Sunday March 4 2018

Sermon : “Suggested Steps to Forgiveness”

    Pastor Kim Wenzel

Suggested Steps to Forgiveness

You are offended, hurt, wounded . . . now what?

1. Stay calm, and monitor yourself. Do you have a sour spirit? Was your spirit sweet before this event happened? Why are you feeling this way? Are you justified in having a sour spirit?

Mark 7:20-22 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.NLT

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart (emotions) above all else, for it determines the course of your life. NLT

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2. Remind yourself that it is hurting people who hurt other people. There is something wrong with your attacker.

Ephesians. 4:2 Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. NLT

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3. Remind yourself it was probably just yesterday you last hurt someone else.

 - But for the GRACE of God, there go I.

James chapter 3   Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. NLT

4. Pray for the person in question, and if they are still living ask God to bless them and give them peace.

Matthew 5:44  But I say, love your enemies![r] Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

5. Pray a prayer of forgiveness 

Sample - Heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have a confession to make. I have not loved, but have resented certain people and have unforgiveness in my heart. In obedience to your word, I rebuke a spirit of unforgiveness, rebellion, grief, sorrow, hurt, self-centeredness, and pride and command all related spirits or yokes of slavery to loose their grip on my life.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do now forgive (list the specific person, or all people, living or dead, who have disappointed, hurt, offended or wounded you in any way. Also list any organizations or groups who have hurt you. Parents/Grandparents: Be sure to forgive your children by name if they have hurt you by not fulfilling your expectations of them. Also forgive them for being ungrateful, etc.) I release all these people in the name of  the Lord Jesus Christ and, Lord, I ask you to forgive all of them, too. In addition, I forgive myself for my sins and shortcomings and ask you to heal my wounded spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” NLT

Today's Verse 

 1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."