1 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,960 Grace and peace to you all in Jesus' mighty name 2 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:20,120 and welcome to another edition of 'Faith Is Natural' here on God's Heart TV. 3 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:26,000 Today, I want to talk about an issue that has surfaced so many times 4 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:33,960 in conversations with people - in moments of prayer, counselling and encouragement. 5 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:40,280 I have just observed that so many people today 6 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:47,080 are living their lives through this lens of yesterday, 7 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,040 through the lens of their past - 8 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:56,320 their past wrongs, mistakes, hurt and pain. 9 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:02,160 And as a result of this, so many find themselves caught up 10 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:12,880 in this vicious cycle of guilt and condemnation over the wrong they've done 11 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:18,320 or the equally vicious cycle of bitterness and resentment 12 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:23,280 over the wrong done to them in the past. 13 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,240 And it's so dangerous. 14 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:35,840 People of God, this is nothing but a cunning plot, a common ploy of the devil 15 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,880 to disconnect you from God. 16 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:45,520 Satan delights in discussing your past with you. 17 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:52,840 He revels in reminding you of your past - past failure, past wrong, past hurt. 18 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,800 Because that's the only thing that connects you to him. 19 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:04,720 That's the only information he actually has about you - your past. 20 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:11,040 And the devil will take every available avenue 21 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:19,320 to try and keep you from acting on the Word of God now. 22 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:24,640 Look, he doesn't mind if you analyse the Word. 23 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:30,640 He doesn't mind if you admire the Word or even admit the truthfulness of the Word 24 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:35,960 as long as you do not act on that Word. 25 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,480 He does not want you to act on the Word of God! 26 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:48,840 He wants you to live your life through the lens of your unworthy past, 27 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,040 for you to filter everything through it, 28 00:02:53,040 --> 00:03:00,960 so as to cripple your ability to act faith in the present 29 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:07,200 and thus tarnish your future. 30 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:20,120 People of God, it is dangerous to take unnecessary journeys into yesterday. 31 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,840 It's so dangerous. 32 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:30,920 Look, your past does not define your present 33 00:03:30,920 --> 00:03:36,040 and it does not determine your future. 34 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:41,440 You can learn from your past without living in your past. 35 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,440 Don't live in it; learn from it. 36 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:54,680 Don't dignify the devil's deception with your attention - your precious attention. 37 00:03:54,680 --> 00:04:00,400 Because your mistakes do not define you. 38 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,680 Psalm 37:24 39 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,920 I repeat - your mistakes do not define you. 40 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:13,080 In fact, they can even refine you. 41 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:21,960 I mean, God can even use your mistakes to take you to the place 42 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:32,640 where He wants you to be - depending on your response. 43 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,320 The key lies in your response. 44 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,920 How do you respond to that wrong? 45 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,480 Now, let me give you a very practical example. 46 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,240 Just imagine you're on a journey somewhere. 47 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,240 You're going somewhere; you know where you are going. 48 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:51,160 And on this journey, you suddenly recognise that you're in the wrong place. 49 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,160 You've taken a wrong step; you've missed the direction. 50 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,120 What do you do? 51 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:03,000 You need to retrace your steps and get back on track. 52 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,880 If you recognise that you've gone in the wrong direction, do you just say, 53 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,120 'Oh well, it's too late! Let me just continue on in this wrong way.' 54 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:23,680 No! You quickly get back to the right path, back on track and continue your journey. 55 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:32,320 People of God, in this journey of life, 56 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:39,320 if you take a wrong step, how do you respond? 57 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,480 How do you react? 58 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:52,920 Do you recognise your wrong, retrace your steps and run to God in repentance? 59 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:59,680 Or do you resist self-examination, 60 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,200 wallow in self-pity 61 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:16,760 and fall deeper into that tangled web of guilt, condemnation and inferiority? 62 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:24,040 Do you get back on track or do you go further off track? 63 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,160 The choice is yours. 64 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:39,760 Choosing to live in your past is choosing to go further off track. 65 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:45,080 Falling into that guilt and condemnation - you're just going further off track. 66 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,880 In the same way, if you justify your wrong 67 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,560 or point fingers left, right and centre 68 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:57,040 or make excuses, you are going off track. 69 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,680 And the dangerous thing here is that 70 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:09,560 the more you prolong your stay in wrong, 71 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:18,840 the more damage the devil can inflict in your heart. 72 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:27,200 And when the devil has a foothold in your heart, 73 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:32,640 that damage can easily extend to your home, 74 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:38,520 your marriage, family, relationships and career. 75 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:44,960 Oh what a tangled web we weave 76 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:52,000 when our mistakes, we refuse to leave. 77 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,880 I'm not saying that you won't make mistakes. 78 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,000 Everyone makes mistakes on this journey. 79 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,480 Everyone misses the mark. 80 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:05,280 I mean, just take a look at the Bible, our standard, the Word of God - 81 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:10,440 so many great Biblical characters we read about. 82 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,200 Noah struggled with alcohol. 83 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,320 Jacob used deception. 84 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,600 Lot battled with greed. 85 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:25,080 What of Moses who grappled with anger. 86 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:31,080 Peter was often overwhelmed by fear, Thomas by doubt. 87 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:36,560 What of King David, Solomon, Samson - they all succumbed to lust. 88 00:08:36,560 --> 00:08:44,000 No one is perfect in this world (Romans 3:10, 23) 89 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:51,840 We all stumble in many ways (James 3:2) 90 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:58,600 In this wicked world, there will always be that conflict, 91 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:04,320 that battle in the heart of man between the flesh and the spirit. 92 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:11,640 The thought in your heart is the battle you will face to the last day, 93 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,880 'til Jesus comes - that's the battle you will face. 94 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:22,320 So, my encouragement for you today, people of God, is this - 95 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:30,280 As soon as you recognise that you have taken a wrong step, 96 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:36,040 quickly get back on track. 97 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:45,680 Don't prolong your stay in wrong by your response to it. 98 00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:54,480 Look, as a child of God, you can know when you take a wrong step. 99 00:09:54,480 --> 00:10:02,920 How? The Spirit of God will prompt your conscience to repentance. 100 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:07,880 Romans 9:1, 2 Corinthians 7:10 101 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:14,040 The Holy Spirit will prompt your conscience to repentance. 102 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:25,280 The question is - how sensitive is your spirit? 103 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:32,760 How quick are you to respond? 104 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:42,960 The speed at which you recognise your wrong is proportionate 105 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:52,680 to the degree at which the Word of God dominates your heart. 106 00:10:52,680 --> 00:11:03,960 And to be more sensitive to the prompting of God's Spirit in your spirit, 107 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:09,960 you simply have to spend more time at His feet, 108 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,320 more time in His presence, 109 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,160 more time in His Word. 110 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:22,240 He must increase; you must decrease (John 3:30). 111 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:26,400 Because it's all about Jesus; it's not about you. 112 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:31,960 It's not about your worthiness because no one is worthy. 113 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:39,160 It's not about your weakness because everyone has weaknesses. 114 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:45,200 It's all about your willingness - 115 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:49,280 your willingness to acknowledge your wrong, 116 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:53,160 to lay your pride by the side, 117 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:59,040 retrace your steps, get back on track with God 118 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:03,440 and continue your journey of faith. 119 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:10,520 Because you don't have to be perfect to be a child of God; 120 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:14,760 you just have to be available. 121 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,720 People of God, I will leave you today with a word of Scripture 122 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,960 from Apostle Paul in Romans 8:1. 123 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:35,480 He said, "There is therefore now no condemnation 124 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:39,000 for those who are in Christ Jesus." 125 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:44,760 Now, this Scripture doesn't give us a basis for sympathising with sin, 126 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:50,360 justifying wrong or taking grace for granted. No! 127 00:12:50,360 --> 00:13:00,960 But it simply emphasises that we should not allow the guilt of our mistakes 128 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:10,480 to rob us of the uncommon peace available in Christ's pardon. 129 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:15,680 Instead of your wrong to drive you from God's presence, 130 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:23,800 it should be the reason for you to draw closer to Him. 131 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,520 Because in the words of Prophet T.B. Joshua: 132 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:38,640 "You can know you are a child of God when your wrong sparks your spiritual life." 133 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,560 Thank You, Jesus Christ. 134 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:44,720 Right now, people of God, it is time for prayer. 135 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:59,760 Right now, to every heart stained by guilt - 136 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:05,600 be cleansed, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 137 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:10,880 To every spirit troubled by condemnation - 138 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:18,960 be cleansed by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ! 139 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:26,680 When the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you, you are cleansed indeed! 140 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,120 Be cleansed right now! 141 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:38,000 In your spirit, in your soul, in your body - be cleansed! 142 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:48,640 Every spirit of affliction, bondage, infirmity, nightmares - 143 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:53,160 be washed away by the Blood of Jesus Christ! 144 00:14:53,160 --> 00:15:03,640 Be flushed out right now, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 145 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,160 Receive the courage! 146 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,080 Receive the strength! 147 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:20,160 Receive the conviction to hold your ground in Christ! 148 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:27,040 Oh Lord, bend every stubborn heart and will. 149 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,680 Guide the steps that go astray. 150 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:35,520 Wash the stains of guilt away. 151 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:41,320 Help us to see through Your eyes. 152 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:48,720 Draw us to a closer relationship with You 153 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:56,560 and grant us a greater understanding of Your heart. 154 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:06,000 In the mighty name of Jesus Christ! Amen! 155 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,280 Thank You, Jesus Christ.