| [0.00 --> 10.94] Ken, I really appreciate you praying for the local churches
|
| [10.94 --> 13.00] and for our brothers and sisters abroad.
|
| [13.38 --> 15.76] You provide a very helpful segue for me
|
| [15.76 --> 18.36] because I'm going to invite a couple,
|
| [18.52 --> 19.74] actually a family up to this stage.
|
| [20.16 --> 22.10] In our church, we have a number of people
|
| [22.10 --> 23.28] that I call the translators,
|
| [23.42 --> 25.18] and they always say we're not the translators.
|
| [25.18 --> 27.58] We study linguistics to do Bible translation abroad.
|
| [28.14 --> 31.04] But today is the last Sunday with Ben and Sarah Proctor
|
| [31.04 --> 31.78] and their little son,
|
| [31.94 --> 34.04] and so I've asked them to say a few words about where they're going,
|
| [34.16 --> 35.12] and then we're going to pray for them.
|
| [35.26 --> 36.26] So come on up.
|
| [40.96 --> 44.04] Yeah, so as Dave said, my name is Ben Proctor,
|
| [44.16 --> 46.02] and this is my wife Sarah and our son Anthony.
|
| [46.42 --> 49.72] And we've been studying linguistics at Trinity Western
|
| [49.72 --> 50.74] for the past two years,
|
| [50.74 --> 53.64] and we've been privileged to call Hope our church home
|
| [53.64 --> 54.76] during most of that time.
|
| [54.76 --> 57.62] Our long-term plans,
|
| [57.86 --> 60.22] we're part of Pioneer Bible Translators,
|
| [60.54 --> 62.68] and we are hoping to serve with them
|
| [62.68 --> 64.02] somewhere in Southeast Asia.
|
| [64.76 --> 67.40] Our immediate plans were from the States,
|
| [67.46 --> 68.46] so we're going to return there
|
| [68.46 --> 69.76] and rest for a little while.
|
| [70.72 --> 72.04] But if you could pray for us,
|
| [72.10 --> 75.08] just as we are still in this preparation stage
|
| [75.08 --> 76.28] to go to the field,
|
| [76.38 --> 77.28] we would really appreciate it.
|
| [77.50 --> 77.86] Thank you.
|
| [77.86 --> 80.34] Well, let me pray for you.
|
| [82.32 --> 83.66] Father, we thank you so much
|
| [83.66 --> 86.90] for the season of life that we've had with Benj and Sarah.
|
| [88.08 --> 90.02] We want to pray your blessing over them
|
| [90.02 --> 92.66] as they finish up their studies and their exams.
|
| [93.96 --> 95.74] And Lord, I thank you that they have a time of rest
|
| [95.74 --> 97.14] back home in the States,
|
| [97.64 --> 99.64] and we hold before you now
|
| [99.64 --> 101.24] their plans to go to Southeast Asia.
|
| [101.24 --> 103.82] We thank you for the desire they have
|
| [103.82 --> 105.10] to make your word known
|
| [105.10 --> 107.64] in languages that people can have of their own.
|
| [108.56 --> 110.00] Would you make their ministry fruitful?
|
| [111.20 --> 112.50] Would you bless their family
|
| [112.50 --> 113.80] and protect them in their travels,
|
| [114.16 --> 114.78] in their life,
|
| [114.98 --> 115.72] and in their work?
|
| [116.60 --> 119.10] And Lord, would your kingdom be expanded
|
| [119.10 --> 121.42] through the efforts of their work?
|
| [122.18 --> 124.02] We pray this all in Christ's mighty name.
|
| [124.30 --> 124.54] Amen.
|
| [124.54 --> 124.74] Amen.
|
| [125.62 --> 126.54] Thank you so much.
|
| [129.10 --> 131.12] There's a number of other translators at our church,
|
| [131.34 --> 134.70] and you're welcome to just find them after the service.
|
| [135.28 --> 136.52] Actually, a lot of them were at the 9 a.m.,
|
| [136.52 --> 137.52] but I see another one over here,
|
| [137.58 --> 139.46] and just hear about the work God is doing
|
| [139.46 --> 140.40] and preparing them for.
|
| [140.84 --> 143.60] I really feel like my own heart for Global Mission
|
| [143.60 --> 145.34] and also for the Bible translation.
|
| [145.58 --> 147.86] I did not realize how many languages and dialects
|
| [147.86 --> 149.36] do not yet have a Bible in their language,
|
| [149.56 --> 151.26] and I praise the Lord that in our church
|
| [151.26 --> 152.42] we have people who are studying
|
| [152.42 --> 155.12] and going around the world to make God's Word known.
|
| [157.48 --> 158.98] As Pastor Sid said,
|
| [159.18 --> 161.20] we're going to continue our series on forgiveness,
|
| [162.10 --> 164.06] and if you didn't hear last week's sermon,
|
| [164.22 --> 167.10] I do invite you to find it on the podcast or on YouTube.
|
| [168.02 --> 170.66] Sometimes we mock Pastor Sid for stealing our sermons,
|
| [171.34 --> 173.44] but as I was listening last week,
|
| [173.48 --> 175.54] I thought, man, this guy is such a gifted preacher,
|
| [176.12 --> 177.56] and he practices what he preaches.
|
| [177.68 --> 179.96] I was just noticing how so much of what he's preaching,
|
| [180.10 --> 180.76] he's living,
|
| [180.76 --> 182.58] and I think that's such a gift to us,
|
| [182.60 --> 184.08] so please do listen to that sermon
|
| [184.08 --> 185.76] because I'm going to be building on it this morning,
|
| [185.94 --> 188.66] and we're going to be continuing on it in the next two weeks.
|
| [190.10 --> 191.66] We're going to look at Matthew 18
|
| [191.66 --> 193.78] this week and next week
|
| [193.78 --> 196.68] because Jesus has a lot of teaching about forgiveness,
|
| [196.94 --> 197.76] and so if you have your Bible,
|
| [197.90 --> 199.50] turn with me to Matthew chapter 18,
|
| [200.02 --> 202.34] and we will start reading in verse 21.
|
| [202.34 --> 209.08] Then Peter came to Jesus and asked,
|
| [209.66 --> 215.04] Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me?
|
| [215.56 --> 217.36] Up to seven times?
|
| [218.60 --> 219.42] Jesus answered,
|
| [219.84 --> 221.92] I tell you not seven times,
|
| [222.30 --> 224.44] but seventy-seven times.
|
| [225.80 --> 228.40] Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king
|
| [228.40 --> 230.58] who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
|
| [230.58 --> 232.38] As he began settlement,
|
| [232.62 --> 235.96] a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.
|
| [236.74 --> 238.04] Since he was not able to pay,
|
| [238.22 --> 240.26] the master ordered that he and his wife and his children
|
| [240.26 --> 242.64] and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
|
| [243.58 --> 245.78] The servant fell on his knees before him.
|
| [245.90 --> 247.42] Be patient with me, he begged,
|
| [247.60 --> 248.96] and I will pay back everything.
|
| [249.98 --> 252.16] The servant's master took pity on him,
|
| [253.04 --> 253.82] canceled the debt,
|
| [254.30 --> 255.08] and let him go.
|
| [255.08 --> 257.86] But when that servant went out,
|
| [257.96 --> 260.22] he found one of his fellow servants who owed him
|
| [260.22 --> 261.86] a hundred silver coins.
|
| [262.56 --> 264.68] He grabbed him and began to choke him,
|
| [264.84 --> 267.02] saying, pay back what you owed me, he demanded.
|
| [267.88 --> 270.38] His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him,
|
| [270.68 --> 272.60] be patient with me, and I will pay you back.
|
| [273.68 --> 274.56] But he refused.
|
| [275.40 --> 277.64] Instead, he went off and had the men thrown into prison
|
| [277.64 --> 278.86] until he could pay the debt.
|
| [278.86 --> 281.76] When the other servants saw what had happened,
|
| [281.86 --> 283.20] they were greatly distressed
|
| [283.20 --> 285.56] and went and told their master everything that had happened.
|
| [286.46 --> 288.18] Then the master called the servant in.
|
| [289.20 --> 291.84] You wicked servant, he said.
|
| [292.40 --> 295.42] I canceled all the debt of yours because you begged me to.
|
| [296.20 --> 298.44] Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant
|
| [298.44 --> 299.92] just as I had on you?
|
| [301.02 --> 303.68] In anger, his master handed him over to the jailers
|
| [303.68 --> 307.26] to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed.
|
| [307.26 --> 311.84] This is how my heavenly father will treat each of us
|
| [311.84 --> 316.24] unless you forgive a brother or sister from your heart.
|
| [318.94 --> 320.20] It's a heavy teaching, hey?
|
| [322.76 --> 325.90] Right now I'm reading through a book by Ronald Ruhlheiser
|
| [325.90 --> 328.42] on spiritual growth, spiritual formation.
|
| [329.08 --> 330.80] He writes quite extensively on the topic.
|
| [330.94 --> 333.00] And in this book, he makes this comment
|
| [333.00 --> 335.06] about spirituality and stages of life
|
| [335.06 --> 336.58] that just kind of caught me off guard.
|
| [336.58 --> 338.34] He says, and this is a generalization,
|
| [339.16 --> 340.64] that in the first half of life,
|
| [340.94 --> 343.64] most of us struggle with the seventh command,
|
| [343.76 --> 345.10] which is do not commit adultery.
|
| [345.92 --> 347.60] In the second half of life,
|
| [348.06 --> 350.02] most of us struggle with the sixth command,
|
| [350.12 --> 351.96] which is you shall not murder.
|
| [353.48 --> 355.20] And that's a huge generalization.
|
| [355.36 --> 356.86] But what he's getting at behind this
|
| [356.86 --> 358.08] is that when we are young,
|
| [358.16 --> 359.94] we have very strong, youthful passions,
|
| [359.94 --> 361.92] which are a gift and also need to be curbed.
|
| [362.32 --> 363.42] And yet as we get older,
|
| [363.42 --> 365.34] those passions subside usually.
|
| [365.98 --> 367.68] And then a whole new set of concerns
|
| [367.68 --> 369.08] comes into our lives.
|
| [369.76 --> 371.24] The burdens of life,
|
| [371.34 --> 374.28] the heaviness and the unfairness of life,
|
| [374.76 --> 377.90] the wounds of people who betray us
|
| [377.90 --> 380.86] and attack us and are unkind to us.
|
| [381.80 --> 382.90] And generally, he says,
|
| [382.96 --> 384.62] there's two trajectories as you get older.
|
| [384.74 --> 386.38] It says you go in the way of bitterness
|
| [386.38 --> 390.16] and resentment and hurt and grudge,
|
| [390.16 --> 392.04] or you learn the path of forgiveness
|
| [392.04 --> 393.48] and you finish life well.
|
| [395.24 --> 397.06] I have a feeling that even as we preach
|
| [397.06 --> 397.84] through this series,
|
| [398.58 --> 401.24] some of the heaviness of your own life,
|
| [401.64 --> 402.76] the broken relationships,
|
| [403.06 --> 404.36] that argument you regret,
|
| [404.74 --> 406.72] those words you wish you could unsay,
|
| [407.28 --> 408.48] they come to the surface,
|
| [409.20 --> 409.94] and they should.
|
| [411.06 --> 413.18] Forgiveness is hard.
|
| [413.98 --> 415.70] We want to underscore in this series
|
| [415.70 --> 417.26] that forgiveness is not some simple thing.
|
| [417.34 --> 418.18] It's a hard thing.
|
| [418.28 --> 419.20] And the deeper the wound,
|
| [419.50 --> 421.34] the deeper the process of forgiveness.
|
| [422.26 --> 424.26] But let me just name that it is easier
|
| [424.26 --> 426.92] to hold grudges than it is to forgive.
|
| [427.82 --> 430.12] It's easier to passively, aggressively
|
| [430.12 --> 433.16] dig at your loved one or friend or co-worker
|
| [433.16 --> 434.08] than it is to forgive.
|
| [434.40 --> 437.10] It is easier to sabotage them on social media
|
| [437.10 --> 438.54] than it is to forgive.
|
| [439.08 --> 441.04] It's easier to retaliate
|
| [441.04 --> 443.86] and seek vengeance than it is to forgive.
|
| [444.40 --> 445.74] And it shouldn't surprise any of us,
|
| [445.80 --> 446.24] by the way,
|
| [446.30 --> 448.48] that there's so much teaching
|
| [448.48 --> 450.26] in the Scripture on forgiveness.
|
| [451.10 --> 452.16] In fact, when we were preaching
|
| [452.16 --> 452.90] through Galatians,
|
| [453.02 --> 454.30] I still remember when Pastor Sid
|
| [454.30 --> 455.66] was preaching on Galatians 5,
|
| [455.98 --> 456.76] where Paul says,
|
| [456.98 --> 458.46] put away all these old parts
|
| [458.46 --> 460.12] of your old life before you knew Jesus
|
| [460.12 --> 461.86] and put on the fruits of the Spirit.
|
| [462.36 --> 463.96] And listen to the list he adds
|
| [463.96 --> 465.82] when he says what we need to put away.
|
| [465.82 --> 469.94] Okay, bitterness, anger, fits of rage,
|
| [470.64 --> 474.60] malice, envy, hate, discord.
|
| [474.84 --> 475.80] You getting a theme here?
|
| [476.38 --> 478.10] All these things divide.
|
| [478.98 --> 480.72] All these things represent broken,
|
| [481.00 --> 482.08] fractured relationships.
|
| [482.30 --> 482.68] And then he says,
|
| [482.76 --> 483.76] put on the fruit of the Spirit
|
| [483.76 --> 485.56] because that's going to lead to healing.
|
| [487.36 --> 490.32] Jesus teaches a lot on forgiveness
|
| [490.32 --> 492.34] because it was just as much of a problem then
|
| [492.34 --> 493.52] as it is today.
|
| [493.52 --> 494.50] And today we're going to look at
|
| [494.50 --> 495.62] what Jesus says to Peter
|
| [495.62 --> 497.34] in Matthew chapter 18.
|
| [497.48 --> 498.22] So let's take a look.
|
| [499.50 --> 502.52] Peter asks a really good question to Jesus.
|
| [502.72 --> 504.78] And I bet you maybe in your own life
|
| [504.78 --> 505.80] you've asked this question.
|
| [506.36 --> 506.82] It's like,
|
| [507.32 --> 509.18] how much do I have to forgive?
|
| [510.44 --> 512.56] How much am I required to give
|
| [512.56 --> 513.50] my brother or sister?
|
| [513.64 --> 514.70] And then Peter adds at the end,
|
| [515.02 --> 517.26] up to seven times?
|
| [518.00 --> 518.84] And you should know
|
| [518.84 --> 520.36] there's good teaching background
|
| [520.36 --> 521.34] for why he says this.
|
| [521.40 --> 522.66] In fact, in Jewish teaching,
|
| [522.66 --> 523.56] rabbinic teaching,
|
| [524.36 --> 525.82] the general teaching was
|
| [525.82 --> 526.82] if someone sins against you
|
| [526.82 --> 528.24] one, two, three times,
|
| [528.30 --> 529.06] you must forgive them.
|
| [529.14 --> 530.86] But four and no more.
|
| [531.38 --> 532.56] There's a limit to grace.
|
| [532.92 --> 534.16] You don't just need to take it.
|
| [535.30 --> 536.60] And so when Peter asks this question,
|
| [536.68 --> 537.76] he's probably thinking,
|
| [537.92 --> 538.82] okay, I'm with Jesus.
|
| [539.04 --> 540.30] He changes a lot of things.
|
| [540.60 --> 542.34] He ups the requirements of obedience.
|
| [542.52 --> 543.80] So maybe if I double three,
|
| [543.98 --> 545.04] add one for good measure,
|
| [545.16 --> 545.90] and ask Jesus,
|
| [546.14 --> 547.14] is seven the one?
|
| [547.30 --> 547.90] He's going to say,
|
| [547.98 --> 548.54] yes, Peter.
|
| [549.22 --> 550.00] Seven's the limit.
|
| [550.00 --> 552.26] And what does Jesus say to him?
|
| [553.50 --> 554.72] Not seven times.
|
| [556.24 --> 557.24] Seventy times.
|
| [558.16 --> 559.14] And some translations,
|
| [559.36 --> 560.32] maybe your Bible has this,
|
| [560.38 --> 562.28] it says seven times,
|
| [562.42 --> 563.94] or seventy times seven.
|
| [564.82 --> 565.96] And if you're a literal reader
|
| [565.96 --> 567.04] of the Bible in this passage,
|
| [567.12 --> 567.28] you're like,
|
| [567.32 --> 568.42] well, what is it, Pastor Dave?
|
| [568.46 --> 570.22] Is it seventy or is it four hundred and ninety?
|
| [570.28 --> 571.06] Because I have a spouse
|
| [571.06 --> 572.50] who's hitting the high three hundreds,
|
| [572.66 --> 573.18] and I'm ready
|
| [573.18 --> 574.78] to pull back the grace.
|
| [574.78 --> 577.08] And I hope you know
|
| [577.08 --> 578.78] Jesus is speaking hyperbole here,
|
| [579.00 --> 581.26] and his answer to Peter is,
|
| [581.82 --> 583.06] I want you to match
|
| [583.06 --> 585.02] my limitless forgiveness.
|
| [585.92 --> 587.64] I want you to receive
|
| [587.64 --> 589.82] this unmerited,
|
| [590.32 --> 591.88] generous, abundant grace,
|
| [592.20 --> 594.32] and I want you to mirror that
|
| [594.32 --> 595.86] to the people who sin against you.
|
| [596.74 --> 599.24] It's an extravagant ethic
|
| [599.24 --> 600.20] of forgiveness
|
| [600.20 --> 601.68] that Jesus is inviting
|
| [601.68 --> 602.72] all believers into.
|
| [602.72 --> 605.60] And now I want us to look
|
| [605.60 --> 606.48] at this parable.
|
| [606.68 --> 607.42] Jesus goes straight
|
| [607.42 --> 608.18] from teaching Peter
|
| [608.18 --> 609.20] into this parable
|
| [609.20 --> 610.62] about this unforgiving servant
|
| [610.62 --> 611.90] or this generous master,
|
| [611.98 --> 613.00] whatever you want to title it.
|
| [613.46 --> 614.52] And in my opinion,
|
| [614.78 --> 615.58] maybe you'll agree with me
|
| [615.58 --> 615.98] at the end,
|
| [616.08 --> 618.62] this is a piercing parable.
|
| [619.14 --> 620.46] The first half is great,
|
| [620.52 --> 621.24] I want to stay there,
|
| [621.30 --> 621.96] but the second half
|
| [621.96 --> 622.70] is just getting right
|
| [622.70 --> 623.34] into our business,
|
| [623.46 --> 624.26] so let's take a look
|
| [624.26 --> 624.90] at this teaching.
|
| [625.76 --> 627.44] It's a parable about a master
|
| [627.44 --> 629.02] who has servants
|
| [629.02 --> 630.08] who have debt.
|
| [630.62 --> 632.12] And he calls in one servant,
|
| [632.12 --> 633.12] and we're told that this servant
|
| [633.12 --> 633.94] has how much debt?
|
| [634.68 --> 637.32] 10,000 bags of gold.
|
| [638.76 --> 640.02] One scholar estimates
|
| [640.02 --> 640.74] that that is around
|
| [640.74 --> 642.30] a trillion dollars of debt.
|
| [642.90 --> 643.96] So this is supposed
|
| [643.96 --> 645.32] to maybe make us smile
|
| [645.32 --> 645.70] a little bit
|
| [645.70 --> 646.10] because this is
|
| [646.10 --> 647.22] an insurmountable debt.
|
| [647.30 --> 648.44] It's a national debt,
|
| [648.50 --> 649.26] not a personal debt.
|
| [649.82 --> 650.66] And so the master
|
| [650.66 --> 651.62] brings the servant in
|
| [651.62 --> 652.22] and says,
|
| [652.30 --> 653.00] you must repay it.
|
| [653.06 --> 653.70] He can't,
|
| [653.74 --> 654.78] and so he and his family
|
| [654.78 --> 655.44] have to be sold
|
| [655.44 --> 656.36] to repay the debt.
|
| [656.56 --> 657.18] And then what does
|
| [657.18 --> 657.74] the servant do?
|
| [659.12 --> 660.00] He begs.
|
| [660.00 --> 661.22] He says,
|
| [661.56 --> 662.12] forgive me,
|
| [662.22 --> 662.96] give me time,
|
| [663.06 --> 663.92] be patient with me,
|
| [663.96 --> 665.04] I'll pay it back.
|
| [666.08 --> 667.00] And to be honest,
|
| [667.06 --> 667.96] I don't know how to translate
|
| [667.96 --> 669.00] the intention there
|
| [669.00 --> 670.42] because it could be
|
| [670.42 --> 670.96] that he's just
|
| [670.96 --> 672.08] extremely penitent,
|
| [672.64 --> 673.32] but I also think
|
| [673.32 --> 674.36] he's just extremely ignorant
|
| [674.36 --> 675.46] because it's not like
|
| [675.46 --> 676.16] he's going to be able
|
| [676.16 --> 677.04] to pay this debt back.
|
| [677.12 --> 677.56] It's the equivalent
|
| [677.56 --> 678.46] of like working
|
| [678.46 --> 679.50] as a cashier somewhere
|
| [679.50 --> 680.50] at minimum wage
|
| [680.50 --> 681.18] and you're like,
|
| [681.28 --> 681.86] forgive me,
|
| [681.92 --> 682.48] give me time,
|
| [682.66 --> 683.60] I'm going to pay back
|
| [683.60 --> 685.10] my debt on 20 acres
|
| [685.10 --> 686.04] of land in Vancouver.
|
| [686.94 --> 688.02] It's not going to happen.
|
| [688.54 --> 689.66] You can't do it.
|
| [690.82 --> 691.84] And the master
|
| [691.84 --> 692.74] looks at this servant,
|
| [694.20 --> 695.34] he takes pity on him,
|
| [695.74 --> 697.02] or as some translations
|
| [697.02 --> 697.40] put it,
|
| [697.42 --> 698.66] he has compassion on him
|
| [698.66 --> 699.42] from his heart
|
| [699.42 --> 701.06] and he cancels the debt.
|
| [702.06 --> 703.42] He releases that servant
|
| [703.42 --> 704.06] free and clear.
|
| [704.78 --> 705.88] There's nothing left to do.
|
| [707.54 --> 708.56] And if you've grown up
|
| [708.56 --> 708.98] in the church
|
| [708.98 --> 709.78] or you know the Bible,
|
| [709.98 --> 711.06] you'll know where this parable
|
| [711.06 --> 712.02] is going in the first half.
|
| [712.10 --> 713.34] This is Jesus describing
|
| [713.34 --> 714.84] the insurmountable debt
|
| [714.84 --> 715.86] that we have towards
|
| [715.86 --> 716.66] our Heavenly Father
|
| [716.66 --> 717.90] because of our sin,
|
| [718.54 --> 719.36] because of rebellion,
|
| [719.54 --> 720.46] because of our idolatry,
|
| [720.60 --> 721.48] because of our choosing
|
| [721.48 --> 722.22] to follow everything
|
| [722.22 --> 723.16] except for God
|
| [723.16 --> 723.84] and we have this
|
| [723.84 --> 724.88] unbelievable,
|
| [725.16 --> 725.82] insurmountable,
|
| [725.94 --> 728.02] incalculable debt
|
| [728.02 --> 730.04] and we can't pay it back.
|
| [730.98 --> 731.64] And so the master
|
| [731.64 --> 732.76] that is our Heavenly Father
|
| [732.76 --> 733.70] through the work
|
| [733.70 --> 734.90] of his son Jesus Christ
|
| [734.90 --> 735.54] in his death
|
| [735.54 --> 736.04] and resurrection
|
| [736.04 --> 738.80] says that debt's dealt with.
|
| [739.74 --> 740.50] It's canceled.
|
| [741.46 --> 743.18] You are free to go.
|
| [744.38 --> 746.30] Nothing left to pay.
|
| [747.66 --> 748.84] That's the first half
|
| [748.84 --> 749.90] of this passage.
|
| [750.30 --> 750.94] And like I said,
|
| [751.34 --> 752.62] it's great to hang out
|
| [752.62 --> 753.32] and camp out
|
| [753.32 --> 754.04] in this first half
|
| [754.04 --> 754.44] of the passage.
|
| [754.54 --> 755.42] It's a beautiful thing.
|
| [755.54 --> 756.58] The gospel of grace,
|
| [757.02 --> 757.94] the mercy of God,
|
| [758.10 --> 758.64] unmerited,
|
| [759.08 --> 759.60] unwarranted,
|
| [759.80 --> 760.36] undeserved,
|
| [760.64 --> 761.98] just freely sent
|
| [761.98 --> 762.76] through Jesus
|
| [762.76 --> 763.94] to all those
|
| [763.94 --> 764.62] who receive him.
|
| [765.60 --> 766.22] But now we get
|
| [766.22 --> 766.84] to the second half
|
| [766.84 --> 768.48] and this is the punchline
|
| [768.48 --> 769.46] half of the passage.
|
| [770.04 --> 770.54] The servant
|
| [770.54 --> 771.98] who receives this grace
|
| [771.98 --> 773.14] goes and finds
|
| [773.14 --> 774.06] a fellow servant
|
| [774.06 --> 774.56] and how much
|
| [774.56 --> 775.82] does this servant
|
| [775.82 --> 776.82] owe the other servant?
|
| [778.20 --> 779.88] One hundred silver coins.
|
| [780.94 --> 782.42] You had 10,000 bags of gold,
|
| [782.80 --> 783.88] one hundred silver coins.
|
| [784.22 --> 785.20] And he goes to that servant
|
| [785.20 --> 786.00] and he doesn't just say,
|
| [786.12 --> 786.86] I want my money.
|
| [787.02 --> 788.58] He chokes the servant
|
| [788.58 --> 789.42] and he says,
|
| [789.52 --> 790.72] pay back your debt.
|
| [791.56 --> 792.16] And that servant
|
| [792.16 --> 793.00] says the same thing
|
| [793.00 --> 793.70] the first one did
|
| [793.70 --> 794.18] to the master.
|
| [794.28 --> 794.42] He says,
|
| [794.48 --> 795.38] be patient with me.
|
| [795.44 --> 796.60] I'll pay it back.
|
| [797.60 --> 798.46] But he refuses.
|
| [799.30 --> 800.24] And he throws that servant
|
| [800.24 --> 800.74] in jail
|
| [800.74 --> 801.98] until he can pay the debt.
|
| [802.50 --> 803.58] And then word gets around
|
| [803.58 --> 804.50] among other servants
|
| [804.50 --> 806.00] who bring what happened
|
| [806.00 --> 806.86] back to the master
|
| [806.86 --> 807.74] and now I want to read
|
| [807.74 --> 809.10] for us the punchline
|
| [809.10 --> 810.02] of the whole parable.
|
| [811.94 --> 813.26] We read these words
|
| [813.26 --> 814.26] from the master.
|
| [814.50 --> 816.34] You wicked servant.
|
| [817.34 --> 818.98] I canceled all that debt
|
| [818.98 --> 819.28] of yours
|
| [819.28 --> 820.80] because you begged me to.
|
| [821.52 --> 823.00] Shouldn't you have mercy
|
| [823.00 --> 823.96] on your fellow servant
|
| [823.96 --> 825.38] just as I had on you?
|
| [826.38 --> 827.14] In anger,
|
| [827.24 --> 828.32] his master handed him
|
| [828.32 --> 829.12] over to the jailer
|
| [829.12 --> 829.74] to be tortured
|
| [829.74 --> 831.02] until he should pay back
|
| [831.02 --> 831.88] all that he owed.
|
| [833.06 --> 834.68] This is how my heavenly father
|
| [834.68 --> 835.78] will treat each of you
|
| [835.78 --> 837.22] unless you forgive
|
| [837.22 --> 838.12] your brother or sister
|
| [838.12 --> 839.40] from your heart.
|
| [841.76 --> 842.74] Yeah, I heard someone else
|
| [842.74 --> 843.88] make that same sound.
|
| [845.04 --> 846.76] That is heavy teaching.
|
| [848.32 --> 849.60] And these are the kind of passages
|
| [849.60 --> 851.18] we can just gloss over
|
| [851.18 --> 852.84] or just want to stay
|
| [852.84 --> 853.96] in the first half of.
|
| [854.66 --> 855.50] And I just want to say
|
| [855.50 --> 856.42] unequivocally
|
| [856.42 --> 857.94] that forgiveness
|
| [857.94 --> 859.56] for those who follow Jesus
|
| [859.56 --> 861.76] is not optional.
|
| [862.86 --> 863.60] This is not some
|
| [863.60 --> 864.80] take it or leave it ethic
|
| [864.80 --> 865.66] that you can take
|
| [865.66 --> 866.52] if you want
|
| [866.52 --> 867.80] or leave if you don't like.
|
| [868.10 --> 868.94] I find sometimes
|
| [868.94 --> 869.70] we can water down
|
| [869.70 --> 870.56] the teachings of Jesus.
|
| [870.72 --> 871.62] We can sort of ignore
|
| [871.62 --> 872.44] these hard pieces.
|
| [872.56 --> 873.28] But Jesus says,
|
| [873.74 --> 875.88] forgiveness is a serious command
|
| [875.88 --> 878.36] with serious consequences.
|
| [879.54 --> 880.20] And I'm going to quote
|
| [880.20 --> 880.80] Dale Bruner,
|
| [880.98 --> 882.68] a commentator I very much like
|
| [882.68 --> 883.90] on the Gospel of Matthew.
|
| [883.90 --> 886.24] And this is how he puts it.
|
| [886.48 --> 887.34] And this is in contrast,
|
| [887.50 --> 887.74] by the way,
|
| [887.80 --> 888.56] to the Beatitudes.
|
| [889.56 --> 892.24] Unblessed are the unmerciful.
|
| [893.46 --> 894.82] God is forgiving,
|
| [895.38 --> 898.14] but God is not mocked.
|
| [898.24 --> 899.56] That's quoting Galatians 6.
|
| [900.26 --> 901.20] Where divine forgiveness
|
| [901.20 --> 903.36] does not have human consequences,
|
| [903.58 --> 905.68] it becomes divine judgment.
|
| [905.96 --> 908.20] So serious is the teaching of Jesus.
|
| [908.20 --> 910.74] And I do think
|
| [910.74 --> 911.62] that in the church,
|
| [912.08 --> 913.10] we can be people
|
| [913.10 --> 913.72] who want to hear
|
| [913.72 --> 914.56] all the stuff
|
| [914.56 --> 915.44] of the first half.
|
| [915.76 --> 916.34] Thank you, Lord,
|
| [916.42 --> 916.98] for your forgiveness.
|
| [917.46 --> 918.84] Thank you for the Gospel of Grace.
|
| [919.00 --> 920.18] Thank you for canceling my debt.
|
| [920.36 --> 921.16] And we don't even want
|
| [921.16 --> 922.00] to talk about
|
| [922.00 --> 923.90] what that means for us
|
| [923.90 --> 924.66] in all the broken,
|
| [924.82 --> 925.64] fractured relationships
|
| [925.64 --> 926.32] of our lives.
|
| [926.46 --> 927.22] We aren't willing
|
| [927.22 --> 927.82] to allow that
|
| [927.82 --> 929.30] to translate into mercy
|
| [929.30 --> 930.68] no matter what the wound,
|
| [930.88 --> 931.78] no matter what the hurt,
|
| [932.06 --> 932.94] no matter what the sin
|
| [932.94 --> 934.16] has been against us.
|
| [934.78 --> 935.74] It's all passive
|
| [935.74 --> 937.68] and no requirement.
|
| [938.28 --> 939.58] Or as Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
|
| [939.74 --> 941.10] a writer in the Second World War,
|
| [941.18 --> 941.42] said,
|
| [941.72 --> 942.76] it's cheap grace.
|
| [943.58 --> 944.72] It's all what you receive
|
| [944.72 --> 945.92] and nothing that you mirror
|
| [945.92 --> 947.14] and give to the others
|
| [947.14 --> 947.76] around you.
|
| [949.12 --> 950.62] Forgiveness is a serious command
|
| [950.62 --> 953.16] with serious consequences.
|
| [954.48 --> 955.86] And I want to read for you now
|
| [955.86 --> 957.20] that last part
|
| [957.20 --> 958.52] of the last verse again
|
| [958.52 --> 959.40] because this is what
|
| [959.40 --> 960.14] really got me.
|
| [960.20 --> 960.84] Not only is this
|
| [960.84 --> 962.08] a heavy teaching,
|
| [962.64 --> 963.42] but Jesus says
|
| [963.42 --> 964.26] in the very end,
|
| [964.48 --> 965.16] not just that we have
|
| [965.16 --> 965.54] to forgive,
|
| [965.74 --> 966.08] look at this,
|
| [966.12 --> 966.68] all caps,
|
| [967.16 --> 968.22] unless you forgive
|
| [968.22 --> 969.34] your brother or sister
|
| [969.34 --> 972.18] from the heart.
|
| [974.82 --> 975.98] Now, I'm a parent
|
| [975.98 --> 977.78] and if you have kids,
|
| [977.86 --> 978.80] you're going to relate to this.
|
| [979.38 --> 980.70] I've had conflict
|
| [980.70 --> 981.28] in my household
|
| [981.28 --> 982.12] with my children,
|
| [982.44 --> 983.52] my wife and I as well,
|
| [983.80 --> 984.48] but when our children
|
| [984.48 --> 985.18] have conflict,
|
| [985.50 --> 986.30] we try to be
|
| [986.30 --> 987.02] as good parents,
|
| [987.16 --> 987.30] you know,
|
| [987.34 --> 987.86] we bring them
|
| [987.86 --> 988.92] into conversation,
|
| [989.12 --> 989.94] we bring them together
|
| [989.94 --> 990.90] to hash it out
|
| [990.90 --> 991.76] and to forgive each other
|
| [991.76 --> 992.52] and we'll say
|
| [992.52 --> 993.48] to our one child
|
| [993.48 --> 994.20] to the other child,
|
| [994.30 --> 994.48] okay,
|
| [994.48 --> 995.74] now forgive your sister
|
| [995.74 --> 996.74] and you know
|
| [996.74 --> 997.36] how this goes,
|
| [997.46 --> 997.66] right?
|
| [998.40 --> 999.20] Say you're sorry,
|
| [999.50 --> 1000.10] I'm sorry.
|
| [1001.12 --> 1002.36] Say I forgive you,
|
| [1002.60 --> 1003.46] I forgive you.
|
| [1004.22 --> 1005.00] And Brittany and I,
|
| [1005.10 --> 1006.86] we have this practice
|
| [1006.86 --> 1007.84] of getting them to hug
|
| [1007.84 --> 1008.54] and I'm like,
|
| [1008.60 --> 1008.80] all right,
|
| [1008.86 --> 1010.12] now hug your sibling.
|
| [1010.28 --> 1010.54] They're like,
|
| [1010.54 --> 1013.14] do you have this
|
| [1013.14 --> 1013.64] in your household?
|
| [1014.16 --> 1015.20] It's not just us?
|
| [1016.52 --> 1018.24] And it's the most painful,
|
| [1019.20 --> 1021.22] graceless kind of forgiveness
|
| [1021.22 --> 1023.34] and here's the thing,
|
| [1023.56 --> 1024.06] I mean,
|
| [1024.80 --> 1025.88] we do the same thing
|
| [1025.88 --> 1026.34] as adults,
|
| [1026.40 --> 1027.34] it's just more concealed.
|
| [1029.08 --> 1030.10] We have all sorts
|
| [1030.10 --> 1031.18] of pseudo-forgiveness
|
| [1031.18 --> 1032.32] as adults
|
| [1032.32 --> 1033.98] and we don't talk about that,
|
| [1034.58 --> 1034.78] right?
|
| [1034.82 --> 1035.36] We have the,
|
| [1035.48 --> 1036.38] this happens all the time
|
| [1036.38 --> 1036.78] in our households,
|
| [1036.88 --> 1037.04] I bet,
|
| [1037.10 --> 1038.16] where someone hurts you
|
| [1038.16 --> 1038.92] or a friend hurts you
|
| [1038.92 --> 1039.68] and they come to you
|
| [1039.68 --> 1039.86] like,
|
| [1039.96 --> 1040.06] oh,
|
| [1040.10 --> 1040.60] I'm so sorry
|
| [1040.60 --> 1041.18] and you're just like,
|
| [1041.24 --> 1041.38] oh,
|
| [1041.40 --> 1041.88] it's okay
|
| [1041.88 --> 1043.04] and then you go home
|
| [1043.04 --> 1044.30] and it's not okay
|
| [1044.30 --> 1045.24] and you're,
|
| [1045.24 --> 1045.48] you know,
|
| [1045.62 --> 1046.36] gossiping about them
|
| [1046.36 --> 1046.82] for months,
|
| [1046.92 --> 1047.58] talking to all your friends
|
| [1047.58 --> 1048.40] about how hurt you are,
|
| [1048.56 --> 1049.60] you're willing to stab them
|
| [1049.60 --> 1050.62] in the back on social media
|
| [1050.62 --> 1051.96] but they think it's okay
|
| [1051.96 --> 1053.62] and this is common
|
| [1053.62 --> 1054.68] or you're,
|
| [1054.76 --> 1055.02] you know,
|
| [1055.56 --> 1056.66] you're willing to sort of
|
| [1056.66 --> 1057.88] find secretive,
|
| [1058.08 --> 1058.80] dangerous ways
|
| [1058.80 --> 1059.66] of finding vengeance
|
| [1059.66 --> 1061.84] and we do this thing
|
| [1061.84 --> 1063.14] as one of my pastor friends
|
| [1063.14 --> 1063.42] puts it,
|
| [1063.44 --> 1064.44] we do peace faking
|
| [1064.44 --> 1066.38] rather than peace making
|
| [1066.38 --> 1068.32] and the kind of forgiveness
|
| [1068.32 --> 1069.54] that Jesus invites us to
|
| [1069.54 --> 1070.34] is not just a forgiveness
|
| [1070.34 --> 1071.10] of words,
|
| [1071.46 --> 1073.12] it goes to this deep place
|
| [1073.12 --> 1073.48] of us
|
| [1073.48 --> 1075.48] that it comes from the heart
|
| [1075.48 --> 1076.78] that the forgiveness
|
| [1076.78 --> 1077.74] has to be real,
|
| [1077.82 --> 1078.88] it has to be this heartfelt
|
| [1078.88 --> 1080.60] release of revenge,
|
| [1080.88 --> 1081.90] this heartfelt desire
|
| [1081.90 --> 1082.78] for the good of the one
|
| [1082.78 --> 1083.64] who sinned against you
|
| [1083.64 --> 1084.60] and this ability
|
| [1084.60 --> 1086.14] to truly want their good.
|
| [1089.00 --> 1089.88] In this series,
|
| [1090.02 --> 1090.80] I've been on the hunt
|
| [1090.80 --> 1092.32] for a definition
|
| [1092.32 --> 1092.86] of forgiveness
|
| [1092.86 --> 1093.48] and by the way,
|
| [1093.54 --> 1094.38] if you've got a great one,
|
| [1094.46 --> 1094.86] let me know
|
| [1094.86 --> 1096.12] because there are so many
|
| [1096.12 --> 1097.06] and they often grab
|
| [1097.06 --> 1097.86] different dimensions
|
| [1097.86 --> 1098.52] of forgiveness
|
| [1098.52 --> 1099.18] and reconciliation
|
| [1099.18 --> 1101.12] but here's two
|
| [1101.12 --> 1101.88] that I like.
|
| [1102.22 --> 1103.24] The first is from Tim Keller
|
| [1103.24 --> 1104.00] in a book called
|
| [1104.00 --> 1104.36] Forgive,
|
| [1104.66 --> 1105.58] I commend that book to you,
|
| [1105.64 --> 1106.42] it's very good
|
| [1106.42 --> 1108.52] and he defines forgiveness
|
| [1108.52 --> 1109.04] very simply,
|
| [1109.18 --> 1109.80] he says forgiveness
|
| [1109.80 --> 1112.04] is renouncing revenge
|
| [1112.04 --> 1113.86] and being open
|
| [1113.86 --> 1115.40] to reconciliation.
|
| [1116.52 --> 1117.82] It is renouncing revenge
|
| [1117.82 --> 1118.48] and what I like
|
| [1118.48 --> 1119.46] about that second part
|
| [1119.46 --> 1120.84] is the reason he says
|
| [1120.84 --> 1121.42] be open
|
| [1121.42 --> 1122.64] is because you need to,
|
| [1122.72 --> 1123.52] you need two parties
|
| [1123.52 --> 1124.42] to reconcile,
|
| [1124.72 --> 1124.88] right?
|
| [1124.88 --> 1125.72] You both have to come
|
| [1125.72 --> 1126.20] to the table
|
| [1126.20 --> 1126.78] with humility
|
| [1126.78 --> 1127.38] and love
|
| [1127.38 --> 1128.68] to really reconcile
|
| [1128.68 --> 1129.50] unlike my children
|
| [1129.50 --> 1132.00] but you can forgive anybody
|
| [1132.00 --> 1133.90] even if they never say sorry,
|
| [1134.30 --> 1134.98] even if they never know
|
| [1134.98 --> 1135.74] how much they hurt you,
|
| [1135.86 --> 1136.84] even if they never come back
|
| [1136.84 --> 1138.20] to you after whatever happened,
|
| [1138.34 --> 1139.44] you can forgive them still
|
| [1139.44 --> 1140.24] and this is what Jesus
|
| [1140.24 --> 1141.04] is talking about.
|
| [1142.78 --> 1143.96] Dr. Gary Brashears
|
| [1143.96 --> 1144.74] has written extensively
|
| [1144.74 --> 1145.78] on forgiveness as well
|
| [1145.78 --> 1146.94] and this one I think
|
| [1146.94 --> 1147.94] teases out a few things
|
| [1147.94 --> 1148.84] that I don't see elsewhere.
|
| [1148.98 --> 1149.38] He writes,
|
| [1149.38 --> 1150.94] the heart of forgiveness
|
| [1150.94 --> 1153.12] is my personal act
|
| [1153.12 --> 1154.96] to release the one
|
| [1154.96 --> 1156.46] who sinned against me
|
| [1156.46 --> 1158.00] from my personal right
|
| [1158.00 --> 1159.86] to collect on the moral debt
|
| [1159.86 --> 1160.54] for the offense
|
| [1160.54 --> 1161.72] and this is where
|
| [1161.72 --> 1162.42] I haven't read
|
| [1162.42 --> 1163.02] anywhere else yet.
|
| [1163.10 --> 1164.34] Instead of giving back
|
| [1164.34 --> 1165.72] the pain I received
|
| [1165.72 --> 1166.46] because it's real
|
| [1166.46 --> 1167.44] and it hurts,
|
| [1167.88 --> 1169.30] I absorb the pain
|
| [1169.30 --> 1170.20] into myself
|
| [1170.20 --> 1172.58] with God's help
|
| [1172.58 --> 1175.18] and the reason I like
|
| [1175.18 --> 1175.78] the second half
|
| [1175.78 --> 1176.38] of that definition
|
| [1176.38 --> 1177.28] is because it sounds
|
| [1177.28 --> 1178.82] a lot like Jesus to me,
|
| [1179.24 --> 1179.56] right?
|
| [1179.96 --> 1181.72] Jesus takes on our sin,
|
| [1181.82 --> 1182.72] he takes on our offense,
|
| [1182.84 --> 1183.86] he takes on the ways
|
| [1183.86 --> 1184.80] that we rebel against him
|
| [1184.80 --> 1186.34] and takes it in himself,
|
| [1186.82 --> 1187.58] ultimately bringing it
|
| [1187.58 --> 1188.16] to the cross
|
| [1188.16 --> 1189.46] and dealing with it
|
| [1189.46 --> 1190.64] for us
|
| [1190.64 --> 1193.66] and by his grace
|
| [1193.66 --> 1194.32] we learn
|
| [1194.32 --> 1195.82] how to absorb
|
| [1195.82 --> 1197.58] that sin as well
|
| [1197.58 --> 1198.70] and have it transformed.
|
| [1199.22 --> 1200.82] There's a very popular phrase,
|
| [1200.96 --> 1201.52] maybe you've heard it
|
| [1201.52 --> 1202.32] in the counseling world,
|
| [1202.38 --> 1202.72] it says,
|
| [1203.34 --> 1203.94] sin and hurt
|
| [1203.94 --> 1205.38] that is not transformed
|
| [1205.38 --> 1207.28] is transferred.
|
| [1208.12 --> 1208.72] Have you heard that before?
|
| [1209.18 --> 1210.46] Sin that is not transformed
|
| [1210.46 --> 1211.58] is transferred
|
| [1211.58 --> 1212.20] and I think that's
|
| [1212.20 --> 1213.86] a really wise thing,
|
| [1214.00 --> 1214.24] in fact,
|
| [1214.52 --> 1215.46] non-believing counselors
|
| [1215.46 --> 1216.18] talk about this
|
| [1216.18 --> 1217.38] and what they mean by that
|
| [1217.38 --> 1218.42] is if you don't deal
|
| [1218.42 --> 1218.94] with the ways
|
| [1218.94 --> 1219.92] you've been hurt by people,
|
| [1220.54 --> 1222.38] it's gonna hurt other people
|
| [1222.38 --> 1224.10] or maybe a simpler version
|
| [1224.10 --> 1225.22] of this is hurt people,
|
| [1225.64 --> 1226.06] hurt people
|
| [1226.06 --> 1227.82] and that's why sin
|
| [1227.82 --> 1229.80] is so often generational sin.
|
| [1230.32 --> 1230.62] Let me give you
|
| [1230.62 --> 1231.84] two very common examples,
|
| [1231.94 --> 1233.16] a very grudge-holding,
|
| [1233.26 --> 1234.12] vindictive mother
|
| [1234.12 --> 1235.92] often raises children
|
| [1235.92 --> 1237.38] who grow up to be
|
| [1237.38 --> 1238.24] grudge-keeping,
|
| [1238.38 --> 1239.34] vindictive parents
|
| [1239.34 --> 1240.36] or, you know,
|
| [1240.42 --> 1241.26] the stereotypical
|
| [1241.26 --> 1242.78] angry, hot-headed father
|
| [1242.78 --> 1244.18] raises children
|
| [1244.18 --> 1246.00] who often grow up
|
| [1246.00 --> 1246.58] to be angry,
|
| [1246.78 --> 1247.76] hot-headed parents.
|
| [1248.48 --> 1250.02] That's sin
|
| [1250.02 --> 1251.70] that is transferred
|
| [1251.70 --> 1253.86] and what I'm after
|
| [1253.86 --> 1255.00] in this series,
|
| [1255.10 --> 1255.84] what we are after
|
| [1255.84 --> 1256.96] is how do we forgive
|
| [1256.96 --> 1258.34] people from the heart
|
| [1258.34 --> 1260.34] when the wound is real?
|
| [1260.34 --> 1262.12] Like, how do we allow
|
| [1262.12 --> 1263.38] Jesus by his power
|
| [1263.38 --> 1265.16] to allow us the grace
|
| [1265.16 --> 1266.16] to forgive
|
| [1266.16 --> 1267.68] and to not hold the grudge
|
| [1267.68 --> 1268.68] and to release them
|
| [1268.68 --> 1269.20] from vengeance?
|
| [1269.76 --> 1271.14] This is hard work
|
| [1271.14 --> 1274.14] and that is why
|
| [1274.14 --> 1275.20] when Pastor Sid preached
|
| [1275.20 --> 1275.86] last week
|
| [1275.86 --> 1277.10] and he talked about
|
| [1277.10 --> 1277.60] his relationship
|
| [1277.60 --> 1278.28] with his dad,
|
| [1279.02 --> 1280.10] he said this very quickly
|
| [1280.10 --> 1280.90] and I'm gonna tease this out
|
| [1280.90 --> 1281.86] more slowly this Sunday,
|
| [1282.60 --> 1284.68] that it took prayer,
|
| [1284.68 --> 1287.02] it took community
|
| [1287.02 --> 1287.74] and counseling
|
| [1287.74 --> 1289.90] and it took time
|
| [1289.90 --> 1291.44] to forgive.
|
| [1292.84 --> 1293.50] And I think those things
|
| [1293.50 --> 1294.08] are very important
|
| [1294.08 --> 1294.92] because Matthew 18
|
| [1294.92 --> 1296.04] commands us to forgive
|
| [1296.04 --> 1297.24] so we know that's there
|
| [1297.24 --> 1298.58] but it doesn't assume
|
| [1298.58 --> 1299.10] it's easy
|
| [1299.10 --> 1299.94] and it doesn't assume
|
| [1299.94 --> 1300.60] it's instant.
|
| [1301.16 --> 1302.02] And I think sometimes
|
| [1302.02 --> 1302.96] in the church
|
| [1302.96 --> 1304.26] we can simplify
|
| [1304.26 --> 1305.30] and even trivialize
|
| [1305.30 --> 1306.08] and harm people
|
| [1306.08 --> 1306.86] who are trying to forgive
|
| [1306.86 --> 1307.90] if they've got a deep wound
|
| [1307.90 --> 1309.28] and it is okay
|
| [1309.28 --> 1310.60] if we acknowledge
|
| [1310.60 --> 1311.44] just how hard it is
|
| [1311.44 --> 1311.80] to forgive
|
| [1311.80 --> 1312.82] and we say,
|
| [1312.96 --> 1314.50] I know I have to forgive them
|
| [1314.50 --> 1315.16] and I'm committed
|
| [1315.16 --> 1316.30] to the steps
|
| [1316.30 --> 1317.88] it takes to get there.
|
| [1318.46 --> 1319.10] I'm committed
|
| [1319.10 --> 1320.22] to the process
|
| [1320.22 --> 1321.60] whereby I'm gonna get
|
| [1321.60 --> 1322.14] to that place
|
| [1322.14 --> 1322.86] and it's released.
|
| [1323.88 --> 1324.64] And my heart
|
| [1324.64 --> 1325.32] is in a place
|
| [1325.32 --> 1326.38] of truly wanting
|
| [1326.38 --> 1327.22] the good of that person
|
| [1327.22 --> 1328.10] who sinned against you.
|
| [1330.18 --> 1331.58] And before I tease these out
|
| [1331.58 --> 1332.36] in a little more detail,
|
| [1332.60 --> 1333.20] I just wanna say,
|
| [1333.30 --> 1333.90] are you willing
|
| [1333.90 --> 1334.70] to do that?
|
| [1336.12 --> 1336.82] Are you willing
|
| [1336.82 --> 1337.96] to walk the hard road?
|
| [1339.38 --> 1340.06] Our hope
|
| [1340.06 --> 1340.98] in this sermon series
|
| [1340.98 --> 1342.00] is not just that we gain
|
| [1342.00 --> 1342.62] some information
|
| [1342.62 --> 1343.26] about forgiveness,
|
| [1343.44 --> 1344.06] we get some clear
|
| [1344.06 --> 1345.16] definitions about it,
|
| [1345.36 --> 1346.02] that we gain
|
| [1346.02 --> 1346.96] some teaching on it,
|
| [1347.00 --> 1347.68] although these things
|
| [1347.68 --> 1348.52] are very important.
|
| [1349.68 --> 1350.68] Our prayer as leaders
|
| [1350.68 --> 1352.18] is that the people
|
| [1352.18 --> 1353.38] that come to your mind,
|
| [1354.36 --> 1355.56] the strained relationships,
|
| [1355.82 --> 1357.86] the estranged relationships
|
| [1357.86 --> 1358.60] with family,
|
| [1358.80 --> 1359.30] with friends,
|
| [1359.44 --> 1359.96] with coworkers
|
| [1359.96 --> 1360.52] and neighbors,
|
| [1361.52 --> 1362.22] that God,
|
| [1362.40 --> 1363.06] by His grace,
|
| [1363.24 --> 1363.90] leads us
|
| [1363.90 --> 1365.64] to have that conversation,
|
| [1366.52 --> 1368.16] to reach out,
|
| [1368.92 --> 1370.06] to make some steps
|
| [1370.06 --> 1371.62] steps towards forgiveness
|
| [1371.62 --> 1372.56] and reconciliation.
|
| [1374.40 --> 1375.12] So here are
|
| [1375.12 --> 1376.06] the essential elements,
|
| [1376.14 --> 1376.66] and there's more,
|
| [1376.76 --> 1377.48] but I'm only gonna say
|
| [1377.48 --> 1378.36] three of them today.
|
| [1378.68 --> 1379.40] Essential elements
|
| [1379.40 --> 1380.02] that I think lead
|
| [1380.02 --> 1381.64] to heart forgiveness,
|
| [1381.90 --> 1382.98] to deep forgiveness,
|
| [1383.36 --> 1383.96] peacemaking
|
| [1383.96 --> 1384.98] rather than peace faking.
|
| [1385.24 --> 1386.06] The first should not
|
| [1386.06 --> 1386.58] surprise you,
|
| [1386.66 --> 1388.14] it is prayer.
|
| [1390.04 --> 1391.58] I don't think
|
| [1391.58 --> 1392.90] we could forgive
|
| [1392.90 --> 1393.76] very well
|
| [1393.76 --> 1395.10] without God's help.
|
| [1395.40 --> 1396.02] That's why I like
|
| [1396.02 --> 1396.80] the second definition
|
| [1396.80 --> 1397.20] of forgiveness.
|
| [1397.20 --> 1398.40] because we need God
|
| [1398.40 --> 1399.46] to help us do that.
|
| [1399.76 --> 1401.26] The reason this sermon series
|
| [1401.26 --> 1402.04] is taking place
|
| [1402.04 --> 1402.98] after Easter
|
| [1402.98 --> 1405.60] is because we wanna recognize
|
| [1405.60 --> 1407.68] that Jesus Christ
|
| [1407.68 --> 1408.96] who died and rose
|
| [1408.96 --> 1410.10] and went to heaven
|
| [1410.10 --> 1411.58] poured out His Spirit
|
| [1411.58 --> 1412.24] on the church,
|
| [1412.44 --> 1413.78] and there is a new power
|
| [1413.78 --> 1415.04] available for us
|
| [1415.04 --> 1415.74] to do things
|
| [1415.74 --> 1416.34] that we could not
|
| [1416.34 --> 1417.04] otherwise do.
|
| [1418.12 --> 1419.60] And that comes
|
| [1419.60 --> 1420.68] through prayer.
|
| [1421.54 --> 1421.80] In fact,
|
| [1421.88 --> 1422.64] one of the most challenging,
|
| [1423.20 --> 1424.56] there's the Heidelberg Catechism
|
| [1424.56 --> 1425.04] is a teaching
|
| [1425.04 --> 1425.70] in our church.
|
| [1425.70 --> 1427.38] It's a confessional document
|
| [1427.38 --> 1428.26] and it talks about
|
| [1428.26 --> 1428.90] how prayer
|
| [1428.90 --> 1430.44] is the shovel we dig
|
| [1430.44 --> 1431.66] and we gain these treasures,
|
| [1431.84 --> 1432.40] these abilities
|
| [1432.40 --> 1432.92] to do things
|
| [1432.92 --> 1433.54] we couldn't do
|
| [1433.54 --> 1434.78] that change the world.
|
| [1435.90 --> 1437.22] We need prayer
|
| [1437.22 --> 1437.92] to forgive.
|
| [1439.18 --> 1440.58] And I can't
|
| [1440.58 --> 1441.88] speak to your situations
|
| [1441.88 --> 1442.80] of conflict
|
| [1442.80 --> 1443.60] and forgiveness,
|
| [1443.84 --> 1444.46] but I'll just share
|
| [1444.46 --> 1445.14] briefly the way
|
| [1445.14 --> 1446.06] that I've experienced
|
| [1446.06 --> 1447.06] the Spirit
|
| [1447.06 --> 1448.26] working in me
|
| [1448.26 --> 1448.70] through prayer
|
| [1448.70 --> 1449.50] in situations
|
| [1449.50 --> 1450.24] where I've had conflict.
|
| [1452.38 --> 1453.26] That's okay, Bill.
|
| [1453.26 --> 1455.38] The first thing
|
| [1455.38 --> 1455.94] is this.
|
| [1456.74 --> 1458.10] Prayer keeps me
|
| [1458.10 --> 1459.88] from getting too proud.
|
| [1460.84 --> 1461.86] When you're in conflict
|
| [1461.86 --> 1462.76] and when I'm in conflict,
|
| [1463.16 --> 1463.64] what I do
|
| [1463.64 --> 1464.82] is I elevate myself
|
| [1464.82 --> 1465.84] and I denounce
|
| [1465.84 --> 1467.78] and speak very poorly
|
| [1467.78 --> 1468.58] about the person
|
| [1468.58 --> 1469.16] who's hurt me,
|
| [1469.34 --> 1470.32] whatever the hurt is.
|
| [1470.80 --> 1471.40] And I find
|
| [1471.40 --> 1472.10] when I'm praying,
|
| [1472.70 --> 1473.68] whether I want to
|
| [1473.68 --> 1474.18] or not,
|
| [1474.26 --> 1475.08] God reveals to me
|
| [1475.08 --> 1476.34] just my own brokenness,
|
| [1477.22 --> 1478.20] my own rebellion,
|
| [1478.78 --> 1480.42] my own part to play
|
| [1480.42 --> 1481.42] in this situation.
|
| [1481.42 --> 1482.08] And so often
|
| [1482.08 --> 1482.68] what you want
|
| [1482.68 --> 1483.26] the case to be
|
| [1483.26 --> 1484.50] is it's 100%
|
| [1484.50 --> 1485.06] their fault
|
| [1485.06 --> 1486.24] and it's 0%
|
| [1486.24 --> 1486.74] your fault.
|
| [1486.82 --> 1487.50] Then you start praying
|
| [1487.50 --> 1487.80] and you're like,
|
| [1487.88 --> 1488.40] oh man,
|
| [1488.52 --> 1490.42] I've got stuff to own.
|
| [1490.80 --> 1491.40] And not only
|
| [1491.40 --> 1492.06] in this relationship,
|
| [1492.16 --> 1493.06] but I've got all sorts
|
| [1493.06 --> 1494.30] of stuff that is egregious
|
| [1494.30 --> 1495.18] in the sight
|
| [1495.18 --> 1495.98] of my Heavenly Father
|
| [1495.98 --> 1496.78] and yet the grace
|
| [1496.78 --> 1497.90] of God is still mine.
|
| [1498.78 --> 1499.38] And so prayer
|
| [1499.38 --> 1500.08] keeps you
|
| [1500.08 --> 1501.06] from getting proud
|
| [1501.06 --> 1501.70] and it certainly
|
| [1501.70 --> 1502.38] has for me
|
| [1502.38 --> 1503.56] in situations
|
| [1503.56 --> 1504.08] of conflict.
|
| [1504.16 --> 1504.88] But the second thing
|
| [1504.88 --> 1505.64] very related,
|
| [1507.24 --> 1508.12] prayer has kept me
|
| [1508.12 --> 1508.68] from hate.
|
| [1508.68 --> 1511.44] Have you experienced
|
| [1511.44 --> 1511.72] that?
|
| [1513.34 --> 1514.36] In the situations
|
| [1514.36 --> 1515.22] where I am prone
|
| [1515.22 --> 1515.74] to hate,
|
| [1516.06 --> 1516.80] and I've had them,
|
| [1516.94 --> 1517.94] I've had them
|
| [1517.94 --> 1518.78] within my own family,
|
| [1519.44 --> 1520.46] I find when you
|
| [1520.46 --> 1521.40] hold that person
|
| [1521.40 --> 1522.00] in prayer,
|
| [1522.86 --> 1523.72] it's very hard
|
| [1523.72 --> 1524.32] to hate them
|
| [1524.32 --> 1526.54] because they are,
|
| [1526.72 --> 1527.46] whether you like it
|
| [1527.46 --> 1527.94] or not,
|
| [1528.26 --> 1529.08] an image bearer
|
| [1529.08 --> 1529.58] of God
|
| [1529.58 --> 1530.90] just like you.
|
| [1531.90 --> 1533.06] They are created
|
| [1533.06 --> 1533.70] by God
|
| [1533.70 --> 1534.34] in His image
|
| [1534.34 --> 1535.54] just like you.
|
| [1535.54 --> 1538.74] and they are loved
|
| [1538.74 --> 1539.56] by God
|
| [1539.56 --> 1541.18] just like you.
|
| [1542.54 --> 1543.80] They are no worse
|
| [1543.80 --> 1544.52] than you
|
| [1544.52 --> 1545.68] ultimately
|
| [1545.68 --> 1546.80] in the sight of God
|
| [1546.80 --> 1548.54] and you are no better
|
| [1548.54 --> 1549.10] than them
|
| [1549.10 --> 1550.92] and praying for someone
|
| [1550.92 --> 1552.86] forces you
|
| [1552.86 --> 1554.30] or I shouldn't say force,
|
| [1554.46 --> 1555.74] the Spirit enables you
|
| [1555.74 --> 1557.20] to not hate
|
| [1557.20 --> 1558.30] your brother
|
| [1558.30 --> 1558.96] or sister.
|
| [1560.08 --> 1561.38] It's a powerful thing
|
| [1561.38 --> 1562.74] and I can't explain
|
| [1562.74 --> 1563.48] how it works
|
| [1563.48 --> 1565.14] but in situations
|
| [1565.14 --> 1565.68] of conflict,
|
| [1565.82 --> 1566.44] prayer has kept me
|
| [1566.44 --> 1566.98] from pride,
|
| [1567.08 --> 1567.70] thinking I'm more
|
| [1567.70 --> 1568.36] than I am
|
| [1568.36 --> 1569.66] and it's kept me
|
| [1569.66 --> 1570.02] from hate,
|
| [1570.12 --> 1570.76] thinking someone else
|
| [1570.76 --> 1572.40] is less than they are
|
| [1572.40 --> 1573.80] and if you're stuck
|
| [1573.80 --> 1574.52] in that situation,
|
| [1574.68 --> 1575.38] I invite you
|
| [1575.38 --> 1576.64] to pray
|
| [1576.64 --> 1578.54] and when I say prayer,
|
| [1578.62 --> 1579.56] I should note also
|
| [1579.56 --> 1581.04] that it's not just
|
| [1581.04 --> 1581.56] something you need
|
| [1581.56 --> 1582.24] to do on your own
|
| [1582.24 --> 1583.36] in situations of conflict
|
| [1583.36 --> 1585.04] and all sorts of division,
|
| [1585.50 --> 1586.28] it's something you invite
|
| [1586.28 --> 1587.32] others to do for you.
|
| [1587.44 --> 1587.64] In fact,
|
| [1587.68 --> 1588.68] I know of two situations
|
| [1588.68 --> 1590.34] where the people
|
| [1590.34 --> 1590.90] in conflict,
|
| [1591.06 --> 1591.96] they're not interested
|
| [1591.96 --> 1592.48] in forgiveness
|
| [1592.48 --> 1593.38] and they're certainly
|
| [1593.38 --> 1593.92] not interested
|
| [1593.92 --> 1594.76] in reconciliation
|
| [1594.76 --> 1596.56] but their families are
|
| [1596.56 --> 1597.86] and the church was
|
| [1597.86 --> 1598.76] and so people started
|
| [1598.76 --> 1599.52] praying for them
|
| [1599.52 --> 1600.08] and interceding
|
| [1600.08 --> 1600.60] on their behalf
|
| [1600.60 --> 1601.58] and things started
|
| [1601.58 --> 1602.68] to happen in spite
|
| [1602.68 --> 1603.38] of those people
|
| [1603.38 --> 1603.94] in conflict
|
| [1603.94 --> 1604.90] and I just remember
|
| [1604.90 --> 1605.66] hearing one story
|
| [1605.66 --> 1606.44] thinking wow,
|
| [1607.04 --> 1607.84] God's Spirit
|
| [1607.84 --> 1608.64] is really at work
|
| [1608.64 --> 1609.68] in spite of the people
|
| [1609.68 --> 1610.18] in conflict
|
| [1610.18 --> 1610.96] and the community
|
| [1610.96 --> 1611.84] is surrounding
|
| [1611.84 --> 1612.70] and upholding them
|
| [1612.70 --> 1613.06] in prayer
|
| [1613.06 --> 1614.22] and things start to move.
|
| [1614.32 --> 1615.44] Do not underestimate
|
| [1615.44 --> 1617.16] what happens
|
| [1617.16 --> 1618.84] when we bring conflict
|
| [1618.84 --> 1620.20] before our Heavenly Father,
|
| [1620.68 --> 1621.56] before our Son
|
| [1621.56 --> 1623.12] who is the great reconciler
|
| [1623.12 --> 1623.96] and the Spirit
|
| [1623.96 --> 1624.96] who gives us the power
|
| [1624.96 --> 1625.96] to lean into some
|
| [1625.96 --> 1626.90] of the hardest places
|
| [1626.90 --> 1627.54] with grace.
|
| [1630.20 --> 1630.60] Secondly,
|
| [1631.20 --> 1633.32] we need our community
|
| [1633.32 --> 1633.86] of faith.
|
| [1634.86 --> 1635.54] I think one of the most
|
| [1635.54 --> 1636.46] destructive things
|
| [1636.46 --> 1637.16] and unhealthy things
|
| [1637.16 --> 1638.10] we can do in conflict
|
| [1638.10 --> 1639.50] is to isolate
|
| [1639.50 --> 1641.12] and it's tempting
|
| [1641.12 --> 1642.00] by the way to isolate.
|
| [1642.10 --> 1642.62] If you're in community
|
| [1642.62 --> 1643.16] and there's sin
|
| [1643.16 --> 1644.02] and you've been hurt,
|
| [1644.20 --> 1645.20] you want to pull back
|
| [1645.20 --> 1645.94] because you've been hurt
|
| [1645.94 --> 1647.14] and then you're stuck
|
| [1647.14 --> 1647.86] in your own head.
|
| [1648.56 --> 1649.18] Then you're stuck
|
| [1649.18 --> 1650.28] rehearsing the same things
|
| [1650.28 --> 1651.46] over and over and over
|
| [1651.46 --> 1652.36] thinking about
|
| [1652.36 --> 1653.26] what you should have said,
|
| [1653.34 --> 1654.08] thinking about how much
|
| [1654.08 --> 1655.24] they have sinned against you
|
| [1655.24 --> 1656.00] and you're just stuck.
|
| [1656.54 --> 1657.68] You need brothers and sisters
|
| [1657.68 --> 1659.04] who love you
|
| [1659.04 --> 1660.68] to encourage you,
|
| [1660.88 --> 1662.00] to pull you back
|
| [1662.00 --> 1662.64] into community,
|
| [1662.92 --> 1664.34] to keep you from bitterness
|
| [1664.34 --> 1665.74] that will take root
|
| [1665.74 --> 1666.64] when you're in isolation
|
| [1666.64 --> 1668.98] and in some cases,
|
| [1669.54 --> 1670.08] rebuke you.
|
| [1671.46 --> 1672.56] Rebuke you for thinking
|
| [1672.56 --> 1673.50] you're judgmental,
|
| [1673.76 --> 1675.06] for they deserve your vengeance,
|
| [1675.30 --> 1676.22] for thinking you don't need
|
| [1676.22 --> 1676.78] to forgive them,
|
| [1676.84 --> 1677.42] for thinking you're
|
| [1677.42 --> 1678.70] that much better than you are.
|
| [1678.70 --> 1679.54] There are times
|
| [1679.54 --> 1680.10] where you need
|
| [1680.10 --> 1680.86] brothers and sisters
|
| [1680.86 --> 1681.96] holding the scriptures
|
| [1681.96 --> 1682.94] in their hands saying,
|
| [1683.60 --> 1684.18] this is what Jesus
|
| [1684.18 --> 1685.12] invites us into.
|
| [1685.88 --> 1686.42] Are you willing
|
| [1686.42 --> 1687.32] to walk with us
|
| [1687.32 --> 1688.52] in the path of forgiveness?
|
| [1690.92 --> 1691.88] And thirdly,
|
| [1692.48 --> 1693.72] as I've already mentioned,
|
| [1693.82 --> 1694.32] I think it needs
|
| [1694.32 --> 1694.98] to be said again.
|
| [1695.94 --> 1697.56] Matthew 18 demands forgiveness.
|
| [1697.94 --> 1698.82] It demands that we
|
| [1698.82 --> 1700.04] be people who extend
|
| [1700.04 --> 1701.28] the extravagant grace
|
| [1701.28 --> 1701.74] of Jesus.
|
| [1702.68 --> 1704.00] But that doesn't necessarily
|
| [1704.00 --> 1705.58] make it instant or easy.
|
| [1705.58 --> 1708.40] And it is okay
|
| [1708.40 --> 1711.40] if time is needed
|
| [1711.40 --> 1713.30] for forgiveness.
|
| [1714.40 --> 1715.80] And I say that specifically
|
| [1715.80 --> 1716.80] to people who have been
|
| [1716.80 --> 1718.10] seriously wounded
|
| [1718.10 --> 1719.00] by others.
|
| [1719.40 --> 1720.78] And there are many of us.
|
| [1721.16 --> 1722.02] The wounds run deep.
|
| [1722.10 --> 1723.10] It's not hard to forgive
|
| [1723.10 --> 1723.92] small offenses.
|
| [1724.14 --> 1724.62] You know, you think of
|
| [1724.62 --> 1725.32] in a family unit
|
| [1725.32 --> 1726.24] with kids and all the rest.
|
| [1726.66 --> 1727.54] Sometimes we do things
|
| [1727.54 --> 1728.60] as, I forgive you,
|
| [1728.66 --> 1729.38] I love you, it's okay.
|
| [1729.48 --> 1730.18] There's other times
|
| [1730.18 --> 1731.66] where you are crushed
|
| [1731.66 --> 1732.86] to the core.
|
| [1732.86 --> 1735.16] And you can't even imagine
|
| [1735.16 --> 1735.90] what it looks like
|
| [1735.90 --> 1736.68] to forgive someone.
|
| [1737.66 --> 1738.74] And you hear this passage
|
| [1738.74 --> 1739.80] and think, oh man.
|
| [1740.10 --> 1741.10] And what you need to do
|
| [1741.10 --> 1742.48] perhaps in these circumstances
|
| [1742.48 --> 1743.58] is say, I know that's
|
| [1743.58 --> 1744.02] the command,
|
| [1744.16 --> 1745.10] I know that's the invitation,
|
| [1745.58 --> 1746.34] and I'm going to take
|
| [1746.34 --> 1747.20] the baby steps
|
| [1747.20 --> 1748.96] to get to that place.
|
| [1749.02 --> 1749.98] I want to get there.
|
| [1750.38 --> 1751.42] I'm looking forward
|
| [1751.42 --> 1752.40] to one day getting there.
|
| [1752.46 --> 1752.94] I'm just going to take
|
| [1752.94 --> 1754.14] the baby steps of prayer,
|
| [1754.46 --> 1755.46] of being in the church,
|
| [1755.72 --> 1756.74] of listening to the scriptures,
|
| [1756.94 --> 1757.86] of being among friends
|
| [1757.86 --> 1758.52] who follow Jesus,
|
| [1758.68 --> 1759.52] inviting their prayers,
|
| [1759.64 --> 1760.46] so that I can get
|
| [1760.46 --> 1761.20] to the place of saying,
|
| [1761.28 --> 1762.60] I have released you.
|
| [1762.86 --> 1763.86] From my heart,
|
| [1763.98 --> 1765.10] I deep down
|
| [1765.10 --> 1767.36] do not want vengeance anymore.
|
| [1767.60 --> 1768.26] Praise the Lord.
|
| [1769.02 --> 1769.72] He does that work
|
| [1769.72 --> 1771.02] over time in the church.
|
| [1773.74 --> 1774.62] To summarize,
|
| [1776.08 --> 1776.94] Jesus' vision
|
| [1776.94 --> 1778.00] in Matthew 18
|
| [1778.00 --> 1778.74] for the church
|
| [1778.74 --> 1780.52] is a radically
|
| [1780.52 --> 1783.10] forgiving church.
|
| [1783.98 --> 1785.60] A church that receives
|
| [1785.60 --> 1786.82] the unbelievable,
|
| [1787.28 --> 1789.16] undeserved grace of God
|
| [1789.16 --> 1790.08] through Jesus,
|
| [1790.08 --> 1791.74] that sets us free,
|
| [1792.80 --> 1793.90] gives us a new life,
|
| [1794.22 --> 1795.10] and then translates
|
| [1795.10 --> 1795.80] to a community
|
| [1795.80 --> 1796.40] that says,
|
| [1796.74 --> 1798.00] we can mirror that
|
| [1798.00 --> 1799.32] by the power
|
| [1799.32 --> 1800.14] of the Holy Spirit
|
| [1800.14 --> 1801.92] to those who hurt us.
|
| [1802.10 --> 1803.34] Not seven times,
|
| [1803.82 --> 1804.84] not 70 times,
|
| [1805.20 --> 1806.76] not 490 times,
|
| [1807.04 --> 1807.68] but through the course
|
| [1807.68 --> 1808.72] of our entire lives.
|
| [1811.82 --> 1813.00] When I've been reading
|
| [1813.00 --> 1814.30] over the last few weeks
|
| [1814.30 --> 1815.00] for this series,
|
| [1815.48 --> 1815.94] one of the things
|
| [1815.94 --> 1816.80] that struck me,
|
| [1816.92 --> 1817.48] and maybe you've already
|
| [1817.48 --> 1818.10] thought about this,
|
| [1818.18 --> 1820.10] is how the forgiveness
|
| [1820.10 --> 1820.70] of the church
|
| [1820.70 --> 1821.76] has been a defining
|
| [1821.76 --> 1822.86] part of its existence
|
| [1822.86 --> 1823.60] from the beginning.
|
| [1824.88 --> 1825.60] Forgiveness is just
|
| [1825.60 --> 1826.54] part and parcel
|
| [1826.54 --> 1827.22] of what it means
|
| [1827.22 --> 1827.70] to be the church,
|
| [1827.76 --> 1828.48] and there's so many
|
| [1828.48 --> 1829.26] beautiful stories
|
| [1829.26 --> 1830.16] throughout history
|
| [1830.16 --> 1830.62] of forgiveness
|
| [1830.62 --> 1832.12] that confounds
|
| [1832.12 --> 1832.90] the world.
|
| [1833.54 --> 1833.86] It's like,
|
| [1834.00 --> 1835.26] how did they do that,
|
| [1835.32 --> 1835.78] those Christians?
|
| [1835.96 --> 1837.10] How did they find
|
| [1837.10 --> 1837.68] the ability
|
| [1837.68 --> 1839.14] to forgive and release?
|
| [1839.42 --> 1840.34] Over and over again,
|
| [1840.38 --> 1840.74] you have these
|
| [1840.74 --> 1841.50] incredible stories.
|
| [1841.62 --> 1842.20] One that I have
|
| [1842.20 --> 1842.84] always loved,
|
| [1842.90 --> 1843.70] reading as a kid,
|
| [1844.16 --> 1845.18] is Corrie Ten Boom.
|
| [1845.18 --> 1847.28] She is a Dutch woman
|
| [1847.28 --> 1848.78] who went through
|
| [1848.78 --> 1849.90] the concentration camp.
|
| [1849.96 --> 1851.18] Her family suffered greatly.
|
| [1851.32 --> 1852.26] She lost loved ones.
|
| [1852.64 --> 1853.30] Later in her life,
|
| [1853.34 --> 1854.08] she survived.
|
| [1854.48 --> 1855.22] She encounters
|
| [1855.22 --> 1857.00] a Nazi soldier
|
| [1857.00 --> 1858.34] who is part of
|
| [1858.34 --> 1859.24] all these death camps,
|
| [1859.40 --> 1860.32] part of all the suffering,
|
| [1860.58 --> 1861.54] part of all the oppression,
|
| [1861.74 --> 1862.74] and she felt compelled
|
| [1862.74 --> 1863.78] to shake his hand
|
| [1863.78 --> 1864.50] and extend forgiveness,
|
| [1864.64 --> 1865.56] and she did.
|
| [1866.66 --> 1867.66] That's the power
|
| [1867.66 --> 1868.70] of Jesus Christ
|
| [1868.70 --> 1869.40] by his spirit.
|
| [1869.80 --> 1870.58] Martin Luther King,
|
| [1871.00 --> 1871.94] another famous example,
|
| [1872.04 --> 1873.92] and all the racial division,
|
| [1873.92 --> 1875.26] all the segregation
|
| [1875.26 --> 1876.62] that people in power
|
| [1876.62 --> 1877.96] were trying to impose.
|
| [1878.28 --> 1879.30] You have Martin Luther King
|
| [1879.30 --> 1879.94] standing up
|
| [1879.94 --> 1881.18] with a Bible in hand
|
| [1881.18 --> 1881.48] saying,
|
| [1881.80 --> 1882.56] I can forgive
|
| [1882.56 --> 1883.88] these politicians.
|
| [1884.64 --> 1885.30] I can forgive
|
| [1885.30 --> 1885.90] these police.
|
| [1886.04 --> 1887.20] I can forgive my neighbors.
|
| [1888.04 --> 1889.12] And then we work towards
|
| [1889.12 --> 1890.44] reconciliation and healing.
|
| [1891.68 --> 1892.42] Or I think of
|
| [1892.42 --> 1894.42] Rachel Denholler,
|
| [1895.00 --> 1896.72] this world-class gymnast
|
| [1896.72 --> 1897.40] who was abused,
|
| [1897.52 --> 1898.22] and in the courtroom
|
| [1898.22 --> 1899.44] of the coach
|
| [1899.44 --> 1900.00] who abused her,
|
| [1900.04 --> 1900.34] she says,
|
| [1900.44 --> 1901.88] I extend grace to you.
|
| [1901.88 --> 1903.56] And the courtroom
|
| [1903.56 --> 1904.34] was confounded.
|
| [1905.88 --> 1907.42] Maybe one of my favorite stories
|
| [1907.42 --> 1909.80] is in 2015,
|
| [1910.20 --> 1910.66] and you'll probably
|
| [1910.66 --> 1911.66] remember this in the news,
|
| [1912.06 --> 1913.40] when 21 Coptic
|
| [1913.40 --> 1914.18] Egyptian Christians
|
| [1914.18 --> 1914.82] were beheaded
|
| [1914.82 --> 1915.92] by ISIS.
|
| [1916.66 --> 1917.64] It's one of those events
|
| [1917.64 --> 1918.28] that actually put
|
| [1918.28 --> 1918.78] the persecution
|
| [1918.78 --> 1919.40] of the church
|
| [1919.40 --> 1920.44] on the world stage,
|
| [1920.48 --> 1920.94] and people said,
|
| [1921.10 --> 1922.16] wow, this is happening
|
| [1922.16 --> 1922.64] in our day?
|
| [1922.66 --> 1923.12] And the answer is,
|
| [1923.34 --> 1924.06] yes, it is.
|
| [1924.90 --> 1925.92] And you might not
|
| [1925.92 --> 1926.64] know this story,
|
| [1926.76 --> 1928.02] but many of the families
|
| [1928.02 --> 1929.38] of the men
|
| [1929.38 --> 1930.26] who were beheaded
|
| [1930.26 --> 1931.90] wrote statements
|
| [1931.90 --> 1933.56] and spoke on the news
|
| [1933.56 --> 1934.48] words of forgiveness
|
| [1934.48 --> 1935.48] to the terrorists
|
| [1935.48 --> 1936.40] who beheaded
|
| [1936.40 --> 1937.02] their spouses
|
| [1937.02 --> 1937.84] and loved ones.
|
| [1938.64 --> 1939.30] And there is
|
| [1939.30 --> 1940.68] a particular news anchor.
|
| [1941.28 --> 1943.76] This is an Arabic newscast.
|
| [1944.38 --> 1945.54] And they were going
|
| [1945.54 --> 1946.34] to do this interview
|
| [1946.34 --> 1947.12] about what had happened
|
| [1947.12 --> 1948.18] and just like fact-finding
|
| [1948.18 --> 1948.66] on what happened.
|
| [1948.76 --> 1950.10] And then they heard
|
| [1950.10 --> 1950.96] these words of forgiveness
|
| [1950.96 --> 1952.08] from the Christian families
|
| [1952.08 --> 1953.50] of the slain victims.
|
| [1954.04 --> 1955.12] And then the scene
|
| [1955.12 --> 1956.16] goes back to the newsroom
|
| [1956.16 --> 1956.96] and this man,
|
| [1957.36 --> 1957.92] Arabic man,
|
| [1958.00 --> 1958.98] his eyes are teared.
|
| [1958.98 --> 1959.90] You can see that his eyes
|
| [1959.90 --> 1960.26] are teared.
|
| [1960.50 --> 1961.52] And he's speaking in Arabic
|
| [1961.52 --> 1962.42] and there's a translation
|
| [1962.42 --> 1963.04] into English.
|
| [1963.18 --> 1963.82] And what he says
|
| [1963.82 --> 1964.96] in a very loud voice,
|
| [1965.04 --> 1965.88] he's not composed,
|
| [1966.00 --> 1966.30] he says,
|
| [1966.76 --> 1967.64] these Christians,
|
| [1967.74 --> 1968.26] he's not one,
|
| [1968.30 --> 1968.46] he says,
|
| [1968.60 --> 1970.32] these Christians are made
|
| [1970.32 --> 1971.84] of a different substance.
|
| [1972.96 --> 1974.04] How do they forgive?
|
| [1975.08 --> 1976.08] And when I heard that
|
| [1976.08 --> 1977.04] or I was reading that
|
| [1977.04 --> 1977.60] in the transcript,
|
| [1977.70 --> 1977.98] I was like,
|
| [1978.40 --> 1978.84] yes,
|
| [1979.12 --> 1979.96] we are made
|
| [1979.96 --> 1980.92] of a different substance.
|
| [1981.96 --> 1983.30] It's the power of Jesus
|
| [1983.30 --> 1984.98] by the Spirit of God
|
| [1984.98 --> 1985.68] that enables us
|
| [1985.68 --> 1986.72] to do what we cannot
|
| [1986.72 --> 1987.76] on our own do
|
| [1987.76 --> 1988.78] through our union
|
| [1988.78 --> 1989.50] with Christ
|
| [1989.50 --> 1990.44] by the life
|
| [1990.44 --> 1991.38] that is his through us,
|
| [1991.68 --> 1992.86] we can forgive
|
| [1992.86 --> 1995.08] and confound the world
|
| [1995.08 --> 1996.34] with a different ethic
|
| [1996.34 --> 1996.86] of grace.
|
| [1999.22 --> 2000.24] And so I want to read
|
| [2000.24 --> 2001.04] for us in closing
|
| [2001.04 --> 2001.52] a quote,
|
| [2001.64 --> 2002.32] this also comes
|
| [2002.32 --> 2003.12] from Dale Bruner,
|
| [2004.88 --> 2005.72] that I hope
|
| [2005.72 --> 2007.24] becomes a reputation
|
| [2007.24 --> 2008.00] of the church,
|
| [2008.08 --> 2009.04] of Hope Community Church.
|
| [2009.04 --> 2011.46] he writes,
|
| [2011.56 --> 2013.32] what makes Christians salty,
|
| [2014.58 --> 2015.14] different,
|
| [2015.90 --> 2017.00] and useful
|
| [2017.00 --> 2018.58] in the meat
|
| [2018.58 --> 2019.72] of the world
|
| [2019.72 --> 2021.16] is their breaking
|
| [2021.16 --> 2022.50] the world's code
|
| [2022.50 --> 2024.22] of love for love,
|
| [2024.88 --> 2025.78] good for good,
|
| [2026.30 --> 2027.84] and evil for evil,
|
| [2028.22 --> 2028.94] reciprocity.
|
| [2029.94 --> 2031.04] It is Christians'
|
| [2031.34 --> 2032.24] counter grain,
|
| [2033.28 --> 2034.94] counter cultural love
|
| [2034.94 --> 2036.20] for the undeserving,
|
| [2037.02 --> 2038.02] the unloving,
|
| [2038.48 --> 2041.04] and even the positively hostile
|
| [2041.04 --> 2042.98] that makes them
|
| [2042.98 --> 2045.24] recognizably Christian.
|
| [2048.10 --> 2049.04] Let's pray together.
|
| [2050.12 --> 2050.56] I'm gonna,
|
| [2050.82 --> 2052.08] I'm just gonna read
|
| [2052.08 --> 2053.02] the Lord's Prayer,
|
| [2053.60 --> 2054.98] and if you wanna murmur it with me
|
| [2054.98 --> 2055.64] or read it with me
|
| [2055.64 --> 2056.48] or recite it with me,
|
| [2056.52 --> 2057.06] you may do that,
|
| [2057.10 --> 2057.94] but this is the prayer
|
| [2057.94 --> 2059.74] Jesus taught us to pray,
|
| [2059.74 --> 2061.06] and it's a prayer
|
| [2061.06 --> 2061.68] that has led
|
| [2061.68 --> 2063.02] millions of believers
|
| [2063.02 --> 2064.50] into the ethic
|
| [2064.50 --> 2065.14] of forgiveness,
|
| [2065.30 --> 2066.70] so let me pray that for us.
|
| [2069.60 --> 2070.90] Our Father
|
| [2070.90 --> 2072.44] in heaven,
|
| [2073.62 --> 2074.60] hallowed be
|
| [2074.60 --> 2076.00] your name.
|
| [2077.50 --> 2078.90] Your kingdom come,
|
| [2080.12 --> 2082.08] your will be done
|
| [2082.08 --> 2083.68] on earth
|
| [2083.68 --> 2085.44] as it is in heaven.
|
| [2086.66 --> 2087.96] Give us today
|
| [2087.96 --> 2089.38] our daily bread,
|
| [2089.74 --> 2091.48] and forgive us
|
| [2091.48 --> 2092.42] our debts
|
| [2092.42 --> 2094.48] as we forgive
|
| [2094.48 --> 2095.22] those
|
| [2095.22 --> 2096.06] who have sinned
|
| [2096.06 --> 2096.82] against us.
|
| [2098.06 --> 2099.20] Lead us not
|
| [2099.20 --> 2100.10] into temptation,
|
| [2100.74 --> 2102.46] but deliver us
|
| [2102.46 --> 2103.38] from the evil one,
|
| [2104.22 --> 2104.94] for yours
|
| [2104.94 --> 2106.20] is the kingdom
|
| [2106.20 --> 2107.94] and the power
|
| [2107.94 --> 2109.48] and the glory
|
| [2109.48 --> 2110.46] forever
|
| [2110.46 --> 2111.70] and ever.
|
| [2112.38 --> 2112.68] Amen.
|
| [2115.06 --> 2116.54] Would you stand
|
| [2116.54 --> 2117.28] and sing with me
|
| [2117.28 --> 2118.16] a song of response?
|
|
|