In this series we have pursued the idea of “The Wonderful
Potential of Spirit-filled Living”. As we look at these scriptures we
discover the warm encouragement of the Holy Spirit’s ministry for us
personally. In Romans 8 there is huge help for the child of God. Paul’s
words are warming to the believers’ heart: “For you did not receive
a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit
of sonship. And by him we cry ‘Abba’ Father.”
The loving, kind, gentle, merciful and gracious Fatherhood of
God provides us both access to Him and His indwelling Holy Spirit who “helps
us in our weakness” (v. 26). Here we learn that one of the ways the Spirit
helps us is by interceding “for us with groans that words cannot express”,
or “. . . sighs too deep for words”.
The focus of this topical message is overcoming an abusive past.
It is biblically accurate to say that the Holy Spirit’s involvement in
our lives reaches deep inside and restoringly touches us at the point of our
past wounds. Beyond facing the wounds of our yesterdays we must proceed to
forgiveness. Ephesians 4:31-32 points us to “forgiving each other, just
as in Christ, God forgave you”. Further, we must make the choice to forge
ahead. Paul’s choice of “forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on” (Philippians 3: 13-14) is our example.
These three scriptures deliver some great news to us: we have
options. We do not have to be stuck where we’ve been. Through it all
it is the Holy Spirit who “helps us in our weakness.”
We all have a personal story. Where we’ve come from, who
we are, the cumulative effects of our past experiences, and where we’re
headed are some of the chapters of our personal story. For many of us an inescapable
detail in our stories is pain. And for some the source of that pain is abuse.
Abuse comes in different flavors: verbal, emotional, physical, sexual and
religious. Abuse has an ugly companion that tags along called shame.
An overwhelming blessing is the realization that the child of
God is not left to helplessly flounder in past woundedness. The Holy Spirit
helps us. We don’t have to face it alone. Romans 8:31 bolsters the believer
with the truth: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” There
are hurting, needy people in church every Sunday with painful abuse and shame
in their lives. Applying God’s Word from Romans 8 can be the beginning
of new victory.
Folks will also need the help of Paul’s coaching regarding
forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31-32). How many people in our churches live with
a suppressed grudge towards some wounding offender in their past? In order
to progress in victory, our people need to choose to follow Paul’s example
to “press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14).
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachermagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
Yes, I open with another personal story, revealing some details
of past difficulty. Understandably, not every preacher has such a story or
would be comfortable revealing his/her own experience. Nonetheless, there
is value in offering the hearer an empathetic heart from the pulpit regarding
their abusive past.
When possible, a discreet personal example is quite meaningful.
It tends to relax the normal defensiveness in the listener and hopefully helps
them trust the Holy Spirit’s leadership in visiting the old neighborhoods
of painful memories. The preacher can leave the sledgehammer at home. This
kind of message needs to be soaked in prayerful tears.
After applying these verses in Romans 8, Ephesians 4, and Philippians
3, the closing illustration can be followed with a very sensitive invitation.
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” would be a meaningful closing song.
Some folks may be intimidated by the thought of coming forward to pray at the altar. That’s okay. A copy of the poem, “Face It, Forgive It, and Forge Ahead”, would be appropriate to distribute as people exit. These victories are rarely won with 20 seconds and two Kleenex at the altar. But there is potentially substantial victory to be won as hearts soak in biblical truth.
