Sunday October 4, 2020
Hebrews 12:1- “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
For this message that weight (wound) or that sin we’re carrying that’s slowing us down we’ll call baggage.
I don’t know about you but there are times I don’t really want to admit that I have baggage!
So to avoid having to CLAIM my baggage I’ll use carry-on baggage.
What am I carrying around that Jesus came and died for to set me free from?
I’ve been blessed to travel a lot and I’ve seen people who didn’t want to “CLAIM” there baggage try and stuff everything inside a carry-on and then try and force it in the overhead bin.
SO THEY JUST CONTINUE TO CARRY AROUND THE WAIT AND THE SIN BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO CLAIM THEIR BAGGAGE!
What are you carrying around that you shouldn’t?
WHERE DOES BAGGAGE COME FROM?
- Continual Disappointment
We’ve been through disappointment after disappointment! We have unfulfilled expectations. Delayed dreams!
Proverbs 13:12- “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.”
2. Hidden Pain
Just smile anyway! We learn the art of wearing a mask that covers our pain!
Jeremiah 6:14- “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”
Hidden pain is where our carry-on baggage comes from!
3. The Pain of the Past
We don’t deal with the pain of the past quick enough. It’s carry-on baggage and we’re carrying it around with us everywhere and it’s affecting all of our relationships and hurting our kids because it’s our pain that is driving our unhealthy decisions and NOT the direction of God!
Ephesians 4:26-27- “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”
4. An unhealthy view of Yourself
Judges 6:15- “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
5. Unrepented sin
Repent means more than just saying I’m sorry. The word repent actually means “a change of mind.” It means going a different direction!
Psalm 32:3-4- “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.”
SO WHAT’S THE SOLUTION TO THIS CARRY-ON BAGGAGE THAT MANY OF US ARE HOLDING ON TO.
CHECK YOUR BAGGAGE
2 Corinthians 10:3-4- “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”
This “carry-on” baggage is not a human problem it’s s spiritual problem!
You can’t solve spiritual problems with a fleshly mind!
We are to “knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
Stronghold- A prisoner locked by deception. Living life by something that is not true.
SO WHAT SHOULD MY ATTITUDE BE
2 Corinthians 10:5- “We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.”
Romans 12:2- “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…”
Ephesians 4:22-23- “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”
John 8:31-32- “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
WHAT IS THE TRUTH I NEED TO EMBRACE
- God is not condemning me
John 3:17- “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
(TPT)- “God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!”
2. God wants me to walk in freedom
Romans 8:1-2- “So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death.”
3. God will restore my life
Isaiah 61:7- “Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion;
And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited];
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
Psalms 70:20-21- “You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.”
CONCLUSION: I may not know what your baggage is but God does! He’s not condemning you, He wants you to walk in freedom and He will restore your life.
All of this is with the presumption that you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. That’s where is all begins. Surrendering your life to Him!
Matthew 11:28-29- “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?