Message by Chad Kelly
Oxygen for the Soul
Matthew 18:11-35
Forgiveness is oxygen for the soul.
Matthew 18:11-14 (NKJV)
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Romans 5:6,8”” “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners . . . But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
(21-35, NLT)
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn”™t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold””along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned””to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ”˜Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.”™ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ”˜Be patient with me, and I will pay it,”™ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn”™t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ”˜You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn”™t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?”™ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That”™s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Ephesians 4:31-5:2
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Follow God”™s example in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.
Romans 12:18 (NIV)
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
3. Our Church must be an Intentional Safehouse of Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
Forgiveness is oxygen for the soul.
God”™s grace is the “one light that still shines””¦no matter what!