Having a Chat with Your Father Part 2 Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer, Ph. D Having a Chat with Your Father Part 2 Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer, Ph.D. Family Worship Center

Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Part Four: The Power of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The need for personal forgiveness. The famous psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger is reported to have said “If I could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day.”

Forgiveness Frees You The freedom starts with “confession”, calling sin what it is… “sin”. Acknowledging Jesus has already paid the price. - Nailing Your Stuff to the Cross. Confessing and praying with another - James 5:16.

Sometimes the reason you struggle with forgiving yourself is your own struggle to forgive someone else – and vice versa.

National survey on forgiveness More than 83% reported that they would need God’s help in order to forgive someone. Only 15% indicated they could forgive someone on their own. People who tend to be forgiving report more satisfaction in life.

Jesus emphasized forgiveness for your freedom to move forward.

Matthew 6:14-15 The Greek word for “trespasses” (NIV-sins) is  (paraptomata) . It is also not the usual word for sin. The word means to fall or throw ones-self beside. More than missing the mark, it implies reckless and willful sin.

Matthew 6:14-15 Using this powerful word, Jesus instructs that we are not only to forgive those who accidentally “sin” against us, but even those who intentionally, recklessly and willfully sin against us. If you don’t forgive it doesn’t hurt them, it hurts YOU. You carry the ball and chain of bitterness.

But doesn’t forgiveness put you back in bondage?

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! THAT’S A HUNDRED TIMES NO!

The mistaken idea that forgiveness means you have to trust them again.

Because they know they can’t trust the person, many people become bitter as a way of protecting themselves. However, the bitterness only hurts them.

Forgiveness does NOT mean you have to or should trust the person Forgiveness does NOT mean you have to or should trust the person. Forgiveness releases them and YOU. You don’t have to trust them unless they prove they are trustworthy by evidence of real change. Trust Is Not Restored Unless They Change

Forgiveness does NOT mean you have to or should trust the person Forgiveness does NOT mean you have to or should trust the person. Forgiveness releases them and YOU. You don’t have to trust them unless they prove they are trustworthy by evidence of real change.

Forgiveness and a restoration of a relationship are two different things.

Destructive relationships should not be restored.

Those that can and should be restored need to rebuild trust only by evidence of a changed lifestyle.

Pronouncing forgiveness over those who don’t care.

Lord I forgive (name of offender) for (name of trespass/sin) Lord I forgive (name of offender) for (name of trespass/sin). Please forgive me for any part I had. I release them, bless them, and thank you for forgiving me. I ask for your help moving forward.