THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Freedom of Forgiveness: The Shoes

May 15, 2016

Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 15:22: (NIV)

App: We all need a few cruddy buddies who are in need of personal awakening (ref. Luke 19:10, Luke 15:7b)

Three Characteristics of the Shoes

1: Comfort: no more sorrow (ref. Ezekiel 24:17, 23)

 Rejoicing: the end of mourning

 Acceptance: you are a son

App: It’s time to stop mourning what’s behind to embrace the new path God has you on

2: Confidence: surefootedness (ref. Luke 10:1-12, Ephesians 6:10-17)

App: “stand firm”

Quietness and trust is your strength… Isaiah 30:15b

3: Conquest: our feet become a point of covenant

“I will give you every place where you set your foot” Joshua 1:3a

(ref. Psalm 60:8, Genesis 3:15, Revelation 1:18, Matthew 28:18)

App: We bring the good news of the Gospel of Peace only where God has made the necessary preparations

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good

news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…

Isaiah 52:7a

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Freedom of Forgiveness: The Ring

May 8, 2016

Please turn to Luke 15:23: (NIV)

Three elements of son-ship: the robe, the ring, the shoes

The ring: the Greek usage here suggests it’s a sealing (signet) ring: used to document official family business matters

• A son who had already taken his portion of the family business and wasted it is now reinstated and given full-power of attorney

Big Idea: You and I must learn to walk beyond just being accepted into the family to controlling partners in the Kingdom business

What exactly is this family business? Currently it’s reclaiming what was lost (Genesis 1:26).

How’s He doing it?

a. Through a powerful declaration of His love: The death of His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16)

b. Through a powerful demonstration that He is the Lord of life: The resurrection of Jesus Christ

App: What God has done for us will only work where it’s received

c. Through His Church: As we move in the authority He has placed on our fingers

“They will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well…” Mark 16:18b

-See Matthew 28:18-20

-See Matthew 5:14-16

-See 2Cor 5:17-19 GNT

How did Jesus speak? (ref. John 3:34)

Jesus was His Father’s sealed servant (ref. John 16:27b)

Likewise we are Gods sealed servants. (ref. Ephesians 1:13b. Also 2Corinthians 1:21b-22)

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Freedom of Forgiveness: The Robe

May 1, 2016

Please turn to Luke 15:20: (NIV)

God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus… Ephesians 2:6b

1. God clothes you in His best robe (protos): It’s the number one son robe (ref. Ephesians 4:11-13, 1Corinthians 12:12-31: on your importance to the Body)

Big Idea: In Christ, God has a number one son robe for you

App: Walk in the reality that you are a number one son/daughter

2. God clothes you in His robe of righteousness: It’s a full-length robe that fully covers all the guilt and shame of your past.

(ref. Isaiah 61:3, 10)

App: Stop peeking under your robe to measure your progress

3. God clothes you in His garment of praise

• It’s an exchange: a garment of heaviness for a Spirit of praise

• The robe of righteousness is what God says about you

• The garment of praise is what you say about you

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Freedom of Forgiveness

April 24, 2016

Please turn in Bibles in your Bibles to Romans 3:21-28 (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should

be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1John 3:1(ref. 1John 1:7b, Romans 3:23-24)

Luke 15:22: “But the father said…”

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:1-9

Big Idea: you can’t be a servant in the Kingdom when you’ve already been accepted by the Father as a son

Our Relationship with God

1. We all fall short and cannot earn favor from God by anything we do or say

2. We must approach God on the basis of His acceptance of us as sons and daughters

Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13

Bottom line (The Freedom of Forgiveness): You can’t make yourself a servant in the house of God when He has called you His son.

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Foundation of Forgiveness

April 17, 2016

Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 3:21-28 (NIV)

Big Idea: If God says, “Not guilty”, it means not guilty

-Righteous: God is the “standard” for life in His Kingdom

-Justice: We will all give an account as to whether we lived for His glory or something less (ref. Romans 3:23)

-Justified: We are made right before God through the free gift of grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (ref. Romans 3:24, 2Corinthians 5:21)

1: The Foundation of Forgiveness is God’s Declaration: “Not Guilty!”

2: Justified: a legal term that means to be declared “Not Guilty”

(ref. Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 8:12, Isaiah 44:22, 1John 1:9)

Sin and salvation:

1: We know God forgives sin coming into salvation, but what about afterwards? (ref. Colossians 2:6-7)

2: We don’t cease to sin the moment we’re saved, but God identifies us with the righteousness of His Son

3: The posture of victory is to keep your eyes on Jesus and stay fully exposed before God (ref. 1John 1:1-10)

When We Sin

1. Confess it: Agree with God about what He already knows

2. Confess it to someone else too

3. Receive God’s forgiveness and acceptance

4. Know and receive the love of God for you

5. Recognize that you’ve taken control of an area of your life that needs to be yielded to the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit

6. Live free of condemnation

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Father’s Forgiveness

April 3, 2016

Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 15:11-24

Big Idea: “God has a big eraser!”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son: Interesting Facts

First: the word prodigal isn’t a Biblical Word

“How deep the Father’s love for us,

how vast beyond all measure…

That He should give His only Son,

to make a wretch His treasure.”

Second: It’s one of three parables in Luke 15 addressing same theme

Third: Jesus uses it to confront holier than thou attitudes

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around

to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus! Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Savior! Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 15:10

THE FATHER’S FORGIVENESS (V20)

V 20a: The Father anticipates your homecoming

V 20b: The Father shows compassion toward you

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15:

V 20c: The Father goes the distance toward us

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7

V 20d: The Father gathers you into His arms

V 20e: The Father gives his seal of approval

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

THE FULLNESS OF FORGIVENESS

The Fountain of Forgiveness

April 3, 2016

Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 26:26-29

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22b

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. John 10:17-18

Benefits of The Fullness of Forgiveness

1: We no longer need to fear death and judgment

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

Romans 8:1-3

2: Satan can no longer accuse us

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

3: We can walk in freedom from guilt

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

1: Blood is the source of life

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Leviticus 17:11

2: Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin

“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”Hebrews 9:22b

3: Jesus’ blood was the fruition of all previous sacrifices

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many

for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28

4: Your worth is established by the price that was paid for you

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1Peter 1:18-19

5: Our triumph in the last days is hinged on our understanding of the power of the blood

“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,

who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:10-11

6: The blood serves to remind us of a personal invitation to the wedding supper of

the Lamb

29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:29

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Christmas: Love RevealedGod’s Promises: 2Cor. 1:20-22January 3, 2016Please turn to 2Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV)20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2Corinthians 1:20-22 NIV11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.1John 5:11-15 NIV“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 NIVFirst: He has anointed us: Christ is the Anointed OneMa-shyak: Messiah—The Anointed One. “To anoint”: literally to rub with oil in order to consecrateApp: Start by surrendering every area of your life to ChristSecond: He set His seal of ownership on usApp: Have you come to the place where you fully are not your own: you belong to Him?Third: He put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to comeDeposit guaranteeing: a down payment, a guarantee, or a security-Do you have a clear conscience before God? -Do you face misunderstandings with love and patience? -Do you have hope of every promise of God being fulfilled?What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Christmas: Love RevealedTo Bring Justice: Isaiah 42:1-9December 27, 2015Please turn to Isaiah 42 (Michael will be working from the NKJV)Michael’s Personal Goal: For my desire for justice to take a Christ-centered shapeHe has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of youBut to do justly , to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NKJVJustice Defined (Isaiah 42:1-9)1: Doing justice is GENTLE (vv. 1-3).“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 NIVApp: To be gentle as we attempt to right wrongs. 2: Doing justice is GLOBAL (v. 4).App: Ask God to expand your boundaries: give you a heart for all people 3: Doing justice must be GROUNDED IN GOD (v. 5, 9)App: Rest in the fact that God will give what you need4: Doing justice is GATHERING TOGETHER (vv. 6-7)App: We must learn to function as God people5: Doing justice is GOD’S GLORY (v. 8)1.Where do you see injustice in your life, community, or world?2.Is there any idol in your life that keeps you from being an agent of justice?3.What do you think about justice being gentle?4.Where are you waiting for God to bring justice in your own life?What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

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