1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,700 Wonderful music this morning. 2 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:05,720 Paul, is this the end of the choir season? 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,340 The choir and orchestra season. 4 00:00:08,340 --> 00:00:11,000 We'll have 30 seconds of silence. 5 00:00:14,340 --> 00:00:18,280 Well, we look forward to their gathering again, 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,920 gathering again in September as they continue 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:23,880 their wonderful ministry in our midst. 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,120 Our good ministry of music will continue right 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:26,860 through the summer. 10 00:00:26,860 --> 00:00:28,360 Barbie and Terry Franklin are going 11 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:29,540 to be here next Sunday night. 12 00:00:29,540 --> 00:00:31,240 Paul, do you want to say a word about them? 13 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,720 It's not every week when we're able to have 14 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,760 in a top rated Christian gospel group come in through the Twin 15 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,240 Cities and hear available at Grace Church. 16 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,480 They had an opening on June 19th, 17 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:50,520 and we took it because they are one fine duet team. 18 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,920 Terry has been with the Gaither Vocal Band for a few years. 19 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,520 They both have written songs that 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,520 have gone right to the top of the charts in Christian music. 21 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,960 This is a quality team of musicians. 22 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,520 I hope that you'll be here next Sunday night, 6 o'clock, 23 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:07,800 to hear Barbie and Terry Franklin. 24 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:08,720 Great, thank you. 25 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,960 I was driving yesterday up I-94 towards St. Cloud 26 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:18,940 and came to one of those marvelous frustrations 27 00:01:18,940 --> 00:01:21,120 from Minnesota drivers. 28 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,120 Fortunately, it was in the other lane. 29 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:30,600 As I was driving along about some miles an hour for three, 30 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,480 four, maybe five miles, the traffic 31 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,900 was backed up at a stop, a snail's pace. 32 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:41,640 Are you ever a frustrated Minnesota driver? 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,440 I think all of us face that occasionally. 34 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:49,040 MDOT seems to have those road construction projects wherever 35 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,760 you want to go these days, but they're important, I understand. 36 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,840 Spiritual strongholds are something 37 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,000 like these obstacles in our roadways. 38 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:05,840 Strongholds are fortresses of sin established in our lives 39 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:12,200 that impede and slow our spiritual advance. 40 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,120 These strongholds stand on ground in our lives 41 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,640 that belongs to Jesus Christ. 42 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:24,960 They deny His authority to rule in our lives. 43 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,560 Strongholds are created when we accept and believe 44 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:35,760 lies or wrong thinking that then produces controlling attitudes 45 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,240 and behavior. 46 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,360 Strongholds are prisons of sin which 47 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:46,440 allow Satan to bring bondage to us 48 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,200 and to expand his evil in our lives. 49 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,120 Strongholds must be destroyed. 50 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,880 They must be destroyed and demolished, 51 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:02,080 or we will pay a terrible price spiritually. 52 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:06,120 Isn't it interesting that we chafe against obstacles hindering 53 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:12,280 our travel to the mall, but we allow, we excuse, 54 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,880 we ignore the strongholds of sin that 55 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:19,160 threaten our spiritual journey? 56 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,160 Open your Bible, please, to 2 Corinthians chapter 10 57 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,760 as we remind ourselves of a key text in the scriptures 58 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:27,640 in this regard. 59 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:30,680 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3. 60 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:35,120 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according 61 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,000 to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare 62 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:44,040 are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful 63 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:49,920 for the destruction of strongholds or fortresses. 64 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,120 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised 65 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,920 up against the knowledge of God, and we 66 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:02,480 are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 67 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,280 Spiritual strongholds obstruct our spiritual progress, 68 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,600 so they must be attacked and destroyed. 69 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,640 The destruction of strongholds of sin in our lives 70 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,440 may not happen immediately. 71 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,960 That's where the war comes in. 72 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:24,360 But they must immediately be attacked. 73 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,120 The battle must begin. 74 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,160 It must be enjoined. 75 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:34,320 And we must press toward the defeat of those strongholds. 76 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,240 Now by God's help and grace, we want 77 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:41,320 to apply this idea to ourselves personally today and next 78 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,680 Sunday, and then later in the summer, 79 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,040 we're going to apply it to us as a congregation, 80 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,760 as a body of people. 81 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:55,080 An example of personal strongholds 82 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,200 is that of unforgiveness. 83 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:04,200 Now I suppose I could choose 10, 20, 30 potential strongholds 84 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:08,200 that might be found in my life or yours. 85 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:13,280 But it has been my experience as a pastor now for 25 years 86 00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:15,320 as of March. 87 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,080 It's been my experience that unforgiveness 88 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:25,600 is one of the most common strongholds among God's people. 89 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,400 And so I want to use it today as an example. 90 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,920 Now it may not be the stronghold that 91 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,480 is holding you back in your spiritual advance. 92 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:36,560 I hope that you can apply some of the things 93 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,400 we're talking about today to whatever your stronghold may 94 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:40,800 be. 95 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:45,080 But I do believe there are significant numbers of us 96 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,800 that might be battling, struggling 97 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,560 with this stronghold of unforgiveness. 98 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:53,760 So we want to talk about it today. 99 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,480 We'll begin by talking about the root of unforgiveness. 100 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,280 The root of unforgiveness. 101 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:07,200 Turn over a few more pages to Ephesians chapter 5, verse 31, 102 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,840 reading on into verse 32. 103 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:16,560 Ephesians, excuse me, Ephesians 4, beginning in verse 31. 104 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:23,120 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander 105 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,080 be put away from you, along with all malice, 106 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:33,800 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving 107 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:40,000 each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. 108 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,200 It seems to me that we learn a secret in verse 32, 109 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:50,120 and that is that forgiveness comes out of the heart. 110 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,500 And so when we talk about the root of unforgiveness, 111 00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:58,000 we also need to look at the heart. 112 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:04,600 The root of unforgiveness is the opposite of tenderheartedness. 113 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:09,920 Out of tenderheartedness flows forgiveness. 114 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,840 When we have a hardened heart, it 115 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:19,880 produces the root of unforgiveness. 116 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,680 And what is it that causes this unforgiveness 117 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:28,760 to begin to grow into that hard heart? 118 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:34,400 What is it that fertilizes this weed of unforgiveness 119 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,840 and causes it to go deep into our lives 120 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,120 and to bear awful results? 121 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:48,200 I believe that it grows with the fertilizer of lies. 122 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,280 Remember, we've been saying that strongholds begin 123 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:58,480 with wrong thinking, with lies in our minds, lies 124 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,560 that we may concoct in our own flesh, 125 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,800 lies that we see lived out before us in the world, 126 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:10,080 or lies spoken to our minds by the devil. 127 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,520 Spiritual warfare is a multi-dimensional war. 128 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,520 The world, the flesh, and the devil are all involved. 129 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:22,080 Wherever the lies come from, they feed unforgiveness. 130 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:30,520 This wrong thinking creates, to put it a different way, 131 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:36,560 an infection that then multiplies and dispenses 132 00:08:36,560 --> 00:08:40,120 poison that contaminates one's behavior. 133 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:45,480 What are some of the lies that fertilize unforgiveness, 134 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:51,880 that bring poison to the bloodstream of our souls? 135 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,720 Well, I want to quickly mention five of them. 136 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,360 And you may want to write them down 137 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,000 because we're going to come back to them 138 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,200 and answer them in a moment. 139 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:06,100 The first lie that I believe enhances unforgiveness 140 00:09:06,100 --> 00:09:08,820 in a hardened heart is this one. 141 00:09:08,820 --> 00:09:17,560 I cannot forget, so I cannot forgive. 142 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:20,120 I can't put it out of my mind, therefore it's 143 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,120 impossible for me to forgive. 144 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,560 That's a lie. 145 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:32,200 Number two, I have to get even. 146 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,320 They have to pay for what they did. 147 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:42,600 I want revenge. 148 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,200 That's a lie. 149 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,240 We don't have to get even. 150 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:54,600 Lie number three, if I forgive, I lose. 151 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,800 My anger, some people feel, 152 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,000 my anger is the only control that I have. 153 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,320 It's the only bit of power that I have. 154 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:11,160 If I give up my anger and my unforgiveness, I lose. 155 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,960 That's a lie. 156 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:20,020 Lie number four, I don't feel like forgiving. 157 00:10:20,020 --> 00:10:23,560 I don't feel like forgiving them. 158 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:24,840 Therefore I can't forgive them. 159 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:26,840 That's a lie. 160 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:36,680 Number five, if I forgive, I'm saying that what they did to me was okay. 161 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:40,600 If I forgive them, I'm putting my stamp of approval on what they did. 162 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,240 Why should I forgive them? 163 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,080 That's a lie. 164 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:55,360 These lies and many more cause unforgiveness to take a deep routage in our lives. 165 00:10:55,360 --> 00:11:01,560 Let's talk for a moment about the fruit that comes from that root, the fruit of unforgiveness. 166 00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:05,960 Hebrews 12, 15 talks about this. 167 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:15,920 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing 168 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:22,240 up causes trouble and by it many be defiled. 169 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:32,440 Bitterness, a root of bitterness, that comes from a word that means to cut or to prick. 170 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:41,480 Thus, it came to mean something sharp or even pungent to the senses, to taste or to smell, 171 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:42,760 pungency. 172 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:51,800 And so he says here, don't let a root, a pungent, sharp root in your life, a root of bitterness. 173 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,000 Bring forth ugly fruit. 174 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,320 What are the painful consequences of unforgiveness in our lives? 175 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:00,520 Let me suggest several. 176 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:09,800 Number one, anger controls me and consumes my energy. 177 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:18,480 When I allow unforgiveness towards someone to become a stronghold in my life, anger consumes 178 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:23,920 me, not them. 179 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:30,320 Anger begins to eat up all of my energy as I try to keep it in check and hold it down 180 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:36,480 and yet it just begins to grow and grow and grow. 181 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:44,400 Proverbs 22, 24 and 25 say, do not associate with a man given to anger or go with a hot 182 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,640 tempered man. 183 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,320 Some of you young ladies need to listen to that. 184 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,160 Don't go with a hot tempered man. 185 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:59,160 Lest you learn his ways and find a snare for yourself. 186 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:06,360 Proverbs 14, verses 29 and 30, he who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who 187 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,720 is quick tempered exalts folly. 188 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:17,800 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones. 189 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,140 You want to destroy your body? 190 00:13:21,140 --> 00:13:24,600 Be an unforgiving person. 191 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:29,480 Be a person who allows bitterness to grow deep into your life. 192 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:35,160 It will suck up all of your life's energy and it will ultimately bring rottenness to 193 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,800 your bones. 194 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,320 Anger is like a black hole. 195 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:45,000 It just sucks into it all of the energy of our lives. 196 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:55,240 It absorbs into itself that life force that God has given us for good in this world. 197 00:13:55,240 --> 00:14:01,560 Second consequence of unforgiveness is that my life becomes filled with misery. 198 00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:14,640 In Hebrews 12, 15 it says a root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, trouble, misery, 199 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,840 distress, harassment. 200 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:19,840 That's what it causes. 201 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,280 You want to have a miserable life? 202 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,840 Be someone who holds grudges against others. 203 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:35,680 Allow that to form a stronghold in your life and you will truly be miserable. 204 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:41,560 Charles Swindoll talks about a word that Jesus used in Matthew 18. 205 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:46,720 In Matthew 18, Jesus tells a parable you recall about forgiveness. 206 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,880 A man was forgiven of his huge debt by the ruler. 207 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,920 You remember that? 208 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:57,800 And then he went out and would not forgive one of his workers of a small debt. 209 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:03,960 And Jesus warned that such a man would be put back into prison and given over to the 210 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:11,160 torturers until he had paid his huge debt. 211 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:18,160 Swindoll says about this word torturers, the root Greek term from which torturers is translated. 212 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,680 There's a verb meaning to torment. 213 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,440 That's a frightening thought. 214 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:29,600 When I first saw this thing, he says, it began to take shape in my mind and I resisted it. 215 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,680 I thought, no, that's too harsh. 216 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,120 But the further I probe, the clearer it became. 217 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:40,920 The same term is used to describe a person suffering a great pain, Matthew 8, 6. 218 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:47,880 It's used to describe the misery of a man being in agony in hell as he pleads for relief, 219 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:49,540 Luke 16. 220 00:15:49,540 --> 00:15:53,880 When we read of a man named Lot in 2 Peter 2, 8, who was surrounded and oppressed by 221 00:15:53,880 --> 00:16:01,960 the conduct of unprincipled men, we read his righteous soul was tormented day after day. 222 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:09,320 But here in Matthew 18, he says, Jesus refers to tormentors, a noun, not a verb. 223 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:14,720 He is saying the one who refuses to forgive, the Christian who harbors grudges, bitter 224 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:21,560 feelings toward another, will be turned over to torturous thoughts, feelings of misery, 225 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:27,240 and agonizing unrest within. 226 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:32,100 One of the consequences of unforgiveness in our lives is that our own lives become filled 227 00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:35,200 with misery and torment. 228 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,920 A third consequence is that others become defiled. 229 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,820 Again, Hebrews chapter 12. 230 00:16:40,820 --> 00:16:45,320 By this root, it says, many will be defiled. 231 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,720 The word means to be stained. 232 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:51,600 You see, sin is never in a vacuum. 233 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,160 We think of it that way, don't we? 234 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:58,860 We say to ourselves, well, this anger is inside of me. 235 00:16:58,860 --> 00:17:02,480 This unforgiveness is mine to hold onto. 236 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,080 It doesn't bother anybody else. 237 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,340 It's a lie. 238 00:17:07,340 --> 00:17:12,160 It is impossible for a root of bitterness to spoil only one life. 239 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,520 It will spoil your spouse. 240 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,240 It will ruin your children. 241 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,080 It will infect your church. 242 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,380 It will get into your office. 243 00:17:23,380 --> 00:17:31,000 A root of bitterness stains, defiles many. 244 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:37,800 A fourth consequence is that I lose God's blessing. 245 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:44,880 God cannot fellowship with me if I will not forgive. 246 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:55,360 Turn back to Matthew chapter 6 and notice these words of Jesus that really are startling. 247 00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:59,160 In this chapter, he tells us how we are to pray as his disciples. 248 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:05,800 One of the things he says we are to say or include in our praying is, forgive us our 249 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:14,320 debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. 250 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,440 We often pray for forgiveness for our sins. 251 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:25,240 I wonder how often we tag on that last little line, I wish Jesus hadn't. 252 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:32,760 Because he says, God, you forgive me in the same way that I forgive others. 253 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:37,320 Notice what he says when he's finished with this Lord's Prayer. 254 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,880 He summarizes by going back to that one point in the prayer. 255 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:46,720 He says in verse 14, if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father 256 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,200 will also forgive you. 257 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:59,160 But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 258 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:00,600 Does that startle you? 259 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:06,800 Do those seem like strange words coming from Jesus? 260 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:13,440 He's underscoring to us how important it is that we as a practice in our lives forgive 261 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,240 others. 262 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,480 Because he's writing to the children of the Father, he says, your Father. 263 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:29,440 The forgiveness he's talking about here is not legal forgiveness by which God cleanses 264 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:34,640 us of our sins in our position before him and makes us righteous in his sight. 265 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:40,900 He's talking about family forgiveness, familial forgiveness. 266 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:50,560 Our Father will not fellowship with us if we do not forgive others of their sins. 267 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:57,160 Lord Herbert said, he who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must 268 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:03,600 pass. 269 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:13,300 A protracted refusal to forgive creates a stronghold in your life and mine. 270 00:20:13,300 --> 00:20:18,400 It forms a garbage pit. 271 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:26,440 A garbage pit that sets up a nesting place for demonic activity to begin. 272 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:32,800 So to be a conqueror in spiritual warfare, you and I must clean out the garbage. 273 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,920 It's not enough to chase the rats off. 274 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:39,720 We've got to get to the garbage. 275 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,920 How do we pull down the stronghold of unforgiveness? 276 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:50,880 It's a very important question to some of you this morning because as I'm talking, 277 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:55,320 the Holy Spirit is just taking the wraps off, isn't He? 278 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,680 And showing what's there. 279 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,840 How do you get rid of that thing? 280 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:11,600 Let me suggest three ideas, three steps perhaps, to destroying and pulling down these strongholds 281 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:17,220 in our lives that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. 282 00:21:17,220 --> 00:21:21,400 The first idea is this, to discover what is true. 283 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:30,640 If you want to get rid of the stronghold that is founded on lies, you have to begin by discovering 284 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,040 what is true. 285 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:38,960 Because what is true will attack the lies at the root of the stronghold. 286 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:43,200 So now we go back to those five lies I talked about earlier. 287 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:49,920 Number one, forgiving is not forgetting. 288 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,540 Those are two different things. 289 00:21:52,540 --> 00:22:00,240 We may not be able to forget an offense that someone has committed against us, but we can 290 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:09,400 choose to release them from responsibility to us for what they did. 291 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:10,400 That's what God does. 292 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:15,560 You say, well no, doesn't the Bible say God remembers our sin no more? 293 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:21,000 Indeed, in Psalm 103 verse 12 it says that, but you have to understand something. 294 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,120 That is an expression. 295 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:30,520 God cannot forget anything because God knows everything. 296 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:40,040 What that means is that God will never use what he remembers against us. 297 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,300 He will never use it against us. 298 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:45,600 He knows all things. 299 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:52,500 He hasn't forgotten anything, but he chooses in forgiving us not to ever bring that up 300 00:22:52,500 --> 00:22:53,720 again. 301 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:58,440 We can do the same thing. 302 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,680 Second truth, God is the avenger of wrong, not us. 303 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:05,800 I have to have revenge. 304 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,800 Don't take revenge for yourselves. 305 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,280 Vengeance is mine. 306 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:14,640 I will repay, says the Lord. 307 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:20,080 When you and I refuse to forgive someone for their wrongs against us, we actually get in 308 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:21,080 the way of God. 309 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:24,880 Did you know that? 310 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:31,080 God has promised that he will take care of vengeance, but when you and I are hanging 311 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:38,920 on to people by our unforgiveness, God can't get at them. 312 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:45,440 It is when we choose to forgive and say, Father, vengeance is yours. 313 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:46,440 I forgive. 314 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:56,120 When we step away, God then can do his work. 315 00:23:56,120 --> 00:24:01,280 The third truth, the forgiver is the winner, not the loser. 316 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,680 You see, we never lose by obeying God. 317 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:14,640 I know emotionally it may feel like that your revenge, your unforgiveness is the last thread 318 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:21,960 of power you have over that person or those people. 319 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,480 If you give it up somehow, you are going to be the loser. 320 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:25,480 It is a lie. 321 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:26,960 It is not true. 322 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:33,960 You never lose by doing what God tells you to do. 323 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,760 By forgiving, we gain freedom to go on. 324 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:43,680 We are no longer connected and held back by those who have offended us. 325 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:48,520 You see, forgiveness is a far greater power than bitterness. 326 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,600 A far greater power. 327 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:58,800 A fourth truth, forgiveness is a choice of the will, not a response of the emotions. 328 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:03,360 You may not feel like forgiving, but that isn't the issue. 329 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:05,360 Will you forgive? 330 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:08,160 It is a matter of the will. 331 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,920 It is a choice. 332 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:18,560 The feelings eventually catch up to our actions. 333 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:25,520 The choices we make will drag along our feelings eventually, but sometimes those feelings take 334 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:30,600 time to be regenerated or to heal. 335 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:32,140 Don't act on your feelings. 336 00:25:32,140 --> 00:25:37,760 Act upon your will and what God has said for you to do. 337 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:44,040 Robert McGee in his book, The Search for Significance, puts this lie a little bit of a different 338 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:45,040 way. 339 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:51,040 He says the lie is, I'll be a hypocrite if I forgive because I don't feel like forgiving. 340 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,880 That's pretty good, isn't it? 341 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:55,400 I don't want to be a hypocrite. 342 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,200 Jesus tells me not to be a hypocrite. 343 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:58,680 I don't feel like forgiving. 344 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:03,880 Therefore, I don't have to forgive, else I'd be a hypocrite. 345 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:09,000 He says it's amazing how we confuse hypocrisy with obedience. 346 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,720 We are hypocritical only if we do something for selfish gain. 347 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:20,160 For instance, a hypocrite might be a politician who comes to church in order to get its members 348 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:27,080 to vote for him in the next election, but who despises the church and its people. 349 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:33,840 To forgive is an act of the will in obedience to the Lord's command, he says, is true spirituality. 350 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:38,280 Not hypocrisy. 351 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:44,760 And there's a fourth, or rather a fifth truth, and it is that forgiveness is not approval 352 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:50,360 of the evil that was done. 353 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:55,760 Forgiveness is a willingness to bear the consequences of the evil that was done, but it's not an 354 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,880 approval of what was done. 355 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:04,920 You know, the fact is that you and I are going to pay the consequences, we're going to pay 356 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:11,440 the price of the evil that was done to us, whether we choose to or not. 357 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,480 We are going to pay those consequences. 358 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:19,520 As Neil Anderson says, the only choice we have is whether we're going to pay those consequences 359 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:26,160 in the freedom of forgiveness or in the bitterness of unforgiveness. 360 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:30,640 When we forgive, we are not saying that what was done was okay. 361 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,400 What we're saying is I am willing to bear the consequences. 362 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,800 That's like God. 363 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:41,200 That's what God has done for us in forgiving us. 364 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:48,320 He bore our consequences, our sin, our death upon the cross of Calvary so that he might 365 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,240 freely forgive. 366 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:55,820 Number two, choose to act on that truth. 367 00:27:55,820 --> 00:27:59,080 Remember what the truth is, then choose to act on it. 368 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:03,880 This is an act of supreme faith that God blesses. 369 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,800 How do we do that? 370 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,360 By acknowledging the hurt and the anger. 371 00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:15,600 I'm going to borrow freely and quickly from Neil Anderson's material entitled Steps to 372 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:16,600 Freedom. 373 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:20,560 But how do we choose to act on the truth? 374 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:26,240 It is, first of all, to acknowledge the hurt and the anger and the hatred. 375 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:32,160 You see, forgiveness has to visit that emotional core of our lives. 376 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:37,920 That pain has to come to the surface in order for God to deal with it. 377 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:39,160 We have to acknowledge it. 378 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:46,040 Number two, we must decide that we will bear that offense, its pain against us, and never 379 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:52,200 use the information against our offender in the future. 380 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:59,080 By saying like, well, yeah, but do you remember what you did to me? 381 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,880 We're saying I'm not going to do that anymore. 382 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,400 Third, don't wait until you feel like it. 383 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:06,400 You never will. 384 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:07,400 Do what is right. 385 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:13,480 It's the freedom that you're seeking, not a feeling. 386 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:19,840 And then make a list asking God to help you remember each one of those people against 387 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:24,440 whom you're holding a grudge. 388 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:34,000 And then go through that list of people and say, Lord, I forgive so-and-so for, and then 389 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:38,600 name what was done. 390 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:39,600 Remember it. 391 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:45,840 Say that before God, and say, God, I forgive so-and-so for this. 392 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:49,720 And stay with that name until you've come up with everything that's on the surface of 393 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:55,360 your mind that God has brought to there that you're holding against that person. 394 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:58,740 Then go to the next person down the list. 395 00:29:58,740 --> 00:30:03,320 As you do that, don't say, Lord, I want to forgive. 396 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:04,320 Do it. 397 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,360 Don't say, Lord, help me to forgive. 398 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,440 He already has. 399 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:09,440 Just do it. 400 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:13,760 Say, Lord, I forgive. 401 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:20,080 And finally, remember that as you do this, you're doing it for your sake and not theirs. 402 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:21,760 You don't have to explain what they did. 403 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:23,840 You don't have to rationalize what they did. 404 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,760 All you need to do is forgive what they did. 405 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:37,000 You see, forgiveness deals with your pain, not their problems. 406 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:41,440 And then number three, as we think about how to tear down the strongholds, discover the 407 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:47,600 truth, act upon the truth, number three, wield your weapons. 408 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:52,880 Expect that you will in the future be tempted toward feelings of bitterness and unforgiveness 409 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:54,620 toward those same people. 410 00:30:54,620 --> 00:30:56,600 Be prepared for that. 411 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,240 It will recycle on you. 412 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:05,080 But I would encourage you to write down the date when you forgave. 413 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:11,120 Keep that date as a testimony to remind yourself of the decision that you've made, to remind 414 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:16,160 the spirits who come to tempt you of the decision that you made. 415 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:22,920 And then let the Word of God strengthen you and renew your mind, wiping away the anger 416 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:29,520 that may tend to hang on, teaching you about forgiveness. 417 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:30,520 And pray. 418 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:31,520 Pray. 419 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,940 These are our spiritual weapons, the Word of God in prayer. 420 00:31:34,940 --> 00:31:39,240 Pray for that person or those persons that you've forgiven. 421 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:44,960 It's hard to remain angry at somebody when you're praying for them. 422 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:50,560 So pray for them and pray for yourself that you may be able to resist temptation in the 423 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:55,840 future to be unforgiving. 424 00:31:55,840 --> 00:32:00,760 Strongholds are obstacles to our spiritual progress. 425 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:03,480 We've talked about a humongous one this morning. 426 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:08,160 And some of you are sitting there with questions racing through your mind. 427 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,520 You're saying, how in the world, what will I do? 428 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:11,960 How does this apply? 429 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:17,900 You may need some help from a trusted friend or counselor or pastor who can sit down with 430 00:32:17,900 --> 00:32:22,560 you and work through the issues involved. 431 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:26,180 But for many of us, it's just a matter of being obedient. 432 00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:32,160 We know now what we need to do is just a matter of getting it done. 433 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:36,560 And there's no better time to start than right now. 434 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,480 Let's pray. 435 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:45,400 Well, has your list begun? 436 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:56,080 Is that face right there in front of you at this moment as you close your eyes? 437 00:32:56,080 --> 00:33:02,360 Does that situation come freshly to your mind where there is revenge? 438 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:06,880 See, friend, that's the work of God. 439 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:15,880 Just as God has forgiven us for Christ's sake, we are to forgive others. 440 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:21,960 I know that in the few seconds that remain, you cannot completely demolish the stronghold, 441 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:29,560 but you can say, Lord, I will forgive, and I'm going to attack this stronghold. 442 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:32,000 Will you do that? 443 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,640 And then later you can work through the steps we've talked about this morning. 444 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:40,960 Don't allow this stronghold to hold you prisoner. 445 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:43,260 Don't waste your life on it anymore. 446 00:33:43,260 --> 00:33:46,460 Life is too valuable for that. 447 00:33:46,460 --> 00:33:52,840 God has called you to too much to allow this to hold you back. 448 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:55,960 Pull down the stronghold of unforgiveness. 449 00:33:55,960 --> 00:34:06,840 Oh, God, our Father, you know how deeply bitterness can become rooted in us, and oh, how destructive 450 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,640 it can be. 451 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:13,920 I pray that there will not be one of us who will walk out of here today determined to 452 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,000 remain bitter. 453 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:26,560 May we instead yield up our hearts to you and choose to forgive as you have forgiven 454 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:27,560 us. 455 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:36,080 Would you stand together with me, please, and our heads bowed? 456 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:57,680 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 457 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:10,440 I once was lost, but now am found. 458 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:18,560 Was blind, but now I see. 459 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:24,200 Lord, we were hard-hearted, but your grace intervened. 460 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:36,680 Oh, may we now have tender hearts, tender hearts, out of which will flow forgiveness 461 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:45,160 toward those who have abused, offended, and sinned against us. 462 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:51,840 And may we forgive with the grace by which we have been forgiven. 463 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,960 Amen.