Nets, fishing, and forgiving

1. Nets, fishing, and forgiving • Pastor Charles

2. Malawi

3. Mozambique

4. Nets, fishing, and forgiving • To the fisherman, nets are good

5. Nets, fishing, and forgiving • To the fish, nets are destructive

6. Focus verse for today: • Matt 4:19-20 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Verse 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

7. Nets, fishing, and forgiving • The beautiful side of the nets. Bringing in a harvest • The great message we have to share that when we sin there is forgiveness First I want to share on the verse 19 “fisher of men” side

8. Nets, fishing, and forgiving • The ugly side of the nets that need to be left behind! • When others sin against us and the necessity to extend forgiveness Second I will share on the “leaving their nets” side.

9. What is at the heart of the Gospel Message? • Jesus • And in Him • The forgiveness of sins

10. What is the message? • God completely forgives sin

11. Heb 10:17 "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

12. What is the message? • The initiative to forgive comes from Him

13. Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

14. What is the message? • Sin deserves divine punishment because it is a violation of God's holy character

15. 1 Pet 1:16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

16. What is the message? • His pardon is gracious

17. Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

18. What is the message? • In order for God to forgive sin, two conditions are necessary. • A life must be taken as a substitute for that of the sinner

19. Heb 9:22 .....without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

20. What is the message? • In order for God to forgive sin, two conditions are necessary. • A life must be taken as a substitute for that of the sinner • and the sinner must come to God's sacrifice in a spirit of repentance and faith

21. Acts 10:43 .....everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

22. What is the message? • This Forgiveness in the New Testament is directly linked to Christ, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His resurrection.

23. Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

24. What is the message? • And when God forgives, He forgets!

25. Psalms 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

29. Part 2 of the message: Leave your nets, and follow Him

30. Matt 4:19-20 “......At once they left their nets and followed him.

31. Left their nets, in the Greek: aphiemi- (af-ee'-ay-mee);

32. It has many meanings: • to send away • to bid going away or to depart; used of a husband divorcing his wife • to send forth, to yield up, to expire • to let go, to let alone, to let be • to let go, to give up a debt, to forgive, to remit • to give up, to keep no longer

33. Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

34. What did Jesus teach us about forgiveness? • Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving

35. Matthew 6:14-15: “for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

36. What did Jesus teach us about forgiveness? • Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving • There is to be no limit to our forgiveness

37. Matthew 18:21,22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

38. What did Jesus teach us about forgiveness? • Our forgiveness depends on us forgiving • There is to be no limit to our forgiveness • We have been forgiven much, therefore we should forgive one another

39. Matt 18:23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.”Vs 35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

40. What is forgiveness? • Introduction • Forgiveness is vital in conflict resolution, but it is not reconciliation. • Forgiveness means not only forgiving others, but also forgiving yourself • Forgiveness takes away bitterness and gives back new life even in the most difficult circumstances.

41. What is forgiveness? • Why forgive? • Pain makes us want to retaliate • Who loses? - The one who is not forgiving! • Forgiveness is essential for our own hearts! ……..and bodies

42. What is forgiveness? • Forgiveness is not: • Pretending that the issue does not matter • Condoning the behaviour • Letting someone off the hook • Meaning that things necessarily go back to normal • Demanding that the person change • Demanding an apology for the events or act.

43. What is forgiveness? • FORGIVENESS IS A DECISION - NOT A FEELING • Ceasing to blame. • Releasing someone from punishment • It is costly to forgive - have to sacrifice: • Pride • self-pity • desire for justice

44. Stages of Forgiveness • Timing • Acceptance • Recognizing emotions • Choosing not to hold it against the person • Releasing him or her • Forgiveness is a verb • Consider boundaries • Receive forgiveness

45. Nets, fishing, and forgiving • We need to do some fishing • Let’s leave those nets behind