February 7 2016 The Word Of Forgiveness

THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS

Luke 23:33-43

Verse 34 – Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIETY

-We try to bury the past.

Psalm 32 – When I refused to confess my sins, I was weak and miserable.

-We beat ourselves up.

Psalm 30 – Because I was foolish, I’m bent over and bowed down, I’m sad all day long.

-We try to blame others.

Proverbs19:3 – Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord.

TRUTHS TO HELP US

1. Forgiveness begins with God.

Verse 34 – “Father.”

Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Forgiveness is possible because of Christ.

Verse 34 – “Forgive them.”

Hebrews 4:14 – Therefore since we have a great High Priest who has gone into heaven, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

Isaiah 53:12 – He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

3. Forgiveness is needed by all.

Verse 34 – “They do not know what they are doing.”

2 Corinthians 5:19 – That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

4. This prayer sets an example for us.

Matthew 5:44 – But I tell you love your enemies.

WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO

-Admit our guilt.

Proverbs 20:27 – The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience, we cannot hide from ourselves

1 John 1:8 – If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

-Accept responsibility.

Psalm 51:3 – I recognize my faults. I am conscious of my sin.

James 5:16 – Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

1 John 1:9 – If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable.  He forgives your sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

-God forgives instantly.

Isaiah 55:7 – God is merciful and quick to forgive.

-God forgives completely.

Colossians 2:13 – He forgave us all our sins.

-God forgives freely.

Ephesians 1:7 – For by the death of Christ, we are set free.

April 3 2011 The Word Of Healing

THE WORD OF HEALING

(John 19:28-30)
(Verse 28 – I thirst.)

1. Truth it was the cry of a human being.

(John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.)

(John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and lived for awhile among us.)

(Hebrews 2:18 – Because He Himself suffered when)

(He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.)

2. Truth it was a cry for the human race.

(II Cor. 5:14 – Because we are convinced that One (Christ) died for all.)

(Heb. 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.)

(I Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.)

3. Truth every person needs to respond.

(Matthew 25:37 – Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give You something to drink? And He will tell them, I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you were doing it to Me.)

(Prov. 25:21 – If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty give them water to drink.)

4. Truth we can drink freely from Christ.

(John 7:38 – He who believes on Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water.)

(Psalm 63:1 – O God, you are my God and I long for You. My whole being desires You. Like a dry, worn out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for You.)

(Isaiah 53:4-5- He took our suffering on Himself and felt our pain for us. He was wounded for the wrong we did and crushed for the evil we did. The punishment which made us well was given to Him and we are healed because of His wounds.)

(John 7:37-38 – On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds. “If you are thirsty, come to Me!” “If you believe in Me, come and drink, for the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.”)

March 6 2011 The Word Of Forgiveness

THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS

(Luke 23:33-43 - When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into our kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.")

(Psalm 32 – When I refused to confess my sins I was weak and miserable.)

(Psalm 30 – Because I was foolish, I’m bent over and bowed down, I am sad all day long.)

1. Forgiveness begins with God.

(Verse 34 – “Father”)

(Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.)

(Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.)

2. Forgiveness requires an intercessor.

(Verse 34 – “Forgive them.”)

(Hebrews 4:14 – Therefore since we have a great High Priest who has gone into heaven, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.)

(Isaiah 53:12 – He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.)

3. Forgiveness is a universal need.

(Verse 34 – “They do not know what they are doing.”)

(2 Corinthians 5:19 – That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.)

4. This prayer is the ultimate example.

(Matthew 5:44 – But I tell you love your enemies.)

5. The practical application.

• God forgives instantly.

(Isaiah 55:7 – God is merciful and quick to forgive.)

• God forgives completely.

(Colossians 2:13 – He forgave us all our sins.)

• God forgives freely.

(Ephesians 1:7 – For by the death of Christ, we are set free.)