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Our mission: To lead people into a new life of freedom in Jesus.

Above all else, guard\xa0your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Get rid of\xa0all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.\xa0Be kind and compassionate to one another,\xa0forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-33 (NIV)

The Goal = to dislodge unforgiveness from our hearts.

1. IT DOESN\u2019T WORK.
2. OUR FREEDOM IS WAITING.

How do we dislodge unforgiveness from our hearts?

1. Know what forgiveness is NOT.

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, \u201cI will take revenge; I will pay them back,\u201d says the\xa0Lord. Instead, \u201cIf your enemies are hungry, feed them.\xa0If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.\u201d Don\u2019t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

Forgiveness is not about forgetting... It's about your freedom.

1. Trust God\u2019s heart for you.

And we know that God causes everything to work together\xa0for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

1. Acknowledge the hurt.

The righteous cry out, and the\xa0Lord\xa0hears\xa0them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The\xa0Lord\xa0is close\xa0to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18\xa0(NIV)

1. Recognize the real enemy.

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven\u2014if there was anything to forgive\u2014I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan\xa0might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NIV)

Get rid of\xa0all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.\xa0Be kind and compassionate to one another,\xa0forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-33 (NIV)

1. Don\u2019t wait for a feeling.

\u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbor\xa0and hate your enemy.\u2019 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you\u2026\u201d Matthew 5:43-44\xa0(NIV)

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7\xa0 (NIV)

Choices lead\u2026 feelings follow.

1. Remember what YOU have been forgiven of.

The\xa0Lord\xa0is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:8-12 (NLT)

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, \u201cLord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?\xa0Up to seven times?\u201d Jesus answered,\xa0\u201cI tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. \u201cTherefore, the kingdom of heaven is like\xa0a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.\xa0As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold\xa0was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay,\xa0the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold\xa0to repay the debt. \u201cAt this the servant fell on his knees before him.\xa0\u2018Be patient with me,\u2019 he begged, \u2018and I will pay back everything.\u2019\xa0The servant\u2019s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. \u201cBut when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.\xa0He grabbed him and began to choke him. \u2018Pay back what you owe me!\u2019 he demanded. \u201cHis fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, \u2018Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.\u2019 \u201cBut he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.\xa0When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. \u201cThen the master called the servant in. \u2018You wicked servant,\u2019 he said, \u2018I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.\xa0Shouldn\u2019t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?\u2019\xa0In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. \u201cThis is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.\u201d Matthew 18:21-35\xa0 (NIV)