FORGET THE PAST

1. Introduction

a) On 21/10/2012 (Sunday) evening as I was taking a nap, the Lord showed me a book on fire. I was wondering what the book meant and asking for the interpretation. Then, the Lord began to tell me that in the book there were many pages of record of our past unpleasant life. The fire burning indicated that God wanted to get rid of the unpleasantness in our lives so that we would be cleansed and began to forget our past lives and move on. In this way, new things can break forth.

2. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (Isaiah 43:18 NIV)

a) God wants us to let go the former things that we hold tightly. This actually holds us back instead of allowing us to do greater things. We are not to dwell on past experiences and successes but rather allow God to instruct us to do exploit in new grounds.

i) 13... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (Philippians 3:13 NKJV). If we don't do that, the memories could destroy us!

b) We need to throw away old things. We need to remove old garments. The old things have to go before the new things can come.

i) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

c) Our enemy of new thing is the old thing (even self!). We need to let go the old so that our life can move forward to new things before us.

i) 17Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9:17 NIV)

ii) 8But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:8-10 NIV)

d) So, what are the virtues that we need to put on the new self?

i) 12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

3. See, I am doing a new thing! ... (Isaiah 43:19a NIV)

a) 18Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (Psalm 119:18 NIV)

b) 19Then God opened her eyes and she (Hagar) saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy (Ishmael) a drink. (Genesis 21:19 NIV)

c) 14The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. (Genesis 13:14, 15 NIV)

4. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19b NIV)

a) God is telling us to see all the wonderful miraculous things he has laid in front of us. Unless we are able to see as God see, we will not be able to achieve those wonderful things for this year. Can you see or do you need God to open up your eyes to see!

b) 27"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 NIV)

c) 23The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you." (Numbers 11:23 NIV)

d) 19God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19 NIV)

5. Breaking-through miracles

a) 8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10so David inquired of God: "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?" The Lord answered him, "Go, I will deliver them into your hands." 11So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand." So that place was called Baal Perazim. (1 Chronicles 14:8-11 NIV)

b) That is why the place is called Baal Perazim means "The place of breaking through".

6. Prayer focus

a) What are the good things that God had promised you in the past? How about your personal prophecy? Has it come to pass yet?

b) Are you still struggling with the old things or habits and cannot let them go?

c) Do you want God to open up your spiritual eyes to see new things instead of the old things you are holding on tightly?

d) Do you desperately want a break-through miracle now?

e) Then, start asking God persistently in prayer!