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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Forgiving Heart (Part 1)

August 21, 2025 | S25 E401 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Forgiving Heart (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #Discipleship #Heart #Forgiveness #SpiritualGrowth #Burden #Bitterness #Blame #Offense #Justice #Vengeance #Sin #Death #Salvation #Jesus #Cross

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing A Forgiving Heart (Part 1) | August 21, 2025
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • From the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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  • At some point in our lives,
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  • All of us are bound to feel abandoned or betrayed.
  • 00:00:20.343 --> 00:00:23.913
  • In those intense moments of hurt and pain,
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  • How do we find the power to forgive?
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  • Today, i'm going to show you why forgiveness
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  • Isn't just good advice,
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  • It's essential for your physical health,
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  • Emotional wellbeing,
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  • And most importantly, your spiritual life.
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  • My message is titled "developing a forgiving heart"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:45.435 --> 00:00:49.105
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word
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  • With "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
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  • This brand new, beautiful,
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  • Full-color padded hardcover book by dr. robert jeffress
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  • Features 80 breathtaking images of creation
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  • Paired with scripture, prayers,
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  • And insights you can read in under two minutes,
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  • Perfect for your coffee table,
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  • Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple"
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  • To "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Cs lewis once said,
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  • "forgiveness is a beautiful word
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  • Until you have somebody to forgive."
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  • Have you discovered that's true?
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  • It's easy to extol the virtues of forgiveness
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  • Until you have to practice it yourself,
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  • Until you have to extend it toward that boss
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  • Who has mistreated you,
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  • That friend who has betrayed you,
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  • Perhaps a mate who has abandoned you,
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  • Or a parent who has abused you.
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  • Why should i forgive somebody
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  • Who has caused me so much hurt, we wonder.
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  • You know, in my 40 plus years in the ministry,
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  • I've discovered that the issues,
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  • The two issues people struggle with the most in life
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  • Both have to do with forgiveness.
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  • Either receiving god's forgiveness
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  • Or extending forgiveness to others who have wronged us.
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  • And by the way, there's an inseparable link
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  • Between the two,
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  • Receiving forgiveness and extending forgiveness to others.
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  • You know, until really fairly recently,
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  • The whole subject of forgiveness and the importance
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  • Of forgiveness was relegated to the sunday school classroom.
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  • That's the only place you heard about forgiveness.
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  • But in the last 20 years,
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  • Even the secular world is talking about the value,
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  • The benefits of forgiveness.
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  • For example, the physical benefits
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  • Of forgiveness are now well documented.
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  • Unforgiveness, bitterness is a toxin in our bodies.
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  • It can release deadly toxins
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  • And are responsible for cardiovascular disease,
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  • Hypertension, it's even been related to some cancers.
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  • And there are emotional benefits we know for forgiveness.
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  • I remember one leading psychiatrist
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  • In this country once said
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  • 80% of people in mental hospitals today
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  • Could be released right now
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  • If they only knew how to forgive.
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  • Think about it, forgiveness, holding on to an offense,
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  • Replaying it over and over again in your mind
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  • Is like reliving the experience all again.
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  • I mean, it's bad enough for somebody to hurt you once,
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  • But when you recall that event, your body,
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  • Your mind registers it as if
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  • You're experiencing that hurt again.
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  • Why would anybody want to let their offender
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  • Continually hurt them?
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  • Somebody once said
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  • "forgiveness is like letting go of a rattlesnake."
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  • Sure, it benefits the snake, but it benefits you more.
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  • The same thing is true of forgiveness.
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  • There are great emotional benefits to forgiveness,
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  • But both the physical
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  • And emotional benefits of forgiveness pale in comparison
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  • To the spiritual benefits of forgiveness.
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  • Pastor, what do you mean the spiritual benefits?
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  • Well, remember what jesus said in that passage we just read
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  • From matthew 6:14-15?
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  • For if you forgive others
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  • For their transgressions,
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  • Your heavenly father will also forgive you.
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  • But if you do not forgive others,
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  • Then your father will not forgive your transgressions.
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  • Very simply, if you refuse to forgive other people,
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  • God won't forgive you.
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  • And i hear people try to rationalize this and say,
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  • "well, what jesus really meant was,"
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  • No, jesus really meant what he said.
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  • He said if you don't forgive,
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  • God is not going to forgive you.
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  • There's an inseparable link
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  • Between receiving god's forgiveness
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  • And granting that forgiveness to others,
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  • And both receiving and granting forgiveness
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  • Are marks of a true follower of jesus christ,
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  • A disciple of christ.
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  • Now to see the link about receiving forgiveness
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  • And extending it to others,
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  • I want you to turn in your bibles to matthew 18
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  • To a story jesus told
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  • To illustrate both why we should forgive
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  • And how we should forgive.
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  • Now we've looked at this parable before, so today,
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  • I'm going to give you just the reader's digest version
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  • Just to remind you of what this story's about.
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  • This story is about a king
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  • Who was having some serious cash flow problems,
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  • And so he needed to call in the ious he was holding,
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  • People who owed him money,
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  • And he started with the person
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  • Who owed him the most amount of money.
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  • It was a slave who owed him 10,000 talents.
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  • Now in jesus' day,
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  • A talent was a unit of measurement of gold.
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  • It would be about 70 or 80 pounds, one talent,
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  • 70 or 80 pounds of gold.
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  • This servant owed his king 10,000
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  • Of those talents.
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  • I did a quick calculation
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  • According to today's price of gold.
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  • You know how much money that would be,
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  • 10,000 talents of gold?
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  • That would be about $16 billion
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  • In today's money.
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  • You think $16 billion.
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  • How could a lowly slave ever get into debt that much?
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  • I mean, did he go to vegas too many times?
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  • I mean what was going on here?
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  • Well remember, this is a story jesus told, a parable.
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  • He was trying to illustrate a man who owed a debt
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  • That he couldn't pay in 10,000 lifetimes.
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  • So the king says, "i want my money."
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  • He had a right to say that.
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  • And the slave fell down before him and begged him and said,
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  • "master, please be patient with me
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  • And i will repay you everything."
  • 00:07:16.659 --> 00:07:20.363
  • Can you imagine a more pitiful sight than that?
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  • A little slave saying,
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  • "if you'll just give me a little more time,
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  • I'll pay you back that $16 billion."
  • 00:07:27.169 --> 00:07:30.139
  • And look at verse 27 of matthew 18.
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  • The lord of that slave,
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  • The king felt compassion
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  • And he released him and he forgave him of the debt.
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  • That's what forgiveness is.
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  • Literally, it means to release a debt, to let go of.
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  • Can you imagine the relief that slave must have felt
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  • As he heard the words, "you are forgiven,
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  • You don't owe me anything, you're free."
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  • Slave got up, he walked out of the palace a new man,
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  • But as he was thinking about
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  • What he had heard from the king,
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  • "you are forgiven of your debt," it dawned on him.
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  • There's somebody who owes me some money,
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  • And he remembered a fellow slave,
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  • A friend who owed him 100 denari, jesus said.
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  • Now a denarius was 16 cents in today's economy,
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  • One day's wage.
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  • 100 denari there i would be $16.
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  • And this slave remembers,
  • 00:08:30.266 --> 00:08:31.367
  • "i know somebody who owes me $16."
  • 00:08:31.367 --> 00:08:34.604
  • So he goes out, jesus says, grabs him by the neck,
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  • Begins to choke him and says, "repay me what you owe me."
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  • Now that was a very real debt too.
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  • And so the fellow slave says,
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  • "have patient with me and i'll repay you everything."
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  • Sound familiar?
  • 00:08:50.953 --> 00:08:52.254
  • That's what the first slave saved to the king.
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  • But unlike the king,
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  • This slave refused to forgive that paltry $16 debt.
  • 00:08:55.891 --> 00:09:01.430
  • Well when the king heard about this, he was incensed.
  • 00:09:02.465 --> 00:09:07.069
  • Look at verse 32.
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  • Then summoning the slave, the king said to him,
  • 00:09:08.738 --> 00:09:11.841
  • "you wicked slave.
  • 00:09:11.841 --> 00:09:14.176
  • I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
  • 00:09:14.176 --> 00:09:18.381
  • Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave
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  • In the same way that i had mercy on you?"
  • 00:09:22.451 --> 00:09:25.855
  • I mean even this king who was a pagan
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  • Understood there was something fundamentally wrong
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  • With a man who had been forgiven so much
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  • To refuse to forgive such a little debt.
  • 00:09:35.831 --> 00:09:39.802
  • And then verse 34 says the king, moved with anger,
  • 00:09:40.803 --> 00:09:44.640
  • Handed that slave over to the torturers
  • 00:09:44.640 --> 00:09:48.377
  • Until he should repay all that was owed him.
  • 00:09:48.377 --> 00:09:52.381
  • And then jesus adds the zinger in verse 35,
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  • "so shall my heavenly father do to you
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  • If each of you does not forgive his brother
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  • From your heart."
  • 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:06.328
  • You see, the relationship between the king
  • 00:10:07.229 --> 00:10:09.965
  • And the first slave is like god's relationship with us.
  • 00:10:09.965 --> 00:10:13.469
  • All of us owe god a debt we could never repay.
  • 00:10:13.469 --> 00:10:17.406
  • And yet when we ask him,
  • 00:10:17.907 --> 00:10:19.442
  • God in his mercy forgives us of that debt through christ.
  • 00:10:19.442 --> 00:10:23.879
  • We have been forgiven a $16 billion spiritual debt
  • 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:27.650
  • So to speak.
  • 00:10:27.650 --> 00:10:29.552
  • When we refuse to grant forgiveness
  • 00:10:29.552 --> 00:10:31.887
  • To those who wrong us,
  • 00:10:31.887 --> 00:10:35.624
  • Well it's just like that slave refusing to forgive
  • 00:10:35.624 --> 00:10:38.227
  • That $16 debt.
  • 00:10:38.227 --> 00:10:41.297
  • Now don't misunderstand what jesus is saying here.
  • 00:10:41.297 --> 00:10:43.699
  • Jesus is not denying
  • 00:10:43.699 --> 00:10:45.868
  • That you may have been hurt and wronged.
  • 00:10:45.868 --> 00:10:48.204
  • Jesus is not asking you to play like it never happened
  • 00:10:49.305 --> 00:10:52.208
  • Or to minimize the wrong
  • 00:10:52.208 --> 00:10:53.676
  • That has been committed against you.
  • 00:10:53.676 --> 00:10:55.444
  • But jesus says, "whatever your hurt is,
  • 00:10:55.444 --> 00:10:57.813
  • Just keep that hurt in perspective."
  • 00:10:57.813 --> 00:11:00.783
  • For you see,
  • 00:11:00.783 --> 00:11:02.318
  • The difference between how much somebody has wronged you
  • 00:11:02.318 --> 00:11:05.955
  • And how much you have wronged god is the difference
  • 00:11:07.022 --> 00:11:09.725
  • Between $16 and $16 billion.
  • 00:11:09.725 --> 00:11:15.064
  • And that's why forgiveness is the obligation of those
  • 00:11:16.132 --> 00:11:20.269
  • Who have truly been forgiven.
  • 00:11:20.269 --> 00:11:23.105
  • And yet in spite of the physical, the emotional,
  • 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:27.510
  • And certainly the spiritual benefits
  • 00:11:27.510 --> 00:11:29.578
  • Of forgiving other people,
  • 00:11:29.578 --> 00:11:31.280
  • We still find it hard to do, don't we?
  • 00:11:31.280 --> 00:11:33.649
  • I think there are four reasons,
  • 00:11:34.283 --> 00:11:36.452
  • Four misunderstandings that cause people difficulty
  • 00:11:36.452 --> 00:11:40.122
  • In forgiving other people.
  • 00:11:40.122 --> 00:11:42.324
  • So let me dispel a few of those myths about forgiveness
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  • That may be hampering some of you right now
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  • From experiencing the freedom of that gift of forgiveness.
  • 00:11:48.864 --> 00:11:52.201
  • First of all, understand forgiveness is not ignoring
  • 00:11:52.201 --> 00:11:55.738
  • Or rationalizing offenses.
  • 00:11:55.738 --> 00:11:58.474
  • Well when you forgive somebody,
  • 00:11:58.474 --> 00:12:00.276
  • You're not engaging in some mental fantasy
  • 00:12:00.276 --> 00:12:03.212
  • Playing like what happened to you never actually happened.
  • 00:12:03.212 --> 00:12:06.482
  • No, in fact, you really can't forgive somebody
  • 00:12:06.482 --> 00:12:09.652
  • Until you acknowledge the wrong
  • 00:12:09.652 --> 00:12:11.253
  • That they've committed against you.
  • 00:12:11.253 --> 00:12:12.555
  • If somebody said, "we cannot forgive those
  • 00:12:12.555 --> 00:12:15.024
  • We're not willing to blame,"
  • 00:12:15.024 --> 00:12:17.226
  • To be able to forgive,
  • 00:12:17.226 --> 00:12:18.494
  • You have to be willing to blame somebody
  • 00:12:18.494 --> 00:12:20.663
  • For the real hurt they've caused in your life.
  • 00:12:20.663 --> 00:12:23.632
  • Why is that important?
  • 00:12:23.632 --> 00:12:24.733
  • Let me illustrate it this way.
  • 00:12:24.733 --> 00:12:26.235
  • Just suppose that you notice one day a bump on your arm
  • 00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:30.539
  • And you think, "i wonder how i got that.
  • 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:32.374
  • It's not causing me any problems. i wonder how i got that.
  • 00:12:32.374 --> 00:12:34.310
  • Maybe i banged it into a door or something."
  • 00:12:34.310 --> 00:12:36.145
  • You don't give it much thought.
  • 00:12:36.145 --> 00:12:37.646
  • But then it begins to hurt after a few days.
  • 00:12:37.646 --> 00:12:40.349
  • You try to ignore it, the pain increases.
  • 00:12:40.349 --> 00:12:43.052
  • After a couple of months you think, "you know,
  • 00:12:43.052 --> 00:12:44.687
  • I'd better go get this checked out."
  • 00:12:44.687 --> 00:12:46.622
  • So you go to your doctor and he looks at it and says,
  • 00:12:46.622 --> 00:12:49.058
  • "boy, that looks like more than a bump.
  • 00:12:49.058 --> 00:12:51.560
  • Let me biopsy that."
  • 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.696
  • He comes back with the test results.
  • 00:12:53.696 --> 00:12:56.031
  • You have cancer and that cancer
  • 00:12:56.031 --> 00:12:59.668
  • Has now metastasized into the rest of your body,
  • 00:12:59.668 --> 00:13:02.805
  • All because you chose to ignore that initial bump.
  • 00:13:02.805 --> 00:13:07.509
  • You know, it's the same thing with forgiveness.
  • 00:13:07.509 --> 00:13:10.145
  • If we just ignore the wrongs that somebody does to us,
  • 00:13:10.145 --> 00:13:12.982
  • I'm not talking about, you know,
  • 00:13:12.982 --> 00:13:14.250
  • Not saying hello in the hallway to you,
  • 00:13:14.250 --> 00:13:15.751
  • But i'm talking about really major offenses.
  • 00:13:15.751 --> 00:13:18.787
  • Proverbs says we ought to overlook transgressions,
  • 00:13:18.787 --> 00:13:21.690
  • But i'm talking about the things you can't overlook.
  • 00:13:21.690 --> 00:13:24.126
  • We need to acknowledge that those hurts have occurred
  • 00:13:24.126 --> 00:13:26.829
  • So that we can go through the spiritual surgery
  • 00:13:26.829 --> 00:13:29.865
  • We call forgiveness.
  • 00:13:29.865 --> 00:13:31.667
  • You cannot forgive those you're not willing to blame.
  • 00:13:31.667 --> 00:13:34.570
  • Doesn't joseph teach us that truth?
  • 00:13:34.570 --> 00:13:36.438
  • You remember the story of joseph.
  • 00:13:36.438 --> 00:13:38.407
  • Joseph in the old testament was sold into into slavery
  • 00:13:38.407 --> 00:13:41.243
  • By his brothers, they left him for dead.
  • 00:13:41.243 --> 00:13:44.113
  • And yet through a miraculous set of circumstances,
  • 00:13:44.113 --> 00:13:46.615
  • God made joseph pharaoh's right hand man in egypt,
  • 00:13:46.615 --> 00:13:51.053
  • And there was a severe famine in all of the land.
  • 00:13:51.053 --> 00:13:54.857
  • And so joseph's brothers had to travel to egypt in order
  • 00:13:54.857 --> 00:13:58.594
  • To get grain to keep them alive.
  • 00:13:58.594 --> 00:14:00.996
  • Little did they know the person they would be asking
  • 00:14:00.996 --> 00:14:03.132
  • For the grain was their own brother
  • 00:14:03.132 --> 00:14:05.200
  • Whom they had left for dead years earlier.
  • 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.670
  • And when they finally realized who they were talking to,
  • 00:14:07.670 --> 00:14:10.940
  • They thought, "we're done for, this is it.
  • 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:14.510
  • Surely our brother is going to exact revenge from us."
  • 00:14:14.510 --> 00:14:17.746
  • But in some of the most famous words of the bible,
  • 00:14:17.746 --> 00:14:19.915
  • Genesis 50:20, remember what joseph said to his brothers?
  • 00:14:19.915 --> 00:14:23.752
  • He said, "and as for you, you met evil against me,
  • 00:14:23.752 --> 00:14:29.058
  • But god used it for good
  • 00:14:29.558 --> 00:14:32.261
  • To bring about this present circumstance
  • 00:14:32.261 --> 00:14:34.630
  • To keep you and many others alive."
  • 00:14:34.630 --> 00:14:38.400
  • Joseph didn't try to sugarcoat what had happened to him.
  • 00:14:39.535 --> 00:14:42.237
  • He didn't say, "oh brothers, don't worry about it.
  • 00:14:42.237 --> 00:14:44.540
  • You must have just had a bad day
  • 00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.874
  • When you sold me into slavery.
  • 00:14:45.874 --> 00:14:47.710
  • We'll sweep it under the rug,
  • 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:49.011
  • We'll play like it never happened."
  • 00:14:49.011 --> 00:14:50.279
  • No, he said, "you meant evil against me.
  • 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:53.349
  • But guess what, brothers?
  • 00:14:53.349 --> 00:14:55.017
  • God is bigger than you are.
  • 00:14:55.017 --> 00:14:57.052
  • He was able to take your worst intentions,
  • 00:14:57.052 --> 00:14:59.254
  • Your worst motives, and use them not just for my good,
  • 00:14:59.254 --> 00:15:02.491
  • But for your good and the good of all of israel as well."
  • 00:15:02.491 --> 00:15:06.395
  • And the bible says you cannot forgive unless, first of all,
  • 00:15:07.596 --> 00:15:10.299
  • You're willing to acknowledge
  • 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.800
  • That a wrong has occurred in your life.
  • 00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:14.703
  • Forgiveness is not about rationalizing
  • 00:15:14.703 --> 00:15:17.039
  • Or ignoring offenses.
  • 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.340
  • Secondly, forgiveness is not about surrendering
  • 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:22.511
  • Our desire for justice.
  • 00:15:22.511 --> 00:15:24.880
  • When you forgive,
  • 00:15:24.880 --> 00:15:26.482
  • You're not surrendering your desire for justice.
  • 00:15:26.482 --> 00:15:28.917
  • I remember in my last church, there was a man,
  • 00:15:28.917 --> 00:15:32.755
  • A father whose daughter had been brutally,
  • 00:15:32.755 --> 00:15:35.758
  • Brutally murdered.
  • 00:15:35.758 --> 00:15:38.093
  • As you can imagine,
  • 00:15:38.093 --> 00:15:39.428
  • He struggled with that issue of forgiveness.
  • 00:15:39.428 --> 00:15:42.197
  • And finally he reached the point
  • 00:15:42.197 --> 00:15:43.599
  • That he felt like he had forgiven his daughter's killer,
  • 00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:47.369
  • But then he was asked to testify
  • 00:15:47.369 --> 00:15:50.205
  • By the prosecution at the killer's trial.
  • 00:15:50.205 --> 00:15:54.109
  • And he came to see me.
  • 00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:55.511
  • He said, "pastor, i've just now barely been able
  • 00:15:55.511 --> 00:15:58.147
  • To forgive this man for what he did to my daughter.
  • 00:15:58.147 --> 00:16:00.616
  • And now i'm being asked to testify,
  • 00:16:00.616 --> 00:16:02.885
  • And my testimony could easily result in a guilty verdict
  • 00:16:02.885 --> 00:16:06.855
  • And a death penalty for this guy.
  • 00:16:06.855 --> 00:16:09.758
  • And i'm just not sure as a christian, should i testify?
  • 00:16:09.758 --> 00:16:13.796
  • Frankly, i'd like to see him in the electric chair
  • 00:16:13.796 --> 00:16:16.131
  • For what he did, but i've forgiven him,
  • 00:16:16.131 --> 00:16:18.267
  • So what am i supposed to do?"
  • 00:16:18.267 --> 00:16:21.403
  • And that afternoon, i explained to him the difference
  • 00:16:21.403 --> 00:16:25.107
  • Between vengeance and justice.
  • 00:16:25.107 --> 00:16:29.845
  • When we forgive, we give up our right to vengeance.
  • 00:16:29.845 --> 00:16:33.415
  • You know what vengeance is?
  • 00:16:33.415 --> 00:16:34.983
  • Hurting somebody else for hurting us.
  • 00:16:34.983 --> 00:16:37.386
  • That's what vengeance is.
  • 00:16:37.386 --> 00:16:39.221
  • Vengeance is our desire to hurt somebody for hurting us.
  • 00:16:39.221 --> 00:16:42.291
  • And the bible says in romans 12:19,
  • 00:16:42.291 --> 00:16:44.326
  • "never take your own revenge, beloved,
  • 00:16:44.326 --> 00:16:47.162
  • But leave room for the wrath of god.
  • 00:16:47.162 --> 00:16:49.698
  • For it is written, 'vengeance is mine, i will repay'
  • 00:16:49.698 --> 00:16:53.001
  • Says the lord."
  • 00:16:53.001 --> 00:16:54.470
  • When we forgive,
  • 00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:55.871
  • We're giving up our right to hurt somebody else.
  • 00:16:55.871 --> 00:16:57.539
  • We're saying, "god, you deal with it.
  • 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:59.408
  • You exact the punishment, but i'm not going to do it myself."
  • 00:16:59.408 --> 00:17:03.445
  • That's vengeance, trying to hurt somebody for hurting us.
  • 00:17:03.445 --> 00:17:06.448
  • But justice on the other hand,
  • 00:17:06.448 --> 00:17:08.951
  • Justice is the payment that god or other people may require
  • 00:17:08.951 --> 00:17:14.389
  • From my offender.
  • 00:17:14.823 --> 00:17:16.425
  • Justice is the payment that god or other people
  • 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.063
  • Or government officials might require
  • 00:17:21.063 --> 00:17:23.765
  • From my offender.
  • 00:17:23.765 --> 00:17:26.335
  • And while we're to give up our desire for vengeance,
  • 00:17:26.335 --> 00:17:28.937
  • We never have to surrender our desire for justice.
  • 00:17:28.937 --> 00:17:32.808
  • We want justice, because why?
  • 00:17:32.808 --> 00:17:34.843
  • We're made in the image of god who wants justice.
  • 00:17:34.843 --> 00:17:37.646
  • We serve a just god.
  • 00:17:37.646 --> 00:17:39.414
  • In psalm 82:3, david said,
  • 00:17:39.414 --> 00:17:41.717
  • "vindicate the weak and fatherless,
  • 00:17:41.717 --> 00:17:43.952
  • Do justice to the afflicted and destitute."
  • 00:17:43.952 --> 00:17:47.256
  • Or isaiah 1:17, "learn to do good, seek justice.
  • 00:17:47.256 --> 00:17:51.326
  • Reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan,
  • 00:17:51.326 --> 00:17:53.629
  • Plead for the widow."
  • 00:17:53.629 --> 00:17:55.631
  • Some of you are struggling with forgiveness right now
  • 00:17:55.631 --> 00:17:57.833
  • Because you want justice for the person who hurt you.
  • 00:17:57.833 --> 00:18:01.970
  • Nothing wrong with that as long
  • 00:18:01.970 --> 00:18:03.672
  • As you let god deal with it and not yourself.
  • 00:18:03.672 --> 00:18:07.242
  • You know what a bill collector is?
  • 00:18:07.242 --> 00:18:09.444
  • A bill collector is somebody
  • 00:18:09.444 --> 00:18:11.413
  • A company turns over an account receivable to.
  • 00:18:11.413 --> 00:18:14.850
  • If the company can't get the money from the person,
  • 00:18:14.850 --> 00:18:17.419
  • He turns it over to a bill collector
  • 00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:19.788
  • To get the money from.
  • 00:18:19.788 --> 00:18:21.590
  • You know who the best bill collector in the whole world is?
  • 00:18:21.590 --> 00:18:26.061
  • God the father.
  • 00:18:26.428 --> 00:18:28.096
  • He knows how to collect on a debt, and when you forgive,
  • 00:18:28.096 --> 00:18:31.466
  • You're basically turning the debt over to god and saying,
  • 00:18:31.466 --> 00:18:33.936
  • "god, you settled the score.
  • 00:18:33.936 --> 00:18:36.038
  • I'm not going to try to settle the score myself."
  • 00:18:36.038 --> 00:18:38.774
  • Forgiveness is not about surrendering
  • 00:18:38.774 --> 00:18:41.176
  • Our desire for justice.
  • 00:18:41.176 --> 00:18:43.145
  • Thirdly, forgiveness is not about forgetting
  • 00:18:43.145 --> 00:18:46.915
  • The offenses committed against us.
  • 00:18:47.683 --> 00:18:49.418
  • Forgiveness is not about forgetting.
  • 00:18:49.418 --> 00:18:51.119
  • People say to me, "well pastor, i still remember,
  • 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.522
  • I keep thinking about what that person did to me.
  • 00:18:53.522 --> 00:18:55.724
  • I guess that means i haven't really forgiven them, right?"
  • 00:18:55.724 --> 00:18:58.994
  • Wrong.
  • 00:18:58.994 --> 00:19:00.462
  • Remember this, forgetting is a biological function,
  • 00:19:00.462 --> 00:19:05.133
  • Forgiving is a spiritual function.
  • 00:19:05.867 --> 00:19:08.804
  • You know, every experience you have is chemically
  • 00:19:09.805 --> 00:19:13.742
  • And electrically embedded in your mind.
  • 00:19:13.742 --> 00:19:16.278
  • Did you know that?
  • 00:19:16.278 --> 00:19:17.679
  • And it never leaves.
  • 00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:18.780
  • Now it may fall below the surface.
  • 00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:21.450
  • You may not be able to remember where you put your car keys,
  • 00:19:21.450 --> 00:19:24.886
  • But guess what?
  • 00:19:24.886 --> 00:19:26.021
  • I mean, that experience of putting them
  • 00:19:26.021 --> 00:19:28.123
  • By the coffee table is still in your brain,
  • 00:19:28.123 --> 00:19:30.325
  • And it may surface.
  • 00:19:30.325 --> 00:19:31.526
  • Forgetting is a biological function,
  • 00:19:31.526 --> 00:19:34.563
  • But forgiving is a spiritual function.
  • 00:19:34.563 --> 00:19:38.767
  • Just because you forgive
  • 00:19:38.767 --> 00:19:41.069
  • Doesn't mean you necessarily forget.
  • 00:19:41.069 --> 00:19:43.005
  • Forgiveness is saying,
  • 00:19:43.005 --> 00:19:44.273
  • "i'm no longer going to hold this offense
  • 00:19:44.273 --> 00:19:46.174
  • Against this person.
  • 00:19:46.174 --> 00:19:47.442
  • I'm going to let god deal with it."
  • 00:19:47.442 --> 00:19:49.511
  • Now i know some of you bible scholars are saying,
  • 00:19:49.511 --> 00:19:51.213
  • "now pastor, wait a minute,
  • 00:19:51.213 --> 00:19:52.781
  • Doesn't the bible say when god forgives, he forgets?"
  • 00:19:52.781 --> 00:19:56.652
  • And they quote jeremiah 31:34, god says,
  • 00:19:56.652 --> 00:19:59.454
  • "i will forgive their iniquity and their sin."
  • 00:19:59.454 --> 00:20:02.224
  • I will what? remember no more.
  • 00:20:02.224 --> 00:20:05.694
  • God forgets, shouldn't we?
  • 00:20:05.694 --> 00:20:07.763
  • Now think about this.
  • 00:20:07.763 --> 00:20:09.364
  • When god forgives our offenses,
  • 00:20:09.364 --> 00:20:11.600
  • Do you think really a divine case
  • 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:13.635
  • Of heavenly alzheimer's sets in on god?
  • 00:20:13.635 --> 00:20:16.104
  • Well i just can't remember that anymore.
  • 00:20:16.104 --> 00:20:18.273
  • I guess i'm getting old.
  • 00:20:18.273 --> 00:20:19.908
  • Is that what happens? of course not.
  • 00:20:19.908 --> 00:20:23.545
  • It's not that god forgets.
  • 00:20:23.545 --> 00:20:26.815
  • I think the best way to understand
  • 00:20:26.815 --> 00:20:28.483
  • What god's forgiveness means is found in romans 4:7-8,
  • 00:20:28.483 --> 00:20:32.254
  • When paul quoting psalm 32 says,
  • 00:20:32.254 --> 00:20:34.790
  • "blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,
  • 00:20:34.790 --> 00:20:38.960
  • Whose sin has been covered.
  • 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.096
  • Blessed is the man who sinned
  • 00:20:41.096 --> 00:20:43.165
  • The lord will not take into account."
  • 00:20:43.165 --> 00:20:47.035
  • That's what it means.
  • 00:20:47.035 --> 00:20:48.437
  • He no longer charges our sin to our account.
  • 00:20:48.437 --> 00:20:52.507
  • That's a forgiveness transaction.
  • 00:20:52.507 --> 00:20:55.177
  • When god forgives us,
  • 00:20:55.177 --> 00:20:56.511
  • He no longer holds us accountable for our sin.
  • 00:20:56.511 --> 00:21:01.516
  • Listen, the bible says every time we sin against god,
  • 00:21:02.551 --> 00:21:06.822
  • We owe god for the sin we've committed.
  • 00:21:07.656 --> 00:21:09.391
  • Sin always creates an obligation.
  • 00:21:09.391 --> 00:21:12.828
  • And the more we sin,
  • 00:21:12.828 --> 00:21:14.463
  • The bigger the iou that we owe god.
  • 00:21:14.463 --> 00:21:17.399
  • I mean, just think about it.
  • 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.667
  • Every wrong thought, every wrong motivation,
  • 00:21:18.667 --> 00:21:21.002
  • Every wrong action is a sin that requires repayment,
  • 00:21:21.002 --> 00:21:25.674
  • And our sin debt is spinning around quicker
  • 00:21:25.674 --> 00:21:28.510
  • Than the national debt right now.
  • 00:21:28.510 --> 00:21:31.046
  • Our sin debt to god is incalculable.
  • 00:21:31.046 --> 00:21:33.548
  • And the longer you live, the bigger that debt becomes.
  • 00:21:33.548 --> 00:21:37.786
  • And listen,
  • 00:21:37.786 --> 00:21:39.154
  • If you die without having paid off that sin debt,
  • 00:21:39.154 --> 00:21:42.824
  • Then you spend eternity in hell separated from god
  • 00:21:42.824 --> 00:21:46.194
  • Trying to pay off that debt.
  • 00:21:46.194 --> 00:21:48.163
  • The bible says,
  • 00:21:48.163 --> 00:21:49.498
  • "for the wages of sin is death, eternal death."
  • 00:21:49.498 --> 00:21:53.969
  • The biggest choice you and i make in life is the choice,
  • 00:21:55.103 --> 00:21:58.173
  • Who's going to pay for my sin?
  • 00:21:58.173 --> 00:21:59.975
  • It has to be paid for.
  • 00:21:59.975 --> 00:22:01.710
  • The bible says god cannot overlook our iniquity.
  • 00:22:01.710 --> 00:22:04.246
  • He can't turn his back and play like it never happened.
  • 00:22:04.246 --> 00:22:06.648
  • God is a holy god who demands payment for our sin.
  • 00:22:06.648 --> 00:22:10.185
  • The question is who's going to pay for it?
  • 00:22:10.185 --> 00:22:12.888
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:22:12.888 --> 00:22:17.692
  • There are great physical
  • 00:22:18.193 --> 00:22:19.694
  • And emotional benefits to forgiveness,
  • 00:22:19.694 --> 00:22:22.330
  • But they pale in comparison to the spiritual benefits.
  • 00:22:22.330 --> 00:22:26.401
  • Jesus said, "for if you forgive others
  • 00:22:26.401 --> 00:22:28.537
  • For their transgressions,
  • 00:22:28.537 --> 00:22:30.138
  • Your heavenly father will also forgive you.
  • 00:22:30.138 --> 00:22:33.108
  • But if you do not forgive others,
  • 00:22:33.108 --> 00:22:35.844
  • Then your heavenly father
  • 00:22:35.844 --> 00:22:37.579
  • Will not forgive your transgressions."
  • 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:40.749
  • This powerful truth about forgiveness is just one example
  • 00:22:40.749 --> 00:22:44.553
  • Of the life-changing messages we're privileged
  • 00:22:44.553 --> 00:22:47.255
  • To share every day on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:47.255 --> 00:22:50.926
  • And i want to express my heartfelt gratitude
  • 00:22:50.926 --> 00:22:53.361
  • To each of you who faithfully supports this ministry.
  • 00:22:53.361 --> 00:22:57.332
  • Your partnership enables us to reach countless people
  • 00:22:57.332 --> 00:23:00.469
  • With god's word,
  • 00:23:00.469 --> 00:23:01.837
  • Including people who are struggling
  • 00:23:01.837 --> 00:23:03.805
  • With unforgiveness, bitterness, and pain.
  • 00:23:03.805 --> 00:23:07.309
  • Through your generosity,
  • 00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:08.710
  • We're able to offer them hope and freedom that comes
  • 00:23:08.710 --> 00:23:11.746
  • Through understanding biblical forgiveness.
  • 00:23:11.746 --> 00:23:15.050
  • Thank you for being a part
  • 00:23:15.050 --> 00:23:16.351
  • Of the "pathway to victory" family.
  • 00:23:16.351 --> 00:23:18.720
  • Together, we're making an eternal difference.
  • 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.890
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:23:21.890 --> 00:23:23.191
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:23:23.191 --> 00:23:25.794
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:23:25.794 --> 00:23:27.562
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:23:27.896 --> 00:23:29.564
  • We all need god's strength to make it through the day.
  • 00:23:29.564 --> 00:23:32.534
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple"
  • 00:23:32.534 --> 00:23:34.736
  • By dr. robert jeffress provides
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  • The spiritual refreshment you need.
  • 00:23:36.738 --> 00:23:39.007
  • In a large print format,
  • 00:23:39.007 --> 00:23:40.575
  • Every page bursts with breathtaking imagery
  • 00:23:40.575 --> 00:23:43.378
  • That draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:23:43.378 --> 00:23:46.615
  • I know how challenging it can be to stay connected
  • 00:23:46.615 --> 00:23:49.484
  • With god in our busy lives.
  • 00:23:49.484 --> 00:23:51.586
  • In my new devotional,
  • 00:23:51.586 --> 00:23:53.121
  • I provide personal reflections and practical insights
  • 00:23:53.121 --> 00:23:56.658
  • That will help you experience god's presence
  • 00:23:56.658 --> 00:23:59.060
  • And encouragement throughout your day.
  • 00:23:59.060 --> 00:24:01.596
  • Filled with stunning images of creation,
  • 00:24:01.596 --> 00:24:03.965
  • Scripture verses,
  • 00:24:03.965 --> 00:24:05.267
  • And prayers you can read in under two minutes,
  • 00:24:05.267 --> 00:24:07.536
  • This padded hardcover book is the perfect daily companion
  • 00:24:07.536 --> 00:24:10.972
  • To help refresh your spirit morning and night.
  • 00:24:10.972 --> 00:24:14.042
  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend
  • 00:24:14.042 --> 00:24:16.811
  • Or loved one.
  • 00:24:16.811 --> 00:24:17.779
  • Request your copy
  • 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.080
  • Of "encouragement for the heart of a disciple"
  • 00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:21.249
  • When you give a generous gift
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  • To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:22.717 --> 00:24:25.353
  • Or when you become a pathway partner.
  • 00:24:25.353 --> 00:24:27.923
  • With your ministry gift of $100 or more,
  • 00:24:27.923 --> 00:24:30.892
  • We'll send you the encouragement resource set
  • 00:24:30.892 --> 00:24:33.428
  • Containing the new devotional,
  • 00:24:33.428 --> 00:24:35.163
  • Six clutter-free prayer cards,
  • 00:24:35.163 --> 00:24:37.065
  • The clutter-free christianity book
  • 00:24:37.065 --> 00:24:39.000
  • And life application guide,
  • 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.669
  • And the "seven marks of a disciple"
  • 00:24:40.669 --> 00:24:42.737
  • Message series on both cd and dvd.
  • 00:24:42.737 --> 00:24:45.740
  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:48.343
  • Your generous partnership helps us impact you
  • 00:24:48.343 --> 00:24:51.112
  • And your family and a nation in deep spiritual need
  • 00:24:51.112 --> 00:24:54.349
  • With the transforming truth of god's word.
  • 00:24:54.349 --> 00:24:57.852
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:24:58.186 --> 00:24:59.421
  • Forgiveness is the obligation of those
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  • Who have truly been forgiven,
  • 00:25:01.756 --> 00:25:04.326
  • And i hope today's message has helped you take a step
  • 00:25:04.326 --> 00:25:07.162
  • Toward that freedom.
  • 00:25:07.162 --> 00:25:09.130
  • Well, next time,
  • 00:25:09.130 --> 00:25:10.298
  • We're going to conclude our series
  • 00:25:10.298 --> 00:25:11.666
  • On the seven marks of a disciple
  • 00:25:11.666 --> 00:25:13.868
  • With the final study about the first mark of a disciple.
  • 00:25:13.868 --> 00:25:17.906
  • You see, everything we've covered so far,
  • 00:25:17.906 --> 00:25:20.342
  • Like prayer, trust, and forgiveness, requires our effort.
  • 00:25:20.342 --> 00:25:25.113
  • But a regenerate heart, well,
  • 00:25:25.113 --> 00:25:27.415
  • That's something only god can give.
  • 00:25:27.415 --> 00:25:30.018
  • Stay tuned for a preview
  • 00:25:30.018 --> 00:25:31.286
  • Of what's coming up next in our series,
  • 00:25:31.286 --> 00:25:33.521
  • "seven marks of a disciple."
  • 00:25:33.521 --> 00:25:36.691
  • Don't we have to say i'm sorry
  • 00:25:37.325 --> 00:25:39.494
  • Before we receive god's forgiveness?
  • 00:25:39.494 --> 00:25:41.596
  • That's right, we do.
  • 00:25:41.596 --> 00:25:43.698
  • But people who say that miss one important point,
  • 00:25:43.698 --> 00:25:47.202
  • There's a difference between receiving forgiveness
  • 00:25:47.202 --> 00:25:49.604
  • And granting forgiveness.
  • 00:25:49.604 --> 00:25:51.539
  • It's true.
  • 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.974
  • I can only receive forgiveness from another person
  • 00:25:52.974 --> 00:25:54.743
  • Or god if i say i'm sorry
  • 00:25:54.743 --> 00:25:57.045
  • And open my heart to receive that gift of forgiveness.
  • 00:25:57.045 --> 00:26:00.615
  • But i can grant forgiveness
  • 00:26:00.615 --> 00:26:02.717
  • To people whether they say i'm sorry or never say i'm sorry.
  • 00:26:02.717 --> 00:26:06.421
  • Set your dvr
  • 00:26:06.421 --> 00:26:07.789
  • And join us next time for part two of the message
  • 00:26:07.789 --> 00:26:09.991
  • "developing a forgiving heart" here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:09.991 --> 00:26:16.297
  • Experience the beauty of alaska with the
  • 00:26:17.132 --> 00:26:19.434
  • Pathway to victory family
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  • June 13-20, 2026
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  • Sail through the calm waters of the
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  • Legendary inside passage, with
  • 00:26:26.074 --> 00:26:27.976
  • Dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
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  • Magnificent koningsdam
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  • Be inspired by award-winning musician
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  • Michael o'brien's powerful worship
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  • Share laughter with dennis swanberg
  • 00:26:36.584 --> 00:26:38.586
  • America's minister of encouragement
  • 00:26:38.586 --> 00:26:40.855
  • All while exploring frontier towns like
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  • Juneau, skagway and ketchikan
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  • There's something powerful about connecting with god
  • 00:26:45.627 --> 00:26:48.897
  • And fellow believers in the majesty of his
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  • Untammed wilderness
  • 00:26:51.566 --> 00:26:53.101
  • From the majestic glaciers, to soaring eagles
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  • These moments in god's creation will
  • 00:26:56.471 --> 00:26:58.573
  • Deepen your faith in powerful ways
  • 00:26:58.573 --> 00:27:01.409
  • Join us for a spiritual journey
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  • Through some of creation's most spectaculer displays
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  • Don't wait, our best cabins are going fast
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  • Secure your alaska adventure now
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  • Call 888-280-6747,
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  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:14.255 --> 00:27:16.424
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:27:16.424 --> 00:27:16.424