VICTORY OVER OUR PAST (PART I)

God is a God of victory.  

God wants you to walk in victory!

20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT

VICTORY OVER OUR PAST IS A MATTER OF THE HEART.

We play the victim and blame everyone else…

• We blame our parents.
• We blame our spouse.
• We blame our boss.
• We blame someone/ anyone.

God’s Word brings life to those of us who find them, and healing to our whole body as we let them penetrate deep into our heart.

• Your heart determines the life you live.
• When your past is allowed to dominate your present, it stifles your ability to pursue God’s plan for your future. 
• The real question is not can God help me, but will I trust Him? 

1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. 10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” 21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Acts 9:1-22 NLT

HOW CAN WE HEAL FROM THESE HEART ISSUES AND WALK IN VICTORY?

1. Victory begins with a personal encounter with Jesus.

• Paul had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.
• Understanding the Gospel is key to us healing from past issues.
• Jesus offered forgiveness before we ever had to ask for it.
• If past failures dominate us, we increasingly see ourselves through the lens of our sin, our mistakes, and our shortcomings, and less and less through the lens of who we are in Christ.

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT

2. Through The Word, our blindness is revealed.

• Jesus was the incarnate Word.
• We have the Bible, God’s written Word.
• It cuts deeply and exposes. 

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 NLT

• Racism is not a skin color issue; it’s a heart issue.
• Jesus addressed racism with the parable of the good samaritan and the woman at the well.

• No matter what culture you grew up in, The Gospel changes you at the deepest part of you, the heart.

 

3. The Holy Spirit heals our blindness as we walk with other believers.

• Ananias was obedient to go and pray over Saul.
• Ananias was obedient to The Great Commission. 
• Every believer needs a community of believers/ Life Group.
• All believers need someone to teach them.

Next Steps for me today…

• Have a life-changing encounter with Christ today by faith in Him alone.
• Allow the Word of God to reveal the deep heart issues you need to confess and repent of right now.
• Join a Life Group with other believers and learn from them.