Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon V Joseph

Fresh Start!  Forgiveness:  Sermon V “Joseph”

Fanny Crosby:  America’s Hymn Queen

18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. -- Genesis 50:18-21

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. -- Romans 8:28

What pain, hurt, and hardship can do for you…

1.  It can teach you valuable lessons that produce wisdom!

2.  It can build stronger faith and prepare you for more hardship!

3.  It can give you a platform for ministry!

We are reminded by Joseph’s response to his brothers, that what others meant for evil God can use for great good!  Let us pray today that we can have strength to forgive those who ask for it, that we can let go of the hurt and pain they have caused and turn it over to God, and that we do not allow unforgiveness to turn to bitterness, and spoil all of the “good” that God can bring out of our suffering!

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon V Joseph

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon IV

Fresh Start!  Forgiveness in Scripture:  Sermon IV  “Jacob”

Imagine

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. -- Genesis 50:15-17

1.  Jacob remembered what it felt like to be forgiven!

4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” -- Genesis 33:4-5

*****Teachings of Jesus that Jacob understood before Jesus taught them!*****

1.  Jacob forgave his sons and wished no ill will upon them, even though they had done great evil to him!

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. -- Matthew 5:38-39

III.  Jacob prayed for his sons and begged forgiveness on their behalf!

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. -- Matthew 5:43-45

Let us pray that we, by the power of The Holy Spirit, can be like Jacob!

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon III

Fresh Start!  Forgiveness in Scripture:  Sermon III  1/26/20

The Weight Vest

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” -- Luke 17:3-4

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. -- Matthew 18:15-17

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -- 1 John 1:9

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, -- Acts 3:19

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. -- Romans 12:18-19

Let us pray for the courage and boldness to confront those who hurt us, let us pray for their hearts to be softened so that they might repent, and let us pray for the grace to forgive them, or to turn them over to God when the time comes!

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon III

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon II

Fresh Start!  Forgiveness in Scripture:  Sermon II Part II    1/19/20

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;  13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 

(Message continued from last week…)

At The End of Every Argument

14 But above all these things put on love (Godly Love), which is the bond (uniting principle, ligament) of perfection (completeness). 15 And let the peace (tranquillity) of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful (grateful).

How can we have love, unity, perfection, peace, and thankfulness if we do not forgive?

16 Let the word of Christ dwell (influence) in you richly (abundantly) in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing (caution or reprove) one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

How can we sing “with grace in our hearts to the Lord” if we have refused to love or forgive our brother?  Where is the grace in that?

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. -- Colossians 3:12-17

Are you comfortable today with how you love and forgive others?  Are you comfortable with your behavior being done “in the name of the Lord Jesus”?

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Let us pray.

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon II

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon I

Fresh Start!  Forgiveness in Scripture:  Sermon 1 Part 1    1/12/20

A Personal Testimony

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 

14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. -- Colossians 3:12-17

Let us pray.

Fresh Start! Forgiveness Sermon I