The Power of Forgiveness - I

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment. What is it mean to forgive.

Listen, to forgive me. I'm surrendering my right to get even. That means I will not pay that person what they may deserve, instead of the hands of God. It may seem like retribution would be so satisfying.

Pastor Greg Laurie shows trusting God brings the best. I was so we need to look to their great theologian Taylor Swift to give us his advice. Shake it off and in that offense occupies space in her mind. It's as though we rented brain space to the offender and the rent keeps piling up. But sometimes we have to forgive someone who was sorry and accepted apology never came today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie highlights the life of Joseph.

It seemed every time you turn around someone new, stabbing him in the back that he forgave and forgive again and spare the lives of himself and his family. I read about a study that was done on the topic of forgiveness that it revealed that 75% of those were surveyed believe that God had forgiven them for past sins, but of those were pulled only 52% had forgiven others."

Take Houston we have a problem that Morgan asked God to forgive us. The Scripture says we should forgive others why because life is filled with hurt and disappointments is net. We get hurt in life we have people who hurt us. And guess what, there are people that you have heard as well. So we need to learn how to apologize. I we need to learn how to forgive note some of your thinking, no way to second grade you don't know what people have done to me you don't know what I've had to face in life and you know I don't. But I'm just telling you this is what the Bible says and I'm a tell you why you should forgive all give you a few reasons. But here's number one of the most important reason, you should forgive people who have hurt you because God commands you to only we need any other reason but there are a few others. Why do I say that because Ephesians 432. This is because I'm tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you, then Colossians 313 says bear with one another and forgive one another. If anyone is a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so also you must do listen to this tip failed to forgive can bring your prayer life to a halt. Let me say that again the building forgive can bring your prayer life to a screeching halt.

Jesus says in Mark 1125 when you're praying first forgive anyone your holding a grudge against so your father in heaven will forgive your sins to the bottom line. As I said forgiven people should be forgiving people, so we been hurt in life and we have a choice. We can rehearse what happened. We can release it. Let me say that again we can rehearse what happened or we can release it.

We can go over it again and again and again justifying our anger and our bitterness. Or we can just release it so we need to look for theology now look at the great theologian Taylor Swift but to give us this advice. Shake it off. Forgive, let it go green. Also tell us that let it go. But what does it mean to forget. Listen to this. What is it mean to forgive. It's not condoning or dismissing someone's bad behavior. I think I do feel qualified forgive them for like I condone what they did know. Forgiving is not condoning someone's bad behavior. It's not dismissing it. It's not even necessarily reconciliation because that's not always possible there might be someone that's done something mean to you.

You forgive them, but they still don't want to be reconciled to you so I'm not even talking about that little I mean when I say to forgive. Listen to forgive means I'm surrendering my right to get even I'm surrendering my right to get even means I will not pay that person back what they may indeed deserve, instead I'm going to put it in the hands of God, because (Romans 1219 it says never take vengeance into your own hands, dear friends, stand back and let God punish you if you will forward as written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord is different words used in the Bible to describe forgiveness 75 in total. The main word that we find in the New Testament that is translated into the words forgive and forgiveness is one that means to release to release to let go of something to free yourself from something another word that is used to describe forgiveness in the Bible is canceling as in canceling a debt I mean you have to just keep a short account and this is really true of marriage. Okay I mean if you want a marriage that is happy if you want a marriage that lasts you better learn how to forgive because you're going to hurt and be heard in marriage. I love the advice of Ruth Graham, the wife of Billy Graham who said a good marriage or a successful marriage is made up of two good forgive her, so we should be willing to forgive other people because it comes out of this. What I forgive someone I sent out prisoner free myself because I could be the prisoner. What I failed to forgive. I can be the one who's getting hurt more to withhold forgiveness is detrimental not only to the person I'm withholding from, but harmful to me as well.

Spiritually as well as physically.

One study was done among resentful people and it was revealed that they took resentful people 25% more medication than people who practice forgiveness. So if you want to save money at the drugstore. Forgive, if you want to be a happier person. Forget if you want to be a healthier person. Forgive, and most importantly, if you want to be an obedient Christian then you must or get it isn't giving into another person is getting free of that person. My friend Craig Rochelle put it this way, the first to apologize is the bravest, the first of forgive is the strongest the first of forget is the happiest and I like so just put it in your rearview mirror.

Is it will why are you talking about forgiveness will because word part three of the life of Joseph and before is now in the book of Genesis is one of the most amazing examples of forgiveness and all of the Bible. The only story that really eclipses it in my estimation is Christ thinking on the crossing father forgive them for they know not what they do.

Here is Joseph a man who is been so wrong in life extending forgiveness to his brothers very brothers who abandoned the trade for all intents murdered him. This would've been a great moment in the narrative for him to deal in a little bit of payback with one word. He could've had them all executed because it comes into a position of great prominence as will see what he didn't do that instead he forgave. Now let's consider the fact that Joseph's life can be divided into three sections. Remember what they are.

They are start struggle and success. Number one there start that would be birth to 17 years for first introduced to the young Joseph that we find a young boy 17 years old with a supercooled called his dad made for him and that his father favored him above the other brothers. This stirred resentment also made matters worse by tattling or ratting out his brothers when they were misbehaving.

Also, Joseph had these amazing dreams of other people bowing before him, though, are in reality from God. But as I said earlier, sometimes it's best to keep your dreams to yourself because of brothers just thought it was kind of a braggart a bit spoiled and maybe he was but that he certainly didn't deserve the treatment that they gave him because section number two of his life as struggle.

They sell their 17-year-old brother to a group of slave traders are 20 pieces of silver probably never thinking they would see him again while he is purchased by a guy named Potter for who is the chief executioner under Pharaoh meant that he was in charge of all executions and he was in charge of the Secret Service of Pharaoh.

If you will, very powerful man. He put Joseph in entry-level job at Joe's was such a hard worker, so full of integrity, and as the Bible reminds us, because the Lord was with them.

The elevated Joseph so soon, Joseph was running Potter verse entire estate, all part of her had to think about was what he was going to eat for lunch Potter for had a wife who put her lustful eyes and young Joseph in the Bible tells us was very attractive, handsome, well-built, and she started hitting on him day and night, and he resisted her advances, and finally one day she just got tired of being subtle and grab them and yank them down on the bed and basically just said have sex with me and he ran out of there as quickly as he could and she falsely accuses him of rape and now we find Joseph sent to prison, bringing us to section 3 of his life success as he sits in prison. In the event city goes through to prepare him for what was ahead very important detail is given to us in Genesis 3921 about Joseph in prison. It says the Lord was with Joseph.

So now is now is in a dungeon worse situation imaginable, but in typical Joseph fashion. Because of his hard work and because the Lord was with them is running the place in just a moment. Pastor Greg points out how a couple of fellow others join Joseph in the dungeon, they were employees of Pharaoh. There seems to be a ray of hope in Joseph Stark imprisonment more in a moment.

Pastor Greg we have something exciting.

We just tallied up the numbers in this year just since January, we've now seen 100,000 professions of faith through harvest minister, which is absolutely yes, David is incredible and the way it came about is even more incredible because of the beginning of 2020 we went before everybody in our church in our ministry and said we have a goal this year and some of you may remember this. I've seen 100,000 people make a profession of faith. I'll be honest with you I had some doubts like I we can really get this number but it done. Why not shoot for will see what the Lord does well covered 19 get so we went exclusively online with our weekend program that we call harvest and basically a church service that you want in your home, but each week I've been inviting people to come to Christ and on one particular Sunday we had 7000 people make a profession of faith. So now as we tally the numbers. We've reached the hundred thousand Martin we reach it in an unexpected way. So what that says to me is what we have the right idea, but the Lord had a different way of bringing it about. So we dizzying to God be the glory. Let's just keep going because were passing that number now listen to this. The Bible says there is joy in heaven over one sinner that comes to repentance and we have seen 100,000 people in just months. This profession of faith to follow Christ. So we join the Angels and rejoicing. Pastor Greg is presenting a series called world changers and regaining some important insights today on forgiveness by studying the life of Joseph, who at the moment finds himself in Pharaoh's dungeon must continue enter the Butler and the Baker they work for the fair and they were both sent to prison. You wonder how that go down the Baker come up with a really over cooked decent loaf of bread. The Butler served it is you're both going to prison.

Whatever it is, in this case, literally. The butler did it right so there no incarcerated and dying.

Here's Joseph a walk around started taking care of people, and he sees his two fellow inmates noses. One day the very depressed. He says they guys or the long face with what's wrong and they begin to tell him other troubles, no I love the fact that he was thinking of others above himself. So he's talked with these guys and they both had these dreams.

What were your dreams okay well one of them says I dreamed this is the Butler.

Now he says I dream of a vine growing up with three branches in the three branches were clusters of great sin, and so I took the wine from the grapes that I put them in the Kings cup and serve them to the king what is entry me… It is good dream buddy the Lord to show me that that means you're going to get out of here before you know it to be serving wind of the king.

Yes, so the biggest my term. I turned to what was your dream figures is a case I this dream about three baskets of why bread I had him up all my head and on the top buzz. There were some special big treats for the Pharaoh. And so that's why they what is it mean Joseph is so good are your dream means that you're going to be beheaded and they're going to hang you on a tree, and birds are getting eat your brain. Sorry to break that to you but that was the honest interpretation of the dream you know it it's hard sometimes to tell people the truth is that you know we love to share the gospel and the good news that God forgives and you can have personal peace and joy in all the great attributes of the Christian life, but a person may say what if I don't believe in Jesus. What a vibrant check to what happens at me with tell you that we have the tone. The other part, but there is a final judgment. There is a hell, God doesn't want anyone to go there but you gotta tell people the truth. Joseph did that so now the Butler is good to get out of this note was the many going to do me a favor. I did this for you. Remember your buddy Joseph when you get out okay and the butler said yeah I'll never forget you. You never heard from and so now he's just sitting there for two more years. He was forgotten. In fact, the Bible tells us in Genesis 4023.

The butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot you ever feel that way is of God is forgotten, you think Noah felt that way Robin around on the water with a bunch of stinking animals for all that time anyone or did the Lord forget about us.

I mean, I know you saved us, but we been here a long time in the Bible says, but God remembered Noah God remembered Noah and Jesus said your father knows about every bird that falls to the ground, don't you think he cares about you what you're getting.

Eat what you're going to drink what you gonna wear God never forget you. Sometimes we forget God that he never forgets us in the Lord had not forgotten Joseph she was just whipping them in the shape because what was about to happen. The Joseph was going to fulfill his dreams and time people were literally going to be bowing before him, but he wasn't quite ready. So the Lord needed two more years to come. To get some iron in the soul of this formerly spoiled young man and turn them into the man of God.

He needed him to be. Maybe you feel like you're in it dungeon right now you're in a prison. Maybe it's a really bad marriage. Maybe it's a really tough job. Maybe it's some kind of an illness or disability you're dealing with and you and you feel like what's gonna happen to me.

God is in control of your life and you just watch and so now here is Joseph sitting in prison. Not knowing how the stories gonna end. Meanwhile, the most powerful man on the face of the earth, the Pharaoh of Egypt has a troubling dream and in his particular dream he sees seven that healthy cows in front of the Nile River and then after them came seven scrawny shriveled up cows in the seven skinny cows ate the seven fat cows will go.

What will I said not to be that Egyptian pizza last night. What is this me.

Then he falls asleep and he is another dream. This time it's 70 heads of grain, strong and healthy growing from a single stock and then seven heads of grain also stop at their sort of scorched and withering and the scorched once ate up and hopefully one of the Whigs of what is this mean we calls in all of the astrologers and the wizards in the experts and advisors cc. He had them on staff. They were on the payroll. There were supposed to help them interpret things and give him messages from the gods messages from the stars, but these guys had no answers they could make sense out of Pharaoh's dreams. And then there's the Butler East End and everything in all why I remember that Joseph guy so he says in the Pharaoh. I met this guy in prison and he interpreted my dream. Also, the dream of your former Baker and I believe God's given him disability the process get him up here right now. So, meanwhile, down in prison there sits Joseph Sears will be going a really long long beard becoming due itself you go meet the fair today will give you shame and Erica.

Let's go. The next thing he knows he's in the presence of the Pharaoh Genesis 41 by the way, was that not the longest introduction ever.

I was the intro verse 14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph in one city was brought quickly from the dungeon. After a quick shave and a change of clothes.

He went in and stood in Pharaoh's presence. I had a dream last night. Pharaoh told in none of these men can tell me what it means, but I've heard that you can interpret dreams and that's why I have called for you. I love Joseph response for 16 it is beyond my power to do this the Pharaoh's are probably some with anyone on the safe. But God would tell you what it means and he'll set you at ease. Now that took courage.

And so now the Pharaoh tells him his dream and Joseph says okay I got it.

Lord showed me his enemies was fat cows get eaten by the skinny cows that's talking about seven years of planning another word. You do really well and grain reserves in food for seven years which have seven years of famine. Following that better stock up now to get some reserve in place. So when the famine comes, you'll survive it. By the way, you gotta get a really good person over this to administrate it all the Pharaoh soothsayers, wizards or magicians or save me me me, the Pharaoh looks at Joseph and says, next thing you know, Joseph is the second most powerful man in the world is gone from prison to the pounds gone from rags Greg Laurie guiding us through the amazing story of Joseph. There's a lot more to the story than some Technicolor dream coat and pastor Greg will have more has this study continues here on a new beginning including one more illustration before we leave today if you weren't able to catch all the pastor Greg's insight today. You can hear what you missed@harvest.org just look for the title the power of forgiveness. You can also listen by way of our harvest mobile app or call us anytime night or day at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 and I were happy to have some special guests joining us in the studio today. Pastor Greg and I are joined by pastor Greg's wife Kathy Kathy glad you're joining us it's good to be here and pastor Greg once you introduce her other two guests I'm speaking with our special guests, Chante and Jeff Feld Hahn and they've written a very important book that I want to put in your hand in the title of it is thriving in love and money.

There's a statement very early on in the book and I find this ring interesting because you would look at this and think all this is a book about money and it is an in another way, it isn't because the statement is made. The truth about everything will be covering.

We have conflict around money. It's not about the money. So Chante wanted to explain that statement actually in this research because this is based on mastering a research project to try to dig out like how do you have a great relationship around money right and for me, and this had been a big deal in our marriage and that's the really the one sentence summary at the reasonable that this is such a big issue in so many chairs exactly or having tension about money.

It's not about the money. Turns out it's about how many makes you feel how it makes your spouse feel there is almost as like expectations and beliefs about how money should work or insecurities or worries are always other feelings that are running into the surface and we don't even know they're there. But that's really what's coming out when ever there is knows tensions are fighting or like me — we didn't fight about it. We just cannot didn't talk about it because we just liberated it to me and we could if we could have titled it if it was the book about our life, we could of said coping with money riding around 11 anything but thrive so folksy or listening to Chante and Jeff Feld Hahn in the written a book of thriving in love and money it's about money, it's about those things that you deal with, but it's all about relationships.

It's about trust. It's about communication. It's about life and this is something that you need to have in your hand and we want to send it to you.

Listen for no charge. I will send you this, but for whatever you send. I would encourage you to be generous in ordering your copy because will use those resources to invest in the kingdom of God. But we will rush you your own copy of thriving in love and money, subtitled five-game changing insights about your relationship your money and yourself in a traded such welcome news for any family were money is a point of tension take advantage of the five practical principles spelled out in thriving in love and money and will send it to thank you for your donation of any size. We just want you to have this resource and will put your donation to work helping more people through a new beginning each day. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org.

What next time or from the life of Joseph and pastor Greg series called world changers. But before we go pastor Greg has one more illustration from today's message the power of forgiveness to an interesting thing to me. Here's Joseph. And he doesn't deserve to be imprisoned and yet he's thinking about others. Which reminds me of a 10 step solution for curing depression. Taking notes you might want to write these 10 things down step number one do something for someone else with greater needs and you do something for someone else who is greater needs and you step number two Pete step number 19 more times.

I know it's oversimplifying it.

I understand there's clinical depression I'm not really addressing. I'm just talking about those times in our life we get a little bit down in the dumps.

Something didn't meet our expectation get a little perspective, you know, sometimes you may not be feeling well but you go and make a visit to someone in a hospital and you see well their whole lot worse off than I am and I have to tell you I've had situations drive visiting people in hospitals were terminally ill what it was all said and done they minister to me more than I ministered so as I see others who are suffering. Maybe a lot more than I am with my problem and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org