1. A Heart of Forgiveness

2. TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE
There’s a story of two friends who were walking along a beach. During their walk, they had an argument and one friend slapped the other one in the face. Without saying anything, the one friend wrote in the sand:

3. TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE
They silently continued on until they came to an inlet.
The one who had been slapped got caught in a current and started to panic, but the friend saved him.
After he had recovered from the near drowning, he carved on a stone:

4. Learn to write your curses in the sand and your blessings in stone.
The friend who had slapped and saved her best friend asked him, After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone. Why?
The other friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where waves of forgiveness can wash it away.
But when someone does something good for us, we must carve it in stone where it can never be forgotten.

5. Why is it that we magnify the faults of others?

6. Instead of edifying their strengths.

7. Is our focus on our Heart?
What is our Focus?
The wrong act they did?
The person they wronged?
Revenge? How can I make them pay? OR
Is our focus on our Heart?

8. 1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
God’s focus is on our hearts!
The Lord told Samuel when Samuel was looking at the sons of Jesse to see who would be the next king….

9. 1 Chronicles 28:9
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
David told Solomon

10. Jeremiah 17:7-10
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

11. Jeremiah 17:7-10
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

12. FLAWED David King of Israel BUT Slew the Giant Killed ten thousands
Committed adultery
Had Bathsheda’s husband killed
FLAWED
Let’s take a look at some Bible characters.
His heart was FLAWED.

13. FLAWED Elijah Prophet of God Denounced King Ahab and Queen Jezebel
Slew 450 false prophets
BUT became discouraged and was ready to die.
FLAWED

14. FLAWED Moses Prophet & Deliverer Wouldn’t forsake his people
Forsook the treasures of Pharaoh
Led and delivered God’s people out of Egyptian bondage. BUT
Wasn’t allowed to enter the Promised Land
FLAWED

15. FLAWED Peter Apostle Chosen by Jesus Walked with Him
Witness to His diety BUT
Denied the Lord 3 times when Christ needed him the most
FLAWED

16. FLAWED You and Me Christian Saved by Christ, BUT Sin and fall short
Have the wrong attitude
Disobedient to parents
Uncontrolled tongue
Omitting things we should do
FLAWED

17. What Do We All Have in Common?
FLAWED
SINNERS

18. What Do We All Have in Common?
FORGIVENESS
God sees more in us than sometimes we see in ourselves.

19. David
A man after God’s own heart
Acts 13:22
FORGIVEN

20. FORGIVEN Elijah He didn’t have to taste death
Chariot of fire took him to heaven
2 Kings 2:11
FORGIVEN

21. Moses
He was allowed to see the Promised Land
Numbers 27:12
FORGIVEN

22. Peter
Preached the 1st Gospel Sermon
Converted many
Acts 2
FORGIVEN

23. FORGIVEN You and Me Confess our sins 1 John 1:9 1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

24. Who Do We Have in Common?
JESUS
OUR SAVIOR

25. As disciples of Christ, we’ve received the greatest forgiveness that could possibly happen—sins washed away!
Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16
Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 22:16
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Since we’ve received forgiveness, as disciples of Christ, we’ve been given the responsibility to forgive those who have harmed or hurt us in our life.

26. Who is that person?
Think about who is the person that has wronged you…when they come to mind you cringe…when they are brought up in conversation you get a sour feeling in the pit of your stomach…
Sand or Stone?
Continue to have that person in the fore-front of your mind throughout this sermon.

27. Conditions of Forgiveness
Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Our forgiveness from Christ is directly related to the forgiveness we are to give others.
Matthew 6:9-15King James Version (KJV)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

28. Perfect Example Perfect Example of Forgiveness
Luke 23:34- Then said Jesus, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
When it comes to forgiveness, we can learn from Jesus!!
He is our perfect example of forgiveness.
Betrayed by one He had chosen
Rejected by His people
Treated as a criminal
Deserted by His closest companions
Stripped of His clothes
Scourged
Mocked by a robe and Crown of thorns
Spit upon; smote in the head
Carried the burden of the Cross
While hanging on the cross in pain and agony…..
Do we have that kind of heart that forgives?

29. Forgiveness in our lives
Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
We are the disciples of Jesus Christ, and he expects/demands us to be about the business of forgiveness.
People should know that we are all about forgiveness
People should know that we’re not out to hold grudges.
People should know that we, as Christians, are not one to hold bitterness and resentment in our heart.

30. Forgiveness in our lives
Mark 11:25
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

31. Forgiveness in our lives
Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

32. Forgiveness in our lives
Luke 6:27-29
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Enemies

33. Forgiveness in our lives
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
How often do I need to forgive?

34. Do you have a
Heart of Forgiveness?

35. The Prodical Son Do you have a heart of the Father? OR
Luke 15:11-32
Do you have a heart of the Father? OR
Do you have the heart of the Brother?
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

36. The 1st to Apologize is the BRAVEST.
The 1st to Forgive is the STRONGEST.
The 1st to Forget is the HAPPIEST.

37. The Time To Forgive Is Now!
Forgiveness is not an option.
That’s when Jesus forgives when we ask!!!
Because excuses for not forgiving are foolish:
“I’ve been hurt too badly”
“I’ll eventually get over it with time”
"I can't forgive if I can't forget"
"If I forgive, they will just do it again"

38. "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:31-32
I’ve forgiven When:
I’m no longer controlled by damaging emotions
I make an effort to restore the relationship
I can open up my heart to the other person
I display the example of Christ

39. THE PLAN FOR YOUR SALVATION Hear the Word of God---Rom. 10:17
Believing In Your Heart---Heb. 11:6
Repenting Of Your Sins---Acts 2:38
Confess That Christ Is The Son of God--- Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37
Be Baptized Into Christ---Gal. 3:26-29
Be Faithful Until Death---Rev. 2:10; I Cor. 15:58
Are you forgiven? Are you a child of God? Become one tonight so that you too can enjoy the gift of FORGIVENESS! Let our BEST Friend Save your life!
Do you have sin in your life? Do you need forgiven? Come and confess your sins. He will let the waves of forgiveness wipe your slate clean.