Nets, fishing, and forgiving Pastor Charles Pastor Charles

Malawi

Mozambique

Nets, fishing, and forgiving To the fisherman, nets are good To the fisherman, nets are good

Nets, fishing, and forgiving To the fish, nets are destructive To the fish, nets are destructive

Focus verse for today: Matt 4:19-20 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Verse 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. Matt 4:19-20 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Verse 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Nets, fishing, and forgiving The beautiful side of the nets. Bringing in a harvest The beautiful side of the nets. Bringing in a harvest The great message we have to share that when we sin there is forgiveness The great message we have to share that when we sin there is forgiveness First I want to share on the verse 19 “fisher of men” side

Nets, fishing, and forgiving The ugly side of the nets that need to be left behind! The ugly side of the nets that need to be left behind! When others sin against us and the necessity to extend forgiveness When others sin against us and the necessity to extend forgiveness Second I will share on the “leaving their nets” side.

What is at the heart of the Gospel Message? Jesus Jesus And in Him And in Him The forgiveness of sins The forgiveness of sins

What is the message? God completely forgives sin God completely forgives sin

Heb 10:17 "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

What is the message? The initiative to forgive comes from Him The initiative to forgive comes from Him

Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the un- circumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

What is the message? Sin deserves divine punishment because it is a violation of God's holy character Sin deserves divine punishment because it is a violation of God's holy character

1 Pet 1:16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

What is the message? His pardon is gracious His pardon is gracious

Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

What is the message? In order for God to forgive sin, two conditions are necessary. In order for God to forgive sin, two conditions are necessary. –A life must be taken as a substitute for that of the sinner

Heb 9: without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

What is the message? In order for God to forgive sin, two conditions are necessary. In order for God to forgive sin, two conditions are necessary. –A life must be taken as a substitute for that of the sinner –and the sinner must come to God's sacrifice in a spirit of repentance and faith

Acts 10: everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

What is the message? This Forgiveness in the New Testament is directly linked to Christ, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His resurrection. This Forgiveness in the New Testament is directly linked to Christ, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His resurrection.

Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

What is the message? And when God forgives, He forgets! And when God forgives, He forgets!

Psalms 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Part 2 of the message: Leave your nets, and follow Him

Matt 4:19-20 “......At once they left their nets and followed him.

Left their nets, in the Greek: aphiemi- (af-ee'-ay-mee);

It has many meanings: to send away to send away to bid going away or to depart; used of a husband divorcing his wife to bid going away or to depart; used of a husband divorcing his wife to send forth, to yield up, to expire to send forth, to yield up, to expire to let go, to let alone, to let be to let go, to let alone, to let be to let go, to give up a debt, to forgive, to remit to let go, to give up a debt, to forgive, to remit to give up, to keep no longer to give up, to keep no longer

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

What did Jesus teach us about forgiveness? Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving

Matthew 6:14-15: “for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

What did Jesus teach us about forgiveness? Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving There is to be no limit to our forgiveness There is to be no limit to our forgiveness

Matthew 18:21,22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

What did Jesus teach us about forgiveness? Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving There is to be no limit to our forgiveness There is to be no limit to our forgiveness We have been forgiven much, therefore we should forgive one another We have been forgiven much, therefore we should forgive one another

Vs Matt 18:23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.” Vs 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

What is forgiveness? Introduction Introduction –Forgiveness is vital in conflict resolution, but it is not reconciliation. –Forgiveness means not only forgiving others, but also forgiving yourself –Forgiveness takes away bitterness and gives back new life even in the most difficult circumstances.

What is forgiveness? Why forgive? Why forgive? –Pain makes us want to retaliate –Who loses? - The one who is not forgiving! –Forgiveness is essential for our own hearts! ……..and bodies

What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is not: Forgiveness is not: –Pretending that the issue does not matter –Condoning the behaviour –Letting someone off the hook –Meaning that things necessarily go back to normal –Demanding that the person change –Demanding an apology for the events or act.

What is forgiveness? FORGIVENESS IS A DECISION - NOT A FEELING FORGIVENESS IS A DECISION - NOT A FEELING Ceasing to blame. Ceasing to blame. Releasing someone from punishment Releasing someone from punishment It is costly to forgive - have to sacrifice: It is costly to forgive - have to sacrifice: –Pride –self-pity –desire for justice

Stages of Forgiveness Timing Timing Acceptance Acceptance Recognizing emotions Recognizing emotions Choosing not to hold it against the person Choosing not to hold it against the person Releasing him or her Releasing him or her Forgiveness is a verb Forgiveness is a verb Consider boundaries Consider boundaries Receive forgiveness Receive forgiveness

Nets, fishing, and forgiving We need to do some fishing We need to do some fishing Let’s leave those nets behind Let’s leave those nets behind