Leaving our Past Behind

Title: Leaving our Past Behind

Text: 1 Tim 1:12-17

Preacher: Ps Simon Eng

1. Be honest to face our past … and admit to God our wrong (v13,15)
   Paul was honest about his own past when he described how we was before, even though it was not something to be proud of.
   In order for us to find healing and grace of God from our past, we have to confront it.
    
   Top 3 negatives from the past

1. Regrets about things done and not done. Missed opportunities, mistakes made.
   Do not carry regrets into the New Year.
2. Difficult experiences resulting in bad memories, causing phobias, fears.
3. Painful relationships causing hurts, disappointments, regrets, bitterness or un forgiveness

Face them with God in the picture. Find room in our hearts to Glorify God! (v17)

God knows the amount of pain and tears we have shed.

Do not be defined, condemned by our past, instead, let it decorate our life. John 21:15-17

1. Learn from our past (v13b-14, 16a)
   Take time to do some reflections.
   Nobody has all the answers yet. Things are not perfect but God will reveal his answer and grace to us.
    
   Book Recommendation: The Calling Journey by Tony Stoltzfus,
   
    
    
    
    
   3 Major Areas of Learning

1. Learn about our journey
   We all go through 4 mountain tops and 3 valley lows
    
2. Learn about God
   God is both in our mountain top experiences and the valley deep lows.
   Exercise our mind, will emotion to be in tune with Him.
   Paul received God’s strength (v12)
   Paul received God’s grace (v13, 16)
   Paul received God’s abundant grace (v14)
   Do not glorify our past and pain. When we spend time thinking about those, we are glorifying it instead of God.
    
3. Learn about ourselves

• When in the valleys, allow God to deal with ourselves.
• Do not point fingers at others
• Look deep within our own being
   

1. Move on from our past (v17)
   Do not remain in the past, we must move on.
    
   Embrace:
   Faith: the unexpected good can happen!
   Hope: the better is coming, we’ve turned the corner, spring is coming the winter is over.
   Love: to believe and trust in people (again) ; to love with His love.
    
   Gen 41:51
   Joseph moved on; Joseph’s 2 sons:
   Manasseh: God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father’s household.
   Ephraim: God has made me fruitful.
    
   Believe that God will make me fruitful