Sermon Central
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The Cycle Of Baggage Series
Contributed by Mark Elkins on Mar 24, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: What is keeping you from becoming the leader that God has called you to be? Allow him to call you out of your baggage and into His leadership.
THE CYCLE OF OUR BAGGAGE.
Developing the leader within 1 Sam. 10:22
Have David bring a bag up and pull out a toy motorcycle; then start beating it. “Dude, what are you doing?” David, “I’m breaking cycles!”
People today take their baggage seriously. We like it to match. We love all the different compartments, and pockets. We like it sporty. We like it convenient (rollers).
My grandmother didn’t use baggage much in her day. She carried everything in her purse. It weighed 110 lbs. What she didn’t carry in her purse she carried in a paper bag.
Tell the story, then read verse 22. Jesus will free you from you baggage.
Jesus will rescue you from your guilt. Scarlet A; guilt, your past (10:11-12);
Do You Charge to Forgive?
I recently saw a sign in a convenience store that read, “Check Cashing Policy: To err is human. To forgive, $30.” It’s a funny way to recognize the fact that we make mistakes, but it’s also evidence of the way many people think about forgiveness.
To forgive is to accept within yourself the consequences of the sins of others. It means to accept the pain, the problems and the burden that comes when someone sins against you. Forgiveness is neither an easy nor a frequent gift.
This is what God has done for us: “… knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18, 19 NKJV). What did God give for your forgiveness? It wasn’t money or anything of wealth or value in worldly terms. He gave His Son. Jesus took upon Himself the burden of our sins.
You have seen a cloud drifting across the pure blue of the sky, and as you watch it, it breaks up and disappears forever. You will never see that cloud again.
So God deals with your sins. You believe in His Son as your Lord and Savior. Then He blots out your transgressions just as He sweeps the cloud from your sight forever.
The Bible abounds in these assurances of utter removal of the penalty of sin from the child of God.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Ps. 103
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Mt. 5; How do we get a pure heart? God gives us a new one- like Saul.
7Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. Jer. 24:7
19Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within £them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. Ez. 11:19-20
23And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ez. 36
Forgiving ourselves is often the most difficult. We know the inside story. We know if we really intended to do the act or not. We know what we a capable of. We know if we were just being lazy, mean, etc. Or if we really intended good. We know, and sometimes because we know, we won’t let go.
