Couples Retreat - Where Do I Start?

The Real with Jimmie Bratcher

Feb 16, 2020•5 min•Season 3Ep. 12

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Episode description

Once I know where to start, I'm good to go. I’ll figure everything else out as I go. In this session we will discover just that. Where we begin. Get ready because it all happens in 5 minutes or less.
1. Marriage is God’s Idea, right? We talked about that earlier. We just need to find his plan, OR His way of doing things and do it. The Bible calls is The Kingdom of God. He is our king and His kingdom has ways that it does things.
2. Everything in His kingdom begins by forgiveness.
3. So when you’re ready to start it you start here.
4. First we must all accept God’s forgiveness.
  1. This is the most important act in life. Receiving the love that God has for us in Jesus.
  2. Second we must forgive ourselves
  3. Third we get to forgive others.
5. This is so important because to forgive means to “cut loose” to “send away”
  1. It’s a new beginning
  2. All of the hurt and offences we have the power to send away.
  3. Or we have the power to hang on to them.
6. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." - John 20:23 NKJV
  1. When you forgive, “cut loose, OR send away” the sins offences, hurts, disappointments of any they are, “cut loose AND sent away”.
  2. Meaning (the offence) is no longer part of you.
  3. It can no longer control you or your emotions. You are free from its influence.
  4. And that is a beautiful thing. That is where the effects, power, benefits, wealth, of God’s kingdom in our lives begins.
  5. You choose to allow God to take care of you instead of you trying to controlling everything.
  6. The flip side of forgiveness is unforgiveness, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." - John 20:23 NKJV
  7. We now know if we forgive what happens, but if we don’t this verse tells us that something else happens, “they are retained”.
  8. Where are the retained? In the heart. All of life from the point of the offence is lived through that filter of hurt and pain.
  9. We are constantly tied to the past never quite able to be free from its pain and influence.
7. Forgiveness is not a feeling or an emotion it is a choice to do things God’s way.
  1. God has a way of doing things and it works
  2. Marriage/relationships are God’s Idea
  3. Forgiveness it where it all starts.
  4. So today, right now let forgiveness begin to do it’s work in your heart.
    1. Between you and God, ask Jesus for forgiveness
    2. Then forgive yourself
    3. Then forgive your spouse
  5. That’s where you start.

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