MERCY WITHOUT MEASURE PT 3: The Demand
Part 3: The Demand — Reflect His Heart
Matthew 18:32–35 (NKJV) · Sermon Notes
| Big Idea “What God gives to us, He expects to see (1) us.” |
The Series in One Sentence
The Debt: I received mercy I could never (2) .
The Denial: I cannot receive mercy and (3) to extend it.
The Demand: What God has put in me, He wants to (4) through me.
Point 1 — Face the (5) v.32
Matthew 18:32 (NKJV)
“Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.’”
The king is not correcting a bad (6) . He is exposing a bad (7) .
Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
The 7 C’s: Conviction · Confrontation · Clarification · Confession · Check-In · Commitment · Commission
The 7 C’s can tell you (8) to have the conversation. Mercy tells you (9) you are when you have it.
Point 2 — Confront With (10) v.33
Matthew 18:33 (NKJV)
“Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”
The standard is (11) . The servant is measured against the mercy he himself received.
σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai) — gut-level (12) (v.27)
ἐλεέω (eleeō) — to show (13) (v.33)
Forgiveness is a (14) before it is a (15) .
Matthew 18:15 (NKJV)
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”
ἐλέγχω (elenchō) — to bring into the light. The goal is a (16) gained, not a case won.
You can complete the (17) and still fail the (18) .
Forgiveness was never meant to (19) with you. It was meant to (20) through you.
Point 3 — Reflect the (21) v.34–35
Matthew 18:34–35 (NKJV)
“And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
βασανισταῖς (basanistais) — (22) or tormentors (v.34)
Withheld forgiveness never stays contained. It always comes (23) .
ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) — to (24) , to let go, to send away (v.27, v.35)
Jesus says forgiveness must be released from the (25) .
Luke 23:34 (NKJV)
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Forgiveness does not erase the injustice. It (26) the debt into the Father’s hands.
He did not pretend the wrong wasn’t happening. He refused to become the collector of the debt.
The Three Movements of Mercy
RECEIVED → RELEASED → REFLECTED
Mercy is (27) in me.
Mercy is (28) through me.
Mercy is (29) by me.
| Forgiveness Is Not Trust Forgiveness releases the (30) . Trust rebuilds the (31) . Boundaries determine (32) . You can forgive someone without giving them the same access to you. You don’t have to release the person into your life. You have to release the debt into God’s hands. |
Taking It Home
- Is there anyone you have technically forgiven but functionally written off?
- Anyone you can shake hands with on Sunday but step around on Monday?
- Anyone whose name still changes the temperature in your heart?
- What is the Holy Spirit asking His mercy to change in you this week?
My next step this week:
| Anchor Phrases What God gives to us, He expects to see through us. The 7 C’s can tell you HOW to have the conversation. Mercy tells you WHO you are when you have it. Forgiveness was never meant to end with you. It was meant to move through you. Mercy received. Mercy released. Mercy reflected. |
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