Facing My Fears Caused by My Past

Series: Facing My Fears
Message: Facing My Fears Caused by My Past
Scripture: 1 John 4:16-18

Many of our fears are rooted in Guilt

Ineffective Ways of Dealing With Our Guilt

1. We Bury it

• Minimize
• Rationalize
• Compromise

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper” (Proverbs 28:13a)

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3–4)

2. We Blame others

“The man said, 'The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.'” (Genesis 3:12)

We have become experts at Accusing and Excusing

3. We Beat ourselves up

“For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.” (Psalm 38:4–6)

What We Should Do With Our Guilt

1. Admit it

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” (Proverbs 20:27)

“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!” (Lamentations 3:40)

2. Accept responsibility for it

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:3–4)

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)

I am only as sick as my Secrets

Revealing your Feeling is the beginning of Healing

3. Ask God to forgive it

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

Wrong ways to ask for God’s forgiveness:

• Begging God for it
• Bargaining with God for it

The right way to ask for God’s forgiveness:

• Believe in God’s provision for it

“the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” (Romans 3:22–25)

What God Does With My Sin In Jesus Christ

1. God forgives Instantly

“Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'” (John 8:10–11)

“And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”” (Matthew 9:2)

2. God forgives Completely

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13–14)

3. God forgives Continually

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1)

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

4. God forgives Freely

“let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” (Ephesians 1:7–8)

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1–2)

There is more grace in God's heart than there is sin in your past!

Making It Personal:

• How have you typically tried to deal with your guilt in the past?
• What truth about how Christ deals with our guilt do you most need to meditate on this week?
• Will you receive God’s perfect provision for your guilt by turning from your sin and trusting in God’s grace gift to you in Jesus Christ?
• Who can I share these truths with?