On the Bridge of On the Bridge of ForgivenessForgiveness

Part IIIPart III

The Cobra of BitternessThe Cobra of BitternessDr. F. Douglas PennoyerDr. F. Douglas Pennoyer

Cornerstone Bible Community ChurchCornerstone Bible Community Church

September 17, 2005 September 17, 2005

The Cross, the Tomb The Cross, the Tomb

& the Person& the Person

Crossing The Bridge Of Crossing The Bridge Of Forgiveness May 15, 2005Forgiveness May 15, 2005

Reflect on God's Mercy & Reflect on God's Mercy & ForgivenessForgiveness

Meditate on Our Riches in ChristMeditate on Our Riches in Christ

Approach with Security and SignificanceApproach with Security and Significance

The Myths of The Myths of ForgivenessForgiveness

A. A. "If I Forgive, I Have to "If I Forgive, I Have to Forget"Forget"

B. “Forgiving Her/Him is Impossible”B. “Forgiving Her/Him is Impossible”

C. “Forgiving Means Acting C. “Forgiving Means Acting as if Nothing Ever as if Nothing Ever Happened”Happened”

D. “I Have to Forgive Immediately”D. “I Have to Forgive Immediately”

Loving Our EnemiesLoving Our Enemies

August 14, 2005August 14, 2005

Lu

ke 6

:27-3

1

Lu

ke 6

:27-3

1

(NIV

)(N

IV)

““But I tell you who hear But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, me: Love your enemies, do good to those who do good to those who hate you, bless those hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. those who mistreat you.

What Should We Do?What Should We Do?

What Should We Do?What Should We Do?

1.1. Love your enemy (or those that Love your enemy (or those that consider you their enemy)consider you their enemy)

2.2. Do good to those who hate youDo good to those who hate you

3.3. Bless those who curse youBless those who curse you

4.4. Pray for those who mistreat youPray for those who mistreat you

What prevents us from What prevents us from loving our enemies? loving our enemies? WRONG ATTIDUDES…..WRONG ATTIDUDES…..

1. Maintaining Pride1. Maintaining Pride2. Plotting Revenge2. Plotting Revenge3. Harboring Bitterness3. Harboring Bitterness

WRONG WRONG ATTIDUDESATTIDUDES

WRONG WRONG ATTIDUDESATTIDUDESmay result inmay result inACTION!! ACTION!!

Harboring BitternessHarboring Bitterness

The “somebody done me The “somebody done me wrong” syndrome can turn wrong” syndrome can turn into deep, debilitating into deep, debilitating biting bitternessbiting bitterness

On the Bridge of On the Bridge of ForgivenessForgiveness

Part IIIPart III

The Cobra of BitternessThe Cobra of BitternessDr. F. Douglas PennoyerDr. F. Douglas Pennoyer

Cornerstone Bible Community ChurchCornerstone Bible Community Church

September 17, 2005 September 17, 2005

My CobraMy Cobra

--No hood--No hood

BeadyBeadyBrownBrownEyes!!Eyes!!

Cobra’s MouthCobra’s Mouth

--Bitter Death--Bitter Death

A BIBLICAL WORD PICTURE: THE

COBRA OF BITTERNESS

Several times in God's word bitterness is

likened to the venom of a poisonous snake.

Deuteronomy 32:32b-33:

"Their(Israel's) grapes are filled with poison,

and their clusters with bitterness. Their

wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly

poison of cobras."

Romans 3:13b-14 is a

terrible picture of sinners,

caught up in bitterness:

"....the poison of vipers is

on their lips.

Their mouths are full of

cursing and bitterness."

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On the Bridge of On the Bridge of ForgivenessForgiveness

Part IIIPart III

The Cobra of BitternessThe Cobra of BitternessDr. F. Douglas PennoyerDr. F. Douglas Pennoyer

Cornerstone Bible Community ChurchCornerstone Bible Community Church

September 17, 2005 September 17, 2005