UDSM SDA Church Effort Via Morning Star Radio

Brethren,

The University of Dar es Salaam Seventh-Day Adventist Church is conducting a three week effort through the 105.3 Morning Star Radio. The campaign started on 5th of November, 2011 and it is coming to an end this coming Sabbath on 26th November, 2011. At the heart of the campaign is Evangelist Ernest Sanka, a very humble manservant of God from the mentioned church. You can listen to these lessons from 08:15pm to 09:15pm from today up to Thursday. On its final day, the campaign will be concluded with a colourful visitors Sabbath. Everyone who is anyone is invited to this big day. This invitation should be extended to your fellow friends as well.

For those who in one way or another have missed the lessons, you can listen them by clicking http://www.udsmsda.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=15

May God bless you all.

Yours,

Papa Moïse.

Even if Jesus was four days late, He was still on time to resurrect Lazarus.

God is NEVER late. Don’t try to assist Him with the solutions.

M. M. Mgune

Dar es Salaam

Tanzania

Sermon: Jesus' Death & The End of the World

THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS: A MICROCOSM OF THE END OF THE WORLD

Pastor Chaggama Joseph Mapenzi

Let us pray:

Our gracious and loving Father who is in heaven, we thank you for granting us an opportunity to worship you on the Sabbath day. We are even more thankful for the Sabbath in that it keeps us reminded that the true Sabbath is Jesus. In Him we rest on the Sabbath day as a foretaste of things to come. We are now waiting for you Lord to come again so that we may no longer rest after six days of hard labour and pain, sorrow and cry, but to rest from this present evil world and enter in your true tabernacle where timeless eternity is the order and sin is no more. Now Lord, take away the veil of prejudice and fear, hatred and enmity amongst us. Allow your abiding presence to be felt by your children as we ponder upon your word. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Context

We have a subject before us this Sabbath which is a simple one in that it is what we have been preaching since the Advent movement began. I chose this subject and topic because I grew up looking forward to the second coming of Jesus as the blessed hope, and preached the same in our pulpits for the past 22 years. To understand this sermon you only need to submit to the divine teacher, the Holy Spirit, for the regeneration of your spiritual faculty to strengthen your memory of the past sermons on the same topic so that the plain meaning given here will be made even plainer. Could you please pick up your Bibles and read it along this sermon.

Background

God raised up the Seventh-day Adventist Church because of two neglected but important doctrines for the Christian Church. (i)The importance of the law of God including the biblical Sabbath and (ii) the second coming of Jesus that will occur first before one thousand years of Revelation 20:1-6 (premillennialism). Our Sermon today examines these two contributions in the light of Jesus, the law (Divine system of rules and the entire Old Testament Scriptures) and the end of time.

Jesus and the Law

The state of our question

We answer one question with two parts: was the death of Jesus on the cross necessary and how is it related to the law of God and the end of the world?

The Law is defined as a system of rules that everyone must obey.[1] However, according to one of the leading academics in the field of philosophy of law, Hart being a Jew suggested that the law is also the ‘revelation of truths’.[2] These two definitions serve the purpose of this subject. The law of God is the revelation of his truth-Jesus is that Truth and through knowing Him we have an obligation to obey God’s written law. The unwritten law of God was challenged by Satan in heaven (Revelation 12: 7-13) before sin entered into the world through Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). Jesus who is called Michael amongst many names given Him in the scripture, won the victory over Satan in the heavenly realms. With the sin of Adam sin became a human problem and his environment hostile to him. In other words, the death of Jesus on the cross was both directly related to the unwritten law of God that existed before creation of Adam. This law as reduced to Ten Commandments and further reduced to two by Christ. The question is: did Jesus have to die on the cross and how is his death related to the law of God and the end of the world?

The cross event a microcosm of the end of time

The law required that one person should die so that the whole nation should not perish (John 11:50). This amongst other issues related to the law caused the Jewish religious leaders to give up Jesus to be crucified by Pagan Rome (Matthew 27.1-2).[3] The Jewish end time which was limited by time and space reached its climax at the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ (theologians call this event, realized or inaugurated eschatology). The universal end time begun after the resurrection of Jesus during the apostolic age and will reach its climax at the second coming of Jesus (the not yet eschatology respectively). The cup that Jesus promised not to drink with his disciples until in his Fathers’ kingdom (Matthew 26:29), will be celebrated at his second coming to deliver his suffering Church. Christ too suffered on the week leading to the end of his earthly life.

Significant to this sermon are the events leading to the second coming of Jesus. The antichrist as a genus[4] is the union of the church and the state laws. This union has crept into the church of God through different forms.[5] As it was during the week leading to the sacrificial death of Jesus so will it be to His church. It was the apostatized nation that rejected its Messiah; in our time the apostatized religious leaders will enter the union with the state and will give up the faithful Christians to be persecuted by the state law. This has been happening since the days of the apostles. The intensity and severity of persecution will take a global scale just before Jesus appears in the clouds of heaven.

Those who will be faithful to the law of God will feel separated from God. White compared this tribulation period brought by state persecution with Jacob’s time of trouble.[6] But it is evident that Jacob's time of trouble was a type of Christ passion (suffering) and to his elect, there will be a time of trouble such as never was since was a nation even to that time or after (Daniel 12-1-3). The good news is that the church will be delivered from persecution just like God raised Christ from death.

It is important to remember that in Gethsemane Jesus was undergoing a little time of Jacob’s trouble (Luke 22:40-48). Its climax was reached at the cross. On the cross the darkness that covered the earth for three hours (Matthew 27: 45) was a microcosm of the darkness that will cover the unrepentant sinful world but to the believers in Christ the light will be shining. At the cross Christ dealt with the law requirements and died for sinners’ stead (1 Peter 2:24). On the other hand Christ was offered as a sacrifice not only for sin of the world, but as a forensic (future judgment) justification of the law of God (Romans 3. 36; Hebrews 9:26,28). Jesus felt separated from the Father’s love (Matthew 27:48). However, the scripture says, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). As it was for Jesus who trusted His Father to deliver Him from the time of trouble, so it will be with the saints awaiting the second coming of Jesus ; they will cling to the promise of His coming to deliver them from persecution.

Summary:

Christ the Head of the church was bitten, bruised and killed by religious leaders’ initiatives with claims that He broke the law of God. The believers in Christ who are his body (the church visible and invisible) will be persecuted just like Jesus their Master.[7] The cross was necessary to demonstrate God’s love for humanity and to justify His law that He is just and the justifier of the unjust. The accusation that led to the crucifixion of Jesus was a microcosm for the believers living at the end of the world.[8]

Call:

You might be feeling that you have lost hope in these times of economic instability, fear and uncertainty. Faith in Jesus is the only hope that does not disappoint us in the end. God is calling with His tender love, come, repent and make your ways right with God right now.

Could we please sing while you march forward for a dedication prayer, ‘while Jesus whispers to you come, sinner come’, open this link:

COME, SINNER, COME

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/m/comsinrc.htm

Let us pray:

Our loving Father, we have realized that your love for us and your creation is so great that you could not break your own law. Forgive us, restore us into harmony with your will and keep us near to your heart, now and forevermore. Dismiss us in unity with you until that day when you come again. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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[1]HS Hornby, Oxford Advanced Genie, in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, 6^th edn, (Oxford University Press 2000).

[2] HLA Hart, Concept of Law 2^nd (Oxford University Press 1994) 1.

[3] The Jews were not allowed to pass on Capital punishment by the Romans. An example: During colonisation of Zanzibar the British Consular did not have mandate to try murder charges. Appeals were sent to India and thus the final decision came from the Supreme Court of India. This is a similar scenario to the Jewish nation during the trial of Jesus called Christ.

[4] Desmond Ford'S second PhD was on Christian eschatology especially on ‘the antichrist’ or as Jesus called it ‘The desolation of Abomination’ in Matthew 24:15. Ford suggests that antichrist began in Old Testament from Genesis to Revelation and will continue until Jesus’ second coming.

[5] The final manifestation of the Antichrist will be the union of church and state. God's church will be persecuted in a global scale just before the second coming of Jesus. A church which allows homosexuals to serve God in public demonstrates the characteristics of an Antichrist.

[6] E.G White, The Great Controversy (Harvest Books, 1888) 642.

[7]Revelation 14: 6-12

[8] The Biblical view of the end time begun with Jesus especially after the resurrection (Hebrew 1:1-2; 9: 26-28), the end time in this sermon refers to time just before the second coming of Jesus.

Sermon: Three Rules of Human Conduct

Three Rules of Human Conduct

Happy Sabbath everyone! It is my hope that everybody is experiencing the great blessings of the Sabbath. Last Sabbath Pr. Migombo addressed a very important subject. He talked about forgiveness which I believe was a great blessing to everybody who read it. Today we will discuss the principal rules of conduct under the title: The Three Rules of Human Conduct. Human being conducts are categorized under three rules which are: Iron Rule, Silver Rule, and Golden Rule. Let us take time to examine each one in brief. For this exercise I will be using the New King James Version but you are free to use any version you are comfortable with.

Before we proceed let’s pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit: Dear Father God our Creator and Redeemer we come before you, realizing that we are sinful and you are Holy! May you grant us the Holy Spirit to brighten our minds so that we may understand your Word. This is our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen!!

Iron Rule

The iron rule is the one which employs power and force. It is from this rule we have the saying that “Might makes right” or some people say “might is right.” By applying this rule of human conduct, a person is right to do what he or she is big enough to do. A person may use his or her authority or power to do what he or she wants. Through this rule we can also relate with the saying “survival of the fittest.” It is unfortunate sometimes even people of God employ this rule in their lives. Let examine the episode of King David concerning Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite. 2 Samuel 11:2-27. This is one of the saddest stories recorded in the Holy Scripture. Examine carefully vv 2- 4. David inquired the information about the woman and he was told that she was “Bathsheba the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

What is funny in this episode is that after King David got the right information about the woman as the wife of Uriah the soldier, he ordered messengers to bring her so that he could sleep with her. The knowledge that she was a wife of the soldier did not hinder the King to commit adultery with her. Under normal circumstances someone would think that after the king had learned the truth about Bathsheba he could say that I wish this beautiful lady was unmarried I could marry her. But David used his power as the King to get her.

After realizing that Bathsheba was pregnant he wanted to hide his evil by bringing Uriah back home from the battle so he could sleep with his wife (Bathsheba) to destroy the evidence of his evil. After seeing that this plan did not work well according to his desire, he created a scheme (plot) of killing Uriah. David could decide to do otherwise but he decided to follow the iron rule that “might makes right.” He could ask forgiveness from Uriah but he wrote a letter to Joab who was by then the commanding officer of the army to kill him. In his letter he was so specific, “set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die” (v.15).” Instead of David planning how his army could conquer the enemy, he is planning for his own soldier to be killed because of his personal interest (vv14-17). To make the long story short Uriah was killed and David took Bathsheba to be his wife.

Think about the Holocaust: It is believed that about 11 million people were killed. Out of 11 million 6 million were Jews (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust /history.html). These people were killed just because of the hatred of Hitler. Under the iron rule people can do anything. Under the iron rule there is no fear of the Lord. Under this rule people do not have mercy towards each other.

Silver Rule

The silve rule states that “do not do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It is stated in a negative form. It discourages a person to do harm to another person. It does not encourage a person to be engaged in positive behavior. The story has been told that one person, a gentile, went to a Shammai and he said to him convert me on the condition of teaching me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot. “Shammai pushed him aside with the measuring stick he was holding.” The same fellow went to Hillel, and Hillel converted him: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour, that is the whole Torah, while the rest is commentary thereon, go and learn it” (Shabbath 31a, Andrews Study Bible, p. 1258).

We can summarize the second rule by saying do not inconvenience anybody. It helps to reduce the crime in the society.

Golden Rule

This is the rule which has been advocated by many believers of various religions. But here I want us to come to the sermon of Jesus on the Mount and to consider His statement “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). The golden rule is almost the same as the silver rule except that the golden rule emphasizes on positive (doing, not avoiding). In other words, the silver rule is positive while the golden rule is active.

Jesus was teaching from known to unknown by letting His followers not simply keep from “doing to others that which they did not want done to themselves. They were to treat others in the same way they would like for these others to treat them.” (Layman’s Bible Book Commentary by Clair M Crissey p. 47)

According to Jesus, the Old Testament depends on the way we treat each other. This is the summary of the “obligations of the second table of the Decalogue,” and it is another statement of “the great principle of loving one’s neighbor” (SDA Bible Commentary V. 5 p. 356)

Jesus says that this is the Law and the Prophets which meant that the golden rule is the essence of the Holy Scripture. The golden rule puts emphasis on love. John says that “we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1 John 3:14). We should love one another as he commanded us (1 John 3:23).

The Decalogue is summarized in one word which is “love”. Love for God and love for humanity. Today we have considered the golden rule in respect to the love of human being (horizontal relationship). Paul emphasizes on love by saying that “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8).

What the golden rule wants to teach us is that the spirit of the law is love, Owe no one anything except to love one another. While Christians are encouraged to live without debt Paul is encouraging them to have a debt of love. Nichol points out that “Mutual love is an infinite obligation. It is a debt one should ever be seeking to discharge but that will never be fully paid so long as there remains an opportunity for doing good to one’s fellow men. (SDA Bible Commentary V6, p. 628).

Ellen G. White on the same note asserts that “in association with others, put yourself in their place, Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you. This is a true rule of honesty” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 134).

Dear Beloved Christian which rule do you want to choose to live and to be identified with it? Do you want to follow the iron rule, the silver rule or the golden rule? The choice is yours! I wish we could by God’s grace choose the golden rule; the rule which Jesus is advocating.

Prayer

Now Lord, your people have decided to live according to the Law and Prophets; to love each other as you have commanded us .I ask your Holy Spirit to help us so that we can be able to live according to your standard. I know it is difficult and impossible by our own power but by your grace we can do it. Help us to represent you well in all aspects of our life. Help us to love people the way you love us. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!

Preacher: Protas Makimu

Painter: Lars Justinen

Sermon: How Much Have You Been Forgiven

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN FORGIVEN

KEY TEXTS: MATTHEW 18:21-35

INTRODUCTION:

Dear brothers and Sisters, Happy Sabbath to you. I am thankful for the life and for the opportunity to share with you what God has put in my heart. I also pray and trust that God is going to bless each one of you as you fellowship and worship in your local churches around the world.

I do not take the assignment given to me today lightly. I must confess that this is not the sermon I had in mind in the beginning of this week. I struggled, prayed and labored for the past two nights. Finally, what we have in the next few pages is what I am compelled to share with you. I have no idea why but God knows…and therefore I must obey. Please ask God right now to open your heart and your mind before you proceed. Will you? Come Holy Spirit, teach us, touch our lives, and change us into Jesus' likeness. Amen.

Let me begin by warning you! This is not going to be an easy sermon although the subject is familiar. There is possibility that some of us are being lost slowly but surely because we have no clue what the bible teaches about forgiveness or have refused to follow and heed to God’s warning. As we study this subject, I don’t want anyone to forget that there are consequences of sins that forgiveness can not change-in other words scars sometimes remain long after forgiveness. Yes-we may need to take some responsibility for our actions. Some of us refuse to accepts the fact that we are sinners –hundred percent –sinners. Our denials put us falsely on a different category and hence treat one another with “holier than thou” attitude. Let me suggest this morning that we are all in the same boat …we are sinners who need the Savior. Yes we may be at different stages in our journey, and yes some are babies while others are maturing in the things of God. However, the fact remains; we are sinners in need of the Savior. Not only because of the “original sin of our first parents” but we also continue to sin daily against God and against one another…May be you don’t think so! As we begin our study this morning, allow me to suggest that if there is an important phrase in any Christian’s vocabulary that would make much difference in our spiritual lives; that would be "Forgive me" and "I forgive you."

I. WHY FORGIVENESS?

First, forgiveness lies at the heart of our relationship with God. The message of forgiveness is the message of the Gospel. The Bible if full of forgiveness truths, warnings, and counsel on forgiveness. Why did Jesus become man, taking on our flesh? Why did Jesus undergo baptism and temptation? Why did Jesus suffer and die upon the cross? Why? So we could be forgiven! Because that is how we get saved. The only way we can be saved… Because we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God [ROM 2:23]…And the wages of sin is death [ROM 6:23]. Therefore a promise is given “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness [1 John 1:9]. Unless our sins are forgiven-we are lost. Second, in this sin-filled world forgiveness also lies at the heart of our relationships with people. We need forgiveness in our relationships as spouses, as parents and children, as brothers and sisters. Try to imagine life without forgiveness. It would be terrible, wouldn't it? All of us would be left in our sins and misery and none of us would have any hope for salvation and everlasting life. Families and churches would be a shambles for people that cannot forgive each other; we would be doomed to a life of conflict, hatred, bitterness, discord, and anger. On the other hand, where there is forgiveness there is love, peace, harmony, and unity. Where there is forgiveness the healing warmth of God's presence fills one to the brim. I can never think of forgiveness without thinking of Jesus' first word upon the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). Jesus prayed this for the scribes and Pharisees who plotted against Him. Jesus prayed this for the crowds who screamed, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Jesus prayed this for the apostles who deserted Him and denied Him and betrayed Him. Jesus prayed this for the soldiers who cracked the whip and pounded in the nails. Jesus prayed this for Pilate and Herod who sacrificed justice in the name of peace. Jesus prayed this for sinners like you and me – because for our sake too He went to the cross. I can never think of forgiveness without thinking of Joseph. When Joseph's brothers came before him in Egypt, he faced a stiff test. Years before, they had threatened to kill him. Instead, they sold him into slavery. But Joseph forgave them. After father Jacob died Joseph's brothers feared Joseph might finally take revenge, but he assured them of his complete forgiveness. I can never think of forgiveness without thinking of Stephen. He was the first martyr of the Christian church. Unbelieving Jews, led by a man named Saul, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Stephen's last words were words of grace and forgiveness: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:57-60). Could you pray this way for someone who was killing you or one of your loved ones? Jesus tells us this morning that this demands a response, a thankful response. Because God has forgiven us we need to forgive one another. To forgive and to be forgiven are joined together.

II. GOD’S FORGIVENESS OF US

A. In Matthew 18 we read the parable of a king who was settling accounts with his servants. Apparently many people owed him money. One of the servants who was brought forward owed the king "ten thousand talents" (Mt 18:24) – a footnote at the bottom of your pew Bible equates this with "millions of dollars."

The servant was not able to pay the debt, so that master ordered that the servant, his wife, his children, and all his possessions "be sold to repay the debt" (Mt 18:25). Even with this drastic step the king could never get all his money back – the debt was just too big.

The servant, when he heard he was to be sold, along with his family and possessions, fell on his knees before the king and begged him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything" (Mt 18:25). This was nothing but an empty promise: there was no possible way a servant could possibly repay the king the millions owed. The servant knew this, the king knew this, and everyone else in attendance knew this. Yet the king, much to everyone's surprise, "took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go" (Mt 18:27).

Take careful note of exactly what the king did. Did the king let the servant go with the understanding he make every attempt to do the impossible – to repay the debt? Did the king release the servant from the threatened slavery on the condition he try his best to pay the debt's interest? Did the king merely decide to hold off foreclosure for the time being? The king did none of this. Rather, he "canceled the debt" (Mt 18:27). In his ledgers he marked the debt as being paid in full.

B. Jesus starts the parable by saying "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like ..." (Mt 18:23). We all see, I think, the point Jesus was trying to get across about "the kingdom of heaven." The king represents God and the servant represents people like you and me who have heard and experienced the message of forgiveness. Like the servant we have a debt that we cannot possibly repay – an enormous debt. A debt caused by sin.

God does to our debt what the king did to the servant's debt. He doesn't throw us into the debtor's prison of hell, nor does He foreclose. Rather, in response to our plea for mercy He forgives us our sins. In His ledger He marks beside our debt, "payment received in full." Like the king in the parable, God shows pity and mercy to the undeserving.

Why is it that God does this? Why does He show pity and mercy to undeserving debtors? We all know that too. God forgives us our sins because of the precious blood of Christ shed upon the cross.

III. OUR FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS

A. Jesus continues His parable by telling us some more about the forgiven servant. When that servant went out, "he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii" (Mt 18:28) "He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded" (Mt 18:28).

This debtor makes almost the same plea for mercy and patience that the forgiven servant made: "Be patient with me, and I will pay you back" (Mt 18:29). There is, however, one major difference between the two requests. The promise of the first servant to pay back everything was impossible to keep because the debt was too large. The promise of the second servant, on the other hand, was capable of being kept because the sum was rather minor.

How did the forgiven servant respond to this request for patience and grace? "He refused," says the Bible. "Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt" (Mt 18:30).

B. Isn't this all a little astonishing? Isn't there a great, big inconsistency here? How is it that a man forgiven a simply enormous debt cannot, in turn, forgive a rather small debt?

In telling us this parable the Lord wants us all to search our heart and answer a very personal question: am I unforgiving like that first servant?Don't dismiss this question too quickly, congregation. Are you, am I, unforgiving like that first servant?

Like that unforgiving servant you and I have been forgiven an absolutely enormous debt – a debt far greater than we can ever repay; a debt that increases with every passing day. Compared to that debt, as in the parable, our neighbor's or our brother's or our sister's debt to us is nothing. In other words, not one of us is sinned against by his neighbor or brother or sister near as greatly as we have sinned and do sin against God. Or, to put it another way, nothing our neighbor or brother or sister does to us – no matter how bad it may be – can compare to what we have done against God. Or, to put it one other way, the Christian needs to be forgiven far more wrong by God than he needs to forgive others for the wrongs they have done. Are you, am I, unforgiving like that first servant? Sometimes I wonder. Who among us doesn't harbor grudges and nurse resentments – for years, if necessary!? How many times don't we let the past continually come between us? How many times don't we hold a particular sin against another? How many times have we refused to go to a church or family function because we are mad about something that has happened years ago?

C. My brothers and sisters, the message that God gives us is so very plain and easy to understand: being forgiven and being forgiving are interdependent; they cannot be separated; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. For this reason Jesus taught us to pay, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Exactly how are Christian forgiveness and God's forgiveness related? No believer would ever dare claim they ought to be "to the same degree" or "in the exact same manner." For no believer would ever want the perfect forgiveness of God to be limited to the same level as our imperfect forgiving. And clearly no believer wants the extent of his forgiveness to limit God's boundless forgiveness. Yet, Jesus makes a connection here between God's forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others. The point is that if we are forgiven by God – as the Word of God assured us of – then we, in turn, forgive each other. Our ability to forgive is evidence that we have been forgiven by God. We can go so far as to say unforgiving means unforgiven. Those who can't forgive others show that they have not been forgiven by God. General Oglethorpe once said to John Wesley, "I never forgive and I never forget." To which Wesley responded, "Then Sir, I hope you never sin." That's a good reply to anyone with an unforgiving attitude: "If you can't forgive someone who has wronged you then I hope you never sin." Don't forget, unforgiving means unforgiven. Those who can't forgive others cannot possibly have experienced God's forgiveness themselves because those who have been forgiven are forgiving!

D. What is forgiveness? It means three things. First, to forgive means that the forgiver no longer lets the sin comes between her and the offender. The sin is regarded as over, gone, done, and removed. Second, the forgiver will not accuse the offender on the basis of this sin any longer; the sin will no longer be used or held against the offender. Third, to forgive means the forgiver will no longer dwell on the sin, or nurse it, or harbor a grudge on account of it. All this, God does for those who believe in Jesus. All this you and I must do for each other. As the Lord has forgiven me, so I also must forgive.

IV. AS INDIVIDUALS, WE ARE LOST IF WE REFUSE TO FORGIVE

A. In the parable the king called the unforgiving servant before him and said, "You wicked servant! I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Mt 18:32-33). And in anger the king delivered the servant to prison and torture until his debt could be paid – in other words, he would be there for life.

B. Jesus concludes this parable with a warning to us all: "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Again the message is clear: unforgiving means unforgiven; unforgiving means lost eternity. Or to put it a more positive way: forgiven means forgiving! This, my brothers and sisters, is what "the kingdom of heaven is like."

Let’s close today with our mind on Lords prayer Matthew 6: 9-15. Note Verses 14-15⁹

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

You and I know without doubt that we cannot be saved if our sins are not forgiven. My prayer today for you and for me is that we accept God’s forgiveness and also learn to forgive others in the same measure. Do you have someone in your life you need to forgive? Hurry up and do it! Do you still harbor resentment, anger, and bitterness over a brother, sister, fellow church member, neighbor and or spouse? Ask God to give you the power to make things right! You must, and I must if we are serious about our salvation. May God bless you, and keep you until that bright morning day when we see Him face to face. Amen.

Preacher: Caleb Migombo

Painter: Lars Justinen