Identity, Trust, Forgiveness

0:00Good evening. And blessings to each of you gathered here this evening. It is a privilege really to get together and do this. That Kirby laid out so nicely ahead of us. To open the word. To praise the Lord. To pray together and fellowship. The fellowship of the saints that are gathered here. As I listened to Kirby open this evening, I thought that's probably fit. The fellowship of the saints is really where this message tonight that I have on my mind. That's where that fits in that category predominantly. And I'll share with you. There's three points. And you'll wonder with me whenever I give you these words. I'm just going to give you three words. They're huge. They're all topics of their own.

1:01But point number one. I want to talk about identity. Identity. And I have a verse with each one that I'll go through as we get to each one of these. The second point that I would like to talk about is trust. And the third point is forgiveness. Identity. Trust. And forgiveness. And I want to remind you gathered here as we are Christians, believers, followers of Jesus to that. We were created by God. And we rebel. And we incurred a debt by that rebellion that we could never pay. I think you're aware of that. But I want to focus there. We stood condemned. And hopeless. But in Christ. Through Christ.

2:03God forgave our sin through his blood. And adopts us as sons and daughters. And the second point is, make us new creation. And call us into restored relationships with him. And with each other. Call us into restored relationships with God. And each other. I wanted to start with that even though I know you all know that. But I wanted to start with that reminder, that summary of who we are. And this debt. This debt that we cannot pay. And I want to start there in Matthew 18. Matthew 18. And this is a very familiar passage. And we're only going to read a little bit of it. Four verses or so starting in the 23rd. Matthew 18. 23.

3:06Jesus says, therefore, is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king. Which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him 10,000 talents. I looked that up. And apparently that. And maybe you've heard this before, that's $10 billion in today's money. I want you to think about that debt. And to think if there is any way, if you place yourself in this passage of Scripture, that you could pay 10 billion dollars. But for as much as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold and his wife and children,

4:10and all that he had and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him saying, Lord, have patience with me. And I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed him and forgave the debt. Forgive the debt. Imagine that. Imagine that. Maybe you imagined with me that you had a debt of 10 billion dollars. I don't even know how you would incur a debt of 10 billion dollars. You'd have to have some kind of credit to do that. I have debt. I have more debt, financial debt that I wish that I had. But I don't have 10 billion dollars worth of debt. That is us. That's who he's talking about in this parable, this story, this account.

5:13And it's also reality that our Savior came and simply forgave that debt to us. From our perspective, it wasn't quite that simple because it cost the blood of his only begotten son. But I want you to think about that in beginning here. Identity. Here is the question. Why have you made me like this? Why has the veil made me thus? Is what Paul writes in Romans 920? Also reflected in Isaiah 29, I think Isaiah 45. And the picture is the clay saying to the potter, why have you made me thus? I want you to think about that verse a little bit out of context. Just to snatch that question.

6:13And for you to think about it with regard to identity. And what I mean by identity is who you are and how God made you. Kirby talked about that a little bit with our preferences regarding praise and songs. And we talked about our assembly here that maybe some of you wouldn't like aspects of what we did here. Maybe even this evening. I'm not sure. But I want to illustrate this a little bit by the words introvert and extrovert. So for those uninitiated and I'm guessing there aren't very many in this room that don't know what that means. And the introverted person is someone that large groups of people wear down. An extroverted person is somebody that large groups of people or being with people in a social setting energizes. You may know who you are and what you are.

7:16That's fine. That's just an aspect of the way that God made you. One's not more right than the other or whatever. It's just the way that we are. I want to point to you to something that we use in business sometimes called a disc profile. Perhaps you've heard of the disc profile. That's a personality test that's sometimes given to determine whether you are a D-I-S-C dominant, which they say 16 percent of people are the dominant A type personality. They lead businesses. They're in charge. They don't need your feedback. They're decisive. And that sort of thing. The I type is an influencer. They're the people. They're usually extroverted folks that want to be around people. They're energized by making people happy and making people laugh. There's the S type, which are steady. They're very even keel steady. Whether they like people or not, most of them do.

8:18I would guess steady folks that listen well, they're patient and measured. And then the C type are cautious or conchy inches. They're data figures. They're about numbers. Oftentimes they are introverted or at least they just want to work with facts and figures. Usually, there's not often that you are only one of those. You're a blending of those. That's the way that God made you introverted, extroverted, whatever disc type you may be. There's another one, a really famous test that you've probably heard of called the Myers-Briggs, the MBTI. And I think the first one is actually introverted or extroverted. And then there's thinking or judging and feeling and all of this. And I'm not going to get into all of that. Matter of fact, I just want to say that these things love them or hate them. And I know that there are some of you in this room that like that sort of categorization.

9:21And there's some of you that don't like categorization. There's a category for you folks. And they're clunky in perfect tools that help us to discover or categorize the way that God has made us. All right, they're clunky and imperfect. I want to stress that. And frankly, if you only use those for categorizing people, I think you've kind of missed the point. That's not really what this is about. That's not from manipulation. They're simply to talk about with regard to how did God make us and how do we fellowship together as the same. Now I want to talk about biblical gifts and callings. There is a diversity of gifts like we read about. And first Corinthians 12, there's so many passages of scripture that I'm usually going to make references to these passages of scripture. Tell you what's there and let you go to them or we'll run out of time, which we're likely to do anyways.

10:26So there's diversity. The giving of gifts by God to his people is foundationally done by the Trinity. As it says in first Corinthians 12, 4 through 6, there's diversities of gifts by the spirit. There's diversities or differences. There's the word I think that uses of administration by the Lord Jesus. And there's diversities of operations by God. So there are these gifts that you all have are distributed by the triune God, our creator God. And they're given for the common good. And first Corinthians 12, 7 talks about this to build up the body. It's not for personal status. It's for like Ephesians 4, 12 says it's for the perfecting.

11:26It's for the work of edifying and that sort of thing. And first Peter 4, 10 is another reference that I'll give to you. These gifts and callings are to be used faithfully according to the grace given and proportions of faith with the right attitude with generosity and zeal and cheerfulness like it talked about in Romans 12, 6 through 8 and also for Peter 4. And as a foundation to this, all members matter. All members of the body matter. There is no gift that is superior to any other gift. And the body needs diversity. First Corinthians 12, if you go and read through that passage this week, you'll see that. And this question, I think it's in verse 17, if the whole body were an eye, the colorful illustration that Paul is using to the church of Corinth, if the whole body were an eye and think about that, what it would look like, how gross this body would be if we're only an eye, he says, where were the hearing.

12:36So one and so forth through that illustration that clearly not the way that this body works. So I'm just going to go down through this Romans 12, 6 through 8, our motivational functional gift you will, you will know this you will, I think this will sound familiar to you. Prophecy, speaking for God's message and proportion to faith, service and ministry practical help is the work of the deacons oftentimes. Teaching, exhortation, encouragement, giving, this is a list of spiritual gifts, giving or contributing with generosity, leadership or ruling with diligence and mercy, showing compassion with cheerfulness. 1 Corinthians 12, 8 through 11 is manifestations of the spirit also distributed through this congregation of people, the word or the utterance of wisdom or the word, the utterance of knowledge or faith.

13:39Some of you are given the gift of faith, some of you are given the gifts of healing, some the working of miracles, some the gifts of prophecy, some distinguishing the spirits or discerning what types of spirits, some kind, some of you are given various kinds of tongues, others of you are giving the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12, 28 then there is also appointments in the church such as apostles and prophets and teachers and miracles, workers of miracles, gifts of healing, helps, helping gifts, gifts of administration or government or leaders and there's various kinds of tongues. There is obviously some overlap, we have mentioned some of these things. In 1 Peter 4, 10 and 11 there is two broad categories, speaking gifts, one who speaks as the oracles of God and serving gifts, those that serve by the strength that God supplies.

14:45And once again, here is some crossover in Ephesians 4, 11, this often called the five fold ministry, maybe you will take issue with that and would prefer to be called the four fold ministry. All I am putting forth right now is the variation, the diversities of gifts. But in Ephesians 4, 11 he mentions apostles, I think he might number them first apostles, secondarily prophets, third evangelists and pastors and teachers, some people put pastors and teachers together as one gift, whatever you can think of that, however you want. I just want to point out to you the variation, the diversity and the fact that everyone in this room, every true believer in the church of Christ is gifted, maybe multiple gifts, but is gifted prior to Christ, prior to coming to Christ as I begin, we're unforgiven.

15:52We're going to debt that we can't pay, we're lost, we're undone, we're hopeless, we're outcast, but in Christ, in Christ we're a new creation like 2nd Corinthians 5, 17 said, old things are passed away, in Christ like Galatians 2, 20 says, we're crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, he lives within me and I live within, and this life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the grace of the Son of God who loves me and gave his life for me. Ephesians 1, 3 through 14 were chosen, predestined for adoption, redeemed, forgiven, I'm simply defining what you are now, you're in Christ. This is your identity, Romans talks about, and this is only like Kirby began with, we come here to read the word, we can get through all 66 of the books of the Bible tonight, it would be good, it would be profitable just to read the word of God.

16:57This is just scratching the surface as far as what there is in the gift, and this is just simply scratching the surface as far as who your identity is in Christ. I think you all know that there is no condemnation to you. We have the spirit of adoption, we cry out, we're heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Our life is hidden with Christ in God, like it says in C. 3, 3. The first Peter 2, 9 and 10, talks about a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people of the zone possession, once not a people, but now the people of God. So, we don't have a chance without mercy, but now we receive mercy, we're recipients of mercy. God designed us to work and to work together and to bear fruit.

17:59And individually we are in Christ, I think you know that, but our collective in Christ is literally the church. That's this group of people in this room and beyond. And we must not, we cannot think independently or think that we're independent from influencing or being influenced by others in Christ. So, I want you to think through, once again, we don't have, I would love to go and spend some time going through this passage of Scripture, but I think you'll recognize this in Acts 12-12, I think is the first time that we hear about John Mark. He's called Mark, sometimes he's referred to as John, but John Mark, he appears that he's the son of Mary whose house is in Jerusalem.

19:05And that house served as a gathering place for believers. And if you'll recall with me, this is Acts 12-12, if you want to go there. Peter comes to this place after his miraculous release from prison, he knocks on the door. And I think, wrote, I recognize this is voice and leaves him standing at the door, he doesn't even open the door, she goes running back and there rejoicing in all of this sort of thing. This is the house, this is the setting where Mark grew up apparently. A few verses later, next 25, Acts 12-25, Barnabas and Saul or Paul are returning from Jerusalem to Annie off after delivering relief aid and they took with them John Mark. And the next chapter, Acts 13, the first three verses, Barnabas and Paul were later set apart by the Holy Spirit for missionary work. And in verse 5 of that chapter of chapter 13, it says that they took John Mark along as a helper or a minister. They had marked to their minister, John to their minister, to assist them.

20:14He joined them on this first missionary journey beginning in Cyprus. The 13th verse of Acts 13 says, now Paul and his companions set sail from Papus and came to Perga and Pamphilia and John left them and returned to Jerusalem, I think it might say departed in King James. John departed and returned to Jerusalem and Luke and his record doesn't say why. Later, Paul in Acts 15-38 also uses the word deserted or departed I think. He describes what John Mark did there in that little verse that we don't have any explanation for as desertions. I don't know why. I don't think you know why there may be some conjecture as why. What were the factors that caused John Mark to leave the work? Maybe it was hardships of travel.

21:20Maybe it was the shift in leadership emphasis from Barnabas who he was cousins with to Paul. Can you imagine the son of encouragement? I think Barnabas was called and what his personalities and leadership style might be as contrasted with Paul. I don't know if that's what caused John Mark to say I can't work for this man. He rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it was homesickness. Maybe it was this comfort with the aspects of the expanding Gentile mission going into all the world. You know here we are Jewish boys and we're going and sharing the gospel with who again. All that the narrative says is that he departed after the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15-135 Paul again proposed revisiting the churches established on this first journey.

22:20He says let us return and visit the brothers in every city and see how they do. And Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with him again. Paul was strongly opposed to this. The contention was so sharp between them that they departed a thunder one from it of this is Acts 15-39. It was so sharp between them intense contention. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed into Cyprus and Paul chose Silas and departed being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God and he went through Syria and Silesia confirming the churches. Barnabas and Mark went to Barnabas' home region in Acts 436. That's where Barnabas was apparently from. And Paul and Silesia traveled throughout Syria and Silesia and it says later the church in Antioch commended Paul and Silesia.

23:25And Luke once again simply records this without assigning blame to either of these parties and furthermore the outcome effectively doubles the missionary effort. So I want you to think a little bit still thinking about identity and work. We're thinking about work now in a broad general definition of simply this. Getting things done. There's probably more refined definitions to work. But it's just getting things done sometimes by ourselves oftentimes maybe most often with others. Examples of work is a missionary journey like we just read about. Maybe it's starting a company. Maybe it's providing customer support. Maybe it's organizing a nonprofit. Maybe it's running a food pantry at church. Or preparing for harvest meeting or communion or installing a new baptismal out here. Planning of vacation. All of that is work. And sometimes work is exhilarating and sometimes it's tedious and frustrating.

24:42That's the reality about it. I also want to give you one other one other thing of thinking through work and work as a, I don't want to say this is similar to the disc and Myers breaks and that sort of thing. I want to say that this is carefully and concisely as I can. But of those six letters, I'm going to define what they each are. Generally he's found that people have two of those letters. That they resonate with that gives them energy. They like that. That thing that I'm about to describe. Two of them that they can do competently well and two of those things that frustrate them or that wear them down.

25:47I'll jump to the end and say you think about what things that I'm about to describe to you that you like doing and the things that you don't like doing and just know that it possibly may be the person sitting next to you on the bench that loves doing the things that you don't like doing. That makes sense to probably I could stop there and get the point but one as he describes it and this is once again this could be like putting in the baptismal out here. I talk to a little bit about that and I think that I don't know if he was really feeling like a fish out of water because he was talking to me about piping and that sort of thing and apparently somebody here. The word pipe in or going to board pipe in so you're bringing your gifts to the table but at some level somebody has to say wonder they have to say I wonder if we could use that retention area out there for a baptismal that's the W in the very first part of getting work done somebody has to wonder about it. I wonder if the world could be made a better place if such and such and the I part of it is an is an inventor they come along and take that idea or that wonder and they say I have a nice I can come up with a system I can come up with a process and some of you hate processes and you don't want to come up with processes somebody might come up with a process and handed off to the D type which is discernment to say is this a good process.

27:12That's a bad process back to the process and the guy that likes to do the I or the girl that likes to do the I might say it's final come up with another process not offended at all. I love building processes and I'm going to give it back to you the D type says that's a good process and the hands it off to the G type the galvanizer who says come on everybody let's get together and have a work day. Some people love getting people together to do work to do a project to do whatever other people can't stand to do that sort of thing the E type is oftentimes beacons it's enable me if they are there with what need is needed sometimes before it's even asked for providing for service and the T type the final of all of this widget acronym is the finishers they simply want to do that. They simply want to get the project done probably some of you don't like to get projects done you might like to start projects don't really like to finish them whatever the case may be there's room and there's place for each and every one of you if you spend I'm telling you this is clunky this is just a man made thing that comes up with with trying to look into the way that God has made us and gifted us.

28:31But if we spend a whole bunch of inordinate amount of the time doing something that are a miss fit for us which granted sometimes we have to do you have to do that you can't just say I'm not get it that so I'm not going to do it you have to do it that's oftentimes the cause for burn out. And so it's not that you don't need work at all it's not that you need to go and not do anything you simply need to shift and do the thing that you are created to do that does give you energy that makes sense sometimes too we look at people that are doing something that we particularly like or that we admire and we think I'm sure ashamed that I can't do that as well as that person and we bring on some sort of gives us that we can do that. And I feel ashamed that we ought not bear because we God didn't gift you for that that's okay we work together as the body of Christ complimenting one another.

29:35Number two trust and I my brothers keeper and my brothers keeper that's in Genesis 4.9 and I think you know the answer to that but you simply look around then sometimes with your identity with your realization of your differences maybe with your guilt and shame whatever the case may be and over this heading I simply want to talk for a few minutes about this thought of M.I. My brothers keeper do we look at others with loving concern or do we simply self protect and isolate Pat Lynch you know he also has in for the business world. He has a this is going to seem awful negative he represents it as a triangle and he says if things go sideways if things go bad in relationships there is first of all usually an absence of trust. An absence of trust maybe it's because we're mismatched in our gifts and calling maybe it's because somebody stepped on our toes and heard of whatever the case may be but there becomes an absence of trust in our relationships with one another that absence of trust oftentimes leads to a fear of conflict and I'm talking about healthy good conflict here I'm not talking about just avoiding conflict for conflict sake I'm just saying you can't

31:02come and Matthew 18 to your brother sister because trust is completely lacking and then there's a he goes on further to say then there's a lack of commitment maybe to the mission and then there's a void of accountability you don't want to be held accountable and ultimately there's what he calls an attention to resolve there's this decline really because relationships are broken I've heard a couple of times it's not a problem. A couple of times in a mission in missionary settings even that they'll bring in all these people from around the world and put them all together and they have to like sort out then what are their gifts and what are their calling and what about their backgrounds and their cultural differences and on and on all kinds of these different things and I've heard testimony that they they sometimes they'll get together and call this constructive criticism they'll go and I want you to think about this here at Shylo we're not going to do this. We're not going to do this tonight you can do this later if you choose to but think about if there's an absence of trust if there's these things fear of conflict with some of this change if you sat around and you thought about what that person that other person single most important behavioral quality that contributes to the strength of the team or family or children.

32:30What is that person if you thought about it I think it would make a difference but they go further and verbalize it they say brother so and so brother Kevin I think your gifts or your strength is and so forth and around they go people giving feedback to one another and the first time that I heard this first day it was absolutely terrifying and I think she would say it's one of her favorite things that she learned on the mission field. It totally changes the dynamic of working together as a team as a family because the next thing you also ask is what is that person single most important behavior quality that detracts that takes away from the strength of the family or the team or the church. A weakness or problematic behavior I think one of them also talked about they asked this question what should I keep doing and what should I stop doing the feedback that you would get from that sort of thing in a team imagine that but if you can't trust each other you can't get to that place but am I my brother's keeper that's the question am I my brother's keeper Matthew 22 39

33:47says to love the Lord your God with all your heart and it says you shall love your neighbor as yourself I think that answers the question probably done. That answers the question doesn't it am I my brother's keeper then you should love him your neighbor as yourself John third can have a whole list of these things that I've marked out that I don't have time to go through a new command that I give to you that you love one another just as I have loved you in John 13 30. You also are to love one another by this all people will know you're my disciples if you have love one for another we're also commanded to commanded exhort and courage in the word of God it talked about bearing burdens restoring and practical care in Roman 15. We are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the week this is a different version than KJV must have these are Philippians 2 3 and 4 do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in the new ability count others more significant than yourself that each of you look not onto to his own interest but also to the interest of others are you your brother's keeper first

35:04so I'm in 514 and 15 and we urge you brothers at monish the idol encouraged the faint hearted help the week be patient with them all see that no one repays evil for evil but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone James live talks about confessing your sins and so forth and here's some warnings explicitly linked to cane who out who is asking that question first John 312 not as came or we should not be like came who was of that wicked one and so he's brother everyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murder has eternal life abiding in him trust and I'm talking about only the first thing that falls apart there's trust and fear of conflict in those three other things that we obviously don't have time to get into each one of them and all the intricacies all the nasty intricacies that tile of those

36:10things together that we know that we contribute to if we love our brothers let see that trust is rebuilt and it's rebuilt only when we move from self protection and self preservation and self-proc focus self-ishness to a gospel focused relationship so point number three forgiveness like I said we're only scratching the surface with each one of these but forgiveness in second Timothy 411 it has this other phrase that I think about when I think about forgiveness bring him with the for he is profitable to me in the ministry bring him with me you know that speaking about that's Paul speaking about mark forgiveness bring him with the for he is profitable to me in the ministry what is forgiveness forgiveness is cancelling a debt it's not merely just suppressing outward hostility it's not just being nice and I'm so

37:29inclined to do this maybe you are to just to say brother I forgive you I forgive you what is there something more that we need to talk through am I really doing that and am I operating with a common counterfeit of these three things and I think this is more the inclination of my heart I speak verbal forgiveness but I sometimes withhold attention affection and honor punishing the person silent treatment coldness refusing small gestures of honor especially large ones whatever that may be is that how I live my life really is my life marked by that level of unforgiveness God has forgiven you each one of us in this room so 85 to talks about forgiving the iniquity of his people and covering all of their sin Hebrews 8 let's turn to Hebrews 8 I think this these two passages may say the same thing so there's two passages

38:42Hebrews 8 12 says where I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more says the same thing in Hebrews 10 17 he remembers our sins no more and the Bible talks clearly about we forgive because we have been forgiven like Matthew 614 says for if we if you forgive men there are trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you proverbs 1911 says this it is a man's glory to overlook a transgression and I came across this helpful quote sometime ago that I think fits into this picture of forgiveness too it goes like this evil for good is devil like evil for good is devil like evil for evil is beast like good for good is man like and good for evil is God like we forgive men their trespasses because God in all of our wrong

40:10in all the debt that we owed him 10 billion dollars of debt he forgave us all we not forgive one another in all of our different variations and ways that we bump one another shouldn't we forgive one another Ephesians 432 says it like this and be kind one to another tenderhearted for giving one another even as God for Christ's sake half forgiven you be kind once another tenderhearted for giving one another because God has forgiven us for giving this and time is gone we don't have time to talk as thoroughly as we could and should about forgiveness but I want to give you a few more points about forgiveness knowing that so much more could be said I think you know this but forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing

41:23think about that forgiveness and this is the forgiveness that God gave to us is unilateral people are gave us why we were still in debt why we were still in sin some of you may need to forgive even if the other person is not forgiving you back some of you some of us may need to forgive even if the other person is dead which obviously inhibits reconciliation reconciliation then does require mutual cooperation it does require two parties coming together but that doesn't keep you from forgiving forgiveness doesn't necessarily cancel the obligation to confront sin still need to go to our brother and confront the sin will be open when he comes to me to confront the sin in my life then reconciliation can happen and the Bible talks about the ministry of reconciliation which we have but still forgiveness is a big part of that maybe the primary preceding first part of that church discipline still applies obviously forgiveness for those of the you that are married

42:38and have children and a part of families and church relationships you will have you do have opportunities to forgive what about if you don't forgive what if you simply can't forgive I want to point you back because I think this is the connection through this study that I made with it is that it has been tremendously helpful for me in thinking of identity and gift to think about that person that sometimes gets in my face and knows me or just whatever to think that that person is created in the image of God and placed in the church as it as it is seen fit by God I didn't place him in the church and I didn't make him in my image can I stop and think about that brother or sister and say I recognize that only maybe between my ears even just recognize that that person is an image bear made in the image of God doing what he or she is created to do as they're placed in the body of Christ for God's glory

43:54obviously if it's a sin issue then it needs to be addressed address that so forgiveness can be had a reconciliation be made and fellowship sweet fellowship can be restored what about unforgiveness is emotionally costly and it's the constant ever to make someone pay and if you live that way if I live that way I will be physiologically affected I will potentially lose my health maybe my life it's that damaging it traps the unforgiving person on a treadmill that never produces change it damages one's relationship with God the Bible makes that clear even in husband and wife relationships projecting an unforgiving nature on the God is this story theology as well because what you're doing is saying the cross and the work there that Jesus Christ did and forgiving each one of you is insufficient or you're placing yourself in the position of God saying I know God that you might forgive that person for whom you are asking for the power of God

45:06for whom you died, but I can't. Kills, kills compassion. I think you know that. Let's turn back now to Matthew 18. As we wind this up thinking, Matthew 18, and I want to read the rest of what happened, but first I want to jump back to verse 22, which we started in 23. Jesus said unto Peter's question, how shall my brothers sin against me? And I forgive him till seven times. You all are so familiar with this. Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until 70 times seven, I think Luke talks about that or it spans it in the same day that my brother might come in for whatever reason, for whatever unknown reason. Okay, 28. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants which owed him and hundred pence.

46:10And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat saying, pay me, that's our Oest, and his fellow servant fell down on his feet and besought him saying, have patience with me and I will pay the all. And he would not, but he went and cashed him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servant saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord after they he had called him and said unto him, oh thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desire us me. Ten billion dollars should have not also have compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had video and beat. And his Lord was rock and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone, his brother there. I've already came across this, but Paul like this statement that associated with this forgiveness point Paul saw that mark was profitable to him in the ministry.

47:23In Colossians 410, Paul also about a decade later, Paul greets the church from Mark the cousin of Barnabas concerning whom you have received instructions. If he comes to you, welcome him. If Mark comes to you, welcome him in Philemon 24, Paul lists Mark among his fellow workers. And I've already said this, but Paul writes Luke alone is with me get Mark and bring him with you for he is very useful to me in the ministry. Galatians 6 1 says this, brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore, restore such and one in the spirit of meekness, considering myself left out also be tempted, restore simply means make useful again.

48:30Make use of this brother or sister who has stumbled and fallen, restore them those of you that are spiritual, those of you that can see that forgiveness needs to be had. They are willing to forgive as you have been forgiven and our identity is in Christ, we are a new creation adopted, forgiven, secure, working together for the Lord. We trust our brothers keeper, we are in gospel trust, build teams and churches that can handle conflict and pursue results together and forgiveness, we forgive because God has forgiven our sin. We extend the same grace in our last message at Maple Grove, we weren't there and so we called in where I called in the other day when I was working or doing something and listen to brother Dave Bauer talk about heaven, he talked about and I was for you those of you that weren't there is worthy to listen to.

49:44Actually he says toward a couple times toward the end I think he says are you excited yet and the thought of heaven is exciting it really is but he said this one thing he read this verse in Revelation 22 that goes like this verse three and there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it. And his servant shall serve him and his servant shall serve him and that struck me as I was thinking about this message and putting this together I thought you know isn't it interesting how we get tangled up in our relationships with one another. How we actually get these processes and triangles and acronyms and tests and assessments and everything to try to sort out where we're all at and understand gifts and callings and try to so that we can get along and so that we understand our ourselves better and so that we understand each other better but can you imagine what it will be like in heaven with the absolute wonderful most wonderful orchestrator of all the world.

51:08All work the one that created us the one that made us in his image and he places us into whatever that work will look like when we serve him some some translation say worship him but whatever that may be maybe it's worship I don't necessarily think that work of some nature will be absent in heaven if it's to God's glory but imagine him taking a project and placing each one of you in the absolute best. Place that you could be placed according to your guess that he has given you working together to give him glory may God have his way with us.