I. LET GO OF THE PAST.
A. Letting go can be one of the hardest things to do.
1. Some of us have been hurt so badly that we don’t want to let go (the ones who cheated on you, molested, or abused you mentally or physically).
2. The reason I say let go is that whatever you are holding on to is holding you back.
3. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
4. One cannot work for the Lord and look back simultaneously.
B. One of the keys to letting go of the past is forgiveness.
1. You must forgive the person that wronged you.
2. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you:” (Mat 6:14).
3. I guarantee you will travel much better if you let go of the extra baggage (leave your addictions, gambling, and substance abuse).
4. Forgive yourself. (If God can forgive you certainly you can forgive yourself).
5. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
C. Some of us live in the past (reminiscing on the good ole days).
1. That's why you see the old men dressing like young men, or an older lady still trying to see if she still got it.
2. Well I used to be a great song leader or I used to be this or that.
3. However the Lord is asking what have you done for me lately?
4. “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth(Gal 5:7)?
5. Satan is the master at placing a stumbling block before us.
6. “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Mat 16:23).
D. Don’t allow your past accomplishments to stop you from progressing in God’s kingdom.
1. The apostle Paul spoke of all his accomplishments in the Jews religion. If anybody had a reason to brag on his past it would've been this great man of God.
2. However Paul took the road less traveled and denounced his old life when it came to Christ.
3. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14).
4. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor 5:17).
5. Now that you have a second chance at life why not let God use you?
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