Latest / Women At The Well: REJOICE / Episode 35: You Are Forgiven to Forgive

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Episode 35: You Are Forgiven to Forgive · Women At The Well: REJOICE

• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Good morning, Grand Rising Sisters.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Women at the Well Rejoice.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Rose, your host, and it is always a pleasure and a blessing to meet you here at the well.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: God has given you and me another day, another opportunity to experience his mercy, his grace, and his love.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, we are blessed.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Today we have come to the final episode in our forgiveness series.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: And what a journey this has been.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: I pray that somewhere along this journey you have forgiven someone.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: You begin praying for the strength to forgive someone.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Or finally, you've forgiven yourself.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: You've given yourself permission to receive God's forgiveness and accept his forgiveness.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you're not completely there yet, and that's alright.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: Keep praying.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Keep surrendering.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Keep trusting God with your heart.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: Because today we're bringing everything we've learned together with this truth.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: You see, you are forgiven to forgive.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: We forgive not because what happened didn't hurt.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: We forgive because we have experienced the incredible mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ ourselves.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: So, sisters, grab your Bible, your coffee, your tea, your juice, or your lemon water.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: And come sit with me one more time as we talk about forgiveness.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together once again at the well.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for your mercy, your grace, and the forgiveness you have given us through Jesus Christ.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: Father, as we conclude this forgiveness series, open our hearts to understanding what it truly means to be forgiven so that we can forgive others.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Father, many of us may still carry hope.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Some of us are still struggling with anger, disappointment, betrayal, guilt, and shame.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: Please, Lord, help us to render those things to you today.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Teach us to forgive as you have forgiven us.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: And give us the strength to release what we cannot change.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: And trust you can with what we cannot control.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: Father, let your word heal us, transform us, and teach us how to walk in the freedom of forgiveness.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: Father, we thank you for this day.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: And we thank you that you were the ultimate forgiver.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: Help us to forgive what we can't forget.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: In Jesus' name we pray.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: Amen, sisters.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: Well, let's get into this.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: This is the last one of the series.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, throughout the series, we have learned that Jesus is, was the ultimate forgiver.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: Think about what Jesus endured for us.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: He experienced intense physical suffering, emotional rejection, betrayal, humiliation, and agony.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: All the things Jesus went through while he was here on earth.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: And then on the cross.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yet even while suffering on the cross, Jesus demonstrated forgiveness.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: In Isaiah 53:5 in the King James Version, it tells us that he was wounded for our transgressions.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: He was bruised for our iniquities.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: The chastisement of our peace was up on him.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: And with his stripes, we are healed.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: And while Jesus was being crucified, Luke 23, 34 tells us.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: Do you realize that a lot of times when people hurt you, they really don't know what they're doing?
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of times when they betray you, they don't know what they're doing.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, think about that.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus was asking the Father to forgive people while he was suffering because of what they were doing to him.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: He didn't wait until the pain stopped.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: He didn't wait for an apology.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: He didn't wait for everyone to understand the magnitude of what they had done.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus demonstrated forgiveness in the middle of his suffering.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: And what brings the questions home to us, here's a question.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: What about us?
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: What about us?
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: If Jesus our Savior, the ultimate forgiver, could demonstrate forgiveness from the cross, then through his strength, his grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to forgive too.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: Again, it doesn't mean it's easy.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't mean the offense wasn't serious.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't mean you have to pretend you weren't heard.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: And forgiveness does not automatically mean restoring access, rebuilding trust, or returning to an unhealthy relationship.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: But it does mean that we stop allowing the offense to our own hearts.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: We release the person and the situation.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_00: He said, because here's what free unforgiveness is.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: He said, unforgiveness is allowing someone to live in your head, in your heart, rent free.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: They just stare.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_00: You don't want to have anybody living in your head and heart rent free.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: They are always on your mind because you can't forgive them.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: Let it go.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_00: Let it go.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: So let's get a little fun in the word.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: Turn to Luke chapter 8, and I'm going to tell you about a sister.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: Her name was Mary Magdalene.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: Her life was transformed by grace.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: Let's look at her.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: Luke 8, 1 through 3 tells us, and it came to pass afterward that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: And the twelve were with him, and certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom with seven devils, and Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod Stewart, and Susanna and many others which ministered unto him of their substance.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_00: Mary Magdalene had experienced the transforming power of Jesus personally.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: Scripture tells us that Jesus delivered her from seven demons.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: And after experiencing that deliverance, Mary followed him faithfully.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: She went from being a woman who needed deliverance to becoming a devoted follower of Jesus.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: But guess what?
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: Her story didn't end there.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: Let's go over to John 20.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: John chapter 20, verses 11 through 18, and hear the rest of Mary's story.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus had been crucified, and Mary had gone to the tomb that morning.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: When she discovered that Jesus' body was gone, she wept.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Then the resurrected Jesus appeared to her.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: At first she didn't recognize him, but then Jesus spoke one word.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: One word.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: Mary.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: And she knew his voice.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, don't miss that.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: The resurrected Savior called her by name.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: The woman who had once needed deliverance was now being entrusted with a message.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus told Mary to go and tell the disciples that he had risen.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: She went and announced, I have seen the Lord.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: What a transformation.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: Mary received grace, experienced deliverance, followed Jesus, witnessed the risen Savior, and then carried the good news to others.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: That's what grace does.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: You see, grace changes us.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: And when we have truly experienced God's grace, we don't keep it to ourselves.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: We extend grace.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: We extend mercy.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: And yes, sisters, we extend forgiveness.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: You have been forgiven.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now forgive.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Colossians 3.13 tells us, forbearing one another and forgiving one another.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: If any man, that's a one or two, have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: There it is, sisters.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: As Christ forgave you, forgive others.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: We aren't being asked to give something we have never received.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: We forgive because we have been forgiven.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: We extend mercy because we have received mercy.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: We give grace because we live by grace.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_00: And when forgiveness feels impossible, we don't have to depend solely upon our own strength.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_00: We can pray, Jesus, I cannot do this by myself.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: You forgave me.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: Now help me to forgive them.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes forgiveness happens immediately.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: Other times forgiveness is a decision.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_00: We have to keep surrendering to God as He hears our heart.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_00: But either way, we do not have to remain prisoners of unforgiveness.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, I have to ask you, who is God calling you to forgive?
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: Rose?
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: Who is God calling you to forgive?
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_00: Is there another question?
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: Is there still part of yourself that needs to fully receive his grace?
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: Don't leave this series carrying something God has been asking you to put down.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, look how far we've traveled together.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: We began with Jesus, the ultimate forgiver.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: We learned about forgiving others.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: We talked about the difficult journey of forgiving ourselves.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: And now we arrived at this truth.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: And believe me, this journey has been real to Rose.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Because Rose has had to forgive some people this month, and I have had to ask God to help me to forgive.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: So this is real.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: We are forgiven to forgive.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: But I want you to take one more thing with you.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: Forgiveness cannot simply be something we talk about during one month or one podcast series.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_00: Forgiveness must become a way of living.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: There will be other offenses.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: Someone may disappoint you again, someone may misunderstand you.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: Someone may say something that hurts you.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_00: And yes, sometimes we will be the ones who need to ask someone for forgiveness.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's why we need Jesus every day, sisters.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: Forgiveness doesn't mean what happened didn't matter.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: It means what happened will no longer have permission to rule your heart.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: You placed it into the hands of the one who judges righteously.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: You release the death.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: You release the desire for revenge.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: You release the burden of carrying it everywhere you go.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_00: You release the burden of them living in your head and your heart, rent free, and you say, Lord, I'm giving this to you.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus was the ultimate forgiver.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: Jesus is the ultimate forgiver.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: And because he forgave us, we can forgive.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: Because he forgave us, we can forgive.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: Forgive.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: Forgive.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, it's time for a rejoicing moment.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to rejoice because we have been forgiven.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: Rejoice because the past no longer has to condemn money.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_00: When rejoice becomes God's grace, it's great as I'm saying.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_00: And when rejoice becomes some forgive us, give it to us.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_00: To forgive someone else.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_00: And when I have to I have been forgiven.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: And by the way, I don't want to forgive.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: Forgiveness might be difficult.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: But you don't have to do it alone.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: With clean is great.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's clean forgiveness.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: And walking forgiveness.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: Now that is something worth the lesson of that.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for the gift of forgiveness.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for walking with us.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: And someone has to be able to do it of the must and wife.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_00: That you have so free to give us the Lord.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, when forgiveness is difficult, remind us of Jesus.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving us.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now help us forgive.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: In the precious name of Jesus we pray.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, amen.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_00: Please don't forget until we meet again.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: This water is living and the well never runs dry.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_00: Keep drawing from the living water, keep extending grace, keep walking in forgiveness, and above all, keep rejoicing in the Lord.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: Be blessed.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: Have a great day.