Shake it Off and Forgive

1
Shake it Off and Forgive

• Matthew 1821-35 (NIV)
•  21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord,
  how many times shall I forgive my brother or
  sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?
•  22 Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times,
  but seventy-seven times.

2
Story of a Farmer with an Old Mule

• Sometimes we get dirt thrown on us, not the kind
  of dirt thrown on the mule, but unkind words,
  false accusations, and slander. We should just
  shake it off, pack it down, and take a step up.

3
Americans Remember 911

• Terrorists hijacked four passenger jets Twin
  Towers of the World Trade Center in New York
  City, and crashed the Pentagon crashed into a
  field in Pensylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died in
  the attacks.
• The United States responded to the War on Terror,
  invading Afghanistanal-Qaeda members. May 2011,
  Osama bin Laden, was found and killed.
• Now what do should America do?

4
Forgiveness

• Get well and move on.
• Henry Beecher said, "God pardons like a mother,
  who kisses the offense into everlasting
  forgiveness.
• Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled
  note--torn in two and burned up so that it never
  can be shown again.

5
Shake it Off, Pack it Down, and Take a Step Up

• A. Peter Could Shake it Off, Pack it Down, but
  He Could not Take a Step Up
• B. We have to Keep Shaking it Off, and Packing
  it Down, in order Take a Step Up

6
Peter Could Shake it Off, Pack it Down, but He
Could not Take a Step Up

• Matthew 1821
• Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how
  many times shall I forgive my brother or sister
  who sins against me? Up to seven times?

7

• Peter does not means seven times a day, but
  seven times in his life.
• This would be keeping score of old scores and
  scars, getting even and always makes you less
  than you are.

8
Inspirations

• The Poet Robert  Frost said that "He that cannot
  forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he
  himself must pass. Everyone has need to be
  forgiven.
• Luke 113-4 "...and forgive us our sins or
  trespasses, as we ourselves forgive each one who
  trespass against us or is in debt to us."

9

• Is seven times enough?
• Peter was concerned .
• You have learned how it was said   Eye for eye
  and tooth for tooth.  But I say this to you  if
  anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the
  other as well.
• Peter wants to know How may times must I
  forgive?

10
Seven

• Peter had learned about the number seven and
  thought it should apply to forgiveness.
• Seven stands for the Seventh day of the Creation
  Week in Genesis, and speaks of the Rest day. God
  appointed SEVEN days for the week.

11
Seven Completely Finished

• In Leviticus 2315-16, the number SEVEN and the
  Sabbath is connected with the word COMPLETE. The
  word COMPLETE follows after the words Seventh
  day.
• The word FINISHED is also connected with the
  number SEVEN. In Revelation 107 the SEVENTH
  angel said the mystery of God should be
  FINISHED.
• So Peter had a legitimate question Is seven
  times enough?

12
We have to Keep Shaking it Off, and Packing it
Down, in order Take a Step Up

• Matthew 1822
• Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but
  seventy-seven times.
• (KJV) Seven times seventy

13
Psychologist Dr. Ryan Howes

• There are failed attempts at forgiveness and some
  satisfying ones that seem to last. Effective
  forgiveness share four common elements
• A. Express the emotion
• B. Understand why
• C. Rebuild safety
• D. Let go

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Express the emotion

• Whatever the offense or injustice or violation,
  the forgiver needs to fully express how it made
  her feel.
• If the transgression causes anger or sadness or
  hurt, those feelings need to be deeply felt and
  expressed.

15
Understand-Rebuild SafetyLet Go

• Next Understand why the act took place. Then
  Rebuild safety to feel a reasonable amount of
  assurance the act won't recur.
• Then Let go Make a promise to not hold a grudge.
  Do not refer to that past transgression again.
  It is stepping down from the position of victim
  and taking a step up allow equality again.

16
Corrie Ten Boom

• A Christian woman who survived a Nazi
  concentration camp during the Holocaust, said,
  "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to
  realize the prisoner was you."

17
Forgive by Faith

• We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since
  forgiveness goes against our nature, we must
  forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not.
  We must trust God to do the work in us that needs
  to be done so that the forgiveness will be
  complete.

18
No Limit on Forgiving

• So Jesus answered (Peter), I tell you, not seven
  times, but seventy-seven times.
• Christs direct answer to Peters question, Until
  seventy times seven a certain number for an
  indefinite one, but a great one.

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Matthew 1823-35

• The Parable of the Servant who would not Shake it
  off, pack it down, and take a step up

20
Debt

• The Lords prayer, Forgive us our debts, as we
  forgive our debtors.
• Every sin we commit is a debt to God.

21
Important Forgivness

• At times, it feels more painful than the wound we
  suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it.
  And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.
  The first step in forgiveness is the willingness
  to forgive. Shake it Off, Pack it Down, Take a
  Step Up.

22
Power in Forgivensss

• 1. Your become free to Love. You are no longer
  in bondage to hate. But now you have freedom in
  your heart, mind, and soul to God's love to reign
  in your heart.
• 2. You have a close relationship with God your
  Heavenly Father. Without love you distant
  yourself from God, because God is love. So now
  you can talk with Him and Hold on to His
  unchanging hands.
• 3. You become a follower of Jesus Christ.

23
Jesus demonstrated the power to forgive others.

• When (Jesus ) he was being crucified a lot of
  false accusations were thrown upon Him. He shook
  it off. From the cross he said Father forgive
  them, for they do not know what they are doing.
  On the third day, early Sunday morning, he took a
  step up. The Bible says he got up from the grave.

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• Shake it Off, Pack it Down, and Take a Step Up