Good morning new hope.

I want to start by giving a special thanks

to bishop and first lady for giving the opportunity to minister on
this morning. I also want to thank my parents for their guidance on
my journey .My name is Van Dyke Walker and i have been a
member here for almost 8 years. New hope has help shape me
into the young man i think God wants me to be. New Hope is full
of positive male role models like deacon tim and elder tucker and
many more. will you all please bow your heads and join me in
PRAYER

Recently I found myself being the middle man in an argument

between friends. One friend tried to scam the other out of $100
bucks.they had a huge falling out and didnt talk to each other for 4
or 5 months after having been lifetime friends. they brought it to
me to see what I would think and I said all things aside you should
forgive one another, now that wont automatically make things
better but it definitely wont make them worse.

With that being said, i will be speaking on the subject of

forgiveness and what it means to us as christians. Would
everyone please follow me to “ Matthew 6:14-15” Read scripture
slowly and clear
What the word tells us is that if we can’t forgive man for the
wrong he’s done then God cannot afford us the same grace. But if
we forgive man then God will forgive us our wrong doings. It
reminds me of when my mom would get on me about taking out
the trash. She would always say “ if you can’t do the small things
for me what makes you think I’ll want to continue doing extra for
you.” As I’ve grown and learned that the entire world works like
that when you go to work then you get paid when you go to
school then you get your diploma you always have to give in
return for something else
We all know the lord’s prayer and in it we ask God to forgive
us pur tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
So when we make the choice not to forgive someone who are we
really hurting ? not only are we holding on to the pain or anger but
we are blocking whatever blessing God has for us. God asks us
to forgive, but you do not have to forget now lets connect this to
what the scripture says.
I’m sure we all know the story of joseph and his brothers.
Joseph was his father Jacob’s favorite son and his brothjers hated
him so much that they wanted to kill him. When they were about
to kill him a group of merchants came by so they sold him off for
20 silver coins instead. Joseph beacme the head of Potiphar’s
house until Potiphar’s wife spread lies about Joseph that landed
him in jail for 2 years. God blessed Joseph with the ability to
interpret dreams and the king had a dream no one in the kingdom
could quite understand. but once the King heard of a prisoner who
could interpret dreams he called on Joseph. Joseph warned the
king of a 7 year famine that would come after 7 years of plenty.
The king asked joseph to oversee the 7 years of plenty to make
sure their would be enough food to last thru the famine.
When the famine struck people near and far were without
food including joseph’s father and brothers. The brothers came to
joseph’s kingdom but did not recognize him since it had been 10
years since they saw him last. They came lookig for food and
joseph told them to return with their father but leave their
youngest brother Benjamin behind. When the brothers returned
with Jacob, the father Joseph revealed himself. He told his family
that he was the one they had sold 10 years ago. Even after all the
wrong he had done joseph forgave his brothers and asked his
family to move into the kingdom with him where there was plenty
of food.
Reading this Showed me that a man of good faith will forgive
those who do wrong to him no matter how bad their wrong was.
how many of us would’ve forgiven our brothers? how many of us
will forgive the liar will forgive the cheater? I know that forgiveness
isn’t always the easiest thing to do in life. I want to help you by
giving you 4 simple steps to forgiveness .
There are most often 4 steps to forgiveness
1) Acknowledge what happened( Present to god and accept
that it happened. )- Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways submit to
him, and he will make your path straight ( joseph had to slow
down and acknowledge what had happened had to ask god
how to help him through it)
2) Reflect ( think about it, how do you want to process it ) you
want to let it make you bitter or better ? One letter can
change your life. You could allow this situation to break
youand make you bitter or allow it to make you a better
person. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind.Then you will be able t test and approve what God’s
will is- his good, pleasing, and prefect will.
3) Working towards forgiveness ( Working to be free of anger
or ill feelings toward this person because ultimately you are
asking God to heal your heart- James 1:20 The anger of
man worketh not the righteousness of God : You wouldn’t be
a righteous child of god as living in anger is just not of God
because God is Love , peace and prosperity
 4) Let go of anger and resentment( its ok to forgive & not forget
) Psalm 37:8 - Cease from anger and forsake wrath, fret not
thyself in any wise to do evil: this means find peace and
closure in the situation. Let go of any anger or evil thoughts
you have built up. Remember forgiveness doesnt mean the
relationship will be healed or that everything goes back to
normal it just means YOU are clearing YOUR mind of anger
or hatred. It simply allows you remain in good faith with the
lord.

In closing, We need to use these steps in forgiving people in

our everyday lives. It is ok to forgive but not forget like i said
earlier God forgives us like we forgive others…

I challenge New Hope to excercise a little forgiveness this

year and see how well God Blesses You !