23
“The Opportunities
of Forgiveness”
(Genesis 50)
1. Mistreating Others Empowers Them Over Us
(Genesis 50:15-18) When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was
dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which
we did to him." So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 'Thus you shall say to
Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they
said, "Behold, we are your servants." (NKJV)
1. Mistreating Others Empowers Them Over Us
2. Look for opportunities to forgive.
(Romans 12:19) Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (NKJV)
(Genesis 50:20) "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many
people alive. (NKJV)
(Romans 5:10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through
the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
(NKJV)
1. Mistreating Others Empowers Them Over Us
2. Look for opportunities to forgive.
3. Godly people forgive.
(Genesis 41:38-39) And Pharaoh said to his servants,
"Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as
you. (NKJV)
(1 John 2:24) Therefore let that abide in you
which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. (NKJV)
1. Mistreating Others Empowers Them Over Us
2. Look for opportunities to forgive.
3. Godly people forgive.4. Forgive others even when
it doesn’t seem right in your own eyes.
(1 Peter 2:19-23) For this is commendable, if because of conscience
toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But
when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was
deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (NKJV)
(Luke 6:37) "Judge not, and you shall not be
judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
(NKJV)
(James 2:13) For judgment is without mercy to
the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over
judgment. (NKJV)
(Job 5:2) For wrath kills a foolish man, And
envy slays a simple one. (NKJV)
(Proverbs 24:17) Do not rejoice when your enemy
falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
(NKJV)
(Proverbs 10:18) Whoever hides hatred has lying
lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool. (NKJV)
(Proverbs 16:18) Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall. (NKJV)
(Philippians 2:14) Do all things without complaining
and disputing, (NKJV)
(Proverbs 19:11) The discretion of a man makes him
slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. (NKJV)
(Proverbs 14:10) The heart knows its own
bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy. (NKJV)
(Romans 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God, (NKJV)
