Good Forgivers
18 August 2013 PM – Hosea 1:2-3 – Home Builders – Scott Childs
Introduction: In our Home Builders series, we have learned from Adam and Eve to Cherish Marriage. We also learned from Nabel and Abigail that we must Quash Selfishness. This evening we will learn from Hosea and Gomer to be Good Forgivers.
Since Hosea and Gomer are not a well-known couple, let me briefly relate their story. Hosea was a godly prophet during a time when Israel had forsaken God and was wickedly serving false gods. Hosea’s life would be a picture to Israel of how God feels toward them. God told Hosea to marry an immoral woman, Gomer (Hosea 1:2-3). Hosea’s life represented God and Gomer’s life represented Israel. Hosea loved Gomer, but after a few years of marriage, she left him and went back to her immoral life with other men (Ho 2:2). This is exactly how Israel treated God. Hosea still loved Gomer but when he found her, she was a slave and he had to buy her back (Ho 3:1-2). Though Israel had left God and served idols, God still loved her and desired to forgive her and bring her back to Himself. God’s forgiveness is amazing!
Hosea is a great example of a good forgiver. Though Gomer left him, he continued to lover her, bought her back, and forgave her. Every person needs to be a good forgiver. You cannot have a happy home without forgiveness. Sinners cannot live under the same roof without occasionally hurting or offending each other. This applies to children, parent, husbands, and wives. When hurts or offences are not forgiven, they lead to anger and bitterness that destroys relationships. Therefore, we must both forgive and seek forgiveness. Forgiveness is the soap that cleans soiled relationships.
Stephen Kendrick encourages us that, “When wounded people finally forgive, the dark clouds part in their emotions, and a breath of fresh air and sunshine rushes into their hearts.” The Resolution for Men, 169
The biblical meaning of forgive is to send away. Refusing to forgive is holding the offender in your heart’s angry bondage. Forgiving is setting the offender free.
Transition: As a Home Builder, you must practice four ways of being a good forgiver.
I. Forgive Comprehensively
Comprehensive car insurance covers all accidents you may have. Comprehensive forgiveness forgives all faults, no matter how bad.
A. God is willing to forgive every sin against Him
1. Israel had turned from God to idols, yet God loved Israel and longed to forgive her and take her back.
2. When Christ saved you, He forgave ALL your sins.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
3. When we confess any sin to God, He forgives it ALL.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
B. We must be willing to forgive every sin against us
1. Forgiving is choosing to obey God and set the offender free from your heart’s angry bondage. If someone in your past has hurt you deeply, God wants you to forgive. If your spouse hurts you terribly or even becomes unfaithful, God still wants you to forgive. If you refuse to forgive, God will not forgive you and this will hurt you spiritually and emotionally.
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
2. Forgiving is choosing to let God settle the score.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
3. Forgiving is choosing to change your attitude.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
II. Forgive Repeatedly
A. Jesus told Peter never to stop forgiving
1. We often think like Peter.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
2. Jesus was not suggesting that Peter keep a forgiveness logbook. He was to forgive endlessly.
B. We too must never stop forgiving
1. We are not to forgive based on our feelings but based on God’s command to forgive repeatedly.
Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
2. When you do not want to forgive someone, remember how Christ has forgiven you. How many times have you asked Him to forgive the same fault?
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
3. We must also repeatedly seek forgiveness for our sins. It goes both ways. Seeking forgiveness can be as difficult as forgiving. If you have offended someone, tenderly approach the person. Admit your guilt with no excuses. Seek to understand the hurt you caused. Ask them to forgive you. Do not simply say, “I’m sorry”.
III. Forgive Promptly
A. God never makes us wait to be forgiven
1. When Gomer left Hosea, he went looking for her so he could forgive her and restore their relationship. That is exactly what God does for us.
2. When you seek God’s forgiveness, He never says, “I will think about it” or “Maybe later, but I am not ready yet.” He forgives right then and welcomes us back into fellowship.
Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
B. A sore left dirty will become infected
If you get a splinter in your hand, you can endure the brief discomfort of pulling it out and treating it with disinfectant or you can leave it in and suffer the throbbing pain of infection. The same is true with offences.
1. God’s solution is to address the offence right away.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Kendrick again notes, “Anytime we close our days without clearing our emotional accounts, things turn sour.” p.173
2. We want God’s prompt forgiveness. We must do the same for others. Do to others as you want them to do to you (Mt 7:12).
IV. Forgive Permanently
A. This begins with complete forgiveness
1. Remember, forgiving is not brushing the offence aside or not thinking about it. Forgiveness is setting the offender completely free!
2. Complete forgiveness is not conditional (e.g., I forgive you as long as you never do it again).
3. With God’s help, we can completely forgive.
B. Forgive and choose not to remember
1. God knows all things, yet He chooses to put away our confessed sins permanently.
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
2. Usually, it is not possible to forget that someone has hurt us, but we can choose not to remember. Do not dwell on it. Never bring it up again. Never use it to get even. Think about God’s forgiveness instead. Pray that God will bless the person you forgave.
Conclusion: Forgiving is one of the most difficult things you can do. But when you do forgive and let God deal with the offender, not only do you free the offender from your heart’s angry bondage, but you set yourself free from a life of bitterness and hate. Only then can you begin enjoying God’s peace.
Is there someone you need to forgive tonight? Is there an offence you have refused to forgive? Is unresolved anger and bitterness hindering your walk with God? Do you keep digging up forgiven offences? Right now is the time to become a good forgiver.
Do you need to seek someone’s forgiveness tonight? Do you need to humble yourself, admit your offence, and tenderly ask someone for forgiveness? Don’t wait any longer. Do it tonight.
Song: Cleanse Me – 166 (no piano) Come and pray!