We need to learn not to believe every thought or emotion that pops up
Where do these pop-up emotions come from?
Matt. 15:16-20 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you.
What is in our hearts will eventually spill out on those who are closest to us
Jeremiah 17:9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
First Emotion we’re looking at: Guilt
Guilt is the emotion of acknowledging when we have done something wrong
Real Guilt with a narrative
Real guilt defines you
Real guilt but no feelings
Guilt creates a debt/debtor relationship
We don’t experience guilt as debt, but as a weight
We are all guilty
Acts 22:4 I worked hard and killed men and women who believed as I believe today. I put them in chains and sent them to prison.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Freedom
Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Those who are willing to face the condemning truth about themselves and acknowledge it, surrender to the Lordship stand un-condemned
Ps. 51:1-4 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
You are forgiven, my son, my daughter.
You forfeit the right to condemn yourself because you are not your own
Your guilt may remind you and it will not define you
Yes, I’m guilty, but I’m not condemned
Change out the narrative
The person who is forgiven the most loves the most
The power of confession to your Creator trickles down to others
We should never fear the consequences of confession worse than the consequences of concealment
When do I ask forgiveness? Ask Jesus in listening prayer.
My past may remind me, it will not define me.
My past will lead me to worship