April 20, 2008

 Let It Go!

Text from Spiritual Warfare Conference — April 19, 2008

Last Sunday at the Berean Church, Pastor Fairley preached from the subject “How To Release Your Resentment.” The scripture reference was Genesis 50:15-21. He placed the focus on Genesis 50:20: 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

When I found out that Sis. Tina was not going to be able to do this session for the conference I thought well let’s just get somebody else to do it or better yet, let’s just play the message from Sunday. It was a thought, but I know in my spirit that all things, everything happens for a reason.

It is the new way that I have come to see things. It is a mindset change. The enemy is going to use every opportunity to attempt to move us off track. The question- will we flow with him?

In the New Living Translation 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 says, 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

What kind of stuff has been part of your past? What has the enemy continued to remind you of over and over and over again? Reminding you of the abortion you had 20 years ago and trying to make you feel guilty, as though it just happened yesterday and you had not already asked for forgiveness.

What happened as part of your childhood that hurt so bad that you don’t even know how to move past it? Every time you see the person or think about the situation it still hurts? What is it for you that still controls your mind, attitude and your actions?

Is it the relationship that did not work out? You were sure that was the person God had for you, not because it was what you wanted, but because you thought it was what God had spoken. You thought you heard from the Lord, but it did not happen. Are you still mad at the person for making a different choice and going another way? Even worse are you mad at God?

If we are going to let it go we first have to Allow God to identify what needs to be released. What is that thing that you need to let go, that thing that has you bound up and controlled? Whether what you need to let go of is a relationship, an attitude, a habit or just the warfare that is going on inside of you. You cannot release what you will not admit you have a problem with. Everything that is legal is not good for you, so don’t try to figure out what you need to let go of on your own. I promise that you will miss something. It is easier for us to choose than to allow God to identify those things He wants you to let go of.

Many of you have heard my story. I was pregnant at 15. My son’s father knew it was his child. That was not the question. The truth is that neither one of us was ready to be parents, but through our actions we had been moved into that position. From the age of 16 I have been his mother, but his father did not accept his role. He has spent the last 31 years either running and hiding from it or chasing it. He paid no child support and he took no responsibility.

You might think I have a right to be mad, and for a long time I was. The problem with being mad is that it takes up energy that I need to use for something else. My greatest deliverance came when I let that hurt, unforgiveness and anger go. I did not think that there was anything wrong with me. I was fine. I was a single parent raising my son alone. I had a relatively good job. But I was bitter. I was angry and the enemy was keeping me there. I was not experiencing true freedom in Christ.

Some of you know what I am talking about because you have had your own situations, your own stuff that had to be released. I promise that while release is not easy and you cannot do it and sustain it under your own power it will lighten you up. I had to let it go it was killing me. Killing my purpose, killing my future, killing my promise and keeping me from walking in God’s purpose and plan for me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am the chosen of God. I am more than a conqueror.

Stop listening to the enemy and Allow God to lighten your load. The bible says in Hebrews 12:1-2: 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Letting it go will allow you to be freer, freer to do the things that God has purposed for you to do, freer for you to be delivered to your destiny and purpose.

The enemy will try to convince you that this sin or that sin is really not that bad, look at so and so. The fact that you are mad at this person or can’t talk to that person is okay, remember what they did to you. The fact that you are still upset about the molestation that you experienced is all right, that person hurt you, but the question you have to ask yourself is how long am I going to let this situation or that situation control my destiny? How long am I going to be hurt? How long am I going to carry this excess weight? How long am I going to give that person or that situation control of my life?

Choosing not to let go is like choosing to walk around with an extra 10 or 20 pounds. That may be good for training for the fight, but we don’t need to carry it with us all of the time.

Letting go will not be easy, but it is necessary for your growth, physically, spiritually, relationally and emotionally. If you really want to be what God wants you to be, if you really want to fulfill your purpose letting go is a key principle and it does not just relate to things of the past of years ago. Letting go is necessary for the things that happened yesterday.

The bible says old things are passed away. That includes the argument you had 15 minutes ago. Let go of the grudges and old mindsets. Let go of the past family history that is killing everybody in the family. Let go of the memory of what hurt so badly. Stop replaying the video in your head of what was said and how it was said, what was done and how it was done, because most of the time no one else remembers. The person that hurt you does not remember, they have gone on with their lives, you are the one that is stuck in the past. LET IT GO!

I know your question how do I let it go? How do I move on? Letting go is not always easy, but the bible tells us in Philippians 4:13: 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. On your own you will not be able to do it.

Remember when you let something go, you have to replace it with something. Matthew 12:43-45 says, 43"When an evil[f] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.

That is how it will be with this wicked generation. The enemy will keep sending reminders of the past, past hurts and issues, that is just what he does and we should expect it, but we combat the enemy’s attacks by getting closer to the Lord. Closer to the Lord through your weapons of prayer, praise, worship, study of the word, obedience and through fellowship with people that God puts in our lives to hold us accountable.

Those are your weapons. I did not get my release by people laying hands on me, but through time alone in God’s presence, through my obedience to Him. Does the enemy still try to raise his ugly head? Yes! Do I always get it right? No! When I mess it up I try to make a note of where he got me so I don’t mess that up the next time.

Weekly Scripture:

Genesis 50:20: 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

We just worked out spiritually. If you have not worked out your physical temple get up and join us in the:

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10,000/steps per day or 70,000/steps per week Walking Program*

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