Matt 6:5-15 Pastor Matt Stacey

Who called us to Peace with fellow man  Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”  Romans 14:19 “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 'Give us this day our daily bread.

12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'

14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’.  forgive - to send away, leave alone, permit  cutting the legal ties that bind two people in a contract

14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.’  Transgression - false step; stepping over the line

 The other person isn’t the enemy  The issue is probably not 1 sided  The issue at hand is probably not the eternal goal God left for me

 Forgiveness is as much a decision of the will as Love,  1st degree offences vs. 2nd degree offences Pr. 17:9 “He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.”

Simple fact – all given many opportunities every day to be offended (We also get many chances to be offensive!)

I. Forgiveness & Prayer Mt 6:12 II. Forgive Repeatedly Mt. 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

I. Forgiveness & Prayer Mt 6:12 - II. Forgive Repeatedly Mt. 18:21-35 III. Forgive them without Repentance

Forgiveness is a decision in obedience to our God  Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

> It isn’t about them, or what they did > It doesn’t justify their action > It doesn’t mean put ourselves into danger > It doesn’t mean you have to let them know!

> It doesn’t mean that justice is forsaken… > God is the ultimate judge – > God has put government in place – > God has put the church together -

Forgiveness is about freeing YOU from your chains! For when we don’t it becomes a cancer on our soul!

 Scripture – “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20  Watched it happen –

Forgiveness is about you following & obeying your God And as God forgave me, I forgive that person.