Holding On To Our Past - Resentments, Regrets And Remorse

If you are not familiar with an Anglican Service there are 4 readings prior to the Sermon. The assigned readings for this day were: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:7-16 and Luke 20:9-19.

I will be Drawing from our New Testament reading in Philippians this morning.

And I would like to address "Holding on to our past" something that can inhibit not only our relationships, our outlook on life, but also our sense of identity and spiritual growth in Jesus.

Listen again to what the apostle Paul shares with the Believers ... That's right to the Believers gathered in Philippi. BIBLE ... may I know (Christ) and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. END (Philippians 3: 10-14)

Paul is pointing out a truth ... a fact, "I let go of the past and strained towards my future in Christ."

We must leave the past in the past.

Yes, learn from it but press on ... straining forward to what lies ahead.

Press on toward the goal that lies ahead.

You cannot relate to the present ... if you are still reacting to the past.

Sadly ... We bring so many unresolved problems into ... our present relationships.

We are prone to carry ... emotional garbage around with us.

We rehash ... our resentments.

We mull over like a bad movie the bitterness we hold.

Our anger toward the those that have hurt us.

We rehash ... and rehash ... and rehash our resentments and our regrets.

Those things we have feel guilty about, and the "if only" regrets.

It is as if we cannot get them out of our mind. "Only if"?

We rehearse our resentments, and we replay our regrets.

And many of us are weighed down by remorse.

And when we feel down ... when we feel depressed.

When you carry the emotional garbage of rehashing resentments, remembering regrets, and reinforcing remorse.

Well ... it tends to cause you to react to life rather than enjoying life.

Yet Paul shares with us a solution hear God's word.

BIBLE "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind (Forgetting what lies where ... in the past) and straining forward to what lies ahead. END

Beloved ... Jesus is clear BIBLE "'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" END (Luke 9:62)

Until you stop looking backward you are not fit for service on this side of eternity.

If you are looking back ... if you are holding on to "If Only's" well, you then you are not walking in God's will.

And we each get stuck there sometimes.

So ... how do we let go of the past?

Well first you must let go of your bitterness of your grudges.

Paul shares this truth to the believers gathered in Ephesus.

BIBLE "31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor, and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." END (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Get rid of all bitterness.

Get rid of all rage.

Get rid of all anger.

Chuck it!

Throw it away!

Eliminate it!

Beloved do not hold on to resentment.

If you do, it will ruin your relationships.

There are few things in life that can cause more danger to a relationship then resentment.

Beloved resentment does not resolve anything.

Remember when you are resentful, it does not upset the other person, it only ... it only upsets you.

You remain the one who hurting.

Resentment never affects or hurts the other person it only affects you.

Hear God's word from Job: BIBLE "to worry yourself to death with resentment would be foolish, senseless to do ...... you are only you're hurting yourself with your anger." (Job 5:2 and Job 18:4)

Yes ... we can be resentful towards people who have hurt us in the past ... but it will never ... change the past.

Resentment is a waste of time ... or as the scriptures state ... it is foolish ... because it never resolves the problem ...... it only makes it worse.

And the truth be told ... Our resentment .... makes us a slave ... to the one .... we resent.