A. 2 types of injured relationships,
- Deeply broken – These types of relationships usually include emotional and physical abuse that require a long and committed work to mend the relationships To walk in forgiveness or to be forgiven from these situations will take a deep commitment with perseverance. Often when people think of walking in forgiveness they only think about their deeply broken relationships.
- Wounded – Wounded relationships are most common and most over looked. These relationships require a level of attentiveness and tenderness to the spirit. Wounds are usually created by words we speak and how we speak them. Judgmental, criticism, Jealousy.
B. Sermon on the Mount
- It’s important to note that Jesus does not exhort us to walk in momentary forgiveness. Forgiveness is a preemptive attitude that we carry with us. As we mature in the spirit we learn to walk in a way that we are prepared to forgive rather than be surprised by offense.
- To unpack Jesus model for walking in forgiveness we have to have a fundamental understanding of his teaching in the sermon on the mount.
- 8 active attitudes ( The beatitudes) We are promised a blessed and happy life if we aim our heart at these 8 activities that Jesus is highlighting.
- 6 temptations that will derail the 8 beatitudes from actively flowing in our life. Anger (Mt. 5:21-26), adultery (Mt. 5:27-30), disregarding relationships & marriage (Mt. 5:31-32), false commitments (Mt. 5:33-37), retaliation (Mt. 5:38-42), apathy to mistreatment (Mt. 5:43-47).
- 5 kingdom activities
C. Mercy
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7
- The beatitude I would like to focus on is merciful, the merciful are guaranteed mercy.
- we can measure our level of mercy by how much mercy we have on ourselves. I can never have more mercy on someone than I have on myself.
- Do I have a low self view. Do I often feel like a failure, am I critical of the way other people do things and strategies they employ in the home, work or ministry?
D. Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-14
- For the salt and light to be effective in our life we have to actively pursue the 8 beatitudes.
E. Considered Great in the Eyes of God
19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19
F. Four points of Forgiveness
#1. Forgive Quickly
” Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.”
Matthew 5:25
#2. Bless your enemies
44Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you…
Matthew 5:44
- This exhortation reveals to us that we have a deficiency in our relationship with the Lord. We often do not feel like being helpful to someone who hurt us and will put energy in to avoid it.
- When we avoid this part of forgiveness we allow ourselves to walk with a residue of bitterness, because we have not walked out the full path of forgiving someone.
- This is why we often times feel like there is still a problem with those we have forgiven. The blessing breaks the curse and heals the wound. ie: Kind words, selfless acts, gifts, service
# 3. Acti
G. Practical application
First recognize the legalism in our own life.
1. How do I respond to small disappointments? Do I hold a grudge, make them feel poorly, make them think about what they did? (children) Do we put people in a “time out”. Do I tell other people about my offense. The amount of active mercy we have in this life is measured by how respond to people when they fail or disappoint us.
2. Do I feel like God rejects me when I fail? (Romans 8:1) Do I struggle to worship, pray, read the word or connect with my community when I have failure or sin in my recent history?
3. Am I bothered by people who do not share my convictions. Commitments to prayer, fasting, resisting media certain dietary habits etc.