Faith Talk for February 5, 2017

FREEDOM TO FORGIVE
FORGIVE AND RELEASE

Matthew 5:43-45

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 and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Summary

Today, Pastor Brian shared 8 Biblical Truths to release our offender so that we are set free: Entrust yourself to God, Know that God is just and He is the Judge, Realize you are a fellow sinner, See the brokenness in your offender and have empathy, Focus on your spiritual growth through the pain, Don’t let Satan use the offense or offender to destroy you, Live on earth as it is in heaven, and Picture the gospel of grace through compassion. When we apply these truths to our life, we are able to forgive and release our offender.

Discussion

  • Why do we find it so hard to forgive and release our offender?
  • How does our focus change when we see the brokenness of our offender? Explain.
  • Why is it important that we focus on our spiritual growth through the pain?
  • Why does Satan want to use the offense or the offender to destroy us? (Look at John 10:10)

Prayer

Pray that you will live on earth as it is in Heaven, in freedom. Confess to God your hurt and pain. Ask Him to speak into that hurt with the Word. Ask God to help you live as a picture of the Gospel. Commit to forgiving your offender. Then ask God to forgive your offender.

Prepared by Chris Arnold


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