea that you and I are not supposed to go around >>>looking for Satan to take him on, but when he does >>>show up we are to stand our ground in Jesus Christ, >>>resist him, and we have God's promise there in James >>>that when we do that he's the one that will high-tail >>>it from us. >>> >>>These past three weeks we've been looking in-depth at >>>the Lord's Prayer and hopefully this series has >>>encouraged you on how to pray. Not only does Christ >>>give us a great model for prayer here but hopefully >>>His Holy Spirit is drawing you and me into a deeper >>>understanding of prayer and a deeper passion for >>>conversation with God. That's what prayer is, so >>>Christ gives us this great model for prayer. I'd like >>>you now to contrast that model He gives us with how >>>not to pray. Last Thursday morning, the General >>>Assembly of the State of Maryland was opened with >>>prayer by a Baltimore County State Senator, listen to >>>the prayer, "Lord God, Yaweh, Jesus, Budda, Allah, >>>whatever your name is, whatever color you are, >>>whatever gender you are, you know these people, you >>>know that they are good. Pray for them, thank you." >>>Now the only reason that the Maryland State House was >>>not at that very moment struck by lightening was >>>because deep in the very character of God is grace, >>>mercy and forgiveness. In fact, forgiveness is such a >>>part of who God is that our Lord Jesus Christ after >he >>>gave the Lord's Prayer to the disciples, takes one >>>concept from that prayer and pulls it out, and >>>isolates it and comments on it. That concept is >>>forgiveness. This morning, I would invite you to open >>>your Bibles to Matthew 6 we're going to take a look >at >>>the Lord's Prayer in its entirety beginning at verse >>>9, we're going to read from verse 9 through verse 15. >>>And then in verses 14 and 15 we see how Jesus will >>>take the concept of forgiveness and really zero in on >>>it. And we're going to wrestle with that this morning >>>ourselves. Matthew 6 beginning to read at the 9th >>>verse, this is the word of God, >>> >>>"This, then, is how you should pray: " `Our Father in >>>heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, >your >>>will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us >>>today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we >>>also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into >>>temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' >>> >>>And here is Jesus' commentary now in verses 14 and >>15. >>> >>>"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, >>>your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if >you >>>do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not >>>forgive your sins." >>> >>>Join me as we pray: And now Father, as my words are >>>true to your Word, may they be taken to heart. But as >>>my words should stray from your Word, may they be >>>quickly forgotten, through Jesus our Lord. Amen. >>> >>>I'll bet you that you all don't know that the third >>>week in February has been declared International >>>Forgiveness Week. It's coming folks! It's right >around >>>the corner! We need to get ready! Let's do so right >>>here and now. In this text before us in Matthew's >>>gospel we see that forgiveness is big on Jesus' >heart. >>>Jesus has a real concern about forgiveness. Not only >>>God's forgiveness of you and me but more precisely >>>yours and my forgiveness of others. Out of all of the >>>concepts that are there in the Lord's prayer, Jesus >>>only selects one to pull out and comment on it and >>>that concept is forgiveness. And I'll tell you this, >>>as I worked on this text this week, just on these two >>>verses, if you know me you know that when I work on a >>>Scripture text I'm always looking for what I call the >>>"bump of grace". As I worked on verses 14 and 15, >I'll >>>confess to you that I was taken aback. I was pretty >>>much initially turned off by what Jesus was saying >>>here. This text seems totally devoid of grace. >>>Remember back during Advent I preached about Santa >>>Claus theology? You do something and God responds. >>>Look at this. It seems like Jesus is bordering on, if >>>not jumping right into, this kind of Santa Claus >>>theology. You forgive, then God's going to forgive >>>you. You don't and you're basically toast. What's >>>going on here? What is going on with Christ? Well, I >>>think one of the things that Jesus is trying to do >>>here for his disciples, and for you and me is trumpet >>>a wake-up call. You see, Jesus knows human nature. He >>>knows you and me inside out. He knows that often >times >>>when you and I listen to the language of grace over >>>and over again we have a tendency to become lulled. >>>Lulled into a presumptuousness about that forgiveness >>>that unmerited, unconditional forgiveness that God >has >>>for us in Jesus Christ through His life, death and >>>resurrection there at the very core of the gospel. >And >>>that presumptuousness can lead you and me to really >>>think that we can be prayer warriors and faithful >>>followers of Christ and growing in our faith and at >>>the same time treat forgiveness of others as more or >>>less an option in our lives. Not an absolute >>>necessity. >>> >>>And so Christ is trying to wake us up here. It makes >>>us stop and think, doesn't it? When you and I live in >>>this real world, we're going to be wounded. We going >>>to be wronged by many people. And the key question >>>before you and me today is how are we going to >respond >>>when we are sinned against, when we're wronged? The >>>world comes at you and me with all kinds of appealing >>>options, but they're all unfaithful and they're all >>>unhealthy. I'm going to flag four options the world >>>presents to you and me for dealing with when we're >>>wronged. Let's take a look at these. >>> >>>The first option that the world offers to you and me >>>is this: We are wronged, and the person that has >>>wronged us comes to us and says "I'm sorry", and we >>>respond with, "Oh, forget about it, no big deal". No, >>>that's not how we should respond. When someone comes >>>and asks our forgiveness and says that they are >sorry, >>>they are coming with a serious heart. And when we >say, >>>"Oh don't worry about it", that's treating too >lightly >>>what they are treating very, very seriously. When you >>>and respond like that to someone what we're doing is >>>we are depriving them of a life and death necessity. >>>And that is the necessity of forgiveness. Forgiveness >>>is always hard. It is always costly. It is always >>>weighted. And it's always necessary. >>> >>>Option number two that the world comes to you and me >>>with. We're wronged and we respond by very craftily >>>designing a process of retaliation and revenge. Road >>>rage is the currently popular game of blasphemy >>>against God. It's a blasphemy against God because the >>>Lord says vengeance is mine, not yours. And anytime >>>you and I take vengeance against someone, we are >>>usurping God's authority stepping into His place, >>>playing God and that is nothing less than idolatry >and >>>blasphemy and that is not a very healthy way to live. >>>It's not a viable option. >>> >>>A third option that the world presents to you and me >>>is the option of self-loathing. Someone comes to us, >>>does us wrong and we respond with, "Well, I guess I >>>deserve it. Woe is me. I'm a worm. I am a lowly >>>worthless person. I deserve to have the world step on >>>me". Uhuh, not a viable option. Folks, when you get >>>into that kind of mode, you're buying the lie of >Satan >>>rather than standing your ground against him. These >>>options are not viable. Jesus Christ cares so much, >so >>>much about yours and my health and welfare in the >>>areas of relationships, our emotions, our spiritual >>>life and our physical life that in verses 14 and 15 I >>>believe He purposely uses language that sounds devoid >>>of grace in order to rattle our cage to get our >>>attention and help us understand the vital necessity >>>of forgiveness. >>> >>>Forgiveness can never be an option. But as we read >>>these verses, (verses 14 and 15) they sound so >>>ungracious. But I don't think they are at all. The >>>fact is that you can't talk about forgiveness without >>>talking about grace. Grace is at the very heart of >>>forgiveness. What Jesus is presenting here is not >>>Santa Claus theology. Santa Claus theology says, we >>>act first then God responds. When Jesus says, that >>>when we forgive others God will forgive us, He knows >>>that the only reason you and I can ever forgive >>>anyone, the only reason you and I are ever able to >>>forgive anyone, the only reason you and I ever even >>>think about forgiving someone is because a >preveniant, >>>a going ahead of us grace, the Holy Spirit is at work >>>in our lives, enabling us to understand how we've >been >>>forgiven in Christ Jesus and therefore we move out to >>>forgive others. >>> >>>Friends, life at it's very heart is all about >>>relationships. And unfortunately, but there is no >>>other option, if you and I live in this real world we >>>have no other option but to have relationships with >>>other sinners. People who are going to wound us, >>>people who are going to do wrong by us and Jesus is >>>trying to drive home the point to His disciples and >to >>>you and me that until we get this forgiveness thing >>>right, our friendships are only going to be able to >go >>>so far. Our marriages are going to eventually buckle. >>>You will spend your Christian life as a >church-hopper, >>>because if you haven't been wounded by somebody here >>>at Central yet, you will be. And if you don't have >>>this forgiveness thing down right, then your going to >>>buy one of the world's option rather than the option >>>that Jesus holds out, which is forgiveness. And Jesus >>>is reminding us in this seemingless graceless text >>>that really is full of grace, that you can never >>>separate grace from judgment. We always want to do >>>that. We always try to look at grace at this end of >>>the pole and judgment down here. The Bible doesn't >>>have it that way. It's all of one piece. I think what >>>Jesus is saying in verses 14 and 15 is really what >>>Paul is saying in Chapter 1 of Romans. That if you >and >>>I are persistent in a practice of sin, and let me >just >>>say it straight, if you withhold forgiveness from >>>someone else, you are practicing sin. And if you >>>continue to do that long enough, what does Romans 1 >>>tell us? It says that God eventually removes His hand >>>from us and gives us over to our own sin. And if you >>>and I resist forgiving someone...we refuse to >forgive, >>>what's going to eventually happen is God will remove >>>His hand and you will develop what you might call >>>spiritual AIDS. Your spiritual immune system will >>>begin to deplete. You will turn into a seething >>>cauldron of disease, pustules of bitterness and anger >>>and hatred will pop up. I've talked with many people >>>who have AIDS. And the redeeming grace in all of >that, >>>is that often times they are more open to the gospel >>>and to grace as never before. And sometimes you and I >>>have to be brought to that point before we'll turn >>>around and get going in the right direction again. >You >>>see forgiveness is so, so important that Christ wants >>>to shake us up and get us to understand that it's >>>absolute necessity if you and I are going to be >>>authentic and faithful and winsome disciples of His. >>> >>>Leonardo Devinci was once wronged by a fellow artist. >>>And so Devinci plotted how to get back at this guy. >He >>>happened to be working on the painting of the Last >>>Supper at the time. So he said, "Yea, I know what I'm >>>going to do!" And he went and he meticulously and >with >>>great detail painted this other artists face into the >>>face of Judas. And I mean he worked overtime on this. >>>He did it in such a way that no one would be able to >>>mistake who Judas really was and this would heap >scorn >>>on this guy. Well everything went great until Devinci >>>got to the face of Christ. And he began to paint the >>>face of Christ. And he just had a block, he just >>>couldn't do it. He was making no progress. He finally >>>figured out that it was because of his unforgiving >>>spirit, his spirit of revenge. So Devinci, went to >>>that artist that had sinned against him and forgave >>>him and surprise, surprise, you can see the results >in >>>the face of Christ in that world famous painting, the >>>Last Supper. >>> >>>"But Ron you don't understand, you don't understand >>>how I've been wounded! You don't understand what >wrong >>>has been done to me!" I don't. But God does! Do you >>>really think that God's unconditional love for you, >>>His unmerrited grace towards you, that He has poured >>>out through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus >>>Christ, do you really believe that that cannot give >>>you and me the power of forgiving someone else? If >>>your answer to that question is yes then I've got >news >>>for you, Christmas is never going to be anything to >>>you but a fairy tale. And Easter...well maybe a >little >>>bit more than a joke. >>> >>>Remember the story, Quo Vadis? There is this wicked >>>guy Chelo. His friend Cloutus becomes a Christian. >And >>>he's angry about that and he sells Cloutus' wife and >>>daughter into slavery. And meanwhile Cloutus is >turned >>>over to the Roman authorities and becomes a Christian >>>martyr. He's one of the Christians that gets tied to >a >>>pillar covered with pitch and then staked out at the >>>Emperor Nero's garden and lit on fire to provide >light >>>for the garden party. The garden party that night was >>>illuminated by these burning Christians. Nero and >>>Chelo begin to walk around the grounds surveying the >>>lighting apparatus. And they come to Cloutus. And the >>>wind blows the smoke away to the point where Chelo >>>recognizes his friend in agony being burned to death. >>>And the horror so strikes him that he becomes >>>remorseful, in fact he cries out to Cloutus. He says, >>>"In the name of Jesus Christ, please forgive me!" And >>>through the popping of the flames and the agony that >>>Cloutus is going through the voice is heard coming >>>from him, "I forgive you!". And at that moment Chelo >>>runs out of the party, runs out into the street, into >>>the crowds and later that night of all people he >bumps >>>into the Apostle Paul. Who sits him down and explains >>>to him the infinite riches of Jesus' forgiveness. And >>>that night Chelo confesses faith in Christ and is >>>baptized. Well, the next day he is turned over to the >>>Roman authorities and they begin to torture him to >try >>>to get him to recant his new faith in Christ. And he >>>won't. In fact he says, "I'm willing to die as my >>>friends have died." And as they are piercing his >flesh >>>with iron rods, he actually leans down in humility >and >>>forgiveness and kisses the arms of those who are >>>torturing him. Here is a man who has experienced the >>>unconditional, unmerited grace of the forgiveness of >>>Jesus Christ and thereby is able to forgive in the >>>most ungodly of situations. He dies. But he dies as a >>>man at peace. >>> >>>I remember my mom and dad telling me of the time they >>>went down to the National Presbyterian Church in >>>Washington to hear Corrie Ten Boom. This was back in >>>the 1970's. And they told me how she got up and told >>>the story of the crisis of forgiveness in her life. >>>Right after W.W.II, she was speaking in a church in >>>Hamburg, Germany. And she had been recounting the >>>horrors that she had experienced in a concentration >>>camp. She had seen her whole family killed, in fact >>>she had seen her sister personally killed. And after >>>her talk, she was standing at the front of the >church, >>>and people were lined up to shake her hand and say >>>"nice talk" and that kind of stuff. And as she was >>>shaking her hands, she looked back and, horror of >>>horrors, she recognized the face that she knew she >>>would never forget her whole life. It was the face of >>>the SS guard who was in charge of the actual killing >>>of her sister. She said at that moment "I had my >>>crisis of faith. This man was going to come. Would I >>>be able to shake his hand?" Not only that, when he >>>gets up to her he looks her in the eye and says, >"Miss >>>Ten Boom, will you forgive me?". By the grace of God >>>she extended her hand and took his and said, "I >>>forgive you". >>> >>>Small village in South Korea, during the Korean War. >A >>>North Korean company of soldiers came through and >>>captured the village. The commander of the company >was >>>a corporal who hated Christians. In fact he asked >>>around the village, he said, "Whose the most vibrant, >>>vocal Christian in this village?". And they pointed >>>out a 19 year-old young man who was a college >student. >>>That corporal took that young man, asked him to >recant >>>his faith in Christ. He wouldn't do it. He said, "If >>>you don't, I'm going to make you kneel here in the >>>town square and I'm going to put a gun up to your >head >>>and I'm going to blow your brains out." The young man >>>would not recant. He was made to kneel. The gun was >>>put to his head and his brains were blown out. >>> >>>A few days later the South Korean army came through >>>and recaptured that town, captured some of the North >>>Koreans including that young corporal. And when the >>>commander of the South Korean army heard what this >>>young man had done, he took him and said, "We're >going >>>to execute you in the same way you executed that >young >>>man. Kneel down here in the town square". And he did. >>>But he said,"Wait a minute. I want to get the dead >>>boys parents to come here and witness this." He found >>>where they lived and knocked on the door and said, >>>"I'm here to tell you good news. We've caught the >>>executioner of your son. We want you to come out and >>>witness his execution. That man, a Presbyterian >>>pastor, responded this way. He said, "You must be >>>mistaken, we have no son. But we would like to adopt >>>that young man to be our son." And they did. And he >>>gave them hellish fits for a number of years. And >they >>>kept responding with forgiveness and one day that >>>ex-corporal of the North Korean army professed >Christ. >>>Then accepted the call into the ministry, went to >>>seminary, and was one of the most effective >>>Presbyterian pastors in South Korea. He led dozens of >>>people to Christ. He just died a few years ago of >>>cancer. >>> >>>Well how about Tim Streeter. Two decades ago, he was >a >>>fifteen year old kid living in a suburb of >>>Indianapolis. One day it snowed and he and his dad >>>went out to shovel the driveway. A car with a few >>>young black men from the inner-city of Indianapolis >>>came by demanded money and then shot Tim Streeters >>>father dead before his eyes. And the world said to >Tim >>>Streeter "Hate blacks, get even!". But Tim Streeter >>>didn't listen to the world. You see he had a higher >>>allegiance. He'd already committed his life to Jesus >>>Christ. In fact as he grew out of adolescence he felt >>>God's call on his life to work, where? In the >>>inner-city of Indianapolis with African Americans. In >>>fact, Tim Streeter wrote to the men who killed his >>>father. They were now in prison. The shooter was on >>>death row. I didn't write back. But the driver of the >>>car did. And so Tim Streeter make an appointment to >>>visit that man in prison. Now, are you getting the >>>feel for the healthiness of a guy like Tim Streeter? >>>Wouldn't you like to have this guy as a friend? I >>>mean, can you see God working in this guy? >Physically, >>>spiritually, emotionally, relationally, health all >>>over the place. But what about the felon in prison? >He >>>would later write to his mother that when he saw Tim >>>Streeter walk through the gates of that prison for >the >>>first time the gospel became real to him and he too >>>became a Christian. >>> >>>Who has wronged you? Maybe mildly sinned against you? >>>Or violently wronged you? Who? What is your response? >>>What will it be this week? Someone has written that >>>forgiveness is the fragrance of the violet that still >>>clings to the heel that crushed it. You and I can >>>forgive. We will forgive. Because if we've met Jesus >>>Christ at more than second hand, then we have gotten >>>more than just a whiff of the scent of forgiveness.
Choose Message Icon: None :-) Happy ;-) Wink :-D Joy :} Smirk <:-} Innocent ☮ Peace >:) Mischief B-) Shades <3 Heart |O Yawn <:P Sick >:-( Angry :~( Sad ? Question *!* Alert Thumbs Up Thumbs Down (!) Idea [Info] Info Oo. Talk [ View Emoticons ]

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.