Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: Forgiveness

Jentezen Franklin (January-22-2023) Daily Devotional: Steps to forgiveness (2)

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Lk 6:37 NIV

Here are three more steps to forgiveness: (1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, “I’ll only forgive them if they change.” That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you approve of. Nothing makes people less willing to change than when you try to control them and demand that they meet your requirements. Changing people isn’t your job—it’s God’s job! Your job is to choose to forgive and leave the outcome in God’s hands. The formula for healing is simple: forgive, let go, and let God. (2) See your offender as God’s tool for your growth. It’s easier to forgive someone when you stop seeing them as Satan’s agent sent to destroy you, and begin seeing them as God’s instrument to develop you. The life of Joseph speaks to this principle. The path that led him from the pit to the palace was paved by injustice, disappointment, and betrayal. But God used each painful circumstance to get him to his destiny. And God can do that for you.

(3) Try reconciling with your offender. Reconciliation is God’s nature. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Ro 5:10). And what God did for you, He wants you to do for whoever you are at odds with. Jesus made reconciliation a top priority by saying, “Leave your gift there before the altar…First be reconciled…then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:24 NKJV). Yes, it will take selflessness and humility on your part, but the return is worth the investment!

Watch Carter Conlon Sermon: The Courage To Forgive. In "The Courage To Forgive", Pastor Carter Conlon speaks from Luke 11 on how Jesus taught that we must forgive others in our hearts in order to live life fully.

Jentezen Franklin (October-15-2022) Daily Devotional: Flee, fight, or forgive

“Having loved His own…He loved them to the end.” Jn 13:1 NKJV

We handle our relationship problems in one of three ways: flee, fight, or forgive. Some choose to flee. They leave the relationship and start again elsewhere, though they are frequently surprised when the condition resurfaces on the other side of the fence as well. Others fight. As a result, their relationships become combat zones, and stress becomes a way of life. If you’re wise, you will choose the way of Christ: “Having loved His own…He loved them to the end.” Jesus knew the feeling of being stuck with someone. For over three years, He ran with the same team.

He saw the same twelve or so faces around the table. So how did He stay so dedicated to His disciples? Was it difficult for Jesus to love Peter, knowing he would someday curse Him? Was it tough to trust Thomas, knowing he would someday question His resurrection? How did Jesus resist the urge to recruit a new group of followers? John wanted to crush one enemy, and Peter sliced off the ear of another. Only days before Jesus’ death, His disciples were fighting about which of them was the best! How was He able to love people who were difficult to like? Here is the answer: Jesus didn’t measure them by their looks, IQ, talent, possessions, or personality; no, He measured them by their potential. And ultimately, they changed and lived up to His expectations. Not in all things or at all times. But when that happened, He forgave them and taught them that love is a commitment we make first to ourselves, and then to others.

Rick Warren (October-14-2022) Daily Devotional: Live in the Joy of Forgiveness.

“My heart rejoices in your salvation.” - Psalm 13:5 (NIV)

If you’re a follower of Jesus, joy should be a way of life. Why? You’ve been completely forgiven. There’s no longer a reason for guilt or shame.

Sounds like a good reason for joy to me.

The Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV).

Romans 8 was originally written in Greek. The word translated “no” is the strongest possible negative in Greek. It’s as if God was saying, “No, no, no—not in a thousand years, not in a million years, not a chance in your lifetime.”

That’s important—because one of the biggest reasons people lose their joy is guilt. Guilt and shame have the power to steal your joy.

All of us make mistakes. But God doesn’t want you to live in self-condemnation, constantly telling yourself, “I should be better.”

So how does God want you to handle your guilt? By coming clean and confessing your wrong. Go to God and say, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” And then he’ll wipe away your sin.

Jesus Christ died on the cross so your sins would be forgiven and you’d no longer have to live with guilt! And he didn’t just die for the sins you’ve already committed. He also died for the ones you haven’t committed yet. They’re all covered under the cross.

Jesus took your condemnation. That’s why he died. Your sins have been paid for. You don’t have to pay for them again.

That’s salvation, and it’s your most important reason for joy. It’s the joy of a clear conscience.

You can experience the same joy as King David had when he wrote Psalm 13: “My heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5 NIV).

Talk It Over

• Confessing your sins to God helps you live with the joy of a clear conscience. What’s one step you can take to make confession a daily practice?
• Have you embraced the truth that God has completely and totally forgiven you? If so, how do you feel when you live in that truth? If not, what’s keeping you from accepting that truth?
• Who will you tell this week about the complete and total forgiveness of God?

Receive the joy of salvation today!

Remember, the Bible says that those who believe in Jesus have no reason for guilt and shame: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV).

If you’re ready to accept that promise and live in the joy of forgiveness, then pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and I will no longer be condemned. Instead of judging me, you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you are God, my Savior. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Thank you that I don’t have to earn, deserve, or work for your forgiveness. It is your gift of grace.

“Today I’m turning over every part of my life to you. Instead of living in shame, I want to live in the joy of your salvation. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Jesse Duplantis - Watch Sermon: The Superstructure of Salvation: The Doctrine of Forgiveness, Part 2. Learn how to walk in real freedom as Jesse helps you understand how you serve a God Who delights in mercy. Discover how Jesus is the ultimate Healer and His willingness to forgive makes Him absolutely unique and incomparable.

Joyce Meyer (August-05-2022) Daily Devotional: Forgiveness for the Win.

Unforgiveness will ruin your day. If someone hurts you, pray quickly, “God, I forgive them in Jesus’ name.” If your emotions feel strained when you see that person, stand firm in your decision to forgive them.

Pray for them, asking God to show you how to bless them. Do whatever God leads you to do for them and let God’s love work through you to heal the rift between you. If you do your part, God will bring your feelings in line with your decision, and you will enjoy your day and your life.

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness and help me to quickly forgive others, just as You forgive me, amen.

David Jeremiah (July-14-2022) Daily Devotional: Forgive and Be Forgiven

Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

 Recommended Reading: Matthew 6:14-15 - 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) contains universal requests (God’s rule, God’s will) and personal requests: physical provision (daily bread), spiritual provision (forgiveness), and protection (deliverance from evil). But forgiveness has a caveat: God’s forgiveness of our “debts” (sins) is tied to our forgiveness of our “debtors” (those who sin against us). In fact, Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

The forgiveness of which Jesus spoke is not eternal forgiveness for salvation. That forgiveness comes only through faith in Christ, not through anything we do to earn it. Rather, the forgiveness Jesus spoke of is that which maintains fellowship with God. If we want to live in intimate fellowship with God, we must forgive others as He has forgiven us. The apostle Paul expressed this same truth in Ephesians 4:32.

Forgiving others and being forgiven by God go hand in hand.

In these days of guilt complexes, perhaps the most glorious word in the English language is “forgiveness.” - Billy Graham 

Faith the Facts: Don’t Get Bitter…GET BETTER! - Jesse Duplantis | June-15-2022. It’s time to put away BITTERNESS and become BETTER! Be strengthened by this message from Jesse and start walking in forgiveness.

Joyce Meyer (June-09-2022) Daily Devotional: Guilt and Forgiveness.

Jesus forgave all of our sins when He died on the cross, and He paid the price for our guilt as well. When we acknowledge or admit our sin to God, telling Him everything, refusing to hide our sin, we are able to receive His gift of grace. Confession is good for the soul; it allows us to let go of heavy burdens that are caused by guilty secrets.

The feeling of guilt does not always go away instantly, but we can take God at His Word and say, "I am forgiven, and the guilt has been removed." Our feelings will eventually catch up with our decisions. We can live by the truth in God's Word and not the way we feel.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I receive what You did for me on the cross, I believe I am forgiven, and I thank You that my guilt has been removed, amen.

Rick Warren (may-21-2022) Daily Devotional: What Forgiveness Really Is

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." - Luke 23:34 (NIV)

Forgiveness may be the most misused, misapplied, and misunderstood quality in our culture. You may think you know what forgiveness is all about, but, if you’re like most people, you really don’t.

Here’s a quiz to help you gauge your understanding of forgiveness; decide if each statement is true or false.

1. A person should not be forgiven until they ask for it.
2. Forgiving includes minimizing the offense and the pain caused.
3. Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship.
4. You haven’t really forgiven until you’ve forgotten the offense.
5. When you see somebody hurt, it is your duty to forgive the offender.

When you read the Bible and learn what God has to say about forgiveness, you discover that all five of those statements are false.

Since most people don’t understand forgiveness, we’re going to spend the next few days looking at what forgiveness really is.

First, real forgiveness is unconditional. There are no requirements attached to it. You don’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. You don’t bargain for it. Forgiveness is not based on a promise to never do it again. You offer forgiveness to somebody whether they ask for it or not.

When Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” nobody had asked for it (Luke 23:34 NIV). Nobody had said, “Jesus, please forgive me for what we’re doing to you.” He just offered it. He took the initiative.

Second, forgiveness isn’t minimizing the seriousness of the offense. When somebody asks for your forgiveness and you say, “It’s no big deal. It really didn’t hurt,” that actually cheapens forgiveness. If the offense wasn’t a big deal, then you don’t need to ask for or offer forgiveness.

Forgiveness is for the big stuff. You don’t use it for slights that are just minor issues; life’s small slights just require patience and acceptance. It’s life’s big wrongs that require forgiveness—and those wrongs shouldn’t be minimized. If an offense was a big deal, admit that it was. And then forgive, or ask for forgiveness.

Understanding forgiveness is the first step to living it out. So the next time you’ve offended someone, or have been offended yourself, remember these two things: First, forgiveness is unconditional. And, second, forgiveness never minimizes the wrong.

Talk It Over

• Is there someone you’ve forgiven conditionally—with requirements attached? How can you move toward unconditional forgiveness today?
• Why is it so hard to offer forgiveness to someone who has not asked for it? How can you forgive, even when the offender never asks for it?
• How does your attitude about forgiveness change when you consider how Christ forgave you?