Let Go of your Past

Introduction

Introduce Self

Dismiss children

Before I get started today I want to tell you how much I am looking forward to 2024. I’m looking forward to seeing God continue to work in the lives of those who call Liberty home and those who don’t call it home yet.

Craig and I got to spend some time looking over the preaching Calendar for the next 6 months or so and I’m excited about what God helped us put together for series as we look to dive first into one called habits next months. Just a few weeks so that you can see how a few small habits can change how you see yourself today and can transform you into the person God made you to be tomorrow. We’ll look at who you are in Christ, what you need to start to grow in Christ, and then how you can stop what’s keeping you from growing.

Then we go into a marriage series, an apologetics series, a series on prayer,a series on Ruth, and then in July and August I’m going to preach a 5 week overview of the book of Revelations. Figure that’ll be a good time to lead us into the heat of the political season.

Does having a plan to preach these series mean it’s in stone? nope. I’ve adjusted them this year and that will probably happen this year as the Lord leads.

I just share with you the current plan so that you can be as excited as I am.

Today though, finishign off this awkward week after Christmas and before the new year were we are all trying to figure out whats next and what to do now. We are going to close out our travelling light series as we talk about the things holding us back as we travel through this world.

We are going to see how seeking forgiveness and offering forgivess helps us to let go of our past.

Character-person feeling guilt, shame, and regret over past

have you ever done something your not proud of?

OK, so we are all in the same boat.

When my wife and I were dating in High School, she found out how honest of a person I am. Honest…but not tactful.

She came home from school one day with a new hair style. She was in cosmetology and was learning about curling that day. It looked like Shirley temple. I smiled and I tried to like it but let’s just say it wasn’t my favorite. And While I mean I smiled and tried to like it, I also have to tell you I think my first response to seeing it was “Is that permament?”

Now looking back she looked cute…but I didn’t say that and I really don’t want her to do it again but I do wish I could take that one back.

Maybe you have some stories like that where your foot planted itself firmly in your mouth. Maybe you have some more serious events. Maybe you’ve embarrassed yourself greatly, you’ve sinned, or you’ve hurt people. Maybe you’ve been hurt by people.

Listen, I’ve been there, others have been there, but you don’t have to stay there nor should you.

I want you to see today the impact those events could have on your present and future. And, not just yours but those around you.

Let’s start with what it looks like.

Problem- Reliving and restrained by past events

Illustration: 3 volunteers, black Backpack, weights

Weights represent problems: guilt over

Round of Applause

Being held back by the events of your past is a choice you make that impacts you adn those around you. However, through Christ you are a new creature, old things are passed away and all things become new.

You may say “Dustin, I don’t do that” ok…or maybe you don’t know you are becuase your thought patterns are normal to you.

Let’s see if you answer yes to any of these questions:

1. Do you often find yourself thinking about past mistakes or negative experiences?

2. Do you have trouble trusting new people you meet, often expecting them to disappoint or hurt you?

3. When something goes wrong in your current relationships, do you often blame it on past experiences?

4. Do you frequently analyze your partner’s or friends' actions, worried they might betray or abandon you?

5. Are you often hesitant or fearful of fully committing in a relationship due to past relationship failures or hurts?

6. Do you find it challenging to forgive and let go of past grievances or resentments?

7. Do you often feel that negative events from your past define who you are today?

IF you answered yes to any of those, I believe you are allowing your past to be a weight in your present and holding you back from your future.

Agitated- turmoil, unforgiveness, anxiety, depression

This will create a sense of turmoil inside of you. unforgiveness of yourself and others. Constant anxiety and mental health issues.

And this all comes from believing the lies o the enemy.

The Devil says you are unforgiveable

Psalm 38:4 “4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: As an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”

You shouldn’t have done, you shouldn’t have said, you shouldn’t have insert your sin here. And becuase you know you sholdn’t have you think you can’t be forgiven for it.

Or becauase someone has convinced you you shouldn’t have, you feel unforgiveable.

The Devil says you are unforgivable -Jesus says you are forgiven

The Devil says you should feel shame

Genesis 3:7 “7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden they felt shame becuase of what they had done and tried to stay there or hide it but it wasn’t actually hid or made right until God came and forgave them, covred them, and showed them grace and love.

The Says you should feel shame, Jesus ays you are loved despite any shame

The Devil says becuase of what you’ve done and the life you’ve lived and the way people treated you, your useless,

God showed grace and love to Adam and eve and he does the same for you when you receive His forgivensss. The devil would have oyu beleive your useless but God says you have purpose

If the enemy can keep you focused on your past, he will succesfully foil your future.

Science has sought to explain this at both John Hopkisns, Mayo Clinic, and in Psychology today. They all agree that harboring unforgiveness of self and others will lead to anxiety, depression, anger, and impaired relationships.

And while these are physical and mental symptoms that you are dealing with as a result of not letting go of your past, the truth is the battle is a spiritual one.

Is your faith found in you or in Jesus?

If it’s found in Jesus then you an know that He has forgiven you. he casts your sin as far as the east is from the west.

It’s not in your failures or the failures of those around you.

That’s where your enemy wants you to focus.

However the key to a successful future isn’t found in your past failures, it’s in your present forgiveness.

Solution-receive forgiveness, give forgiveness

How do we do that? How do we let go of our past and move forward inot the future that God has for us?

It Starts with seeking forgiveness. Forgiveness from God based on the death, burial, and resurrection of his son Jesus.

Recieve that forgiveness and then give forgivenss to yourelf and others.

It sounds simple but living it out can be a little more difficult. You can become comfortable in you unforgivensss and embrace a victim or martyr complex.

However choosing to let your past go removes those failing identities and replaces them with with an identity in Jesus.

Journey-John 21:15-17

This is what Peter had to choose to do after he had done some things that he wasn’t proud of.

A little context to the event we are about to jump into in 21:15

IN the first part of this chapter we find that Jesus has revealed Himself to the disciples twice. He performed miracles in front of them and has proven Himself by showing the scars in His hands and feet to Thomas.

Then for the third reveal, we find that Peter, Thomas, and Nathanael have decided to go fishing.

Until studying for this, I have always looked at this as Peter not going and doing what Jesus said…and there is probably truth to that however I believe there is another side. Peter had denied Jesus three times, He had shamed himself by going agaisnt His word. This is Peter. This is the guy who said “I will die with and for you” “I will never deny you” But didn’t die with Him and denied Him.

have you ever done something you said you woudl never do?

I remember watching my great aunt die from lung cancer because she was a smoker. It was an awful thing to witness. People had to come by every so often and turn her so she wouldn’t get bed sores.

I remember thinking, I’ll never smoke. Guess what I spent 10 years doing? smoking

Parents, you probably know this one. You watched other kids before you had kids and you said “My children will never…” and now they do.

Or Maybe I’ll never respond that way to my kids, I’ll never act they way when I’m a manager or owner.

I’d never do this or that…and then you do

And whether you said you’d never do it or not you probably have some moments in life where you say “I can’t believe I did that.”

That’s where Peter is at in this moment. He had done something he said he would never do. And now, with all of that past running through his mind he is questioning his own faithfulness, he is questioning his own usefulness, and insteda of being able to move forward he is taking a momemtn to go fishing and either earn money or participate in a hobby. Either way, it seems as though as it’s a moment of…I don’t know what to do now. I’m not who I thought I was, I’m not who I want to be, I need to go think on this.

And While fishing, Jesus comes to them.

They are having breakfast and then Jesus and Peter have this conversation

John 21:15–17 “15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Jesus uses his full name. Reminds me of mom calling for me “Michael Dustin Alley get in here” O no…

And then he asks him..do you love me

In greek there are multiple words for love and here we have two being used. The first two times Jesus asks peter if he loves him he is asking if he Agape loves him. Unconditionally loves Him, loves him like God loves us.

and Peter Responds that he Phileo loves him. He loves him as a brother.

on the third ask, Jesus says “do you phileo love me’ and that one hurt peter. He said you know all things, you know i love oyu like a brohter.

Why could Peter not bring himself to say he Agape loved Jesus in this moment?

I’m going to give you some Dustinology. These are my thoughts on this and could be wrong.

Let me explain it this way. If you have ever hurt someone close to you you feel guilt or shame right?

If you have ever done something that betrayed them, you don’t feel like you can tell them you love them like that because you know you haven’t shown it.

I think this is where Peter is right now.

This is where you could be if you are letting your past weigh you down.

You can’t love the way Jesus called you to becuase you won’t let go of things you’ve done.

You aren’t growing as a believer, as a spouse, or as a parent becuase your letting your past weigh you down.

If you don’t let go of your past, you can’t grab hold of your future.

What does it take for that to happen?

You have to understand what Peter had to come to realize here and we see evidence by his life after this. Despite your past, Jesus loves you.

The question is do you recieve his love and forgiveness or do you deny yourself the victory you have in Christ.

You did things in 2023 that were amazing. you’ve done some things your not proud of.

and Jesus loves you despite them all.

And if you love Him, stop wallering in self pity and self loathing with a woe is me, it’s hard to be a Christian today, I can’t be different, I’m so awful idea of yourself.

Just as when you try to overestimate your control of life you underestimate His power, when you over dramaticize your worthlessness you under value His grace and love toward you.

They say it takes three things for a person to change and grow.

-They have learned a lot.

-They have suffered enough.

-They got tired of always the same thing.

Peter had suffered enough.

When Jesus finally asked him “do you phileo me” do you love me?

It hurt and that is what changed him, that changed his overall response. “Jesus you know all things, you know I love you like a brother.”

And I know hwo I’d be…I don’t know how jesus responded but I know what I’d say and do becuase I talk with my hadns.

“Ok, great. then go feed my sheep.’ I’m also pretty logical and might drop some “Ok, if you beleive I know all things, then you know I know about your betrayal, and I still love you. If you knwo I love you and you say yo love me then get up and go do what I’ve called you to do in ym name. Becuase you are more than your failures, you are my father’s children, a joint heir with me, and a co-laborer…now get up, and get to gettin”

Why is this important to understand? becuase you can’t change your past but you can impact your future.

How do you not allow your past to control your future?

You have to listen to the advice of Pumbaa from lion king, you gotta put your behidn in the past.

Or maybe put your past behind you.

Or as the king and country song says “burn the ships”

1. Burn the ships of your past

In 1519 Cortez arrived in the new world and when they had gotten to land and all their supplies off, they burned the ships. He sent a clear message to his men, there is not looking back, no turnign back, only moving forward to victory.

WHen you bring the sins of your past to Jesus He burns the ship for you.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12 “12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

We see this with Peter when he doesn’t ask him about what he did. He didn’t need an explination, he said it’s not about what you have done it’s about whether or not you love me.

If oyu love me, feed my sheep.

Pastor, you don’t know what I’ve done. Lied, cheated, stolen. murdered, abortion, lost everything,

Remember…Jesus knows everything and when we say things like this what we are saying is that the power of our past is greater than the power of the cross.

He went to the Cross knowing what you would do. He didn’t do it so you could love him, he did ti becuase He loves you.

In light of the betrayal, in light of the denial, Jesus forgave Peter.

You are not the things you have done, you are who God says you are.

So burn the ships and live in light of the love of Jesus.

2. Live in light of Jesus’ love

What does that look like?

Feed His sheep.

You can’t feed people with food you don’t have.

You didn’t get saved from your past so you could live in it.

You are saved from your past to live in light of Jesus’ love into your future.

Peter was told…Feed my lambs, feed my sheep, be the shepherd they need.

Be the mother and father they need, be the husband adn wife they need, be the Christian others need.

Become who god called you to be and feed His sheep.

Don’t just wait for someone else to do it. Peter could have said “John didn’t deny you, John was at the cross with mary, you called JOhn her son, have Him do it.”

John did great things for Christ, but Peter did the things John couldn’t do. Why? becuase John hadn’t experienced the forgiveness Peter had.

Luke 7:47 “47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

peter had been forgiven much and could love much becuase of it.

Your past doesn’t disqualify you from living for Jesus, it can enable you to live for Jesus and serve others in a greater way because of your deep apprecaition and love for Christ for saving you out of the life you were living.

Don’t fight against who you were, accept that you did it, confess it as sin, burn the ships, and live in light of Jesus’ love.

Becuase when we udnerstand the brightness of that flame there is no going back to the darkness of our past becuase the light of Jesus extinguishes the darkness.

God is in the business of using imperfect people to impact his world. You are those imperfect people, are you ready to be used by God in 2024?

Resolution- A new chapter

There were two disciples that betrayed Jesus. Peter who we see here and Judas. Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Yet Judas didn’t see a future with Jesus and ended his life. Peter saw a future with Jesus and turned the page into a new chapter of loving and living with and for Jesus.

You see this passage isn’t about Peter. Yes Peter seems like the focus, btu it’s more about the guide, the savior, the one who came beside HIm tosay hey, I forgive you, I love you.

And He is ready adn willing to do the same with you. So you can live without holding onto the past.

Impact: Negative -weighed down by the past, guilt, shame, and expecting bad with every relationships. Positive- Freedom to move forward with gospel impact

What if Peter had held onto his past? Woudl he have preached in Acts and 3,000 come to know Jesus?

Woudl he had been used to reach jews for Christ?

What is going to happen to you if you hold on to your past?

You live daily weighed down by the choices you made and feel guilt and shame. It keeps you from loving Jesus and from loving those around you. It holds you hostage to something you can’t do anything about.

You will live your life and find at the end it was full of missed opportunity becuase you coulnd’t get over the things you had done.

However if you choose to trust Jesus as your Savior, if you seek his forgiveness and love HIm, then you will see how He burned the ships of your past and you can live in light of His love to share that love with others.

Do you love HIm?

Do you want to?

Trust Him, feed His sheep.

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