Well, good evening, and it's good to be with you again this evening.
We've had a joyful day here in Lewis.
We were able to visit the sister congregation in Carloway
and to celebrate with them the refurbishment of their building.
And it's great to be back together with you this evening.
We're going to begin our time by singing to God's praise.
And before we do, I wanted to read some words from the 98th Psalm,
which we'll sing in just a moment.
But the psalmist writes,
So sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth.
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Well, let's begin our time together this evening in doing just that,
as we sing together the first six verses of the Sing Psalms version of Psalm 98.
We'll sing Psalm 98 to the tune, Gainsborough.
O sing a new song to the Lord.
O sing a new song, dear the Lord.
For what wonders he has done.
His right hand and hand, his holy arm,
The victory have won.
The Lord declared his saving word,
And made it to be known.
To all the nations of the world,
His righteousness is sure.
His steadfast love and faithfulness,
He has remembered well.
The covenant he made with them,
The hearts of Israel.
And all the nations of the earth,
Have seen what God has done.
Our God who prays deliver us,
By his right hand alone.
Acclaim the Lord, O all the earth,
Shall loudly and rejoice,
Make music and be jubilant,
To them with a pure voice.
With heart make music to the Lord,
With heart his praises sing,
With trumpet and with all rejoice,
Before the Lord again.
Let's continue now in praying to our gracious God and Father.
Let us pray together.
Gracious God, we do rejoice this night,
As we lift up our voices to praise you,
As we sing to you a new song.
Lord, we remember that you are the king,
Over this whole world.
Before you the nations are a drop in a bucket,
They are as dust in your hand.
For you are the king of kings,
And the Lord of lords.
We bow our knees before you,
Our gracious God,
Knowing that you are the one who holds sway
Over all the peoples.
And that you are the one who has sent salvation
To all lands.
That you are saving work.
That your righteousness about which we have sung
Has been made known to all nations.
In and through your son.
Our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so this evening we turn our attention to him.
Giving him the love and the praise of our hearts.
Recognizing that he is the one by whom,
And through whom,
And for whom all things were created.
We humble ourselves before the one who stepped down.
Who stepped into this world that he had made.
And which we had tarnished with our sin and our disobedience.
We thank you that he was willing to go all the way to Calvary's cross.
To experience rejection at the hands of men.
To taste death for all.
To suffer for us.
That we might be redeemed from our sins.
We might be reconciled to you as our God and as our Father.
And that we might one day.
Be presented holy and blameless and above reproach before you.
And so we rejoice.
As the psalmist rejoiced in your victory.
In your mighty works of salvation.
In your righteousness.
We are conscious that one day the world will be judged in righteousness.
But this day, this night.
The judge comes to us as Lord and Savior.
And he speaks to us once more of your steadfast love.
And of your faithfulness.
This weekend we are reminded once more of the new covenant made in his blood.
A covenant that promises to us the forgiveness of all of our sins.
That promises that our hearts might be filled with your Holy Spirit.
And that we might walk in newness of life.
Gracious God, as we gather tonight.
To worship you.
To wait on you.
To hear what you have to say.
We ask that the peace of Christ might dwell among us.
That we might dwell together in peace and unity.
That we might maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace.
Grant us, we pray, soft hearts.
To forgive one another.
To bear with one another.
If there has been any wrong committed against us.
Help us to put on compassionate hearts.
And to be reminded once more of what we have been forgiven from in Christ.
That we might graciously forgive others.
As we have freely received, so might we freely give.
So we ask you, Lord, help us to walk in newness of life.
To live in unity.
As brothers and sisters should.
That you might bestow the blessing upon us as individuals.
And as a congregation of Christ's people.
We ask that that itself would be a witness.
To the wider world who might look in.
Who might listen in.
And who might themselves learn of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In whose name we gather.
And in whose name we pray.
Amen.
Well, last night we thought of true forgiveness.
True faithfulness, I should say.
As we studied together in Nehemiah chapter 9.
The faithfulness of God to his very often unfaithful people.
And this evening, in just a moment, we'll read from Matthew chapter 18.
And think about true forgiveness.
How we, in the gospel, are forgiven all of our sins.
They are cast into the very depths of the sea.
And how we are therefore to forgive one another.
Before we do, we'll sing a psalm once more.
We're going to sing the metrical version of Psalm 133.
To the tune Ardros.
A psalm that speaks of the unity of the Lord's people.
And how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity.
And so we'll sing together Psalm 133.
Behold how good a thing it is and how becoming well together such as brethren are in unity to dwell.
We sing together to the praise of God.
God bless you.
Amen.
God bless you.
And I'm becoming well
Together, sons, a threading heart
In unity to dwell
Like precious coins
Led on the head
The thumb of fear
Did flow
He may prosper
And to the skirt
Let off his garments go
At heaven's dew
The dew of the dew
On Zion hills descend
For hath the blessing
God for us
Thy path shall never end
For hath the blessing
Well I want us to read together now from Matthew chapter 18 and verses 15 down to verse 35
If you have the same version as I do of the church bible it's on page 993 but the verses can be found in Matthew chapter 18 beginning at verse 15 with the heading if your brother sins against you
Let us hear together
Let us hear together the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
If your brother sins against you
Go and tell him his fault
Between you and him alone
If he listens to you you have gained your brother
But if he does not listen take one or two others along with you
That every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses
If he refuses to listen to them
Tell it to the church
And if he refuses to listen even to the church
Let him be to you as a gentile and a tax collector
Truly I say to you whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven
Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven
Again I say to you if two of you agree on anything on earth about anything they ask
It will be done for them by my father in heaven
For where two or three are gathered in my name
There am I among them
Then Peter came up and said to him
Lord how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him?
As many as seven times?
Jesus said to him
I do not say to you seven times
But seventy times seven
Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king
Who wished to settle accounts with his servants
When he began to settle one was brought to him
Who owed him ten thousand talents
And since he could not pay his master
Ordered him to be sold with his wife and children
And all that he had
And payment to be made
So the servant fell on his knees imploring him
Have patience with me and I will pay you everything
And out of pity for him
The master of that servant released him
And forgave him the debt
But when the same servant went out
He found one of his fellow servants
Who owed him a hundred denarii
And seizing him he began to choke him saying
Pay what you owe
So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him
Have patience with me and I will pay you
I will pay you
He refused
And went and put him in prison
Until he should pay the debt
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place
They were greatly distressed
And they went and reported to their master
All that had been
All that had taken place
Then his master summoned him and said to him
You wicked servant
I forgave you all the debt
Because you pleaded with me
And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant
As I had mercy on you
And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers
Until he should pay all his debt
So also my heavenly father will do to every one of you
If you do not forgive your brother from your heart
And we thank God for his word to us
Before we study together
We'll sing once more
This time from Sing Psalms
And the 25th Psalm
Which we shall sing to the tune
Heron Gate
Psalm 25
To you O Lord I lift my soul
I trust in you continually
Do not let me be put to shame
Nor let my foes gloat over me
We sing
In verses 1 to verse 7
We sing
In verses 1 to verse 7
To you O Lord I lift my soul
I trust in you continually
Do not let me be put to shame
To you O Lord I lift my soul
I trust in you continually
Do not let me be put to shame
Or let my foes gloat over me
No one who sets his hope in you
Will ever suffer such his grace
But those who act with treachery
Humiliating shame will fail
O Lord we feel to me your ways
And all your paths
Help me to know
Direct and guide me in your truth
And stop me ever way to go
You are my Savior and my God
All day I hope in you alone
Remember Lord your love and grace
Which from past ages you have shown
Do not recall my sins of youth
Or my rebellious evil ways
Remember me in your place of
For you O Lord I live in your ways
For you O Lord I lift you
Amen
Well let me invite you to keep your Bible open
to Matthew 18
As we think tonight together
of the subject about which we have just sung
True forgiveness
it's a joy to be together this weekend
to share fellowship
to share partnership in the gospel
and it's a joy to come together
and to worship before almighty God
and as we prepare our hearts for the services tomorrow
I thought it would be good to think on the subject of forgiveness
to reflect on the forgiveness of sins promised
through the gospel but also to ask if we need to show forgiveness
to any in the fellowship
or to seek forgiveness from any in the congregation
yesterday evening we thought of true faithfulness
Nehemiah chapter 9
we thought of the faithfulness of God
who makes and keeps promises
the God of great mercy and steadfast love
who forgave his people their sins time and again
in the Old Testament history
and tonight we'll think about the forgiveness we have received
if we are in Christ
and the forgiveness we need to show one another
if we are together in his church
and it's a very important word
it's a very relevant word
because in life we have all kinds of relationships
relationships can be a source of great joy
and also a source of great sorrow
when these relationships break down
our hearts can be heavy
I always like to read
a kind of history book or biography
and the other day I ordered a copy of Paul Allen
Idea Man
which is a memoir by the co-founder of Microsoft
I didn't realise that the history of computer programming
was so exciting
it's a real page turner
and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft
with his childhood friend Bill Gates
while they were really just teenagers
they worked together
for about a decade
day and night
they worked together
they shared a flat
but when they turned 30 or so
they fell out
Paul Allen felt he was mistreated
the business partnership
effectively ended
the personal relationship
came to an end
though they were later reconciled
and it's just one example
of a broken relationship
such as we see
between nations
in workplaces
in extended families
in homes
and sadly
and all too often
in Christian communities
the Christian missionary
psychiatrist Marjorie Foyle
wrote a book
about stress
among Christian workers
and she said
the number one reason
Christian missionaries
leave the field of service
is because of conflict
with other missionaries
but we don't have to go overseas
to find
relationship difficulties
maybe there are churches
where you can say
well that's the church
I used to go to
oh that's the church
I never go to
because of something
that happened
something
that was said
so we might attend
a convention
such as the Keswick Convention
with its great motto
all one in Christ Jesus
we might read
a chapter
such as Matthew 18
we might sing
Psalm 133
but at the same time
there might be
someone here tonight
that you avoid
eye contact with you
would not sit next to
you perhaps
haven't spoken to
for years
because of something
they said
or did
because of something
they didn't say
or didn't do
that perhaps
they should have done
and in any gathering
of people
especially a multicultural
multi-generational
body
such as the
Church of Christ
there will be
differences of opinion
there will be
disagreements
there may be
miscommunication
and misunderstanding
perhaps somebody
said something
to you
perhaps somebody
said something
about you
perhaps behind
your back
maybe there was
a disagreement
in the workplace
that has spilled over
into the Church
there are
many
reasons
why relationships
between brothers
and sisters
may have been
strained
or even
severed
and
Matthew 18
addresses
this
subject
concerns
the parable
of an
unforgiving
servant
there are some
parables still
well known
in our culture
still alluded to
in the wider
society
the good Samaritan
the prodigal son
this
parable
perhaps
less well known
but no less
important
and it has
much to say
tonight
about the subject
of Christian
unity
and I suggest
it's very important
for two reasons
firstly as we've just
sung
it is good
and pleasant
when brothers
and sisters
dwell
in unity
how it must
please
our heavenly
father
when his
children
get on
and love
one another
and secondly
because our
witness to the
world depends
upon it
did not the
Lord Jesus
himself say
that it is
by our
love for
one another
that all
men shall
know
that we
are his
disciples
so the
pleasure
of God
the persuasiveness
of the gospel
depends upon
good and
loving
relationships
between
Christians
so we'll
look together
at this
parable
and the
verses
which
precede it
and the
whole section
of this
gospel has
to do
with
relationships
between
disciples
chapter
18
verse 1
we see
the disciples
are having
some
issues
of their
own
as they
come to
the Lord
and say
who's
the greatest
who's
your
favorite
who's
number
one
in the
kingdom
of heaven
and so
the
subsequent
teaching
has to
do
with
our
relationships
and our
responsibilities
toward
one another
we're not
to look
down
on one
another
the disciples
were looking
down on
each other
but we are
to look
out
for one
another
and to
care
for one
another
and to
guide
one
another
in
the path
of life
so
I've got
two
headings
two
divisions
verses
15
to
20
if we
are
sinned
against
we must
show
our
brother
or sister
their
fault
and
verse
21
to
35
we
must
then
show
them
forgiveness
and it
may be
you think
well I
find it
very easy
to show
people
their
faults
that's
not
going
to
be
hard
but
it's
not
so
easy
to
show
them
our
forgiveness
so we
want to
think
about
that
now
verse
15
to
20
showing
them
their
fault
when we
are
in
Christ
we
are
also
in
his
church
we
are
drawn
into
his
community
the
German
theologian
and
martyr
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
wrote a
book called
Life
Together
and that
could
summarize
couldn't
in our
Christian
experience
we
share
life
together
we
have
responsibilities
toward
one
another
and as
Christians
we are
not only
responsible
for one
another
we are
actually
accountable
to
one
another
a few
years ago
I used
to work
as a
doctor
mostly
around
Glasgow
and
while
training
as a
doctor
you are
subject
to
all
kinds
of
appraisals
and
one
department
they had
what was
called
a
360
degree
appraisal
and
effectively
they asked
different
members
of
staff
how
you
were
getting
on
the
nurses
your
colleagues
the
doctors
the
cleaners
and
they
wanted
to
get
a
360
degree
portrait
whether
you
were
working
well
relating
well
to
other
members
of
the
team
and
if
there
were
issues
you
were
given
a
bit
of
feedback
to
help
you
address
any
issues
to
help
you
grow
in
your
workplace
people
and
there's
a
little
bit
of
a
sense
of
that
here
that
as
Christians
we
are
accountable
to
one
another
we
are
to
help
one
another
grow
to
encourage
one
another
but
sometimes
perhaps
to
admonish
one
another
just
before
this
passage
we
have
the
parable
of
the
lost
sheep
and
it
talks
about
sheep
going
astray
but
then
being
found
again
and
very
often
we
can
go
astray
in
our
Christian
lives
something
as
simple
as
church
attendance
but
something
perhaps
more
complex
is
the
state
of
our
hearts
whether
our
hearts
are
still
happy
in
the
Lord
and
we
have
a
responsibility
to
encourage
one
another
Paul
writing
to
the
church
in
Galatia
says
this
if
somebody
is
caught
in
a
sin
you
who
are
spiritual
ought
to
restore
them
in a
spirit
of
gentleness
so we're
part of
Christ's
body
responsible
for
and
accountable
to
one
another
and the
question
before us
verse 15
is what
happens if
somebody in
the church
is sinning
or
particularly
sinning
against
us
sinning
it
may
some
interpreters
take that
to mean
if we
see
a
brother
or
sister
falling
into
sin
or
if
it
specifically
refers
to
sinning
against
somebody
in
the
body
in
the
fellowship
what
are we
to do
though
if we
see
somebody
going
astray
well
what
we're
not
to
do
is
to
simply
ignore
it
turn a
blind
eye
sweep
it under
the
carpet
hope
it'll
go
away
be a
fairly
apathetic
shepherd
that
didn't
care
about
the
sheep
just
wandering
off
across
the
roads
and
into
the
fields
we're
not to
gossip
about
them
we're
not to
hold
a
grudge
against
them
there
are
issues
interpersonal
issues
that need
to be
addressed
he says
Christians
in the
church
we
come
together
for
comfort
to be
strengthened
when we're
suffering
and facing
trials
of many
kinds
but we
must also
expect a
degree of
challenge
if we're
sinning
if we're
straying
that we'll
be called
back
to Christ
the chief
shepherd
and this
isn't
something we
ought to
resent
in the
workplace
it was
never
particularly
comfortable
getting
feedback
sometimes
it stung
but it
was helpful
helped
to grow
helped
us to
address
any
problems
any
issues
so too
in the
Christian
life
proverbs
chapter 9
verse 8
reprove a
wise man
and he
will
love you
elsewhere
in that
book we
read these
words
faithful
are the
wounds
of a
friend
sometimes
we need
that gentle
word
of
encouragement
that
word
of
admonition
and in
verse 15
we read
of the
situation
where
a brother
sins
against
another
brother
or sister
and the
Lord
teaches us
a sequence
in which
to address
these
difficulties
verse 15
if they
sin against
you go
and tell
them
their fault
alone
so we
begin with
something
which is
private
and informal
and this
then progresses
to something
more public
more formal
but initially
the Lord
says if
there's an
issue
don't let
the bitter
root grow
up in
your heart
go and
speak to
the one
who has
sinned
against
you
invite them
round
take them
for a
coffee
I had
one friend
that was
a student
worker
working with
Christian
students
and when
they were
washing the
dishes
after meals
he thought
that was
always the
best time
to ask
the really
difficult
questions
because you
were concentrating
on something
you weren't
looking each
other in the
face
and that
was when
he really
asked you
the challenging
questions
about your
Christian
life and
walk
verse 16
but if they
won't listen
take one
or two
others
with you
that every
charge may
be established
by the
evidence
of two
or three
witnesses
to emphasize
the gravity
of the
situation
take two
or three
others
as in the
Old Testament
there were
two or
three
witnesses
and if they
refuse to
listen to
that
tell it
to the
church
and if
they refuse
to listen
to the
church
effectively
they are
to be
put out
of the
church
treated
as a
Jewish
person
of that
day
might have
treated
a
Gentile
or a
tax
collector
there is
a weight
to these
words
somebody
refuses to
listen
to a
friend
to a
company
of their
friends
to the
leadership
of the
local
church
there is
a weight
behind
them
and that
admonition
comes with
the authority
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
Paul
writing to
the church
in Corinth
1 Corinthians
5 says
that when
you are
assembled
in the
name of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and my
spirit
is
present
with
the
power
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
you are
to
deliver
this
man
over
to
Satan
for
the
destruction
of
his
flesh
so
that
his
soul
may
be
saved
in
the
day
of
the
Lord
likewise
verse
19
and
20
Jesus
says
when
two or
three
are
gathered
in
my
name
there
am
I
among
them
a
wonderful
comforting
verse
that
reminds
us
of
our
Emmanuel
our
God
with
us
Jesus
Christ
who
never
leaves
us
never
forsakes
us
but
who
is
present
in
the
company
of
his
people
when
discipline
is
being
exercised
and
effectively
we do
have
here
a
pattern
of
what
we
know
as
church
discipline
is one
of
these
words
that
can
have
both
a
positive
and
negative
connotation
so
in the
realm
of
music
or
sport
we
can
admire
an
athlete
or
a
musician
we
say
oh
they've
got
wonderful
self
discipline
they're
up at
4am
every
morning
they
jog
20
miles
they
do
3000
press
ups
Sir
Andy
Murray
great
self
discipline
but it
can have
a negative
connotation
and which
of us
at school
didn't
dread
being sent
to sit
outside
the
head
master's
office
with the
fear
of what
might
await us
behind
the
door
but
church
discipline
here
the
discipline
of
a loving
Christian
family
exhorting
and
encouraging
one
another
is
always
intended
to
lead
to
repentance
to
lead
to
restoration
writing
to the
church
again
in
Corinth
Paul
speaks
about
that
not
allowing
somebody
to be
overwhelmed
by
excessive
sorrow
showing
compassion
and comfort
to the
one who
had sinned
and repented
to bring
them back
in
to the
fellowship
this
pattern
of
behavior
is a
means
of
restoring
the
straying
sheep
of these
earlier
verses
the
brother
or sister
wandering
off
into
far
off
field
bringing
them
back
to the
shepherd
and so
the
Lord
says
if
you see
a
brother
or sister
sinning
if
they've
sinned
against
you
perhaps
the
quiet
word
is
where
you
should
begin
if
they
refuse
to
listen
take
some
others
seek
to
persuade
them
seek
to
win
them
back
but
if
they
dig
their
heels
and
if
they
harden
their
heart
tell it
to
the
church
as
Christians
we are
to look
out for
one
another
we are
to
listen
to
one
another
this
behavior
the
Lord
teaches
is not
about
coercion
or
control
but
it is
about
concern
looking
out
for
one
another
is
so
and
so
still
coming
to
the
services
to
the
meetings
is
their
life
still
in
good
standing
with
the
Lord
with
their
brothers
and
sisters
doesn't
mean
proactively
appointing
ourselves
a kind
of
moral
policeman
but
it
means
being
open
to
reacting
to
things
we
might
see
or
hear
give
you
some
examples
went
to
carol
service
once
in a
different
church
from
my
own
and
there
was
a
man
clearly
under
the
influence
and
he
explained
that he
was a
member
of the
church
and
I
thought
well
maybe
not
appropriate
behavior
as a
representative
of this
congregation
visited
the
home
of a
friend
and
his
wife
and
he
was
very
short
with
his
wife
very
bad
tempered
somewhat
grumpy
perhaps
I
should
have
said
something
is
everything
okay
attended
a
conference
well
known
speaker
giving
a
public
talk
some
of
the
language
some
of
the
illustrations
inappropriate
for a
Christian
leader
to
use
all
the
invitation
extended
to
come
to a
Sunday
service
persistently
turned
down
messages
unanswered
the
answer
if
given
always
no
just
little
things
but
little
things
that
might
speak
to
us
of
something
greater
something
deeper
in
their
lives
is there
a
problem
with
drink
is there
a
problem
in
your
marriage
you're
getting
carried
away
with
the
publicity
so
the
Lord
says
if
your
brother
sins
against
you
have
a
word
tell
him
his
fault
bring
him
back
listen
to
him
but
let
him
listen
to
you
don't
just
sweep
it
under
the
carpet
that
seems
to be
the
sense
of
what's
going
on
here
the
Lord
saying
somebody
is
sinning
show
them
in a
spirit
of
love
and
gentleness
their
fault
we
notice
three
things
by means
of
application
firstly
this
pattern
this
process
is
instituted
by the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
himself
he
underlines
for his
people
our
responsibility
toward
one
another
whether
the
word
informally
the privacy
of a
home
whether
the
process
of
discipline
formally
in a
more
public
setting
it is
the
Lord
who
wants
us
to be
accountable
to be
open
to be
transparent
with one
another
and the
goal
is that
we will
be
one
in
Christ
people
may
sin
against
us
maybe
even
this
week
somebody
has
caused
you
offense
unfortunately
people
do
say
and do
things
that are
hurtful
I'm
sure
all of
us
at some
point
have
said
or done
something
inadvertently
perhaps
such as
hurt
someone else
in the
fellowship
it can't
be
avoided
on church
website
in the
state
the
states
says
oh
everybody
is
welcome
to
this
church
but
I
should
warn
you
the
building
is
filled
with
sinners
people
might
say
or do
things
that cause
offense
but as
members of
a Christian
fellowship
we are
therefore
to be
willing
and open
to receive
correction
to be
like the
wise
man
of
Proverbs
9
who
longs
to be
made
wiser
still
even if
the
feedback
even if
the
constructive
criticism
stings
recognizing
that it
produces a
harvest
of
righteousness
takes
humility
to listen
wisdom
to discern
if there's
anything
there that
needs to
be acted
upon
part of
being a
Christian
not only
being
comforted
but being
challenged
by the
Lord
by his
word
and
sometimes
by a
loving
brother
or sister
and that's
really what
church
membership
is about
in part
as we
approach
this season
we think
about what
it means
to be a
communicant
member
of a
congregation
and at
one level
becoming a
member
is to
say to
the
leadership
of that
church
that I'm
willing to
be held
accountable
for my
Christian
walk
and my
Christian
witness
and I
look forward
to being
prayed for
but I'm
open to
being asked
questions
about my
Christian
life
I'm
open to
somebody
having a
word
a private
informal
word
if something
comes to
their attention
that is
inconsistent
in my
conduct
or my
conversation
indeed
not joining
a church
is to
say at
one level
that I
don't want
anyone to
be held
accountable
to anyone
I don't
want anyone
to be
taking such
an interest
in my
life
but the
Lord says
we have
responsibilities
toward
one another
not to
look down
on one
another
as the
disciples
did
but to
look out
for one
another
and to
care for
one another
and where
necessary
to restore
one another
so firstly
he says
if somebody
sins against
you show
them their
fault
but then in
this parable
verse 21
he says
if they
sin against
you of
course you
must show
them your
forgiveness
and Christian
forgiveness
when exercised
is extremely
powerful
I was
delighted to
find a
Christian
bookshop
here
just
yesterday
and we
had a
great time
browsing the
books and
I saw some
books about
the work of
God in
China in
the past
century the
remarkable
growth
miraculous
growth of
the Christian
church in
China
and it
reminded me
of the story
of a Christian
leader who
had published
a book
and was
getting a
certain amount
of publicity
in the
West
book
sought to
glorify God
tell of some
of his
marvelous works
and yet there
were those who
didn't believe
what was written
in this book
there was one
man in
particular
that began
a campaign
against the
author
and he began
a website
and he
somehow influenced
other leaders
in the Chinese
church to
disown this
man
to claim
that he was
a fraud
to drag
his name
through the
dirt
and after
this had
rumbled on
for a number
of months
somebody went
to this
Chinese leader
and they
said what
is your
comment
what do
you say
to this
individual
and to
these other
leaders
he's turned
against you
and this
brother very
graciously
responded by
saying I
have absolutely
nothing against
these brothers
of mine
and I look
forward to
the day when
we will embrace
one another
before the
throne of
the Lamb
he turned
the other
cheek
he forgave
his critics
and Peter
wants to
understand more
about Christian
forgiveness
verse 21
how many
times must I
forgive him
seven times
now the
rabbis of the
day taught
that if you
were sinned
against
you had to
forgive somebody
up to three
times
so Peter is
really looking
for top
marks here
seven times
Lord that's
more than
twice what
the rabbis
are teaching
but the
Lord Jesus
raises the
bar even
higher as
high as he
can raise
it not
seven times
but seventy
times seven
seven the
number of
completeness
seventy times
seven seventy
seven fullness
completeness
as many
times as
you are
being sinned
against
total
true
forgiveness
one writer
says there's
no point
burying a
hatchet
if you're
going to
put up a
marker on
the site
and so
the Lord
goes on to
tell this
parable
to emphasize
the importance
of forgiveness
there is a
king and
he comes to
the end of
his tax
year and
he's settling
accounts with
his servants
verse 24
one servant
is brought
in who
owes ten
thousand
talents
if you
have the
footnote
in your
bibles I
have in
this church
bible you
can scan
down and
it says a
talent was a
monetary unit
worth about
twenty years
wages for
a labourer
so here is
a man
who somehow
and we don't
know how
has run up
extraordinary
debts in
the service
of the king
not thousands
of pounds
or millions
of pounds
but billions
of pounds
Paul Allen
was worth
I think
at his peak
something like
twenty six
billion pounds
Microsoft
one of the
largest companies
in the world
it is that
kind of sum
of money
this man
is in
debt
and he
comes before
the king
and verse
twenty five
says he
could not
pay
his master
ordered him
to be sold
with his
wife
and children
and all
that he
had
total
ruin
the bailiffs
coming round
the house
taking away
the jewellery
the sentimental
items
the house
itself being
repossessed
by the bank
and then
worst of all
his wife
and children
being torn
from him
and sold
off as
slaves
to try and
settle
a fraction
of the debt
total ruin
verse twenty six
the servant
falls on his
knees
and he cries
out
have patience
have mercy
have pity
on me
and I
will pay
you
everything
and verse
twenty seven
and out
of pity
for him
the master
released him
and forgave
him
the debt
at
extraordinary
cost
to the
master
he was
willing to
forgive
this
unworthy
servant
and would
that not
be cause
for great
rejoicing
as he has
back his
home
as he
has back
his wife
and his
children
as he
has back
his life
and you
think it
might be
the kind
of rejoicing
we see
earlier in the
chapter
gathering
together
friends
praising
the master
who showed
him
mercy
given his
life back
but on
the way
home
he meets
one of
his
colleagues
and this
man owes
him
a hundred
denarii
a denarii
was a
day's
wage
so we're
talking here
a couple
of months
salary
a matter
of a
few
thousand
pounds
and instead
of telling
him the
good news
about the
generous
master
he seizes
him
and chokes
him
and says
pay what
you owe
and the
fellow servant
falls down
and pleads
with him
and he
says the
very same
words
the first
servant
said to
his master
have patience
with me
and I
will repay
you
and you
might think
he would
have patience
and in his
joy and in
his gratitude
and in his
gladness
let the
man go
but verse
30
he refused
and he
went and
put him
in prison
until he
should pay
the debt
and when the
fellow servants
hear about this
they're appalled
and they go to
the master
and they tell
him what
happened
and the
master is
angry
righteously
angry
you wicked
servant
I forgave you
all that debt
billions of
pounds
because you
pleaded with
me
and should
you not
have had
mercy on
your fellow
servant
as I
had mercy
on you
he was
shown
mercy
but he
refused to
show mercy
he was
forgiven
but he
refused
to forgive
others
and Jesus
warns
what his
heavenly father
will do
to everyone
if they do
not forgive
their brother
from the
heart
casting them
to the
jailers
until they
should pay
all the
debt
so Peter's
answer
how often
will I
forgive my
brother
Jesus
says
70
times
7
whenever
your brother
asks to be
forgiven
you will
forgive him
because you
will remember
how much
you have
been
forgiven
by your
master
one writer
says
it is the
person who
most knows
himself
liable to
fall
that will
be most
likely to
overlook any
offenses
from his
fellow
man
if somebody
sins against
us
if somebody
offends
us
we need to
remember how
much we
in our lives
have sinned
against a
holy God
how much we
have offended
the creator
and ruler
of all things
and then to
remember how
much he has
forgiven us
what it
cost him
not in
talents
but in the
precious blood
of the Lord
Jesus Christ
shed at
Calvary
and we
remember how
he cancelled
all our
debts
it should
make it
possible for
us to
forgive others
and to
forgive their
trespasses
as we
have
trespassed
against our
father
writing to
the church
in Ephesians
the apostle
Paul says
be kind
to one
another
tender
hearted
forgiving
one another
as God
in Christ
forgave
you
in the
sermon
of the
mount
Jesus
says
if you
forgive
others
their
trespasses
your
heavenly
father
will
forgive
you
but if
you do
not
forgive
one
another
their
trespasses
neither
will
your
heavenly
father
forgive
your
trespasses
we refuse
to cancel
the debts
of others
then our
debt
will
remain
and so
the Lord
teaches us
to
practice
forgiveness
to show
the mercy
that we
have been
shown
and that's
such a
liberating
thing
it's not
an easy
thing
by any
stretch
but it
frees us
from
unforgiveness
it frees
us from
bitterness
and somebody
said
bitterness
resenting
someone
it's like
drinking a
cup of
poison and
expecting the
other person
to die
it only
harms
ourselves
one writer
speaks of
the liberation
of forgiveness
in these
words
a Christian
will find it
cheaper to
pardon than
to resent
forgiveness
saves us
the expense
of anger
the cost
of hatred
and the
waste
of
our
spirits
so the
Lord
recognizes
there will
be great
joys in
Christian
fellowship
courage
such as
we've
shared
this
weekend
but there
will be
difficulties
differences
and he
says we
need to be
realistic
we need to
be open
transparent
we need to
be willing
to receive
correction
willing
sometimes
even to
give
correction
to show
one another
our faults
in a spirit
of love
but we
need also
to bear
with one
another
to love
one another
and to
show one
another
the same
forgiveness
or something
of the same
forgiveness
which we
have been
shown
by our
master
who at
the ultimate
cost to
himself
sent his
son the
Lord Jesus
Christ
into this
world
in order
to free
us from
our slavery
and to
forgive us
all of
our sins
he showed
us our
faults
he shows
us his
forgiveness
and he
invites us
to do the
same
one to
another
that we
might maintain
the unity
of the spirit
in the bonds
of peace
well we
need God's
help in
order to
do that
and so
we're going
to pray
once more
before we
close
with the
final psalm
let us
pray
the godly
in the land
for holiness
renowned
they are
the glorious
ones
in whom
all my
delight
is found
gracious
God
our loving
heavenly
father
how good
it is
to be
here
to be
numbered
among
your people
to know
that our
names are
written in
heaven
to have
been sealed
by your
holy spirit
who guarantees
the inheritance
that is to
come
and to
take time
to think
of that
great
multitude
above in
which we
will one
day take
our place
in the
heavenly
Jerusalem
Lord
as we
think of
the church
above that
great
assembly
we
rejoice
to be
part of
this church
below this
congregation
thank you
that you
have brought
us
tonight
or in
the course
of our
lives
into a
congregation
in which
we can
grow and
bear fruit
which you
can be
strengthened
and comforted
which we
can be
prayed for
and Lord
we thank you
that this is
all of your
grace
thank you
for the
gospel of
grace
which we
have thought
on tonight
thank you
for the
grace at
work in
each of
our lives
thank you
for the
visible fruit
of that
grace
the
brotherly
love
that is
shown
the
hospitality
shared
the
generosity
encouraged
the
hearts
knit
together
in
love
and Lord
we ask
that in
this night
and the
days to
come
you would
help us
to be
reminded
that we
are one
body
different
members
of the
one
body
and so
to pray
for one
another
so to
encourage
one
another
so to
serve
one
another
and
supremely
to love
one
another
and Lord
we ask
that if
difficulties
arise
in our
relationships
and our
friendships
and our
fellowship
that you
would give us
grace to
bear with
one another
to forgive
one another
that even
tonight
if something
is not
right in
our hearts
if there
is a
root of
bitterness
growing up
that you
would help
us to
root it
out
and to
forgive one
another
from the
heart
to leave
our gifts
at the
altar
and go
and make
peace
and to
seek
reconciliation
peace
and so
help us
to live
in such
a way
as to
maintain
the
unity
of the
spirit
and the
bonds
of peace
help us
to see
one another
as brothers
and sisters
in the
Lord
help us
to forgive
one another
as you
have forgiven
us
a great
debt
a great
weight
of sin
casting it
into the
very depths
of the
sea
Lord
thank you
that you
have taken
our sins
from us
as far
as the
east
is from
the west
thank you
that they
are gone
forever
from us
and that we
are now
righteous
in your
sight
so help
us Lord
to live
righteously
to walk
humbly
to love
you
and to
love and
to bear
with one
another
this
night
and in
the days
to come
for we
pray in
Jesus name
Amen
well to end
our time
together we'll
sing the
metrical
version of
Psalm 130
to the
gratitude
martyrdom
this great
psalm of
God's
salvation
the
plenteous
redemption
we find
in Christ
the forgiveness
from all
their iniquities
but we shall
sing together
Psalm 130
Lord from the
depths to
thee I cried
my voice
Lord do
thou hear
and to
my supplications
voice give
an attentive
ear we sing
together to
the praise of
God
Lord from
the torch
toward
thee I
and
my voice
Lord do
Lord, do thou hear unto my suffocation's voice, if thou thou tender here?
Lord, who shall standeth thou, O Lord, to spark in liberty?
But yet with thee forgivenesses, that fear forbids me.
I wait for God, my soul doth wait, my hope is in his word.
O Lord, may thou, O morning watch, my soul doth wait for the Lord.
I say, Lord, I may not be watch, the morning light to see.
Let Israel, O live the Lord, arm with liberty.
Unplaintious redemption is never found within.
And from all his liberty, Israel shall redeem.
Amen.