Project Timothy Lesson Five

A few years back at a Men’s Camp final Sunday Morning Meeting a man stood up and confessed how he had not followed God and the result it had on his life. He had lived such an awful and rough life some of his own doing and some that happened to him. That is often the way it is for us. We have a rough start and we build on that by not applying God’s principles to our lives. The result of this man getting up and sharing about the freedom of releasing all the garbage of his life to God was amazing. Men from all over the chapel were weeping and coming forward to release and forgive those who had hurt them growing up. There is amazing power in forgiveness. When you forgive completely it washes over your soul and God’s loving presence fills you up with his love. That morning hundreds of men were released from the anger and resentment and frustration of living an angry life. A sweet presence and look came over them. Many confessed that they felt like a new man! In John 20:22,23 we read the words of Jesus, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of anyone they are retained.” So simple and true. There is a promise of release if you can forgive then God can cleanse you of all the ugliness that happened to you. Now for a shocking confession: When I ask men to raise their hands if they feel their father is mainly responsible for the problems they have had in their lives almost every man raises their hand. This reminds us of the importance of a strong Godly father - son relationship. The only way to grow up is to let go of the hurt and accept God’s healing. Then you will be free to grow into the man God wants you to be. Lets look at God’s word:

JOHN 20:19-30 (NIV) Jesus Appears to His Disciples 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jesus Appears to Thomas 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The Purpose of John’s Gospel 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe [b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.b

Do you have someone that has really hurt you? Can you forgive them? What is the result of unforgiveness in your life? Do you have someone that you need to ask forgiveness from?

How to really forgive some who has hurt you: Step One: Let go of the desire to Get even with them. Action: Write down all the things God has forgiven you from. God forgave you he can forgive them. Step Two: Ask God to give you the supernatural power to forgive them. Action: Simple Prayer –”God I cannot forgive ________ on my own. I need your help. As you forgave so I need to forgive. Step Three: God forgave you for all your wrong. You can forgive them for their wrong. Action: Allow yourself to feel the pain. Do not cling to them. Now release them to God and think of all the good things. Step Four: It is time for the big release. Let go of all the anger and resentment. Action: Simple Prayer –” With God’s power and help I release my anger and forgive _______. Step Five: Make a choice to have compassion on the person who hurt you. Action: Forgive them as Christ commanded: Forgive your enemies. They are to be pitied. Let God take care of revenge. Step Six: Move On. Action: No longer dwell on them. Forgiveness takes time. Letting go is a release and you will now be free to grow and love.

This principle of forgiveness leads to the ability of men to accept responsibility for their own lives. Once you forgive you are free to become all God created you to be. A little secret Young Christian Men: Maturity does not come with age; it comes with acceptance of responsibility. You will not mature if you go through life blaming everyone else for your place in life. You have today to forgive and release and move forward in the newness of life with God in control. You will never know that kind of release until you apply it to your life. You can read all the books you want, do it now! Our lives are made up of two things: How you Leave effects how you Enter. Leave the womb and enter infancy. Leave infancy and enter childhood. Leave childhood and enter Adolescence. Leave Home and Enter College. Leave College and enter a Career/Marriage. Each of these steps requires you to step up to the next challenge in life. Failure to do so leads to some much pain and stunting of your growth as a man. Let me be clear, God has a good and perfect plan for you. God is for you, He is not against you regardless of what others may say. Time to MAN UP!