‘How do we drop the baggage in our lives?’- The Coastal Community Church BlogAs part of our series on healthy habits Pastor Mark Rowan spoke on the theme ‘How do we drop the baggage from our lives?’. Hebrews 12:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV) 12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. In the past couple of years as a family we have started to fly away to Spain for our holiday. A few days away before we fly, we pull the cases from the loft packing begins. When the flight day arrives we drag all the heavy cases into the car and lift them into the boot. When we finally arrive at the airport we join the queue, still dragging the cases! As we hand the cases at the luggage desk, the weight and the burden of the cases is lifted from us. God wants to lift our burdens God wants to lift the burden of old baggage off of your life today and exchange it for freedom and healing. God knows that sometimes life can be tough. He wants to help us run the race that he has set before us. In Hebrews 12 we have this great imagery of each of us entering a race that God has set for us. It’s a race in which we need to be spiritually fit if we are to run well. Our race is inevitable and our baggage is optional. So who are the great crowd of witnesses? The great crowd of witnesses are those who are now standing on the sidelines. Those encouraging us and cheering us on. They are those who have run before us and run well. They are the heroes of faith we find in Hebrews 11. People like Jacob, Moses, Abraham, Noah and Enoch are the great witnesses. These people faced trials tests temptations and opposition during their race. They never gave up and they never gave in. They ran well the race that was set before them. They are a great inspiration they are to us today. So what are the weights and sins that slow you down? Weights are heavy burdens carried by believers. Anxiety, depression, worry, stress, hurt, regret, addiction, shame, guilt and rejection weigh us down. They are chains that bind the emotions. They are areas where God wants to bring deep healing and restoration. Proverbs 12:25 New King James Version (NKJV) 25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. In Mathew 18:21-22 Jesus talks to his disciples about unforgiveness. Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven Unforgivness only effects your heart and your life. God has not called you to live bound in unforgiveness. God has called you to live by faith in peace and freedom. Offence is also a weight that will slow you down. It is a spirit that cripples friendships and relationships. Jesus gave us a strategy on how to deal with offence. Matthew 10:11-14 New King James Version (NKJV) 11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Craig Groshel quotes: “Your life is too short and your calling is too great to live offended.” Sin is an obstacle that will always seek to trip you up. Sin will always seek to disqualify you. Anger, hatred, lust are the kinds of things that trip us up. God sees everything! Gods grace is sufficient for you today if you repent. So how do we run well? We run well by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2-3 English Standard Version (ESV) 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hows your race going? Jesus died upon the cross at calvary for the sins of the world. He rose from the grave three days later in victory to take your burdens. Matthew 11:28 New International Version (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
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