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Sunday, April 29, 2012

GVCC sermon FORGIVENESS


Garden Valley Community Church
Pastor Shane Moffitt                           April 29th 2012

“1 Corinthians 13 ~ LOVE” series
LOVE IS FORGIVING
Love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do                       1 Corinthians 13:5b

As God has not kept any books on my sin, so I must not keep records on other’s sin
Romans 4:8; Psalm 32:1-2; Psalm 103:12;                          2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13-15

  The ultimate test of love is when somebody hurts you.  How do you respond?

FORGIVENESS IS NOT
1) It isn’t conditional
It’s not based on someone else’s response
Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them….”

2) It isn’t resuming a relationship without changes
a)     Demonstrate genuine repentance
b)    Make appropriate restitution
c)     Over time, rebuild trust

3) It isn’t forgetting what happened
     This requires a new level of spiritual maturity
     KNOW God can bring GOOD our of BAD
     Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28

     WHAT IS GENUINE FORGIVENESS?

#1. Giving Up My RIGHT To Get Even
          “never pay back evil with more evil…”
                                                Romans 12:17-21

#2.    RESPONDING To Evil With Good
      “...do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.”    
                                                 Luke 6:27-28

#3.    REPEATING THE PROCESS
      “Peter asked, ‘"Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?  Seven times?’  ‘No.’ Jesus replied, ‘seventy times seven!’                
                                                  Matthew  18:21-22
·        How do you know when you’ve genuinely forgiven somebody? 
·        When You can pray for God to bless them 

THE SECRET OF FORGIVENESS
REMEMBER how much God forgave YOU

      “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you                    
       must forgive others.”  Colossians 3:13

     "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 2:13-14

READ: The “Lord’s Prayer” ~ Matthew 6:9-13
·        Lord, forgive me to the degree I forgive others

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