Forget the Past
Apostle Joshua Selman | January 2024
In the thought-provoking teaching, “Forget the Past,” Apostle Joshua Selman unveils the spiritual and emotional significance of moving beyond past experiences to embrace God’s greater plans for the future. He emphasizes that dwelling on past failures, pains, or even successes can hinder believers from stepping into the fullness of God’s purpose for their lives. Drawing from Scripture, he provides biblical insights and practical principles to help believers release their past and align with God’s plans.
Key Scriptures
- Isaiah 43:18-19 – “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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
- God’s instruction to forget the former things underscores His desire to do something new and transformative in the lives of His children.
- Philippians 3:13-14 – “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- Apostle Selman highlights the Apostle Paul’s focus on forgetting the past as a vital step toward spiritual maturity and fulfillment.
- Genesis 41:51 – “Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’”
- God’s grace enables us to overcome the pain of the past and find purpose in His plans.
Key Themes of the Teaching
1. The Power of the Past
- Apostle Selman explains that the past has the ability to shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions, often dictating the trajectory of our lives.
- Negative Past: Past failures, mistakes, or hurts can become chains that hold us back from progress.
- Positive Past: Even past victories and successes can create complacency, preventing believers from striving for greater heights.
2. God’s Call to Let Go
- Forgetting the past is not about erasing memories but about choosing not to let them define or limit us.
- God’s call to “forget” is an invitation to release burdens and embrace His new work in our lives.
3. Barriers to Moving Forward
- Unforgiveness: Holding onto grudges or offenses keeps us trapped in the past.
- Regret and Shame: Constantly revisiting past mistakes leads to self-condemnation and hinders growth.
- Nostalgia: Excessive attachment to past achievements can blind us to new opportunities.
4. The Promise of a New Beginning
- God specializes in making all things new (Revelation 21:5). No matter how broken or painful the past, He can restore and redeem it for His glory.
- Embracing the future requires faith to believe that God’s plans are better than anything left behind.
Practical Steps to Forget the Past
- Acknowledge and Release
- Acknowledge the impact of the past but choose to release its hold through prayer, forgiveness, and surrender.
- Focus on God’s Word
- Meditate on Scriptures that speak of new beginnings, restoration, and hope. Let the Word renew your mind and redirect your focus.
- Cultivate Gratitude
- Shift your focus from what was lost to what God is doing now. Gratitude opens the heart to receive new blessings.
- Set New Goals
- Like Apostle Paul, press forward with purpose by setting spiritual, personal, and professional goals aligned with God’s will.
- Depend on the Holy Spirit
- Ask the Holy Spirit for grace and strength to overcome emotional attachments to the past. He is the Comforter and Guide who leads us into truth and freedom.
Encouragement from Apostle Selman
- Apostle Selman reminds believers that the ability to forget the past is a supernatural act of grace:
- “You cannot truly step into God’s ‘new’ until you release the old. God is calling you to trust Him for greater things ahead.”
- He emphasizes the importance of aligning with God’s perspective, saying:
- “Your past is not your prison—it is your lesson. Learn from it, but don’t live in it.”
Prophetic Declarations
- “I decree that every weight of the past holding you down is broken in Jesus’ name! Step into a new season of progress and possibilities!”
- “May the grace to release, forgive, and forget come upon you. The past will no longer hold you captive!”
- “I prophesy that God’s new thing will spring forth speedily in your life. You will walk in divine alignment and fulfillment!”
Conclusion and Charge
Apostle Selman concludes with a passionate exhortation:
- “Forget the past. Embrace the future. God is doing a new thing! Let Him lead you into greater dimensions of glory, grace, and purpose.”
This message serves as a timely reminder that holding onto the past limits the ability to fully embrace God’s plans. It encourages believers to let go, move forward, and trust in the God who makes all things new. 2024 is declared a year of forward momentum, and Apostle Selman charges everyone to align with God’s vision for their lives.
