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Well, when I found out very abruptly that I was going to be talking this morning, thankfully there was one spot that my mind went pretty quickly.
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Um and after thinking about it for a little bit, I think there's a couple of different things I want to talk about this morning.
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Um I don't know how long I'll start, but this is where my mind went first.
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So in uh Psalm 103 was a verse that I had been thinking about a little bit last week.
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I had heard it and just wanted to read it again.
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And um as I was looking through it, I couldn't at the time I couldn't quite figure out what it was about it that I was, I guess, what had poked my attention, but this morning kind of uh made more sense.
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So um the main thought from this verse that uh was on my mind this morning in particular was forgiveness and um in particular kind of not two different kinds of forgiveness, but two different perspectives of forgiveness, I guess.
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Uh one being how the Lord has forgiven us and our sins, and then how we forgive others.
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Um I'll start with the first because that's where my mind went first, and then I'll get on to the rest.
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So um I think one particular portion of this chapter that uh has kind of stuck with me multiple times over the years, come to mind, is uh um in chapter uh verses eleven and twelve, for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
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As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
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Um I mean, as some of you may know, with the way that north, south, east, and west work, uh you have a defined north and south pole on the earth, which you can find all the way from north to south, but there's no such thing as an east or west pole.
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The earth continues to go round and round, and this is something that I've heard before preached by certain people.
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Um, but uh it's a really valid expression of how, as far as the Lord is concerned, after his forgiveness, there is no distance that can be covered for us to re-reach our sins.
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He's forgiven us.
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There is no way that we can sin enough our way back into being unforgiven, and likewise he doesn't see them when he's looking at us at all.
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Um and so, but forgiveness isn't just an a passive thing.
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Forgiveness isn't something where the Lord just sat around and forgot about our sins after a long time.
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Forgiveness has to do with debt and what has been paid in order for us to no longer be in debt.
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Um so uh one other verse, a little bit about forgiveness, real quick, in uh, or one chapter, I guess, portion of the chapter, um is in I believe it's let me make sure I'm looking at the right one.
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It's in Jeremiah, but I think I may have chosen the wrong chapter to jump to.
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Jeremiah 31, um talking about the new covenant with the house of Israel, and um specific- okay, so chapter 31 in verses 31 through 34 is the main part that I'm thinking of right now, um, where the Lord uh well, where he's prophesied, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which my covenant they break, although I was a husband to them, saith the Lord.
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But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.
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After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people, and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
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Um So, again, this this is the verse in particular where I was thinking about uh the Lord no longer remembering our sin.
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And often we think about remembrance in terms of forget, forgetting, but in this particular case, he no longer remembers our sin because not because he forgot our sin, but because he forgave our sin.
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Um again, he didn't just, you know, he wasn't sitting around for 2,000 years and forgot that our sins were a thing, and that's no longer why he remembers them.
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He forgave our sins, uh, but in particular through the way he paid them was um he forgave them through paying for our sins through Christ on a cross.
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Um so that to set up the idea of forgiveness and having a debt to pay and uh what the Lord has forgiven us in our sin.
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Um I kind of want to move over to a couple thoughts from uh Matthew and Luke talking about how we forgive one another.
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Um I think to start, I'll go to Matthew 18.
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Yeah.
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This was another of the verses that came to mind this morning when um thinking through and kind of tied together the thought of forgiveness.
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But um the entirety of the chapter of 18 goes over a lot of thoughts about um you know how we ought to act towards another and um what happens when we well, we should how we should behave when we offend one another.
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Um the thought in particular the thoughts in particular I want to get at are from chapter 18, verse 21 onward.
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Um I think this is a verse a lot of people are familiar with, but uh then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him until seven times?
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Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seven times seven, kind of pointing out the fact that there's there's not a number of times we should forgive people.
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It's it's not about how often we forgive people, but the importance of forgiving them no matter what, and as many times as is necessary, um, which as I'm sure we all know is can be a lot of times.
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Um but then I won't go through the whole the whole parable that's given after, but um basically the the parable following is uh explains a situation where a certain king had some servants, and uh those servants owed things to him, and then one of the servants, I believe, um was owed something of someone else, and though the king forgave the servants, that servant um was basically looking to punish the servant who wasn't able to pay his debt, even though all of them were unable to pay their debts.
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Um and um the Lord uses this as an example towards the end, explaining basically that we we ought to forgive one another as he has forgiven us.
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Like he's forgiven us a debt that was so great that in no possible way we could repay.
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We have debts to one another that we could repay, and yet we still need to forgive another in those debts.
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Um not because it's not because the debt wasn't able to be paid that uh that that's why it should be forgiven, but um in the sense that it's it's an expression of the same kind of mercy and love that the Lord showed to us that um we should forgive one another.
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Um just one more.
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Um just go over to the last part.
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Um as as one one more example of forgiveness.
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Um I guess the the complicated part with forgiveness is often in cases where a debt isn't quite as literal, where um it's not so much a sum of money that needs to be paid or something that needs to be returned, but very often we offend one another or do things that cannot be repaid in a material form, but rather like by forgiving what the other person has done and releasing the the debt of guilt that they have towards us.
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And um one specific example that comes to mind for that is in um in the case of Joseph and his brothers, um that's one debt where if if you were to make an earthly argument towards maybe someone being justified and not forgiving, um all 11 of your brothers throwing you in a pit and well leaving you to die is a pretty rough situation to be in.
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Um and so I don't think many people would be, from an earthly perspective, uh that upset at Joseph not forgiving.
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Uh and likewise I think Joseph probably had quite a bit of diff, or not difficulty, but I can imagine that that was not something that didn't require forgiveness for him.
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And yet when all of his brothers come to him in Egypt, not knowing it's Joseph immediately, um we can see how how Joseph forgives them, not only in not requiring of them anything for the guilt that they had, but rather going so far as to give them blessings and mercy and grace over what they could have deserved from that perspective.
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Um and in a in a similar sense, that's very much how the Lord behaves towards us.
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And not only did he forgive the guilt that the debt that we owed in sinning, but um he gives us so much above what we deserve for how little we have done in return for him.
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Um let me see if I can just find a couple portions of this and then I'll um I'll step down and pass things over.
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Um I believe it's chapter.
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Yeah, in Genesis 42, um specifically uh chapter verse 21 was the part that I thought was interesting from the perspective of the brothers that um uh that had left behind Joseph originally.
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Um and they said to one another, We are very guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and he we would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us.
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And Reuben, who, when they had originally put Joseph in the pit, spoke out against the idea of killing him outright.
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I believe that was Reuben.
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Um said unto them, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child, and you would not hear, therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
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And they at the moment were interpreting what Joseph was doing, not knowing it was Joseph yet, uh, with keeping Benjamin behind as um uh as some recompense or punishment for what they had been doing in leaving Joseph in the pit originally, not even knowing that what Joseph was doing at the moment was all for their benefit.
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He had already forgiven him, forgiven them, but was turning what they were already misinterpreting as punishment and recompense as um, but they they uh they were actually receiving a blessing and being forgiven in that very moment without even realizing.
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And then later Joseph, of course, revealed to them that he was Joseph and um that he wanted to bring all of them into Egypt.
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Um that was about all that I had on my mind for the morning.
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Uh I hope something there was insightful, and if not, that's obviously my fault.
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Um but I normally try to steer away from too much like background thought on on why I'm about to say what I'm about to say, but um what some people may not know yet is that uh when we went to we we went to New Orleans two weeks ago last week.
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This is just last week, yeah.
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We were we were in New Orleans and we had intended to meet at the church there in New Orleans.
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What we did not do before we left is find out that they don't meet there on fifth sun on this fifth Sunday.
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So when when we were in New Orleans and all of a sudden we were hours away from the nearest church, we did what is usually our circumstance is we go ahead and meet together.
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Now, it was just Catherine and I in this case.
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Normally I carry a crowd with me, but um but uh and so in those cases, but it was just Catherine and myself.
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Um the thought that I had on my mind then as we as I tried to speak, and by the way, you if you've never tried to preach to an audio to a congregation of one, that that is a very different circumstance, but I feel encouraged that Philip did the very same thing with the Ethiopian unit.
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But um the thought that was on my mind was the the first verse of that song we sang was where we're two or three in sweet accord.
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Well, there's a passage that that comes from that, believe it or not, it's not about meeting together in the worship service, it's about how brothers reconcile.
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And that's what was on my mind then, and that's what's on my mind this morning.
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And Elijah, I don't think, knew any of that.
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Now, one thing I want to I want to bring to mind uh in reconciliation, which is reconciliation and forgiveness are related, but they are not the same thing.
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Reconciliation requires forgiveness.
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However, you can forgive without any reconciliation at all.
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And that's that's the part that we sometimes have problems with.
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And in a weird way, that's the problem we cause for ourselves.
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You see, uh Elijah brought up the the the example of uh Joseph and his brothers.
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And if you go back and read that, and I highly recommend you go and read that account.
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There's there one of the even thinking about it is hard for me to even say it's one of the most emotional scenes.
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That is so emotional that Joseph couldn't make it through without crying.
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Um when he revealed himself to his brothers.
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And I think there's a spiritual lesson in that, in the manner in which Christ reveals himself to his brethren, because when that happened, he caused all the Egyptians to leave the room and he revealed himself to just his brethren.
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Now, that scared them.
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That was not a joyous occasion for them.
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As soon as they realized that Joseph was practically second in command.
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I mean, he was literally second in command, but he was, by all circumstances, he might as well have been king as far as they were concerned.
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And they realized, oh, and this this is lit, this can be, if you've ever seen thought bubbles in a cartoon, you might as well see it pop in their head that we're dead.
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We're dead.
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We this this is the end of us.
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Now, they and here's the problem.
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In the moment of fear, you don't put two and two together and get four.
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You put two and two together and you get 37 because you all you think is all you're all your focus in is what it means to you and what you did.
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Yeah.
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And that's exactly what was going on, even in that circumstance where they thought, they thought uh when Benjamin was held back.
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Now, we we now know Joseph Joseph even reveals this, but uh he held back Benjamin so that his dad would come.
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He knew that's how that was that was the way to get his father and by his father, all the rest of the family into Egypt.
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Um and quite frankly, I think there was a little bit of he wanted his brother there.
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I I don't I I don't those can both be true at the same time.
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Now, when there was the discourse with uh with Reuben saying, you know, I told you, I told you not to do anything, but here we are, now we're having problems.
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And then when Joseph reveals his face, they think that they're all dead, not not realizing they've been brought to this point.
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They've even been re they've not only not only went to Egypt for grain and went back with grain, instead of being killed by their brother, they were refunded the money that they came to purchase it with.
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And so they're not realizing that even in the revelation that causes them fear, that this is like the ultimate blessing.
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And so he tries to calm them.
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He says, Listen, I know you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.
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Now he, I'm not saying that, I'm not saying there was never a point that Joseph wasn't concerned because what was their, what was Reuben's, what was Reuben's uh uh uh charge or his his his complaint against his brethren is that they turned a blind eye and a blind, they they turned a deaf ear to his cry, to his sorrow in the midst.
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So he was he he knew that he heard them talking about them killing him, and he was trying crying out in tears, and they and they they turned a deaf ear to it.
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So, yes, Joseph had some forgiving to do, but the Lord turned it in his heart to forgive them, to not hold them accountable.
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Not that they they they they that obviously he knew that they did it, but did not require repayment for it.
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Now, what I want to mention is that it did not end there for his brethren.
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They go into Egypt, they live, I forget how many years, it is several decades, and then Jacob dies.
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And this is what goes through the minds of Joseph's brother yet again.
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They think, well, why Jake, while while our father was alive, uh he was he was keeping peace.
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But now that our father's dead, he'll kill us.
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They're still worried.
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Do you realize they're still holding themselves accountable for something that has been told in their own ears that they are free from?
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Now, does that sound familiar?
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We have been made free from sin and death.
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But what do we do?
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We hold on to the guilt, thinking that God still holds us accountable.
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That God's still gonna charge us.
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You know, God says he'll forgive us, but but we all sometimes, I'm not saying we all do this, and nor do we do it all the time, but there are moments where we think, but does he really?
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Just like Joseph and his brothers, did Joseph really forgive us?
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Or was he just biding his time?
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And so they basically go beg him again.
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And Joseph said, I told you, I told you that that that that this was of God and not of just just forget about it.
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Please, just forget about it.
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That's what that's what the forgiveness of sins in the sense of we know that God has forgiven us on the cross.
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God has forgiven us in the blood of Christ, God has forgiven us in his mind and in his purpose, when he sees us, he does not see the guilt-ridden uh uh corruption of man, he sees the man that is watched life as the driven slow by the blood of Christ, he sees the imputed righteousness of Christ, and when, when the Lord reveals that to us like ghosts to his brothers.
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The response should be liberty.
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It should be freedom.
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It should be the acknowledgement that we have been made free from the bondage of sin and death, and that we can walk in the liberty and the newness of life.
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Yet so often we, for no good reason, because there is no good reason, we borrow the guilt of sin and lay claim on it again.
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We hold ourselves accountable in a way.
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And that's where Matthew 18 goes to.
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But it is not with God.
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Now, are we reconciled to God?
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Now, we are reconciled to God as far as God is concerned.
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Now, there's another passage that talks about the apostles were given the ministry of reconciliation.
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But it's not to reconcile God to us, or it's to reconcile us to God.
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It's so that we, like Joseph's brothers, would know that we're made free and be reconciled to that relationship.
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Reconciliation is a restoration of a relationship that is based on forgiveness.
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And now with that in mind, I'm I may go to other scriptures, but in Matthew 18 is where I want to jump to.
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Because now, why does it have to be based on forgiveness?
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Because.
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And it's true, there are there are some things that we can do to one another in which we can make some amends.
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If I took something from you and I gave it back, that made amends for the material thing.
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But what also was broken in the moment that I took something from you, it is trust and it is the relationship between us.
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And so in order for that to be done, whether or not, whether or not I could ever restore the thing or the material or the or the or the actual uh uh offense that was made, whether I could ever make that good or not, I can never just with my with my word restore that relationship.
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It has to be based on the the fact that you are willing to say, I will not hold and think and charge that against you every time I think of you.
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Every time I see you, I will not say, Well, you know what?
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You took that from me.
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And the next time I see you, well, you took that from me.
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Remember that, Chris?
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That is not the restoration of a relationship.
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That is renewing that offense each and every time.
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God does not do that with us.
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God does not do that when we go to Him to prayer and say, Well, I'll listen to you, but you remember all of those times you didn't listen to me.
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God doesn't do that because He's already reconciled through Christ.
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Now, in an offense one with another, especially with brethren.
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Now, this this goes this is focused on, I believe, brother and brother in Christ.
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A church relationship.
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However, it goes beyond that.
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It can go, it is, it is any relationship you can apply this to where you have a close bond and there is an acknowledgement.
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Now, what he says here in the context must be understood.
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It's with a church relationship because there's a prescription he gives.
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And I want to be very clear.
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I've tried to speak on this passage before, and I may have used these very words.
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There are those that see this as the formula to get rid of somebody.
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That's what this has been used as.
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Those of you in corporate America should know what a pip is.
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It's called a performance improvement plan.
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By its words, you might think it's meant to give you a plan to improve performance.
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Hence the name, performance improvement plan.
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And on the face of it, that's what it is.
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Just like there's something given here that when you read it, it's meant to improve something.
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:22.960
However, we also know that in this world, that is not how it is used.
00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:29.440
It is used as a way to excuse somebody from the organization.
00:28:30.080 --> 00:28:45.120
It is used as a way to say, hey, as long as we hold them to an impossible standard that they cannot keep, they will fail and we will be justified in getting rid of them.
00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:50.480
That is, and if you don't believe me, unfortunately, that is very real.
00:28:52.400 --> 00:29:10.800
And it's also very important that the words of God that were given by which we may know how to reconcile has been used for the exact same thing.
00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:23.840
Often when we have a problem with a with a brother or sister, and I'm not talking about like someone shows up and starts worshiping a false god or something like that.
00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:27.840
I'm not talking about gross misconduct in the church.
00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:33.040
I'm talking about like between you and me, or between you and another brother.
00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.360
And you have a problem.
00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:48.080
There is something that is required to do this first step that we lack by nature, and it is courage.
00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:52.880
Because we by nature are cowards.
00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:57.920
We will run and hide when given the chance.
00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.480
Because we don't want to confront.
00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:13.040
Now, some of you may know someone in your life that has less barrier with confrontation.
00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:16.720
Um I unfortunately have that inflation.
00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:24.800
Some of you may not know that, but I I couldn't care less about weather what people think about me.
00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:31.759
So that helps, but I'm not immune from when I have to talk to somebody.
00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:37.279
The first thing I think of is, boy, I just really wish I'd I I really would rather not do that.
00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.680
You know what the problem is?
00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:42.160
You failed the first step.
00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.320
Now, here I'm gonna I'm gonna summarize it.
00:30:46.800 --> 00:30:59.279
If you have a problem between brother and brother, first it should remain private until it cannot be.
00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:07.840
Privately go to that brother, and this works for sisters too.
00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:19.200
Go to that brother, and between you and him, between the two of you, say, This is my problem.
00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:35.680
Now there's also another thing that is that we have that's wrong with us by nature, and that we have to be very careful with that step, is that by nature we are right.
00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:41.680
You see, I'm telling I'm gonna come and tell you how bad you are.
00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.840
That's how we often go into this first step.
00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.519
That's not what the Lord said.
00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:56.240
He says, to go, if that brother trespasses me, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.
00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:59.600
If he shall hear thee.
00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:01.840
Now, what does it mean to be to be heard?
00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:04.880
That means there's some there's some dialogue there.
00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:17.440
It's not you unloading all of your your your your uh your complaints on this person and say, okay, this is this is this these are these are all my problems with you, and then turn and leave.
00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:18.880
That's not what this is.
00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:23.200
This is coming and as the Lord said, let come.
00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:27.200
Let us reason together, let us talk about this.
00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:32.240
Because you might find out that it was unintentional.
00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:46.320
You might find out that there were extenuating circumstances, you might find out a word roughly spoken was spoken on a day that was probably the worst day they ever had in their life up to that point.
00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:52.080
And then all of a sudden you realize you need to extend some of your own grace to them.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:57.600
But this conversation that takes place is between one brother and another.
00:32:57.840 --> 00:33:05.440
And when they converse and reason together, the goal is not how do we get to the next step.
00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:12.800
The goal is this might be where this offense ends.
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:19.120
This may just be the moment where we could just put this forever behind us.
00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:24.080
And the next moment that we see each other, we don't even think about it.
00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:31.279
Because what forgiveness is, just as we heard, it is not just forgetting.
00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:38.080
It is what it is, it is not bringing it up.
00:33:39.600 --> 00:33:52.960
See, we God God doesn't, God's not doesn't have a broken brain in which he because of age or disease or something else, that that it just just absolutely leads his mind.
00:33:53.200 --> 00:34:00.000
It's that with the blood of Christ, it is answered and is never brought up again.
00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:03.840
It is never even acknowledged.
00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:12.800
Does that mean that Satan doesn't try to bring it up repeatedly to try to acknowledge it and to bring us down?
00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:33.519
You realize every single time, every time we, by our nature, or we listen to the whispering lies of Satan, uh, where we uh where we try to bring back up even our own sin, let alone another brother's sin, before God, we are saying, uh, God, I know you dealt with this, but I'd like to bring it back up again.
00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:34.880
Every time.
00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:39.679
Do you realize the the words of the Apostle Paul?
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:45.679
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:54.880
Isn't just to give you comfort, it's also to stop that bringing back up again every single time.
00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:57.599
Because he's already forgiven it.
00:34:57.759 --> 00:35:09.199
If he's already forgiven it, what do you think he uh thinks when he sees us bringing it up to ourselves and to others?
00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:12.159
It's like Joseph's brothers.
00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:17.119
It's like the brothers say, Oh, he said he forgave us, but did he really?
00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:24.079
And it calls to mind whether we have confidence in the in the finished work of Christ or not.
00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:32.719
Now we we we can have all confidence today, and then tomorrow, in the weakness of our mind and heart, start to wonder.
00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:40.079
And that's what the word is given for us, is so that we might, in those moments, say, okay, if he's forgiven, he's forgiven.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:43.119
I should lay hold upon that in the weakest parts.
00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.559
That's what they're for.
00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:51.039
The words are there not for the strongest moments in your life, they're there for your weakest moments.
00:35:51.199 --> 00:36:02.239
So that when that meditation, prayer, of dwelling on those thoughts when you need them, you can remember there is therefore now no condemnation, there is therefore now no condemnation.
00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:09.279
There is therefore now, no condemnation to the Lord in Christ Jesus.
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:14.159
If that's true in the Apostle Paul's day, that's true right now.
00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:31.599
Now, if that's the mindset that you go into this conversation with brother and brother, all of a sudden it's what Christ wrote it for, what Christ spoke it for, is for the reconciliation.
00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:41.759
Because with the forgiveness comes the restoration of that relationship, thou hast gained thy brother.
00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:52.879
But human beings, being what they are, the Lord said, There's going to be some other steps that I need to tell you.
00:36:53.519 --> 00:37:07.440
Because I may be now, there's also one principle is that the offense is real and that it is worthy of attention.
00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:14.079
I understand every offense hurts.
00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:25.920
There's a point of maturity and growing up, even in a natural way, where a little bruise you can ignore completely.
00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:26.719
Why?
00:37:26.879 --> 00:37:29.199
Because you've had a hundred of them in your life.
00:37:29.359 --> 00:37:31.039
You had thousands of them in your life.
00:37:31.279 --> 00:37:34.079
You know, oh that was that was that's a little thing.
00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:36.399
I can I don't even want to acknowledge that.
00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:39.920
The bigger pains are the ones you pay attention to as you grow.
00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:49.679
In the maturity in a Christian life, I'll put it that way, is that no, there are some offenses that are just worthy, not worthy of attention.
00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:53.279
So what if someone says a certain thing about my clothes?
00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.639
Who cares?
00:37:55.839 --> 00:37:56.719
I don't.
00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:59.359
But sometimes we do.
00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:03.839
And sometimes it gets under our skin, and that becomes the offense between our brother.
00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:09.279
And we, and sometimes when you actually go to your brother and say, you know what, you said this about what I wore.
00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:14.879
Just the words coming out of your mouth make you realize, oh, why am I even bringing this?
00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:23.359
But if it is something that's causing you a breach in that relationship, it's you need to take step one.
00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:26.480
Because that's where you get your brother back.
00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:33.199
Even when it's you acknowledging this was not a real offense, it was not a deep offense worthy of attention.
00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:49.599
However, when you do have an offense and a real offense against you, and you go to your brother, and your brother says, Well, you deserve that, I don't I don't see the problem.
00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.759
That happens too.
00:38:51.839 --> 00:38:52.079
Why?
00:38:52.319 --> 00:38:53.839
Because we're human beings.
00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:58.480
And your brother may either feel justified or not care.
00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:07.839
In that case, in that case is where the Lord said, you know what?
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:14.559
If your brother will not hear you, then go broadcast it out on the internet.
00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:16.319
And that's not what he says.
00:39:17.359 --> 00:39:19.599
Don't go start calling everybody, you know what?
00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:20.079
No.
00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.960
Two or three.
00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:27.279
The minimum you need for witness.
00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:37.119
And you take them and you say, listen, when we had last had this conversation, there was this real.
00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:39.359
Let's use an example.
00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:42.799
Let's say, uh, Lord willing, this will never happen, Brother Lloyd.
00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:52.079
But let's say I, in a weakness uh of my own, uh started spreading false rumors about you.
00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:57.039
And I can't even imagine why that would be.
00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:58.639
But let's let's go with it.
00:39:58.799 --> 00:40:04.799
Uh and and you came to me and said, Brother Chris, did you say these things about me?
00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:18.239
And I, in my in my pride and in my bad situation, says, Well, yeah, but you know, uh just deal with it, brother Lloyd.
00:40:18.799 --> 00:40:20.639
And that's that would not be right.
00:40:20.799 --> 00:40:24.239
That would not, and that would still be the breach of our relationship.
00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:32.319
So, Brother Lloyd, what he would need to do is then find maybe Brother James and Brother Bobby or Brother Mike, just one or two.
00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:34.799
Or uh what does it say?
00:40:34.879 --> 00:40:38.960
Uh with the one or two more that in the mouth are two or three witnesses.
00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:44.399
So there's the two or three, one more, it's two witnesses, two more is three witnesses.
00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:48.639
And he comes to me and said, Brother Chris, we talked about this.
00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:59.599
Did you admit that you said these things about me and two witnesses that are trustworthy, so that we everyone knows that this was not just two brothers arguing with each other.
00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:13.440
And maybe the shame and the guilt of knowing that I've hurt Brother Lloyd would cause me to then apologize and try to reconcile at that point.
00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:30.079
But if I, if even then if I felt justified in what I said or did, or I just simply was too full of it and too full of my own pride and would not apologize, would not reconcile, then that's where it goes to the church.
00:41:30.799 --> 00:41:45.119
And the church, before the church, then it gets revealed what the witnesses had said would bring forward, be brought forward, and what they saw, what I said, and even then I would not hear the whole church.
00:41:45.279 --> 00:41:49.039
So I don't care what anyone says, I'm not going to apologize.
00:41:49.279 --> 00:41:59.759
Then the church, it says here, that if um whatsoever uh if he neglects to hear the church, let him be into thee a heathen man and a publican.
00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:04.000
Now, one that doesn't say he's going to hell.
00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:04.480
No.
00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:16.879
What it does mean is that breach of that relationship appears to be permanent, or at least needs to be repaired a different way.
00:42:17.759 --> 00:42:27.519
I can I can point you to another example where there was a brother at Corinth who was engaged in some ungodly activity.
00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:31.119
And the church at first saw no problem with it.
00:42:31.279 --> 00:42:36.399
And the Apostle Paul, writing them, said, first of all, I can't believe you didn't see the problem.
00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:41.119
Second of all, you've got to address this.
00:42:41.359 --> 00:42:43.920
This is not proper behavior.
00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:50.639
And uh since at that point it was not it was not one-on-one type of situation.
00:42:50.799 --> 00:42:53.279
This was a church-wide situation.
00:42:53.599 --> 00:43:01.279
It was already at what we call step number three, and so the apostle Paul said, you need to turn that brother over to Satan.
00:43:01.519 --> 00:43:05.279
Or in other words, you need to not have part with him.
00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:07.599
That relationship is broken.
00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:10.239
You need to let God deal with that.
00:43:10.879 --> 00:43:11.920
And guess what?
00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:13.519
God dealt with that.
00:43:13.759 --> 00:43:16.239
And God brought godly sorrow to that man.
00:43:16.319 --> 00:43:22.480
And God, that man wanted to reconcile with the church, and in 2 Corinthians, he writes and says, guess what?
00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:28.319
Reconcile with that brother because he has had godly repentance.
00:43:28.799 --> 00:43:32.879
Now, there's a point here I want to get to, though.
00:43:33.759 --> 00:43:39.440
Even in step three, remember, this is about gaining the brother.
00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:46.000
This is about reconciliation, this is about something that is founded on forgiveness.
00:43:46.879 --> 00:43:52.559
This is not an excuse not to forgive the brother.
00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000
Because there's, well, there's actually two good reasons.
00:43:58.239 --> 00:44:05.359
One, as we heard, as thou hast been forgiven, forgive one another.
00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:23.759
All we have to do is remember there are untold offenses that we have committed against God that we don't even know about, let alone the ones we know of and know that we have no way to repay, that He has forgiven us for.
00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:27.759
And the Lord said, likewise forgive ye one another.
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:36.000
If it's likewise, that means just from that commandment, I have an obligation to let it go.
00:44:36.799 --> 00:44:41.279
To not hound them, to not call them up every day and say, you know what?
00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:44.799
I'm not giving up until you apologize.
00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:50.399
Now, there's a second benefit.
00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:52.960
There's a second part of that, though.
00:44:54.719 --> 00:45:09.920
For how many years did Joseph struggle and wring his hands and worry and weep about his brother's?
00:45:10.399 --> 00:45:11.599
And what they did.
00:45:12.799 --> 00:45:14.480
I think the scriptures are pretty clear.
00:45:14.719 --> 00:45:18.079
Not for very long, if even at all.
00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:22.559
I mean, he he he he certainly cried out in the pit.
00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:34.319
But I mean, certainly, I mean, at the very least, certainly by the time he sees them for the first time, he's not even thinking about it.
00:45:34.639 --> 00:45:35.199
Why?
00:45:35.519 --> 00:45:38.079
He's already forgiven them.
00:45:40.480 --> 00:45:49.679
He has already forgiven, but it did not require their reconciliation with him yet for the forgiveness to take place.
00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:52.159
And do you know what that did for Joseph?
00:45:52.399 --> 00:45:54.079
It made him free from it.
00:45:54.719 --> 00:46:04.559
It made him free from the constant thought of what his brothers did by turning it over to the Lord and saying, Lord, that was that I'm giving it to you.
00:46:06.639 --> 00:46:10.000
Joseph didn't know that he would ever see them again.
00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:23.119
And when he did, when there was an opportunity for reconciliation, the fact that he already forgave them meant that he was reconciled with them.
00:46:24.719 --> 00:46:31.359
It appears that it took years, if ever, for them to be reconciled to Joseph, however.
00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:32.799
Imagine this.
00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:35.920
Imagine being in Joseph's situation.
00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:45.039
Imagine, or rather, in Joseph's brother's situation, or in the situation of the trespassing brother, where you committed the offense.
00:46:45.359 --> 00:46:47.199
You committed the offense.
00:46:47.599 --> 00:46:55.359
You did, and they came to you, tried to try to give you free, tried to reconcile that relationship.
00:46:55.519 --> 00:47:00.000
You said, no, I really don't want, I really don't care to reconcile with you.
00:47:00.319 --> 00:47:07.440
And then you go off and you're cut off from their life, at least from an effect, well, that's that's what this is talking about.
00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:12.319
It is in a church capacity that you're you're cut off from that relationship.
00:47:12.879 --> 00:47:15.839
But then later you come back.
00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:20.960
Later you are you have that in your heart to come back, like the brother in 2 Corinthians.
00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:26.000
Now, when you come back and they see they look at you and say, I remember what you did.
00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:30.239
There's no way I'm gonna have you back in this church.
00:47:30.399 --> 00:47:33.440
There's no way I'm gonna have you back in my life.
00:47:34.079 --> 00:47:40.319
And you are truly at that point of wanting to reconcile, what does that feel like?
00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:42.799
Well, we can look out in this world and see what that's like.
00:47:42.960 --> 00:47:46.000
Is that what the Lord says we should receive him as?
00:47:46.239 --> 00:47:46.559
No.
00:47:46.799 --> 00:47:49.599
That's the point of the rest of that chapter.
00:47:49.839 --> 00:47:54.000
When when Peter says, How often should I forgive a brother?
00:47:54.879 --> 00:47:58.639
The Lord says, as many times as they come to you for forgiveness.
00:47:58.799 --> 00:48:00.799
That's how often you forgive.
00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:04.559
And also, I I will add, these are my words.
00:48:04.719 --> 00:48:08.719
These are not the words of the Lord in this passage, but I think they fit.
00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:10.159
Plus one more.
00:48:11.199 --> 00:48:15.440
And that plus one more is before they even get to you.
00:48:15.920 --> 00:48:16.399
Why?
00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:19.759
Because here's the other side of that passage.
00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:20.879
Imagine.
00:48:22.239 --> 00:48:30.399
Imagine that brother at Corinth coming to the church after they receive that second letter.
00:48:30.879 --> 00:48:37.119
And he says, I really, really want to re I want to I want to worship with you again.
00:48:37.279 --> 00:48:39.039
I want to be in the midst of the church.
00:48:39.199 --> 00:48:42.879
I want to know that that my offense has been uh has been forgotten.
00:48:43.039 --> 00:48:44.480
They said, come on in.
00:48:44.799 --> 00:48:48.159
Come on in, sit right here with us.
00:48:48.639 --> 00:48:50.239
Eat at our table.
00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:53.679
Eat with the bread, drink with the wine.
00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:55.440
We'll wash your feet.
00:48:55.679 --> 00:48:57.679
You're restored to fellowship.
00:48:58.000 --> 00:49:02.399
Why because God's forgiven it, so have we.
00:49:03.039 --> 00:49:11.359
And in that situation, that man has realized not only has been realized the liberty of being restored to fellowship.
00:49:11.679 --> 00:49:18.480
But he's also making, he's also taking part of the liberty that they've been in when they've forgiven.
00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:23.279
Now, bring it back to my fake example here.
00:49:24.239 --> 00:49:30.000
If Brother Lloyd has completely forgiven, he said, well, Brother Chris just must have lost his mind.
00:49:31.039 --> 00:49:34.799
You know what I I am just I'm just gonna let it go.
00:49:36.480 --> 00:49:39.199
Years later, I realize I lost my mind.
00:49:39.359 --> 00:49:47.039
I can't believe I said what I did about such a love you, brother.
00:49:48.879 --> 00:49:50.480
And I go to Brother Lloyd.
00:49:50.639 --> 00:49:54.000
I said, Brother Lloyd, you probably don't want to see my face anymore.
00:49:55.679 --> 00:50:02.000
Before I even get the words out, he says, I don't know what you're talking about, Chris.
00:50:02.079 --> 00:50:02.559
Come on now.
00:50:02.879 --> 00:50:04.239
Let's talk a lot.
00:50:05.119 --> 00:50:10.559
Now, that that is a case of gaining a brother well after it should have happened.
00:50:11.519 --> 00:50:23.679
But the beauty of it is that if Brother Lloyd can let go of that, the moment I refuse to reconcile, he is free from it for the rest of his life.
00:50:24.399 --> 00:50:33.039
See, that's the part of that's the part of forgiveness that we don't often remember is because here's the problem.
00:50:33.279 --> 00:50:35.279
We like to hold on to it.
00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:42.960
Because it gives us the illusion of power.
00:50:43.359 --> 00:50:48.639
It gives us the illusion of holding something over someone else.
00:50:49.679 --> 00:50:55.359
Like the one who would not forgive the servant who would not forgive the other.
00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:57.599
It was the illusion of power.
00:50:58.559 --> 00:51:07.839
It was the illusion that, oh, well, you have a debt in me, I'm gonna hold you accountable to it until the very end.
00:51:09.519 --> 00:51:14.319
What he found out real quick is that that was an illusion of power.
00:51:14.559 --> 00:51:19.119
Because the Lord Himself said, You did not forgive them.
00:51:19.679 --> 00:51:21.839
There's something that happens within the heart.
00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:28.639
There's something that happens when you do not release that burden.
00:51:28.960 --> 00:51:31.599
And it is like the brothers of Joseph.
00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:40.239
For decades they felt fear because they did not understand forgiveness.
00:51:41.839 --> 00:51:46.159
As soon as you understand what forgiveness is, again, it may not come with reconciliation.
00:51:46.319 --> 00:51:50.960
There are those in your life that you may never reconcile with.
00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:53.199
That may never reconcile with you.
00:51:53.679 --> 00:52:03.519
But if there is that guilt, if there is that burden, if there is that that offense that is weighing on you, that these are the words of Christ.
00:52:03.679 --> 00:52:04.639
Let that go.
00:52:05.279 --> 00:52:06.079
Let it go.
00:52:07.199 --> 00:52:08.639
Don't hold them accountable to it.
00:52:09.119 --> 00:52:10.960
You're not giving them a free pass.
00:52:11.119 --> 00:52:14.000
You're not, you're not letting, well, they're getting away with it.
00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:23.199
Do you realize that's part of uh vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
00:52:23.599 --> 00:52:27.920
Do you know that there's a reason why we should hold vengeance over to the Lord?
00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:32.719
One, he's the only one that can that can handle it righteously.
00:52:33.119 --> 00:52:38.799
Two, he's the only one that can handle it in such a way that the reconciliation may still happen.
00:52:39.119 --> 00:52:46.399
And three, once you give something to him, it is not your burden anymore.
00:52:46.799 --> 00:52:48.159
Just let it go.
00:52:49.279 --> 00:52:55.920
Now, all of that, uh I went a little far on that one.
00:52:56.639 --> 00:53:00.239
But there is one one last passage in that I want to turn to.
00:53:00.719 --> 00:53:01.599
I shouldn't have closed.
00:53:03.199 --> 00:53:05.279
Back in back in Matthew 18.
00:53:06.719 --> 00:53:08.639
There's something he says.
00:53:12.960 --> 00:53:14.239
I didn't get to it.
00:53:16.639 --> 00:53:23.119
Verily I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall be loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.
00:53:23.440 --> 00:53:26.480
I have to say this, and I'll be very quick on this.
00:53:26.719 --> 00:53:30.960
He's not saying, well, whoever you forgive, we've will go to heaven.
00:53:31.199 --> 00:53:33.359
Whoever you don't forgive, they'll go to hell.
00:53:33.519 --> 00:53:34.879
That is not what this is saying.
00:53:35.519 --> 00:53:39.839
This is, we can see an occasion of this very clearly.
00:53:40.159 --> 00:53:52.879
Maybe uh there are other examples that we could probably go to, but this is the first one that came to my mind where there were those two, and I can't remember their names, who held back a certain amount of money in the early days of the church.
00:53:52.960 --> 00:54:01.759
And Peter, he didn't curse them to death, but what he did is he acknowledged, he he confronted the fact that they were lying to the Holy Ghost.
00:54:01.920 --> 00:54:04.399
And it was and it was God that that killed them.
00:54:05.199 --> 00:54:07.359
So Peter didn't kill them, God killed them.
00:54:07.440 --> 00:54:22.879
But there were two that died in the early church that put the put literally fear in the acknowledgement of what's going on there, respect what was going on there, uh, but that they were held accountable, but not by Peter, they were held accountable by God.
00:54:23.279 --> 00:54:27.519
But uh there's more to it, uh, we don't have time.
00:54:28.079 --> 00:54:37.279
He said, but that this is that is not them saying, that is not Christ saying, listen, you're you're you're now the masters of the church, and whoever you say goes to heaven goes to heaven.
00:54:37.440 --> 00:54:38.960
Whoever he says goes to hell, go to hell.
00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:40.159
That's not what it's saying.
00:54:40.239 --> 00:54:43.839
Uh in particular, though, I do want to say this.
00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:48.159
It is about the declaration of the uh ministry of reconciliation.
00:54:48.319 --> 00:54:52.799
And that ministry of reconciliation to the people of God is for his people.
00:54:52.879 --> 00:55:05.839
And when that great ministry of reconciliation is given and it gives us liberty here, it loosens, it loosens us and unbinds us and gives us uh the that uh that freedom uh to stand free in the liberty of Christ.
00:55:06.079 --> 00:55:08.799
Uh um I need to move on.
00:55:08.960 --> 00:55:25.679
Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth as touching anything that they should ask, it shall be done for them by my Father which is in heaven, which uh that in and of itself should give us some encouragement and understanding uh as far as uh uh uh what uh how many it takes for uh for God to listen to.
00:55:25.920 --> 00:55:27.599
He'll listen to one, by the way.
00:55:27.759 --> 00:55:34.559
He listens to singular prayers, but as far as matters of the church, uh how big how many people do you need to have a church?
00:55:34.719 --> 00:55:35.599
Two or three.
00:55:36.159 --> 00:55:37.679
That's what I read in this.
00:55:37.920 --> 00:55:45.839
But he says, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:52.480
Uh uh I I find that very important to understand in the in the context of what we just read.
00:55:52.559 --> 00:56:03.359
Uh, where uh we're in the midst of uh bringing witness, that you bring one or two with you, so that in the matter of two or three witnesses, uh every word shall be established.
00:56:03.599 --> 00:56:12.559
Uh uh when we uh I I realize I don't have enough time to bridge the thought the way I want to bridge it.
00:56:12.639 --> 00:56:16.559
So I want to I want to kind of just kind of shortcut it in this way.
00:56:17.440 --> 00:56:38.639
In the matter of not just church discipline, but in the matter of everything that the church does, and that's why uh I don't have a problem singing that song where it says we're two or three in sweet accord when it has to do with the worship service, because uh the same promise holds in every aspect, because what Christ is saying is that uh where two or three are gathered together in my name.
00:56:38.799 --> 00:57:00.239
And that's why it's important that that step two uh is in the same fashion, is the same, uh, it's in the same heart, it's in the name of Christ because the two or three are not gathered together for the same reason that the the first uh part of that uh is that uh it's not uh one brother uh just coming to unload with anger and wrath and vengeance on the other brother, but it's in the name of Christ.
00:57:00.319 --> 00:57:10.079
It's with the with the it's with the uh hope of reconciliation with his brother, and likewise with that second part is where two or three are gathered together in my name.
00:57:10.319 --> 00:57:18.000
There am I in the midst of uh the that that's that's what the to me that gives the power to that second part.
00:57:18.159 --> 00:57:22.719
You're not just bringing two brothers uh in uh in order to say, well, you know what?
00:57:22.879 --> 00:57:25.279
I'm gonna prove to everybody what a liar you are.
00:57:25.359 --> 00:57:26.879
I'm gonna that's not the point.
00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:35.039
Just like it's not the point, the first part is not to go unload uh privately on somebody, uh it is to try to reconcile the point.
00:57:35.119 --> 00:57:38.239
And the second part is also to reconcile.
00:57:38.399 --> 00:57:43.039
But the the key ingredient, the key part there is that it's done in the name of Christ.
00:57:43.119 --> 00:57:43.839
And guess what?
00:57:44.000 --> 00:57:48.319
When it's in Christ, there he is in the midst of you.
00:57:48.399 --> 00:58:17.279
Uh that's why it's so important to understand that when the brother that does not hear the singular brother, and the and the brother that does not hear the two or three witnesses, and the brother that does not hear the whole church in this matter, is not just hearing, uh is just not failing to hear and to reconcile with one brother, is not just failing to reconcile with the two or three witnesses, he's not just failing to reconcile with the church, he's failing to reconcile with Christ.
00:58:17.599 --> 00:58:23.759
Because if it's done in Christ, there is Christ in the midst of him, in the midst of you.
00:58:23.920 --> 00:58:38.879
And so uh again, that promise is uh is uh is I think a sacred promise that God gives because where two or three are gathered together, and I want to uh bring that one one final step forward in conclusion.
00:58:38.960 --> 00:58:42.639
It's where two or three are gathered together in worship and in praise.
00:58:42.879 --> 00:58:44.879
What is it that we're acknowledging?
00:58:45.039 --> 00:58:48.239
What is it uh uh uh what is it that we're remembering?
00:58:48.319 --> 00:59:02.239
What is it that we uh that we uh praise God for if uh so much we ought to uh even in the come on, referring back to the closing verse of that song, praise God from whom all blessings flow.
00:59:02.319 --> 00:59:14.079
Uh there's there's every blessing in our life uh that we uh have uh uh that we have every blessing in our life is worthy uh uh of praise and honor and glory to to uh sound out to Christ.
00:59:14.399 --> 00:59:27.359
Uh uh and every creature on earth, every every star in heaven, everything uh that is made uh owes every uh every praise in the same fashion in that way.
00:59:27.519 --> 00:59:32.480
Even the angels in heaven uh uh uh praise him a day in and a day out.
00:59:32.639 --> 00:59:50.000
Uh that there is a particular praise, there is a particular honor, there is a particular glory that we give Christ that no other creature can is that we can claim his forgiveness.
00:59:50.639 --> 01:00:01.519
We claim redemption because he redeemed us, he forgave us, he cleansed us clean from sin, and he bought us by his own blood.
01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:22.319
So where two or three are gathered together, uh the ministry of reconciliation and praise is not just uh that we uh that that in fact, even that passage as we read it, it should not just be, first of all, it should not be ever uh uh the the the formula uh to to exclude somebody.
01:00:22.719 --> 01:00:24.559
That's not what that should ever be for.
01:00:24.639 --> 01:00:31.119
Uh nor should it be even just the way a brother reconciles with another.
01:00:31.279 --> 01:00:31.839
It is that.
01:00:31.920 --> 01:00:38.319
And we can apply the principle in almost every aspect of our life, but it is even more than that.
01:00:38.639 --> 01:00:42.159
Is the acknowledgement in the presence of Christ.
01:00:42.399 --> 01:00:47.839
We ought to, there is reconciliation in the presence of Christ, there is forgiveness.
01:00:48.079 --> 01:01:02.399
And even as we gather together in worship and in praise, we gather together in the very spirit of reconciliation with our brother and with our father, and with the acknowledgement of the forgiveness of sins.
01:01:03.599 --> 01:01:18.719
So that when we hug each other's necks in brotherhood, we acknowledge that we are forgiven by the same blood of Christ and that we hold nothing against each other because Christ holds nothing against us.
01:01:19.039 --> 01:01:22.239
Now, I I that's it.
01:01:23.279 --> 01:01:24.719
I I better stop it.
01:01:27.279 --> 01:01:28.719
What is there a song we can sing?
01:01:29.440 --> 01:01:30.319
One five one?
01:01:30.960 --> 01:01:32.559
Number one hundred and fifty one.
00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:28.399
Well, when I found out very abruptly that I was going to be talking this morning, thankfully there was one spot that my mind went pretty quickly.
00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:35.359
Um and after thinking about it for a little bit, I think there's a couple of different things I want to talk about this morning.
00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:39.039
Um I don't know how long I'll start, but this is where my mind went first.
00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:44.000
So in uh Psalm 103 was a verse that I had been thinking about a little bit last week.
00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:47.599
I had heard it and just wanted to read it again.
00:01:47.759 --> 00:02:02.159
And um as I was looking through it, I couldn't at the time I couldn't quite figure out what it was about it that I was, I guess, what had poked my attention, but this morning kind of uh made more sense.
00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:21.680
So um the main thought from this verse that uh was on my mind this morning in particular was forgiveness and um in particular kind of not two different kinds of forgiveness, but two different perspectives of forgiveness, I guess.
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:27.519
Uh one being how the Lord has forgiven us and our sins, and then how we forgive others.
00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:32.560
Um I'll start with the first because that's where my mind went first, and then I'll get on to the rest.
00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:55.599
So um I think one particular portion of this chapter that uh has kind of stuck with me multiple times over the years, come to mind, is uh um in chapter uh verses eleven and twelve, for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.479
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:13.680
Um I mean, as some of you may know, with the way that north, south, east, and west work, uh you have a defined north and south pole on the earth, which you can find all the way from north to south, but there's no such thing as an east or west pole.
00:03:13.920 --> 00:03:20.159
The earth continues to go round and round, and this is something that I've heard before preached by certain people.
00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:35.359
Um, but uh it's a really valid expression of how, as far as the Lord is concerned, after his forgiveness, there is no distance that can be covered for us to re-reach our sins.
00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:36.879
He's forgiven us.
00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:45.520
There is no way that we can sin enough our way back into being unforgiven, and likewise he doesn't see them when he's looking at us at all.
00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:51.439
Um and so, but forgiveness isn't just an a passive thing.
00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:56.079
Forgiveness isn't something where the Lord just sat around and forgot about our sins after a long time.
00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:02.560
Forgiveness has to do with debt and what has been paid in order for us to no longer be in debt.
00:04:02.799 --> 00:04:17.680
Um so uh one other verse, a little bit about forgiveness, real quick, in uh, or one chapter, I guess, portion of the chapter, um is in I believe it's let me make sure I'm looking at the right one.
00:04:18.960 --> 00:04:24.000
It's in Jeremiah, but I think I may have chosen the wrong chapter to jump to.
00:04:26.319 --> 00:05:00.720
Jeremiah 31, um talking about the new covenant with the house of Israel, and um specific- okay, so chapter 31 in verses 31 through 34 is the main part that I'm thinking of right now, um, where the Lord uh well, where he's prophesied, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which my covenant they break, although I was a husband to them, saith the Lord.
00:05:00.960 --> 00:05:03.759
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.
00:05:03.919 --> 00:05:23.279
After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people, and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:31.679
Um So, again, this this is the verse in particular where I was thinking about uh the Lord no longer remembering our sin.
00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:44.320
And often we think about remembrance in terms of forget, forgetting, but in this particular case, he no longer remembers our sin because not because he forgot our sin, but because he forgave our sin.
00:05:44.799 --> 00:05:54.320
Um again, he didn't just, you know, he wasn't sitting around for 2,000 years and forgot that our sins were a thing, and that's no longer why he remembers them.
00:05:54.639 --> 00:06:05.439
He forgave our sins, uh, but in particular through the way he paid them was um he forgave them through paying for our sins through Christ on a cross.
00:06:05.679 --> 00:06:17.039
Um so that to set up the idea of forgiveness and having a debt to pay and uh what the Lord has forgiven us in our sin.
00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:26.559
Um I kind of want to move over to a couple thoughts from uh Matthew and Luke talking about how we forgive one another.
00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:33.279
Um I think to start, I'll go to Matthew 18.
00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:35.759
Yeah.
00:06:37.039 --> 00:06:44.240
This was another of the verses that came to mind this morning when um thinking through and kind of tied together the thought of forgiveness.
00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:58.559
But um the entirety of the chapter of 18 goes over a lot of thoughts about um you know how we ought to act towards another and um what happens when we well, we should how we should behave when we offend one another.
00:06:58.799 --> 00:07:10.080
Um the thought in particular the thoughts in particular I want to get at are from chapter 18, verse 21 onward.
00:07:10.799 --> 00:07:21.759
Um I think this is a verse a lot of people are familiar with, but uh then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him until seven times?
00:07:21.919 --> 00:07:32.720
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seven times seven, kind of pointing out the fact that there's there's not a number of times we should forgive people.
00:07:32.799 --> 00:07:46.159
It's it's not about how often we forgive people, but the importance of forgiving them no matter what, and as many times as is necessary, um, which as I'm sure we all know is can be a lot of times.
00:07:46.399 --> 00:08:23.120
Um but then I won't go through the whole the whole parable that's given after, but um basically the the parable following is uh explains a situation where a certain king had some servants, and uh those servants owed things to him, and then one of the servants, I believe, um was owed something of someone else, and though the king forgave the servants, that servant um was basically looking to punish the servant who wasn't able to pay his debt, even though all of them were unable to pay their debts.
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:38.639
Um and um the Lord uses this as an example towards the end, explaining basically that we we ought to forgive one another as he has forgiven us.
00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:43.439
Like he's forgiven us a debt that was so great that in no possible way we could repay.
00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:48.480
We have debts to one another that we could repay, and yet we still need to forgive another in those debts.
00:08:48.799 --> 00:09:10.480
Um not because it's not because the debt wasn't able to be paid that uh that that's why it should be forgiven, but um in the sense that it's it's an expression of the same kind of mercy and love that the Lord showed to us that um we should forgive one another.
00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:16.639
Um just one more.
00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:27.039
Um just go over to the last part.
00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:32.240
Um as as one one more example of forgiveness.
00:09:32.399 --> 00:10:05.439
Um I guess the the complicated part with forgiveness is often in cases where a debt isn't quite as literal, where um it's not so much a sum of money that needs to be paid or something that needs to be returned, but very often we offend one another or do things that cannot be repaid in a material form, but rather like by forgiving what the other person has done and releasing the the debt of guilt that they have towards us.
00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:30.000
And um one specific example that comes to mind for that is in um in the case of Joseph and his brothers, um that's one debt where if if you were to make an earthly argument towards maybe someone being justified and not forgiving, um all 11 of your brothers throwing you in a pit and well leaving you to die is a pretty rough situation to be in.
00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:38.480
Um and so I don't think many people would be, from an earthly perspective, uh that upset at Joseph not forgiving.
00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:48.319
Uh and likewise I think Joseph probably had quite a bit of diff, or not difficulty, but I can imagine that that was not something that didn't require forgiveness for him.
00:10:48.399 --> 00:11:17.679
And yet when all of his brothers come to him in Egypt, not knowing it's Joseph immediately, um we can see how how Joseph forgives them, not only in not requiring of them anything for the guilt that they had, but rather going so far as to give them blessings and mercy and grace over what they could have deserved from that perspective.
00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:24.719
Um and in a in a similar sense, that's very much how the Lord behaves towards us.
00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:37.759
And not only did he forgive the guilt that the debt that we owed in sinning, but um he gives us so much above what we deserve for how little we have done in return for him.
00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:46.399
Um let me see if I can just find a couple portions of this and then I'll um I'll step down and pass things over.
00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:50.719
Um I believe it's chapter.
00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:25.360
Yeah, in Genesis 42, um specifically uh chapter verse 21 was the part that I thought was interesting from the perspective of the brothers that um uh that had left behind Joseph originally.
00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:34.719
Um and they said to one another, We are very guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and he we would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us.
00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:42.240
And Reuben, who, when they had originally put Joseph in the pit, spoke out against the idea of killing him outright.
00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.240
I believe that was Reuben.
00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:53.120
Um said unto them, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child, and you would not hear, therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:15.439
And they at the moment were interpreting what Joseph was doing, not knowing it was Joseph yet, uh, with keeping Benjamin behind as um uh as some recompense or punishment for what they had been doing in leaving Joseph in the pit originally, not even knowing that what Joseph was doing at the moment was all for their benefit.
00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:30.799
He had already forgiven him, forgiven them, but was turning what they were already misinterpreting as punishment and recompense as um, but they they uh they were actually receiving a blessing and being forgiven in that very moment without even realizing.
00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:39.279
And then later Joseph, of course, revealed to them that he was Joseph and um that he wanted to bring all of them into Egypt.
00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:43.439
Um that was about all that I had on my mind for the morning.
00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:48.799
Uh I hope something there was insightful, and if not, that's obviously my fault.
00:13:48.959 --> 00:14:26.480
Um but I normally try to steer away from too much like background thought on on why I'm about to say what I'm about to say, but um what some people may not know yet is that uh when we went to we we went to New Orleans two weeks ago last week.
00:14:26.719 --> 00:14:28.159
This is just last week, yeah.
00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:34.319
We were we were in New Orleans and we had intended to meet at the church there in New Orleans.
00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:42.559
What we did not do before we left is find out that they don't meet there on fifth sun on this fifth Sunday.
00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:54.879
So when when we were in New Orleans and all of a sudden we were hours away from the nearest church, we did what is usually our circumstance is we go ahead and meet together.
00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.600
Now, it was just Catherine and I in this case.
00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:05.919
Normally I carry a crowd with me, but um but uh and so in those cases, but it was just Catherine and myself.
00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:26.399
Um the thought that I had on my mind then as we as I tried to speak, and by the way, you if you've never tried to preach to an audio to a congregation of one, that that is a very different circumstance, but I feel encouraged that Philip did the very same thing with the Ethiopian unit.
00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:40.879
But um the thought that was on my mind was the the first verse of that song we sang was where we're two or three in sweet accord.
00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:53.120
Well, there's a passage that that comes from that, believe it or not, it's not about meeting together in the worship service, it's about how brothers reconcile.
00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:57.199
And that's what was on my mind then, and that's what's on my mind this morning.
00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.319
And Elijah, I don't think, knew any of that.
00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:13.279
Now, one thing I want to I want to bring to mind uh in reconciliation, which is reconciliation and forgiveness are related, but they are not the same thing.
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:18.959
Reconciliation requires forgiveness.
00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:24.719
However, you can forgive without any reconciliation at all.
00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:30.399
And that's that's the part that we sometimes have problems with.
00:16:30.959 --> 00:16:35.439
And in a weird way, that's the problem we cause for ourselves.
00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:41.759
You see, uh Elijah brought up the the the example of uh Joseph and his brothers.
00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:45.919
And if you go back and read that, and I highly recommend you go and read that account.
00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:52.319
There's there one of the even thinking about it is hard for me to even say it's one of the most emotional scenes.
00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:56.559
That is so emotional that Joseph couldn't make it through without crying.
00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:01.360
Um when he revealed himself to his brothers.
00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:16.720
And I think there's a spiritual lesson in that, in the manner in which Christ reveals himself to his brethren, because when that happened, he caused all the Egyptians to leave the room and he revealed himself to just his brethren.
00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:21.360
Now, that scared them.
00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:26.000
That was not a joyous occasion for them.
00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:34.799
As soon as they realized that Joseph was practically second in command.
00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:43.440
I mean, he was literally second in command, but he was, by all circumstances, he might as well have been king as far as they were concerned.
00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:56.319
And they realized, oh, and this this is lit, this can be, if you've ever seen thought bubbles in a cartoon, you might as well see it pop in their head that we're dead.
00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.839
We're dead.
00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.400
We this this is the end of us.
00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.759
Now, they and here's the problem.
00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.079
In the moment of fear, you don't put two and two together and get four.
00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:18.240
You put two and two together and you get 37 because you all you think is all you're all your focus in is what it means to you and what you did.
00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:18.960
Yeah.
00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:26.640
And that's exactly what was going on, even in that circumstance where they thought, they thought uh when Benjamin was held back.
00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:35.840
Now, we we now know Joseph Joseph even reveals this, but uh he held back Benjamin so that his dad would come.
00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:43.759
He knew that's how that was that was the way to get his father and by his father, all the rest of the family into Egypt.
00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:48.800
Um and quite frankly, I think there was a little bit of he wanted his brother there.
00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:53.120
I I don't I I don't those can both be true at the same time.
00:18:53.519 --> 00:19:05.200
Now, when there was the discourse with uh with Reuben saying, you know, I told you, I told you not to do anything, but here we are, now we're having problems.
00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:12.080
And then when Joseph reveals his face, they think that they're all dead, not not realizing they've been brought to this point.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:30.080
They've even been re they've not only not only went to Egypt for grain and went back with grain, instead of being killed by their brother, they were refunded the money that they came to purchase it with.
00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:42.720
And so they're not realizing that even in the revelation that causes them fear, that this is like the ultimate blessing.
00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:44.720
And so he tries to calm them.
00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:50.320
He says, Listen, I know you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.
00:19:50.560 --> 00:20:14.560
Now he, I'm not saying that, I'm not saying there was never a point that Joseph wasn't concerned because what was their, what was Reuben's, what was Reuben's uh uh uh charge or his his his complaint against his brethren is that they turned a blind eye and a blind, they they turned a deaf ear to his cry, to his sorrow in the midst.
00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:25.040
So he was he he knew that he heard them talking about them killing him, and he was trying crying out in tears, and they and they they turned a deaf ear to it.
00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:37.920
So, yes, Joseph had some forgiving to do, but the Lord turned it in his heart to forgive them, to not hold them accountable.
00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:45.120
Not that they they they they that obviously he knew that they did it, but did not require repayment for it.
00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:52.640
Now, what I want to mention is that it did not end there for his brethren.
00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:04.960
They go into Egypt, they live, I forget how many years, it is several decades, and then Jacob dies.
00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:11.120
And this is what goes through the minds of Joseph's brother yet again.
00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:18.000
They think, well, why Jake, while while our father was alive, uh he was he was keeping peace.
00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:21.200
But now that our father's dead, he'll kill us.
00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:23.920
They're still worried.
00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:35.040
Do you realize they're still holding themselves accountable for something that has been told in their own ears that they are free from?
00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:37.360
Now, does that sound familiar?
00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:44.880
We have been made free from sin and death.
00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.200
But what do we do?
00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:54.640
We hold on to the guilt, thinking that God still holds us accountable.
00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:56.800
That God's still gonna charge us.
00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:08.480
You know, God says he'll forgive us, but but we all sometimes, I'm not saying we all do this, and nor do we do it all the time, but there are moments where we think, but does he really?
00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:14.160
Just like Joseph and his brothers, did Joseph really forgive us?
00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.320
Or was he just biding his time?
00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:20.560
And so they basically go beg him again.
00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:30.480
And Joseph said, I told you, I told you that that that that this was of God and not of just just forget about it.
00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:32.880
Please, just forget about it.
00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:43.200
That's what that's what the forgiveness of sins in the sense of we know that God has forgiven us on the cross.
00:22:43.440 --> 00:23:09.920
God has forgiven us in the blood of Christ, God has forgiven us in his mind and in his purpose, when he sees us, he does not see the guilt-ridden uh uh corruption of man, he sees the man that is watched life as the driven slow by the blood of Christ, he sees the imputed righteousness of Christ, and when, when the Lord reveals that to us like ghosts to his brothers.
00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:13.440
The response should be liberty.
00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.960
It should be freedom.
00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:23.440
It should be the acknowledgement that we have been made free from the bondage of sin and death, and that we can walk in the liberty and the newness of life.
00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:34.240
Yet so often we, for no good reason, because there is no good reason, we borrow the guilt of sin and lay claim on it again.
00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:37.920
We hold ourselves accountable in a way.
00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:45.120
And that's where Matthew 18 goes to.
00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:48.560
But it is not with God.
00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.160
Now, are we reconciled to God?
00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:56.880
Now, we are reconciled to God as far as God is concerned.
00:23:57.120 --> 00:24:05.519
Now, there's another passage that talks about the apostles were given the ministry of reconciliation.
00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:13.759
But it's not to reconcile God to us, or it's to reconcile us to God.
00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:23.200
It's so that we, like Joseph's brothers, would know that we're made free and be reconciled to that relationship.
00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:33.759
Reconciliation is a restoration of a relationship that is based on forgiveness.
00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:41.519
And now with that in mind, I'm I may go to other scriptures, but in Matthew 18 is where I want to jump to.
00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:48.080
Because now, why does it have to be based on forgiveness?
00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.040
Because.
00:24:52.480 --> 00:25:01.200
And it's true, there are there are some things that we can do to one another in which we can make some amends.
00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:10.800
If I took something from you and I gave it back, that made amends for the material thing.
00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:24.320
But what also was broken in the moment that I took something from you, it is trust and it is the relationship between us.
00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:53.840
And so in order for that to be done, whether or not, whether or not I could ever restore the thing or the material or the or the or the actual uh uh offense that was made, whether I could ever make that good or not, I can never just with my with my word restore that relationship.
00:25:54.640 --> 00:26:05.920
It has to be based on the the fact that you are willing to say, I will not hold and think and charge that against you every time I think of you.
00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:08.880
Every time I see you, I will not say, Well, you know what?
00:26:09.040 --> 00:26:10.080
You took that from me.
00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:12.480
And the next time I see you, well, you took that from me.
00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.920
Remember that, Chris?
00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:17.360
That is not the restoration of a relationship.
00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:21.840
That is renewing that offense each and every time.
00:26:22.080 --> 00:26:24.160
God does not do that with us.
00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:33.200
God does not do that when we go to Him to prayer and say, Well, I'll listen to you, but you remember all of those times you didn't listen to me.
00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:40.640
God doesn't do that because He's already reconciled through Christ.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:47.279
Now, in an offense one with another, especially with brethren.
00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:53.680
Now, this this goes this is focused on, I believe, brother and brother in Christ.
00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.600
A church relationship.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:58.320
However, it goes beyond that.
00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:06.320
It can go, it is, it is any relationship you can apply this to where you have a close bond and there is an acknowledgement.
00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:10.560
Now, what he says here in the context must be understood.
00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:15.279
It's with a church relationship because there's a prescription he gives.
00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.279
And I want to be very clear.
00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:22.320
I've tried to speak on this passage before, and I may have used these very words.
00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:29.759
There are those that see this as the formula to get rid of somebody.
00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:34.560
That's what this has been used as.
00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:42.640
Those of you in corporate America should know what a pip is.
00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:46.800
It's called a performance improvement plan.
00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:59.759
By its words, you might think it's meant to give you a plan to improve performance.
00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:02.960
Hence the name, performance improvement plan.
00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:07.600
And on the face of it, that's what it is.
00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:16.720
Just like there's something given here that when you read it, it's meant to improve something.
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:22.960
However, we also know that in this world, that is not how it is used.
00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:29.440
It is used as a way to excuse somebody from the organization.
00:28:30.080 --> 00:28:45.120
It is used as a way to say, hey, as long as we hold them to an impossible standard that they cannot keep, they will fail and we will be justified in getting rid of them.
00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:50.480
That is, and if you don't believe me, unfortunately, that is very real.
00:28:52.400 --> 00:29:10.800
And it's also very important that the words of God that were given by which we may know how to reconcile has been used for the exact same thing.
00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:23.840
Often when we have a problem with a with a brother or sister, and I'm not talking about like someone shows up and starts worshiping a false god or something like that.
00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:27.840
I'm not talking about gross misconduct in the church.
00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:33.040
I'm talking about like between you and me, or between you and another brother.
00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.360
And you have a problem.
00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:48.080
There is something that is required to do this first step that we lack by nature, and it is courage.
00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:52.880
Because we by nature are cowards.
00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:57.920
We will run and hide when given the chance.
00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.480
Because we don't want to confront.
00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:13.040
Now, some of you may know someone in your life that has less barrier with confrontation.
00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:16.720
Um I unfortunately have that inflation.
00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:24.800
Some of you may not know that, but I I couldn't care less about weather what people think about me.
00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:31.759
So that helps, but I'm not immune from when I have to talk to somebody.
00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:37.279
The first thing I think of is, boy, I just really wish I'd I I really would rather not do that.
00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.680
You know what the problem is?
00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:42.160
You failed the first step.
00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.320
Now, here I'm gonna I'm gonna summarize it.
00:30:46.800 --> 00:30:59.279
If you have a problem between brother and brother, first it should remain private until it cannot be.
00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:07.840
Privately go to that brother, and this works for sisters too.
00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:19.200
Go to that brother, and between you and him, between the two of you, say, This is my problem.
00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:35.680
Now there's also another thing that is that we have that's wrong with us by nature, and that we have to be very careful with that step, is that by nature we are right.
00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:41.680
You see, I'm telling I'm gonna come and tell you how bad you are.
00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.840
That's how we often go into this first step.
00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.519
That's not what the Lord said.
00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:56.240
He says, to go, if that brother trespasses me, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.
00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:59.600
If he shall hear thee.
00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:01.840
Now, what does it mean to be to be heard?
00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:04.880
That means there's some there's some dialogue there.
00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:17.440
It's not you unloading all of your your your your uh your complaints on this person and say, okay, this is this is this these are these are all my problems with you, and then turn and leave.
00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:18.880
That's not what this is.
00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:23.200
This is coming and as the Lord said, let come.
00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:27.200
Let us reason together, let us talk about this.
00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:32.240
Because you might find out that it was unintentional.
00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:46.320
You might find out that there were extenuating circumstances, you might find out a word roughly spoken was spoken on a day that was probably the worst day they ever had in their life up to that point.
00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:52.080
And then all of a sudden you realize you need to extend some of your own grace to them.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:57.600
But this conversation that takes place is between one brother and another.
00:32:57.840 --> 00:33:05.440
And when they converse and reason together, the goal is not how do we get to the next step.
00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:12.800
The goal is this might be where this offense ends.
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:19.120
This may just be the moment where we could just put this forever behind us.
00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:24.080
And the next moment that we see each other, we don't even think about it.
00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:31.279
Because what forgiveness is, just as we heard, it is not just forgetting.
00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:38.080
It is what it is, it is not bringing it up.
00:33:39.600 --> 00:33:52.960
See, we God God doesn't, God's not doesn't have a broken brain in which he because of age or disease or something else, that that it just just absolutely leads his mind.
00:33:53.200 --> 00:34:00.000
It's that with the blood of Christ, it is answered and is never brought up again.
00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:03.840
It is never even acknowledged.
00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:12.800
Does that mean that Satan doesn't try to bring it up repeatedly to try to acknowledge it and to bring us down?
00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:33.519
You realize every single time, every time we, by our nature, or we listen to the whispering lies of Satan, uh, where we uh where we try to bring back up even our own sin, let alone another brother's sin, before God, we are saying, uh, God, I know you dealt with this, but I'd like to bring it back up again.
00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:34.880
Every time.
00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:39.679
Do you realize the the words of the Apostle Paul?
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:45.679
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:54.880
Isn't just to give you comfort, it's also to stop that bringing back up again every single time.
00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:57.599
Because he's already forgiven it.
00:34:57.759 --> 00:35:09.199
If he's already forgiven it, what do you think he uh thinks when he sees us bringing it up to ourselves and to others?
00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:12.159
It's like Joseph's brothers.
00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:17.119
It's like the brothers say, Oh, he said he forgave us, but did he really?
00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:24.079
And it calls to mind whether we have confidence in the in the finished work of Christ or not.
00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:32.719
Now we we we can have all confidence today, and then tomorrow, in the weakness of our mind and heart, start to wonder.
00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:40.079
And that's what the word is given for us, is so that we might, in those moments, say, okay, if he's forgiven, he's forgiven.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:43.119
I should lay hold upon that in the weakest parts.
00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.559
That's what they're for.
00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:51.039
The words are there not for the strongest moments in your life, they're there for your weakest moments.
00:35:51.199 --> 00:36:02.239
So that when that meditation, prayer, of dwelling on those thoughts when you need them, you can remember there is therefore now no condemnation, there is therefore now no condemnation.
00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:09.279
There is therefore now, no condemnation to the Lord in Christ Jesus.
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:14.159
If that's true in the Apostle Paul's day, that's true right now.
00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:31.599
Now, if that's the mindset that you go into this conversation with brother and brother, all of a sudden it's what Christ wrote it for, what Christ spoke it for, is for the reconciliation.
00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:41.759
Because with the forgiveness comes the restoration of that relationship, thou hast gained thy brother.
00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:52.879
But human beings, being what they are, the Lord said, There's going to be some other steps that I need to tell you.
00:36:53.519 --> 00:37:07.440
Because I may be now, there's also one principle is that the offense is real and that it is worthy of attention.
00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:14.079
I understand every offense hurts.
00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:25.920
There's a point of maturity and growing up, even in a natural way, where a little bruise you can ignore completely.
00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:26.719
Why?
00:37:26.879 --> 00:37:29.199
Because you've had a hundred of them in your life.
00:37:29.359 --> 00:37:31.039
You had thousands of them in your life.
00:37:31.279 --> 00:37:34.079
You know, oh that was that was that's a little thing.
00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:36.399
I can I don't even want to acknowledge that.
00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:39.920
The bigger pains are the ones you pay attention to as you grow.
00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:49.679
In the maturity in a Christian life, I'll put it that way, is that no, there are some offenses that are just worthy, not worthy of attention.
00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:53.279
So what if someone says a certain thing about my clothes?
00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.639
Who cares?
00:37:55.839 --> 00:37:56.719
I don't.
00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:59.359
But sometimes we do.
00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:03.839
And sometimes it gets under our skin, and that becomes the offense between our brother.
00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:09.279
And we, and sometimes when you actually go to your brother and say, you know what, you said this about what I wore.
00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:14.879
Just the words coming out of your mouth make you realize, oh, why am I even bringing this?
00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:23.359
But if it is something that's causing you a breach in that relationship, it's you need to take step one.
00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:26.480
Because that's where you get your brother back.
00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:33.199
Even when it's you acknowledging this was not a real offense, it was not a deep offense worthy of attention.
00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:49.599
However, when you do have an offense and a real offense against you, and you go to your brother, and your brother says, Well, you deserve that, I don't I don't see the problem.
00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.759
That happens too.
00:38:51.839 --> 00:38:52.079
Why?
00:38:52.319 --> 00:38:53.839
Because we're human beings.
00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:58.480
And your brother may either feel justified or not care.
00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:07.839
In that case, in that case is where the Lord said, you know what?
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:14.559
If your brother will not hear you, then go broadcast it out on the internet.
00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:16.319
And that's not what he says.
00:39:17.359 --> 00:39:19.599
Don't go start calling everybody, you know what?
00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:20.079
No.
00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.960
Two or three.
00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:27.279
The minimum you need for witness.
00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:37.119
And you take them and you say, listen, when we had last had this conversation, there was this real.
00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:39.359
Let's use an example.
00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:42.799
Let's say, uh, Lord willing, this will never happen, Brother Lloyd.
00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:52.079
But let's say I, in a weakness uh of my own, uh started spreading false rumors about you.
00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:57.039
And I can't even imagine why that would be.
00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:58.639
But let's let's go with it.
00:39:58.799 --> 00:40:04.799
Uh and and you came to me and said, Brother Chris, did you say these things about me?
00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:18.239
And I, in my in my pride and in my bad situation, says, Well, yeah, but you know, uh just deal with it, brother Lloyd.
00:40:18.799 --> 00:40:20.639
And that's that would not be right.
00:40:20.799 --> 00:40:24.239
That would not, and that would still be the breach of our relationship.
00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:32.319
So, Brother Lloyd, what he would need to do is then find maybe Brother James and Brother Bobby or Brother Mike, just one or two.
00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:34.799
Or uh what does it say?
00:40:34.879 --> 00:40:38.960
Uh with the one or two more that in the mouth are two or three witnesses.
00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:44.399
So there's the two or three, one more, it's two witnesses, two more is three witnesses.
00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:48.639
And he comes to me and said, Brother Chris, we talked about this.
00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:59.599
Did you admit that you said these things about me and two witnesses that are trustworthy, so that we everyone knows that this was not just two brothers arguing with each other.
00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:13.440
And maybe the shame and the guilt of knowing that I've hurt Brother Lloyd would cause me to then apologize and try to reconcile at that point.
00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:30.079
But if I, if even then if I felt justified in what I said or did, or I just simply was too full of it and too full of my own pride and would not apologize, would not reconcile, then that's where it goes to the church.
00:41:30.799 --> 00:41:45.119
And the church, before the church, then it gets revealed what the witnesses had said would bring forward, be brought forward, and what they saw, what I said, and even then I would not hear the whole church.
00:41:45.279 --> 00:41:49.039
So I don't care what anyone says, I'm not going to apologize.
00:41:49.279 --> 00:41:59.759
Then the church, it says here, that if um whatsoever uh if he neglects to hear the church, let him be into thee a heathen man and a publican.
00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:04.000
Now, one that doesn't say he's going to hell.
00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:04.480
No.
00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:16.879
What it does mean is that breach of that relationship appears to be permanent, or at least needs to be repaired a different way.
00:42:17.759 --> 00:42:27.519
I can I can point you to another example where there was a brother at Corinth who was engaged in some ungodly activity.
00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:31.119
And the church at first saw no problem with it.
00:42:31.279 --> 00:42:36.399
And the Apostle Paul, writing them, said, first of all, I can't believe you didn't see the problem.
00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:41.119
Second of all, you've got to address this.
00:42:41.359 --> 00:42:43.920
This is not proper behavior.
00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:50.639
And uh since at that point it was not it was not one-on-one type of situation.
00:42:50.799 --> 00:42:53.279
This was a church-wide situation.
00:42:53.599 --> 00:43:01.279
It was already at what we call step number three, and so the apostle Paul said, you need to turn that brother over to Satan.
00:43:01.519 --> 00:43:05.279
Or in other words, you need to not have part with him.
00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:07.599
That relationship is broken.
00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:10.239
You need to let God deal with that.
00:43:10.879 --> 00:43:11.920
And guess what?
00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:13.519
God dealt with that.
00:43:13.759 --> 00:43:16.239
And God brought godly sorrow to that man.
00:43:16.319 --> 00:43:22.480
And God, that man wanted to reconcile with the church, and in 2 Corinthians, he writes and says, guess what?
00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:28.319
Reconcile with that brother because he has had godly repentance.
00:43:28.799 --> 00:43:32.879
Now, there's a point here I want to get to, though.
00:43:33.759 --> 00:43:39.440
Even in step three, remember, this is about gaining the brother.
00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:46.000
This is about reconciliation, this is about something that is founded on forgiveness.
00:43:46.879 --> 00:43:52.559
This is not an excuse not to forgive the brother.
00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000
Because there's, well, there's actually two good reasons.
00:43:58.239 --> 00:44:05.359
One, as we heard, as thou hast been forgiven, forgive one another.
00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:23.759
All we have to do is remember there are untold offenses that we have committed against God that we don't even know about, let alone the ones we know of and know that we have no way to repay, that He has forgiven us for.
00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:27.759
And the Lord said, likewise forgive ye one another.
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:36.000
If it's likewise, that means just from that commandment, I have an obligation to let it go.
00:44:36.799 --> 00:44:41.279
To not hound them, to not call them up every day and say, you know what?
00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:44.799
I'm not giving up until you apologize.
00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:50.399
Now, there's a second benefit.
00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:52.960
There's a second part of that, though.
00:44:54.719 --> 00:45:09.920
For how many years did Joseph struggle and wring his hands and worry and weep about his brother's?
00:45:10.399 --> 00:45:11.599
And what they did.
00:45:12.799 --> 00:45:14.480
I think the scriptures are pretty clear.
00:45:14.719 --> 00:45:18.079
Not for very long, if even at all.
00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:22.559
I mean, he he he he certainly cried out in the pit.
00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:34.319
But I mean, certainly, I mean, at the very least, certainly by the time he sees them for the first time, he's not even thinking about it.
00:45:34.639 --> 00:45:35.199
Why?
00:45:35.519 --> 00:45:38.079
He's already forgiven them.
00:45:40.480 --> 00:45:49.679
He has already forgiven, but it did not require their reconciliation with him yet for the forgiveness to take place.
00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:52.159
And do you know what that did for Joseph?
00:45:52.399 --> 00:45:54.079
It made him free from it.
00:45:54.719 --> 00:46:04.559
It made him free from the constant thought of what his brothers did by turning it over to the Lord and saying, Lord, that was that I'm giving it to you.
00:46:06.639 --> 00:46:10.000
Joseph didn't know that he would ever see them again.
00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:23.119
And when he did, when there was an opportunity for reconciliation, the fact that he already forgave them meant that he was reconciled with them.
00:46:24.719 --> 00:46:31.359
It appears that it took years, if ever, for them to be reconciled to Joseph, however.
00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:32.799
Imagine this.
00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:35.920
Imagine being in Joseph's situation.
00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:45.039
Imagine, or rather, in Joseph's brother's situation, or in the situation of the trespassing brother, where you committed the offense.
00:46:45.359 --> 00:46:47.199
You committed the offense.
00:46:47.599 --> 00:46:55.359
You did, and they came to you, tried to try to give you free, tried to reconcile that relationship.
00:46:55.519 --> 00:47:00.000
You said, no, I really don't want, I really don't care to reconcile with you.
00:47:00.319 --> 00:47:07.440
And then you go off and you're cut off from their life, at least from an effect, well, that's that's what this is talking about.
00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:12.319
It is in a church capacity that you're you're cut off from that relationship.
00:47:12.879 --> 00:47:15.839
But then later you come back.
00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:20.960
Later you are you have that in your heart to come back, like the brother in 2 Corinthians.
00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:26.000
Now, when you come back and they see they look at you and say, I remember what you did.
00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:30.239
There's no way I'm gonna have you back in this church.
00:47:30.399 --> 00:47:33.440
There's no way I'm gonna have you back in my life.
00:47:34.079 --> 00:47:40.319
And you are truly at that point of wanting to reconcile, what does that feel like?
00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:42.799
Well, we can look out in this world and see what that's like.
00:47:42.960 --> 00:47:46.000
Is that what the Lord says we should receive him as?
00:47:46.239 --> 00:47:46.559
No.
00:47:46.799 --> 00:47:49.599
That's the point of the rest of that chapter.
00:47:49.839 --> 00:47:54.000
When when Peter says, How often should I forgive a brother?
00:47:54.879 --> 00:47:58.639
The Lord says, as many times as they come to you for forgiveness.
00:47:58.799 --> 00:48:00.799
That's how often you forgive.
00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:04.559
And also, I I will add, these are my words.
00:48:04.719 --> 00:48:08.719
These are not the words of the Lord in this passage, but I think they fit.
00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:10.159
Plus one more.
00:48:11.199 --> 00:48:15.440
And that plus one more is before they even get to you.
00:48:15.920 --> 00:48:16.399
Why?
00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:19.759
Because here's the other side of that passage.
00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:20.879
Imagine.
00:48:22.239 --> 00:48:30.399
Imagine that brother at Corinth coming to the church after they receive that second letter.
00:48:30.879 --> 00:48:37.119
And he says, I really, really want to re I want to I want to worship with you again.
00:48:37.279 --> 00:48:39.039
I want to be in the midst of the church.
00:48:39.199 --> 00:48:42.879
I want to know that that my offense has been uh has been forgotten.
00:48:43.039 --> 00:48:44.480
They said, come on in.
00:48:44.799 --> 00:48:48.159
Come on in, sit right here with us.
00:48:48.639 --> 00:48:50.239
Eat at our table.
00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:53.679
Eat with the bread, drink with the wine.
00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:55.440
We'll wash your feet.
00:48:55.679 --> 00:48:57.679
You're restored to fellowship.
00:48:58.000 --> 00:49:02.399
Why because God's forgiven it, so have we.
00:49:03.039 --> 00:49:11.359
And in that situation, that man has realized not only has been realized the liberty of being restored to fellowship.
00:49:11.679 --> 00:49:18.480
But he's also making, he's also taking part of the liberty that they've been in when they've forgiven.
00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:23.279
Now, bring it back to my fake example here.
00:49:24.239 --> 00:49:30.000
If Brother Lloyd has completely forgiven, he said, well, Brother Chris just must have lost his mind.
00:49:31.039 --> 00:49:34.799
You know what I I am just I'm just gonna let it go.
00:49:36.480 --> 00:49:39.199
Years later, I realize I lost my mind.
00:49:39.359 --> 00:49:47.039
I can't believe I said what I did about such a love you, brother.
00:49:48.879 --> 00:49:50.480
And I go to Brother Lloyd.
00:49:50.639 --> 00:49:54.000
I said, Brother Lloyd, you probably don't want to see my face anymore.
00:49:55.679 --> 00:50:02.000
Before I even get the words out, he says, I don't know what you're talking about, Chris.
00:50:02.079 --> 00:50:02.559
Come on now.
00:50:02.879 --> 00:50:04.239
Let's talk a lot.
00:50:05.119 --> 00:50:10.559
Now, that that is a case of gaining a brother well after it should have happened.
00:50:11.519 --> 00:50:23.679
But the beauty of it is that if Brother Lloyd can let go of that, the moment I refuse to reconcile, he is free from it for the rest of his life.
00:50:24.399 --> 00:50:33.039
See, that's the part of that's the part of forgiveness that we don't often remember is because here's the problem.
00:50:33.279 --> 00:50:35.279
We like to hold on to it.
00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:42.960
Because it gives us the illusion of power.
00:50:43.359 --> 00:50:48.639
It gives us the illusion of holding something over someone else.
00:50:49.679 --> 00:50:55.359
Like the one who would not forgive the servant who would not forgive the other.
00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:57.599
It was the illusion of power.
00:50:58.559 --> 00:51:07.839
It was the illusion that, oh, well, you have a debt in me, I'm gonna hold you accountable to it until the very end.
00:51:09.519 --> 00:51:14.319
What he found out real quick is that that was an illusion of power.
00:51:14.559 --> 00:51:19.119
Because the Lord Himself said, You did not forgive them.
00:51:19.679 --> 00:51:21.839
There's something that happens within the heart.
00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:28.639
There's something that happens when you do not release that burden.
00:51:28.960 --> 00:51:31.599
And it is like the brothers of Joseph.
00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:40.239
For decades they felt fear because they did not understand forgiveness.
00:51:41.839 --> 00:51:46.159
As soon as you understand what forgiveness is, again, it may not come with reconciliation.
00:51:46.319 --> 00:51:50.960
There are those in your life that you may never reconcile with.
00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:53.199
That may never reconcile with you.
00:51:53.679 --> 00:52:03.519
But if there is that guilt, if there is that burden, if there is that that offense that is weighing on you, that these are the words of Christ.
00:52:03.679 --> 00:52:04.639
Let that go.
00:52:05.279 --> 00:52:06.079
Let it go.
00:52:07.199 --> 00:52:08.639
Don't hold them accountable to it.
00:52:09.119 --> 00:52:10.960
You're not giving them a free pass.
00:52:11.119 --> 00:52:14.000
You're not, you're not letting, well, they're getting away with it.
00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:23.199
Do you realize that's part of uh vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
00:52:23.599 --> 00:52:27.920
Do you know that there's a reason why we should hold vengeance over to the Lord?
00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:32.719
One, he's the only one that can that can handle it righteously.
00:52:33.119 --> 00:52:38.799
Two, he's the only one that can handle it in such a way that the reconciliation may still happen.
00:52:39.119 --> 00:52:46.399
And three, once you give something to him, it is not your burden anymore.
00:52:46.799 --> 00:52:48.159
Just let it go.
00:52:49.279 --> 00:52:55.920
Now, all of that, uh I went a little far on that one.
00:52:56.639 --> 00:53:00.239
But there is one one last passage in that I want to turn to.
00:53:00.719 --> 00:53:01.599
I shouldn't have closed.
00:53:03.199 --> 00:53:05.279
Back in back in Matthew 18.
00:53:06.719 --> 00:53:08.639
There's something he says.
00:53:12.960 --> 00:53:14.239
I didn't get to it.
00:53:16.639 --> 00:53:23.119
Verily I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall be loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.
00:53:23.440 --> 00:53:26.480
I have to say this, and I'll be very quick on this.
00:53:26.719 --> 00:53:30.960
He's not saying, well, whoever you forgive, we've will go to heaven.
00:53:31.199 --> 00:53:33.359
Whoever you don't forgive, they'll go to hell.
00:53:33.519 --> 00:53:34.879
That is not what this is saying.
00:53:35.519 --> 00:53:39.839
This is, we can see an occasion of this very clearly.
00:53:40.159 --> 00:53:52.879
Maybe uh there are other examples that we could probably go to, but this is the first one that came to my mind where there were those two, and I can't remember their names, who held back a certain amount of money in the early days of the church.
00:53:52.960 --> 00:54:01.759
And Peter, he didn't curse them to death, but what he did is he acknowledged, he he confronted the fact that they were lying to the Holy Ghost.
00:54:01.920 --> 00:54:04.399
And it was and it was God that that killed them.
00:54:05.199 --> 00:54:07.359
So Peter didn't kill them, God killed them.
00:54:07.440 --> 00:54:22.879
But there were two that died in the early church that put the put literally fear in the acknowledgement of what's going on there, respect what was going on there, uh, but that they were held accountable, but not by Peter, they were held accountable by God.
00:54:23.279 --> 00:54:27.519
But uh there's more to it, uh, we don't have time.
00:54:28.079 --> 00:54:37.279
He said, but that this is that is not them saying, that is not Christ saying, listen, you're you're you're now the masters of the church, and whoever you say goes to heaven goes to heaven.
00:54:37.440 --> 00:54:38.960
Whoever he says goes to hell, go to hell.
00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:40.159
That's not what it's saying.
00:54:40.239 --> 00:54:43.839
Uh in particular, though, I do want to say this.
00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:48.159
It is about the declaration of the uh ministry of reconciliation.
00:54:48.319 --> 00:54:52.799
And that ministry of reconciliation to the people of God is for his people.
00:54:52.879 --> 00:55:05.839
And when that great ministry of reconciliation is given and it gives us liberty here, it loosens, it loosens us and unbinds us and gives us uh the that uh that freedom uh to stand free in the liberty of Christ.
00:55:06.079 --> 00:55:08.799
Uh um I need to move on.
00:55:08.960 --> 00:55:25.679
Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth as touching anything that they should ask, it shall be done for them by my Father which is in heaven, which uh that in and of itself should give us some encouragement and understanding uh as far as uh uh uh what uh how many it takes for uh for God to listen to.
00:55:25.920 --> 00:55:27.599
He'll listen to one, by the way.
00:55:27.759 --> 00:55:34.559
He listens to singular prayers, but as far as matters of the church, uh how big how many people do you need to have a church?
00:55:34.719 --> 00:55:35.599
Two or three.
00:55:36.159 --> 00:55:37.679
That's what I read in this.
00:55:37.920 --> 00:55:45.839
But he says, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:52.480
Uh uh I I find that very important to understand in the in the context of what we just read.
00:55:52.559 --> 00:56:03.359
Uh, where uh we're in the midst of uh bringing witness, that you bring one or two with you, so that in the matter of two or three witnesses, uh every word shall be established.
00:56:03.599 --> 00:56:12.559
Uh uh when we uh I I realize I don't have enough time to bridge the thought the way I want to bridge it.
00:56:12.639 --> 00:56:16.559
So I want to I want to kind of just kind of shortcut it in this way.
00:56:17.440 --> 00:56:38.639
In the matter of not just church discipline, but in the matter of everything that the church does, and that's why uh I don't have a problem singing that song where it says we're two or three in sweet accord when it has to do with the worship service, because uh the same promise holds in every aspect, because what Christ is saying is that uh where two or three are gathered together in my name.
00:56:38.799 --> 00:57:00.239
And that's why it's important that that step two uh is in the same fashion, is the same, uh, it's in the same heart, it's in the name of Christ because the two or three are not gathered together for the same reason that the the first uh part of that uh is that uh it's not uh one brother uh just coming to unload with anger and wrath and vengeance on the other brother, but it's in the name of Christ.
00:57:00.319 --> 00:57:10.079
It's with the with the it's with the uh hope of reconciliation with his brother, and likewise with that second part is where two or three are gathered together in my name.
00:57:10.319 --> 00:57:18.000
There am I in the midst of uh the that that's that's what the to me that gives the power to that second part.
00:57:18.159 --> 00:57:22.719
You're not just bringing two brothers uh in uh in order to say, well, you know what?
00:57:22.879 --> 00:57:25.279
I'm gonna prove to everybody what a liar you are.
00:57:25.359 --> 00:57:26.879
I'm gonna that's not the point.
00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:35.039
Just like it's not the point, the first part is not to go unload uh privately on somebody, uh it is to try to reconcile the point.
00:57:35.119 --> 00:57:38.239
And the second part is also to reconcile.
00:57:38.399 --> 00:57:43.039
But the the key ingredient, the key part there is that it's done in the name of Christ.
00:57:43.119 --> 00:57:43.839
And guess what?
00:57:44.000 --> 00:57:48.319
When it's in Christ, there he is in the midst of you.
00:57:48.399 --> 00:58:17.279
Uh that's why it's so important to understand that when the brother that does not hear the singular brother, and the and the brother that does not hear the two or three witnesses, and the brother that does not hear the whole church in this matter, is not just hearing, uh is just not failing to hear and to reconcile with one brother, is not just failing to reconcile with the two or three witnesses, he's not just failing to reconcile with the church, he's failing to reconcile with Christ.
00:58:17.599 --> 00:58:23.759
Because if it's done in Christ, there is Christ in the midst of him, in the midst of you.
00:58:23.920 --> 00:58:38.879
And so uh again, that promise is uh is uh is I think a sacred promise that God gives because where two or three are gathered together, and I want to uh bring that one one final step forward in conclusion.
00:58:38.960 --> 00:58:42.639
It's where two or three are gathered together in worship and in praise.
00:58:42.879 --> 00:58:44.879
What is it that we're acknowledging?
00:58:45.039 --> 00:58:48.239
What is it uh uh uh what is it that we're remembering?
00:58:48.319 --> 00:59:02.239
What is it that we uh that we uh praise God for if uh so much we ought to uh even in the come on, referring back to the closing verse of that song, praise God from whom all blessings flow.
00:59:02.319 --> 00:59:14.079
Uh there's there's every blessing in our life uh that we uh have uh uh that we have every blessing in our life is worthy uh uh of praise and honor and glory to to uh sound out to Christ.
00:59:14.399 --> 00:59:27.359
Uh uh and every creature on earth, every every star in heaven, everything uh that is made uh owes every uh every praise in the same fashion in that way.
00:59:27.519 --> 00:59:32.480
Even the angels in heaven uh uh uh praise him a day in and a day out.
00:59:32.639 --> 00:59:50.000
Uh that there is a particular praise, there is a particular honor, there is a particular glory that we give Christ that no other creature can is that we can claim his forgiveness.
00:59:50.639 --> 01:00:01.519
We claim redemption because he redeemed us, he forgave us, he cleansed us clean from sin, and he bought us by his own blood.
01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:22.319
So where two or three are gathered together, uh the ministry of reconciliation and praise is not just uh that we uh that that in fact, even that passage as we read it, it should not just be, first of all, it should not be ever uh uh the the the formula uh to to exclude somebody.
01:00:22.719 --> 01:00:24.559
That's not what that should ever be for.
01:00:24.639 --> 01:00:31.119
Uh nor should it be even just the way a brother reconciles with another.
01:00:31.279 --> 01:00:31.839
It is that.
01:00:31.920 --> 01:00:38.319
And we can apply the principle in almost every aspect of our life, but it is even more than that.
01:00:38.639 --> 01:00:42.159
Is the acknowledgement in the presence of Christ.
01:00:42.399 --> 01:00:47.839
We ought to, there is reconciliation in the presence of Christ, there is forgiveness.
01:00:48.079 --> 01:01:02.399
And even as we gather together in worship and in praise, we gather together in the very spirit of reconciliation with our brother and with our father, and with the acknowledgement of the forgiveness of sins.
01:01:03.599 --> 01:01:18.719
So that when we hug each other's necks in brotherhood, we acknowledge that we are forgiven by the same blood of Christ and that we hold nothing against each other because Christ holds nothing against us.
01:01:19.039 --> 01:01:22.239
Now, I I that's it.
01:01:23.279 --> 01:01:24.719
I I better stop it.
01:01:27.279 --> 01:01:28.719
What is there a song we can sing?
01:01:29.440 --> 01:01:30.319
One five one?
01:01:30.960 --> 01:01:32.559
Number one hundred and fifty one.
