Text: Genesis 41:51-53
Genesis 41:51-53 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction 53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
Genesis 49:22-25 22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
III. Forgiveness is NOT:
Approval of what they did
Excusing what they did
Justifying what they did
Pardoning what they did (they may need to face secular justice)
Reconciliation
Denying what they did
Blindness to what happened (pretending otherwise0
Forgetting
Refusing to take the wrong seriously
Pretending we are not hurt
IV. Forgiveness IS:
Being aware of what someone has done and still forgiving them
Choosing to keep no records of wrong
Refusing to punish
Not telling what they did - just one other person, for spiritual reasons
Being merciful - blessed are the merciful, Mt 5.7
Graciousness - the opposite of being rigorous
An inner condition - it takes place in the heart. Most people we must forgive do not believe they have done anything wrong, or if they did they believe it was justifiable.
The absence of bitterness - you will know it's gone when you have no desire to get even/punish; when you do/say nothing to hurt their reputation or future; when you truly wish them well in all they seek to do
Forgiving ourselves - no joy in it otherwise. God wants us to forgive ourselves as much as he wants us to forgive others.
We Need Enemies!
People like this will kill you not with the sword but with the tongue or the pend.
The greater the hurt, the greater the blessing that will come.. Matt 5.11-12, 3. 3.
Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you. If you have a real, relentless enemy, you should see yourself blessed,
They keep us humble, keep us from taking ourselves too seriously, show us what we are like.
Your enemy's objective is to punish in some way, put you in our place; rather than leave t to God,
they feel they are his instrument in putting you in your place.
Loving our enemies is the biggest challenge. If you hate, you will give them your heart and mind -
Don't justify your own sin (I am bad, but they are much worse) - God knows not only your sins, but also those you are capable of He knows our hearts.
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