Calvary Road Baptist Church
“BEFORE YOU WORSHIP” Part 2
Mark 11.12-26
Back on May 20th, I began a series of Sunday morning messages from God’s Word addressing the topic of forgiveness. In that first message, I rehearsed to you the pagan understanding of forgiveness. Perhaps it would be better for me to phrase it as the pagan misunderstanding of forgiveness since unsaved people have only a severely distorted notion of forgiving others. I also pointed out the beginnings of God’s revelation to the Jewish people of this notion of forgiveness, observing that even in the Old Testament the idea of forgiving is only infrequently mentioned, not fully explained, with forgiveness usually sought from someone occupying a superior position. Little or no mention is made of someone seeking the forgiveness of an equal. It is in the New Testament, as the duty and an obligation of every believer in Jesus Christ that forgiving is revealed to be intrinsic to the Christian lifestyle, with forgiveness sought and granted based upon the penalty for sins having been paid by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, “forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”[1]
A week later we addressed this matter of forgiving once more, looking at the various words in the Bible that are used to convey truth about forgiving and seeing more clearly that forgiving is always properly based upon something. That something is the requirement that wrongdoing actually be punished and not merely ignored. The basis for the Christian’s ability and willingness to forgive is the suffering and dying of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins, thereby freeing us to forgive others as we have been forgiven our sins.
Our third consideration of this important matter of forgiving was on June 3rd. In that message, I not only detailed the necessity of forgiving again and again and again but also the role that the believer’s faith plays in forgiving and being willing to forgive repeatedly. Thus, we see that reestablishing a relationship that has been damaged by someone’s wrongdoing is a spiritual struggle and requires both toughness and determination by God’s grace. Why so? Because both the believer and that brother or sister whose forgiveness is either sought or given is far from perfect, may not be mindful of the Biblical proprieties involved, and the result will often be severe testing of your humility.
For about a month I have let these three messages percolate in your thinking, hoping these truths have settled from your minds to your hearts, where the believer’s faith resides to be lived in daily conduct. Have you sought another believer’s forgiveness over the last month? Have you granted another believer forgiveness over the last month? I ask because it hardly seems likely that you don’t need to request or grant forgiveness. Would you not agree? After all, we who follow after the Savior do commit sins against each other, and we need to forgive and be forgiven.
After my brief series of messages dealing with Christ’s final Feast of Tabernacles, we took up the matter of forgiving last Sunday morning again in a message titled “Before You Worship, Part 1.” My text for that message was Matthew 5.23-24, a portion of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. In brief, that portion of God’s Word speaks to the child of God preparing to worship God, following the scenario the Lord Jesus Christ described.
If, on your way to worship God, you remember that a brother has ought against you (presumably thinking you have somehow wronged him), put that which you are bringing to the altar to offer down, and before seeking to worship God be first reconciled to that offended brother. Only then are you free to worship God. Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ’s illustration of the principle involves a worshiper who realizes that another believer thinks he has done him wrong.
Reasonable Christians are agreed that we who enjoy the blessings of God’s forgiveness have the awesome privilege of seeking and granting forgiveness to other members of the family God. And last week we learned that it is such an exalted privilege to engage in this ministry of reconciliation that it takes immediate precedence over worshiping God when you realize that you need another’s forgiveness because of real or perceived wrongdoing. However, that’s not all of it. Not only are you to seek to be reconciled to someone who thinks you have done wrong, but you are also obligated when you have done nothing wrong, but realize that someone has, in fact, wronged you.
Those things considered, please turn at this time to Mark chapter 11. Being mindful that the Sermon on the Mount was delivered near the beginning of our Lord’s earthly ministry in Galilee, the passage to which we now turn describes events and records instructions our Lord delivered only three days before His crucifixion in the city of Jerusalem. Allow me to quickly rehearse important events to establish the context in your thinking.
On the previous Thursday, the Lord Jesus Christ was in Jericho, where He predicted His death, healed blind Bartimaeus and his companion, and visited the home of Zacchaeus. On Friday He traveled from Jericho toward Jerusalem and along the way discreetly separated from His fellow travelers to stay behind in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus while the crowd of pilgrims continued to Jerusalem. Though not mentioned at all in the Gospels, He certainly spent the Sabbath, a Saturday, with His friends and apostles in Bethany.
On Sunday He entered Jerusalem on the back of a never before ridden donkey colt, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies both as to the timing of His entrance and the manner of His entrance, known as the Triumphal Entry. The common folks celebrated His entrance while the religious leaders scorned Him. The next day, Monday, He cursed a fig tree that bore no fruit, cleansed the Temple for the second time (remember, He had done that three years earlier), and then met with certain Greeks brought to Him by Philip and Andrew. It was while meeting with them that God spoke audibly, John 12.27-33:
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Can you imagine being one of Christ’s twelve apostles with the events of the past few days in your mind and having just heard the voice of God once more? Three of the men with Him, Peter, James, and John had heard the voice of God three times now, at John’s baptism, on the mount of transfiguration, and on that Monday before His crucifixion in Jerusalem. How do you sleep after such experiences? My guess is that you don’t.
The next morning, Tuesday, walking back to Jerusalem from Bethany, they passed by the fig tree their Master had cursed the day before. From Mark 11.20 we learn that as they passed by the fig tree, their Lord had cursed the day before, Peter noticed that the tree had already withered. Interesting to note in the next verse is what the Lord Jesus Christ then said to them all:
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”
The Lord proceeded to state the connection between faith and prayer with the very familiar comment about the faith to move mountains. That is in Mark 11.23-24 and deserves an entire sermon of its own. But my interest is in this theme of forgiving that is of such importance to us, found in Mark 11.25-26, in connection with the Lord’s comment moments before to “have faith in God.” If you have those two verses located, I invite you to stand to read them with me:
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.
There are any number of sermons that can be developed from these two verses. One sermon could be developed on the posture of prayer, with our Lord here describing someone praying while standing. A sermon could also be developed on the connection seen here before Christ’s death on the cross of your forgiveness when wronged and God forgiving your trespasses. However, my concern this morning is having faith in God and the imposition by the Lord Jesus Christ on His disciples of the requirement that you forgive someone who has sinned against you as you approach God in prayer.
I have previously referred to the need to seek forgiveness before worshiping. This passage makes no mention of worshiping but only praying. Where is the connection? Here is where context rules. The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to His men in Jerusalem, either in the Court of Gentiles in the Temple or approaching the Temple. The topic of conversation is prayer as an expression of faith in God. Thus, everything about our context is infused with faith and the notion of worship. What, then, should we be mindful of, not as believers who on our way to worship remember someone who has ought against us, but as someone who remembers as he prepares to pray that he has ought against someone else? Remember, as well, the recent admonition to “have faith in God.”
There are three things I would urge upon you from the perspective of a believer with faith in God who has been wronged by another believer:
First, LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS
We understand that we are to, first, love God, and, second, to love others as we love ourselves. Amen? What does the practical outworking of the ideal look like when it comes to loving others?
Proverbs 10.12:
“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
Proverbs 17.9:
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
Genesis 9.23:
“And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.”
First Corinthians 13.4-7:
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
James 5.20:
“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
First Peter 4.8:
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
These six passages from the Old and New Testaments show the effect of one’s love (sometimes translated charity) in our dealings with another’s sins. And how many of us have eagerly swept away every consideration of wrongdoing done to us when an offender has turned from his wicked way and trusted Christ? You give the guy a fresh start. Amen?
This understood, there are approaching a dozen moderating passages that reflect the tragic reality that our love is not perfect, and others frequently present real challenges to our love for them.
Romans 12.17-18:
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Galatians 6.10:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Philippians 4.5:
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
First Thessalonians 3.12:
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.”
First Thessalonians 5.14-15:
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
First Timothy 2.1:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”
Second Timothy 2.24:
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.
Titus 3.2:
“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Hebrews 12.14:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
We are to seek everyone’s benefit. Our love should be expressed with courtesy, kindness, gentleness, and moderation (which is reasonableness). That said, the Apostle Paul did qualify with the words “if it be possible,” “as we have therefore opportunity,” and “follow peace with all men.”
What are the takeaways from these passages? Love covers many sins committed against you by another. Love may even cover most sins committed against you by someone else. However, your love does not always cover every sin committed against you. Some sins that are committed against you are matters you must take up and deal with.
How does a Christian know which sins should be dealt with and which sins committed against you by someone else should be forgotten, covered by your love? Allow me to present guidelines.
Next, SINS AGAINST YOU THAT YOU PERSIST IN THINKING ABOUT ARE SINS YOU MUST DEAL WITH
Has a believer in Jesus Christ ever done you wrong? If the answer to that question is “No,” you are either very young in the faith, or you have been around very few Christians, and they have always been a distance from you. First John 1.8 is undeniably clear in its insistence that Christians, all Christians, commit sins. And when we sin we sin against other people.
So, how do you know for sure that you have sufficient love to cover that believer’s sin against you? That is the question, is it not? Here is a simple test to determine if your love has sufficiently covered another’s sin against you, or you need to address the matter before you go to the Lord in prayer. Does the sin committed against you repeatedly surface in your thinking? Have you convinced yourself that you have forgiven and forgotten, but you just can’t get it out of your mind?
Then it is an issue that has not been resolved by your love. You have not truly forgiven, which is evidenced by the fact that you have not been able to forget the offense. It troubles you just enough to surface from time to time. Not to worry. No condemnation. I would suggest you take that as the Lord’s gentle nudging that you need to approach the person who sinned against you so the two of you can get the matter resolved.
“Bill, I need to talk to you about a matter that I thought was no big deal, and that you may not think is a big deal. But try as I may, I cannot get past what you said to me the other day. Please don’t think I am petty, but I feel troubled in my spirit because what you said was hurtful to me in a way I did not appreciate at the time. So, what can we do about it?”
Please be mindful that this needs to be a matter that is yours to deal with, and not someone else’s problem. This is a sin committed against you by someone else, not a sin committed against someone else that you observed or took offense to. Proverbs 26.17 speaks to something between other people:
“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.”
If you persist in thinking about something person A did to person B, but did not do to you, we are dealing with a whole other issue. Go ahead and pray. That problem is not directly your business. If you detect a pattern in a believer’s life that needs to be addressed, Galatians 6.1 provides guidance for you to follow at an appropriate time and place:
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
That, you understand, is another issue entirely.
Finally, SINS AGAINST YOU THAT OTHERS PERSIST IN THINKING ABOUT ARE SINS YOU MUST DEAL WITH
Sometimes someone has sinned against you, but you have successfully dealt with the matter in the privacy of your mind and heart and with a season of prayer. You hold no animus toward the offending person, and you never think about it anymore. But perhaps you are sensitive enough to recognize that person who sinned against you is now distancing himself.
Understand that your love for him has rendered the matter dealt with and over, so far as you are concerned. Your love for and like of that person remains undiminished. However, that person’s behavior toward you has changed, and you detect that he is gradually distancing himself from you. Your concern is that he knows he has sinned, has determined not to deal with his sin properly, and he is emotionally detaching from you as a way of avoiding the jabbing of a guilty conscience. What he does not realize is that he is searing his conscience by reacting to his sin in that fashion. I could not tell you how many people I think have left our Church over the years for precisely that reason.
Thus, your concern comes to be not the original sin that he committed against you. Rather, it is now his improper response to his sin against you, his reluctance to deal with the matter, or his outright refusal to deal with the matter, that is searing his conscience and creating distance. I find it amazing how often this happens with people and how infrequently Christians recognize it for what it is.
I could write a book about people who have stopped attending Church here, not because they have been wronged, but because they have wronged someone. Rather than deal with their wrongdoing, they stop coming, resulting in a seared conscience. It is called ghosting these days, and it’s the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. What the people who do that do not recognize is that it is not new, #1 and that the spiritual damage such behavior causes, primarily self-inflicted, is considerable #2.
Therefore, at the risk of offending someone whose sensitivity is real, you need to approach the person who has done you wrong if you suspect the matter is on his mind and is causing him to detach from you so that you can encourage reconciliation and perhaps prevent that person from seriously searing his conscience.
We do so frequently sin against each other, as believers presently trapped in these bodies of flesh, that if we were not given love by the indwelling Spirit of God, we would live our lives constantly offended by every little thing. Thankfully, we have been given love to simply cover or forgive most of the slights and offenses received each day.
However, some cuts are deeper than others. Some wounds catch us a certain way. The occasional dart is guided to a most tender place by a foul spirit. The result is an inability to forgive, as evidenced by the matter repeatedly coming to mind and troubling us. When that happens, especially as you prepare to pray, you truly need to forgive the offender’s sin. If you cannot, you need to approach the offender and initiate a reconciliation.
But even if you have forgiven the offense but detect that the person’s wrong against you (though forgiven by you) is creating an estrangement that threatens your friendship, your love for each other, and a willingness to continue serving God together, you need to resolve the matter with the offender. You see, sins never just go away. You cannot pretend sins were not committed. They have to be dealt with. And if the other person does not act upon his sin against you, help him to do that for his well-being. Of course, faith in God is required.
You might wonder why a Christian doesn’t want to talk to someone about a sin he committed against him that keeps resurfacing in his thoughts. It’s simple. We are cowards. I will admit it. We are afraid that approaching someone about a sin he committed against you will be rebuffed, that you will be scorned or ridiculed. He will react by saying, “Really? Are you upset about that? Wow, you must be insecure.” All it takes not to address a matter we ought to deal with is imagining what might happen. Again, faith in God is required.
That is where love comes into play once more. We have to love God enough that our fear of an imagined reaction will not stop us from doing what God wants us to do. First John 4.18 reveals to us that “perfect love casteth out fear.” How do we know? Have faith in God.
Of course, if you are not a Christian, you do not have faith in God. To have faith in God, you must first have faith in Christ by trusting Him for the forgiveness of your sins. Then, once God has forgiven you you will be enabled by God to have the faith in God and the love of God that will make forgiving other people truly possible.
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[1] Ephesians 4.32
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Pastor@CalvaryRoadBaptist.Church