Change Church Podcast Summary

Episode Title: I'm Above It Now
Host: Pastor Dharius Daniels
Release Date: March 24, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "I'm Above It Now," Pastor Dharius Daniels delves deep into the transformative power of forgiveness through the lens of Matthew 18:21-35. As part of the "Goaded" series, this installment emphasizes God's desire for believers to evolve beyond mere blessing and busyness, aiming instead for profound personal and spiritual growth.

Series Context: Goaded – The Goat is the Lamb

Pastor Daniels introduces the episode as part 12 of the "Goaded" series, where the overarching theme is the assertion that "the goat is the lamb," symbolizing Jesus as the greatest of all time. He explains that to become "goaded" means allowing Jesus to not only save but also train and teach believers to live according to the King's way, transcending cultural and traditional church norms.

Notable Quote:
"The goal of God isn't just to make us blessed, book and busy, but the goal of God is to make us better. In other words, God's obsession is not simply improvement. God's obsession is evolution."
(Timestamp: 05:30)

God's Goal for Our Evolution

Pastor Daniels emphasizes that God's intent is not mere incremental improvement but a complete transformation akin to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. He urges believers to let God grant them "wings" to rise above past struggles and limitations.

Key Points:

• Transformation Over Improvement: Unlike cultural norms that seek to make individuals faster caterpillars, God aims to metamorphose them into butterflies.
• Elevation Through Evolution: Letting God evolve believers leads to elevation, distancing them from cycles of pettiness, competition, and emotional immaturity.

Notable Quote:
"If you let God give you wings, your wings will put you out of reach, out of reach of being imprisoned by pettiness, out of reach of being captured by competition."
(Timestamp: 07:45)

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: Matthew 18:21-35

Pastor Daniels provides an in-depth analysis of the biblical passage where Peter asks Jesus about the limits of forgiveness. Jesus responds not with a finite number but with an expansive directive, telling Peter to forgive "not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Key Themes:

• Forgiveness Beyond Limits: Jesus challenges believers to adopt a mindset where forgiveness is limitless, promoting continuous grace rather than keeping tally.
• The Consequences of Unforgiveness: Using the parable, Pastor Daniels illustrates how unforgiveness leads to personal and relational turmoil, likening it to mental and spiritual torture.

Notable Quote:
"Unforgiveness doesn't torture them, it tortures you. Because most of the people that wrong you, you don't even think they wrong."
(Timestamp: 20:10)

Parable Breakdown:

1. The King's Debt: A man owes the king an insurmountable debt of 10,000 bags of gold, symbolizing humanity's sin debt.
2. Forgiveness Granted: The king mercifully cancels the debt, representing God's grace through Jesus.
3. Lack of Reciprocity: The forgiven servant refuses to forgive a minor debt owed to him, highlighting the hypocrisy and self-inflicted pain of unforgiveness.
4. Consequences: The king punishes the unforgiving servant, demonstrating that harboring bitterness results in personal suffering rather than addressing the offender.

The Importance of Forgiveness

Pastor Daniels outlines the multifaceted benefits of forgiveness, emphasizing its necessity for mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being.

Mental and Emotional Health:

• Release from Bitterness: Forgiveness frees individuals from the mental anguish and emotional weight of holding grudges.
• Mental Real Estate: By letting go of offense, believers can focus their minds on innovation and creation rather than replaying past hurts.

Relational Dynamics:

• Breaking Down Walls: Unforgiveness leads to isolation and distrust, even towards the innocent, as emotional wounds make it difficult to trust again.
• Rebuilding Trust: Forgiveness allows for the restoration of relationships without being anchored to past offenses.

Spiritual Freedom:

• Avoiding Spiritual Arrogance: Holding onto offense fosters a false sense of superiority, preventing spiritual growth and intimacy with God.
• Judge vs. Friend: Unforgiveness positions individuals as judges rather than fellow seekers of grace, hindering their spiritual journey.

Notable Quote:
"Forgiveness isn't what you give them, is what you give you. 'Cause I don't deserve what you did to me, but I also don't deserve to be mentally and emotionally and relationally and spiritually tortured."
(Timestamp: 35:50)

Common Misunderstandings of Forgiveness

Pastor Daniels addresses prevalent misconceptions surrounding forgiveness, clarifying what forgiveness truly entails and dispelling myths perpetuated by cultural and church teachings.

Misconceptions Addressed:

1. Forgiveness is Excusing Behavior:
   "Forgiveness is not excusing the behavior. Forgiveness is not saying, 'This is okay.'"
   (Timestamp: 45:20)

2. Forgiveness Requires Exposure to Further Injury:
   "Forgiveness is not saying, 'I'm choosing to release you so I can be okay, but I don't have to subject myself to further harm.'"
   (Timestamp: 46:15)

3. Forgiveness Always Restores Relationships:
   "Forgiveness does not always mean restoring the relationship to the same position. Sometimes relational consequence is harvest."
   (Timestamp: 48:00)

Key Takeaways:

• Forgiveness is a personal release that benefits the forgiver, not a blanket approval of the offender's actions.
• It allows individuals to heal without obligating them to remain in harmful relationships.
• Reconciliation and restoration of relationships depend on the specific circumstances and are not guaranteed by forgiveness alone.

Emotional Honesty and Intimacy with God

Pastor Daniels emphasizes the importance of being emotionally honest with God, drawing parallels to King David's raw honesty in Psalms 109.

Key Points:

• Emotional Honesty: Authentic relationships with God require believers to be transparent about their hurts and frustrations.
• Healing Through Honesty: By pouring out their hearts, individuals invite God to address and heal their emotional wounds.

Scriptural Insight:

• Psalms 109: David's lament reveals his true emotions and struggles, serving as a model for believers to express their pain to God authentically.

Notable Quote:
"Intimacy requires emotional honesty. Emotional honesty doesn't break relationships, it exposes them."
(Timestamp: 50:35)

Conclusion: Choosing Forgiveness

Pastor Daniels wraps up the episode by reiterating that forgiveness is a divine decision to release burdens and trust God to handle justice and reconciliation. He encourages listeners to shift their focus from harboring offenses to embracing God's path of grace and innovation.

Final Thoughts:

• Forgiveness as a Choice: Recognize that forgiveness is an act of faith and trust in God's ultimate judgment and timing.
• Personal Empowerment: By forgiving, believers free themselves from the chains of bitterness and open themselves to new possibilities and blessings.

Notable Quote:
"I pardon it, you free me too. And I got to give God the gavel."
(Timestamp: 55:10)

Reflection and Application

Listeners are encouraged to:

• Practice Limitless Forgiveness: Adopt a heart that forgives repeatedly, not keeping count but continuously extending grace.
• Embrace Emotional Honesty: Be transparent with God about personal hurts to facilitate healing and deeper intimacy.
• Recognize the Benefits of Forgiveness: Understand that letting go of offense leads to mental clarity, emotional peace, healthier relationships, and spiritual freedom.

Prayer Point:
"May God start bombarding your mind with divine and creative innovation, freeing you from the mental torture of unforgiveness."

By the end of the episode, Pastor Dharius Daniels has provided a comprehensive exploration of forgiveness, encouraging believers to transcend past grievances and embrace a life elevated by God's grace.