Baggage

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 ESV

God wants you to get the junk out your life, so you have room to receive all that he has for you

1. We all have baggage

Baggage is past experiences, decisions, or long held beliefs and ideas that become weights in your life.

So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” *1 Samuel 10:22 NLT*

“And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.” 1 Samuel 17:22 ESV

2.Baggage clutters your life

“Clutter is caused by a failure to return things where they belong”- Maria Kondo

The clutter of baggage…

· Slows you down

· Takes you off course

· Causes you to crash

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” ESV 1:15 James

3.Baggage cannot be ignored

a. Two lies about baggage

i. Because no one can tell, it doesn’t need to change.

ii. Because I am still functioning then it must be okay.

b. . If you don’t deal with your baggage, your baggage will deal with you

“I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied, ‘Don’t bother me.’ You have been that way since childhood— you simply will not obey me! And now the wind will blow away your allies. All your friends will be taken away as captives…” Jeremiah 22:21-22 NLT

4.You don’t have to handle your own baggage.

a. You should surrender your baggage to Jesus because…

i. He chose to help you

ii. He has capacity to carry the baggage

iii. He paid for your baggage

We can make room in our lives by letting go of baggage and embracing the freedom that God has for us.