What Do You Carry?

Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

• Orphan Heart

• Iniquities

• Inner Vows

 The temptation is for this to get stuck in our pain.

 We need to let it go.

"When you let go of what's in your hand, God let's go of what's in His hand." 

 Forgetting means; "to forget, neglect, no longer care for."

 For forgiveness to work it requires mercy on our part.

 Micah 7:18, There is no God like you. You forgive those who are guilty of sin...BECAUSE You delight in mercy... 

 "Mercy is the withholding of a deserved punishment."

 Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you...but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

 Luke 6:36, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

 God desires us to be "carriers of mercy."

 "God doesn't just want to heal you of your past, He wants to change your character for your future."

Three Qualities of a Carrier of Mercy

 1.  Do not condemn

 John 3:17, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." 

2.  Seek to Restore

 Galatians 6:1, Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.

3.  Aim for reconciliation

 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sin against them.  And He has [now] committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors.

"God doesn't just want to heal you of your past, He wants to give you character that's full of mercy."