“IT’S TIME TO LET IT GO”
Church, let’s begin the way we always do. Hold up your Bible and say it with me:
“This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I have what it says I have.
I can do what it says I can do.
Today, I will be taught the Word of God.
I boldly confess—my mind is alert, my heart is receptive, and I will never be the same again.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Turn with me in your bible to Isaiah 43:19 and say, "Amen" when you are there.
This morning, I want to talk to people who love Jesus—but are still living in yesterday.
You believe God forgives.
You believe Jesus saves.
But deep down, there are still moments when your past talks louder than your faith.
Some of you walked into this room with joy on the outside—but regret on the inside.
Some of you worship God sincerely—but still hear the voice of shame whispering, “You’ll never change.”
Let me say this clearly right from the beginning:
You cannot live the life God has prepared for you while dragging the life He already delivered you from.
God never intended your past to be your permanent address.
Isaiah 43:18–19 says this:
“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?”
God says, “I’m doing something new—but you won’t recognize it if you’re still staring at what used to be.”
Today’s message is simple but powerful:
It’s time to let it go.
1: THE PAST BECOMES A PRISON WHEN YOU KEEP VISITING IT
Philippians 3:13–14 says:
“But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…”
Paul had a past.
And not a small one.
He persecuted Christians.
He approved of their deaths.
He lived with guilt that could have destroyed him.
Yet Paul says, “One thing I do.”
Not ten things.
Not sometimes.
One thing.
He made a decision that his future mattered more than his failures.
Here’s what many people do:
They’ve been forgiven—but they keep reopening the case.
They’ve been set free—but they keep revisiting the cell.
The enemy doesn’t need new lies—he just replays old memories.
I’ve watched people come out of addiction, incarceration, or broken marriages—and every time they take a step forward, their past tries to pull them back.
They say things like:
“I’ve messed up too many times.”
“This is just who I am.”
“People will never forget what I did.”
But here’s the truth:
If God has let it go, why are you still holding onto it?
JESUS DID NOT SAVE YOU TO LEAVE YOU STUCK
Romans 8:1 says:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Notice what that says:
No condemnation.
Not “less condemnation.”
Not “eventually no condemnation.”
No condemnation. Period.
Conviction leads us to repentance.
Condemnation chains us to shame.
Jesus convicts to restore.
The enemy condemns to imprison.
Some of you confuse the two.
You think:
Feeling bad means God is disappointed.
Shame means you’re being humble.
But shame is not humility.
Shame says, “I am the problem.”
Conviction says, “Jesus solved the problem.”
Jesus didn’t go to the cross so you could live forgiven but broken.
He went to the cross so you could live forgiven and free.
Isaiah says, “See, I am doing a new thing.”
But notice the instruction before the promise:
“Forget the former things.”
God often waits for release before He brings renewal.
Some blessings are delayed not because God isn’t faithful—
but because our hands are still full of yesterday.
You can’t receive a new thing while gripping an old wound.
I’ve seen people hold onto guilt longer than they held onto the sin.
They were forgiven instantly—but punished themselves for years.
But the moment they said,
“Jesus, I release this completely,”
Their countenance changed.
Their worship changed.
Their future changed.
Let me ask you plainly:
What are you still carrying that Jesus already paid for?
What memory keeps replaying in your mind?
What label have you accepted that God never gave you?
Jesus doesn’t call you by your worst moment.
He calls you by your redeemed name.
If God calls you free, stop calling yourself broken.
If God calls you forgiven, stop calling yourself guilty.
Let’s take a moment right now.
Bow your heads.
“Lord Jesus, today I acknowledge my past—but I refuse to live in it.
I release every regret, every failure, every label, every voice of shame.
I receive Your forgiveness fully.
I step into freedom boldly.
I let go—completely.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
If you’re here today and you say:
“I’m tired of carrying my past.”
“I want to be free for real.”
“I want Jesus at the center of my life.”
This altar is open.
If you need salvation.
If you need renewal.
If you need freedom from shame.
Jesus isn’t asking where you’ve been—
He’s inviting you into where He’s taking you.
Come forward for prayer.
“Father, thank You for meeting us here today.
Thank You that our past is forgiven, our present is redeemed,
and our future is secure in Christ.
We leave the old behind and walk forward in freedom.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
