Colossians 2:11-15 MSG
Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It’s not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you’re already in —insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it’s an initiation ritual you’re after, you’ve already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.
How many of us have a past? (RAISE YOUR HAND!!)
Now, how many of us have some things that we pray Will not resurface? Have you loss sleep because of it? Has the enemy tried to paralyze you with it? Are you questioning your worthiness, ability to be more than a conqueror, ability in moving to the next level of your life, etc...
Hold on don't give in to fear because your past has been wiped clean...how do I know because GOD'S WORD said, "It's been nailed to the CROSS!!!"
I have a past that recently reared it's ugly head & I almost threw in the towel....BUT GOD!!! I realized that GOD had cleaned my slate, but the world wants to keep me bound! Somebody say, "It's been nailed to the CROSS!!"
My story may set another sister/brother free!
SO HERE GOES EVERYTHING....
It was 2002, single Mom trying to make a better life for me & my two boys(Chris 8 & Jacorey 4). I was back in school and was determined to finish. This particular Friday I was going to school to take my final English Comp exam, but there was a problem....I DIDN'T HAVE A BABYSITTER. I had a decision to make...school was 15-20 mins away & I was just going to take my test and come straight home..I could leave the kids at home set the alarm and lock the storm door(thinking the boys will be ok just for a few minutes)!
The HOLY SPIRIT was sending off an alarm in my belly, but I didn't yield to HIS voice.
I decided to leave them and rush to school, but before I could get to school, I had the wind knocked out of me(like someone had punched me in my belly and it was just me in the car)...ding ding ding THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WARNING ME!!! & I knew it, but I didn't listen.
10 mins into class, I was asked to come out because someone was looking for me...The police were there. I almost lost it, but made it home without wrecking or hyperventilating.
Arrived home and 2 cop cars were in my yard!!!! LORD WHAT I HAVE DONE?
I rushed to the door to be stopped by a rude cop...."This is quiet neighborhood & they don't need trouble living here!" What? I'm crying wanting to get to my babies...he finally said that they were fine. They were in the cop's car terrified....WHAT HAVE I DONE?
The HOLY SPIRIT was WARNING ME that as soon as I drove out of the driveway, my 8 year old had opened the door which set the alarm off. I had no way of knowing because the storm door was locked or I would have seen him.
Long story short, I was arrested for child neglect. No no no I'm a good momma. I was just trying to go to school and better my family's life. Oh GOD!! But because I didn't yield to the HOLY SPIRIT, I was in handcuffs and was in the County jail for 35 mins(It seemed like a life time!)
To bring this home today, never in a million years did I think this would come back to hinder me after all these years, but it did. Now what I want to say is that it hasn't stopped me, but it did test my faith. I found out that I haven't arrived and I can't do nothing by myself. If I didn't have two particular friends loving & praying for me & a sister that spoke LIFE back into me, I would be one beat up CHRISTIAN. See GOD allowed me to experience this thing again to know I'm not my own & I need HIM.
Know this... your past is just that...YOUR PAST!!! You're no longer guilty..SN: If you've accepted JESUS CHRIST as your LORD & SAVIOR! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross!
My friend said something that saved me from committing a sin with my mouth...She said, "This makes me appreciate you more because you're real...a human." **crazy face..I had been seen as Ms.Holier than thou** I'm not GOD! Matter fact on my best days, I'm no more than a filthy rag...had to be brought to my senses...
YOU(I) have a past, but your(my) past doesn't have you(me).
My prayer is to keep it real, trust somebody, & always depend & listen to the HOLY SPIRIT! HE LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO PROTECT YOU.
Now if you are struggling with your past failures, today GOD SAYS, ."YOUR SLATE IS CLEAN!" You are forgiven. Now forgive yourself. Walk into the next level of blessing because guess what HE KNOWS THE THOUGHTS HE THINKS TOWARD YOU. THOUGHTS OF PEACE & NOT EVIL..TO GIVE YOU HOPE & AN EXPECTANT END!! Get up and praise HIM..not for what you see, but for what you don't!
SN: My sons are 19 & 15. Holding down two jobs & starting his second year in college Chris) & honor roll student & headed his student body for 4 years as Class President(Jacorey)! I'm blessed!
NO MORE SHAME!!
