*The following is an outline from a message to High School students on HOW and WHEN to move on from those things that keep us from God’s best for our lives.
Summary: If you want God’s best for your life, you’ve got to move on from the things that rob you from experiencing it. Sometimes you need to move on from a WHO, other times it’s a WHAT.
Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Sometimes you need to move on from a WHO
– Relationship
– Friendship
– Someone who hurt you
Sometime you need to move on from a WHAT
– Past
– Guilt / Shame
– Pain
– Lies
– Abuse
Here are some keys to knowing WHEN to move on:
1) Step back and look at the big picture.
- Evaluate where you want to go
- Is your current situation, life choices, relationships pointing your life in that direction?
- What people or things are holding you back?
2) Make decisions based on truth, not feeling.
- Feelings change, truth does not.
“Don’t sacrifice your future on the altar of monetary feelings.”
- Seek wisdom from someone who loves you & wants the best for you.
Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
- Meditate on truth. “The truth will set you free.”
3) Clarify the WHY.
- The WHY is bigger than the WHO or the WHAT
4) Commit to action.
- Make sure that the plan is:
– Specific
– Accountable
HOW to move on…
-
Receive God’s forgiveness, then give it (to yourself & others)
– Receive it.
1 John 1:9 – But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Ephesians 3:17-19 – Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Psalm 103:11-12 – For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
– Give it.
Colossians 3:13 – Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Unforgiveness doesn’t punish the other person, it punishes you.
A Few Words About Sexual Abuse
- God understands your pain & cares
- It is in no way your fault.
- You are not alone.
- Help is available.
- There is hope & healing is possible
2) Look forward, not back.
– The past is over.
Philippians 3:13-14 – …I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
If you run towards all God has for you, you distance yourself from your past.
1 Corinthians 9:26 – “So I run with purpose in every step.”
– Don’t limit the power of God.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
3) Treasure God’s grace; don’t cheapen it.
Romans 3:8 – And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
4) Live in truth.
– Don’t hide. (Your sin or from people)
John 3:21 – But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.
– Immerse yourself in God’s truth
2 John 7-11 – I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
You can’t control the things that hurt you, but you can replace them with truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
5) Celebrate freedom / healing!
Psalm 32:1-2 – Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Notice the key through it all…
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. – Hebrews 12:1-2
Takeaway (The 140)…
140: Don’t let anything rob you of God’s best for your life. The WHY is greater than the WHOs & WHATs that would keep you from it!
#questionit
TAKE IT HOME:
- What people or things tend to rob students of God’s best for their lives?
- How do you know when to move on from someone or something?
- As you move on, what does it mean to live in truth?
- What steps do you need to take today to move towards God’s best for you?
*For more resources and encouragement, click here.