Forgiveness: The Key To Our Relationship With God And Others Series

JAIL BREAK (Breaking the Chains of Unforgiveness) -

Forgiveness: The Key to Our Relationship with God and Others

September 23, 2018

Matthew 6:5-15 (p. 678)

Introduction:

In the book, “When Godly People Do Ungodly things” Beth Moore writes:

“Whether we realize it or not, God formed every one of us with a wick just waiting to be lit. He created us for the fire of the Holy Spirit. If we quench His fire, we’ll look for another one elsewhere. That’s when we’re liable to be burned. I’m not just talking about sensual passions alone. Anger, rage, and all manner of lusts are also counterfeit passions or self built fire starters.”

Let me share with you…the Holy Spirit…fire from God is the only fire that can burn intensely without destroying us.

When Paul writes to Timothy he tells him: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6)

It’s also why he boldly tells the Christians in Thessalonica… “DO NO QUENCH THE SPIRIT.” (1 Thess. 5:19)

God’s fire isn’t destructive in a believers life…its essential. Lust destroys…anger destroys…rage destroys.

Here’s the question…Are we fanning the Spirit’s fire in our lives and others or are we people with water hoses?

Are we breaking out of the jail of unforgiveness…or are we continually slamming the cell shut, for ourselves and others?

Jesus makes it clear…

I. FAKE FIRES ARE FOR APPEARANCES ONLY

MATTHEW 6:5-8 (p. 678)

Salvation and a relationship with God always starts with prayer…

“Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

It’s not all that’s involved…but it’s the first reaction of someone who believes and experiences conviction of sin and a desire to repent… “God be merciful to me a sinner” is the starting place in the journey…

It’s a genuine…Holy Spirit ignition that lights the fire of salvation…It’s real…it’s powerful…it’s the cutting of our hearts that makes us ask “What should I do?”

God always desires this kind of honesty and intimacy when we pray. It fans the flame…it strokes the fire…It awakens our soul to His Spirit.

It’s a prayer to a Father, who knows what we need even before we ask Him. You don’t need others to witness it…in fact you’d rather talk with Him privately so you can pour out your heart…It’s not about using the right words or a lot of them…in fact many times you won’t even know the right words…Paul describes this majestic confusion in this way…

ROMANS 8:26-27 (p. 787)

Jesus knew that prayer wasn’t about appearing religious…It was about a very real relationship with our Father in Heaven…

[I’ve got this fireplace in our basement that has a ceramic heater in it…and the front has a picture of a fire…it’s made with lights and other materials…but one day, when it was real cold…one of the kids had pushed the button that kept the fire picture going, but turned off the ceramic heater from blowing…it was weird to stand looking at a roaring fire in a freezing room.]

Jesus described religion hypocrites in this way…active and loud in church (or the synagogue) to be seen by others…They like to be heard praying or babbling on and on about “biblical stuff.”

Jesus says: “They do religious so other people will notice them…they’ve already received their reward…but what He’s really saying is They are like a fireplace movie…all appearance…no fire.

Those 5 words from Jesus in verse 8 are His purpose for sharing all this…What are those 5 words? “DO NOT BE LIKE THEM.”

If you and I want to fan the flame…

Pray privately…alone with God…share your deepest secrets and fears…Thank Him for your greatest joys…Don’t worry about doing it right or saying the right thing…He already knows…He’s your Dad and just wants to spend time with you…That ignites His Spirit within you. This is when His fire can consume you without destroying you.

And then Jesus, God’s Son does something extremely transparent and powerful…He give us…

II. AN EXAMPLE OF HIS PRAYER LIFE

This is how you should pray…

[Our Father in heaven

hallowed be your name,

Your Kingdom come

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven

Give us today our daily bread

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from the evil one.] (53 words)

53 words…and even if you add what later manuscripts do…“For yours is the kingdom, power and glory forever, Amen.”

?It takes less than 30 seconds to pray.

It’s a prayer of PRAISE, PURPOSE, PETITION, PARDON AND PROTECTION.

It’s important we understand that Jesus isn’t sharing a few magical words that we can repeat…He’s sharing His heart…He’s giving us a glimpse into His inner closet.