HOW TO FORGIVE A FRIEND PART 5

TEXT- MATTHEW 18:21-35

INTRODUCTION


DURING A REVIVAL DWIGHT L. MOODY A FAMOUS EVANGELIST WAS LEADING THE SONG SERVICE WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SONG HE STOPPED THE PIANIST AND SAID: "EXCUSE ME; I SEE A FRIEND HAS COME INTO THE MEETING. I OFFENDED HIM EARLY TODAY, AND I WANT HIM TO FORGIVE ME." MR. MOODY WALKED DOWN FROM THE STAGE AS THE OTHER MAN GOT UP FROM HIS SEAT AND WALKED OUT INTO THE AISLE TO MEET HIM ABOUT HALFWAY, AND SAID, "MR. MOODY, I FORGIVE YOU HEARTILY." AN OBSERVER SITTING NEARBY SAID OF THE INCIDENT, "I NEVER SAW SUCH A MEETING; IT WAS WONDERFUL."

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT, "A FRIEND IS LIKE MONEY, EASIER MADE THAN KEPT."

AS WE DISCOVERED LAST MONTH DURING OUR FRIENDSHIP SERVICE, THERE ARE MANY MONSTERS THAT TRY TO DESTROY AND DEVOUR OUR FRIENDSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER.

OFTEN TIMES THESE MONSTERS ARE SUCCESSFUL.

WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP IS WEAKENED AND SOMETIMES A GAP IS CREATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR FRIEND.

DURING THESE TIMES WE NEED TO MAKE RECONCILIATION AND RESTORE THE FRIENDSHIP.

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERY HARD TO RESTORE A HURT FRIEND.

PROVERBS 18:19; "A BROTHER OFFENDED IS HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY, AND CONTENTIONS ARE LIKE THE BARS OF A CASTLE."

OUR TEXT IS FOUND THIS MORNING IN MATTHEW 18:21-35 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO FORGIVE."

THE KEY TO RESTORING A HURT FRIEND IS FORGIVENESS.


I WOULD LIKE US TO FOCUS ON FIVE PRINCIPLES ON HOW TO FORGIVE THAT OUR MENTIONED IN OUR TEXT.