“Do you spark joy?”

Eph 4:30-32 - 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. NASU

“Do you spark joy” we answer “ABSOLUTELY NOT”!

God’s Grace is Greater than all our hurts. It’s not just a decision we make, it’s a process we must go through. The first step is to decide that we will go through the process. Second sometimes there is a need to make sure the hurt is significant enough to warrant forgiveness.

Proverbs 19:11 – “It is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

1 Cor 6:7-8 - 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren. NASU Proverbs 19:11 – “It is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” Prov 17:9 - Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and — good- bye, friend! (from THE MESSAGE:) 1 Cor 13:4 - 5 LOVE is not rude, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. NIV

In patience let’s… turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39).

THE PARABLE – Matthew 18:21-35 Matt 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. 23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' 30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." NASU

OUTRAGE Matthew 18:31 - 31 When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. (from THE MESSAGE:) … AND THEY WERE OUTRAGED. Outraged is translated “greatly distressed” or “very sad.” In the middle of this story about grace, we find a lack of grace for the person who isn’t gracious to others.

This is the core principle on which the kingdom of God is founded.

Today the church is the Lord Jesus Christ’s community. As such the church should be marked by grace, flooded with grace, known for grace.

Of concern is that all too often the church is known for its outrage toward people outside of our community who need grace rather than outrage for the people inside the church who refuse to give grace to others.

DON’T MISS THE GRACE OF GOD Hebrews 12:15 – “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

It causes trouble. “To excite, to trouble, to disturb, to deeply annoy.” Liddell and Scott say this is a word used to describe someone who has been possessed by an unclean spirit. “To undergo hardship from continual annoyance.”

“To undergo hardship from continual annoyance.”

When we miss grace a bitter root can grow and it brings trouble and defiles many. Sullies, taints, contaminates.

“YOU NEVER STRUGGLE ALONE.”

“Me, too. I’m broken too.” I want to apologize to the young lady who got pregnant and was no longer wanted by many in the church. To those who’ve been told they can’t be a part of the church because of a sin or sins they’ve committed, I am so sorry. To the parolees who opened up about their past mistakes and consequently were told they were no longer welcome: I am sorry. To the women seeking for grace who didn’t understand about dressing modestly, I want to say I’m sorry. People come to church and worry about being accepted because they have piercings, tattoos, and don’t look like “we” do. I want to say I’m sorry. To the people who have struggled with drugs or alcohol or sex or any sin and been honest about it and instead of support were offered shame: I’m sorry.

To those who were judged because of the color of their skin, their gender, and on it goes… I am sorry. I JUST WANT US TO RAISE OUR HANDS.

Matt 18:32-35 – “32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." NASU

Jesus taught us “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy Jesus taught us “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Cursed are the unmerciful, for they shall not receive mercy.”) “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. BUT if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15. If God has forgiven us of our sins, then we cannot continue keeping track of the sins of others. So instead of holding on to the bitterness, holding on to the hurt, refusing to forgive, let’s pick it up, ask “is this sparking joy?” and get rid of it.

STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO US… AND START THINKING ABOUT WHAT’S BEEN DONE FOR US.