Jesus commands us: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." Then He adds: "If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15).

This is an incredibly dangerous prayer. If you harbor anger, if you choose not to forgive, you're literally saying to God: "I don't want you to forgive me either."

THE PROBLEM: WE'RE GETTING ANGRIER
Road rage is UP. Indiana ranks 3rd in the nation for fatal crashes from road rage. Shootings on roadways jumped from 9 in 2019 to 65 in 2021.
Anger at government: 70% of Americans are frustrated or angry (consistently since 2010).

Social media: "Rage bait" was Oxford's Word of the Year. Content designed to make you angry keeps you on the site longer. Studies show: more social media = more anger.

WHY WE'RE ANGRY: Fundamental Attribution Error
When YOU mess up: "Well, circumstances dictated..." When SOMEONE ELSE messes up: "That idiot! They're fundamentally flawed!"
We cut ourselves slack we're not willing to give others.

HOW TO FORGIVE:
Stop saying "I can't forgive" - That's a lie. You CHOOSE not to forgive. Forgiveness is a choice. So is anger.

Learn the difference between HURT and INJURY - Injury requires treatment. Hurt can be forgiven. Deal with injury appropriately, but recognize most offenses are hurt, not injury.

Forgiveness doesn't eliminate consequences - A thief can apologize, but legal consequences remain. Forgiveness doesn't erase effects.

Forgiveness benefits YOU, not them - If you choose anger, it consumes you. If you forgive, you're FREE from bondage to that offense.

Recognize how God has forgiven YOU - That slap on the cheek doesn't seem so big when you look at Jesus on the cross.

Choose to forgive DAILY - It's not one-time. Every day you can pick that offense back up. So every day, choose to forgive again.

BUT WAIT—Can We Rebuke AND Forgive?
Luke 17: "If another believer sins, rebuke that person. Then if there's repentance, forgive."

"Judge" has two meanings: (1) Come to a right decision, (2) Condemn. Jesus says don't CONDEMN. But DO judge (come to right decision). Rebuke the sin. Help them see what they did. Then FORGIVE.

BOTTOM LINE:
When something bad happens, DON'T choose anger. That's natural—but it's WRONG. When you choose anger, they get angrier, you get angrier, and it snowballs into a car-wrecking disaster.

Choose forgiveness. It's unnatural. It must be learned. But it sets YOU free.

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Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1-4). Jesus gave them a simple model: "Father, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."What strikes me about that prayer? It's SIMPLE. No flowery words. No "thee" and "thou." Just straightforward, everyday words, everyday needs. And it's SHORT—about 15 seconds.Prayer is simply a conversation with God, just like you'd talk to a friend.

WHY DID JESUS PRAY?

FIVE REASONS:
TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP - Luke 3: At Jesus' baptism, as He prayed, the Father said "You are my dearly loved Son." Do you just present a list of wants? Or build relationship?

FOR GUIDANCE - Four times Jesus spent ALL NIGHT in prayer before major decisions (choosing the 12, starting public ministry, Gethsemane). Are your big decisions informed by prayer?

TO GIVE THANKS - Luke 10: Jesus stopped mid-day to thank the Father. When you become aware of God's presence, do you stop and thank Him?

FOR PERSONAL STRENGTH - Gethsemane: Jesus was in such agony His sweat fell like drops of blood. An angel came and strengthened Him. When you need strength, do you pray?

FOR OTHERS—INCLUDING ENEMIES - Luke 6: "Pray for those who hurt you." Pray for everyone you contact. If they're not friendly, you DEFINITELY have something to pray for.

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?
The Lord's Prayer is 15 seconds. It's just a conversation. In John's Gospel, it doesn't say Jesus "prayed" it says He "looked to heaven and said." That's prayer: talking to your friend.Jesus prayed FREQUENTLY but not always in scheduled blocks. The urge to talk to His Father came on Him, and He did it, sometimes in front of crowds, sometimes alone.

TRUE CONFESSION:
I struggle with extended prayer times. My mind wanders. But it hit me: Prayer is a CONVERSATION. I don't schedule times to talk to my wife. I see her and talk. The conversation lasts 3-4 minutes. An hour later, we do it again.That's what I do with God all day long. Driving, someone comes to mind, I pray. It's not a separate 15-minute block—it's CONSTANT.BUT WAIT—
Does that mean we shouldn't have 15-minute prayer times? Of course not! Jesus spent ALL NIGHT in prayer. We need BOTH: extended times AND constant conversation throughout the day. Be bold enough to stop and say, "May I pray for you right now?"FOUR QUESTIONS:
When and how do I pray to build my relationship with God? If you don't, start.

When and how do I pray for guidance and strength? I was taught I can do anything if I try hard enough. I can't. Neither can you. We ALL need strength.

When and how do I thank God? Keep a Thanksgiving journal. Write down what you thank God for. When you get depressed, open it up.

When and how do I pray for others? Friends, enemies—doesn't matter. Pray for those you can influence.

BOTTOM LINE: PRAY.Lord, teach us to pray like You prayed. We need You. We need that relationship. We need Your guidance, Your strength, Your empowerment to bless others.

Jesus looked at 12 ordinary guys and said: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 10:5-8)

Then they DID. Not by their own power, by God's power working through them.

In week 5 of "All That I've Commanded You," Pastor Zach tackles the command we often skip: miracles, healing, and God's supernatural work TODAY.

THE CORE MESSAGE:
I'm not a cessationist (someone who believes miracles stopped after the early church). Why? I don't see that anywhere in my Bible. People all over the world report miracles TODAY.

The Great Commission is self-replicating. YOU have been given authority (by God's power alone) to heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons. Not by YOUR power, by God's.

TWO TRUTHS IN TENSION:
WE PRAY DILIGENTLY AND EXPECT MIRACLES - Jesus healed constantly. "By your faith you have been healed." We should ask boldly.

WHEN MIRACLES DON'T HAPPEN, WE STILL PRAISE GOD - Sometimes God says NO. Jesus in Gethsemane prayed for another way. God said NO—the cross was the only way. Nobody had more faith than Jesus, yet God said no.

THE SHADRACH, MESHACH, ABEDNEGO APPROACH:
"Our God will rescue us from the furnace. And even if He doesn't, we still won't bow. We'll bow to the God of the universe."

God's going to come through. And even if He doesn't, He's still God, He's still good, and I trust Him.

THREE REAL MIRACLE STORIES:
PASTOR TONY SMITH:
Christmas Eve - major heart attack, 5% heart function, total organ failure. Doctors: "We don't know how you're alive." Hundreds praying. Organs restart. Heart climbs from 5% to 30%. Doctors: "We don't understand how this is possible." Two weeks later: eating lunch with pastors, preaching again.

STEVE (Stage 4 Cancer):
Given a year to live. Sees Jesus laughing at the end of his bed. Prays: "Just give me a fighting chance." Specialist uses the EXACT same words. 10 years later: cancer-free, alive, following Jesus. Jesus was laughing because He'd already conquered Steve's death, physically AND spiritually.

COREY (Age 32):
Hodgkin's AND non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Risky surgery. Nurses circle around, pray over him. "I knew God had me. I wasn't afraid." His response: "I believe God will heal me. But if He doesn't, I'm okay going home. My family knows Jesus. Whatever time I have, I'll spend telling everyone about Jesus."

THE D.L. MOODY STORY:
D.L. Moody preached two identical sermons. First service: total apathy. Second service: HUNDREDS saved. What changed? Between services, a bedridden woman locked herself in her room and prayed past midnight.
Was it hundreds praying? Or ONE person on their knees? It takes ONE God and ONE faithful servant.

YOUR ROLE:
Can YOU be that person? Totally sold out to Jesus in prayer?
When you're sick: Don't suffer alone. James says go to your elders, have them anoint you with oil and pray. We don't see that enough.

BOTTOM LINE:
We pray diligently. We expect miracles. And when it doesn't go our way, we trust the God who heals and uses ALL things for good.

Miracles happen. God is still moving. Open your eyes.

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0:00 - Introduction & Series Context
1:00 - Today's Topic: Miracles & Healing
3:00 - Jesus Tells the 12: "Go Do What I Do"
4:00 - I'm Not a Cessationist - Here's Why
6:00 - The Great Commission Is Self-Replicating
7:00 - Why Did They Keep Healing in Acts?
9:00 - "By Your Faith You Have Been Healed"
10:00 - Jesus in Gethsemane - When God Says No
11:00 - God Uses Suffering for Good
12:00 - Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego - "Even If He Doesn't"
14:00 - Tony: 5% Heart Function, Total Organ Failure
15:00 - Mike Wiggin Gets Inside Info
16:00 - Heart Doctor: "He's Going to Die"
18:00 - We Arrive - Tony's Eating a Salad
20:00 - Two Weeks Later: Preaching Again
21:00 - STORY 2: Steve's Stage 4 Cancer
22:00 - Steve Sees Jesus Laughing at His Bed
25:00 - STORY 3: Corey's Lymphoma Diagnosis
26:00 - Age 32 - Hodgkin's & Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
27:00 - Nurses Circle and Pray Before Surgery
28:00 - "Whatever Time I Have, I'll Tell Everyone About Jesus"
29:00 - D.L. Moody Story - Two Services, Two Results
31:00 - Second Service: Hundreds Saved
32:00 - The Bedridden Woman Who Prayed All Night
34:00 - Don't Suffer Alone - Go to Your Elders
35:00 - Closing Prayer
36:00 - Outro