That Stays Here | Jerry Flowers | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

That Stays Here

Time of Celebration Ministries Church • Aug 17, 2025 • 69 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In part two of the 'Transitions' series, Pastor Jerry Flowers teaches that moving into God's promise requires leaving behind what has died. Transitions inevitably come with tombstones—versions of ourselves, expired relationships, and old mindsets that must be released so we do not drag decay into our future. True transformation occurs in the middle hallway of transition, where God's presence sustains us, reveals capacity, and prepares us to occupy new ground.

Themes

Navigating TransitionsDiscerning Dead ThingsGod's Presence in the MiddleRelational CapacityLetting Go of the Past

Pastor's Points

1.

1. Can you discern when the Lord says something is dead?

2.

2. The devil likes to fight for the dead or dwell with the dead.

3.

3. Transitions reveal capacity.

4.

4. Seven Things That Stay Here: 1) If it died, it stays here; 2) If it contradicts my new life, it stays here; 3) If it chains me to Egypt and bondage, it stays here; 4) If God's presence isn't on it, it stays here; 5) If it makes holiness harder and sin easier, it stays here; 6) If it's an usher (leads to sin), it stays here; 7) Anything that contaminates my next, it stays here.

Key Points

1.
Transitions demand goodbyes; if you refuse to say goodbye to the past, you cannot step into God's promised place.
2.
Transition is preparation for occupation—God changes your heart and cravings during the journey, not just your location.
3.
God does some of His greatest works and wonders in the hallway of transition rather than strictly at arrivals or departures.
4.
You cannot carry the corpse of yesterday into the consecration of today.
5.
Mourning over loss is permitted for a season, but stagnation is not.
6.
Spiritual stagnation often begins with sentimental loyalty to expired things.
7.
Grief becomes idolatry when you exalt loss over obedience to God.
8.

Sermon Moments

“Transitions come with tombstones. There are versions of you that are going to have to die for you to arrive.”

“Transition is preparation for occupation.”

“His glory will show up in the gap.”

“You cannot carry the corpse of yesterday into the consecration of today.”

“Mourning was permitted. Stagnation was not.”

“Spiritual stagnation often begins with sentimental loyalty to expired things.”

“Grief becomes idolatry when you exalt loss over obedience.”

“It's a capacity issue, not a betrayal issue.”

This Week

Identify and release dead habits, expired relationships, or old mindsets that you have been trying to carry into your current season.

Set a healthy boundary on grief by refusing to allow past losses to turn into spiritual stagnation or disobedience.

Evaluate difficult relationship transitions through the lens of capacity rather than taking every departure as a personal betrayal.

Cut off the 'ushers' in your life—the subtle steps, thoughts, or environments that lead you into temptation before the sin even occurs.

Shift your focus from obsessing over the final destination to valuing what God is teaching you right now in the hallway of transition.

Surrender any backup plans or counterfeits that keep you from being all-in with Jesus Christ.

Address anxiety directly by casting your cares on God in prayer whenever fear of the unknown arises this week.

Remember This

You cannot carry the corpse of yesterday into the consecration of today; to move forward with God, you must leave dead things behind.

A Challenge for You

Ask the Holy Spirit for divine discernment to identify what is dead, release every form of anxiety keeping you stuck, and step boldly into the new season God has prepared for you.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.