From Humbug To Whoville: Stressed, worried, anxious, or afraid? Have you lost the joy of Christmas? Join us for our Christmas series: From Humbug to Whoville and rediscover the JOY of Christmas.
\n\nTheme Verse:
(Isaiah 1:18) (NLT) \u201cCome now, let\u2019s settle this,\u201d says the Lord. \u201cThough your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.
\n\n\xa0
\nTitle:\xa0 Getting Past My Past
\n\n\xa0
\n\n(John 8:44) (NLT) He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
\n\nGetting past our past will require us to stop believing the twisted lies of the enemy.
\n\n\xa0
\n(Isaiah 1:18) (NLT) \u201cCome now, let\u2019s settle this,\u201d says the Lord. \u201cThough your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.
\n\xa0
\n\nDEALING WITH THE PAST
\n\n\xa0
\n\n1. We hide it
\n
(Proverbs 28:13) (NLT) People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
\n
2. We beat ourselves up
\n\n(Psalm 38:4-8) (NLT) My guilt overwhelms me\u2014it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. \xa0I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart.
\n\n(1 Timothy 1:12-13) (NLT) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, \xa0even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
\n\n(1 Timothy 1:14-15) (NLT) Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: \u201cChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners\u201d\u2014and I am the worst of them all.
\n\n\xa0(1 Timothy 1:16) (NLT) But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
\n\n\n\xa0
\n\nGetting Past the Past:
\n\n\xa0
\n\n1.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Receive the gift of grace
\n\n(Ephesians 2:8-9) (NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can\u2019t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
\n\n\xa0
\n\n2.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Replace the lies with the truth
\n\n\xa0
\n\n(2 Corinthians 10:5) (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
\n\n\xa0
\n\n(1 Corinthians 1:30) (NLT) Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
\n3.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Rely on God to turn it around for good
\n\n\xa0
\n\n(Romans 8:28) (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
\n\n\xa0(Genesis 50:20) (NIV) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.