This is part 3 of Pastor Chuck Bernal's message series, Relationship Rescue delivered at LifePointe Church in Crowley, TX on April 26, 2015. The title of the messsage is FORGIVENESS.

1. F = FORGIVENESS
Series - RELATIONSHIP RESCUE - Part 3 - Pastor Chuck Bernal - 04-26-15
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A REWIND OF THE SERIES SO FAR - “S - A - F - E - L - Y”
SUPPORT:Wemust supporteachother ________________________________,
____________________________ & ____________________________________
Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings.
(Galatians 6:2 – GWT)
ACCEPTANCE:BecauseJesusaccepted_____, youmust accept__________
Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other,
which will bring glory to God. (Romans 15:7 – NCV)
BITTERNESS OR FORGIVENESS – WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Bitterness is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die.
(John Otrberg)
BITTERNESS = PIKRIA (GREEK)
Anger or disappointment because of another person, resentment
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Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you . . .
(Hebrews 12:15 - NLT)
Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—
these are poison. (Ephesians 4:21 - Voice)
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 – LB)
PERSONALCOST:Bitterness is a ______________ and it will always harm you
RELATIONALCOST:Bitternessis a _________ and it will spread toeveryone
SPIRITUALCOST:Bitternessis a _______ andit will lead youaway from God
Do not seek revenge or hold a grudge against anyone. Instead, love your neighbor as you love
yourself. (Leviticus 19:18 – Voice)
You can become bitter or you can become better – it’s your choice.
And forgiveness is the key.
FORGIVENESS = CHARIZOMAI (GREEK)
Freely show favor to, to grant pardon, extend kindness, unconditional mercy
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2. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 –
Msg)
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 - NLV)
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 – Voice)
Forgivenessis ____________________ how muchyou’vebeen _____________
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, 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.’ 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, ‘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, 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. 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. 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 – Msg)
Forgivenessis ___________________________ yourright to get ___________
Forgivenessis _______________ the processas long as __________________
Forgiven people forgive people. That is the starting point for genuine forgiveness. If you don’t feel
forgiven, you won’t want toforgive anybody else. If you’re hardonyourself, you’re going to be hard on
others. But the more grace youreceive from God, the more gracious you’re going to be to others. 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? 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?”
You can’t unless you allow the love of Godto penetrate your life. Only the love of God can helpyou do
something like that.
SUPPORT:Wemust supporteachother unconditionally,tangibly&continually
ACCEPTANCE:BecauseJesusacceptedyou, youmust acceptothers
PERSONALCOST:Bitterness is a poison andit will always harm you
RELATIONALCOST:Bitternessis a cancerandit will spread to everyone
SPIRITUALCOST:Bitternessis a sin and it will lead youaway fromGod

3. Forgivenessis rememberinghow muchyou’vebeen forgiven
Forgivenessis relinquishing yourright to get even
Forgivenessis repeatingtheprocessas long as necessary