May 3 – 9, 2008

JESUS HEALS THE BROKENHEARTED - PART 2

GET BETTER, NOT BITTER

In this lesson you will learn that to be healed of a broken heart you must choose to forgive. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice.

I. How to deal with bitterness, offense, and unforgiveness – Matthew 18:15-20.

A. One of the attacks the enemy brings into people’s lives to get them off track is resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness, strife, and things that aggravate and irritate on the inside.

B. When you have this with one individual and you don’t resolve it, you can carry it into other relationships.

C. Four ways to deal with bitterness and offense.

1. First, go to the person alone and try to resolve the issue.

2. Second, take one or two with you to talk to the person objectively.

3. Third, if needed, take it to church leadership.

4. If none of this works, pray for the person.

D. The results of using Matthew 18:15-17.

1. Verse 18 – “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

2. Verse 19 – “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”

II. There is power in unity – Psalm 133:1-3.

A. Verses 1-2 – “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron.” The oil represented the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whenever people come together in unity and harmony, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit are going to flow down from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

B. Verse 3 – “It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – life forevermore.” The water that comes off the mountains provides the moisture and dew. Much of the rainfall comes from the moisture off the mountains and it provides water for the crops and water for the grass that the flocks and herds eat. So this is speaking of abundance and overflow. When people get together in unity and harmony there is the commanded blessing of God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Tell a time you got off track because of resentment, bitterness, or offense.
• Share how you have used Mathew 18:15-17 in dealing with another person.
• Is there an area of your life where you need to have more unity and harmony?

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

This week ask the Lord if there is someone you need to reconcile with, and if so, use the Matthew 18 pattern.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 133:1 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”