Topic: Forbear and Forgive

Scripture:� Colossians 3: 8-14

Sermon delivered by Pastor Williams

We as brothers and sisters need to learn to understand each other.� We all come with different ages, cultures and outlooks.� We need to learn to be patient with each other.� One reason many of us don�t get along with each other is because we want things our way.� God wants us to mix it all together � all sexes, all races � He wants us all to learn to get along with each other.

Forbear means to put up with, to withhold.� It also means to pause.� On the spiritual side, we need to learn to pick up our spiritual remote and hit the pause button when we start to say things we shouldn�t � like when that person cut you off in traffic or when we know we are saying stuff we know nobody wants to hear or butting into other people�s business.� We need to learn to shut our mouths.�

We need to learn to pardon other � wipe the slate clean.� Don�t parole which is conditional � but pardon which is unconditional.� Did I hear someone ask �why pardon�?� You need to pardon so you can have peace.� Many of us are not sleeping at night because of grudges we are holding.� You will never have a place with God if we don�t learn to pardon others.� You also need to pardon yourselves.� Don�t let Satan tell you that you can�t be forgiven for what you�ve done.� God is a pardoning God.� He throws our sins into the sea of forgiveness.

Verse 8 tells us we need to put off the anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of our mouths.

Verse 13 tells us �forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye�.� We need to put on love, mercy and patience.� When you put these on, you learn to forgive and forget.� Keep your mouth shut, look to heaven and pray.� Put on the joy and love of God and learn how to love your fellow man.�

There comes a time when you have to hold your tongue and lift others up anyhow. �Learn to be tolerant and patient with everybody.� God will give you the power.� When they get on your last nerve and do things they shouldn�t � just hit your pause button.

We as Christians have to learn to forbear and forgive one another.� We are not perfect.� We have to accept one another � faults and all.