Sermon Series Buts from the Pews Confessions from Ordinary Christians

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Final Week But Im Too HURT to FORGIVE
Sermon Series Buts from the Pews Confessions
from Ordinary Christians
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Joseph (See Book of Genesis)

• Blended Family
• Uncle Esau plotted to kill his father (Jacob)
• 10 Half-Brothers (Older)
• 1 Full-Brother (Younger)
• Three Step-Moms (Rachel is favored)
• Shown Favoritism (Coat of Many Colors)
• Shepherd (Ordinary Occupation)
• Gifted Interpret Dreams
• Age 17 Sold into slavery by his brothers (Dad
  thought he was eaten by wild animal)

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Joseph Cliff Notes Version

• Sold into slavery in Egypt
• Dad (Jacob) thinks Joseph is dead
• Became a servant at Potiphars Home
• Sent to Pharaohs jail
• Interprets dreams in jail
• Pharaoh calls Joseph to interpret his dream
• Pharaoh appoints Joseph Governor of Egypt
• Oversees the selling of grain to the people
  during the famine..
• Josephs brothers are sent by dad to buy grain

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Joseph Cliff Notes Continued

• Joseph messes with his brothers
• Brothers return a second time for more grain
  (still not knowing Joseph is the Governor)
• Joseph takes them all into his home
• He reveals himself to his brothers
• Joseph tells brothers to move their entire family
  (families) to Egypt
• Joseph and Dad (Jacob) reunited
• Family lives happily in the Hollywood of Egypt
• Jacob dies 17 years later

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Genesis 5015-21

• When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was
  dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge
  against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we
  did to him?" So they sent word to Joseph, saying,
  "Your father left these instructions before he
  died 'This is what you are to say to Joseph I
  ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the
  wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.'
  Now please forgive the sins of the servants of
  the God of your father." When their message came
  to him, Joseph wept.  His brothers then came and
  threw themselves down before him. "We are your
  slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them,
  "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You
  intended to harm me, but God intended it for good
  to accomplish what is now being done, the saving
  of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will
  provide for you and your children." And he
  reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

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What Can We Learn from Joseph?

• Joseph lived-out Romans 1221, Do not be
  overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Forgiveness is not assumed!
• Josephs brothers werent certain of their
  forgiveness for 17 years! They hid fear in their
  hearts
• Forgiveness can be granted with or without the
  offending partys cooperation
• Joseph chose to deal with his brothers kindly,
  out of love, supplying their needs

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Its Not Possible!

• Agree or Disagree?
• I can forgive, but I cannot forget.
• I cannot forgive ________ completely.
• Three strikes and youre out.

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Forgiveness the Worlds Way

• Alienation
• Revenge
• Pain
• Anger
• Isolation
• Depression
• Indifference
• Insincerity
• Grudges
• Sarcasm
• Remembering what has been forgiven

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Forgiveness Gods Way

• Hebrews 812, For I will forgive their
  wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
  
• Isaiah 4325, I, even I, am he who blots out
  your transgressions, for my own sake, and
  remembers your sins no more.
• 2 Corinthians 517, Therefore, if anyone is in
  Christ, he is a new creation the old has gone,
  the new has come!
• Ephesians 17, In him we have redemption
  through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
  accordance with the riches of God's grace
• Colossians 213-14, When you were dead in your
  sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful
  nature, God made you alive with Christ. He
  forgave us all our sins, having canceled the
  written code, with its regulations, that was
  against us and that stood opposed to us he took
  it away, nailing it to the cross.
• Colossians 313, Bear with each other and
  forgive whatever grievances you may have against
  one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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The Most Important Part

• Genesis 5020-21, You intended to harm me, but
  God intended it for good to accomplish what is
  now being done, the saving of many lives. So
  then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and
  your children." And he reassured them and spoke
  kindly to them.

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Warning

• Mark 1125, 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 614, For if you forgive men when they
  sin against you, your heavenly Father will also
  forgive you.
• Matthew 522-24, But I tell you that anyone who
  is angry with his brother will be subject to
  judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother,
  'Raca,' EMPTY HEAD-Insult is answerable to the
  Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will
  be in danger of the fire of hell. "Therefore, if
  you are offering your gift at the altar and there
  remember that your brother has something against
  you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.
  First go and be reconciled to your brother then
  come and offer your gift.

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How Many Times?Matthew 1821-22

• 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?"  Jesus answered, "I tell
• you, not seven times, but seventy-seven
• times.
• Forgiveness does not equate to Stupidity
• Trust takes many years to re-build

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A Parable Moment by JesusMatthew 1823-35

• 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 talents A Lot of was brought
  to him. 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. "The
  servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient
  with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back
  everything.' The servant's master took pity on
  him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when
  that servant went out, he found one of his fellow
  servants who owed him a hundred denarii 7200.
  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 you back.' "But
  he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man
  thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

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A Parable Moment by JesusMatthew 1823-35

• When the other servants saw what had happened,
  they were greatly distressed 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 turned him over
  to the jailers to be tortured, until he should
  pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly
  Father will treat each of you unless you forgive
  your brother from your heart."

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But Im too Hurt to Forgive!

• Forgiveness is ME giving up the right to hurt
  you for hurting ME. -Unknown
• There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.
  -Josh Billings
• To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to
  remember it. Confucious
• Forgotten is forgiveness. Unknown
• Forgiveness does not change the past, but it
  does enlarge the future. Paul Boese
• One forgives to the degree that one loves.
  -Unknown

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My Favorite Quote and My Business Card

• Forgiveness is not an emotion, it is a
  decision. R. Worley
• My Business Card

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Remove the Band-Aid!

• Put the Band-Aid on the pointer finger of your
  dominant hand
• Forgive Much and Love Much- Like Joseph!
• Godly Solutions
• Take Time to Heal
• Dont Withhold Forgiveness
• Rehab with Jesus
• Forgive and Release
• Receive Christs Grace
• Choose Reconciliation
• Point all people to Jesus

Wound Healer Pain Manager Fall Preventor