Forgiveness:A Better Way
I Cor 12:28

Intro:

(ie.) Have you ever been in a fight? (fight at the swimming pool)

I Cor 12:28 And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Though I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Jesus' love, I am
become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2  And though I have
the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge;
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and
have not Jesus' love, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and
have not Jesus' love, it profit eth me nothing. 4  Jesus' love
suffereth long, and is kind; Jesus' love envieth not; Jesus' love
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no
evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things. 8 Jesus' love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether
there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.


Another Way - The Jesus Way

This does not forfeit all of the other principles we have studied!
(Matthew 18, Luke 17, and I Corinthians 5-6 are still to be followed.
But when you have done all you can, TAKE THIS STAND.

1. Resist not evil, turn the other cheek - 

Matthew 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth: 39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not
evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him
the other also. 40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take
away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41  And whosoever shall
compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42  Give to him that
asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou
away.

(ie) Nicky Cruz and David Wilkerson

(ie) You can never beat a bully - walk on the other side.

(ie) "Sticks and Stones" - John Stossel's article "Give me a Break!"
Sqaw outlawed.

Scriptures:
Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be
just like him.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stirs
up anger.

Proverbs 29:22  An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man
abounds in transgression.

James 1:20 The wrath of man will not do the righteousness of God.

 
2.  Return blessing for cursing -

Romans 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight
of all men. 18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men. 19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but
rather give place unto wrath: for it is wri tten, Vengeance is mine; I
will repay, saith the Lord. 20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap
coals of fire on his head. 21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good.

(ie) Romans 12 explanation of  heaping coals (of judgement) on his
head.

(ie) The high cost of getting even - the bear and the skunk

(ie) Abe Lincoln on speaking no evil - Stanton, sect of state, anger
and letter.


3. Let yourself be cheated -

I Corinthians 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another,
go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2  Do ye not
know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be
judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3  Know
ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain
to this life? 4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to
this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among
you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the
unbelievers. 7  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you,
because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take
wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8  Nay,
ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

(ie) Let go and let God take care of judgement. 

(ie) Money trap: Monkey with hand in jar will not let go and die
trying 


4. Think no evil - 
goes to the core of the problem. That's the hardest!

I Corinthians 13:5b - Jesus' love - thinks no evil;

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God. 7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8  Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

James 3:8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison. 9  With it we bless God, even the Father; and with
it we curse men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10  Out
of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not so to be. 11  Does a fountain send forth at the same
place sweet water and bitter? 12  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear
olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt
water and fresh. 13 Who i s a wise man and endued with knowledge among
you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness
of wisdom.

(ie) Monkeys - Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.


Conclusion:

The Choice - Jesus Way or your way.