Grip Of A Grudge

Sermon Highlights: Applying Biblical Principles to our Lives - Part 8 - Forgiveness 

Remember Joseph of the Old Testament? He had two dreams that, unfortunately, he shared with his brothers. Because of those dreams, his brothers sold him to Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt and sold him to Pharaoh’s top manager, Potiphar. After years of faithful service to Potiphar, he was accused of molesting the man’s wife and was thrown into prison.  In prison, he gained such respect that he was put in charge of the other prisoners.  He interpreted dreams for two of them, one of whom was killed and one of whom was restored to his position in Pharaoh’s household.

 Joseph’s early dreams had gotten him into trouble with his brothers. At that point in his life, he hadn’t learned that “. . . authority is given to serve, not to set you apart.”

 Joseph could have blamed God for his being ripped from his family (sold by his brothers), put into servitude and then into jail.  At the point that Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, he was put into a position of saving his family.  Who had put Joseph in Egypt? When famine drove Jacob (Israel) to send his sons to Egypt to get food during the seven years of famine foretold in Pharaoh’s dreams, it was evident that God had been moving from the first dreams Joseph had.  Joseph could have become bitter but didn’t. When his brothers stood before him needing food, he was moved to tears (which he initially hid).

 God sent Joseph to Egypt.  It was God that sent the famine in the land.  No mortal man or devil can supersede the plan of God for your life.  And if you and I can lay hold of this truth, it will set us free.  There is only one person that can get you out of the will of God - - you.

 If we can stay free from offense or from being offended by others, we will stay in God’s will.  His promises and dreams for our lives will not fail.  We’ve been forgiven by Almighty God. We must forgive others to “break the chain of the past” and to move forward.

 Romans 12:17 – 21 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

 You and I have a choice.  We can be overcome by evil or we can overcome evil with good. How do we do that?

 1) Embrace God’s forgiveness for you.  If it is a fresh or deep wound, stay at the foot of the cross.  Embrace the message that you are forgiven, that you are God’s son or daughter, that you are a joint heir with Him.  Sometimes the person we need to forgive is our self.  If a holy God forgives us, why would we not forgive our self?

2) Forgiven people forgive.  Because I have been forgiven, I can forgive.

3) Let God avenge you.  Allow God to take care of the one who wronged you.

4) Overcome evil with good. 

---