When you need to forgive-You are responsible for your behavior concerning those who harm you

1) Commit what you do to the LORD.

Proverbs.16:³Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

LORD = I AM, Jehovah

Commit = give custody

Work = words, actions

Established = appointed by God

What does this verse mean to you?

How can this verse apply to your circumstances?

2) Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

¹³Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. They sold him into slavery and told their father that a wild beast had killed him. Years later, Joseph is in power in Egypt. Their father has died. The brothers fear Joseph will now take vengeance on them.

Genesis 50:¹⁹ And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

²⁰But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

How can you apply Joseph’s attitude and actions to your circumstances?

Jesus completely understands and stands ready to help you.

3) Love them – Luke 6:³⁵ But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

³⁶Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Real love is not based on worthiness or it would change often

• Fulfill your continuing debt to love – Romans 13:⁸ Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
• Live out the reality of belonging in God’s family – John 13:³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

• Do good to them (demonstrate you carry no grudge)

Meet their needs. Proverbs. 25:²¹ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

This will either melt them or give evidence of coming judgment

The Lord promises a reward perhaps the reward will be a restored relationship!

• Lend them grace – don’t set an end date- Wait for fruit in its season

Lend = let another use temporarily

4) Live peacefully with them; leave vengeance to God.

Romans 12:¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Where does wrath belong?

How long should you live peacefully? only from today until we see Christ!

Life is your opportunity to live out your “thank You” to God.

Our focus = Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge = Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti