How much baggage are you carrying?  We accrue baggage as we go through life, and we can we can choose to pick it up or put it down. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally teaches us how to travel light. 
 
1. Our baggage slows us down.
Hebrews 12:1 “... 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. Our baggage affects others.
Hebrews 12:15 
Unforgiveness is contagious. People with baggage always want you to help them carry it.
 
3. Our baggage is released through forgiveness. 
John 20:23 
Too many people are retaining what they should be releasing. 
 
Forgiveness is not:
1. Denying what happened.
2. Excusing bad behavior. It doesn’t mean what they did was OK. When Jesus forgave us, he wasn’t making sin right, He was making sinners righteous.
3. Shielding someone from consequences. You can forgive someone and call the cops. 
4. A guarantee that someone will change. 
You don’t forgive people for them, you forgive people for you.
5. An option. 
Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Forgiveness is a two-sided coin: heads, God forgave me—tails, I forgive others. You can’t spend only one side of a coin.
 
How Do We Forgive?
1. Make the choice. 
Colossians 3:12-13 “... Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Don’t wait until they say "I’m sorry" to forgive. If you need someone else to change or say they’re sorry in order for you to be OK, you are their prisoner. 

2. Embrace the process: 
Matthew 18:21-22 
Luke 17:4 
Forgiveness is not just a point in time action; It’s a life-long decision. The pain you feel during the process of forgiving someone is nowhere near the pain you will feel if you hold on to the unforgiveness.
 
3. Recognize that you need God’s help: 
Hebrews 8:12 
If you will forgive the people who hurt you, God will remove the pain they caused you. 

How do you know when you're free from baggage?
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, BLESS those who curse you, DO GOOD to those who hate you, and PRAY for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
 
Ignaz Semmelweis - wash your hands!
 
Are you carrying baggage?