November 5, 2023
Sermon Part 6B: "Put on The Master's Jacket of Forgiveness and Never Take it off!"
Happy Sunday to the Saints, "The Elect” of God, in Christ Jesus.
Introduction:
The Apostle Luke recorded these Words of Jesus Christ at Luke 6:40. Jesus said:
The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect (perfectly trained) shall be as his master.
My simple prayer today, spoken in faith for you and me, and the entire body of Christ is this:
“Lord Jesus, teach us to become Masters of Forgiveness, so we may reconcile all men to you through your example of forgiveness towards us.” Amen.
Ah, the Master's Golf Tournament, played in Augusta, Georgia annually in April. According to media reports, the 2023 Master's Tournament averaged above 12 million network viewers, with peak network viewership of about 15 million, when Jon Rahm of Spain won the tournament. He bested the competition by an impressive four-stroke margin of victory—the greatest margin in several years of tournament play.
On the Augusta National grounds itself, there were more than 40,000 people watching intently, with all eyes on Rahm, as he put on the most prestigious award of all sports, the Verdant Green Master's Jacket, with rousing applause from the massive crowd.
The tradition of the Master's Tournament is that every year since the late 1930s, the same Verdant Green Jacket has been awarded to that year's golf champion. But, the jacket must be returned each year, to be bestowed upon the next winner of the tournament. The champion later receives a replica of the original jacket.
For sure to put on the Master's Golf Jacket is a crowning sports achievement for the athlete who wins. However, today, I want to talk to you about another Master's Jacket of exceedingly greater prestige than the Master’s Golf Tournament Jacket. God wants each one of His Elect”—the chosen and called of God—to put on the "Master's Jacket of Forgiveness." Yes, God wants you to become a Master of Forgiveness. A Master Forgiver of sins, faults, offenses, and persecutions committed against you and others.
God would have you know with all assurance, that in your regenerated (born-again) heart, He has already made you a “Master Forgiver,” just as His Son Jesus Christ. (I John 4:17 & II Pet. 1:3) God has given us all things that pertain unto godliness, and just in case you didn’t know it, “forgiveness” is an attribute of godliness, and is the first step in living the God-kind of life.
Metaphorically speaking, when you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, like the former golf champion helps the new champion put on the Master’s Golf Jacket, Jesus Christ adorned you with the His Jacket of Forgiveness. So that all people of the earth might see the champion you are for Christ. For people to be amazed and stand in awe at how swiftly and sincerely you forgive the sins of others, and show them acts of kindness that flow from the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ as seated at the right-hand throne of God, witnessed by the Holy Ghost!
The great news about the Master Jesus's Jacket, is that you never have to give it back, or pick up a replica. Rather, the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness is the original one worn by our Savior and Lord Jesus Himself, and is your inheritance for all eternity. (Eph.1:7) And, what the Elect of God must do now, is to become “perfectly trained” in Forgiveness, so that our behavior/performance in the experience of human relationships, is as our teacher Jesus Christ. This is God’s expectation of the Elect of God that we become Masters of Forgiveness.
Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of Forgiveness
Jesus Christ is the Master (Teacher) of forgiveness and loving kindness towards all people. He came out from God the Father, and down from heaven, with a Message from God to the people for whom He was first called to save; the Jews. His doctrine and words were with wisdom and power and astonished all, even the scholars of the Law of Moses. (Luke 4:32)
Last we preached in the Series, we visited part of the text of one of Jesus's powerful teachings on forgiveness and love from Luke 6:27-36. Let’s examine the full text. Intuitively observe how each Verse requires, first forgiveness, to accomplish the command of God.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Wow, praise God, did you take note that Jesus Christ said we are to be as merciful unto others as “God is merciful.” (V.36) As the sons of God, we have been equipped with the “Mercy” of God! In our hearts lie the compassion of God for those who commit sins against us and others, and to forgive all of their wrong—just like God. To remove and cast away the sins of our offenders, as far as the east is from the west; and remember their sins and iniquity no more! Oh, what power God has invested in us, to let people go free of their trespasses against us! (Ps.103:12 & Heb.10:17)
Also, vitally important that every born-again Christian understands—get through their heads—is that Jesus said, God is “kind to the unthankful and evil.” It might amaze you, but your regenerated heart knows this truth, and has been made to agree with God on this too. Deep down in your sanctified heart, you long to be “kind to the unthankful and evil too! Glory be to God for the things He has done!
Now let’s examine the key ingredient the Author and Finisher of our faith Jesus Christ used to forgive the world of sins, including our own sins; and follow His example. From our last teaching I provided a definition of forgiveness. In essence, I said that forgiveness is a "choice" we make to have compassion for all those who sin against us, and we "decide" that the offender is worthy to be forgiven regardless of how they may treat us.
As such, we understand that to forgive a person for their trespasses against us, is an act of our “Will.” Yep, the “will” to have compassion and to decide that our trespasser is worthy to receive forgiveness and acts of kindness that follow, is our own.
When we look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, we see that “His Will” was in total submission to God the Father’s Will. At John 6:38 Jesus was recorded as saying:
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Remember that Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, as the cross was set before Him, sweating great drops of blood, in prayer to God the Father said, “not my will but thy will be done." (Luke 22:42)
Recall Jesus, while knowing He was equal with God, “chose” to make Himself of no reputation, took on the form of a servant and humbled Himself, became as a servant, was made in the likeness of men, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Php.2:5-11) His was a yielded “Will” to God in all things!
Furthermore, Jesus emphasized to those who would follow after Him, the absolute necessity of submission of the human “will” to be considered a part of His true family. Check out His words at Matthew 12:46-50.
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Remember that the prerequisite for becoming a follower of Christ, is that we all must first “deny ourselves,” then take up our cross and follow after the Lord. (Matt. 16:24)
Of course you remember that Jesus’s prayer taught to the disciples, upon their request, began with the petition that God’s kingdom would come, and His “Will” be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matt. 6:9-11)
The Father's Will was that the Son lay down His life for the sins of the world, and through His death, burial, and resurrection on the third-day, God would reconcile the world within Himself. So that eternal life would be made available to all who would believe in the name of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16 10:10, II Cor. 5:17-18)
No one in the history of the world has ever demonstrated forgiveness and love as Jesus Christ. For while we were yet sinners He died on the cross. He who knew no sin died for the ungodly—for the sins of the whole world! (Rom. 5:8, 6 & I John 2:2)
While hanging on the cross at Calvary, bloodied, bludgeoned, and marred more than any man; naked and defamed and disgraced: Jesus was recorded as saying among His last words before he died: (Luke 23:34)
...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus took hold and snatched away all of our sins; past, present, and future and bore them in His own body. (I Pet. 2:24) In His death, our sin nature was buried with Him, and with His resurrection, we were also raised up in the newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) Our spirits were quickened together, raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ. For all eternity to be called by God Almighty the Elect of God—blessed, holy, blameless, and accepted in the beloved—worthy to receive the exceeding richness of His kindness towards us. (Eph. 1:3-4 & 2:6-8) Oh, dear Saints, God’s elect, can we offer any less mercy to those who wrong us?
Further, as the Elect of God—those who have believed the report of the Master Forgiver—God has established His laws (Love Commandments) in our hearts and written them on our minds (soul and mind of the soul) and our sins and iniquities He remembers no more. (Heb.10:16-17) So that we might think, speak, and act like true sons of the Most High God. Always expressing the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ to the people of this world, including sore enemies, as He is seated at the right hand throne of God—to forgive and love them all. That, in the theater of life, we would follow after God as dear children becoming schooled and skilled in the art of forgiveness and loving kindness. Merciful to all people, as God is merciful.
As God’s Elect, we must come to understand that there will always be times and seasons when people come into our lives who are being used by the devil to plot, plan, and carryout evil against us. These things must happen because you are godly; and the behaviors of the people of this world will only steadily get worse. (II Tim. 3:12-14)
But God wants you to understand that the Commandments to forgive and love must be tested and tried in you—how else can we practice forgiveness and God’s love—if no one ever causes us “great” hurt, pain, and harm? How can God see if your “will” has been fully committed and made subject unto His “Will;” unless someone, to many people even, murderously trespass against you? Yes, forgiveness must be tried in you! (Job 23:10)
MY, MY, MY, the New Living Translation of I Peter 1:7 reads:
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
In order for the Elect of God to become competent and skillful in the art of forgiveness, we must suffer many wrongs and yet “Willfully” have compassion for our offenders, and decide that they are worthy of forgiveness and acts of kindness as God has shown to us in forgiving our sins. God wants you to have an abundance of experience at yielding “your will” to “His Will” to forgive; to become a Master Forgiver!
Put on the Master's Jacket of Forgiveness: “You’re going to Like the Way You Look!”
Many born-again Christians have gone through life dreading forgiving someone who hurt them, especially people who have in their way of thinking, done inexplicable things. I know I did. And, I have shared with you my personal testimony of how God rescued me from un-forgiveness.
But it’s high-time for us to stop acting as children, to put away childish behavior, and to “set” our “will” on swiftly and sincerely forgiving all sin, no matter who commits it. (I Cor. 13:11) The Elect of God must always be the “Adult in the room” and handle offenses as the Master Jesus Christ.
I tell you it’s time for the Elect of God to put on the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness and keep it on forever! To on purpose, strip off the sins of offenders and lay them aside, and see every person as God created them—holy, good, and useful unto His purpose—worthy of exceedingly great acts of kindness.
So we have the commandment from the Apostle Paul at Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
We have bowels of mercies that abide deep within our sanctified hearts. These mercies are the “innate compassions” of Jesus Christ in your heart—the tender and sympathetic emotions of Christ Himself! Yes, I am talking about the identical compassions of Christ Jesus as He is seated at the right of God the Father; are also seated in you! The writer of Hebrews in Chapter 2:17 describes the compassion of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ in this manner:
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
These bowels of mercy are way down at the bottom of your heart, where God in Christ Jesus and the Holy Ghost are seated and are full of mercy, grace, and truth. It is from within the depths of your spirit that God has established His laws and written them on your soul as a part of the finished works of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant. (Rom.10:12-16)
Praise God, at the mercy and grace seat of God in Christ in your spirit, there is universal and perpetual forgiveness for every person and wrong committed past, present, and future. And, at the seat of your spirit, God has commanded you to take the Lord’s Compassion (bowels of mercies) and put it on and freely share it with all people, including your enemies—forgiving their sins, iniquities, and transgressions.
To put on bowels of mercies then is the same thing as putting on the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness. When the born-again Christian has the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness on—bowels of Christ’s mercies will be on exhibit for all people to see, as Paul describes in Colossians 3:12-15 (Amplified Bible)
12. So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; 13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. 14 Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. 15 Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]
Now, how exactly do we put on the innate compassion of Jesus Christ? The answer is by surrendering our “will and life” to "God's Will," for Jesus to work through us. We submit our whole being to the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ, as a living sacrifice, to clothe us in the Master's Jacket of Forgiveness. (Is. 61:10) In submission to God’s Will, the Holy Ghost will continually teach, correct, and train you in the compassionate and forgiving attitude of Jesus Christ so that people can see Jesus Christ living through you. Mercy is seen when people can see that you have liberated them from their offenses—and placed their offenses under the Word of God for correction.
With the Master's Jacket of Forgiveness Adorned, Now Move Forward and Master Your World
When we commit our “will” to God’s Will, to universally and perpetually practice forgiving others of their sins against us—having mercy on others—God rewards us with supernatural favors from eternity. Oh yes, this is truth!
Keep the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness on and never take it off, and ask God whatever you desire of a godly nature and you will have it in supernatural abundance! It’s through the forgiveness of the sins of others, and kindness extended toward them by the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ as seated at the right hand throne of God; that enables us to Master the world. I John 5:14-16 serves as a mighty witness for the Elect of God who walk according to the Will of God; the power we possess to ask and receive, including the removal sins from fellow believers in Christ. It reads as follows:
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
By now, you should have your Master of Forgiveness Jacket on. Your “will” should be fully submitted to God in Christ Jesus by faith. Come on and ask God for whatever promise is contained in the Word of God. Ask God for it now, and it shall be given you—do it, do it, do it—but only with confidence require the promise of God come from eternity into physical manifestation. All because you have surrendered your “will,” and chosen to obey God, and be a Master Forgiver. From now on, your words will never fall to ground nor be void of power! But everywhere you send it, it shall accomplish the God-good things from eternity you require! (I John 3:22 & Is. 55:11)
Let’s begin closing this Series and Session out with the story of Jesus Christ and the curse of the fig tree at Mark 11:22-26. Recall Jesus's response to the disciples’ amazement as the fig tree had dried up and died from the roots, after Jesus cursed it the day before. The text reads as follows:
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Jesus was saying in order for the faith of God in you to work to do the supernatural things of God—to call things from the spiritual realm into the natural realm, we must forgive those who offend us. We must chose to have compassion for those who wrong us and make the decision to consider them worthy of forgiveness and acts of God-goodness and kindness.
On the other hand, if we refuse to forgive, our sins (all sins) are held against us. Thus, without forgiveness, there can be no exercise of faith and working of God’s power to bring to pass the things we desire when we pray—as the foundation of the faith of God in Jesus Christ; is based on God forgiving the world of sin, iniquities, and transgressions through the finished works of Jesus on the cross.
Lastly, this reminds me of the story of Saul of Tarsus’s meeting of Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul was blinded. In a vision, God appeared unto Ananias (among the faithful saints in Damascus) and told him to go and heal Saul. Ananias reminded God that he had heard of the many persecutions and brutality that Saul had inflicted on the saints in Jerusalem, and his ability to wreck-havoc wherever Christians were found. This at first on the part of Ananias was an “un-willingness” to forgive Saul and obey God’s instruction.
But, God told Ananias that Saul had been chosen to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jew and Greek and suffer many persecutions himself. (Acts 9:11-20) God in effect was testing Ananias to see if he was willing to submit his “will” to God’s Will and forgive Saul, and to go and do an act of kindness for him; to heal his eyes.
Ananias decided to obey God, and took his journey to Saul, and let’s see what happened thereafter. Here is the account:
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Ananias, if you will, “proved” to God——that he had on the Master's Jacket of Forgiveness. Ananias yielded his “will” to God’s “Will” and forgave Saul of his sins. Oh, just look at the power of God move! When Ananias made his way to where Saul was staying, he only said to Saul, that God had sent him to heal him and receive the Holy Ghost. And, “immediately,” the scales on Saul’s eyes fell off and his sight was restored.
Ananias didn’t directly command the healing of Saul’s eyesight—forgiveness and love had already cleared the way for the power of God to flow through Ananias to heal Saul. While blind for three-days prior, Saul had dreamed that a man named Ananias would heal him. It was Saul’s repentance of sin before Jesus, and receipt of forgiveness from sin, that had set Saul free to receive healing from Ananias—a man for whom Saul would have previously sought to persecute; to drag him in chains to Jerusalem for prosecution.
Additionally, we see from the story, in Verse 19, that the disciples in Damascus also forgave Saul and extended “hospitality” (food, lodging, and peaceful company) to him during his stay in the city. Forgiveness always follows with the reach-out of kindness toward offenders. Forgiveness is never accomplished without our hands being stretched out to meet the needs of an enemy! (Matt. 5:44)
For sure, God in Christ Jesus will test your willingness to put on the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness in times and seasons. These tests may be among family members, friends, strangers, and fellow believers in Christ. Understand in the experience of human relationships there will be people who seek to harm you, plot evil against you, and bring confusion and controversy that result in offenses.
But, as the Elect of God, never take Satan’s bait to yield your “will” to un-forgiveness, which if allowed to remain will turn into to bitterness, and ultimately hatred. Keep the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness on and willingly show others the innate compassion of Christ—and forgive (separate the sin from the person who has committed the sin; and see them only as godly, holy, good, and useful unto God our Father) and show them acts of kindness accordingly as the Master Teacher Jesus directs by the Holy Ghost.
With skillful application of forgiveness, you will be like the Master (Teacher) Jesus Christ in forgiving and loving others—and you can ask whatever you desire of a godly nature, and it shall come to pass. And, great will be your peace and reward in heaven!
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Cor. 5:10)
Let’s give thanks unto God for this Series and Ministry Session. Your life will never be the same, now that you are fully clothed in the Master’s Jacket of Forgiveness. For every person you meet, specialize in finding “NO FAULT IN THEM,” and then, ask whatever new things you see in the spirit for people, and it shall be done for them. Then the people of the world will see Christ Light shining brightly in you, and come and say, “What must I do to be saved?” And, you will say, “Believe in the name of Jesus Christ.” Amen.
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