WHEN THE PAST LIVES IN THE PRESENT

'Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before...' - Philippians 3 vs 13

Dearly Beloved, this message is an expose to walking guiltless as a result of past actions which were sinful. Please don't keep this message to yourself alone, but share it with friends you know needs it as a matter of urgency. God Bless You.  

The title says, 'when the past lives in the present'. So many Christians around the world today are daily living in guilt, it seems to them as though the guilt would never go, and this happens even after they've cried to God for mercy. They try to forget the grieving thoughts that puts them in guilt, they read psychological words of comfort, that's when you see them posting things like this on Facebook, 'He that makes no mistakes can make nothing.' You see? They try to encourage themselves with nice words and rhymes, with intelligent thoughts, but it keeps coming back; they engage in activities just because they want their hearts and minds to be filled with other thoughts, hence to counter the guilty thought, but it keeps coming back, o their past still lives in their present, it has encompassed them all around like a permanent hug, and they are in tears day and night. Ooooo, how my heart pants for you if you are reading this now and you are in that condition, how I know and feel your pain, your hurt, Oooo. I'm sorry. The Lord has heard your cries, and He has seen your tears, and now has He sent His word to heal you completely, and restore your joy unto you. Praise GOD.

Psalms 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.  

107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. {KING JAMES VERSION}

And this is just your case now, the Lord has heard your cries, and He has sent me with His word to heal you and deliver you from all your guilt. Glory to God!

From our opening scripture, these were the words of the Apostle Paul, 'but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before'. He said, he forgets those things which are behind. This is the word the Lord gave me to give you that will heal you. FORGET THE PAST!

But there is a godly method the Lord has prescribed in doing this. Not with your emotions, it won't work! Not by purposely trying to forget it, it won't work! Not by reading tips on how to forget depressing thoughts online, they won't work! All that are garbage! Junks!!! To get results from God, things must be done His way.

Now what is His way in totally annihilating your guilt and grief-full thoughts? How can I be totally free from these thoughts and be filled with absolute joy again like never before?

'if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.' - 1 John 1 vs 9 {THE MESSAGE BIBLE}

Have you cried before the Lord for mercy? Have you cried out to him from the depths of your heart? Have you poured out your soul before Him? Have you made Him see your griefs and how sorry you are? If yes, then the concluding part of that scripture says, 'he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing'. This is the point! We are told that He will forgive us of the sin, but that's not all He will do, it also says, He will purge us of all wrong doing. To purge means to evacuate! Meaning God will forgive you, and will take away that sin and it's effects from you. Remember, guilt is an effect of sin, especially grievous ones like sexual sins, murder and the likes of it. Now note, there is no sin God will not forgive us, because Jesus paid an eternal sacrifice for us {Hebrews 10 vs 10, Hebrews 10 vs 14}.

In the Old Testament, not all sins were forgiven by God, some where punishable by immediate death once committed. For example, if anyone had sex with an animal, he is to be killed immediately without delay.

'Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.' - Exodus 22 vs 19 {KJV}

You see it? But in this New Testament Era of Grace, Jesus made a payment for all sin eternally, so we can receive/obtain mercy for any sin under this dispensation. Thank God! What a lively hope we have in Jesus. - Selah

If it be true that God has forgiven you that sin, and has purged you of it, it means you are now clean, it means you have been restored to perfection like it never happened before, it means the Spirit of God is pleased to work in you again, it means you are free now. If it be so, then God wants you to acknowledge it, God wants you to lambano, to take a hold of that fact, cease it, see the reality of it that you've been purged and forgiven, and that the sin is no longer in you, neither is God counting it against you. Not too long, you'll begin to burst out with laughter mixed with songs, not too long, you will begin to shout, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, not too long, your joy will begin to overflow. My dear, this is the word of the Lord. It works! It's proven.

'That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.' - Philemon 1 vs 6 {KJV}

As you acknowledge the mercy shown you and how that you've been purged of that sin, as you take it as reality, I see your joy bursting forth with branches everywhere in Jesus name. AMEN.

Watch out for my next Article titled, 'UNDERSTANDING GUILT AND GODLY SORROWS', where I will be talking about the experience God makes us gain from guilt of wrong actions.

God Bless You.
- Pastor Jenning Uweye