One of the greatest challenges we face is when a brother has hurt us No Small Thing in Giving or Receiving Forgiveness Forgiveness is a product of the love of God and the basis of a relationship with God John 13:34,35 2 Peter 1:9

Many Problems In Local Church Can Be Traced To A Failure To Forgive Brethren who have nothing to do with one another – 1 John 3:14-16 Do you have animosity for people who have done you wrong? Will you be “cheated” by showing mercy & longsuffering? Great burden lifted when you no longer think this way

We Must Develop Attitude Of Forgiveness Why did Jesus & Stephen pray for forgiveness of those in sin? Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60 Did they receive forgiveness without any repentance? Acts 2:36-38 Can we release our desire for personal vengeance & give it to God? Romans 12:19-21

This Is A Must For Us To Move Forward In A Life Of Faith Philippians 3:13,14 Without it, we will be burdened and will be enslaved to past hurts.

Are We Honest With God & Ourselves When We Say We Have Forgiven Others? He Blots Out Our Sins – Acts 3:19; Isaiah 43:25 God Does Not Remember Our Sins- Hebrews 8:12 He Is Described As Casting Them Into The Sea – Micah 7:20 Do You Believe This? God Receives Us In Full Fellowship- Luke 15:20-24

Are We Honest With God & Ourselves When We Say We Have Forgiven Others? Our biggest problem is in believing this This is where the deceitful heart can do the most damage – 1 John 3:18,19; 1 Peter 1:22, 1 The church is not a social club to cater to social needs It is a group of people who have been crushed by their own sin & have the forgiving love of God

How Do I Know If I Have Forgiven Another? Do we get pleasure in their hurt? Do we intentionally avoid being in their presence? Do we vividly remember what we have suffered? Are we uncomfortable when they are praised? Do we go out of the way to be helpful to that person? Are we willing to pray for the person?

We Must Learn How To Forgive Others Learning, Growing Process – Colossians 3:12-15 God’s love helps us to work out our problems – James 3:17,18

How Can I Develop A Greater Love For God? Do you remember that YOU and forgiven? Luke 7:40-43 Who loves more? The one forgiven more! How much have you been forgiven? Luke 7:47

Two Men Respond To Those Who Have Hurt Them 1st decides he will follow “common sense” of the world. He will take hurts personally & dwells on them He will seek a broader personal attack on the “transgressor.” Human standards are sought

Two Men Respond To Those Who Have Hurt Them Fault never forgotten & quickly brought up if “needed” 1st Man will in time experience problems with relationships – James 3:14-16 He will live in a world of “throw-away people” He will learn to trust no one and those that know him will learn not to trust him!

Two Men Respond To Those Who Have Hurt Them 2nd Man decides to follow the mercy & forgiveness of Jesus Any faults he sees in other he first remembers what Jesus did for him – 1 Timothy 1:15,16 He wants to restore the offender’s relationship to God and the relationship to himself – 2 Corinthians 2:7,8

Two Men Respond To Those Who Have Hurt Them He lets the past go and has confidence in the future path of his brother – 2Corinthians 2:3,4; 2 Thessalonians 3:4; Philemon 1:21 He will find his marriage, his children, his brethren & his friends to be blessed by his being a “son of encouragement” – Acts 4:36 His hurts become an opportunity to build a stronger faith & come closer to God – Job 42:5,6; Psalm 51:16,17

WHICH MAN ARE YOU?