Embracing Forgiveness: Letting Go of the Past
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor introducing the topic of not letting the past dictate the future, using the story of Onesimus, a runaway slave who becomes a believer in Christ, as an example. The pastor emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and God's grace, which wipes clean our past and allows us to embrace our destiny and purpose. The pastor then leads the congregation in a time of worship and praise, reminding them of God's love and that everything they need is found in Him.
The pastor addresses the issue of unforgiveness, emphasizing that holding onto grudges and bitterness hurts us more than it hurts the person who wronged us. Using Paul's letter to Philemon as an example, the pastor urges the congregation to choose forgiveness, let go of the past, and trust in God's plan for their future. The pastor shares a personal story about a woman who claimed she didn't have a testimony because she grew up in church, reminding the congregation not to let their past dictate their future in Christ.
The pastor reflects on the concept of God's forgiveness and the extent to which He removes our sins. He emphasizes the magnitude of God's love and compassion, comparing it to a father's compassion for his children. The pastor encourages believers to remember what God has saved them from and to share their testimonies of how they came to Christ. The pastor addresses the issue of holding onto past hurts and anger, encouraging the congregation to let go of their past and forgive those who have caused them pain.
The pastor uses the example of Philemon, suggesting that he may have struggled with a wound that never fully healed. He emphasizes the importance of letting go of past hurts and forgiving others in order to move forward and experience a new level of anointing and power from God. The pastor focuses on the letter written by Paul to Philemon, highlighting the message of forgiveness and letting go of past grievances. The pastor concludes by encouraging the congregation to choose the path of forgiveness and not allow their past to hinder their future in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The story of Onesimus, a runaway slave who becomes a believer in Christ, serves as a powerful example of how God's grace can wipe clean our past and allow us to embrace our destiny and purpose. ([12:45])
- Holding onto grudges and bitterness hurts us more than it hurts the person who wronged us. Choosing forgiveness and letting go of the past is crucial to trusting in God's plan for our future. ([24:30])
- God's forgiveness is immense and He removes our sins completely. This is a testament to the magnitude of God's love and compassion, which is comparable to a father's compassion for his children. ([36:15])
- Letting go of past hurts and forgiving others is essential to moving forward and experiencing a new level of anointing and power from God. This is a process that may take time, but with faith, victory will come. ([48:50])
- The letter written by Paul to Philemon serves as a reminder of the importance of forgiveness and letting go of past grievances. It is crucial not to let our past hinder our future in Christ. ([59:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
2. Psalm 103:1-18: "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts."
3. Revelation 2:4: "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first."
Observation Questions:
1. What does 2 Corinthians 5:17 say about the transformation that occurs when someone becomes a believer in Christ?
2. In Psalm 103:1-18, what are some of the benefits that the psalmist lists as reasons to praise the Lord?
3. What is the warning given in Revelation 2:4?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of a "new creation" in 2 Corinthians 5:17 relate to the idea of not letting the past dictate the future?
2. How does the description of God's forgiveness in Psalm 103:1-18 compare to the human struggle with forgiveness as described in the story of Philemon and Onesimus?
3. What does Revelation 2:4 suggest about the dangers of forgetting our first love, in the context of holding onto past hurts and grievances?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like your past was dictating your future. How can the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 help you to move forward?
2. Is there someone you're holding a grudge against? How can the truths in Psalm 103:1-18 help you to forgive them?
3. Have you ever felt like you've forsaken your first love for Christ because of past hurts or bitterness? How can Revelation 2:4 serve as a reminder to return to that first love?
4. What is one practical step you can take this week to let go of a past hurt and forgive someone who has wronged you?
5. Can you think of a specific situation where you can demonstrate God's forgiveness to someone else this week?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Grace and Destiny
God's grace is powerful enough to wipe clean our past, allowing us to embrace our destiny and purpose in Him. The story of Onesimus, a runaway slave who becomes a believer in Christ, serves as a powerful testament to this transformative power of God's grace. [12:45]
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: Reflect on your past and how God's grace has transformed you. How has this transformation allowed you to embrace your destiny in Christ?
Day 2: The Power of Forgiveness
Holding onto grudges and bitterness only hurts us, not the person who wronged us. Choosing forgiveness and letting go of the past is crucial to trusting in God's plan for our future. [24:30]
Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Reflection: Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? How can you begin to let go of the bitterness and trust in God's plan for your future?
Day 3: The Magnitude of God's Love
God's forgiveness is immense and He removes our sins completely. This is a testament to the magnitude of God's love and compassion, which is comparable to a father's compassion for his children. [36:15]
Psalm 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Reflection: Reflect on the magnitude of God's love and forgiveness. How does this understanding of God's love impact your relationship with Him?
Day 4: Letting Go and Moving Forward
Letting go of past hurts and forgiving others is essential to moving forward and experiencing a new level of anointing and power from God. This is a process that may take time, but with faith, victory will come. [48:50]
Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
Reflection: What past hurts are you holding onto? How can you begin to let go and trust in God's promise of a new thing?
Day 5: Choosing the Path of Forgiveness
The letter written by Paul to Philemon serves as a reminder of the importance of forgiveness and letting go of past grievances. It is crucial not to let our past hinder our future in Christ. [59:20]
Ephesians 4:31-32 - "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Reflection: How can you actively choose the path of forgiveness today? How can this choice impact your future in Christ?
Quotes
"Unforgiveness and those things that you allow to fester in your heart is like you drinking poison hoping the other person dies and that's what it is and it hurts you far more than it hurts them."
"No matter what you've done, no matter the things that you feel are too bad, I'm telling you today if you'll come before the Lord, he'll forgive you and you'll start a new life. Life change will happen just like with Onesimus."
"I quit letting my past detour my future."
"I pray God that we will hear reports of victory after victory because Lord as we let go of the things of the past what's gonna happen is you're gonna anoint us with a new anointing to do the things that you've called us to do in our future."
"We forget the fact of what God has saved us from... we can't let our past dictate and detour us from the future."
"How would Philemon react when Onissimus comes back to him after all he'd stolen from him and then he took off... part of me wonders if Philemon reads this letter that Paul writes him and it says this it says although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right I appeal to you instead on the basis of love."
"We've got to get to the place where we say I quit letting my past detour my future... I quit allowing the things that were meant to destroy me dictate how I view people and how I view God... I quit letting the devil sidetrack my God-given purpose."
"I don't think we get that thought process because that seems like a big thing doesn't it that seems almost like a mind-blowing type of a moment where Jesus takes our sin and I'm thinking East is from West right how many of you know if you took off driving out of here and you drove East you just keep going East there's never a time when you go West you can drive all the way around the globe and be west of Terre Haute but you're still going East right so when you get that concept that he throws our sins as far as the East is from the West you know what that means they never touch they are never brought up again they are never there so far out of reach that they are in infinity beyond because God is such a God that forgives that not only does he take that away from our heart but he forgets it and he throws it away."
"Philemon here he has every right to be offended he has every right to be angry his every right to be frustrated and maybe even vengeful for what Onesimus had done to him and done to his family but he chooses the path that won't allow his past to determine and detour him from the future that Christ has for you"
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