The Breakthrough Moment by Rev. Bernese Shaw - "I've Been Changed"

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

NRSV Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together will all malice, and be kind to one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Last week we talked about It’s Time to Move On! Today in order to move on, we have to be changed from the past so, I would like for us to meditate about I'VE BEEN CHANGED. I know that we all have heard the old cliché’, “Time heals all wounds”. Sometimes that statement is true and at other times, we feel that statement is not. We all possibly have experienced someone or something that has hurt us and caused us seemingly irreparable damage. It doesn’t matter if it happened years ago, last week, or just the other day, the pain of the past seems to go on forever and it seems as though the pain will not go away. Sometimes we may feel that we will never get over the hurt or forgive the person for causing us so much pain, but the truth is unless we find it in our hearts to forgive, God won’t forgive us our sins. Matthew 6:15 says, but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Also, when you pray the Lord’s Prayer asking our Heavenly Father to “forgive us our debts/trespasses as we also have forgiven our debtors/trespassers" accordingly to teaching of Jesus in Matt. 6:12. Some of the bitterness that we might hang onto could be betrayal by a family member, betrayal by a co-worker, betrayal by someone in the church, or your spouse could have cheated on you with someone else or you could have been the one that caused the betrayal/pain. There could be a multitude of scenarios but we all make mistakes, so, hanging onto one or all of these bitterness’s will only hinder you from receiving your blessing since our God is in the blessing business! Remember, Romans 3:23 tells us that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all have hurt someone intentionally or un-intentionally so if the Lord can forgive us of our trespasses, we can forgive others. Forgiving is not an easy thing to do, and it won’t happen overnight. It may be years before your heart won’t hurt anymore over the situation. But, I promise if you stay on your knees, stay in God’s Word and keep living, the day will come. Forgiveness is more for you than the other person because of the other person is going on with his or her life. It is you who has to be changed; it is you who has to forgive in order for Our Father to forgive us of our trespasses. Mark 11:25 says When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone; forgive him/her, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you [of] your sins. It has been written, We all have harbored unforgiveness toward someone at one time or another and that is not a good feeling. Time after time when you think about what the other person has done to you, you may get angry over and over again just thinking about what that person has done to you. You might sincerely want to forgive and it seems as though forgiveness won’t come, let me tell you this morning that it will take time but it will come. Unforgiveness and bitterness can eat you alive causing all kind of health problems and stop your spiritual growth; it can be as poison slowly eating away in your system. So take this day, this second, and think about someone who has wronged you. Then say a prayer for that person and ask God to bless him or her. Release the bitterness/resentment in Jesus’ name and forgive them as Christ forgives you. So as you forgive, you become a new person. We all say that we are Christian (Christ like), in Christ there is no hatred, bitterness, rage and anger. When you are in Christ you have become a new person and you have been changed. You may have to get out your pen and paper and write out to God what you want to be released from and give the letter (pain and resentment) to God and watch how your releasment comes into fruition. Remember, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if any man/woman be in Christ, he/she is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new. James Hall sings I’m Not the Same I’m Not the Same I have been changed since the Lord saved me. Born of His Spirit, I’ve been washed in His blood. I have a new life with Him, I’m glad He changed me, I’m not what I use to be I’m not the same. Changed, Oh I’ve been changed, I’ve been changed… I will conclude this morning with a question have you been changed? Have you been saved by His love and washed by His blood? Have you been changed? If you have been changed by the scripture be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you then you can sing/say I’ve Been Changed by His grace and mercy. I’ve been Changed. AMEN.