Pastor Jeremy kicks off our new series, “Finding Freedom,” with a powerful reminder that forgiveness is not about excusing the hurt—it’s about refusing to let bitterness control our future. It’s time to release the debts others owe us, trust God with justice, and fight for the freedom that comes when we forgive!
Notes 📓✏️:
• Forgiveness is always a fight.
• Forgiveness is deeply spiritual.
• Unresolved offense can become an altar where we continually sacrifice peace, trust, joy, and intimacy with God and innocent others.
“Root of Bitterness”
💬 Bishop Desmond Tutu
“Without forgiveness, there is no future.”
🕊️ Forgiveness
Forgiveness is less about “releasing” the offender and more about freedom for the offended.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
🕊️ What Forgiveness Is
• Forgiveness is not saying, “It didn’t matter.”
• Forgiveness is saying, “I refuse to let it master me.”
💭 The Weight of Unforgiveness
• As long as we believe they owe us, they own us.
• Waiting for someone to pay an emotional debt they are unwilling or unable to pay will keep you spiritually bankrupt.
🙏 Forgiveness Is Saying
“I release my demand that you personally repay what only God can ultimately redeem.”
✝️ The Gospel Picture
Jesus paid debts He did not owe…Because we owed debts we could not pay.
• There are wounds in life where your offender may never pay…but God will still heal.
💬 David Stoop — Forgiving the Unforgiveable
“Forgiving other people does not in any way benefit or let them off the hook. It allows us to cancel the debt they owe us, which in all probability they can never pay anyway. We are the ones who are freed – from the expectation of restitution for the wrongs done to us.”
🗣️ “Father, forgive them…”
1️⃣ Forgiveness Is A Choice
Most of the time, forgiveness is a choice and not a feeling.
If not forgiveness, then what’s the alternative?
• Bitterness?
• Hate?
• Revenge?
• Carrying hurt indefinitely?
2️⃣ Trust God With Justice
God sees clearly and judges perfectly.
“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”
1 Peter 2:23 (NIV)
🕊️ Release the debt. Trust God with the justice.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- Pastor Jeremy said ‘As long as we believe they owe us, they own us.’ What does this statement mean, and why is it dangerous to our freedom?
- According to Ephesians 4:31-32, we’re told to ‘get rid of all bitterness’ and ‘forgive each other, just as is Christ, God forgave you.’ Why does God command forgiveness even when the pain is deep?
- Pastor Jeremy described forgiveness as ‘a choice and not a feeling.’ Why is this distinction important, and what makes forgiveness such a fight?
- The sermon mentioned that ‘some debts will never be repaid by the person who created them.’ How should this reality change our expectations and approach to healing?