What does it mean to let it go?

[Rev.Terrell W. Person]

 

As God is leading you forward into the New Year…

• What is one thing you need to let go?

The Apostle Paul was describing how he wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. He admitted that he hadn’t taken hold of it yet and wrote the words recorded in Philippians 3:14-14, “…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I’m not certain what he wanted to forget and let go. Perhaps it was the Christians he hurt, tortured or killed. Maybe it was the abuse he suffered for boldly serving Christ: being beaten with the rod, whipped, stoned and left for dead. Maybe it was a personal failure we know nothing about.

Whatever it was, Paul knew he needed to let go of something from the past to move forward with God.

Maybe someone hurt you and you continue to harbor bitterness. Perhaps your spouse betrayed you and you still are trying to punish him or her. Maybe you let yourself down, let God down, or let those around you down, and you haven’t let it go. Perhaps you failed and fear failing again.

What one thing do you need to let go to move forward with God?

[Chaplain Pat Harris]

God bless your Rev. Person for the encouraging words of wisdom.

I have learned from experience, that if you continue to hold on to negative things, situations, etc., of the past, you are in bondage. It is equally important to let them go as it is to forgive. If God was not forgiving, where would we be today?

Shalom in Christ

[Rev.Terrell W. Person]

Chaplain Harris thanks for your response would you please look at Mark 8:21-38 would you say from this Jesus was trying to get them to let go and if so express what? Thanks!

33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[d] 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

[Chaplain Pat Harris]

Rev. Person:

Mark 8:21 speaks of Jesus challenging the disciples to a deeper discernment. They failed to realize from Jesus feeding the 5,000 and 4,000 that He can certainly provide for their needs. Before God created Adam and Eve, He created the earth and everything in it. God provided all that Adam and Eve would ever need to live life abundantly. All they had to do was live in obedience as His instructed them, tend to the Garden, be fruitful and multiply. God has always provided and sustained our life because He is the creator and giver of life.

Mark 8:22-26, Jesus heals the Blind Man. The man was blinded by so much worldliness and sin, he could not see the Messiah who was standing in front of him. Jesus restored his sight so that he could see with clarity and discernment. This also indicates that the man was not born blind, but became blind over a period of time. Jesus touched the man a second time before he could clearly see was not because it was a difficult miracle, but to show the disciples that some healing would be gradual rather than instantaneous and to demonstrate that spiritual truth is not always perceived clearly at first.

Mark 8:27-30, Peter's Confession. Peter received a revelation of who Jesus was and therefore, he was able to acknowledge Him as the Messiah that was spoken of by the Old Testament prophets.

Mark 8:31-38, Jesus Foretells His Death and Salvation. Death on a cross was a form of execution used by Rome for dangerous criminals. A prisoner carried his own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome's power. Jesus used the image of carrying a cross to illustrate the ultimate submission required of his followers. Jesus was not saying we should seek pain and humiliation; instead he is saying that it is a heroic effort to follow him moment by moment to do his will even when the work is difficult and the future looks bleak. To lose our life is to deny our carnal desires for worldly pleasures, self-centered determination to be in charge, and seeking positions of power and financial wealth. In the end it is hollow and empty. By following Jesus we will come to know through experience what it is to live abundantly now and to have eternal life as well. (John 14:6)

Shalom in Christ

[brian lawrence]

my gang ties psalms book of resh 153 condsider mine aflliction and deliver me for i do not forget thy law i read the bible front to back but that verse i feel was ment for me i read that verse when i was 16 and every day when i wake up thats inbeded into my head i belive everything that i go through is for a reason i under stand my lesson knowing if u never strayed of the path then u not as big of a example .god dont raise no punks but if he chaned a savage like saul then theres room for me i dropped my gang affiliations a long time ago but i cant deny who i am or what i did i just know im standin as a man waiting for god to use me as he wishes im here like i said in a song " i ask god why am i still breathing " he said "you came a long way son there's still reason" i still waitin for the reason embracining my future not forgeting my past but in the mix of murder and mayhem im still waitin for that voice that parilizes me thats all i can i can say right now blessin

[Rev.Terrell W. Person]

Hi. Brian what is the book of resh?