Sunday September 1, 2024
Entangled - Luke 15: 11-33
Part 1. Sometimes we have been like the son, messed up and sinned against God. But our father washes it all away and forgives our sins. The problem that we as Christians face today is one way the devil can prevent our momentum and growth is to constantly remind us of our past…
Ties of guilt
Ties of shame
Ties of failure
Ties of regret
BUT let’s see what God's word says about our past.
“There is therefore NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 ESV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation. The old has passed away; behold, the NEW has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Keep in mind what Jesus said on the cross… “It is finished.” His body was broken and blood was shed for our remission of sin. Payment was officially made and we were SET FREE!
Part 2. Sometimes we have been like the father or should be. We have been wronged and instead of holding onto unforgiveness we choose to forgive, but do we do this all the time?
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 ESV
If the purpose of this Christian walk is to be CHRIST-like then we MUST be as he is with others when they sin against us. We MUST have a Godly response and show His love.
Holding onto the bitterness and resentment against our brothers and sisters is just hurting us and our witness.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
If we are NOT supposed to be like this world, but be a catalyst to a new life in Christ then why would we want to look like the world in the way that we treat other people who have wronged us. When we gave our heart to Jesus and prayed the salvation prayer we agreed to be an imitator of Christ. This means we follow his example for our lives.
We love as He loves
We forgive as He forgives
There is one who is always looking for the opportunity to remind you of how this person or that person wronged you. He is always looking for the chance to stop your momentum. If he can stop your momentum over time he will kill your effectiveness. Then he will exploit the feeling of guilt because you stopped. DON’T STOP
HOW DOES A TRAIN STOP? GRADUALLY.
So how do we stop the thoughts of guilt? How do we forgive someone that cut us deep?
I believe the only way to have true freedom and be healed is to in a sense rip the bandage off and let the healing come starting today.
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