WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:06.519 Hello, and thanks for joining us here on Pastor Rick's 2 00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:10.080 Daily Hope. Well today we continue in our series called 3 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:14.160 God's Prescription for a Healthy Life. In it, Pastor Rick 4 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:17.719 will show you how to improve your health physically, spiritually, 5 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:23.160 relationally and emotionally by applying the five essentials needed for 6 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:26.079 a more vibrant life. If you want to have what 7 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:29.160 it takes to live out your calling in life, stay 8 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.840 with us for this amazing series. Now, in just a 9 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.679 few moments, we're going to tell you about the Daniel 10 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:40.039 Plan DVD study Kit, a sixth session video based study 11 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:43.960 by Rick Warren, doctor Daniel Aman, and doctor Mark Hyman. 12 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:47.679 This out of the box approach to a healthy lifestyle 13 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:54.039 is based on five essentials faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. 14 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:57.000 You can find out more right now by going to 15 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:00.880 Pastorick dot com while you listen to today's Manage, or 16 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:03.960 you can just text the word daily to eight hundred 17 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:08.680 six hundred five thousand and four. That's Pastorick dot com, 18 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:12.959 or the word daily to eight hundred six hundred five 19 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.879 thousand and four. Right now, here's Pastor Rick with the 20 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:21.480 final part of a message called the Amazing Power of Forgiveness. 21 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:26.560 The Bible says that resentment is unhealthy. Your body was 22 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:30.959 not designed to handle prolonged anger. God didn't make your 23 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:36.079 body to handle holding on to hurtz, holding on to resentment, 24 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:39.920 holding on to regrets, and holding on to all of 25 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.439 those negative emotions in your body. You know, have you 26 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:46.359 ever said that person? He is such a pain in 27 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:52.719 the and that's why you have a pain there? Okay? 28 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.079 You know a lot of you You have back pain. 29 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:58.480 And it's not lf ives one, it's Larry and Susie. 30 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:01.480 And you don't lie. Come and the stress bugs you 31 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:04.560 and you won't let it go. And so if you 32 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:07.640 don't talk it out in forgiveness, When I don't talk 33 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:10.240 it out in forgiveness, I take it out on my body. 34 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:15.400 And whenever I swallow my anger, my stomach keeps score. 35 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.560 And so it is unhealthy for you to hold onto 36 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:23.159 resentment and undergrudges and to be unforgiving. Research has shown 37 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:28.039 that that resentment is the most unhealthy emotion known to humankind. 38 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:32.520 It does more damage to your body, to your nervous system, 39 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.360 to the general health of your of your body, that 40 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:38.919 when you hold on to that, it's like taking fire 41 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:42.479 in your heart. It's like injecting yourself with a virus 42 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:46.000 or you know, inviting cancer to come in. It will 43 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.319 eat you alive. And we've all seen people who got 44 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:51.680 bitter and more and bitter and more bitter and more bitter, 45 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:57.000 and they just shrink into this little bitter person. You know, 46 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:00.199 there are physical and there are emotional consequences when you 47 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.439 refuse to forgive. Now, some people, they are so picky 48 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:09.639 about what they eat, and you could eat the perfect vegan, vegetarian, 49 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.479 low cow, high protein diet, and if you're still holding 50 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:15.599 on to that resentment against your ex, that's what's going 51 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:20.039 to make you sick. It's going to eat you alive. 52 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.159 So you got to deal with it in your heart. 53 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:27.639 Nothing depleets emotional energy faster than resentment against a boyfriend 54 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:29.800 or girlfriend or something else like that. Now there's a 55 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:32.639 third reason why I have to forgive. And as they said, 56 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.039 all of these none of them have to do with them. 57 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:37.000 The other person deserve it, they don't. It's because I'm 58 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:40.400 going to need more forgiveness in the future. I'm going 59 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:44.879 to need more forgiveness in the future. The Bible says, 60 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:48.960 as Jesus said in Matthew six, for if you forgive 61 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:53.120 men when they sin against you, then your heavenly Father 62 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:57.120 will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive 63 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:03.879 men their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins. 64 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.759 What's he saying? Forgiveness is a two way street. We 65 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:13.319 cannot receive what we are unwilling to give. Somebody asked 66 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:15.680 or told John Wesley one time. He said, I could 67 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:18.920 never forgive that person, and Leslie said, well, then I 68 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.720 hope you never sin. You don't want to burn the 69 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:24.720 bridge that you've got to walk across in order to 70 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.120 get into heaven. Now, listen, there's no way you're getting 71 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:30.480 into heaven on your good works because you're not good enough. 72 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:34.560 Heaven's perfect and you're not, and neither am I. The 73 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:37.480 only way you or I have any chance of getting 74 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:42.399 into Heaven is God's grace, his forgiveness. And God says 75 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:46.720 we cannot receive what we are unwilling to give. He said, 76 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.040 it is based on you. God says, I'm going to 77 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:50.879 show you grace and I want you to be gracious 78 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:54.240 to others. So don't burn the bridge that you've got 79 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.560 to walk over. You're gonna need more forgiveness in the 80 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:00.800 future when we pray the Lord's prayer forgive us our 81 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:04.920 debts as we forgive our debtors, or forgive us our 82 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.240 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. What 83 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.439 are you praying there? You're saying, God, I want you 84 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:16.160 to forgive me as much as I forgive everybody else. Hello, 85 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:21.079 you really want to pray that prayer? God, I'm gonna 86 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:23.040 I want you to forgive me as much as I've 87 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:27.959 forgiven everybody who's ever hurt me. You need to learn 88 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:30.560 to let it go because you're gonna need more forgiveness 89 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:31.279 in the future. 90 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:37.680 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be 91 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.600 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 92 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:43.759 If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can 93 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:49.720 listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 94 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.480 The truth is most of us don't pay much attention 95 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.680 to our health until something goes wrong. We put on 96 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:59.240 a couple of pounds every year and think no big deal, right. 97 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.519 A few pounds over five or ten years really adds 98 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.360 up and can even lead to major illnesses like diabetes 99 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.800 and heart disease. That's why Pastor Rick work together with 100 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:14.800 medical and fitness experts to create the Daniel Plan Study. 101 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.480 The sixth Session DVD in workbook study Kit from Rick Warren, 102 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:22.000 doctor Daniel Amen, and doctor Mark Hyman is an out 103 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.879 of the box approach to a healthy lifestyle based on 104 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:31.079 five essentials faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. The Daniel 105 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:34.759 Plan Study gives individuals in small groups the encouragement and 106 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.560 accountability needed to succeed. If you've been watching the scale 107 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:41.480 go up lately, or your health is in trouble because 108 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:45.079 of your weight, it's not too late. Join the thousands 109 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:48.560 of people who've lost weight, improve their health and improved 110 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.199 their relationships through the Daniel Plan. We'll send you a 111 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:55.279 copy of the Daniel Plan DVD's study Kit to say 112 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:57.800 thanks when you give a gift to Daily Hope to 113 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:01.439 help share the Hope of Jesus with people around the world. 114 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.720 Just go to Pastor Rick dot com to get your copy, 115 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:07.839 or you can call eight hundred six hundred five zero 116 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:11.600 zero four, that's Pastorick dot com. Or call eight hundred 117 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:15.079 six hundred at five zero zero four and thank you 118 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.759 so much for your support. 119 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.040 Once again, here's Rick, how do I let go of 120 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.680 the people who have hurt me. Four things. Number one, 121 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:34.160 by first, by relinquishing my right to get even. That's 122 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.600 the first thing you do. You give up your right. 123 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:38.879 I have a right to get even. They hurt me, 124 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.279 you give up that right. And that's this first step 125 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:47.079 of forgiveness. Romans twelve nineteen. Never avenge yourselves. Leave that 126 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:50.600 to God, for he has said he will repay those 127 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:52.920 who deserve it. Leave it up to God. He'll take 128 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.120 care of it. He'll settle the score, he'll work it out. 129 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:57.199 And need to a whole lot better job than you do. Now, 130 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:59.240 let me tell you something. I have been married for 131 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:04.319 thirty years. I have hurt my wife many many times, 132 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:09.160 I'm ashamed to say, in many different ways, by words 133 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:13.920 and emotions. And she has hurt me many many times. 134 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:17.360 But still, after thirty years, we're together and we're more 135 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:21.040 in love than ever before. Why Because I have discovered 136 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:25.240 that the key, the thing that destroys relationships is not hurt. 137 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:33.080 What destroys relationships is an unwillingness to forgive. It is 138 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:38.080 unforgiveness that destroys relationships, not hurt. We're human. We're gonna 139 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:42.080 hurt each other, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally, it's gonna happen. 140 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:44.919 When you put two imperfect people together, you can never 141 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.519 expect the perfect relationship. You're going to hurt each other. 142 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.799 The issue is will you give up your right to 143 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:55.039 get even? And will you offer forgiveness? And when you do, 144 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:58.000 any hurt can be overcome. Now, let me just be 145 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:01.679 real honest to some of you. Your husband or your wife, 146 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:04.840 or your girlfriend or boyfriend, or your parent or somebody 147 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.240 really hurt you in the past and you have held 148 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.799 it over their heads for months, maybe even years, and 149 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:14.840 you won't let it go. And no matter what they do, 150 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:17.000 they can't measure up because you won't let it go. 151 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:21.080 And do you know what you are killing the relationship? 152 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.519 Not that hurt from years ago. You are killing it 153 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:30.000 by your unwillingness to let it go, your unwillingness to forgive. 154 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.000 The first step is I let go of my right 155 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:38.440 to get even. Number two I respond to evil with good. 156 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.840 How can you tell when you've released somebody, when you've 157 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.399 really forgiven them. You can actually pray for God to 158 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.799 bless the person who hurt you. When you can get 159 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:47.799 to that point you know you've forgiven them, you can 160 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:50.759 pray for God to bless them. The Bible says this, 161 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.960 do good to those who hate you, bless those who 162 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:58.279 curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. One 163 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.720 of the ways you know you've matured, that you're a 164 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:04.120 mature person is that you can look beyond the hurt 165 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:07.879 that was done to you and see they're hurt and 166 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.600 what caused them to hurt you. You see, hurt people 167 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.840 hurt people. When somebody hurts you, it's because they're hurting 168 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:19.080 in some way, their own insecurity, their own guilt, their 169 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:23.759 own resentment, their own inferiority. The things that hurt them 170 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.799 in their past have messed up their mind and their lives, 171 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:32.840 and they're hurting others because they're hurting themselves. And maturity 172 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.480 and forgiveness comes. Once I forgive them, I can stop 173 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:38.360 looking at how they hurt me and start saying why 174 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.799 they did it, and I can actually see the sympathetic 175 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:44.120 and begin to pray for them for the hurt that 176 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:47.960 they carry that caused them to hurt others. See, forgiveness 177 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.799 is rarely a one time shot. When somebody hurts you, 178 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:53.120 you think about it over and over and over, and 179 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:55.399 how often do you have to forgive the person until 180 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.960 the pain goes away. When the pain goes away, you 181 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:03.120 know you've forgiven them. Jesus said this to Peter. Peter asked, Lord, 182 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.000 how many times should I forgive somebody who sins against me? 183 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:09.519 Seven times? He's thinking, man, this is really generous, No, 184 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:12.559 said Jesus, how about seventy times seven? In other words, 185 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:14.840 it's got to be continual. It's got to be limitless. 186 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:17.720 Don't even try to count it. Now. Here's the rule. 187 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:21.440 Every time you remember that hurt, how they hurt you, 188 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.840 and the pain comes back again, you got to release them, 189 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.159 and you got to forgive them, and you got to 190 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:31.360 do it over and over and over until you don't 191 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:34.799 feel the pain anymore, and then you know you've let it. 192 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.799 If you don't do that, if you keep rehearsing it 193 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:41.200 in your mind, whatever you rehearse in your mind, if 194 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:44.799 you don't release them, you're going to eventually resemble them. 195 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:49.000 It's a law of life. So whatever you focus on, 196 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.639 you become. And if you hate somebody so much, pretty 197 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.720 soon it starts showing up in your own life, and 198 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:58.480 you certainly don't want that. What you hate the most, 199 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.879 and you focus on what you rehearse in your mind, 200 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:04.559 you will eventually resemble. And people are starting to say, 201 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:08.679 you're just like your mother, You're just like your dad, 202 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.200 You're just like whatever, because you go no, no, I 203 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:14.039 don't want to be that. But you know what, when 204 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:17.519 you focus on it, that's what you move toward. Now, 205 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:20.519 let me say this. It's not always possible or even 206 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.480 advisable to go to the person personally who hurt you. 207 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:26.799 It may be the wrong time, maybe things have changed, 208 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.399 maybe they've moved away, you can't get confident. They may 209 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:32.600 have died, they may have remarried, and maybe to go 210 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:35.879 directly to that person may reopen some bad wounds. But 211 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.000 for your sake, you need to forgive them. So how 212 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.600 do you do it? Well, a couple of techniques. One 213 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:42.600 of them is what I call the empty chair technique. 214 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:44.440 And you send an empty chair down there in the 215 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.639 living room. It's just you and the s empty chair, 216 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:49.559 and you imagine that person who hurt you, and you 217 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:53.879 say this to them aloud. I'm letting you off the hook. 218 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:59.320 I'm forgiving you. You don't deserve it, but neither do I. 219 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:02.320 For all of your ways God has forgiven me. I'm 220 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.480 letting you off the hook because God has forgiven me, 221 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.759 and because resentment doesn't work, it just makes me miserable. 222 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:09.679 I'm just miserable. And number three, I'm going to need 223 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.799 more forgiveness in the future. So I'm letting you off 224 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.519 the hook. I'm letting it go. You're really doing it 225 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.519 for your own benefit. It's the right thing to do. 226 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:20.919 I'm letting it go. And I'm not going to try 227 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:23.279 to get even. I relinquish my right to get even, 228 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.960 and I'm going to respond to evil with good from 229 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:30.039 now on. Another thing you might do, if you are 230 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:33.120 a writer, you might write a letter explaining all you're 231 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.960 hurt and how you are forgiving them, and then don't 232 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.559 mail it. And you say that is my way of saying, 233 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:44.799 I'm releasing them. I'm letting them go now. I have 234 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.679 no doubt that in a crowd this size, with all 235 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:50.840 the people outside and all of our other venues, that 236 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:53.480 a lot of you are right now in emotional or 237 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:58.000 relational meltdown. You are in a situation right now, you're 238 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:00.279 in a conflict with a mother or father, or an 239 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:01.840 aunt or an uncle, or a brother, sister, or a 240 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:06.679 husband or a wife or somebody, and everything in your 241 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:10.120 body wants to run. What you want to do is 242 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:12.720 escape from the relationship. You don't want to deal with it. 243 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.840 You want to run from it. You want to run 244 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:18.480 and get away just to ease the pain. And as 245 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:22.120 your pastor, as somebody who really cares about you, I 246 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:27.000 want to say to you, for your own sake, don't 247 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.360 do it. You will not get rid of the pain 248 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:33.039 by running out of the relationship or running away from it. 249 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:36.360 You can run all the way to Tahiti. But the 250 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:39.919 problem is you take your mind with you and the 251 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:44.000 grudge that you are carrying, your carrying in your mind. 252 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:47.519 There's only one way to get rid of the pain, forgiveness. 253 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.799 It's the only way to get rid of the pain. 254 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:55.440 You've got to let it go. So I relinquish my 255 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.039 right to good even I am responding to Eva with good. 256 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:02.480 I am repeating these steps as long as necessary. And 257 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.480 the fourth part of forgiveness, now you know you've really forgiven, 258 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:12.320 is by rescuing others with the good news of God's forgiveness. 259 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:20.279 The Bible says this in Second Corinthians. Through Christ, God 260 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:23.399 made peace between us and himself. That's good news. That's 261 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.600 why we call this the peace planet. Saddleback and God 262 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:31.360 gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace 263 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:35.600 we can have with him. God was in Christ making 264 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:38.399 peace between the world and himself. That's the good news. 265 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:41.679 That's why we celebrate Christmas. In Christ, God did not 266 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:45.159 hold the world guilty of its sins, and he gave 267 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.960 us this message of peace. So we have been sent 268 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:53.840 to speak for Christ. Now in this church, we take 269 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:59.159 this verse very very seriously. Once I have been forgiven, 270 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.360 I am to spread the message of peace. And it 271 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.399 is the goal of this church to take the message 272 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:08.399 of peace to every person in America, and to every 273 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:12.279 nation around the world, and to every tribe within that nation. 274 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:17.639 Now let me close with this some straightforward questions. Do 275 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:21.919 you feel forgiven by God? If you don't tonight your knight, 276 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.440 you shouldn't go out of here with a load of guilt. 277 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.639 There's no reason to everything you've ever done wrong can 278 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:31.519 be fleet completely forgiven tonight, because you're not going to 279 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:34.840 be able to forgive other people until first you feel forgiven. 280 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.720 So I would encourage you in just a minute to 281 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:40.720 follow me in this prayer. You need the forgiveness of 282 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:43.799 God in your own life. Second, who do you need 283 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.320 to forgive? Let's just get real practical. The Bible says 284 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:50.000 love keeps no record of wrongs, and because God is love, 285 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.799 God doesn't keep a record of your wrongs, so he 286 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:56.279 doesn't want you keeping a record of anybody else's. Let's 287 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:02.759 bow our heads. I'm sure that many of you carry 288 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:07.000 painful wounds from others. You may have carried him for 289 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:10.680 months or even years, and when you think about that 290 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:16.000 hurt or that betrayal, or that rejection or that abuse, 291 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:20.000 or those hurtful words or whatever, it's still as fresh 292 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:23.119 as if it happened today. How are you going to 293 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:27.200 get on with your life? Somebody say, Rick, you have 294 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:31.000 no idea how much they have hurt me, and you're right, 295 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:34.240 I don't. I don't know that, but I do know this. 296 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:38.400 I do know that God has forgiven you that resentment 297 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:41.160 hurts you the most, and that forgiveness is a two 298 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.960 way street and you're going to need it in the future. 299 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.480 And I know that the steps of forgiveness are not easy, 300 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:50.559 but they are possible with God, and when you take them, 301 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:54.880 it gives you power in your life. I'm going to 302 00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:57.720 pray a prayer, and I invite all of us here 303 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.480 to pray this in your heart. Just in your When 304 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:05.400 I say a sentence, you say me too. God, Dear God, 305 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.839 you know how much I've carried unforgiveness in my heart, 306 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:13.799 and I've held on to hurts and memories, and I've 307 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:17.240 secretly wanted to get even. But today I want to 308 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:19.799 let it go and I want to get on with 309 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:23.880 your plan for my life. So first I want to 310 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:29.720 accept your forgiveness, Jesus, Dear God. Thank you for sending 311 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:33.759 Jesus to pay for all my sins once and for all, 312 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:40.759 to wipe out my credit and my debts. I don't 313 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:44.640 understand it all, but I'm grateful, and because You've forgiven me, 314 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:47.720 I want to do the right thing. And so today 315 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:49.759 I'm choosing to let go of the pain and the 316 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:54.319 hurt that I've received from others, and I forgive and 317 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.759 you fill in the blank there name the person I 318 00:18:56.880 --> 00:19:02.400 forgive that person. I'm letting go of my right to 319 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:07.640 get even, and I'm choosing to overcome evil with good, 320 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.440 and I commit to continue forgiving them until I no 321 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:16.000 longer feel the pain or the desire to get even 322 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:22.039 and seek revenge. Jesus Christ, please replace my hurt with 323 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:26.319 your peace, and please fill my life with your love. 324 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:32.319 I accept my responsibility now to share the good news 325 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:40.480 of forgiveness the message of peace with others. Amen. Hi everybody, 326 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:43.079 this is Rick and I hope you enjoyed today's broadcast. 327 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.720 You know, if you just prayed that prayer for the 328 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:49.920 very first time, or you just recommitted your life to 329 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:52.599 Jesus again today, would you let me know about it. 330 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:56.319 There's something real about sharing your commitment. So write me 331 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.400 Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, I 332 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:02.799 prayed them prayer of commitment. I gave my life to Christ. 333 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.720 And I'll send you some material that'll help you on 334 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.799 your journey with Jesus. And I'll also pray for you. 335 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.799 God bless you. 336 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:15.720 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. We're so thankful that 337 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:18.720 you've chosen to spend time with us. If you've missed 338 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:22.279 any part of this broadcast, including portions we didn't have 339 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:26.440 time for today, just go to Pastorick dot com and 340 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:30.160 listen online anytime. Rick will be back to close out 341 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:33.920 our time today. But first, the truth is that most 342 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:36.839 of us don't pay much attention to our health until 343 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:40.400 something goes wrong. We put on a couple of pounds 344 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:43.440 every year and think no big deal, right, but a 345 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:46.880 few pounds over five or ten years can really add up. 346 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:50.839 That's why Pastor Rick Warren has put together the Daniel 347 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:55.400 Plan DVD Study Kit. This sixth session video based study 348 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:59.480 by Rick Warren, doctor Daniel Ahman and doctor Mark Hyman 349 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:02.559 is an out of the box approach to a healthy 350 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:09.559 lifestyle based on five essentials faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. 351 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:15.480 The Daniel Planned Studykit gives individuals the encouragement and accountability 352 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:18.920 needed to succeed. If you've been watching the scale go 353 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:21.759 up lately, or your health is in trouble because of 354 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:24.720 your weight, it's not too late to join join the 355 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:28.920 more than fifteen thousand people who've lost weight, improve their 356 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:33.599 health and improve their relationships by ordering the Daniel Plan 357 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.680 DVD Study Kit. Let us send you a copy of 358 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.240 the Daniel Plan DVD Studykit as our way of saying 359 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:44.839 thanks for your financial support of this ministry. Just go 360 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.319 to Pastorick dot com right now to get your copy, 361 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:52.160 or you can call eight hundred six hundred five thousand 362 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:56.079 and four. That's Pastorick dot com. Or call eight hundred 363 00:21:56.400 --> 00:22:00.000 six hundred five thousand and four and thank you so much, 364 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.319 so much for your support. Here's Pastor Rick with a 365 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.160 closing thought. 366 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:07.960 God has five purposes for your life. He wants you 367 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:11.279 to know and love Him. That's called worship. He wants 368 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.799 you to belong to his family that's called fellowship. He 369 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:17.680 wants you to grow in character to be more like Christ. 370 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:21.119 That's called discipleship. And he wants you to learn to 371 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:25.119 serve using your gifts and talents, serve God by serving others. 372 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:28.680 That's called your ministry. Finally, he wants you to share 373 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:31.559 the good news and your life message with other people 374 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:35.200 around the world. That's called your mission. I'd like to 375 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:37.920 close today to talk to you for just a second 376 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:42.480 about your personal mission. Did you know that the Bible 377 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.720 says every time somebody accepts the Lord, they throw a 378 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:48.160 party in heaven. Did you know that it's right there 379 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.960 in Luke fifteen, verse seven, where the Bible says, there's 380 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.559 more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his 381 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:58.400 heart and life than over ninety nine who don't need 382 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:01.799 to turn to Christ, who are already there. The day 383 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:04.799 that you accepted Jesus Christ, there was a party in 384 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:07.559 heaven for you. And by the way, the day that 385 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:11.039 you help somebody else come to know the Lord. There's 386 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.799 going to be a party in heaven, but there's also 387 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:15.119 going to be a party in your heart. I want 388 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.799 to encourage you today to look outward, to look around 389 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:22.000 you and see the people who need to hear about 390 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:25.279 the love of God, about the message of Christ, about 391 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:28.680 the purpose of life, about the daily hope that we 392 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:31.640 have in our hearts. The Bible says, always be ready 393 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.759 to share the hope that is within you. Could I 394 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:38.240 pray for you, and as we bow in prayer, you 395 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:41.920 might want to pray this prayer with me. Say, Father, 396 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:46.599 I want the joy that you've given me to be 397 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:50.359 shared with other people. And a lot of times I'm 398 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:55.359 afraid or hesitant to talk about you to others. Would 399 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:58.920 you give me so much love for other people that 400 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:02.920 the love will overcomes my fears and gives me the 401 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.880