The Baggage of Guilt

The Lord’s Supper

Among many of the other things I missed during the Pandemic was the opportunity to partake of the Lord’s Supper with my church family. Today we reignite this meaningful practice.

First of all, let me say we practice what I call Open Communion. In other words we invite EVERY person who is a GENUINE BELIEVER in Christ as their LORD and SAVIOR to partake of the Lord’s Supper. If you have never been BORN AGAIN we want to encourage you not to partake of the Lord’s Supper. If you are a Christian who is living in unrepentant sin we encourage you not to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

At this time I want us to take a few moments and reflect on our lives and ask ourselves if there is anything in our lives that would hinder us from partaking.

While this is a celebration of Christ’s sacrifice it is also a time for somber reflection upon our own spiritual health. The Apostle Paul put it this way...

1 Corinthians 11:27–32 ESV

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Moment of Silent Reflection

At this time Robert will pass out the chalice that contains both the bread and the cup. After receiving the chalice please wait in a moment of quiet reflection while we wait for everyone to receive theirs. If you are a parent of small children, please use discretion about whether or not your child is a believer in Christ and whether or not they are spiritually mature enough to understand what this ceremony represents.

Now that everyone has their chalice please carefully remove the bread from the bottom and hold it in your hand while I read the Scriptures and give you further instructions.

Chris would you please pray and thank God for the Body of the Lord Jesus and the precious BLOOD that He shed so our sins could be forgiven and we could be reconciled to God...

The night before Jesus’ crucifixion Jesus observed the Passover Meal with His disciples. It was a meal they had eaten many times before, but this night would be different. On this night Jesus would enlighten them about aspects of this meal that had not been previously revealed.

As He held Unleavened Bread in His hand, He broke the bread and passed it around to His disciples, explaining to them that the broken bread represented His body that would be broken and mangled by the events leading up to the crucifixion.

And He said to them

1 Corinthians 11:24 ESV

and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Please VERY carefully remove the top from your cup...

Jesus also explained to them that the contents of the cup represented the precious blood that He would shed as He was tortured and crucified. After sharing this explanation He said...

1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Dismiss Children’s Church

Last week we began a new sermon series entitled “Summer Baggage.” We began last week by looking at the “Baggage of Bitterness” and at the end of the service I asked you to “name” your baggage.

Remember, baggage in this context refers to the invisible burdens that we carry. It’s the things that “weigh us down” day after day.

Because these burdens are “invisible” we often have no idea of the baggage that people are carrying. People often have no idea of the baggage we are lugging around. We all have it, to some degree or another.

This week I took a look in the suitcase and spent some time praying about each piece of baggage that was named. As I reviewed the various things that were written down, I was reminded that truly this baggage is invisible. I had no idea that some of you were struggling with these things.

One thing that I seemed to notice was a reoccurring theme. Several you wrote down the word “GUILT.” As a result I felt led to address this and preach a message about “The Baggage of Guilt.”

What do we mean when we talk about the “guilt”?

Merriam-Webster defines guilt this way:

feelings of deserving blame especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy; a feeling of deserving blame for offenses.

This is one of the big ones for me personally. Many times I feel guilty because I feel so inadequate as a father, as a husband, as a pastor, and as a friend. When things go wrong in those relationships, then I often carry around the baggage of guilt because I feel like it’s always my fault and if I weren’t so inadequate things would be different. Does anyone else feel this way?

Dictionary.com puts it like this:

a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.

If we have done something wrong then we have to deal with our conscience and if we are believers we also have to deal with the conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit. We should feel responsible and remorse for the things we have done wrong.

But notice the definition says…”whether real or imagined.” There are a lot of people carrying around the “BAGGAGE OF GUILT” not because they did something wrong, but because the enemy has lied to them and convinced them that they are the guilty one even though they are not.

There have been victims of abuse that have believed that somehow they are responsible for the way ungodly people have used and abused them. The enemy eats them up with the baggage of GUILT even though they are not the ones that are responsible.

I guarantee there are people in this room today that have been used and abused by someone else, and you either believe you somehow deserved it or were the cause of it, and you are carrying around the INVISIBLE BURDEN OF GUILT that was never meant for you to carry!

Cambridge Dictionary says that guilt an be defined as:

a feeling of worry or unhappiness that you have because you have done something wrong...

Guilt can be a very painful, emotional experience that we have when we believe we have violated a moral or personal standard, or when we feel like we have let someone down.

I don’t know which of these definitions you resonate with, but when I think of the BAGGAGE OF GUILT I think of a combination of some or all of these definitions.

The fact of the matter is we have ALL sinned. We have ALL let someone down. We have ALL been responsible for someone else’s pain. We have all committed crimes against our Creator. We are all GUILTY...

TRASH VIDEO

The problem is feelings of guilt can either be a BLESSING or they can become BAGGAGE. Let’s UNPACK this a little...

Guilt Can Lead to Repentance and Freedom

Today I want to take our text from 2 Corinthians 7.

You may remember that the Apostle Paul had written to the church at Corinth on a previous occasion to address several issues that the church was having. His letter chastised them for some of their actions and well as some of their inaction. After writing this letter he found out that some in the church were made to “grieve.” Notice verse 8...

2 Corinthians 7:8 ESV

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.

The Corinthians were GUILTY of not only putting up with sin in the church, but excusing it. When Paul had to address this problem it led them to “grieve” over their guilt. The word translated “grieve” in verse 8 is also translated “sorrowful, pained, distressed and to be very sad.” It sounds a lot like the idea of “GUILT” that we are taking about today.

Paul wants them to know that he doesn’t regret confronting them even though it led to grief? Why is that the case?

Verse 9 answers that question...

2 Corinthians 7:9 ESV

As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

Their grief did not lead to despair, but rather to REPENTANCE! Their GUILT did not lead to BONDAGE but FREEDOM! Their guilt wasn’t baggage that weighed them down, but it led to the acknowledgement of their sin that set them free!

Paul said that he REJOICED over their grief, not because they “felt” guilt, but because their guilt led them to find FORGIVENESS and RESTORATION in Christ!

They were “GRIEVED INTO REPENTING.”

God wants to use the guilt that we feel over things that we have done wrong to DRIVE us to Himself. He wants to use guilt and conviction POSITIVELY, not negatively.

We don’t often think of PAIN as a gift.

However, imagine being a leper who has lost all sensitivity in the extremities of his feet and hands. While he is walking he steps on something and gashes open his foot. He isn’t aware of it and he continues to walk and as a result all kinds of things get in his wound and he gets an infection in his bloodstream.

Imagine someone who has appendicitis, but never feels any pain. Eventually, their appendix ruptures and the infection from the ruptured appendix rushes throughout their body.

Pain can be a gift. It can let us know something is wrong. Although pain might not be an “enjoyable” gift, we would be far worse off without it. The pain drives us to medical attention so the problem can hopefully be corrected.

GODLY GUILT and GRIEF are much like pain. If we understand it’s intention, we realize that it’s God’s way of letting us know SOMETHING is WRONG and we need to go to the GREAT PHYSICIAN, the Lord Jesus, confess and forsake our sin, and believe and trust Him that the problem has been remedied!

1 John 1:9 ESV

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

Unfortunately...

Guilt Can Lead to Despair and Ruin

Remember

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

What is “worldly grief.” It’s the “grief of the world.” It’s still the sorrow and pain that people feel, but they choose to deal with this sorrow and pain in an unhealthy or unbiblical way. As a result this sorrow and pain does not lead them to RUN to the arms of Jesus, the Great Physician, but rather it leads them to RUN elsewhere.

Guilt may lead You to RUN & HIDE Like Adam & Eve

What does this solve? It doesn’t take away the guilt. It doesn’t take away the feelings of shame. It doesn’t take away the sin. All it does is move people FURTHER away from the solution to the GUILT and that’s God Himself!

Guilt may Lead You to COVER IT UP like David

What does this solve? Does covering up your guilt take it away? Does covering up your sin solve the problem? Actually it creates MORE problems!

Proverbs 28:13 ESV

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

When we choose to deal with our guilt by RUNNING or HIDING we are only COMPOUNDING the guilt and misery!

I believe this very well may be the idea Paul had in mind when he spoke of “worldly grief.”

The world doesn’t understand and realize the Gospel. Many people have this mentality...

Worldly Grief: “I messed up, my Father’s going to kill me.”

Godly Grief: “I messed up, I need to talk to my Father.”

I think this is illustrated with Peter and Judas. On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, both Peter and Judas betrayed the Lord.

Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver. After thinking about what he had done he went back to the religious leaders, returned the money and killed himself. Worldly grief led to death…literally.

Peter also betrayed the Lord. He ran after Jesus was arrested. After he ran he was confronted three different times about his ties to Jesus and each time he boldly proclaimed that he didn’t even know who Jesus was. At one time he flung curses and stated that he did not know the man! But after the rooster crowed and he locked eyes with the Messiah, the Bible says that he went out and wept bitterly. He was restored by Jesus on the seashore, and became one of the most bold witnesses the world has ever known! Peter had GODLY GRIEF that led him to repentance.

Both of these men did something TERRIBLE, but the outcome was far different. How about you?

Are you going to allow “worldly grief” to continue to drive a wedge between you and God, are you going to allow “worldly grief” to continue to WEIGH YOU DOWN or

will you REPENT of your sin, turn to God for forgiveness and trust Him to remove it and GO FORWARD with your life with your load a little lighter because you have been a recipient of God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy?

So how do we RELEASE the BAGGAGE of GUILT?

Releasing the Baggage of Guilt

We need to come to an understanding and BELIEVE what the Bible says...

Understand Jesus Has Already Carried Your Baggage to the Cross

Isaiah 53:4 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Did you get that?

Jesus has BORNE your GRIEFS!

Jesus has CARRIED your SORROWS!

JESUS has taken YOUR baggage…YOUR bitterness, YOUR sin, YOUR guilt and He put it on HIS SHOULDERS and He took it to the cross and PAID the price so YOU could be FREE from those shackles!

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He LAID ON HIM the BAGGAGE of our sin! The baggage of ALL of our sins.

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Did you see that? He MADE AN OFFERING FOR GUILT! It wasn’t His guilt that He made an offering for! It was MY guilt and YOUR guilt!

You don’t have to deal with your guilt anymore because the FINAL, COMPLETE, SUFFICIENT offering has already been made! He was put to GRIEF so you could be set free from YOUR GRIEF!

Isaiah 53:11–12 ESV

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

You don’t have to carry this baggage anymore! Jesus’ has already taken it to the cross. The payment has already been paid. The sacrifice has already been made! Today you can be set free!

In Christ You are FREE, not Condemned

Romans 8:1–4 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

EVERY SAINT has a past! We all have GUILT. We have ALL sinned and we have ALL come short of the glory of God.

But according to that verse

Romans 8:1 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

How much condemnation is there? NONE! ZERO! If God has wiped our guilt away, then WHY DO WE KEEP PACKING IT BACK UP and carrying it around with us?

Has He wiped your guilt away? It’s a YES or NO answer!

Are you IN CHRIST, then YOUR guilt is gone! Believe it and receive it! Get help if your mind is still believing the lies of the enemy!

If you are not IN CHRIST, then the guilt is all yours. You will carry that burden FOREVER, INTO ETERNITY. But you don’t have to. You don’t have to carry that guilt another day.

Today you can be forgiven! Today you can be set free! Today you can know what it means to be rid of the baggage!

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

BAGGAGE PICTURE

Today you can come to Him! His shoulders are wide enough and big enough to talk upon all your guilt…the fact of the matter is, HE ALREADY HAS! He already took all your guilt and all your shame and all your wounds to Calvary and He provides HEALING in His name!

Today if you will call on the name of the Lord you can be SAVED and set FREE from the power and penalty of sin, of guilt and everything else the CURSE brought to us!