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04-14-08 Passing Forgiveness On!
Forgiveness! What everyone wants to receive!
Forgiveness! Something difficult to give out!
When we experience forgiveness it is a most enjoyable thing and yet when we have to turn around and give it out, it becomes a very difficult thing to accomplish. There was an old saying years ago that went something like this: "The church is to 'win' 'tend' 'mend' and 'send!" Forgiveness occurs in the “mending” part!
The American Health Association says that around 75,000 suicides per year are a direct result of depression! Why are people depressed? Are they in need of forgiveness? Most, more than likely! Are others in need of giving out forgiveness? Some, no doubt! Wherever we are in life we need to get a good spiritual grip on the power of forgiveness and grasp the ability to “Pass it on!”
Our spiritual thoughts today come from the 4th chapter of the book of Ephesians. (vs 30-32)
- “and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
- “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice;
- “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you..”
It is interesting to note that in the context of writing about forgiveness in verse 30, Paul addressed the serious sin of “grieving the Holy Spirit.” One commentary on this verse said, “grieving the Holy Spirit is a most deplorable thing”! The words are strong; however, I think he is right. The unbeliever resists the Holy Spirit and the believer grieves the Holy Spirit!
Paul then reminds the believer that he is sealed until the “day of redemption” - an obvious reference to the eternal security of the believer.
So, in verse 30 a REDEMPTION is promised…..!
Next (verse 31) a RELEASE is called for. In fact Paul mentions five vices:
| 1. BITTERNESS |
frame of mind and spirit |
| 2. WRATH |
rage, outbursts, a fever in the heart and a fire in the face; anger; violent outbreaks |
| 3. CLAMOR |
insulting language, cry of strife that can lead to brawling; involving a yielding to hostilities within |
| 4. EVIL-SPEAKING |
slanderous, injurious speech |
| 5. MALICE |
the root of all the others |
Note that in verse 32, we are called upon to RESPOND by giving out:
- KINDNESS Oh, the “kingliness" of KINDNESS! The suggestion here is to be benevolent, gracious.
- TENDERHEARTEDNESS Here we are to be compassionate and caring! (One of our “Core Values” here at GBT!)
- FORGIVENESS (charizomai) Forgiving carries the idea of “showing oneself to be gracious..”, “to do a favor to..”, “doing something pleasant to one.”
Most assuredly we will be called upon by circumstances and life situations to exercise forgiveness to someone that in reality is undeserving! That’s the way grace operates! Forgiveness and grace are always independent of human merit or human demerit! Understanding God’s “divine forgiveness” to us and then being able to pass forgiveness on is nothing short of the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Try a little forgiveness today! You’ll be surprised what it will do to the recipient and pleasantly surprised at what it will do for you!
Blessings! Pastor Ed Sears
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