Path to the Promise: Forgiveness
Genesis 45:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Genesis 50:15 (NKJV)
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.”
Genesis 50:16-21 (NKJV)
16 So (or because they were afraid of Joseph taking revenge) they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please FORGIVE the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, FORGIV the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? (We will come back to that) 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (There was a greater Purpose. And God turned it for Good, even what you may have meant for evil) 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Hebrew word NASA (Naw-Saw): means to “ever forgive” or to “fully pardon”
#1 To Truly Forgive, we must Release
#2 Giving Forgiveness Enables you to Receive Forgiveness
Matthew 6:9-14 (NKJV)
9 Pray then like this: “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 this day 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 evil.
14 FOR……(or because) if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Matthew 10:8
(the last part of that verse reads) “Freely you have received, freely give”
Genesis 50:19
Joseph said to his brothers……..“Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?”
#3 BELIEVE
John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.