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Dreams
Lesson 5: The Pardon Test
March 20, 2022
GOD HAS CREATED US ON PURPOSE, FOR A PURPOSE
He doesn’t look at us and see our failures, he looks at us and sees our potential.
Genesis 39:2 The Lord was with Joseph and blessed him greatly… New Living Translation (1996)
“To be full of bitterness and unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemies will die”
“Unforgiveness is choosing to stay trapped in a jail cell of bitterness, serving time for someone else’s crime”
Ephesians 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting your anger gain control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. New Living Translation (1996)
CHOOSE TO FORGIVE
GIVE IT TO GOD
Romans12:19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves, Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord. New Living Translation (1996)
Romans12:20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you. New Living Translation (1996)
Romans 12:21 Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. New Living Translation (1996)
PRAY FOR THEM
BLESS THEM
SHOW KINDNESS TO THEM
LET IT GO
RETURNED EVIL FOR GOOD
Genesis 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be now that Joseph will hate us, and pay us in return for all the wrong that we did to him!” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, our father told us, 17 ‘You say to Joseph, “Forgive the wrong-doing of your brothers and their sin. For they did a bad thing to you.”’ Now we beg you, forgive the wrong-doing of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph cried when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers came and fell down in front of him and said, “See, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid. Am I God to judge and punish you? 20 As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. No don’t be afraid. Indeed I myself will take care of you and your families.” 21 And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them. New Living Translation (1996)
Genesis 50:18 Then his brothers came and bowed low before him. “We are slaves,” they said. New Living Translation (1996)
Genesis 50:19 But Joseph told them, “Do not be afraid. Am I God to judge and punish you? 20 As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No don’t be afraid. Indeed I myself will take care of you and your families.” And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them. New Living Translation (1996)
Isaiah 53:4-6 Yet it was our weakness he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. …He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s path to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of all of us. New Living Translation (1996)
Genesis 41:51b “God has made me forget all my troubles and the family of my father.” 52b “God has made me fruitful in this land of my suffering.” New Living Translation (1996)
The Greek word for“forgiveness” means “to let go”, as when a person does not demand payment for a debt.
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.