WEBVTT

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 Father, we're going to open your word now.

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 We're going to look deeply into your word.

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 And Father, we're not always honest with you.

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 We're not always honest, Father,

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 that we don't really think your word is practical,

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 that we don't believe your word, we don't trust your word.

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 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would work deeply within us,

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 that we might honestly come to your word

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 and that your word might come with power

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 into the very center of who we are,

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 that we might be gripped by the gospel

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 and become disciples of Jesus,

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 confident and joyful in the gospel.

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 And this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 So we're going through a different sermon series this summer.

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 I need to start my clock. There we go.

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 We're doing a series of one-verse sermons,

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 deeper, meditating on God's word.

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 And sometimes it's actually two verses.

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 It's basically one sentence.

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 Today, as part of that series,

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 we're actually going to, we're sort of looking at one long sentence,

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 but practically speaking,

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 we're going to camp in a few words

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 at the very, very end of this verse.

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 And Andrew, if you could just put it up,

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 we're going to read it all together in a second.

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 And just so you sort of have a bit of a sense

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 of where this is in the book,

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 in the book of Colossians,

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 in the first two chapters,

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 Paul basically tells people in a very powerful way

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 who Jesus is and what he accomplished

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 in his life and in his death upon the cross.

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 And then chapter three and chapter four

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 address the question,

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 well, if this is true,

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 like if this is true,

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 if this is who Jesus is

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 and this is what he accomplished,

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 then how should we live?

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 Like what does that mean

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 in terms of how we live our daily lives?

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 And in chapter three,

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 which is where this new part of the book starts,

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 Paul uses three sort of very simple images

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 to try to launch into how we should live.

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 He uses the image of first of all,

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 setting our mind on something.

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 It's a very, very practical thing.

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 If you think about it,

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 every one of us,

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 when we wake up in the morning,

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 we have our mind set on something.

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 I mean, at a very short term level,

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 my mind is set on going to the bathroom

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 and then having a cup of coffee.

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 I mean, that's how my mind is set

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 as soon as I wake up.

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 But throughout the day,

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 we have our mind set on different things.

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 I got to do this.

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 I got to do that.

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 I want to make sure I don't do that.

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 And our minds can be set on other things.

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 Gosh, I'm still bothered that so-and-so said that to me.

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 Or boy, I'm going to say something to them

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 or whatever it is.

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 But we have our mind set on something.

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 And so Paul just says,

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 the first thing you should do

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 in terms of who Jesus is

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 and what he's done for your life

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 is you should set your mind on Jesus

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 and think about where the gospel leaves you

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 at the end of the days,

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 which is in the new heaven and the new earth

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 with him forever.

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 So set your mind on that.

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 It doesn't mean you don't think about having a coffee,

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 but just set your mind on Jesus.

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 And then the second and third image are linked

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 because if we think about it,

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 all throughout the week,

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 we take clothes off and put clothes on.

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 All week, we put clothes on,

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 take clothes off, put them on,

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 mix and match,

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 take some off, put others on.

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 And so Paul uses this simple image

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 of taking certain clothing off

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 and then putting certain clothing on.

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 And just before this,

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 he's listed the sort of types of vices,

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 bad things that we do.

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 And he said, you should take these off.

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 Just sort of imagine when you wake up

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 or throughout the day,

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 I'm going to take this off.

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 I'm going to take my anger off.

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 I'm going to put it over here.

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 I'm going to take my, you know,

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 bitterson off.

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 I'm going to put it over there.

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 And then just so you don't walk around naked,

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 he gives this image of putting some clothing on.

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 And that's where we are in this verse.

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 So if you would read the scripture text out loud with me,

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 that would be very helpful.

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 And it goes like this then together.

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 Put on then as God's chosen ones,

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 holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,

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 kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

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 bearing with one another.

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 And if one has a complaint against another,

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 forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you also must forgive.

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 Great passage of scripture.

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 Now, here's the thing,

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 which is at the level of the Greek,

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 you're just going to have to trust me,

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 the original language,

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 there's a very interesting thing about this verse.

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 There's five things that we're asked to put on, right?

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 We're asked to put on compassionate hearts,

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 kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

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 But the way that the verse works

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 is that those can only happen,

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 those five things can really only happen

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 if we bear with one another and forgive one another.

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 That's at the level of the original language.

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 That's how the sentence flows.

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 In other words, it says,

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 you're dreaming,

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 you're smoking a controlled substance,

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 which will soon no longer be a controlled substance in Canada.

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 You're smoking such substances

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 if you think you can be patient,

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 patient with people without forgiving.

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 If you think you're going to be compassionate without forgiving,

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 you're smoking something.

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 If you think you're going to be humble or meek without forgiving,

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 you're sort of smoking something.

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 And that's how it works at the original language.

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 And so what we're going to do, if you could put up the short form, Andrew,

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 this entire sermon is us going to camp on these few words.

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 Can you say them out loud with me?

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 That would be very helpful.

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 As the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you also must forgive.

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 Let's say it together again.

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 As the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you must forgive.

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 I want to keep saying must also, but there you go.

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 So very, very simple.

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 Now let's just be right honest about it right off the bat.

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 None of us here believe that.

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 None of us do.

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 We all profoundly think it's impractical.

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 We think it's all right.

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 Sorry, some of you have, I've just offended some of you.

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 I'm a bit too, you know, maybe,

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 but maybe some of us more or less believe it most of the time.

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 See, here's the thing.

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 If you're a guest here this morning,

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 there's something you have to know about Christians,

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 is that we Christians know that with our lips

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 and on the outside of our body,

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 we're supposed to say certain things, so we do.

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 We're very good at it, like trained seals.

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 But inwardly, we don't really believe a lot of this stuff.

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 And often we don't want to be very honest about the fact

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 that we're a bit divided around these things.

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 This past week, just on Thursday,

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 I had the great honor of being able to speak on Parliament Hill

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 to some of the staffers there

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 through the Parliament Hill Christian Fellowship.

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 There were about 20 people there, and it's a great honor.

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 I take it as a great privilege when I get invited to speak there.

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 I gave them an early draft of this sermon,

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 which is what I do when I get invited to speak there.

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 I give them an early draft of what I'm working on.

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 And I said to them that, you know, if we're honest,

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 we don't think this is practical.

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 And we don't think it's really something we should do

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 in a whole pile of situations.

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 I said, could you imagine that if you go back

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 and one of the things that you're dealing with with your boss

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 is that the other party is slandering you?

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 And not only are they slandering you,

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 but they've been very, very effective

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 in getting the press to swallow the slander

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 and the lies and the innuendo and the spin.

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 And the press is going like crazy after your boss.

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 And it's just really terrible

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 and upsetting all of the things that they're saying.

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 And how many of you do you think

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 would say to your boss

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 that what you need to do is forgive them?

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 I didn't get anybody to put their hand up and say,

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 that's what I tell my boss to do all the time.

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 You've just got to forgive them.

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 Just forgive the other party.

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 Just forgive the Globe and Mail and the writers.

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 Like, hold on a moment.

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 Like, you see, George,

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 it's all right to forgive, like, for small things.

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 But, like, for big things?

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 Like, really?

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 And I gave them this example.

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 There's no particular example,

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 but we all know, and they all knew, by the way,

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 nobody on Parliament Hill said things like this

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 don't happen on Parliament Hill.

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 I said, what if one of you,

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 you know, maybe you're working for a cabinet minister

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 or you're just working for an important MP,

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 and the MP's been doing something naughty.

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 That's bad.

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 And it comes out.

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 And so the MP,

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 there's a little bit of ambiguity around this,

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 or the prime minister or the cabinet minister,

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 they say, listen, it would be terrible for the party.

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 It would be terrible for the cause.

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 It would be terrible for the movement

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 that we represent in Canada

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 if I go down for this.

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 So I'd like you to take responsibility for it

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 to the staff worker.

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 In a sense, I'd like you to fall on your sword for me.

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 I'd like you to fall on my sword for me.

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 And I'd like you to take the blame,

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 and I'd like you to say to the press that I,

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 the, you know, the whatever,

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 the cabinet minister didn't know anything about it.

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 They're completely innocent.

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 It's all on me.

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 I did it all.

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 It's my fault.

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 And the cabinet minister or the MP says to you,

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 don't worry about it.

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 I mean, it's going to be really hard for you,

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 but I'm with you.

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 I got your back,

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 and me and the party will make it up to you later.

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 Yes, right?

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 And then you do that.

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 You fall on your sword.

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 The press dumps on you.

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 Maybe there's some even legal consequences to you or fines.

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 And then three months, six months, nine months,

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 it's all over.

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 You're waiting for the party or the backers

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 to make it up for you, and they forget all about you.

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 In fact, you're a hot potato.

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 They don't want to have anything to do with you.

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 And your career is ruined,

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 especially nowadays with social media.

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 That can follow you for the rest of your life.

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 It might mean for the rest of your life,

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 you don't get as good a job as you would have had

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 if you hadn't fallen on your sword.

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 And the cabinet minister and the other people,

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 they just go on.

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 They're having a great life.

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 Parties in the papers, all that.

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 Things go on well, but your life is ruined.

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 And then, what does it say here?

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 As the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you also must forgive.

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 Like, if we come across a woman

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 who's been abused by her dad for years,

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 do we tell her,

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 as the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you also must forgive?

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 Well, why don't we?

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 Well, it's because we don't really believe this is true.

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 Right?

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 But as Christians, we don't want to say that out loud.

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 So I'm saying it.

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 So here's part of the thing.

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 Part of the reason that we have a hard time with this text,

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 in practice,

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 as the Lord has forgiven you,

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 so you also must forgive.

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 Isn't it just,

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 I hope you memorize this text.

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 Well, here's part of the problem

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 is because whether we're aware of it or not,

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 we know our own heart.

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 And so what goes on in our own heart?

00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:40.780
 Well, what goes on in our own heart

00:10:40.780 --> 00:10:43.240
 is we know what we're like at a certain level.

00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:44.240
 We know what we're like

00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:46.540
 when it comes time for us to ask for forgiveness.

00:10:48.140 --> 00:10:50.000
 Because that's what an apology is.

00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.620
 So you do something wrong,

00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:55.340
 maybe do a set of things wrong,

00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:58.899
 and your wife calls you on it.

00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:01.700
 And you say,

00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:04.000
 I'm really sorry for doing that.

00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.559
 And then what's the very next word?

00:11:06.580 --> 00:11:06.860
 But.

00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:11.600
 And it's a big but.

00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:14.279
 And then we say,

00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:15.820
 well, I'm really sorry for doing that.

00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:16.260
 But.

00:11:17.260 --> 00:11:21.240
 I am really sorry for doing that.

00:11:21.520 --> 00:11:22.300
 Seven words.

00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:23.260
 And then we say

00:11:23.260 --> 00:11:25.360
 a couple of hundred words

00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.200
 or a thousand words after the but.

00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:29.520
 But I was tired.

00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:31.460
 Well, but I, you know,

00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:32.379
 I, I, I,

00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:35.620
 but, you know, you're overreacting.

00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:38.440
 But, and you can fill in the blank, right?

00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:41.060
 And what we've done

00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:43.980
 is we've actually not asked for forgiveness.

00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:46.180
 We've asked for the person

00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:49.280
 to accept our deception and our excuses.

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:56.220
 Can you say that text with me again, please?

00:11:56.920 --> 00:11:58.960
 As the Lord has forgiven you,

00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.360
 so you also must forgive.

00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:04.080
 So one of the reasons we don't agree with this text

00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:06.900
 is because we're fundamentally confused about forgiveness.

00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:09.679
 So, Andrew, if you could put this up.

00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:10.220
 And by the way,

00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.600
 I have set an all-time record today

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.559
 for a sermon with sermon points.

00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.860
 I, if you added it up,

00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:18.699
 I think I have a 27 or 28 point sermon.

00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:20.679
 10 minutes a point.

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.079
 We're going to be here till late in the afternoon.

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:23.980
 No, just joking.

00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:26.759
 If you can't put this all,

00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:28.840
 if I, hopefully this is helpful to you.

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.840
 And if you can't,

00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.460
 if you're curious later on,

00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:32.379
 it will be on the webpage

00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.460
 if you want to look it up.

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:35.240
 But here's what forgiveness is not.

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:38.899
 Forgiveness is not believing their excuses.

00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:42.259
 That's not what forgiveness is.

00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:46.180
 Forgiveness is not being gullible.

00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:50.779
 Forgiveness is not forgetting what they did.

00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:55.700
 Forgiveness is not pretending you were not hurt.

00:12:56.419 --> 00:13:00.240
 Forgiveness is not pretending it was not wrong.

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:04.220
 Forgiveness is not letting the other person

00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.840
 who wronged you off the hook.

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:10.299
 Forgiveness is not making excuses for them

00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:12.460
 because their excuses sucked.

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:16.440
 And you can think of some better excuses for them.

00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.379
 And so you make those excuses for them.

00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:23.759
 How many of us have lived with violent or abusive

00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.220
 or alcoholic people

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.179
 and that's what we've done?

00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.860
 Made excuses for them.

00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:32.580
 And we think we're forgiving them.

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:37.259
 Forgiveness is not turning a blind eye to their actions.

00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.200
 Forgiveness is not approving of what they did.

00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:45.259
 Forgiveness is not saying that what they did

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.639
 was not really wrong.

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:51.059
 Forgiveness is not being deceived by the wrongdoer.

00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:54.740
 Forgiveness is not succumbing to pressure

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.480
 from others to cave.

00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:59.159
 Isn't that what happens so much?

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:03.860
 Like just think of the young woman

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.460
 who's been abused by her dad.

00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:08.080
 Maybe verbally, maybe physically for a long time.

00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.679
 And what is it that the mom says?

00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:12.720
 What is it that their siblings say?

00:14:12.819 --> 00:14:14.439
 Come on, just like go along with it.

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.600
 It wasn't really that bad.

00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.220
 Like just come on.

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:19.100
 Like we like to be able to have a nice time

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.159
 around the supper table

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:23.060
 and here you are grumpy with a long face.

00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:24.159
 Like come on.

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.460
 Come on.

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.139
 Forgive them.

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:27.960
 Right?

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.279
 That's what they say.

00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.300
 That's what we say.

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.420
 Forgive them.

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.779
 In other words,

00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.860
 succumb to the pressure that we're putting on you

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:37.019
 and cave on this.

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.860
 Forgiveness is not encouraging injustice.

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:47.840
 Forgiveness is not repressing what happened.

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:51.539
 Forgiveness is not living in denial.

00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:56.360
 Forgiveness is not surrendering to the perpetrator.

00:14:57.539 --> 00:15:00.940
 Forgiveness is not being an enabler

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:03.720
 to the wrongdoers and the perpetrators.

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.399
 None of those things are forgiveness.

00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.639
 None of them.

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:11.519
 George, why are you saying that?

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.939
 What's our text today?

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:18.960
 This is why this text is such an important text to memorize.

00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.000
 The text says,

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:24.120
 As the Lord has forgiven you,

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.860
 so you also must forgive.

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:30.279
 Jesus doesn't do any of those 17 things I just mentioned.

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.000
 He doesn't say,

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.860
 he doesn't make the excuses for you.

00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:34.000
 He doesn't turn a blind eye.

00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.019
 He doesn't enable you.

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.820
 He doesn't succumb to wrongdoers.

00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:38.679
 You see, the fact of the matter is,

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.340
 is it's the very part,

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.480
 if you're a guest here this morning,

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.899
 one of the things I've been saying a lot lately

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:46.220
 is I don't believe in the God that Canadians believe in.

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.240
 From a Canadian point of view,

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:48.860
 I am an atheist.

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:51.240
 I don't believe in the God that Canadians believe in.

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:53.019
 I believe in the God revealed by Jesus.

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.840
 And the God revealed by Jesus

00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.240
 is very different than the God

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.680
 that most Canadians believe in.

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:03.460
 And it's the very heart of the biblical DNA.

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:06.759
 It's the very heart of Jesus' DNA of the gospel.

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:12.480
 The very heart that never does God call evil good.

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.139
 Never.

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:16.820
 Never does God surrender to evil.

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:17.680
 Never.

00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:17.740
 Never.

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.299
 Never.

00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:20.580
 God is always just.

00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.060
 He's always true.

00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.560
 He's always merciful.

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.159
 And he does forgive.

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:29.480
 And so none of these things that I just listed

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.580
 could possibly be what God means

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.060
 when it says,

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:34.680
 as the Lord has forgiven you,

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.159
 so you also must forgive.

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:39.080
 Because Jesus doesn't do any of those things.

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.560
 You see, it's also,

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.600
 if you could put up the next point, Andrew,

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:47.820
 it's also that forgiving another person does not mean

00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:50.120
 that things have to go back to normal

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:53.560
 or that the wrongdoer will not face consequences.

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:57.299
 Some of you know, maybe not all of you,

00:16:57.299 --> 00:17:01.579
 but my father's a convicted pedophile, spent time in jail.

00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:06.120
 He was a pedophile against young girls.

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:09.319
 And I had a role in having him go to jail.

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:13.799
 And part of the role that I had in helping,

00:17:14.139 --> 00:17:15.379
 I'll jump,

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.740
 in having him go to jail

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:19.899
 was that after we unearthed

00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:22.179
 what he'd been doing for many, many decades,

00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:23.679
 four women,

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.619
 a couple of them in their 40s

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.819
 and others in their 20s,

00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:29.299
 decided that they would bring charges against my father,

00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.919
 not so much because they wanted to punish him,

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.160
 but they wanted to make sure

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:35.039
 that he was on record as a pedophile

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.920
 so that if he ever went to a youth group

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.220
 or something

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:41.500
 and they had him do a police check,

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:43.440
 it would come out that he was on the list.

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:46.080
 And I,

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.560
 this is all family.

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.360
 These are cousins

00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:51.340
 and I won't go into all the other details

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.640
 to protect some of the victims,

00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:57.300
 but I was sort of with one other person

00:17:57.300 --> 00:17:58.640
 was the one who unearthed it.

00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.700
 I was the one who confronted my father.

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:03.279
 It was a very, very difficult day.

00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:04.500
 It was a July 2nd,

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.480
 quite a few years ago

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.799
 when I went to my dad and said,

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.299
 I know your secret

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:13.559
 and told him what he had been doing.

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:16.220
 And,

00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:19.420
 and so these four looked to me

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.600
 for support and encouragement

00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.400
 when they decided

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.600
 that they were going to bring charges

00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:23.580
 against my father

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:25.259
 and I supported them,

00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:26.519
 encouraged them as the victims

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:29.160
 and I started to face tremendous pressure

00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:30.799
 from my extended family

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.139
 to use my influence as a pastor

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:33.759
 to tell them

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.500
 that they had to forgive my father

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:38.379
 and forgive my father

00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.859
 meant that he did not

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:42.379
 have to have charges pressed against him.

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:45.960
 The pastor of my parents' church

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.299
 sent me letters

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:50.619
 telling me that if I was a real Christian,

00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:54.019
 I would use my influence

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:56.619
 to tell these four people

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.639
 who were all Christians

00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:59.379
 that as Christians

00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:00.199
 they had to forgive

00:19:00.199 --> 00:19:01.659
 and forgiving would mean

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.959
 that they didn't bring charges

00:19:02.959 --> 00:19:04.899
 and so my dad wouldn't have to go to jail.

00:19:06.479 --> 00:19:08.000
 And it's caused,

00:19:08.239 --> 00:19:09.039
 even today,

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.119
 a profound division in my family.

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.079
 I stood with the victims

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:14.259
 and the victims went forward

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:16.480
 and my dad went to jail.

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.919
 And that's had a rever...

00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:23.379
 It's continued to have

00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:25.559
 an effect right to today.

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.919
 But you see,

00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:28.059
 what they thought

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.960
 was that forgiving

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:30.639
 meant that there's no consequences,

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.799
 that things go back to normal,

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.720
 but that's not true.

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.879
 Forgiving is different

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:35.639
 than having certain consequences

00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:36.899
 still befall a person.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.279
 It's quite different.

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:43.339
 And, you know,

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.399
 another example is

00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:46.539
 if somebody stole $50,000

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.819
 from us as a church,

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.420
 it would be this text,

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:51.180
 as the Lord has forgiven you

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.440
 so you also must forgive

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.879
 would mean that we would have to forgive

00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:56.379
 the person who stole $50,000 from us.

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.039
 We're a small church,

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.859
 that's a lot of money.

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.420
 But you know what?

00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:02.139
 After we've forgiven them

00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:04.339
 and maybe even after

00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.920
 and after they've been reconciled,

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.839
 potentially assuming

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.899
 that they've been

00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.880
 penitent

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.960
 and want to amend their life,

00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.540
 they could come back

00:20:11.540 --> 00:20:12.200
 into our church

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.060
 because we've forgiven them,

00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:13.940
 but they could never be

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.840
 treasurer again,

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.320
 could they?

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.980
 Just as my dad

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.960
 should never look after

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.720
 young girls

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.220
 for the rest of his life,

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.820
 even if he's healed,

00:20:25.280 --> 00:20:26.100
 and it would be wrong

00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:26.640
 to put him

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.820
 into a place

00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:29.180
 he can be forgiven,

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.720
 but the family

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.540
 should have accepted

00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:34.300
 that it was a good

00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:35.100
 and wise thing

00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:36.100
 that he'd be on the list

00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:36.940
 of pedophiles.

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:40.500
 For the good of my father,

00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:42.040
 the true good of my father,

00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.000
 and for the true good

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.460
 of potential future victims.

00:20:45.540 --> 00:20:46.040
 So you see,

00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:47.060
 forgiveness,

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.500
 forgiving another person

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.680
 does not mean

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.640
 that things have to go

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.300
 back to normal

00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:53.560
 or that the wrongdoer

00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:56.420
 will not face consequences.

00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.780
 If you could put up

00:20:58.780 --> 00:20:59.759
 the next point, Andrew,

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.680
 true forgiveness

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.920
 always involves

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:04.920
 forgiving the inexcusable

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:07.140
 wrong done to you.

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.240
 True forgiveness

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.799
 always involves

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.200
 forgiving the person

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:15.080
 for the inexcusable

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:17.740
 wrong done to you.

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.120
 And we all go,

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.160
 whoa,

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.400
 one moment.

00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:25.840
 Do you see how confused we are?

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.580
 Didn't we all just agree

00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:28.200
 that forgiveness

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:29.519
 wasn't accepting excuses?

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.299
 Didn't we all agree

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.879
 that all,

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.119
 I mean,

00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:32.819
 didn't we all sort of

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.859
 see the instant wisdom?

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:34.339
 See,

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.039
 this is the problem

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.160
 why we're so confused.

00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.680
 You see,

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.559
 the problem we're so confused

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.480
 is the reason people

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.559
 don't pursue forgiveness

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.759
 is they think forgiveness

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.400
 is being gullible,

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.379
 it's being weak,

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.519
 it's being a doormat,

00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.559
 it's wearing a t-shirt

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:46.980
 that says,

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:48.039
 please kick me.

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.440
 It's,

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.139
 you know,

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.119
 it's being deceived,

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.559
 it's succumbing

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.400
 to perpetrators,

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.079
 it's succumbing

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.879
 to peer pressure.

00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:57.039
 We think all these

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.660
 wrong things

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.420
 about forgiveness

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.360
 and that's why

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.420
 we don't pursue it.

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.680
 That's why we don't

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.640
 think it's practical.

00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:04.800
 Even though the Bible,

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.560
 for Christians,

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.640
 the Bible tells us

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.220
 that it's practical

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.660
 because I'm going to

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.180
 explain in a moment

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.180
 why it's unbelievably

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.800
 practical

00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:11.340
 to the entire human race.

00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.540
 And at the same time

00:22:13.540 --> 00:22:14.120
 then when we say

00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.759
 so forgiving,

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:15.540
 you know,

00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.100
 because there are

00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:16.980
 obviously sometimes

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.900
 mitigating factors

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.440
 for things,

00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:18.740
 you know,

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.060
 and all,

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.940
 but when we think,

00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:21.400
 whoa, whoa,

00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:21.700
 whoa, whoa,

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:21.840
 whoa, whoa,

00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:23.480
 forgiveness actually

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:25.380
 involves forgiving

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:27.260
 the inexcusable

00:22:27.260 --> 00:22:28.740
 wrong done to you,

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.160
 we,

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:33.380
 because we want

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.500
 to sneak in excuses.

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:38.020
 We want to return

00:22:38.020 --> 00:22:39.040
 to being confused

00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:40.480
 about what forgiveness is.

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.500
 You see,

00:22:45.560 --> 00:22:46.140
 this text

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.180
 is confronting us

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.620
 at the level

00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.220
 of the heart,

00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:48.800
 who we are

00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:49.900
 before the living God,

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.360
 who we really are

00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:52.660
 before the living God.

00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:57.259
 But this is what

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.040
 forgiveness is.

00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:58.900
 After you've taken away

00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.900
 all of the mitigating

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.519
 circumstances,

00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:00.779
 in fact,

00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:01.820
 actually this is a really

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:02.300
 important thing

00:23:02.300 --> 00:23:02.820
 for those of us

00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.360
 who are Christians,

00:23:03.560 --> 00:23:04.640
 a lot of times

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.640
 when we think

00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.180
 we've confessed

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.100
 our sins to God,

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:08.140
 what we have done

00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:09.580
 is actually just

00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:11.160
 made excuses to God.

00:23:12.300 --> 00:23:13.180
 And then afterwards

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.080
 we get up our knees

00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:14.759
 and we go like this

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.080
 and we say,

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.600
 ah, there you go,

00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:16.320
 I've done a good job

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.000
 with telling God

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.779
 my excuses.

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.120
 We haven't actually

00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:21.759
 just asked for forgiveness.

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.220
 Because we have

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.000
 a hard time believing

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.759
 that God will actually

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.300
 forgive us

00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:28.540
 at a very deep level.

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.759
 You see,

00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.860
 unforgiveness,

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.820
 this is just a talk

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:32.440
 here to the Christians,

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.440
 when we don't forgive,

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.580
 it's a bit of a sign

00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.240
 as to how real

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.000
 the gospel is

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.600
 to our heart.

00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.759
 You know,

00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:40.279
 fortunately,

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.360
 the gospel doesn't

00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:42.120
 have to be perfectly

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.220
 real to our heart

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.920
 to be saved

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.740
 because God

00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.540
 does all the work.

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.860
 Thanks be to God.

00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.480
 I put my hand up

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.019
 to reach for him

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.460
 for mercy.

00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:51.080
 He crosses

00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:52.040
 the infinite distance.

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.659
 He does,

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.980
 deals with all my sin.

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:54.779
 He gives me

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.879
 the righteousness of Jesus.

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.940
 He does everything.

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.740
 He holds on to me.

00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.579
 I don't hold on to him.

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.420
 Thanks be to God.

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.220
 That's the truth

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.639
 about how the gospel works.

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:05.159
 But growing as a Christian

00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.099
 is learning

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.960
 to start to have

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.500
 and allowing

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.319
 the Holy Spirit

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.240
 to start to bring

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.279
 the gospel home

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.200
 to deeper levels

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.059
 of who you are

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:13.059
 so the gospel

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.279
 becomes real to you.

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.119
 And part of that process

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.979
 is realizing

00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:20.379
 that as the Lord...

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.219
 Can you say...

00:24:21.219 --> 00:24:22.419
 Could you put the text

00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:23.019
 up again, Andrew?

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.399
 Sorry.

00:24:23.719 --> 00:24:24.239
 Can you say that

00:24:24.239 --> 00:24:24.939
 all with me again?

00:24:25.459 --> 00:24:26.239
 As the Lord

00:24:26.239 --> 00:24:27.539
 has forgiven you,

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:29.039
 so you also

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.859
 must forgive.

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.579
 My hope is

00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.239
 you remember this

00:24:31.239 --> 00:24:31.839
 more than whatever

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.639
 I have to say.

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:33.859
 So...

00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:34.500
 Like...

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:39.219
 Okay, George.

00:24:39.479 --> 00:24:40.139
 How on earth

00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:41.019
 can you actually

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:42.500
 forgive the inexcusable

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:42.839
 wrong

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:44.059
 which is done

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.379
 to you?

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.539
 Well, before we talk

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:45.879
 about that,

00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:46.460
 very briefly

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.200
 I have to talk

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.980
 just a little bit

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.819
 about what happens

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.659
 to most of us

00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:51.079
 when we're wronged.

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.819
 And we go in a couple

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.700
 of different directions,

00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.599
 maybe three

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:56.259
 sort of different ways

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.700
 that we go

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.639
 when somebody wrongs us.

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.639
 And rather than

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.480
 forgiving them,

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.579
 what we do

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.740
 is we forget about it

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.779
 or we make excuses

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.740
 and other words like that.

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.639
 But we actually...

00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.179
 We're not really

00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:08.399
 dealing with the wrong.

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.579
 The wrong is in there

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:12.159
 still eating away at us.

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.799
 And one of the main

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.240
 ways that we respond

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.279
 to being wronged

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:16.980
 when we don't forgive

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.700
 is by bitterness

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.480
 and resentment.

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:21.379
 Bitterness and resentment.

00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.779
 We think every day

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.859
 or maybe every week

00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:25.519
 about the things

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.200
 that that person

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.759
 did to us.

00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.579
 The opportunities

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:29.299
 that were now lost to us.

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.399
 The innocence

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:31.859
 that we will never get back.

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.379
 The shame that we carry.

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:35.039
 The honor that we lost.

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.740
 The financial...

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.460
 The dollars

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.599
 that it has cost us

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.339
 to deal with this.

00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:40.259
 And we think about it

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.099
 and we think about it

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.859
 and we get bitter

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:43.339
 and we get resentful

00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:43.759
 about it.

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.480
 And if you could put up

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.459
 the next point, Andrew.

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.139
 And here's the simple thing.

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.159
 Harboring bitterness

00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:48.859
 and resentment

00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:50.459
 is like eating laxatives

00:25:50.459 --> 00:25:52.220
 and hoping that the other person

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.079
 gets the runs.

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.859
 Never works.

00:25:57.959 --> 00:25:58.919
 Use that example

00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.259
 I gave on Parliament Hill.

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.539
 You fall on your sword.

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.980
 Your career is ruined.

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.759
 Your finances

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.980
 are never going to be as good.

00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.720
 Your reputation

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.740
 has never been as good.

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.799
 And meanwhile,

00:26:07.959 --> 00:26:09.119
 the guy you did it for,

00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:10.299
 the gal you did it for,

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.639
 they're having champagne

00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.659
 with the high and the mighty.

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.119
 They've forgotten about you

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.000
 a long time ago.

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.059
 And every day,

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:16.960
 you eat that bitterness,

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:17.899
 you eat that resentment,

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.960
 and you're having laxatives,

00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:21.119
 and you're getting the runs.

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.240
 They're not.

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.759
 Because it never works that way.

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.099
 Harboring bitterness

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.720
 and resentment

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.899
 over what's done to you.

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.559
 Being grumpy about it.

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.460
 It just bends

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.359
 our life out of shape.

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.759
 Another way we deal with it

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.440
 is we just...

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:34.980
 We want to...

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.639
 We want to be angry at them.

00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:40.220
 Here's a fellow that I know,

00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:41.740
 and he became a Christian

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.380
 late in life,

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.240
 and he told me

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.480
 after he'd become a Christian

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.220
 that he realized

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.400
 that the way he...

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:47.220
 That he had a motto

00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.580
 when he was in business.

00:26:49.040 --> 00:26:50.020
 And it sort of made him

00:26:50.020 --> 00:26:50.880
 a bit of shame now,

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.520
 but his motto

00:26:51.520 --> 00:26:52.400
 when he'd been in business,

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.700
 he'd seen it on a cup

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.280
 or a poster.

00:26:55.040 --> 00:26:55.660
 He actually...

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.920
 He went to church all the time,

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:58.140
 so he had this biblical thing,

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.500
 but it was,

00:26:58.560 --> 00:26:58.840
 you know that,

00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.020
 Yea, though I walk

00:27:00.020 --> 00:27:00.560
 through the valley

00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.460
 of the shadow of death,

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.480
 I will fear no evil.

00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:04.040
 And then it said,

00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:05.200
 For I am the meanest

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.280
 SOB in the valley.

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:09.280
 And that's how

00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:10.160
 we made it through life.

00:27:11.020 --> 00:27:11.920
 You do me,

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.160
 I'm going to do it

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.380
 ten times to you.

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.220
 You slander me,

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:17.380
 you won't believe

00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.820
 what I can do back to you.

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.380
 You take me on,

00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:23.360
 you are finished.

00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:26.080
 Who wants to be that person?

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.460
 Who wants to be that person?

00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.860
 And who wants to be a person

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.520
 who's eating bitterness

00:27:32.520 --> 00:27:33.100
 and resentment,

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.020
 which is another way...

00:27:34.020 --> 00:27:34.560
 And by the way,

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.460
 depression,

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.180
 a lot of times,

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.620
 depression,

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.279
 as you all know,

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.360
 is violence outward

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:39.559
 turned in on the self.

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:41.039
 And we're not able...

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.279
 We want to be the meanest

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.319
 SOB in the valley.

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.380
 But the fact of the matter is,

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.620
 there's a lot of meaner guys

00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:47.720
 and gals out there.

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:51.360
 And so we get depressed,

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.299
 turning the anger inside.

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.220
 And then the third thing

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.779
 we can do is,

00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:55.720
 we just often end up

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.640
 becoming completely

00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.640
 and utterly cynical

00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.600
 about the whole thing.

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.460
 Just defeated and cynical.

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.720
 We don't harbor bitterness,

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.980
 we don't harbor anger,

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.380
 resentment,

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:05.539
 but we are just cynical

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:07.519
 and we just,

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.539
 we've just in a sense

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.360
 given up life

00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:11.380
 and we go through life

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:12.079
 giving up.

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:14.980
 So,

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.600
 could you put the

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:17.640
 scripture text up again?

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.180
 Sorry, Andrew,

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:20.180
 you've been great today,

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.620
 by the way.

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.380
 As the Lord...

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:22.440
 Can we say this together again?

00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:24.819
 As the Lord has forgiven you,

00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:27.120
 so you also must forgive.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.680
 So what is it?

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.180
 Here's...

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:29.960
 If you could put up

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:31.200
 the next point...

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.660
 Here's the reminder then.

00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.580
 True forgiveness...

00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:34.420
 If you could put it up, Andrew.

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.660
 True forgiveness

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.960
 always involves

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.600
 forgiving

00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:39.740
 the inexcusable wrong

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.340
 done to you.

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.400
 That's what it is.

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.580
 It's always

00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:44.279
 forgiving

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.860
 the inexcusable wrong

00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.700
 that was done to you.

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.680
 Forgiving the person

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:49.440
 for the inexcusable wrong

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.440
 that they was done to you.

00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.700
 So how on earth

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.299
 can this ever possibly happen?

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.660
 Well, it does.

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:58.759
 It has happened

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.779
 and it happens today.

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.720
 If you could put up

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.640
 the next point, Andrew.

00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:04.019
 And I struggle

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.740
 with this wording

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.880
 and I know it's not perfect

00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.620
 and I, you know,

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.759
 if I do this sermon

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.460
 20 times,

00:29:08.540 --> 00:29:09.100
 maybe I'll eventually

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:10.080
 get the grammar right

00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:11.019
 or one of you will help me.

00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:11.700
 But here it is.

00:29:11.800 --> 00:29:12.759
 Earthly forgiveness.

00:29:13.060 --> 00:29:13.980
 That is the forgiveness

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:15.380
 that we actually see in life

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:17.320
 is a mystery.

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.880
 It's a mystery.

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.880
 We're going to talk

00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.400
 about it more.

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:25.259
 whereby you bear

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.980
 much

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:29.700
 or most of the cost

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.400
 of the wrong

00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.440
 that was done to you.

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.300
 But you bear it

00:29:33.300 --> 00:29:33.940
 in a way

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.380
 that results

00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.380
 in you being free.

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.600
 And it's a mystery

00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:41.120
 how it is

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.640
 it can happen.

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.460
 How it is

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.940
 that some people

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:45.660
 the wrong

00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:47.040
 eats away at them

00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:47.680
 and makes them

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.820
 cynical and defeated

00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:49.460
 in life

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.700
 and lethargic.

00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.500
 For some,

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.680
 the anger

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:54.200
 and the wrong

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:55.059
 that's done to them

00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:56.100
 just makes them bitter

00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:56.940
 and resentful

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.500
 and grumpy.

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.840
 For some,

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.960
 the wrong

00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.880
 that is done to them

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.920
 makes them violent

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.580
 and aggressive,

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.799
 makes them racist,

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:06.200
 just makes them

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.200
 foul-mouthed

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.059
 and anger-driven.

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.600
 And why it is, though,

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.720
 that there is this thing

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.680
 called forgiveness

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.340
 whereby there is a way

00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:15.200
 of, in a sense,

00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:16.680
 bearing or embracing

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:18.480
 the true,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.080
 inexcusable wrong

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.779
 and the cost

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.539
 that that has done

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:21.960
 to you

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.859
 and there is a way

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.939
 of bearing that

00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:25.639
 that results

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.279
 in freedom.

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.619
 The great example

00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.119
 of this

00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:32.039
 over the last

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.079
 20 or 30 years

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.919
 is, of course,

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.939
 Nelson Mandela.

00:30:38.439 --> 00:30:39.599
 Nelson Mandela

00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:42.519
 who endured

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:44.779
 the terrible

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.139
 horrible horrible

00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.259
 horrible horrible

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.159
 horrible horrible

00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:47.059
 horrible horrible

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.139
 horrible horrible

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.259
 horrible horrible

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.139
 horrible horrible

00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:48.980
 horrible horrible

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.099
 and all those

00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:51.619
 decades lost

00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:52.359
 in jail.

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.059
 And I,

00:30:55.439 --> 00:30:56.759
 he didn't forgive

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.219
 right away

00:30:57.219 --> 00:30:58.019
 but by the time

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.619
 he emerged

00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.459
 he had forgiven

00:30:59.459 --> 00:31:00.659
 and he was

00:31:00.659 --> 00:31:01.779
 the freest man

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.719
 in South Africa.

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.959
 He was freer

00:31:04.959 --> 00:31:05.639
 than the people

00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:06.439
 who hated him,

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.299
 freer than the people

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.119
 who feared him,

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:11.159
 freer than his own

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.399
 race,

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.419
 his own people

00:31:13.419 --> 00:31:15.220
 who hadn't forgiven.

00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.220
 He was free.

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.680
 Somehow or another

00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.559
 and he's not a Christian.

00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:20.059
 I'm using him

00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:20.659
 as an example

00:31:20.659 --> 00:31:21.619
 of how the fact is

00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.980
 that somehow or another

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.379
 he didn't forget

00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.599
 the wrong that was done.

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.339
 He didn't pretend

00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:27.859
 that there was

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.680
 no wrong done.

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.859
 He didn't excuse

00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:31.019
 the wrong that was done.

00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.559
 Somehow or another

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.240
 he took the wrong

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.379
 that was done to him

00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.280
 and he bore it

00:31:36.280 --> 00:31:37.340
 in such a way

00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:37.660
 that,

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.720
 and it doesn't

00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.620
 something that happens

00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.100
 in a moment

00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:41.380
 but in the far side

00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.380
 of this act

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.040
 of forgiving

00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:43.780
 which is a way

00:31:43.780 --> 00:31:44.520
 of approaching

00:31:44.520 --> 00:31:45.120
 the wrong

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:45.620
 in a way

00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.160
 that when you

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.520
 it's,

00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:47.620
 you've processed

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.240
 it all through

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.860
 or it's processed

00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.620
 all through you

00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.520
 that you're actually

00:31:50.520 --> 00:31:51.020
 free.

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:53.720
 You see,

00:31:53.800 --> 00:31:54.320
 if you could put up

00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:54.980
 the next point,

00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.340
 Andrew,

00:31:56.020 --> 00:31:57.440
 here's how we know

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.160
 that we've forgiven.

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.900
 When you finally

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.480
 forgive,

00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:01.880
 you are left

00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:02.800
 with a clear

00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:04.000
 eyed freedom

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.640
 from bitterness

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.400
 and resentment

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:08.460
 fight or flight

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:10.119
 and tower

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:11.039
 or cower.

00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.079
 And how we know this,

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.339
 you see,

00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:14.940
 that's one of the reasons

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.779
 why we have to forgive

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.500
 even the dead

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.759
 or the people

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.319
 who have done wrong

00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.759
 to us 20 or 30 years ago

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.900
 and they've long

00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:21.859
 forgotten about us.

00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:23.000
 It might be a teacher

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.619
 or the coach

00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.539
 who just was

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.839
 unbelievably cruel

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.200
 to you

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.940
 and long ago

00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.539
 they forgot

00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.339
 you existed

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:31.099
 and you're carrying

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:32.200
 things around

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.740
 but all of a sudden,

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.059
 maybe you see

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.559
 the person

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:35.980
 or you're in

00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.539
 their presence

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.279
 or you see

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.720
 a picture

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.279
 of the person

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.140
 or you smell

00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.819
 a smell

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.720
 that reminds you

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.380
 of the person.

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:42.920
 Isn't it funny

00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:43.500
 how sometimes

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.319
 a certain smell

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:45.039
 can trigger

00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:46.099
 all sorts of memories?

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.019
 And as soon as

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:49.039
 you have those memories

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.599
 come back,

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.579
 all of those times

00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.259
 you're feeling

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.019
 like your fist

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.700
 starts to clench,

00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.480
 you tighten up

00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:57.599
 or you start to cry

00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:59.180
 or you feel depressed

00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.819
 or you feel the bitterness.

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.039
 It means,

00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:02.819
 brother and sister

00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.419
 in Christ

00:33:03.419 --> 00:33:04.000
 that you haven't

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.919
 forgiven the person

00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:07.480
 because on the far side

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:07.980
 of forgiveness

00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:08.819
 is a freedom

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.319
 whereby you can

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.419
 remember the person

00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:12.480
 and you can remember

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.539
 all of those things.

00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:14.399
 You haven't forgotten

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:14.579
 them,

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.419
 you remember them

00:33:15.419 --> 00:33:17.159
 but you can remember

00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:17.819
 in freedom,

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.939
 clear-eyed freedom

00:33:18.939 --> 00:33:20.379
 without bitterness,

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.220
 without resentment,

00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:23.019
 without fight or flight,

00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:24.179
 without towering

00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:24.899
 over them

00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:26.639
 or cowering

00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:27.599
 under them

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:29.599
 because of their violence.

00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.399
 So the fact of the matter

00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:33.799
 is,

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:35.299
 is that forgiveness

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.199
 actually happens

00:33:36.199 --> 00:33:37.000
 both in Christians

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.099
 and in non-Christians.

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:38.919
 If you want to read

00:33:38.919 --> 00:33:39.519
 a great book

00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:40.139
 on forgiveness,

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.079
 look at the book

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.099
 not Amazing Grace

00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:43.259
 but Amish Grace

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:45.799
 written by some sociologists

00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.339
 analyzing what went on

00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.319
 when the Amish people

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.240
 forgave the man

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.859
 who murdered

00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.139
 the young girls.

00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:53.120
 I think it was in 2006

00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.860
 or 2008,

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.840
 not that long ago

00:33:54.840 --> 00:33:55.680
 that it happened.

00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.700
 It happens.

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:58.080
 So how is it

00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:59.280
 this is even possible?

00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:00.100
 What here you see

00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:00.840
 is where the Bible

00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:01.660
 is so helpful

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.380
 because I think

00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:03.220
 only Christians

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:03.980
 can account

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.320
 for how it is

00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:05.860
 that forgiveness

00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.680
 is possible.

00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.720
 Could you put up

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.760
 the scripture quote again?

00:34:09.720 --> 00:34:10.099
 Andrew,

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.119
 you've been great.

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.260
 Say it together with me.

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.519
 As the Lord

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.820
 has forgiven you

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:16.460
 so you also

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.700
 must forgive.

00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.099
 See,

00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:19.900
 here's the thing.

00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:20.940
 If you put up

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.619
 the point now,

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.019
 the cross

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.079
 was God

00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:25.679
 bearing the cost

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:27.340
 to forgive you

00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:29.840
 of your inexcusable wrongs.

00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:33.380
 The cross

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.880
 was God

00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:36.440
 bearing the cost

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.940
 to forgive you

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:40.980
 of your inexcusable wrongs.

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.139
 You see,

00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:44.179
 when the Bible says

00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:44.980
 that the Lord

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.820
 forgives you,

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.400
 how did he forgive you?

00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.400
 Actually,

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.079
 if you go back

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.579
 later on,

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:49.980
 I'm not going to

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.480
 look at it now,

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.300
 go back later on

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:51.679
 and look at

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.980
 Colossians 2,

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:54.599
 verses 13 and 14.

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.639
 And in Colossians 2,

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:58.019
 verses 13 and 14,

00:34:58.199 --> 00:34:58.960
 Paul talks about

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.400
 how it is

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.480
 that Christ forgives us.

00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.059
 And the image

00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.740
 he gives is this.

00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.440
 He gives a very

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:03.980
 simple image

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:06.179
 to his hearers

00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:06.539
 who'd seen

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.639
 many crucifixions.

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:08.460
 And here,

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.219
 it's very helpful.

00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:09.960
 We have this

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.059
 reproduction

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.360
 of a stained glass window

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.000
 and it's,

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.300
 you know,

00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:13.500
 very,

00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.179
 very traditional

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:16.079
 and all that.

00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.579
 but you see,

00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:17.599
 over the cross,

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.500
 it was customary

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.719
 in the time

00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:20.360
 of the Romans

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:21.099
 that when somebody

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:21.739
 was crucified,

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.659
 they would often

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:24.699
 put on the actual cross

00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.539
 the charge

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.519
 against the person

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.039
 that was leading

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.739
 to their death.

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:29.940
 And what Paul suggests

00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:31.480
 in Colossians 2,

00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.900
 verses 13 and 14

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.500
 is that you,

00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.619
 that George

00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:35.659
 and you

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.219
 and Andrew

00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:36.759
 and Diane

00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:37.579
 and each person here,

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.480
 we're to imagine

00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:39.480
 that what really

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.719
 happened on the cross

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.699
 is that as Jesus

00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.920
 is dying on the cross,

00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:45.119
 what's put on the cross

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:48.159
 is all the inexcusable wrongs

00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:50.119
 that George Sinclair

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.940
 has done

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:53.680
 from his moral awakening

00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:54.720
 to his death,

00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:55.599
 which is still for me

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.159
 in the future.

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:58.559
 Every inexcusable wrong

00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:02.099
 for which a cost

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.920
 must be paid,

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:06.280
 every single,

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.579
 nothing left out,

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:09.119
 inexcusable wrong

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.940
 was listed

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:12.380
 on the cross

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:14.119
 and as Jesus

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.880
 is dying,

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:17.400
 he is bearing

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.619
 the cost

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.800
 of forgiving

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:22.380
 my inexcusable wrongs.

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.680
 Clear-eyed,

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.400
 undeceived,

00:36:27.160 --> 00:36:27.980
 perfect clarity,

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.420
 perfect knowledge.

00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:32.860
 He bears them

00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:33.380
 in himself.

00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:37.960
 And because

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:40.559
 we Christians

00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.440
 believe that Jesus

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.099
 is God,

00:36:42.200 --> 00:36:43.159
 the Son of God,

00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:44.220
 and that human beings

00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:44.780
 are made

00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:46.119
 in the image of God,

00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:47.179
 it means that

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:49.200
 in a way

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:50.740
 that only he could do,

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.700
 it means that

00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.599
 he can bear

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.840
 the cost

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.619
 of forgiving

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:57.440
 the inexcusable wrongs

00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:58.639
 of every single one

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.659
 who is here in this room

00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.760
 and of every single person

00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:01.240
 on the planet

00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:02.280
 because we human beings

00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:03.720
 are made in his image.

00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:05.139
 And you see,

00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:06.300
 this is what is so profound

00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:07.159
 about the gospel

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:09.000
 is that that means

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.619
 that when Jesus

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.679
 dies on the cross,

00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:11.579
 on one hand,

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.259
 it is something

00:37:12.259 --> 00:37:13.019
 that happens

00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:14.879
 real.

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:17.619
 It really happens.

00:37:17.839 --> 00:37:19.019
 It really happened

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:20.139
 on a dusty hill

00:37:20.139 --> 00:37:21.259
 just outside the gates

00:37:21.259 --> 00:37:21.779
 of Jerusalem.

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.139
 Like,

00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:23.719
 it really happened.

00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:25.279
 But while it really

00:37:25.279 --> 00:37:26.579
 happens on earth,

00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:27.960
 it is something cosmic

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.379
 happening at the same time.

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.759
 While it really happens

00:37:30.759 --> 00:37:31.659
 in time,

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.759
 it is something

00:37:32.759 --> 00:37:34.039
 happening eternal

00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:35.500
 at the same time

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.599
 that has bearing

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.579
 on every,

00:37:38.139 --> 00:37:39.239
 every time.

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:39.920
 While it's really

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.940
 happening in a particular

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.619
 place,

00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:43.179
 because of who he is,

00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:44.079
 it happens

00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:44.860
 and it's available

00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:46.239
 for every place,

00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.119
 every time,

00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:48.219
 every person.

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.960
 That the Lord

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:55.840
 bears the cost

00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:58.779
 of the inexcusable wrongs

00:37:58.779 --> 00:37:59.679
 that we have done

00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:03.800
 and pays that cost

00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:05.340
 so that you and I

00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:06.140
 can be forgiven.

00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:10.120
 So this mystery

00:38:10.120 --> 00:38:10.940
 of forgiveness,

00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:13.100
 Christians believe

00:38:13.100 --> 00:38:14.180
 in common grace.

00:38:15.180 --> 00:38:15.840
 Nelson Mandela,

00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:16.320
 I don't believe

00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:17.000
 he was a Christian,

00:38:17.120 --> 00:38:17.820
 but when he is able

00:38:17.820 --> 00:38:18.340
 to forgive,

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.660
 he is in a sense

00:38:19.660 --> 00:38:20.960
 participating in this

00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:21.560
 mystery of what

00:38:21.560 --> 00:38:22.180
 Christ has done.

00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:22.760
 Not in a way that

00:38:22.760 --> 00:38:24.000
 will save Nelson Mandela,

00:38:24.060 --> 00:38:25.000
 that we have to put

00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:25.780
 our faith and trust

00:38:25.780 --> 00:38:26.240
 in Jesus,

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:28.000
 but this mystery

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:29.640
 is a true mystery.

00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:30.660
 It really happened.

00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.560
 It really broke

00:38:31.560 --> 00:38:32.680
 into our time.

00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:36.859
 And even people

00:38:36.859 --> 00:38:38.239
 who can't acknowledge

00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:39.019
 the source

00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:40.259
 can experience

00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:40.719
 the fruit.

00:38:40.859 --> 00:38:41.779
 But for those of us

00:38:41.779 --> 00:38:42.399
 who are followers

00:38:42.399 --> 00:38:43.079
 of Jesus,

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:43.919
 Andrew,

00:38:44.019 --> 00:38:44.460
 could you put up

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.219
 the scripture text

00:38:45.219 --> 00:38:45.539
 again?

00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:47.599
 As the Lord

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.559
 has forgiven you,

00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:50.259
 so you also

00:38:50.259 --> 00:38:51.099
 must forgive.

00:38:51.319 --> 00:38:52.719
 We can understand

00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:55.359
 Jesus forgiving

00:38:55.359 --> 00:38:56.279
 the inexcusable

00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:57.259
 in us.

00:38:57.679 --> 00:38:58.359
 Just want to

00:38:58.359 --> 00:38:59.079
 dry it up

00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.899
 in a bit of a close.

00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.779
 If you could put up

00:39:00.780 --> 00:39:01.800
 the next point,

00:39:02.080 --> 00:39:02.400
 Andrew,

00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:04.120
 just to try to bring

00:39:04.120 --> 00:39:05.280
 it to a close,

00:39:06.600 --> 00:39:08.519
 one of the things

00:39:08.519 --> 00:39:09.260
 that you can pray

00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:10.200
 is that God

00:39:10.200 --> 00:39:10.940
 teach me,

00:39:11.160 --> 00:39:11.700
 lead me,

00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:12.420
 and help me

00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:12.920
 to forgive.

00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.300
 God teach me,

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.800
 lead me,

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.180
 and, oh sorry,

00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.900
 I got that out of order,

00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.320
 didn't I?

00:39:18.120 --> 00:39:18.340
 No?

00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:20.100
 You did it.

00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:21.200
 Okay, we'll do this one,

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:21.720
 and now I have it

00:39:21.720 --> 00:39:22.140
 in the right order.

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:23.560
 So here's a few things,

00:39:23.640 --> 00:39:24.240
 very quick things

00:39:24.240 --> 00:39:24.880
 about forgiveness.

00:39:25.120 --> 00:39:25.440
 Forgiveness,

00:39:25.640 --> 00:39:26.340
 generally speaking,

00:39:26.340 --> 00:39:27.040
 is not a moment,

00:39:27.160 --> 00:39:27.900
 it's a quest.

00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.760
 By that I mean

00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:30.539
 is it's not that

00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:30.940
 you have some

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.900
 emotional breakthrough

00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.660
 and in a moment

00:39:32.660 --> 00:39:33.340
 just like that

00:39:33.340 --> 00:39:34.119
 you're able to forgive.

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.880
 I believe in the

00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:36.680
 sovereignty of God,

00:39:36.780 --> 00:39:37.660
 I believe in miracles,

00:39:38.180 --> 00:39:38.900
 and so I believe

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:40.539
 sometimes some people

00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:41.420
 in an instant

00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.300
 are able to forgive.

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.460
 I believe that happens,

00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:44.180
 but generally

00:39:44.180 --> 00:39:45.700
 the main way

00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:46.599
 that the Holy Spirit

00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:47.820
 works in a Christian's life

00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:49.200
 is through a longer process.

00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:51.260
 I had a man

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:52.220
 who assaulted me

00:39:52.220 --> 00:39:52.980
 in my office

00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:54.460
 quite a few years ago,

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:56.280
 and I had to fire him

00:39:56.280 --> 00:39:56.900
 the next day.

00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:58.840
 Because he had

00:39:58.840 --> 00:40:00.000
 a very important

00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:00.680
 leadership role

00:40:00.680 --> 00:40:01.240
 in the church,

00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:04.400
 and it took me

00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.500
 at least 12 years

00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.180
 before I was able

00:40:06.180 --> 00:40:06.660
 to forgive him.

00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.079
 I had to pray

00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:07.780
 almost every day

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.639
 that I would forgive him.

00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:10.280
 And then one day

00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:11.260
 he came to church,

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.980
 and I realized

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.840
 that I'd forgiven him.

00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:15.980
 That somewhere along

00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.420
 that line

00:40:16.420 --> 00:40:17.420
 I had forgiven him.

00:40:20.700 --> 00:40:22.360
 And a quest means

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:22.980
 that it's not just

00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:23.519
 something you've done

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:23.960
 in a moment.

00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:25.340
 And the second thing

00:40:25.340 --> 00:40:25.920
 about forgiveness

00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:26.599
 is that you have

00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:27.440
 to ask the Lord

00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.280
 to show you.

00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:29.659
 It's a good thing

00:40:29.659 --> 00:40:30.380
 to ask the Lord

00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:31.039
 to show you

00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:31.519
 who you need

00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.019
 to forgive.

00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:34.180
 If you are dealing

00:40:34.180 --> 00:40:35.960
 with regular grumpiness,

00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:37.720
 I have a shock for you.

00:40:38.740 --> 00:40:39.519
 Being grumpy

00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:40.280
 is not a fruit

00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:41.220
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:45.099
 And if you have

00:40:45.099 --> 00:40:47.320
 a regular grumpiness,

00:40:47.700 --> 00:40:49.000
 it probably means

00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.820
 that you have someone

00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:50.780
 that you haven't forgiven

00:40:50.780 --> 00:40:51.680
 that you've got to forgive.

00:40:52.619 --> 00:40:53.119
 And I'd actually

00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:54.019
 also say this

00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:55.279
 to two other types

00:40:55.279 --> 00:40:55.719
 of people,

00:40:55.799 --> 00:40:56.880
 and I include myself

00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:57.259
 at this.

00:40:57.859 --> 00:40:59.279
 If you have a problem

00:40:59.279 --> 00:41:00.659
 with being very timid

00:41:00.659 --> 00:41:02.719
 and unable to confront,

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:04.659
 it probably means

00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:06.019
 you have some unforgiveness

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:06.639
 in your life

00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:07.699
 that you haven't dealt with.

00:41:08.539 --> 00:41:10.739
 If you are very overbearing

00:41:10.739 --> 00:41:12.699
 and violent with people,

00:41:12.779 --> 00:41:14.119
 it probably means

00:41:14.119 --> 00:41:15.319
 that there's some things

00:41:15.319 --> 00:41:16.219
 that you haven't forgiven.

00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:18.960
 And so it's a really good thing

00:41:18.960 --> 00:41:19.559
 under God

00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.219
 to just say,

00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.099
 Father,

00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:21.759
 I don't think

00:41:21.759 --> 00:41:22.659
 I have this unforgiven,

00:41:22.759 --> 00:41:23.420
 but no, Father,

00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:26.059
 I am grumpy so much.

00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:28.079
 And now George told me

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:28.819
 it's not a fruit

00:41:28.819 --> 00:41:29.699
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:32.779
 Dang.

00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:34.059
 So, Father,

00:41:34.519 --> 00:41:35.900
 please show me

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:38.099
 who I have to forgive

00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:39.259
 or what I have to forgive.

00:41:39.759 --> 00:41:41.119
 And then, thirdly,

00:41:41.779 --> 00:41:42.480
 ask the Lord

00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:43.380
 to help you forgive.

00:41:44.579 --> 00:41:45.920
 He loves hearing

00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:47.119
 that prayer from us.

00:41:47.799 --> 00:41:48.579
 Ask the Lord

00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:49.239
 and say,

00:41:49.340 --> 00:41:49.539
 Lord,

00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:52.420
 I can't forgive this person.

00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:53.539
 I want to forgive them.

00:41:53.659 --> 00:41:54.440
 Help me to forgive.

00:41:55.340 --> 00:41:56.819
 And say that prayer every day

00:41:56.819 --> 00:41:58.239
 because here's the thing,

00:41:58.440 --> 00:41:59.079
 the final thing.

00:41:59.219 --> 00:41:59.960
 Seek to forgive

00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:01.000
 until you are free.

00:42:02.139 --> 00:42:03.059
 Seek to forgive

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:04.480
 until you are free.

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.420
 So just now,

00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:08.099
 that was the other thing.

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:08.840
 A couple of things.

00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:09.159
 You know,

00:42:09.179 --> 00:42:09.819
 one simple thing,

00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:11.019
 especially if you're not a Christian

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.860
 and you're not quite sure

00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:13.299
 if you want to bring Jesus into it,

00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:14.759
 everybody can pray this prayer.

00:42:14.860 --> 00:42:15.219
 Obviously,

00:42:15.340 --> 00:42:16.019
 Christians have it

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:17.039
 in a far more powerful way.

00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.199
 God, teach me, lead me,

00:42:18.259 --> 00:42:19.340
 and help me to forgive

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:20.539
 and fill in the blank.

00:42:20.940 --> 00:42:22.159
 But the thing I want to end us with,

00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:22.719
 if you could put up

00:42:22.719 --> 00:42:23.519
 the final prayer,

00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:24.259
 number 11,

00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:25.079
 if you could put that up.

00:42:25.139 --> 00:42:26.380
 Yeah, it's a bit of a thing.

00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:27.440
 This is how we're going to end.

00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:29.059
 You can sort of read that.

00:42:29.099 --> 00:42:29.719
 I'm going to invite you

00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:30.920
 to say this prayer out loud

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.340
 for me,

00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:32.019
 with me.

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:33.000
 I'm going to pray it too.

00:42:33.980 --> 00:42:35.960
 And it's just,

00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:36.920
 it's a prayer

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:38.380
 that helps to encapsulate

00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:39.579
 our need for forgiveness

00:42:39.579 --> 00:42:41.900
 and just what Jesus

00:42:41.900 --> 00:42:42.900
 has done for us.

00:42:43.480 --> 00:42:44.779
 And I would suggest

00:42:44.779 --> 00:42:45.519
 that for some of us,

00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:46.980
 we could take a prayer like this,

00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:49.280
 maybe fill in particular

00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:50.159
 a certain spot,

00:42:50.259 --> 00:42:51.039
 like a little blank

00:42:51.039 --> 00:42:52.179
 about help me to forgive

00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:53.280
 a particular person.

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:55.119
 But this expresses

00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:56.119
 the whole text.

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:58.159
 And so I invite you to stand

00:42:58.159 --> 00:42:58.960
 as we bring this sermon

00:42:58.960 --> 00:42:59.659
 to a clode.

00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:00.940
 And if the Lord

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:02.039
 has put it on your heart

00:43:02.039 --> 00:43:02.840
 to forgive,

00:43:03.119 --> 00:43:03.960
 then maybe you want to pray

00:43:03.960 --> 00:43:04.599
 this prayer with me.

00:43:04.619 --> 00:43:05.039
 And by the way,

00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:06.420
 if you have never given

00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:07.380
 your life to Jesus,

00:43:07.940 --> 00:43:09.639
 this can be your conversion prayer.

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:11.420
 This can be the moment

00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:12.340
 that you ask Jesus

00:43:12.340 --> 00:43:13.719
 to engrave the gospel,

00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:13.960
 what,

00:43:13.960 --> 00:43:14.659
 who Jesus is

00:43:14.659 --> 00:43:15.179
 and what he did,

00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:16.260
 and engrave it,

00:43:16.380 --> 00:43:17.579
 write it right in your heart.

00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:20.280
 And it can be

00:43:20.280 --> 00:43:21.260
 your conversion prayer.

00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:21.820
 And for us,

00:43:21.900 --> 00:43:22.440
 it can be a prayer.

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:23.099
 And for those of us

00:43:23.099 --> 00:43:23.599
 who are Christians,

00:43:23.720 --> 00:43:24.599
 it's a prayer of growth.

00:43:25.260 --> 00:43:26.220
 So please pray.

00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:27.179
 If the Lord puts it on you,

00:43:27.179 --> 00:43:28.159
 you don't have to pray it out loud.

00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:28.820
 If it's not,

00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:30.220
 it's not floating your canoe,

00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:30.699
 that's,

00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:32.280
 but if it's,

00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:33.800
 if the Lord has touched you today,

00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:35.059
 I invite you to pray this

00:43:35.059 --> 00:43:36.059
 along with me out loud.

00:43:36.059 --> 00:43:37.559
 Dear Lord,

00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:40.239
 I thank you that on the cross,

00:43:40.699 --> 00:43:42.460
 you paid all of the cost

00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:45.340
 and forgave the inexcusable wrong

00:43:45.340 --> 00:43:47.460
 that I am responsible for.

00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:50.079
 Please pour the Holy Spirit

00:43:50.079 --> 00:43:51.279
 deep within me

00:43:51.279 --> 00:43:54.219
 and engrave the gospel on my heart

00:43:54.219 --> 00:43:57.139
 so that I will remain yours forever

00:43:57.139 --> 00:44:00.460
 and forgive the inexcusable wrongs

00:44:00.460 --> 00:44:01.239
 done to me,

00:44:01.880 --> 00:44:03.599
 living free for your glory.

00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:05.279
 In Jesus' name,

00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.000
 Amen.

00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:08.460
 A prayer that we can pray

00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:09.360
 the rest of our lives.

00:44:09.619 --> 00:44:09.819
 Father,

00:44:09.960 --> 00:44:11.440
 pour out the Holy Spirit upon us.

00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:13.599
 Pour out the Holy Spirit upon us.

00:44:14.259 --> 00:44:15.900
 Pour out the Holy Spirit upon us.

00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:18.000
 Draw us to Jesus.

00:44:18.900 --> 00:44:20.440
 Help us to remember who He is

00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:22.480
 and what He did for us on the cross.

00:44:22.839 --> 00:44:24.519
 And help us to remember it

00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:25.539
 more and more

00:44:25.539 --> 00:44:27.079
 and have that become

00:44:27.079 --> 00:44:28.719
 more and more real to who we are.

00:44:28.960 --> 00:44:30.519
 And we ask this in Jesus' name.

00:44:31.119 --> 00:44:31.380
 Amen.