WHY FORGIVE LIKE CHRIST? Christlike Forgiveness – Part 9

1. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU DO FORGIVE. Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally; brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.

1. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU DO FORGIVE. Philippians 4:8 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) As it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

2. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU DON’T FORGIVE. Matthew 6:15 NIV “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”.

EXPECT OBSTACLES WHEN YOU TRY TO FORGIVE

5 STAGES IN PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES DUTY. The first level is strictly based on obedience; you are doing it because you feel you have to.

5 STAGES IN PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES DUTY. DEBT. You have reached the second level when you are so conscious of what you have been forgiven of that you cannot help but pray for your enemy. You don’t want God to “spill the beans” on you, so you pray that your enemy too will be spared.

5 STAGES IN PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES DUTY. DEBT. DESIRE. You begin to pray for your enemy because it is what you really want.

5 STAGES IN PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES DUTY. DEBT. DESIRE. DELIGHT. This takes desire a step further. It is when you love doing it! You get joy from praying for and blessing your enemies.

5 STAGES IN PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES DUTY, DEBT, DESIRE, DELIGHT & DURABILITY. This means that what you took on as a lifelong commitment becomes a lifestyle. The thought of turning back or praying in a different way is out of the question. It has become a habit, and it no longer seems like something extraordinary.

Jackie Pullinger said, “To the spiritual person the supernatural seems natural” What begins as a duty and once seemed insurmountable is now almost second nature. Matthew 6:4 “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”.

2 Corinthians 5:19 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Job 42:10 “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before”. Matthew 18:23-35 (NIV)

Your choice – what is it going to be? A life of Christlike Forgiveness – Forgiving others and Forgiving Yourselves Reflecting Christ to One Another…