Playing Hurt: U Need a 12 Step Program!

April 21, 2012

Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., D.Min.

Worship Theme: Forgiveness

Sermon Text:  Matthew 18:21

Sermon Title:  Playing Hurt: U Need a 12 Step Program!

Review

2 Corinthians 11:24-26 - ²⁴Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

Galatians 2:11-14 - ¹¹When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. ¹²Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ¹³The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. ¹⁴When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

Paul overcame all this to avoid playing hurt. When he did he fulfilled his destiny. Philippians 3:12b, 14 - ^12bbut I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Step 1. _______________  your situation and your heart.  Prov. 19:11 -A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Step 2. _______________  there is a problem.  1 Sam 2:22-25 - 22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the LORD's people. 25 If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" His sons, however, did not listen to their father's rebuke, for it was the LORD's will to put them to death.

Step 3. ________________ something needs to be done.  Matthew 18:15 - “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

Step 4. ________________  the problem to the right source. 

Step 5. ________________  the role you played. Matthew 15:18-19 -¹⁸But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts,… false testimony, slander.

Step 6. ________________  with care.  Matthew 18:15 - “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

Conclusion: Steps 1-6…

  

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Playing Hurt: You Can Count On It

Sermon Text: Matthew 18: 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Sermon Title: Playing Hurt: You Can Count On It

Unforgiveness is a sin mentioned fairly often in the Bible.  Why?

1)   Unforgiveness is more subtle than most sins.

2)   It’s also more common than most sins.

3)   It’s also more dangerous 

Jesus told a long story about it in Matthew 18, comparing it to prison.  Also there is –

- Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

- Luke 11:4 - Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ "

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

- Mark 11:25 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

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

Luke 6:37-38 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven… For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Why are we to forgive? Why is it so important? Several reasons:

1) to be like our forgiving Father

2) to help us understand all that we’ve been forgiven of

3) because it’s better for our souls.

God tells us to forgive for our own good, more than anyone else’s.

It does three things for us:

1)   Forgiveness brings freedom. Matt.18:27 – the master let him go. Unforgiveness is a ball-and-chain of our own making.

2)   Forgiveness brings closure. We can close the door on our past hurts, even if the memory still exists.

3)   Forgiveness brings life. Watch this verse. I had never seen it this way until this week. Colossians 2:13 – “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your (or our) sinful nature, God made you (or us) alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”

Are you in prison? Are you keeping someone else prisoner?

Turn the key and let both of you go free. 

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Playing Hurt: You Can Count On It

Sermon Text: Matthew 18: 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Sermon Title: Playing Hurt: You Can Count On It

Point 1: The caliber of the Pain  vs. 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?”

Point 2: The cost of Unforgiveness  vs. 24  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents of gold was brought to him.

Point 3: Calling in the Debt  vs. 28  “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

Point 4: Captured by My Past  vs. 32  “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.

Point 5: Consequences for My Future  vs. 33-35  ³³Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’³⁴In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.  ³⁵“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

1.  Avoid mentally rehearsing the events associated with the offense.

2.  Don't turn the person into the offense liar, adulterer, thief, cheater

3.  Forgive from the heart the spirit not the soulish real

4.  Start immediately blessing the person you forgive. You will only feel differently about the person when you act differently toward them forgiveness is a verb

5.  Flee the attempt to tell others about this offense. 

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Forgiveness is Fundamental

Sermon Text: Matt 18: 21The Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brothers when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Sermon Title: Forgiveness is Fundamental

Ø  Luke 6:31, 37-38 -31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Point 1: Foundational to our faith

Ø  Genesis 3: 6, 15 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Ø  Hebrews 12:14-15 - 14 Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God. Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison.

Point 2: Failings of a fallen world Gen 3: 21 - 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Luke 23:34- 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Ø  #1 – David and Saul – 1 Sam 24:7, 10-12 

Ø  #2 – Esau Forgives Jacob – Gen. 33:4, 11  4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. 

Ø  #3 Moses Numbers 12:1–13So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!”

Ø  #4 Joseph Genesis 45:14-15 - 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him

Ø  #5 Jesus – Luke 23:34 - 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 

Ø  Hebrews 10:27 - but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Point 3: Forfeit or fuel your future Luke 9:62

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

·        Ephesians 4:32 - Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

·        Matthew 6:14-15 - 14 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.;

·        Romans 12:18 - 18 Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. 

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

 Sermon Title:   WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Introduction-

1.     There is power in THE NAME

Scripture: at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.(Phil 2:10-11- KJV)

a.    Power to Heal Acts 3:16; James 5:14; Is. 53:1

b.    Power to Deliver. PS 34:19 (NIV); Phil. 4:19 (KJV)

c.    Power to make free- John 8:36 (KJV); John 8:31 KJV

2.     There is access by THE NAME

Scripture: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him (Eph. 3:12). (KJV)

a.     For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.    

 Eph: 2:18 (NIV)

3.     There is salvation through of THE NAME

Scripture: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) (KJV)

a.    For whosoever shall call upon THE NAME of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13 (KJV) 

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