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A Lifestyle of Continual Forgiveness · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: In the middle of this week on forgiveness, we're taking time today to look at what it means to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness.
• 0:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Over time, as we open our hearts and allow God to do a continued work in us, we're equipped to develop a new normal, a new way of living.
• 0:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: So today, we're looking at how we can live with a constant openness toward forgiveness.
• 0:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Equipped to both receive it and offer it, that unforgiveness would no longer have space in our hearts.
• 0:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: May God encourage and equip you today in our time together.
• 0:57
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you for watching.
• 1:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our scripture for today is Ephesians 4 verses 26 through 27.
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, be angry and do not sin.
• 1:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ephesians 4 offers revelation on an important and often unknown spiritual principle.
• 1:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, Be angry and do not sin.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.
• 1:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we allow anger to fester within us for days, weeks, months, and sometimes years, we allow the enemy to gain a foothold in our lives that robes us of the abundant life provided in Christ.
• 2:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: In Ephesians, Paul is clear that anger in itself is not a sin.
• 2:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's when we allow anger to remain, instead of choosing grace and forgiveness, that we break God's command.
• 2:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: When people wrong us, the natural response is to be angry.
• 2:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's all right.
• 2:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus himself was often angry.
• 2:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 2112 tells us, in Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple.
• 2:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
• 2:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus was consistently angry with those who claim to know God and took advantage of others.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Nothing made him more angry than Ferris A. ago people.
• 2:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Jesus also modeled forgiveness of the highest form.
• 2:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Rather than being filled with anger, and allowing it to fester inside of him, he offered his life out of his love for the very people who shouted crucify him and free Barabas.
• 3:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: The truth is that our anger is often a symptom of our brokenness, rather than the result of the wrongs of others.
• 3:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Often anger is rooted in our own insecurities and pride, rather than a righteous anger for justice.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's for this reason the Bible tells us over and over again to be slow to anger.
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: James I verses 19 through 20 says, know this, my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
• 3:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
• 3:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 1911 says, good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook and offense.
• 3:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: and Proverbs 29-11 says, a fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
• 4:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Lord desires to make us a people filled with his grace and compassion over our own anger and prideful sense of justice.
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: God who is deserving of everything gave it all up to show us grace.
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is the rightful king of kings and lord of lords, but rather than claiming what was rightfully his own, he humbled himself before a Roman prefect and a rebellious people and gave up his own life.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now he asks you to do the same.
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is asking you to lay down your rights and pride to pursue a higher calling of unconditional love.
• 4:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's asking you to show grace where none is deserved.
• 4:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's asking you to offer mercy where there should rightfully be none and he's asking you to forgive others so that heaven might come to earth through your actions.
• 5:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: commit to living a lifestyle of continual forgiveness today and allow God to work through you to bring salvation and restore relationship to a world in desperate need of a Savior.
• 5:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Begin by meditating on God's command to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness, allow His word to fill you with the desire to be slow to anger and quick to forgive and offer grace.
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 1632 says, Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty and He who rules his spirit than He who takes a city.
• 6:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: And next, who do you need to offer forgiveness to today?
• 7:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: What anger have you allowed to fester in your heart?
• 7:27
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 7:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: and last, forgive that person or those people in your heart right now, offer grace to them in your heart that you might receive healing in the place of bitterness.
• 8:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Mark 11 25 says, and whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone so that your father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
• 8:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: First Peter II, 23, says, when he was reviled, he did not revile in return.
• 9:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
• 9:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: May we become like Jesus and offer grace and forgiveness to others who are under serving.
• 9:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: May we be reflections of his love by being slow to anger and quick to offer mercy.
• 9:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: May his light shine through us today in a world rot with darkness and pain.
• 9:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast on Living A Lifestyle of Forgiveness.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15.
• 9:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Every command God gives you is for your benefit as well as the benefit of others.
• 10:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: You and I are not meant to live with the weight of unforgiveness.
• 10:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: As soon as you sense the need to ask for forgiveness or offer forgiveness, do it.
• 10:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: God has a lifestyle of continual forgiveness for you that you might live a weight-free abundant life in Him.
• 10:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again for listening, have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as