• Clearly, dealing with the past is not something new
to our generation…
• Rahab’s past was filled with unpleasant memories
(Hebrews 11:31), and so was Paul’s, “Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am
the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15), “Even though I was
once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent
man” (1:13).
• In this lesson I want to explore ways in which we
can make sure the pain in the past does not destroy
our future happiness and the accomplishing of our
goals and purposes for being created.
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Why Having God Matters
• Many people have noted that what makes the
difference in overcoming something is having
someone there who believes in them and can
be trusted.
• Certainly, in His ever- present, in His infinite
knowledge, and in His all-powerful, the most
reliable “someone” to have in our corner is
God Himself.
• Even David said, “For my father and my mother
have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up”
(Psalm 27:10). “Sinful Census”
• “Why does a relationship with God help so many
people? I believe the answer is manifold. First,
people feel loved and therefore worthy and
valuable. Second, religious values and
commandments give them direction when they may
not ever have been taught morals or about resisting
temptations. Temptations, with their immediate
gratification, are attractive to people with pain and
rage. Third, religious perspective is out-ward-
focused, while victimhood is inward-focused” (Bad
Childhood, Good Life, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, pp. 13-
14).
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More Is Possible Than Mere Survival
• God desires that our lives be far more than just surviving.
He wants us to flourish, to enjoy life abundantly.
• “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through
Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
• In Ephesians chapter 6, the Christian is not pictured as a
refugee, but rather as a soldier, fully clothed in armor and
armed to the teeth. In addition, we are pictured as standing
firm in the evil day (6:13).
• The book of Revelation repeatedly offers a promise of
eternal life to those who “overcome” (Revelation
2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7).
• Added to this, Christians were spoken of as having actually
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overcome evil (1 John 2:13-14).
The Myth of Helplessness
• On the one hand, for those who are critical of God
or perceive themselves to be self-sufficient, God
reminds them that they have zero power and are, in
reality, rather helpless: (Job 38:12,16,18,34-35,39;
39:10,26; 40:10-14).
• On the other hand, for those who are humble and
faithful, God reminds us that we have access to
tremendous power…
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• “Grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word
with all confidence” (Acts 4:29).
• “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31).
• “And what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).
• “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world”
(1 John 5:4).
• “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the
world” (1 John 4:4).
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• We can do plenty of things: we can pray, spread
the gospel, shine the light, spread the salt,
reprove, rebuke and exhort.
• We can preach the whole counsel of God, we
can stand firm in the evil day, we can save
ourselves, we can remain steadfast, we can
refuse to give up, we can keep on overcoming
evil with good (Romans 12:21), we can remain
holy, we can keep our behavior excellent, we
can reach out with compassion, we can keep up
the good works, and we can continue to glorify
God.
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Be Thankful For The Good People
• So often we become preoccupied with the wrong
people, the wrong situations and the wrong events.
• The world is filled with people who could have
obsessed about something in their past:
– Rahab being a prostitute,
– Moses failing to deliver Israel the first time,
– Abigal in being married to a fool,
– Paul being a persecutor of the church,
– Peter denying Christ three times, and so on.
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• Let us learn to focus on the right people in our lives,
that is, the people who have helped us, and the
great friends that we presently enjoy.
• Let us likewise dwell on the right events from the
past, like our salvation, our baptism, the exciting
years of our early Christian growth, and the people
we have been able to influence for good.
• I never find God telling anyone that they can refrain
from giving thanks, because they have nothing in
the past to be thankful for. (Philippians 4:6;
1 Thessalonians 5:16).
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Stop Listening To The Devil
• The devil wants us to believe the following:
– You are not worth much: Not true! (Matthew
12:12).
– Effort and intent never pay off because life is
never fair: Not true! (Galatians 6:9)
– No one could love you. Not true! (Romans 5:8).
– You could never be happy. Not true! (Matthew
5:3-12; Philippians 4:4)
– You are too far gone or too damaged to get
better or do better. Not true! (John 8:11)
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• Avoid This...
– “Victim Identity”
– “Getting comfortable in misery”
– “Unhealthy secondary gains”
– Becoming “the center of the universe”
– “Seeking love from the devil”
• Do This And Be An Inspiration...
• I am impressed with the young man described in Ezekiel
18:14. He makes a conscious effort to do the exact opposite
of all the wrong his father did (18:15-17).
• I am equally refreshed by God’s attitude. It is still, as it was
then – many expected the son somehow to forever be tied
“Sinful us is
to repeating the sins of the father. God’s vision for Census”
Conclusion
• 13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, 14 I press
toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
[Philippians 3:13,14]
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