Luke 22:54-62 (key verse: 61)                                         The Cost of Relationships

Kowloon International Baptist Church Kowloon Tong

Harry Lucenay, Pastor                                                              24 September 2006

Simon Peter disappointed Jesus in an hour of crisis. Jesus had predicted Peter’s weakness (Luke 22:31-34). When the denial took place Jesus simply looked at Peter.

The Lord [Jesus] turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly. (vv. 61, 62)

How would you have felt had you been Jesus?

How do you handle your heart when the people you love break your heart?
Jesus had taught his disciples to seek God’s help in forgiving others (Matthew 6:12) and would soon forgive those who were taking His life (Luke 23:34). After the resurrection Jesus showed forgiveness to Simon Peter (John 21:1-19).

Building Relationships Requires Forgiveness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Whenever someone hurts us, there is a sense in which they have taken something from us. A debt is incurred. If we cancel the debt, we are the ones set free.

To forgive as Christ forgave is to evaluate our decision to forgive based on what was done for us, not on what was done to us.

How do we forgive someone?

1. Admit we have been wronged by (name the person).

“Go tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’” Mark 16:7

Who do we never want to see again? With whom are we in imaginary conversations? Who would we like to pay back if we could get away with it? Who do we want to fail?

Forgiveness starts with our being able to call the person who has hurt us by name.

2. Be clear about what they owe us.

Owe no one anything except to love one another.

Romans 13:8 King James Version

We know how the person hurt us or someone we love but what exactly did he take?

What would it take to make things right? Nothing can change the past.

We cannot cancel a debt that is not clearly defined.

3. Cancel the debt.

Don’t ever say to someone, “I’ll get even with you.”

Proverbs 24: 28, 29 Contemporary English Version

You must make allowance for each other’s faults & forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12 New Living Translation

As Jesus canceled our debt at the cross, we are canceling the debts against us.

Follow the way of love. 1 Corinthians 14:1

Don’t hit back. Don’t let evil get the best of you.

Romans 12:17, 21 The Message

For each situation we can pray/write:

Heavenly Father, ___________ has taken __________ from me. I have held onto this debt long enough. I choose to cancel this debt. _________ doesn’t owe me anymore. Just as you forgave me, I forgive __________.

4. Drop it.

You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose your friends if you keep talking about what they did wrong.

Proverbs 17:9 Contemporary English Version

We decided they don’t owe us anymore. Let’s claim God’s strength.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

We cannot change the past but with God’s strength we can handle the present/future.

The text used is the New International Version unless otherwise stated.