From Humbug to Whoville, Week 1: Getting Past My Past

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. Theme Verse: (Isaiah 1:18) (NLT) “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though 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.   Title:  Getting Past My Past   (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. Getting past our past will require us to stop believing the twisted lies of the enemy.   (Isaiah 1:18) (NLT) “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though 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.   DEALING WITH THE PAST   1. We hide it (Proverbs 28:13) (NLT) People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. 2. We beat ourselves up (Psalm 38:4-8) (NLT) My guilt overwhelms me—it 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.  I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. (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,  even 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. (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: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.  (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.   Getting Past the Past:   1.    Receive the gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) (NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t 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.   2.    Replace the lies with the truth   (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.   (1 Corinthians 1:30) (NLT) Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 3.    Rely on God to turn it around for good   (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.  (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.