February 26, 2006
Prayer That Can Change Your Life—Part 4
"The Healing Power of Grace"
Matthew 6:12
Forgive us our debts...
—Matthew 6:12a
1. The holiness of God causes us to cry out for His grace.
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
—Isaiah 6:5
Two important characteristics of Isaiah's prayer:
- Isaiah was transparent.
The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.
—Proverbs 20:27
- Isaiah was specific.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
—1 John 1:9
2. A vision of God's holiness produces humility of heart.
"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."
—Isaiah 66:2
3. Sincere confession and true repentance bring God's forgiveness.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
—2 Corinthians 7:10
Two types of guilt:
- True guilt—We seek forgiveness because we are guilty. Romans 3:23
- False guilt—A) Regret without repentance; sorry they got caught. B) Believing that access to God is based on our worthiness. You are no good! You are not worthy! Only Jesus is worthy. Our access to God is based on grace.
The results of true forgiveness:
...as we also have forgiven our debtors.
—Matthew 6:12
- There is a new boldness to approach God when you have been forgiven.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
—Matthew 5:8
- Your life overflows with grace and forgiveness for others.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
—Ephesians 4:32
"It is impossible to come before the throne of grace and, at the same time, refuse to allow God's grace to flow through us to others."
—Sammy Tippit
The Parable of The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21-35
- If we refuse to forgive others, then we are only imprisoning ourselves and causing our own torment.
- The world's worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart.
- If we live only according to justice, always seeking to get what is ours, we will put ourselves into prison.
- If we live according to forgiveness, sharing with others what God has shared with us, then we will enjoy freedom.
- We reveal the true condition of our hearts by the way we treat others.
- We must experience forgiveness in our hearts so that it humbles us and makes us gentle and forgiving toward others.
You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
—Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
Communion: In the communion meal, we are reminded of the price Jesus paid to buy our forgiveness and satisfy the demands of a holy God. Communion is a reminder for God's holiness and grace.
Response: What do you need to ask God to forgive? Who do you need to forgive?
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ and asked God to forgive your sins, it is the only appropriate response to His incredible love. Be transparent with God; He knows your life. Be specific about your sin. Ask Jesus to take control of your life and lead you in a way that is pleasing to God.
Holiness, Grace and Forgiveness
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started: Read How To Pray by R. A. Torrey chapters 10-12.
Talk about the things you have learned together as a group.
- How many credit cards do you have? When do your credit cards tempt you the most?
- Was there ever a time when you were forgiven a significant debt? How did it make you feel?
Digging Deeper: Read Matthew 18:21-35
- The religious leaders of Jesus' day said that offenders were to be forgiven three times, a fourth offense need not be forgiven. What does Jesus' answer to Peter say about forgiveness?
- How does Jesus' parable about the unmerciful servant extend His teaching about forgiveness? In refusing to be merciful to others, what do we deny ourselves? (verses 31-34)
- How does Jesus' point in verse 35 compare to His model prayer in Matthew 6:12 "forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors" ? Do we forgive others so that God will forgive us, or does God forgive us so that we will have a forgiving attitude? Explain.
- Is God's forgiveness of us limited or unlimited; conditional or unconditional? Likewise, is our forgiveness of others to be limited or unlimited; conditional or unconditional?
- Read 1 John 1:6-2:1. What three wrong views about God, sin and forgiveness is John exposing by declaring that God is Light? What is He exposing by the "if, then" clauses in verses 6, 8, 10? What truth about each of these subjects does John then affirm in verses 7, 9, and 2:1?
Applying It To My Life
- What is driven home as the importance of forgiveness to you?
- What is the principle for you as a Christian in dealing with someone who you feel has wronged you?
- How can you forgive someone from the distant past who wounded you deeply? How long should you wait to seek or extend forgiveness?
- In your opinion, what is the connection between forgiveness and health-spiritual or physical?