0:00:09.280,0:00:12.960 Grace and peace to you all in Jesus' mighty name 0:00:12.960,0:00:20.120 and welcome to another edition of 'Faith Is Natural' here on God's Heart TV. 0:00:20.120,0:00:26.000 Today, I want to talk about an issue that has surfaced so many times 0:00:26.000,0:00:33.960 in conversations with people - in moments of prayer, counselling and encouragement. 0:00:33.960,0:00:40.280 I have just observed that so many people today 0:00:40.280,0:00:47.080 are living their lives through this lens of yesterday, 0:00:47.080,0:00:49.040 through the lens of their past - 0:00:49.040,0:00:56.320 their past wrongs, mistakes, hurt and pain. 0:00:56.320,0:01:02.160 And as a result of this, so many find themselves caught up 0:01:02.160,0:01:12.880 in this vicious cycle of guilt and condemnation over the wrong they've done 0:01:12.880,0:01:18.320 or the equally vicious cycle of bitterness and resentment 0:01:18.320,0:01:23.280 over the wrong done to them in the past. 0:01:23.280,0:01:27.240 And it's so dangerous. 0:01:27.240,0:01:35.840 People of God, this is nothing but a cunning plot, a common ploy of the devil 0:01:35.840,0:01:40.880 to disconnect you from God. 0:01:40.880,0:01:45.520 Satan delights in discussing your past with you. 0:01:45.520,0:01:52.840 He revels in reminding you of your past - past failure, past wrong, past hurt. 0:01:52.840,0:01:57.800 Because that's the only thing that connects you to him. 0:01:57.800,0:02:04.720 That's the only information he actually has about you - your past. 0:02:04.720,0:02:11.040 And the devil will take every available avenue 0:02:11.040,0:02:19.320 to try and keep you from acting on the Word of God now. 0:02:19.320,0:02:24.640 Look, he doesn't mind if you analyse the Word. 0:02:24.640,0:02:30.640 He doesn't mind if you admire the Word or even admit the truthfulness of the Word 0:02:30.640,0:02:35.960 as long as you do not act on that Word. 0:02:35.960,0:02:39.480 He does not want you to act on the Word of God! 0:02:39.480,0:02:48.840 He wants you to live your life through the lens of your unworthy past, 0:02:48.840,0:02:53.040 for you to filter everything through it, 0:02:53.040,0:03:00.960 so as to cripple your ability to act faith in the present 0:03:00.960,0:03:07.200 and thus tarnish your future. 0:03:07.200,0:03:20.120 People of God, it is dangerous to take unnecessary journeys into yesterday. 0:03:20.120,0:03:23.840 It's so dangerous. 0:03:23.840,0:03:30.920 Look, your past does not define your present 0:03:30.920,0:03:36.040 and it does not determine your future. 0:03:36.040,0:03:41.440 You can learn from your past without living in your past. 0:03:41.440,0:03:45.440 Don't live in it; learn from it. 0:03:45.440,0:03:54.680 Don't dignify the devil's deception with your attention - your precious attention. 0:03:54.680,0:04:00.400 Because your mistakes do not define you. 0:04:00.400,0:04:03.680 Psalm 37:24 0:04:03.680,0:04:08.920 I repeat - your mistakes do not define you. 0:04:08.920,0:04:13.080 In fact, they can even refine you. 0:04:13.080,0:04:21.960 I mean, God can even use your mistakes to take you to the place 0:04:21.960,0:04:32.640 where He wants you to be - depending on your response. 0:04:32.640,0:04:35.320 The key lies in your response. 0:04:35.320,0:04:37.920 How do you respond to that wrong? 0:04:37.920,0:04:41.480 Now, let me give you a very practical example. 0:04:41.480,0:04:44.240 Just imagine you're on a journey somewhere. 0:04:44.240,0:04:46.240 You're going somewhere; you know where you are going. 0:04:46.240,0:04:51.160 And on this journey, you suddenly recognise that you're in the wrong place. 0:04:51.160,0:04:54.160 You've taken a wrong step; you've missed the direction. 0:04:54.160,0:04:56.120 What do you do? 0:04:56.120,0:05:03.000 You need to retrace your steps and get back on track. 0:05:03.000,0:05:06.880 If you recognise that you've gone in the wrong direction, do you just say, 0:05:06.880,0:05:11.120 'Oh well, it's too late! Let me just continue on in this wrong way.' 0:05:11.120,0:05:23.680 No! You quickly get back to the right path, back on track and continue your journey. 0:05:23.680,0:05:32.320 People of God, in this journey of life, 0:05:32.320,0:05:39.320 if you take a wrong step, how do you respond? 0:05:39.320,0:05:42.480 How do you react? 0:05:42.480,0:05:52.920 Do you recognise your wrong, retrace your steps and run to God in repentance? 0:05:52.920,0:05:59.680 Or do you resist self-examination, 0:05:59.680,0:06:03.200 wallow in self-pity 0:06:03.200,0:06:16.760 and fall deeper into that tangled web of guilt, condemnation and inferiority? 0:06:16.760,0:06:24.040 Do you get back on track or do you go further off track? 0:06:24.040,0:06:28.160 The choice is yours. 0:06:28.160,0:06:39.760 Choosing to live in your past is choosing to go further off track. 0:06:39.760,0:06:45.080 Falling into that guilt and condemnation - you're just going further off track. 0:06:45.080,0:06:47.880 In the same way, if you justify your wrong 0:06:47.880,0:06:50.560 or point fingers left, right and centre 0:06:50.560,0:06:57.040 or make excuses, you are going off track. 0:06:57.040,0:07:01.680 And the dangerous thing here is that 0:07:01.680,0:07:09.560 the more you prolong your stay in wrong, 0:07:09.560,0:07:18.840 the more damage the devil can inflict in your heart. 0:07:18.840,0:07:27.200 And when the devil has a foothold in your heart, 0:07:27.200,0:07:32.640 that damage can easily extend to your home, 0:07:32.640,0:07:38.520 your marriage, family, relationships and career. 0:07:38.520,0:07:44.960 Oh what a tangled web we weave 0:07:44.960,0:07:52.000 when our mistakes, we refuse to leave. 0:07:52.000,0:07:54.880 I'm not saying that you won't make mistakes. 0:07:54.880,0:07:58.000 Everyone makes mistakes on this journey. 0:07:58.000,0:08:00.480 Everyone misses the mark. 0:08:00.480,0:08:05.280 I mean, just take a look at the Bible, our standard, the Word of God - 0:08:05.280,0:08:10.440 so many great Biblical characters we read about. 0:08:10.440,0:08:14.200 Noah struggled with alcohol. 0:08:14.200,0:08:16.320 Jacob used deception. 0:08:16.320,0:08:19.600 Lot battled with greed. 0:08:19.600,0:08:25.080 What of Moses who grappled with anger. 0:08:25.080,0:08:31.080 Peter was often overwhelmed by fear, Thomas by doubt. 0:08:31.080,0:08:36.560 What of King David, Solomon, Samson - they all succumbed to lust. 0:08:36.560,0:08:44.000 No one is perfect in this world (Romans 3:10, 23) 0:08:44.000,0:08:51.840 We all stumble in many ways (James 3:2) 0:08:51.840,0:08:58.600 In this wicked world, there will always be that conflict, 0:08:58.600,0:09:04.320 that battle in the heart of man between the flesh and the spirit. 0:09:04.320,0:09:11.640 The thought in your heart is the battle you will face to the last day, 0:09:11.640,0:09:15.880 'til Jesus comes - that's the battle you will face. 0:09:15.880,0:09:22.320 So, my encouragement for you today, people of God, is this - 0:09:22.320,0:09:30.280 As soon as you recognise that you have taken a wrong step, 0:09:30.280,0:09:36.040 quickly get back on track. 0:09:36.040,0:09:45.680 Don't prolong your stay in wrong by your response to it. 0:09:45.680,0:09:54.480 Look, as a child of God, you can know when you take a wrong step. 0:09:54.480,0:10:02.920 How? The Spirit of God will prompt your conscience to repentance. 0:10:02.920,0:10:07.880 Romans 9:1, 2 Corinthians 7:10 0:10:07.880,0:10:14.040 The Holy Spirit will prompt your conscience to repentance. 0:10:14.040,0:10:25.280 The question is - how sensitive is your spirit? 0:10:25.280,0:10:32.760 How quick are you to respond? 0:10:32.760,0:10:42.960 The speed at which you recognise your wrong is proportionate 0:10:42.960,0:10:52.680 to the degree at which the Word of God dominates your heart. 0:10:52.680,0:11:03.960 And to be more sensitive to the prompting of God's Spirit in your spirit, 0:11:03.960,0:11:09.960 you simply have to spend more time at His feet, 0:11:09.960,0:11:13.320 more time in His presence, 0:11:13.320,0:11:16.160 more time in His Word. 0:11:16.160,0:11:22.240 He must increase; you must decrease (John 3:30). 0:11:22.240,0:11:26.400 Because it's all about Jesus; it's not about you. 0:11:26.400,0:11:31.960 It's not about your worthiness because no one is worthy. 0:11:31.960,0:11:39.160 It's not about your weakness because everyone has weaknesses. 0:11:39.160,0:11:45.200 It's all about your willingness - 0:11:45.200,0:11:49.280 your willingness to acknowledge your wrong, 0:11:49.280,0:11:53.160 to lay your pride by the side, 0:11:53.160,0:11:59.040 retrace your steps, get back on track with God 0:11:59.040,0:12:03.440 and continue your journey of faith. 0:12:03.440,0:12:10.520 Because you don't have to be perfect to be a child of God; 0:12:10.520,0:12:14.760 you just have to be available. 0:12:14.760,0:12:18.720 People of God, I will leave you today with a word of Scripture 0:12:18.720,0:12:22.960 from Apostle Paul in Romans 8:1. 0:12:22.960,0:12:35.480 He said, "There is therefore now no condemnation 0:12:35.480,0:12:39.000 for those who are in Christ Jesus." 0:12:39.000,0:12:44.760 Now, this Scripture doesn't give us a basis for sympathising with sin, 0:12:44.760,0:12:50.360 justifying wrong or taking grace for granted. No! 0:12:50.360,0:13:00.960 But it simply emphasises that we should not allow the guilt of our mistakes 0:13:00.960,0:13:10.480 to rob us of the uncommon peace available in Christ's pardon. 0:13:10.480,0:13:15.680 Instead of your wrong to drive you from God's presence, 0:13:15.680,0:13:23.800 it should be the reason for you to draw closer to Him. 0:13:23.800,0:13:27.520 Because in the words of Prophet T.B. Joshua: 0:13:27.520,0:13:38.640 "You can know you are a child of God when your wrong sparks your spiritual life." 0:13:38.640,0:13:40.560 Thank You, Jesus Christ. 0:13:40.560,0:13:44.720 Right now, people of God, it is time for prayer. 0:13:51.160,0:13:59.760 Right now, to every heart stained by guilt - 0:13:59.760,0:14:05.600 be cleansed, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 0:14:05.600,0:14:10.880 To every spirit troubled by condemnation - 0:14:10.880,0:14:18.960 be cleansed by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ! 0:14:18.960,0:14:26.680 When the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you, you are cleansed indeed! 0:14:26.680,0:14:29.120 Be cleansed right now! 0:14:29.120,0:14:38.000 In your spirit, in your soul, in your body - be cleansed! 0:14:38.000,0:14:48.640 Every spirit of affliction, bondage, infirmity, nightmares - 0:14:48.640,0:14:53.160 be washed away by the Blood of Jesus Christ! 0:14:53.160,0:15:03.640 Be flushed out right now, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 0:15:03.640,0:15:07.160 Receive the courage! 0:15:07.160,0:15:10.080 Receive the strength! 0:15:10.080,0:15:20.160 Receive the conviction to hold your ground in Christ! 0:15:20.160,0:15:27.040 Oh Lord, bend every stubborn heart and will. 0:15:27.040,0:15:30.680 Guide the steps that go astray. 0:15:30.680,0:15:35.520 Wash the stains of guilt away. 0:15:35.520,0:15:41.320 Help us to see through Your eyes. 0:15:41.320,0:15:48.720 Draw us to a closer relationship with You 0:15:48.720,0:15:56.560 and grant us a greater understanding of Your heart. 0:15:56.560,0:16:06.000 In the mighty name of Jesus Christ! Amen! 0:16:06.000,0:16:08.280 Thank You, Jesus Christ.