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MERCY TRIUMPS OVER JUDGMENT

Introduction 1. The older a person gets there are problems with forgiveness 2. The older the church gets: bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, gets collected 3. Deal with it or there is no way forward

Illustration a. Garbage must be thrown into a bin and the bin must be emptied and cleansed. If not maggots are formed, crows are attracted

b. Computer Re-cycle bin Deleted stuff goes to the recycle bin but can be recovered

Forgiveness is only half of the problem. Judgment should be withheld and mercy must be released

WHEN JESUS FORGAVE 1. When Pardon is given life and power is released to individuals and to the heavenlies

2. Jesus said Forgive them for they know not what they do (Lk 23:34) 3. People were released of their sin Col 2:14-15 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

4. Hells gates were unlocked Matt 27:51-53

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died

were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When Jesus cancelled our debt, he disarmed the enemy

STEPHAN AND FORGIVENESS a. Stephan forgave and Saul was ushered in to the Kingdom b. When we forgive others, the enemies power over them is disarmed c. We come out of the bondage that we are in

THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT Matt 18:21-35

1. 2.

The man pleaded for mercy and received mercy Set free of a huge debt of $10 million

3. Our sins are so great that we must plead for God's mercy 4. God expects that we do the same to others Matthew 6:12

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matt 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. THE SERVANT DIDNT FORGIVE 1. Comparison between 2000 and 10 million
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2. Unforgiveness throws others into a prison.

3. Unforgiveness puts himself also into a prison

4. He wanted mercy for himself but justice for others

THE REASON FOR NOT FORGIVING

DEMANDING JUSTICE

Unforgiveness = demand justice

1. Not willing to dismiss the person

2.

Not willing to be kind or gracious

3.

YOU sit on the judgment seat that belongs to God

GODS WAY OF TREATING Matthew 18:34-35 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

a. Gods ANGER turned towards him b. Locked in a prison c. Satan gets the legal right to torment

JUGEE NOT CONDEMN NOT FORGIVE AND GIVE Matthew 7:1-3 1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:37-38 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

The context of this passage is not about giving but forgiving.

JESUS COMMANDED

a. Do not judge if you dont want to be judged

b. Do not condemn if you do not want to be condemned

c. Forgive if you want to be forgiven

c. Give if you must receive

You will be measured with the same measure that you measure

a. What is our measuring rod?

b. How do we use them?

c. If you show mercy then you will be shown mercy

JUDGMENT IS DEMANDING JUSTICE a. Anger, resentment, bitterness, are judgments a. He deserves punishment, if God doesn't, I will do so

Illustration Mercy to the woman the adulterous woman

DO NOT CONDEMN PRONOUNCE GUILTY a. He is guilty and I will prove it b. We judge others by condemning calling them guilty

THE ENEMYS PLAY GOUND

As a Christian you forgive somebodys wrongdoing. But you still believe he is wrong and God will deal with him. By doing so, you hold on to a debt that he owes you.

E.g. People leaving church we pass judgment and they pass judgment

Husband feels the wife has wronged and the wife feel husband has wronged they forgave but demand justice

JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE WILL CAUSEES GODS JUDGMENTS TO RETURN

Luke 12:1-3 "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. a. The enemy hears what you say in the secret b. The secret whisper of condemnation will be broadcasted c. The demonic spirit will publish it from house tops

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d. That house becomes a playground of the enemy

CLEAN UP THE THRASH CAN AND DISINFECT IT DELETE THE FILE FROM THE MEMORY. EMPTY THE RECYCLE BIN

MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT James 2:12-13 12 So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. 13 For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God's mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you.

We fall short in many areas but demand perfection from others