DRINKING POISON Part 2: The Secret To Being Able To Forgive

Taking offense is like drinking poison and hoping it kills the other person.

Luke 17:1
He said to His disciples, “Offenses will certainly come…”

Even though you feel offended you don’t have to take offense.

Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.

Forgiveness is not a feeling.

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
`Corrie ten Boom

Forgiveness is not trust.

Forgiveness is not approval of the offense.

Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Matthew 18:22
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

When we hate our enemies, we are giving them power over us.. Our enemies would dance with joy if only they knew how they were worrying us, lacerating us, and getting even with us!
`Dale Carnegie

Matthew 18:23
Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.

Matthew 18:25-26
Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
At this the servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay back everything.”

Matthew 18:27
The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 18:28-30
But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. “Pay back what you owe me!” he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.” But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

Matthew 18:31-34
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

Matthew 18:35
This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

Matthew 6:9-13
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Romans 3:23
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Your revelation of God’s forgiveness determines your capacity to forgive.

Forgiveness is not
a feeling
trust
approval of the offense
a lack of justice

Forgiveness is
me giving up my right
to hurt you
for hurting me.

Steps to Forgiveness
Know the payment for your sin.
Confess that you forgive.
Act it out.