“Community Killer #1” – Pastor Luke Faw
1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) – It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
When offense is in operation, love is not.
When love is in operation, offense is not.
Five deadly elements of sin we trigger with taking offense:
1. ANGER
James 1:20 (NLT) – Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Ephesians 4:25-26 (AMP) – Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ]. BE ANGRY [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], YET DO NOT SIN; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down.
Luke 9:53-55 (NLT) – But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.
Matthew 5:21-22 (NLT) – “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
2. BITTERNESS
Hebrews 12:14-15 (NLT) – Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
3. JUDGMENT
James 3:17 (NLT) – But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
4. UNFORGIVENESS
Matthew 18: 32-35 (NLT) – Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Matthew 6:12 (NLT) – and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:14-16 (NLT) – “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Mark 11:25-26 (NASB) – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your offenses. [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your offenses.”]
5. PRIDE
Proverbs 16:18 (NASB) – Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Psalm 66:18 (NKJV) – If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;
Psalm 66:18 (NLT) – If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Romans 6:16 (NASB) – Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
Proverbs 4:23 (NASB) – Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
What total forgiveness is not: Taken from R.T. Kendall
1. Approval of what they did.
2. Excusing or justifying what they did.
3. Reconciliation (this may not even be possible, cases of death... it takes two here, even if both are alive).
4. Forgetting.
5. Pretending we are not hurt (be honest).
The Lord asked R.T. Kendall, “What if I forgive and bless you in proportion to how you forgive and bless them?”
Steps to forgive:
SURRENDER!
Steps to forgive:
LEAD YOUR HEART.
Proverbs 23:19 (NKJV) – Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way.
Steps to forgive:
CHOOSE TO FORGIVE AND RELEASE THEM.
Ephesians 4:30-32 (NKJV) – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Steps to forgive:
REFUSE TO DWELL ON WHAT HAPPENED.
Steps to forgive:
PRAY FOR THEM.
Steps to forgive:
BLESS THEM!
Actually, wish them well… to petition the Father to let them off the hook for their actions, like Jesus did on the cross!
DECIDE TO LIVE UNOFFENDABLE!
Questions for discussion/reflection:
Have you ever had a difficult time extending forgiveness to a person who hurt you? Explain.
What does it mean to forgive?
How do you forgive someone if you’re still angry at the person?
What does it feel like to finally forgive a person you’ve been angry at?
