Embracing New Beginnings: Letting Go of the Past
Summary
In this new year, we are called to prepare for a new season by putting the past behind us. The past, like a tomb, is dead and gone, while the future is like a womb, ready to birth new possibilities. We must learn from the past but not dwell in it, as doing so can hinder our progress and prevent us from reaching our God-given potential. Jesus emphasized this in Luke 9:62, stating that anyone who looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God. This is a call to focus on the future and not be preoccupied with past failures or successes.
Lot's wife serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that looking back can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities. Her story is a warning against allowing past experiences to dictate our future. Instead, we are encouraged to look forward, to the mountains, to higher grounds, and to the new things God is doing in our lives. Isaiah 43:18-19 assures us that God is making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, symbolizing the radical transformation He can bring to our lives.
As we enter 2023, we are reminded that our future is brighter than our past. God is preparing something new and extraordinary for us, and we must be ready to embrace it. This year, we are called to see beyond our current circumstances and envision the great things God has in store. Our vision should be clear, focused on the future, and not clouded by the past. We are encouraged to lift our eyes to the hills, to seek divine guidance and inspiration, and to trust that God will hasten His word to perform it in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Let Go of the Past: To embrace the new season God has for us, we must let go of the past. Dwelling on past experiences can hinder our progress and prevent us from reaching our full potential. Instead, we should learn from the past and move forward with hope and expectation. [03:04]
2. Focus on the Future: Our future is like a womb, ready to birth new possibilities. We must focus on what lies ahead and not be preoccupied with past failures or successes. This focus will enable us to reach higher grounds and experience the new things God is doing in our lives. [16:04]
3. Learn from Lot's Wife: Lot's wife serves as a warning against looking back. Her story reminds us that focusing on the past can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities. We are called to look forward and embrace the future God has prepared for us. [20:48]
4. God is Doing a New Thing: Isaiah 43:18-19 assures us that God is making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. This symbolizes the radical transformation He can bring to our lives. We must be ready to embrace the new things God is doing and trust in His promises. [22:19]
5. See with Spiritual Eyes: We are encouraged to see beyond our current circumstances and envision the great things God has in store for us. Our vision should be clear, focused on the future, and not clouded by the past. By doing so, we can embrace the higher calling God has for our lives. [35:52]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:04] - Let Go of the Past
[16:04] - Focus on the Future
[20:48] - Learn from Lot's Wife
[22:19] - God is Doing a New Thing
[26:08] - Radical Change is Coming
[29:05] - Vision for 2023
[31:50] - Embrace Your Global Potential
[33:36] - The Importance of How You Do Things
[35:06] - Spiritual Vision and Enlightenment
[38:14] - Prayer for Longevity
[42:53] - Renewed Youth and Strength
[43:58] - Thanksgiving and Prophetic Declarations
[44:34] - Entering the Second Week of Prayer Congress
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 9:62 - "Jesus replied, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'"
2. Genesis 19:17, 26 - "As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, 'Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!'... But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."
3. 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean in Luke 9:62 when He says that looking back makes one unfit for the kingdom of God? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about focusing on the future? [03:04]
2. In Genesis 19:17, what specific instructions were given to Lot and his family, and what was the consequence for Lot’s wife when she disobeyed? [20:48]
3. According to Isaiah 43:18-19, what new things does God promise to do, and how does this relate to the idea of leaving the past behind? [22:19]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Lot’s wife serve as a warning for us today about the dangers of looking back? What might be some modern-day examples of this behavior? [20:48]
2. In what ways can focusing on past successes or failures hinder our spiritual growth and progress? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on moving forward? [16:04]
3. What does it mean to see with "spiritual eyes," as mentioned in the sermon, and how can this perspective help us embrace the new things God is doing in our lives? [35:52]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a past experience that you find difficult to let go of. How might holding onto this experience be affecting your ability to move forward into the new season God has for you? [03:04]
2. What are some practical steps you can take to focus more on the future and less on the past? Consider setting specific goals for the new year that align with God’s promises for your life. [16:04]
3. How can you apply the lesson from Lot’s wife in your daily life to avoid stagnation and missed opportunities? What changes might you need to make in your mindset or actions? [20:48]
4. Identify an area in your life where you sense God is doing something new. How can you actively participate in this transformation and trust in His promises? [22:19]
5. What specific distractions or habits might be clouding your spiritual vision? How can you work to clear these distractions and focus on the higher calling God has for you? [35:52]
6. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to embrace the new things God is doing in their lives? Share a personal testimony or scripture that has inspired you. [26:08]
7. Consider the role of prayer in seeking divine guidance and inspiration. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine to better align with God’s vision for your life? [38:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the New Season by Releasing the Past
To fully embrace the new season God has for us, it is essential to let go of the past. The past, much like a tomb, is dead and gone, and holding onto it can hinder our progress and prevent us from reaching our full potential. While it is important to learn from past experiences, dwelling on them can keep us from moving forward with hope and expectation. Jesus emphasized this in Luke 9:62, where He stated that anyone who looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God. This is a call to focus on the future and not be preoccupied with past failures or successes. By releasing the past, we open ourselves to the new possibilities that God has in store for us. [03:04]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What is one past experience or memory that you need to release to fully embrace the new season God has for you? How can you begin to let go of it today?
Day 2: Focus on the Future with Expectation
Our future is like a womb, ready to birth new possibilities. To reach the higher grounds and experience the new things God is doing in our lives, we must focus on what lies ahead. This focus requires us to not be preoccupied with past failures or successes, as they can cloud our vision and hinder our progress. By keeping our eyes on the future, we can align ourselves with God's plans and purposes, trusting that He is preparing something extraordinary for us. As we enter this new year, let us lift our eyes to the hills, seek divine guidance, and trust that God will hasten His word to perform it in our lives. [16:04]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to focus more on the future God has for you, rather than dwelling on past successes or failures?
Day 3: Learn from Lot's Wife and Avoid Stagnation
Lot's wife serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that looking back can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities. Her story is a warning against allowing past experiences to dictate our future. Instead, we are encouraged to look forward, to the mountains, to higher grounds, and to the new things God is doing in our lives. By focusing on the future, we can avoid the pitfalls of stagnation and embrace the opportunities that God has prepared for us. Let us learn from Lot's wife and choose to move forward with faith and expectation. [20:48]
Genesis 19:26 (ESV): "But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself looking back and feeling stagnant? How can you shift your focus to the future and the opportunities God has for you?
Day 4: Trust in God's New Work in Your Life
Isaiah 43:18-19 assures us that God is making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, symbolizing the radical transformation He can bring to our lives. We must be ready to embrace the new things God is doing and trust in His promises. This requires us to have faith in His ability to bring about change and transformation, even in the most challenging circumstances. As we trust in God's new work, we can experience the fullness of His plans and purposes for our lives. Let us open our hearts to the new things God is doing and trust that He will bring them to fruition. [22:19]
Isaiah 42:9 (ESV): "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them."
Reflection: What new thing do you sense God is doing in your life right now? How can you actively trust Him to bring it to completion?
Day 5: See with Spiritual Eyes and Envision God's Plans
We are encouraged to see beyond our current circumstances and envision the great things God has in store for us. Our vision should be clear, focused on the future, and not clouded by the past. By doing so, we can embrace the higher calling God has for our lives. This requires us to see with spiritual eyes, to look beyond the natural and perceive the divine possibilities that God has prepared for us. As we cultivate this spiritual vision, we can align ourselves with God's plans and purposes, trusting that He will guide us every step of the way. [35:52]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: How can you begin to see your current circumstances with spiritual eyes and envision the great things God has in store for you? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this spiritual vision today?
Quotes
"Forget the past let me put it in another way simply forget the past forget the past there is no future in the past that's why it is the past a wise man said the past is in the tomb but your future the future is in the womb what that means is that your past is already buried because the tomb is a burial place so your past is in the tomb it is dead it is dead and gone cannot be resurrected because it's already in the past it's already relegated but your future is in the womb getting ready to be birthed hallelujah in phases and stages it's like somebody who is delivering sex to plates or triplets that's six babies or three babies the babies are coming one by one after the other praise the lord somebody got what i'm saying now a woman who is delivering a triplets does not deliver the three at once they come one after the other so that is how things are being pushed out into your life in the course of a new season so you cannot be" [00:03:04]
"heading into the future and you are tied to the past so you must forget the past because there is no future in the past hallelujah your past is in the tomb but your future is in the womb it is being birthed on a daily basis you can learn from your past nobody's saying the past is a waste no you can learn from the past but you must not live in the past you can learn from your past in order to live in future but you can't live in the past and then hope to be living in the future hallelujah you can't make a headway in the future if you are living in the past but you can learn from the past and move into your future hallelujah everyone without exception who dwells in the past ends up as an underachiever and i'll show you through scriptures everyone who ends up as an underachiever trace them they are people who dwell in the past people who are preoccupied with their past they end up not reaching their destination in life because life is a journey so if you are preoccupied with your past you end up not reaching your destination in life praise the name of the lord life is a journey so as you journey through life if you are preoccupied with the past you will not end up reaching your destination your journey will be aborted your journey may derail your journey may be terminated you are consciously preoccupied by the past Luke 9 verse 62 and Jesus said unto them no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back his feet for the kingdom of God in other words" [00:04:39]
"he's not fit to be crowned he's not fit for the kingdom putting his hand to the plow and then looking back he said he's not fit for the kingdom he's not fit to be crowned what gives you the kingdom is the crown if you ever watch the coronation of any king every other thing that has to do with the office will be put on him the ultimate indication that you are king is the crown those of you if you have watched some movies you will see where there's contention a crown will be there and the issue is who is going to wear the crown the crown is just sitting on a chair waiting for the head that will carry it praise the name of the Lord so the Bible says Jesus speaking said he that looks back is not fit for the kingdom is not fit to be crowned is not fit for the ultimate glory is not fit for coronation is not fit for the ultimate destination hallelujah you cannot walk backwards into your future it's not possible how can I stand here where I am now my future is ahead of me and then I walk backwards and I hope to get into the future is it possible you can't walk backwards into the future so you can't walk backwards into the future you have to make up your mind early this year to put the past behind you because you can't move forward while you are looking backwards an example from Scripture is a woman called Lot's wife Genesis 19 verse 17 and it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad speaking of the angels that the angel said escape for thy life look not behind thee neither stay thou in all the plain escape to where to the mountain that's an elevated platform escape to higher grounds" [00:06:54]
"move higher in life move to higher degrees of influence and affluence and impact look not behind you don't stay where you are move to the mountain lest you be consumed emphasis is look not behind you but head upwards to the mountain lest you be consumed lest your destiny be frustrated lest your mission be aborted lest your destiny be truncated lest it be derailed lest it be frustrated head up to the mountains but look not behind you you know that the instruction was given to lot's wife and the others who were with them but she singularly bible says and she coming behind her husband lot turned and looked backwards genesis 19 verse 26 look at verse 26 verse 26 says but his wife looked back this is a lot from behind him and she became what she became what she looked back and became what and became a pillar of salt what is a pillar something that is immovable and static in other words her life became stagnated as a picture of stagnation as a picture of a life not going forward simply because she looked backwards she looked back and became a pillar of salt she became calcified on the spot no more progress destiny truncated why because she looked backwards lot's wife is a sign to every generation that looking backwards is a recipe for stagnation if you are given to looking backwards while you are trying to go forward your life will become stagnated as a matter of fact it looks like god" [00:09:12]
"didn't want us to miss the lesson from Lot's wife so an entire verse of Scripture is dedicated to the memory of this one incident hallelujah in the New Testament is as if God did not want us to lose sight of this very critical truth so in the New Testament he dedicated one verse summarizing the experience of Lot's wife in Luke chapter 17 verse 32 I would like you to see that he didn't mix it with any other instruction ammunition counsel rebuke exhortation nothing the only thing you see in one verse of Scripture as if God didn't want us to miss it at all he didn't want us to see something else in that verse and carry it and forget this one so he summarized Luke 17 verse 32 remember Lot's wife so if you run into this scripture as a New Testament reader it is a reference that makes you want to go and find out what am I supposed to remember about Lot's wife it's a strong call remember Lot's wife assuming I've never met her before I've never read Genesis if I see this as a new covenant or a New Testament believer it makes me begin to look for Lot's wife what is Lot's wife what is God warning me about Lot's wife why is it so important one full verse nothing else no encouragement no exhortation no advice no counsel no rebuke remember Lot's wife case close next verse please and you run on it's like God is sending a message remember Lot's wife if you read the book of Genesis and read the entire account about this family you will find out that this is the only lesson from about this family you will find out that this is the only lesson from Lot's wife remember the entire account about this family you will find out that this is the only life Lot's wife not much else was said about her so the principal lesson was this principal error and God will not want his children to ever forget this principal error look not back head to the mountain go higher oh but she turned around and look back and became a pillar may nobody's life and destiny be" [00:11:28]
"truncated here none of us will be driving into 2023 looking into 2022 looking into 2020 20 looking into 2020 2019 2018 2017 some people are driving into 2023 and they are still holding on to things in 2010 how can you get to where you're going praise the name of the lord so in order to engage the future you must put the past behind you put the past behind you because you can't move into your future while you're focusing on the past help me tell your neighbor the past is past say to three people around you one to your right one to your left one in front of you tell the person your past is past everything about your past is past it's past you can't drive into the future of your destiny while you are focusing on your rearview mirror it doesn't work that way focusing on the past at best will slow you down try driving your car and you are looking into the rearview mirror you can't go with speed because you are seeing what is behind you and you have to be cautious about what is ahead of you so it never works praise the lord so focusing on your past will slow you down at best dwelling on the past is like driving into the future with you with your with your handbrake on how many of you have driven your car and your handbrake is on can you accelerate properly no because once the handbrake is on the speed of the vehicle is impeded praise god so somebody who looks to the past and is heading into the future is like somebody who is driving a vehicle into the future and yet his handbrake is on praise the name of the lord if you put too much attention on your rearview mirror you will crash and shipwreck your destiny you realize that if too much attention is paid to the rearview mirror while you are driving if too much attention is given the next thing is that you crash into an object in front of you" [00:13:48]
"the lord i said praise the lord in the natural you can't go with speech while you are focusing on that rear view mirror similarly we can't go with speed into our future while focusing on the past somebody shout hallelujah do you notice let me maintain those natural illustrations do you notice that in a vehicle you have a small rearview mirror and you have a big windscreen am i correct the disparity in size of those two glasses is an indication of where your emphasis should lie even by the size if you were if vehicles were designed to be driven in such a way way and manner that you are constantly looking at the rearview mirror the rearview mirror would have been bigger than the windshield praise the lord so the disparity in size between those two glasses is simply because where you are going is more important than where you are coming from" [00:16:04]
"it's more important it's more important so you have a bigger viewing area for where you are going because that's more important so you are given a little piece to look at where you're coming from so you can learn a little bit from your past but not still in your past not stay in your past so nature programmed even nature programmed us to look ahead look at the way you are designed nature programmed us to do what to look ahead your eyes are in front of you your eyes are in front if god wanted you to operate in a way that you are constantly monitoring your past believe me your eyes would have been at the back praise god he can do it sir he can do it if that was the plan so your eyes are aware in front because he wants you to focus more on what is ahead of you" [00:17:39]
"nature is teaching us by design our eyes don't tell me your eyes could not have been anywhere else have you not seen some birds some birds carry eyes here on the side have you not seen them yeah there are there are birds how am i talking about birds some animals carry eyes on the sides have you not seen them" [00:18:22]
"birds lots of them carry eyes on the sides lots of animals carry eyes on the sides but god designed man in his own image and likeness and because he's a futuristic god a god that is constantly looking into the future he put our eyes in front so that we'll keep looking at the future praise god nature is teaching us nature is teaching us also did you notice that he put the eyes in front of us because what is in front is the future is more important than what is behind" [00:18:45]
"at any point in time in the agenda of god what is in front is more important than what is behind so he put our eyes in front looking unto jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set where before him the joy that was set before him he wasn't given to he wasn't given he was given something else hewas converted you know an apostle paul has a son i am sure to say he was re chefs the manufacturing process of manning was tinged front and abdication the manufacturing process of manning was on the mountain higher than where I am currently I press for the mark of the high calling of God in Christ I press I press I push I apply pressure for higher grounds" [00:19:58]
"Nature is teaching us. The eyes are in front. Now, did you notice that your head only turns to the right, left and upwards? God did not design our heads. To turn and face the back." [00:20:39]
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