Forget the Past by Brother Duke Hansen

         The first thing you have to do following God and being a light to others is the subject we are going to tackle this morning. After you are born again, God is going to place you in situations, subject you to trials that will build and develop or break your spiritual man. Are you willing to allow things in your life that will shape you into a better person? You cannot be fruitful if you don't grow. You need to know who you are, who God is, and who you are in God.

        There are people you know who seem to be motivated and operate by lying always. One of the hallmarks of spiritual growth is you recognizing a lie you believe or worse live for. Taking the rules and principles of the scripture and lining them to your life. Is there a match? Are there discrepancies or blank spots? Despite this church's small size, everyone is at various spots of growth and walk. This life and walk is hard for the flesh because at our core, we want what's easiest for us. It is easy to pulled by the forces surrounding us and just go with it for good or bad. 

        The first step in being a light to others is to learn to forget your past. Some people are not like the sun. They're more like the moon which reflects the sun's light. God's pure light has problems breaking through to reflect off of them.

        In the first scripture reading from Isaiah, Isaiah is speaking a prophecy to Israel. We will be reading chapter 43 and starting with verse 18.

        18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

        Some for the things which had happened to them, defined their whole life. You and I know people today who are just like that. There's no outstanding event happened to you which hadn't happened to Israel. Some of the low points in your life up to this point, you had a direct hand in. It's good to acknowledge that. It's mature to leave it alone.

        19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

        20 The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

        God had done this before in the preceding 2 verses when he had led the Israelites out of Egypt in Exodus. God's people will always sing God praise. The person who is defined by their pain, suffering, their faults and errors are singing their own praise. Your flesh will do this if you allow it.

        Let me repeat my main point this morning. Forget the past. Life itself is hard which we have difficulty in handling. The things we allow from the past burden is down where God is unable to use us.

        Our next scripture is going to be from the book of James. We will be reading form chapter 1. Before we begin, James writes of a term called upbraided. The definition of that term is finding fault with everyone. If you don't do that, you will receive wisdom. We will start reading with verse 4 of James 1.

        4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

        5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

        6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

        A person who wavers is one being tossed to and fro. Without faith it is impossible for you to get wisdom from God.

        8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

        Being double minded is similar to being a hypocrite. You can speak the right things in life, even quote some scriptures correctly, but don't live what you speak. Someone who is double minded is not sure what to do or what to think. Everyone has had moments when we experience this mode. We aren't special or exceptional from what we experience in life. There is no new thing under the sun. The word of God says the Lord gives and the Lord takes. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

        You see peoples processes and how they handle themselves. We know what to do and how to apply our faith as believers but we choose not to act on it. Whether it's from fear or caution. This is why true change in someone is so inspiring. When you make a decision and stick with it. That's a sign of true commitment. That's the you truly know yourself. You don't get to pick and choose what to allow in life, no matter how hard the flesh will try. In the heat of rejection, we roll through examples, excuses to explain away the pain or self justify our action no matter how bad or good it is. You need to allow in life, leave the past where it had laid and allow God to work on you.

        Turn to book of Genesis chapter 41, We will read starting at verse 50.

        50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of the famine came, which Aseneth the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

        51 And Joesph called the name of the first born Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

        52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

        Joseph had named his two sons on the strongholds God helped him build in his life. What defined Joseph's life are in his sons names. We should do likewise as the names Manasseh and Ephraim.

        Earlier in the book of Genesis, it's written that Jacob I have loved and Esau have I hated. God knew them before they were even born. Was Jacob more blessed than Esau? No he wasn't. Scripture shows us the brothers were blessed in the physical sense of children, wives, animals and such. Was Jacob more favored than Esau? Once again the answer is no. Jacob had experienced chastisement because God will chastise those whom he loves. 

        When it comes to your own personal lights, society and life have significantly dimmed your light. We are going to have to pick up and embrace worship to God. If the spirit of God doesn't scare your flesh, just how neutered has your message become? Find your worship. A church with no worship is doomed. If you aren't worshipping in church I'm almost assured you aren't doing that in your prayer closet.

        We have to keep our relationship with Jesus kindled. It is so important not to let it burn out. Don't waver nor be double minded. Remove the upbraiding spirit which is in your flesh.

        Burdens hinder your growth and your light around others. Some people need to outgrow those who are poor influences in their life. Pray to see the truth about yourself this week.