1 00:00:00,050 --> 00:00:01,489 Daniel Sumoge: Oh man, there it is. 2 00:00:01,489 --> 00:00:02,510 I love it. 3 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:04,460 I'm so excited. 4 00:00:04,460 --> 00:00:06,800 As you know, my Dodgers, they just won, so we're gonna the World 5 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,360 Series back to back, so come on. 6 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:09,080 Dodger fans. 7 00:00:09,290 --> 00:00:09,560 Yeah. 8 00:00:10,670 --> 00:00:14,000 Wanna say thank you on behalf of Artie Moreno and the Angels Organization 9 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:15,650 for blessing us with Shhe Tani. 10 00:00:16,248 --> 00:00:17,330 Thank you once again. 11 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:18,949 I'm just kidding. 12 00:00:19,310 --> 00:00:20,179 Well, good morning Church. 13 00:00:20,179 --> 00:00:24,839 My name is Daniel Sumoge and uh, my name is Daniel Sumoge. 14 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:27,499 Helped serve as a high school minister here in Orange County. 15 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,599 I've been doing this for about two years now. 16 00:00:29,809 --> 00:00:32,359 Uh, and man, I love being here in Orange County. 17 00:00:32,359 --> 00:00:35,749 Uh, I moved here from the metro, a region during Covid in 2020. 18 00:00:36,050 --> 00:00:38,809 And man, this fellowship had just wrapped their arms around me. 19 00:00:38,870 --> 00:00:42,590 I moved here just in a bad spot, just in my relationship with God. 20 00:00:42,590 --> 00:00:44,630 Just a lot of stuff happening in my own personal life. 21 00:00:44,630 --> 00:00:46,700 But coming here, you guys wrapped your arms around me. 22 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:48,170 You guys remind me of God's love. 23 00:00:48,170 --> 00:00:50,570 So I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. 24 00:00:50,780 --> 00:00:52,430 Uh, I was here in Orange County where I was. 25 00:00:52,490 --> 00:00:56,060 I started dating, got engaged, and now married to my wife Savannah. 26 00:00:56,060 --> 00:00:57,710 Right now we've been married for a year and a half. 27 00:00:58,235 --> 00:00:59,255 So that's been great. 28 00:00:59,255 --> 00:01:01,565 And, um, also, uh, her parents are here. 29 00:01:01,565 --> 00:01:03,335 So my, uh, in-laws are in town right now. 30 00:01:03,335 --> 00:01:05,645 They're from the Lifeway Church, Frank and Florence Carillo. 31 00:01:05,885 --> 00:01:06,815 Uh, they're amazing. 32 00:01:06,815 --> 00:01:07,865 I love them so much. 33 00:01:07,865 --> 00:01:10,835 They definitely welcome me into their, uh, family with open arms. 34 00:01:10,925 --> 00:01:14,855 So I definitely love them and I just love God's kingdom. 35 00:01:15,455 --> 00:01:17,765 Uh, with that being said, I just have to address something. 36 00:01:18,035 --> 00:01:21,845 A few people have come up to me and they're like, Daniel, were 37 00:01:21,845 --> 00:01:23,135 you supposed to preach today? 38 00:01:24,545 --> 00:01:25,235 Yes. 39 00:01:25,295 --> 00:01:25,715 Okay. 40 00:01:25,715 --> 00:01:28,235 It was on the schedule I was supposed to preach today. 41 00:01:28,235 --> 00:01:31,685 You know, last week Marcel mentioned how, you know, when he comes up on, you 42 00:01:31,685 --> 00:01:33,695 know, Sundays it's 'cause of USC win. 43 00:01:33,695 --> 00:01:36,455 But, you know, I think God was just protecting him right now. 44 00:01:36,455 --> 00:01:36,815 All right. 45 00:01:36,815 --> 00:01:38,225 It was an unfortunate loss. 46 00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:39,965 We're praying for Marcel. 47 00:01:39,965 --> 00:01:42,425 I we're praying for my father-in-law, or, yeah, my father-in-law, 48 00:01:42,425 --> 00:01:44,914 Frank, he's a USC fan, so I'm, that's enough said right there. 49 00:01:44,914 --> 00:01:47,465 He is gonna talk to me during lunch to shut up, so I'm gonna 50 00:01:47,465 --> 00:01:48,575 shut up right there about that. 51 00:01:48,604 --> 00:01:48,755 All right. 52 00:01:49,595 --> 00:01:53,285 Uh, but with that being said, we are continuing a sermon series 53 00:01:53,854 --> 00:01:57,275 called Season of the Lord's Favor. 54 00:01:57,995 --> 00:01:58,295 Where is it? 55 00:01:58,805 --> 00:01:59,255 Uhoh Click. 56 00:01:59,735 --> 00:02:03,815 There it is The Season of the Lord's Favor, and it comes from, uh, Luke chapter 57 00:02:03,815 --> 00:02:07,805 four, which is also, uh, quoted in, uh, the scripture from the prophet Isaiah. 58 00:02:08,074 --> 00:02:12,185 But in it in Luke chapter four, it reads The spirit of the Lord is 59 00:02:12,185 --> 00:02:16,115 on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 60 00:02:16,430 --> 00:02:21,109 He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for 61 00:02:21,109 --> 00:02:26,270 the blind, to set the oppressed free to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 62 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,410 You know, in this moment, this is Jesus making himself known onto the scene. 63 00:02:30,620 --> 00:02:33,799 He's saying, I am the fulfillment to the jubilee. 64 00:02:34,460 --> 00:02:37,400 Now, in this moment here, you know, with Jubilee, I just wanna say it 65 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,700 wasn't just a conference we attended this past summer here in Orange County, 66 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:42,980 although that was great, but the Jubilee. 67 00:02:43,579 --> 00:02:47,360 Was a way of life, and Jesus invites us to live in that way of life. 68 00:02:47,660 --> 00:02:51,710 It's about, you know, reset, having a relational reset with God, a 69 00:02:51,710 --> 00:02:53,480 relational reset with one another. 70 00:02:53,990 --> 00:02:57,800 It's about releasing what's holding us back from experiencing the jubilee. 71 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,810 And then lastly to restore. 72 00:03:00,590 --> 00:03:04,490 And today what we're gonna talk about, well, you know, last week 73 00:03:04,490 --> 00:03:06,950 Marcel talked about re releasing worthiness, but this morning what I'm 74 00:03:06,950 --> 00:03:11,390 gonna talk about is something that's difficult and that's releasing others. 75 00:03:11,915 --> 00:03:13,265 Now, what do I mean by releasing others? 76 00:03:13,265 --> 00:03:13,865 What does that mean? 77 00:03:13,865 --> 00:03:15,275 It means letting go. 78 00:03:15,275 --> 00:03:16,475 Learning how to forgive. 79 00:03:16,895 --> 00:03:19,865 It means releasing the people who've hurt us, who've probably 80 00:03:19,865 --> 00:03:22,385 disappointed us, who've let us down. 81 00:03:23,555 --> 00:03:26,405 And if we're being honest, you know, forgiveness isn't something 82 00:03:26,405 --> 00:03:27,755 that's always easy, church, right? 83 00:03:28,475 --> 00:03:32,495 We say I moved on, but maybe deep down we still replay that moment. 84 00:03:33,125 --> 00:03:38,225 Maybe we still feel that sting of someone, uh, what someone said to us or maybe what 85 00:03:38,225 --> 00:03:39,905 they didn't say to us in that moment. 86 00:03:41,015 --> 00:03:46,025 Have you ever been in that place where you find yourself asking, man, I'm 87 00:03:46,025 --> 00:03:48,125 fine, but really your heart isn't free 88 00:03:50,165 --> 00:03:55,775 because the truth is you can't fully experience the freedom of Jubilee while 89 00:03:55,775 --> 00:03:57,935 being a prisoner of unforgiveness. 90 00:03:58,535 --> 00:04:03,455 You cannot fully experience the jubilee while holding someone else 91 00:04:03,485 --> 00:04:05,405 in the prison of unforgiveness. 92 00:04:05,885 --> 00:04:08,555 So this morning we're gonna walk through a story in Matthew chapter 18. 93 00:04:08,555 --> 00:04:09,485 We're gonna read a parable. 94 00:04:09,875 --> 00:04:13,835 About a servant and a king is gonna help us understand truly 95 00:04:13,835 --> 00:04:15,695 what it means to release others. 96 00:04:15,965 --> 00:04:18,125 Let's go to our father in prayer. 97 00:04:19,055 --> 00:04:22,414 Heavenly Father God, we are just so grateful for you this morning. 98 00:04:22,414 --> 00:04:22,865 God. 99 00:04:23,344 --> 00:04:26,044 God, I pray that your word just comes to life. 100 00:04:26,044 --> 00:04:26,405 God. 101 00:04:26,945 --> 00:04:30,395 God, I pray that you minister to each and every one of our hearts this morning. 102 00:04:30,935 --> 00:04:34,025 God, I pray that we hear your words spoken and not mine. 103 00:04:34,025 --> 00:04:38,104 God, please remove me completely, God and just have you be honored and glorified. 104 00:04:38,330 --> 00:04:38,620 Lord. 105 00:04:38,625 --> 00:04:42,455 Lord, I pray that we walk away, encourage, inspired, and just wanting 106 00:04:42,455 --> 00:04:44,465 to make a difference in our lives. 107 00:04:44,465 --> 00:04:48,185 God, I pray we can be extenders of grace and give it to others 108 00:04:48,185 --> 00:04:49,625 just as you giving it to us. 109 00:04:49,865 --> 00:04:50,945 God, we love you so much. 110 00:04:51,215 --> 00:04:53,195 In your son's name we pray, amen. 111 00:04:54,125 --> 00:04:54,455 Amen. 112 00:04:54,455 --> 00:04:56,315 So if you're with, if we are with me, you have a Bible. 113 00:04:56,315 --> 00:05:00,155 Let's turn to Matthew chapter 18, and we're gonna read a story, like I said, 114 00:05:00,485 --> 00:05:03,034 about a parable and all of this started. 115 00:05:03,500 --> 00:05:06,560 With a question that one of Jesus's close friends asked him, 116 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:07,820 it's close disciple, it's Peter. 117 00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:11,030 And he asked a question that many of us would probably ask him if we were 118 00:05:11,030 --> 00:05:13,159 there in, uh, that time with Jesus. 119 00:05:13,340 --> 00:05:16,820 It says in verse 21, it says, then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, 120 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,380 how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? 121 00:05:21,770 --> 00:05:22,940 Up to seven times? 122 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:28,610 Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times. 123 00:05:29,150 --> 00:05:32,210 You know, in other words, here, Jesus is saying to Peter. 124 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:33,859 Just stop counting. 125 00:05:34,370 --> 00:05:34,580 Alright? 126 00:05:34,580 --> 00:05:37,549 Stop counting how many times you forgive one another because 127 00:05:37,549 --> 00:05:39,200 forgiveness isn't about a number. 128 00:05:39,620 --> 00:05:44,539 Now I know Jesus says, you know, or seven times, uh, 77 times or four, nine times, 129 00:05:44,539 --> 00:05:48,289 regardless of the number, whatever it is, Jesus saying, do not keep count of it. 130 00:05:49,310 --> 00:05:53,180 You know, one, one who is a disciple, one who is a follower of Jesus is 131 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:55,219 one that never stops forgiving. 132 00:05:56,150 --> 00:05:57,680 But here's the challenge, right? 133 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,109 There's always a challenge when it comes to forgiveness. 134 00:06:00,934 --> 00:06:03,544 Unforgiveness, in my opinion, is one of those things, one of 135 00:06:03,544 --> 00:06:07,655 those sins that's become socially acceptable in the Christian life. 136 00:06:08,585 --> 00:06:12,515 We all know anger, we all know lust, we all know greed. 137 00:06:12,515 --> 00:06:13,924 We all know those are bad things. 138 00:06:13,924 --> 00:06:18,934 But when someone hurts us deeply, it feels reasonable to hold onto that hurt. 139 00:06:20,044 --> 00:06:23,614 We think, man, that person, they don't deserve my forgiveness. 140 00:06:24,005 --> 00:06:24,335 And you know what? 141 00:06:24,335 --> 00:06:28,715 Sometimes they, they may not 'cause people do evil, hurtful, wicked things. 142 00:06:28,715 --> 00:06:29,554 And when it happens. 143 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,340 Pain feels justified. 144 00:06:32,330 --> 00:06:35,808 But here's the problem with that pain is when we try to keep that pain 145 00:06:35,808 --> 00:06:40,219 and not work through it, not try to reconcile the pain doesn't just stay. 146 00:06:40,219 --> 00:06:43,580 The pain becomes poison, it becomes a cancer to our soul. 147 00:06:44,808 --> 00:06:49,069 You know, I like to think as unforgiveness is like that old comfy T-shirt that 148 00:06:49,069 --> 00:06:52,069 you probably have in your closet or in your drawer right now, right? 149 00:06:52,069 --> 00:06:57,260 That comfy t-shirt where you probably had for years is probably like all holy now. 150 00:06:57,619 --> 00:06:58,909 It has stains on it. 151 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:00,650 You like to wear, you just love it. 152 00:07:00,650 --> 00:07:02,270 You probably wear it when you clean the house. 153 00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:05,630 You know, when I got married, my wife, she has this one shirt in 154 00:07:05,630 --> 00:07:09,080 particular, which I want to get rid of 'cause it has stains on it. 155 00:07:09,380 --> 00:07:10,610 And it has holes in it. 156 00:07:12,140 --> 00:07:15,260 And it's a USC shirt actually she got back in high school. 157 00:07:16,010 --> 00:07:17,780 It's an oversized USC shirt. 158 00:07:18,380 --> 00:07:18,980 Exactly. 159 00:07:18,980 --> 00:07:20,630 And she's like, no, Daniel, I can't do it. 160 00:07:20,630 --> 00:07:23,180 It's just, I, it just feels so comfortable. 161 00:07:23,630 --> 00:07:26,540 I got it back in high school and it just reminds me of home. 162 00:07:28,594 --> 00:07:30,275 That's what unforgiveness is like. 163 00:07:30,755 --> 00:07:31,594 It's comfortable. 164 00:07:32,465 --> 00:07:36,965 It feels right, even makes you feel justified like you're protecting yourself. 165 00:07:37,055 --> 00:07:39,544 But deep down, you're not gonna display that publicly. 166 00:07:40,385 --> 00:07:43,325 My wife's not gonna wear that USC shirt here to Sunday service. 167 00:07:43,895 --> 00:07:47,705 She won't wear it out to a restaurant we go out to, but she'll wear it at home. 168 00:07:48,424 --> 00:07:49,205 When it's time to clean. 169 00:07:49,205 --> 00:07:51,065 She'll wear it when it's time to bed. 170 00:07:51,125 --> 00:07:51,724 She'll wear it. 171 00:07:53,390 --> 00:07:57,260 We won't display unforgiveness publicly because we're not gonna go up to someone. 172 00:07:57,260 --> 00:07:59,330 I'm not gonna say, hi, my name's Daniel. 173 00:07:59,390 --> 00:08:00,380 I'm a resentful person. 174 00:08:00,380 --> 00:08:01,280 I like to hold grudges. 175 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:02,750 No, we're not gonna do that. 176 00:08:02,990 --> 00:08:03,620 Of course not. 177 00:08:03,830 --> 00:08:08,510 We hide it, but just because it's hidden doesn't mean it's not harmless. 178 00:08:09,260 --> 00:08:11,659 And that's what Jesus confronts here in this parable. 179 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,950 He stands directly against that mindset that says, I'm gonna hold 180 00:08:15,950 --> 00:08:19,190 this over you, that I'm gonna have this upper hand on you. 181 00:08:19,490 --> 00:08:20,270 Jesus says, no. 182 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:22,939 That is not how the forgiven live. 183 00:08:23,359 --> 00:08:25,999 If you are a disciple this morning, you are forgiven. 184 00:08:26,270 --> 00:08:28,609 So we are called not to live that way. 185 00:08:29,510 --> 00:08:33,078 When you've been forgiven by God, it changes not only how it affects 186 00:08:33,078 --> 00:08:34,459 us, but really how we treat others. 187 00:08:35,209 --> 00:08:37,698 So if you're taking notes this morning, and if there's something I 188 00:08:37,698 --> 00:08:41,630 want you to walk away with, if you guys have that TikTok, you know, uh, 189 00:08:41,630 --> 00:08:44,540 mindset where it's like, just gimme a minute or a seven second clip. 190 00:08:44,540 --> 00:08:45,199 Here's what it is. 191 00:08:45,199 --> 00:08:49,849 I want you guys to remember this is that forgiven people forgive people. 192 00:08:50,855 --> 00:08:51,365 Stay with me. 193 00:08:51,425 --> 00:08:54,665 Forgiven people, forgive people. 194 00:08:54,665 --> 00:08:55,415 And we're gonna see that here. 195 00:08:55,415 --> 00:08:58,175 We're gonna continue on reading in Matthew, uh, 18 verse 23. 196 00:08:58,175 --> 00:09:00,545 Here, here it is. 197 00:09:00,545 --> 00:09:04,355 It says, therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to 198 00:09:04,355 --> 00:09:09,335 settle, uh, settle counts with his servants, and he began the settlement. 199 00:09:09,574 --> 00:09:12,665 A man who owed him 10,000 bags of gold was brought to him. 200 00:09:13,145 --> 00:09:17,075 Since he was not able to the master order that he and his wife and his children and 201 00:09:17,075 --> 00:09:20,285 all he had to be sold to repay the debt. 202 00:09:20,945 --> 00:09:23,855 Uh, there it is at this time, the servant fell on his knees 203 00:09:23,855 --> 00:09:25,625 before him be patient with me. 204 00:09:25,925 --> 00:09:28,505 He begged me and I will pay back everything. 205 00:09:28,835 --> 00:09:34,535 The servant master took pity on him, cancel the debt, and let him go. 206 00:09:35,165 --> 00:09:37,685 Now, I love this passage here, so let's kind of break this down. 207 00:09:37,955 --> 00:09:38,915 You know, the first part here is. 208 00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:44,870 Jesus says, the kingdom of heaven is like, so what we're about to 209 00:09:44,870 --> 00:09:47,390 read is a window to God's heart. 210 00:09:48,020 --> 00:09:52,490 We see you have a king who's powerful, who's wealthy, who's well off, and 211 00:09:52,490 --> 00:09:57,199 then you have a servant who's ordinary, who's powerless, who is completely 212 00:09:57,349 --> 00:10:01,910 in debt, and we see that the servant owes him 10,000 bags of gold, which 213 00:10:01,910 --> 00:10:05,060 is a ridiculous money back then and a ridiculous amount of money right now. 214 00:10:05,060 --> 00:10:07,610 So, in other words, is impossible to repay. 215 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:09,319 So what does the king do? 216 00:10:10,069 --> 00:10:13,790 You know, he calls the servant in and he says, you owe me, right? 217 00:10:13,790 --> 00:10:14,689 You have to pay. 218 00:10:14,810 --> 00:10:16,729 Justice demands payment here. 219 00:10:18,079 --> 00:10:20,329 But we see how the servant responds to this. 220 00:10:20,900 --> 00:10:23,150 He was desperate, he was terrified. 221 00:10:23,150 --> 00:10:25,310 He fell on his knees and pleased for mercy. 222 00:10:25,310 --> 00:10:27,650 He says, be patient with me. 223 00:10:28,069 --> 00:10:29,780 I will pay it back. 224 00:10:31,069 --> 00:10:31,640 Know about you. 225 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,270 But if I was the king right there, I would be laughing right there. 226 00:10:36,095 --> 00:10:40,985 Like, there's no way you can pay all this money back, but the king sees something 227 00:10:40,985 --> 00:10:43,625 deeper, says the king looks at this man. 228 00:10:44,165 --> 00:10:48,485 We see that this servant is broken, that he's begging. 229 00:10:48,905 --> 00:10:53,405 He's on his knees, he's helpless, and the king is moved with compassion. 230 00:10:54,545 --> 00:10:57,005 You know, we see that the king doesn't give him more time. 231 00:10:58,085 --> 00:11:04,415 He doesn't cut the debt in half, but he cancels the entire debt just like that. 232 00:11:04,420 --> 00:11:04,620 Gone. 233 00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:10,880 No payment plan, no conditions, no interest rate, just 234 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,819 forgiven, released and freed. 235 00:11:14,869 --> 00:11:18,140 You know, this is Jesus's picture of our relationship with our God. 236 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,069 The king obviously represents God and the servant represents you and I. 237 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,489 We owe God and unpayable debt for our sins. 238 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,760 There's no amount of good deeds, no amount of church going, no matter, uh, 239 00:11:28,790 --> 00:11:31,400 how hard we try that can make up for it. 240 00:11:32,375 --> 00:11:34,865 When we fall on our knees and cry out for mercy, God doesn't, 241 00:11:34,895 --> 00:11:38,375 doesn't just delay the punishment, he erases the record completely. 242 00:11:39,125 --> 00:11:42,005 He doesn't say, okay, let's see if you can do this for a little while. 243 00:11:42,005 --> 00:11:43,295 He doesn't say any of that. 244 00:11:43,295 --> 00:11:46,505 He just says, your debt is canceled, you are free. 245 00:11:47,255 --> 00:11:48,245 You know, that's grace right there. 246 00:11:48,245 --> 00:11:50,375 That's the gospel of Jesus. 247 00:11:50,885 --> 00:11:55,025 And when we truly get grasp that, when we truly grasp how much we have been forgiven 248 00:11:55,025 --> 00:11:57,410 of it changes how we see and view others. 249 00:11:58,475 --> 00:12:02,555 We stop holding their debts over their heads because we remember how our 250 00:12:02,555 --> 00:12:05,345 king, how God wiped our debt clean. 251 00:12:06,035 --> 00:12:07,925 You know, that's what forgiveness is meant to do. 252 00:12:08,585 --> 00:12:14,135 It transforms us from, from grace givers or grace receivers into givers of grace. 253 00:12:14,735 --> 00:12:15,965 Let's continue in verse 28. 254 00:12:15,965 --> 00:12:20,735 Here it says, but when the servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants 255 00:12:20,735 --> 00:12:22,175 who owed him a hundred silver coins. 256 00:12:22,475 --> 00:12:25,535 He grabbed them and began to choke him, pay back what you owe me. 257 00:12:25,535 --> 00:12:26,285 He demanded. 258 00:12:26,735 --> 00:12:30,395 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, be patient with me and 259 00:12:30,395 --> 00:12:32,765 I will pay it back, but he refused. 260 00:12:32,765 --> 00:12:36,155 Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison 261 00:12:36,395 --> 00:12:38,615 until he could pay the debt. 262 00:12:40,235 --> 00:12:46,415 Now we see the same servant who is forgiven of billions now finds a 263 00:12:46,415 --> 00:12:50,645 fellow servant, a coworker, possibly a friend, owes him just a small 264 00:12:50,645 --> 00:12:53,195 amount, and instead of showing mercy. 265 00:12:54,335 --> 00:12:55,715 We see him show no mercy. 266 00:12:55,715 --> 00:12:59,975 Like Cobra Kite grabs him by the throat, chokes him, says, pay me what you owe. 267 00:13:03,305 --> 00:13:07,085 But we see the man, he falls to his knees, this servant he falls to. 268 00:13:07,085 --> 00:13:10,385 He's pleading with the same words that this first servant said to the king. 269 00:13:11,285 --> 00:13:12,814 He said, be patient with me. 270 00:13:13,355 --> 00:13:14,314 I'll pay you back. 271 00:13:15,485 --> 00:13:18,064 But this time there's no compassion. 272 00:13:18,905 --> 00:13:20,105 There's no mercy. 273 00:13:20,465 --> 00:13:23,015 There's no grace, only judgment. 274 00:13:24,005 --> 00:13:27,185 He throws the man in prison and waits for him to pay it back. 275 00:13:28,204 --> 00:13:28,685 How about you guys? 276 00:13:28,685 --> 00:13:31,594 But can we all agree that this is the peak of hypo hypocrisy right here? 277 00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:36,905 How can someone who's been shown so much forgiveness then turn 278 00:13:36,905 --> 00:13:38,555 around and show none after that? 279 00:13:39,935 --> 00:13:43,025 We see the king who forgave this servant of an impossible debt, and 280 00:13:43,025 --> 00:13:48,305 the man he refused to forgive owed him very little, and that's just insane. 281 00:13:49,175 --> 00:13:49,895 Not even close yet. 282 00:13:49,895 --> 00:13:52,865 This man who was set free, who walked around the palace, debt 283 00:13:52,865 --> 00:13:56,165 free, turns around, imprisoned someone else over pocket change. 284 00:13:56,165 --> 00:14:01,085 Basically, this is what happens when we forget what we've been forgiven of. 285 00:14:01,865 --> 00:14:05,795 When we forget the size of our own debt, he easily magnifies everyone else's 286 00:14:06,665 --> 00:14:10,865 and this forgiven servant, rather than extending grace, he extends judgment. 287 00:14:11,585 --> 00:14:12,725 He extends punishment. 288 00:14:13,715 --> 00:14:15,695 And let's be honest, sometimes we can do the same things. 289 00:14:15,695 --> 00:14:16,055 Church. 290 00:14:16,835 --> 00:14:18,755 We hold people hostage in our own hearts. 291 00:14:19,355 --> 00:14:21,215 We replay what they did to us. 292 00:14:21,665 --> 00:14:24,215 We may not throw them into a literal prison, but we'll throw 'em into a 293 00:14:24,215 --> 00:14:27,395 mental one where in our hearts, in our heads, we're like, no, there's no 294 00:14:27,395 --> 00:14:28,505 way you're getting out of this one. 295 00:14:28,955 --> 00:14:31,745 We locked them up with bitterment, with resentment, with anger. 296 00:14:32,285 --> 00:14:34,685 We think that they don't deserve my forgiveness, but 297 00:14:34,715 --> 00:14:36,245 the truth is neither did we. 298 00:14:37,295 --> 00:14:37,745 That's the point. 299 00:14:37,745 --> 00:14:39,455 Jesus is driving home forgiven. 300 00:14:39,665 --> 00:14:42,875 People are called to forgive people. 301 00:14:43,790 --> 00:14:48,439 Forgiven people or called to forgive people, not because it's easy, not because 302 00:14:48,439 --> 00:14:53,060 the hurt doesn't matter, but because we remember how much we've been forgiven. 303 00:14:54,170 --> 00:14:58,880 We'll continue here in verse 31, it says, when the other servants saw 304 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,660 what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master 305 00:15:02,660 --> 00:15:04,584 everything of what had happened. 306 00:15:05,814 --> 00:15:08,449 You know, I want to give credit to my wife, Savannah here, because 307 00:15:08,449 --> 00:15:11,479 she was like, Daniel, did you ever notice this part of the story? 308 00:15:12,155 --> 00:15:16,204 He says, the other servants saw this, you know, they're probably whispering, 309 00:15:16,204 --> 00:15:17,435 man, can you believe this servant? 310 00:15:17,435 --> 00:15:19,265 Like he was just forgiven of this debt. 311 00:15:20,105 --> 00:15:24,125 And then it made her, and I think, how do we see our brothers and sisters 312 00:15:24,125 --> 00:15:27,905 when they're struggling with their unforgiveness, like, do we even see it? 313 00:15:27,905 --> 00:15:28,355 Church? 314 00:15:29,314 --> 00:15:33,365 Do we care enough to step gently into that situation, not to shame them, but 315 00:15:33,365 --> 00:15:35,525 to help them find freedom in Jesus again? 316 00:15:37,325 --> 00:15:40,745 Because sometimes the people sitting right next to us in church or at work, they're 317 00:15:40,745 --> 00:15:44,255 the one carrying years of pain and they just need someone to walk with them. 318 00:15:44,825 --> 00:15:47,285 They need someone to remind them of God's grace. 319 00:15:47,885 --> 00:15:48,035 You know? 320 00:15:48,035 --> 00:15:49,385 That's what real love looks like. 321 00:15:49,415 --> 00:15:52,355 Not staying silent, but helping each other heal. 322 00:15:53,285 --> 00:15:56,405 You know, sometimes in helping others, I know God reveals something in me. 323 00:15:56,405 --> 00:15:57,785 It can reveal something in you guys. 324 00:15:58,385 --> 00:16:00,935 You know, maybe that reason, you know, we, we try to help and we 325 00:16:00,935 --> 00:16:03,335 feel a little uncomfortable is because maybe we see a little bit of 326 00:16:03,335 --> 00:16:04,805 ourselves in that person's struggle. 327 00:16:05,764 --> 00:16:09,844 The truth is other people are often aware of your unforgiveness, 328 00:16:10,234 --> 00:16:11,464 even when you think it's hidden. 329 00:16:12,305 --> 00:16:17,405 In other words, unforgiveness is not hidden as much as you think it is. 330 00:16:17,675 --> 00:16:18,305 It's not. 331 00:16:18,874 --> 00:16:21,364 We like to think, no one sees that side of me. 332 00:16:22,234 --> 00:16:24,454 We tell ourselves, I don't let that bitterness come out. 333 00:16:24,454 --> 00:16:26,104 It's just between God and I. 334 00:16:26,944 --> 00:16:28,984 But the truth is unforgiveness, it's visible. 335 00:16:29,795 --> 00:16:34,655 People can see it in the way we, we talk, in our tone, in our body language. 336 00:16:35,150 --> 00:16:37,579 The way we withdraw or even avoid one another. 337 00:16:38,359 --> 00:16:42,199 It's kind of like that comfy t-shirt my wife has so comfortable but too 338 00:16:42,199 --> 00:16:43,369 embarrassing to wear in public. 339 00:16:44,989 --> 00:16:46,609 Unforgiveness is just like that. 340 00:16:47,359 --> 00:16:50,239 You think it's private, you think it's something you wear at home, 341 00:16:50,239 --> 00:16:52,670 but really when you wear it at home, the windows are wide open. 342 00:16:52,670 --> 00:16:53,660 Your neighbors can see it. 343 00:16:54,410 --> 00:16:56,060 Everyone around you sees it. 344 00:16:56,180 --> 00:16:57,800 Everyone knows Savannah. 345 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,030 Everyone knows your USC shirt now. 346 00:16:59,030 --> 00:16:59,509 I'm sorry. 347 00:17:02,930 --> 00:17:07,339 This is one of those lies we often believe about sin is that my sin is just my sin. 348 00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:11,300 It doesn't affect anyone else, and that's completely false. 349 00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:15,710 It's beyond not true, especially when it comes to unforgiveness. 350 00:17:16,430 --> 00:17:20,089 'cause unforgiveness always affects us and also other people as well. 351 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,900 I mean, unforgiveness, it affects your attitude, can affect your 352 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:28,940 relationship, can affect your joy, can even affect your physical appearance. 353 00:17:29,675 --> 00:17:33,695 My kindergarten teacher always told me it takes more muscle to frown than to smile. 354 00:17:34,655 --> 00:17:37,955 You know, when you do that, like you're you, the face is not meant to just, it's 355 00:17:37,955 --> 00:17:43,715 meant to smile less muscles that way, and I've seen it both in myself and in others, 356 00:17:43,895 --> 00:17:45,695 how bitterness can change a person. 357 00:17:46,385 --> 00:17:50,585 It makes you colder, it makes you shorter with people, makes you less 358 00:17:50,585 --> 00:17:55,205 trusting of them because in their face and their eyes and their posture, I've 359 00:17:55,205 --> 00:17:56,795 seen it firsthand in my own family. 360 00:17:57,695 --> 00:18:00,875 Through watching within my own family, it taught me something that I'll never 361 00:18:00,875 --> 00:18:05,495 forget about unforgiveness is that there is nothing more destructive to the human 362 00:18:05,495 --> 00:18:08,165 heart than deep-seated unforgiveness. 363 00:18:09,365 --> 00:18:13,415 There is nothing more destructive to the human heart than deep seated 364 00:18:13,625 --> 00:18:15,755 unforgiveness and bitterness in the heart. 365 00:18:16,745 --> 00:18:21,965 Now, growing up I saw my dad, who, man, I saw some deep seated bitterness 366 00:18:21,965 --> 00:18:23,435 and unforgiveness towards his dad. 367 00:18:24,530 --> 00:18:27,770 My grandfather, he was not the best dad to my father. 368 00:18:28,220 --> 00:18:29,600 And there were deep wounds there. 369 00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:34,100 And as I got older, I saw how my dad started carrying those pains. 370 00:18:34,100 --> 00:18:34,730 For years. 371 00:18:35,690 --> 00:18:37,220 He had this deep hurt. 372 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,130 He had this unforgiveness towards his father. 373 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,870 That Nev never really went away. 374 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:43,670 It affected him. 375 00:18:44,330 --> 00:18:49,070 I saw it, how it affected his peace, how it affected his joy, even how 376 00:18:49,070 --> 00:18:53,420 he related to others, how he was at home with my mom and my siblings. 377 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,580 But here's the amazing thing that I saw though, with that, you know, all my life I 378 00:18:58,580 --> 00:19:00,710 kind of saw my dad for the past 20 years. 379 00:19:00,710 --> 00:19:01,430 That was his life. 380 00:19:01,430 --> 00:19:05,570 But the last year before he passed, I got to see him release that pain to 381 00:19:05,570 --> 00:19:08,240 God months before he passed church. 382 00:19:08,930 --> 00:19:10,850 And those were the best months I ever saw my dad. 383 00:19:11,810 --> 00:19:14,060 I saw him smiling more like a genuine smile. 384 00:19:14,060 --> 00:19:14,840 It wasn't a fake one. 385 00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:16,190 He was laughing more. 386 00:19:16,610 --> 00:19:19,430 He and I were praying together something we didn't do as much. 387 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:20,810 He was back in his word. 388 00:19:20,810 --> 00:19:22,130 We had quiet times together. 389 00:19:23,105 --> 00:19:23,345 Church. 390 00:19:23,345 --> 00:19:27,485 He even went up on stage to sing for the Sunday worship band, and he wasn't 391 00:19:27,485 --> 00:19:28,805 the best singer, but he didn't care. 392 00:19:28,805 --> 00:19:29,945 He had that joy. 393 00:19:31,895 --> 00:19:35,015 But there was something different about him, and I saw that he was free. 394 00:19:36,605 --> 00:19:41,435 All of this showed me that holding onto bitterness ruins you, but forgiveness, 395 00:19:41,765 --> 00:19:43,385 this genuine real forgiveness. 396 00:19:43,655 --> 00:19:44,465 It sets you free. 397 00:19:45,665 --> 00:19:47,765 You know, maybe some of you have seen it in your own families. 398 00:19:48,455 --> 00:19:50,800 Someone holding onto that pain that eats away at them. 399 00:19:51,950 --> 00:19:52,760 Or maybe it's you. 400 00:19:54,290 --> 00:19:56,210 You know, church, I learned through my dad's forgiveness. 401 00:19:56,750 --> 00:19:59,930 And even though it doesn't excuse what happened, it frees 402 00:19:59,930 --> 00:20:01,310 you from being chained to it. 403 00:20:02,390 --> 00:20:05,390 And listen, I don't say this church to shame anyone because I know there 404 00:20:05,390 --> 00:20:08,600 are real people who are carrying real pain and I'm just a young man 405 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,330 who really hasn't experienced life and I don't have that many wounds. 406 00:20:12,110 --> 00:20:15,440 But I know church that some of us, you guys were lied to. 407 00:20:16,310 --> 00:20:19,670 You guys were probably betrayed, probably gossiped about. 408 00:20:20,465 --> 00:20:24,965 Maybe someone took advantage of you or abandoned you broke your trust. 409 00:20:25,835 --> 00:20:27,995 So Hope Church, when when I talk about forgiveness, I'm not 410 00:20:27,995 --> 00:20:29,555 trying to minimize your pain. 411 00:20:29,825 --> 00:20:32,255 'cause truly I grieve with you this morning if you're carrying that, 412 00:20:32,255 --> 00:20:36,245 especially if it's years of wound and unforgiveness that you have. 413 00:20:36,935 --> 00:20:40,535 'cause I know that unforgiveness church, it doesn't start with bitterness. 414 00:20:41,015 --> 00:20:42,635 Unforgiveness starts with hurt. 415 00:20:43,595 --> 00:20:46,565 We don't choose unforgiveness because we wanna ruin the other 416 00:20:46,565 --> 00:20:48,125 person's life or even our own lives. 417 00:20:48,935 --> 00:20:53,645 We end up there because someone did wrong by us, and now we're left, you 418 00:20:53,645 --> 00:20:56,495 know, trying to hold the pieces together, trying to figure out how to move 419 00:20:56,495 --> 00:20:58,955 forward when the wound still stings. 420 00:20:59,765 --> 00:21:02,345 And sometimes the only thing that feels right is to hold a grudge. 421 00:21:03,725 --> 00:21:06,605 But Jesus, I believe Jesus tells this par. 422 00:21:06,605 --> 00:21:10,235 He tells this story not to dismiss your pain, but he tells you to, 423 00:21:10,475 --> 00:21:13,080 uh, to remind us and to lead us and guide us back to freedom. 424 00:21:14,915 --> 00:21:17,255 Forgiveness isn't primarily for the person who hurt you. 425 00:21:17,375 --> 00:21:18,995 Forgiveness really is for you. 426 00:21:19,625 --> 00:21:21,245 Forgiveness is what sets you free. 427 00:21:21,245 --> 00:21:25,175 Church, when Jesus calls us to forgive again and again, it's not 428 00:21:25,175 --> 00:21:26,615 because he wants us to be weak. 429 00:21:26,765 --> 00:21:29,195 It's 'cause he doesn't want us to be weighed down by it. 430 00:21:30,245 --> 00:21:33,815 You see, I don't forgive people church just to release them from their debt. 431 00:21:34,385 --> 00:21:37,205 I forgive because I know I'm not built to carry that burden. 432 00:21:37,775 --> 00:21:40,895 My heart's not built to carry that burden, to carry that pain. 433 00:21:40,895 --> 00:21:42,425 My heart was designed to hold on. 434 00:21:42,965 --> 00:21:46,235 Was not, uh, built to hold on to hate or resentment or revenge. 435 00:21:46,535 --> 00:21:48,665 Those things rot your soul from the inside out. 436 00:21:49,565 --> 00:21:52,925 And if I'm being honest, when my, when someone hurts me, my heart wants to 437 00:21:52,925 --> 00:21:56,645 harden, it wants to lash out, it wants to curse at them, it wants to stay 438 00:21:56,645 --> 00:21:59,375 angry, but that's not the way of Jesus. 439 00:22:00,395 --> 00:22:05,045 But way of Jesus is to release it, to hand it over to God, to say, 440 00:22:05,045 --> 00:22:07,415 Lord, I can't carry this anymore. 441 00:22:07,445 --> 00:22:08,345 You carry it. 442 00:22:09,245 --> 00:22:11,135 And so we come back. 443 00:22:11,690 --> 00:22:13,160 To this message today. 444 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,360 Once again, forgiveness is not for the other person, it's for you. 445 00:22:17,900 --> 00:22:21,290 And it goes back to the main heart of this message, as I mentioned earlier, 446 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,500 is that forgiven people, forgive people. 447 00:22:24,770 --> 00:22:30,500 Can you guys say with me, forgiven people, forgive people, church of God extended 448 00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:33,320 grace and cancel your debt and my debt. 449 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:37,340 How can we look at someone else and say, I'm gonna hold this 450 00:22:37,340 --> 00:22:39,975 against you, your debt and my debt. 451 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:45,140 Against God was infinitely greater than what any person has ever done to us. 452 00:22:45,980 --> 00:22:48,740 That's the lens Jesus wants us to have when it comes to forgiveness. 453 00:22:49,670 --> 00:22:52,370 And now Jesus is gonna show us what happens when we don't have that 454 00:22:52,370 --> 00:22:55,130 gospel lens, when we don't have that perspective of forgiveness 455 00:22:55,250 --> 00:22:56,510 as we pick it up here in verse 32. 456 00:22:56,510 --> 00:22:57,050 Are you still with me? 457 00:22:57,050 --> 00:22:57,470 Church? 458 00:22:57,950 --> 00:22:58,550 Amen. 459 00:22:59,060 --> 00:22:59,210 All right. 460 00:22:59,210 --> 00:23:03,800 In verse 32, it says, then the master called the servant in you, wicked servant. 461 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,790 He said, I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 462 00:23:08,195 --> 00:23:12,905 Student, you had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you in anger. 463 00:23:12,965 --> 00:23:15,935 His master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until 464 00:23:15,935 --> 00:23:17,705 he should pay back all he owed. 465 00:23:18,515 --> 00:23:20,105 You know, the king finds out what happens. 466 00:23:20,495 --> 00:23:23,915 The man he forgave, refuses to forgive someone else, and the 467 00:23:23,915 --> 00:23:27,185 king calls him a wicked servant. 468 00:23:28,265 --> 00:23:30,005 Notice he didn't call him a lazy servant. 469 00:23:30,665 --> 00:23:34,745 He didn't call him a lazy servant or an ungrateful or a foolish servant. 470 00:23:35,495 --> 00:23:36,965 He calls him wicked. 471 00:23:38,390 --> 00:23:44,090 Church there is simply, deeply evil about receiving mercy and refusing to extend it. 472 00:23:45,230 --> 00:23:49,280 There is something deeply evil about receiving mercy and refusing to extend it. 473 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,440 You know, the king reminds him that he canceled the debt that he begged him to, 474 00:23:55,310 --> 00:23:56,600 and he asked, shouldn't you have mercy? 475 00:23:56,629 --> 00:23:57,590 Just as I had on you? 476 00:23:58,370 --> 00:23:59,840 And that's the heart of this whole parable. 477 00:24:00,410 --> 00:24:04,160 Forgiveness isn't just something we we receive, it's something we give as well. 478 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,400 We're meant to forgive the way we've been forgiven. 479 00:24:07,970 --> 00:24:10,190 But we see how this servant did not do that. 480 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,450 He wanted to, for, for him to have grace for himself, but 481 00:24:14,450 --> 00:24:15,860 justice for everyone else. 482 00:24:16,460 --> 00:24:19,880 And so the same king turn him over to the jailers to be tortured until 483 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:21,620 he pays everything back that he owes. 484 00:24:22,490 --> 00:24:23,990 Now, let's stop and think about that for a second. 485 00:24:23,990 --> 00:24:25,940 Obviously, it's like billions of dollars he owes. 486 00:24:25,940 --> 00:24:28,460 So the king knows, man, you're not gonna repay this. 487 00:24:29,090 --> 00:24:30,230 He knows he won't get out. 488 00:24:31,055 --> 00:24:33,755 He knows that he's gonna live the rest of his days in prison, 489 00:24:33,785 --> 00:24:38,195 not because of the debt itself, but because of his unforgiveness. 490 00:24:39,035 --> 00:24:40,355 I mean, isn't that a chilling image? 491 00:24:41,255 --> 00:24:43,535 You're in prison because of your unforgiveness, not because 492 00:24:43,535 --> 00:24:46,985 of the amount of money This man had already been set free. 493 00:24:47,495 --> 00:24:51,695 He was living in grace, but through his own heart, his heart and heart, he 494 00:24:51,695 --> 00:24:53,435 walked himself right back into prison. 495 00:24:54,485 --> 00:24:55,955 I believe this is what Jesus is showing us. 496 00:24:55,955 --> 00:24:58,600 That unforgiveness leads you to prison. 497 00:25:00,290 --> 00:25:02,030 Unforgiveness leads you to prison. 498 00:25:02,030 --> 00:25:05,630 It's not always a physical one, but it's a prison of the heart, A prison 499 00:25:05,630 --> 00:25:08,450 of anger, of bitterness, of resentment. 500 00:25:09,170 --> 00:25:11,870 When we hold on to unforgiveness, it's like locking ourselves up and 501 00:25:11,870 --> 00:25:13,130 just handing the enemy the key. 502 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,090 We think we're punishing the other person, but really we're just punishing ourselves. 503 00:25:17,660 --> 00:25:21,110 And I've seen it happen so many times that someone gets hurt deeply and 504 00:25:21,110 --> 00:25:24,890 understandably so, but years later, they're still replaying that same story, 505 00:25:25,550 --> 00:25:26,840 still carrying that same bitterness. 506 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:31,010 And it's not the other person who's suffering, it's them. 507 00:25:32,090 --> 00:25:34,280 They become prisoners of their own pain. 508 00:25:35,930 --> 00:25:39,500 And if we're honest, some of us prison is all we've ever known. 509 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:40,010 Probably. 510 00:25:40,970 --> 00:25:42,950 You know, there's a term, I'm a criminal justice major. 511 00:25:42,950 --> 00:25:44,990 There's a term called institutionalization. 512 00:25:45,770 --> 00:25:48,860 And this means that when someone has been released from prison, who's been there for 513 00:25:48,860 --> 00:25:52,160 so long, when they're finally set free, they don't, they don't know what it's 514 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:53,960 like to live outside those prison walls. 515 00:25:55,055 --> 00:25:57,635 Freedom feels foreign to them, almost uncomfortable. 516 00:25:57,635 --> 00:25:59,585 So they end up going right back to what they know. 517 00:25:59,585 --> 00:26:01,835 They commit a crime just to go back to prison. 518 00:26:02,735 --> 00:26:05,705 And that's exactly what Jesus is trying to warn us about. 519 00:26:06,335 --> 00:26:11,495 The For the Forgiven servant went back into prison on his own making, not 520 00:26:11,495 --> 00:26:14,705 because the king put him there first, but because his heart never left that prison. 521 00:26:15,455 --> 00:26:17,795 He didn't know how to live in the freedom of forgiveness. 522 00:26:18,455 --> 00:26:20,405 And maybe that's where some of us are today. 523 00:26:21,425 --> 00:26:24,215 Maybe some of us started to decorate those prisons inside our 524 00:26:24,215 --> 00:26:26,345 heart, making it our our home. 525 00:26:27,365 --> 00:26:30,815 Maybe you've forgotten what it feels like to live free, free from bitterness, 526 00:26:30,815 --> 00:26:34,685 from anger, from replaying that moment over and over in your mind. 527 00:26:35,555 --> 00:26:38,705 Maybe you've carried that grudge or that pain for so long's 528 00:26:38,825 --> 00:26:40,685 become a part of who you are. 529 00:26:41,465 --> 00:26:45,965 And I get it, that pain can run deep, but there's a difference 530 00:26:46,325 --> 00:26:49,685 when you wrestle to forgive and we just flat out refuse to forgive. 531 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,540 Wrestling means you're trying, you're trying to put it at the foot of the cross. 532 00:26:53,540 --> 00:26:55,640 You're really trying to say, God, take this away from me. 533 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,400 I don't know how to do it, but God, I know you are powerful. 534 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:02,690 I know you show favor for your people, but when you refuse, it just shows 535 00:27:02,690 --> 00:27:03,770 that you just stopped fighting. 536 00:27:04,670 --> 00:27:06,590 That your heart is just hardened that that's saying, 537 00:27:06,590 --> 00:27:07,880 I'm never gonna let this go. 538 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:09,470 And you're completely fine with that. 539 00:27:09,950 --> 00:27:12,620 And that's what Jesus is addressing next. 540 00:27:13,190 --> 00:27:17,030 He's addressing the condition of the heart, because forgiveness isn't just 541 00:27:17,030 --> 00:27:19,205 about words, it's about transformation. 542 00:27:19,865 --> 00:27:24,125 In verse 35, it resists how my Heavenly Father will treat each of 543 00:27:24,125 --> 00:27:27,875 you unless you forgive your brother or your sister from your heart. 544 00:27:28,745 --> 00:27:32,045 You know when you read that verse, you can't help and pause 545 00:27:32,045 --> 00:27:32,885 and think that Jesus, what? 546 00:27:32,915 --> 00:27:34,055 What are you talking about here? 547 00:27:34,895 --> 00:27:37,745 You know, for me, I believe that Jesus is drawing us back to the heart 548 00:27:37,745 --> 00:27:43,355 of this entire parable itself, that forgiven people, forgive people. 549 00:27:44,225 --> 00:27:46,235 This isn't just a story about a servant. 550 00:27:46,805 --> 00:27:47,975 This isn't a story about a king. 551 00:27:47,975 --> 00:27:48,845 This is a story. 552 00:27:49,415 --> 00:27:50,255 About you and I. 553 00:27:50,915 --> 00:27:54,575 It's a soy that reveals that either our heart has been truly changed by 554 00:27:54,575 --> 00:27:58,355 grace, or it reveals a heart that hasn't yet experienced that grace. 555 00:27:59,195 --> 00:28:01,835 A heart still holding on bound by unforgiveness. 556 00:28:02,945 --> 00:28:04,145 That's how serious this is. 557 00:28:04,145 --> 00:28:07,115 Forgiveness isn't just a good Christian practice. 558 00:28:07,595 --> 00:28:09,155 It's evidence of a forgiven life. 559 00:28:09,875 --> 00:28:12,905 It's either proof that you've truly met Jesus or a sign you haven't 560 00:28:12,905 --> 00:28:14,170 let him transform your heart yet. 561 00:28:15,830 --> 00:28:18,875 Jesus makes this crystal clear in Matthew six, verse 14 through 15. 562 00:28:19,615 --> 00:28:20,315 It reads four. 563 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,840 If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father 564 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,920 will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their sins, your 565 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,740 father will not forgive your sins. 566 00:28:31,370 --> 00:28:33,620 You know, he shows that forgiveness is an optional for those who 567 00:28:33,620 --> 00:28:37,520 belong to him, that if we belong to 'em, it's our response to grace. 568 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,090 And when you've been forgiven of much, you can't help but just 569 00:28:41,090 --> 00:28:42,350 forgive others of much as well. 570 00:28:42,350 --> 00:28:42,770 Church. 571 00:28:43,715 --> 00:28:47,165 And that brings us to the story and a question we all have to wrestle with 572 00:28:47,165 --> 00:28:49,445 today is who are we in this story? 573 00:28:50,370 --> 00:28:50,950 Excuse me. 574 00:28:51,965 --> 00:28:52,805 You know, if we're honest. 575 00:28:53,135 --> 00:28:57,455 I know for me this week I was like, man, I really think I'm the king here Actually, 576 00:28:57,970 --> 00:28:59,585 I, I extend compassion pretty well. 577 00:29:00,125 --> 00:29:01,865 I extend grace, I extend mercy. 578 00:29:03,095 --> 00:29:05,585 But when I remove that stuff, when I remove my pride, and I look at it from 579 00:29:05,585 --> 00:29:10,115 the gospel standpoint, every single one of us is that wicked servant. 580 00:29:10,970 --> 00:29:14,540 We're all owed a massive and unpayable debt to God, and yet through the 581 00:29:14,540 --> 00:29:18,620 cross, Jesus looks at us and says It's forgiven and paid in full. 582 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,490 The entire parable here points us to the cross. 583 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,940 How could we who have been forgiven with so much sin? 584 00:29:26,420 --> 00:29:29,300 Look at someone else and say, I can't forgive you for that. 585 00:29:30,530 --> 00:29:31,520 It's crazy to think about it. 586 00:29:32,420 --> 00:29:35,300 We've been forgetting so much yet we hold on to so little. 587 00:29:36,620 --> 00:29:36,740 Now. 588 00:29:36,740 --> 00:29:39,080 Listen, I know talking about forgiveness. 589 00:29:39,530 --> 00:29:41,240 I know forgiveness isn't always instant. 590 00:29:41,810 --> 00:29:45,410 I'm not expecting us after this to forgive and let go, although that'll be great. 591 00:29:46,070 --> 00:29:49,670 But some of you may be thinking, I want to forgive, but I still feel anger inside. 592 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:52,400 I still feel that bitterness and resentment. 593 00:29:53,090 --> 00:29:54,200 I just wanna say, that's okay. 594 00:29:55,160 --> 00:30:00,200 The fact that you're wrestling with it, you're praying about it, feeling convicted 595 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,590 about it, I think that's evidence of God just working in your heart. 596 00:30:04,490 --> 00:30:06,500 It means the Holy Spirit is softening your heart and shaping 597 00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:08,510 you into the likeness of Jesus. 598 00:30:09,845 --> 00:30:14,105 All of this forgiving, giving grace, humbling ourselves. 599 00:30:14,855 --> 00:30:19,025 It isn't just about doing the right thing, it's about who we are becoming. 600 00:30:19,865 --> 00:30:22,505 You know, God's ultimate desire is isn't just for us to act right? 601 00:30:22,505 --> 00:30:24,755 It's for us to become more like him. 602 00:30:25,415 --> 00:30:28,775 He wants our heart, our hearts, our thoughts, our attitude. 603 00:30:29,015 --> 00:30:30,785 He wants us to reflect his character. 604 00:30:31,745 --> 00:30:36,545 In other words, likeness to Christ is God's will for my life. 605 00:30:37,610 --> 00:30:40,220 Likeness for Christ is God's will for my life. 606 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,960 If you understand that, you understand everything else, even your 607 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:50,300 struggles, your pain, your broken relationships, God can use all of 608 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:52,340 that to make you more like Jesus. 609 00:30:53,270 --> 00:30:55,190 What the enemy meant for evil. 610 00:30:55,250 --> 00:30:56,300 Jesus can turn for good. 611 00:30:57,410 --> 00:31:02,960 He doesn't just erase the pain he uses to shape us, to mature us, and to grow us. 612 00:31:03,980 --> 00:31:05,510 So the real question for us this morning is. 613 00:31:05,915 --> 00:31:08,075 What does growth in Christ look like? 614 00:31:08,945 --> 00:31:11,435 What does growth in Christ look like for in my life? 615 00:31:11,435 --> 00:31:14,255 Well, I believe in Matthew 18, we see three clear things. 616 00:31:14,255 --> 00:31:17,345 Growth in Christ, for one, looks like forgiveness. 617 00:31:18,245 --> 00:31:22,685 God calls us to forgive, especially those who have heard us, and it's not easy. 618 00:31:22,685 --> 00:31:24,635 But as my boy, Chris Lewis says, it's essential. 619 00:31:25,265 --> 00:31:26,765 It's essential for us to forgive. 620 00:31:27,875 --> 00:31:31,565 Maybe for you, forgiveness means writing a letter, making a phone call, or simply 621 00:31:31,565 --> 00:31:34,085 just praying, God help me release this. 622 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,970 Forgiveness is a first step towards freedom. 623 00:31:38,930 --> 00:31:40,880 You know, when you forgive, you're not saying what they did was right, 624 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,760 but what you're saying is this will no longer hold me in chains. 625 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:48,140 Forgiveness frees your heart to live in grace that God has given 626 00:31:48,140 --> 00:31:50,510 you second growth in Christ. 627 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:52,520 It looks like giving grace. 628 00:31:53,420 --> 00:31:57,140 Let's be honest, giving grace, that's not a a natural human reaction. 629 00:31:58,580 --> 00:32:00,020 What does come natural for us? 630 00:32:00,020 --> 00:32:03,500 For humans to be cynical, to be guarded. 631 00:32:03,950 --> 00:32:09,560 It's quick to assume the worst, but when the Holy Spirit softens our heart, we be, 632 00:32:09,650 --> 00:32:11,600 we begin to look and think differently. 633 00:32:12,170 --> 00:32:15,590 You start to say, maybe they didn't mean it that way, or 634 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:16,970 they've been through a lot. 635 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,620 I'll just give 'em the benefit of the doubt. 636 00:32:19,670 --> 00:32:21,230 We've all heard that phrase before. 637 00:32:21,230 --> 00:32:22,100 Hurt people. 638 00:32:22,105 --> 00:32:26,630 Hurt people, and sometimes giving grace means recognizing that someone's behavior 639 00:32:26,630 --> 00:32:28,010 may be coming from their own pain. 640 00:32:29,210 --> 00:32:30,170 With my own dad. 641 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:32,510 I had to realize like, man, my dad, he doesn't hate me. 642 00:32:32,540 --> 00:32:34,130 He doesn't not love me. 643 00:32:34,550 --> 00:32:37,670 He just had a terrible example, and that's all he knows. 644 00:32:38,870 --> 00:32:39,080 You know? 645 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:44,150 Could it be that God wants to show his grace through you, that someone might 646 00:32:44,150 --> 00:32:48,500 come to see the love of Jesus, by the way, you extend grace to them, you know? 647 00:32:48,500 --> 00:32:49,910 Lastly, growth in Christ. 648 00:32:50,330 --> 00:32:51,260 It looks like humility. 649 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:53,810 At the heart of this parable is humility. 650 00:32:54,620 --> 00:32:56,270 You know, when I realized the massive debt. 651 00:32:56,735 --> 00:32:58,685 I can never repay because of my sin. 652 00:32:59,105 --> 00:33:00,305 It crushes my pride. 653 00:33:01,295 --> 00:33:04,385 There's, there's a reason why pride and unforgiveness, they go hand in hand. 654 00:33:04,385 --> 00:33:06,125 They love each other, they feed off one another. 655 00:33:06,965 --> 00:33:09,695 Pride says, you've hurt me, so now I'm gonna have this upper ground. 656 00:33:09,695 --> 00:33:11,585 I'm gonna have this moral advantage above you. 657 00:33:12,845 --> 00:33:17,045 Pride wants you to keep people at a distance, but Jesus calls us to 658 00:33:17,045 --> 00:33:21,605 be on our knees and beg like the first servant did, and remember 659 00:33:21,605 --> 00:33:22,895 how much we have been forgiven. 660 00:33:24,170 --> 00:33:26,990 Maybe what you need to release today probably isn't just unforgiveness, maybe 661 00:33:26,990 --> 00:33:31,010 it's pride as well, because humility is, is opening the door for healing. 662 00:33:31,250 --> 00:33:34,910 It allows mercy and grace to flow again, both from God and towards others. 663 00:33:35,900 --> 00:33:38,990 So as we're coming in for a landing, the question I wanna leave with you is, 664 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:44,990 if Jesus has forgiven us of everything forgiven you and I of everything, who is 665 00:33:44,990 --> 00:33:46,460 it that you still need to forgive today? 666 00:33:47,930 --> 00:33:49,370 Maybe it's someone who hurt you deeply. 667 00:33:50,180 --> 00:33:51,410 Maybe it's someone who disappointed you. 668 00:33:52,340 --> 00:33:57,020 Maybe it's even yourself, you know, whatever it is, Jesus is inviting 669 00:33:57,020 --> 00:34:02,210 you to release it, to let it go, to walk in the freedom that he has given 670 00:34:02,210 --> 00:34:07,580 you and I, because say it with me, church, forgiven people forgive people. 671 00:34:08,150 --> 00:34:10,250 And when you forgive, you don't just free someone else. 672 00:34:10,610 --> 00:34:12,500 You reflect the heart of Jesus himself. 673 00:34:13,460 --> 00:34:16,550 So before we close today, I wanna leave us with a few practical action steps, 674 00:34:16,550 --> 00:34:20,750 ways we can begin to walk in freedom this week and we can release others first. 675 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:24,800 Let's identify who do you need to release? 676 00:34:26,210 --> 00:34:27,020 Who do you need to release? 677 00:34:27,020 --> 00:34:30,290 Ask God this week, who am I still holding this unforgiving heart towards? 678 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:32,120 Maybe it's someone from years ago. 679 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,929 Maybe it's a family member, a friend, or maybe someone in this room. 680 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:38,630 You can't release what you don't recognize. 681 00:34:38,630 --> 00:34:41,630 First church start by writing their name down and just praying, 682 00:34:41,630 --> 00:34:43,580 God, help me let this go. 683 00:34:44,690 --> 00:34:46,550 And second, I want us to pray for that person. 684 00:34:47,300 --> 00:34:48,949 I know it may seem hard, but it's powerful. 685 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:51,500 You're not just praying to justify what they did, but you're 686 00:34:51,500 --> 00:34:53,480 praying to free your own heart. 687 00:34:54,139 --> 00:34:56,120 Ask God to soften your heart to bless them. 688 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,600 And every time you pray church, I know you're gonna feel that God 689 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,290 is just chipping away at the walls of bitterness and unforgiveness 690 00:35:03,380 --> 00:35:04,760 that was built up in your hearts. 691 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:08,840 And lastly, let's take a step towards reconciliation this week. 692 00:35:09,770 --> 00:35:12,530 Maybe for you it's sending a message, making a call, or simply 693 00:35:12,615 --> 00:35:14,840 choosing not to speak negatively about that person anymore. 694 00:35:14,870 --> 00:35:18,319 If you're not responsible church for how they respond, you're just 695 00:35:18,319 --> 00:35:20,299 responsible how God calls you to obey. 696 00:35:21,230 --> 00:35:24,319 Even if reconciliation doesn't happen right away, your heart is 697 00:35:24,319 --> 00:35:26,450 moving towards Freedom Church. 698 00:35:26,450 --> 00:35:27,740 Just imagine this church. 699 00:35:27,740 --> 00:35:30,290 You know, as I was thinking about this lesson, praying about it, I 700 00:35:30,290 --> 00:35:34,279 just thought, what would this church look like if every person here truly 701 00:35:34,279 --> 00:35:36,020 release what was holding them back? 702 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:39,470 If instead of walking into a service carrying old wounds, 703 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:40,880 we came carrying in peace. 704 00:35:41,525 --> 00:35:44,315 When people looked at the North, north OEA church family, they didn't 705 00:35:44,315 --> 00:35:45,545 just see a group of believers. 706 00:35:45,695 --> 00:35:49,295 They saw a family that forgives quickly, that loves deeply 707 00:35:49,295 --> 00:35:51,245 and reflects Jesus completely. 708 00:35:52,235 --> 00:35:55,415 That's what revival looks like, and that's what healing looks like. 709 00:35:55,865 --> 00:35:56,195 That what? 710 00:35:56,345 --> 00:35:57,425 That's what God wants to do. 711 00:35:57,425 --> 00:35:58,565 Starting with us today. 712 00:35:59,375 --> 00:35:59,915 You know, I'm excited. 713 00:35:59,915 --> 00:36:02,945 I know Marcel Mason announce announcement, but next Sunday we're gonna have a time of 714 00:36:02,945 --> 00:36:07,295 reconciliation as a family, and it's gonna be a time where we come before together 715 00:36:07,295 --> 00:36:10,595 to God, to pray, to worship, to forgive. 716 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:15,380 To commune and to release the things that have been imprisoning our own hearts. 717 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,380 So as you go through this week, start preparing your heart. 718 00:36:18,650 --> 00:36:21,890 Ask God, what do I need to release before you? 719 00:36:22,940 --> 00:36:26,600 Because next week, I believe God is gonna bring healing, unity, and freedom 720 00:36:26,690 --> 00:36:28,400 for our North, north Sea Church family. 721 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:28,790 Amen. 722 00:36:30,020 --> 00:36:32,780 You know, it's to close out with scripture here from the Apostle Paul. 723 00:36:32,855 --> 00:36:37,175 In Ephesians four, verse 31 through 32, it says, get rid of all bitterness, 724 00:36:37,175 --> 00:36:41,495 rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 725 00:36:41,795 --> 00:36:44,675 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiven each other 726 00:36:44,675 --> 00:36:46,355 just as Christ God forgave you. 727 00:36:47,105 --> 00:36:50,315 Church forgiven people, forgive people. 728 00:36:50,765 --> 00:36:51,755 So let's really walk in. 729 00:36:52,415 --> 00:36:55,835 Walk in next week with open hearts, ready to release, ready to forgive. 730 00:36:55,835 --> 00:36:59,165 Ready to live in the freedom of the seasons of the Lord's favor. 731 00:36:59,225 --> 00:36:59,645 Amen. 732 00:37:00,125 --> 00:37:00,425 Amen. 733 00:37:00,425 --> 00:37:00,665 Church. 734 00:37:00,665 --> 00:37:01,385 Here I'll say a quick prayer. 735 00:37:02,195 --> 00:37:04,205 And then we'll continue on with our worship service. 736 00:37:06,575 --> 00:37:10,115 Uh, heavenly Father, God, just thank you so much for your grace. 737 00:37:10,595 --> 00:37:14,195 Thank you for the forgiveness you've extended to each of us, a debt 738 00:37:14,195 --> 00:37:16,115 that we could never, ever repay. 739 00:37:17,105 --> 00:37:21,155 Lord, we recognize the grudges that we may hold in our hearts, the bitterness, 740 00:37:21,365 --> 00:37:23,645 the pride, instead of walking freedom. 741 00:37:23,645 --> 00:37:26,135 Lord, I pray that this week you can just chip away at our 742 00:37:26,135 --> 00:37:27,635 heart slowly as a family God. 743 00:37:28,025 --> 00:37:31,055 Soften our hearts today and each and every day, help us 744 00:37:31,145 --> 00:37:32,615 forgive those who have hurt us. 745 00:37:32,615 --> 00:37:36,845 God, to give grace who may not even deserve it, and to walk humbly before 746 00:37:36,845 --> 00:37:39,005 you guide us as we take our steps. 747 00:37:39,215 --> 00:37:41,465 God, next week as a family, just releasing things. 748 00:37:41,465 --> 00:37:42,605 God, I pray we can start now. 749 00:37:42,605 --> 00:37:45,245 God, just identifying some of the things we need to release. 750 00:37:46,025 --> 00:37:48,275 Will we pray powerfully for you to move? 751 00:37:48,665 --> 00:37:49,565 We love you so much. 752 00:37:49,595 --> 00:37:50,525 It's your son's name we pray. 753 00:37:50,825 --> 00:37:51,155 Amen.