This is the third message in Pastor Chuck Bernal's series, "UNCHAINED" (Breaking Free From The Pain, The Power And The Prison Of The Past). The message is titled, "MERCY - Understanding The Power Of Forgiveness". In this message Pastor Chuck talks about the negative impact of anger, hatred and bitterness in our lives and why it is a "poison". He then encourages us to replace bitterness with forgiveness and show mercy to anyone that has hurt us or wronged us. This message was delivered at LifePointe Church on Sunday, April 17, 2016.

6. THE BIBLE VERSES
THAT UNDERGIRD
THIS ENTIRE SERIES!

8. THE BIBLE VERSES
THAT UNDERGIRD
THIS ENTIRE SERIES!

9. Brothers and sisters, I know that
I still have a long way to go. But
there is one thing I do: I forget what
is in the past and try as hard as I
can to reach the goal before me.
(Philippians 3:13 – Easy To Read Version)

10. You will experience the truth,
and the truth will free you . . .
and if the Son sets you free,
you are free through and through.
(John 8:32, 36 – The Message)

11. BITTERNESS OR
MERCY – WHICH WILL
YOU CHOOSE?

12. MERCY PRINCIPLE 1:

13. You cannot be ”right”
with God and be ”wrong”
with another person

14. MERCY PRINCIPLE 2:

15. You cannot experience the
mercy, grace & forgiveness
of God if you refuse to
refuse it to others.

16. MERCY PRINCIPLE 3:

17. You cannot be truly set free
as long as you remain in
the prison of bitterness,
anger and hatred

18. Bitterness is like drinking
rat poison and waiting
for the rat to die.
(John Otrberg)

19. BITTERNESS = PIKRIA
(GREEK)

20. Anger or disappointment
because of another person,
resentment

21. Watch out that no poisonous
root of bitterness grows up
to trouble you . . .
(Hebrews 12:15 – New Living Translation)

22. Banish bitterness, rage and anger,
shouting and slander, and any
and all malicious thoughts—
these are poison.
(Ephesians 4:21 – The Voice)

23. By all means don’t brag about being
wise and good if you are bitter . . .
that is the worst sort of lie.
(James 3:14 – Living Bible)

24. PERSONAL COST:

25. Bitterness is a poison and
it will always harm you

26. RELATIONAL COST:

27. Bitterness is a cancer and
it will spread to everyone

28. SPIRITUAL COST:

29. Bitterness is a sin and
it will lead you away
from God

30. Do not seek revenge or hold
a grudge against anyone.
Instead, love your neighbor
as you love yourself.
(Leviticus 19:18 – The Voice)

31. You can become bitter or you can
become better – it’s your choice.

32. Showing mercy and granting
forgiveness is the key.

33. FORGIVENESS =
CHARIZOMAI (GREEK)

34. Freely show favor to,
to grant pardon,
extend kindness,
unconditional mercy

35. Forgive one another as quickly
and thoroughly as God in Christ
forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:32 – The Message)

36. Try to understand other people.
Forgive each other. If you have
something against someone,
forgive him. That is the way
the Lord forgave you.
(Colossians 3:13 – New Life Version)

37. But if anyone has caused harm . . .
I encourage you to offer him the
grace of forgiveness . . . So instead
of continuing to ostracize him,
I urge you to demonstrate
your love for him once again.
(2 Corinthians 2:5-8 – The Voice)

38. Forgiveness is
remembering how much
you’ve been forgiven

39. The kingdom of God is like a king
who decided to square accounts
with his servants. One servant was
brought before him who had run up
a debt of a hundred thousand
dollars. He couldn’t pay up,

40. so the king ordered the man, along
with his wife, children, and goods,
to be auctioned off at the slave
market. “The poor wretch threw
himself at the king’s feet and
begged, ‘Give me a chance
and I’ll pay it all back.’

41. Touched by his plea, the king
let him off, erasing the debt. “The
servant was no sooner out of the
room when he came upon one of
his fellow servants who owed him
ten dollars. He seized him by the
throat and demanded,

42. ‘Pay up. Now!’ “The poor wretch
threw himself down and begged,
‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all
back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had
him arrested and put in jail until the
debt was paid. When the other
servants saw this going on,

43. they were outraged and brought
a detailed report to the king. “The
king summoned the man and said,
‘You evil servant! I forgave your
entire debt when you begged me
for mercy.

44. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be
merciful to your fellow servant who
asked for mercy?’ The king was
furious and put the screws to the
man until he paid back his
entire debt.

45. And that’s exactly what my Father
is going to do to each one of you
who doesn’t forgive unconditionally
anyone who asks for mercy.
(Matthew 18:23-34 – The Message)

46. Forgiveness is
relinquishing your right
to get even

47. Don’t ever say, “I’ll pay them back
for what they did to me!”
Wait for the LORD.
He will make things right.
(Proverbs 20:22 – Easy To Read Version)

48. Forgiveness is repeating
the process as long
as necessary

49. Peter came up to the Lord
and asked, “How many times
should I forgive someone who
does something wrong to me?
Is seven times enough?”

50. Jesus answered: Not just seven
times, but seventy-seven times!
(Matthew 18:21-22 – Contemporary English Version)

51. Forgiveness is always
greater than your pain

52. Wherever sin grew and spread,
God’s grace was there in fuller,
greater measure. No matter how
much sin crept in, there was
always more grace.
(Romans 5:20 – The Voice)

53. Forgiven people forgive people.
That is the starting point for
genuine forgiveness. If you don’t
feel forgiven, you won’t want to
forgive anybody else.

54. If you’re hard on yourself,
you’re going to be hard on
others. But the more grace you
receive from God, the more
gracious you’re going to be
to others.

55. The more forgiven you feel by
God, the more forgiving you’ll be
toward others. How can you tell
when you’ve really forgiven
somebody?

56. When you can look at that
person’s hurt and not just your
own and pray for God to bless
him or her. You ask, “How could
I ever do that for the person
who’s hurt me?”

57. You can’t unless you allow the
love of God to penetrate your
life. Only the love of God can
help you do something like that.

59. Let’s Pray