Podcast Summary: City Light Church Las Vegas | "Let Go and Let God" with Jabin Chavez (August 17, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Jabin Chavez speaks passionately about the power of forgiveness, the necessity of letting go of past hurts, and the process of truly trusting God with unresolved pain and conflict. Drawing from Genesis 13 (Abraham and Lot), Luke 17, Luke 6, Ephesians 4, Hebrews 12, and Colossians 3, Jabin presents both practical and spiritual insights for moving from bitterness to freedom. The message is relatable, deeply honest, and filled with humor and personal stories, as Jabin encourages listeners to let go and let God work healing in their hearts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Abraham and Lot: Letting Go and Staying Free

[00:00 – 05:36]

• Jabin recounts Abraham and Lot’s story from Genesis 13: Abraham prioritizes the relationship over material conflict, offering Lot first choice of the land. Abraham’s actions demonstrate a big spirit and a heart of freedom regardless of Lot's opportunism.
  • Quote: “Never let a thing matter more than a soul. Never let one moment of tension or disagreement get in the way of a relationship.” (A, 01:04)
• Abraham’s integrity is later revealed when he risks interceding and saving Lot’s life after their separation.
• True freedom is evident when you can pray for the person who wronged you.
  • Quote: “See, you know you're free when you can pray for the person who wronged you. I want to get there. God, I want to get there.” (A, 04:37)

2. Why We Hold On and How It Traps Us

[05:37 – 15:16]

• The illusion of control: Holding onto unforgiveness makes us feel like we’re regaining control after being hurt, but in reality, it traps us.
  • Quote: “Forgiving or not forgiving, it does nothing about the past. But your choice to forgive or not to forgive will radically impact your future.” (A, 08:53)
• Luke 17:1—Jesus warns that offenses are inevitable ("scandalon," meaning trap).
• Unforgiveness keeps us bound in the past; though time moves on, our souls get stuck in painful memories.
• The enemy uses these “traps” to keep us from moving forward into God’s plans.
  • Memorable Moment: Jabin jokes about “Stanley Cups falling” in the sanctuary to break the tension regarding serious topics. (A, 10:11)

3. The Supernatural Power Needed for Forgiveness

[15:17 – 20:40]

• Disciples’ response: “Lord, increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5) shows that forgiveness requires supernatural help.
  • Quote: “The love of God in me says, I want to forgive, but it’s faith in God that gives me the power to overcome.” (A, 17:12)
• Forgiveness is defined as “letting go,” not justifying or excusing an offender.
• Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation; sometimes separation (like Abraham and Lot) is healthiest.

4. The Roots of Bitterness: Childhood and Control

[20:41 – 36:00]

• Many struggles with unforgiveness originate in childhood trauma or wounds.
• Jabin describes “counter dependence”—building a personality around staying distant, rooted in fear of being hurt or controlled.
  • Personal story: Jabin humorously details his obsession with paper towels, tracing it back to childhood poverty and a need for control. (A, 29:31)
• Bitterness causes us to define ourselves by who we are not (in opposition to the one who hurt us), rather than by who God calls us to be.
  • Quote: “I only know who I am, not by who God has told me I am. Instead of ‘I am who God says I am,’ it’s ‘I’m not like them.’ That’s a wound.” (A, 32:15)

5. Three Major Effects and Steps for Forgiveness

(1) Forgiveness Shuts the Door

[36:01 – 47:02]

• Ephesians 4: Don’t let the sun go down on your anger; don’t give the devil a foothold.
• Unforgiveness opens doors to “the devil” (the accuser’s voice) in our lives.
  • Quote: “When you go to bed with unforgiveness, it’s not that you get demon possessed, it’s that you open your ear to his opinion about humanity.” (A, 41:12)
• Hebrews 12: Bitterness is a poisoned root that defiles many and blinds us to God’s work in our lives.
  • Memorable analogy: Unhealed bitterness is like having food poisoning on vacation—you can miss the beauty all around you because you’re poisoned. (A, 44:43)

(2) Forgiveness Sets Me Free

[47:03 – 55:40]

• “To forgive is to set a prisoner free, only to discover that prisoner was me.” (A, 47:47)
• The process Jesus gives (Luke 6:27-37):
  1. Pray for your enemies: Start by praying for those who have wronged you—even if you don’t know what to pray.
     • Quote: “It hurts to pray for somebody you don’t like… but wherever there’s prayer, there’s a flow of the anointing.” (A, 50:33)
  2. Bless those who curse you: Speak well, refuse to gossip, don’t feed bitterness.
  3. Treat others the way you want to be treated: Remembering that we also need grace.
     • Quote: “Anytime someone offends me, I’m reminded that I’ve offended somebody, too. And so I got to give them grace, because I’m hoping for grace from them.” (A, 54:41)
• Growth in forgiveness is a process, not just a one-time emotion.

(3) Forgiveness Keeps My Eyes on Jesus

[55:41 – End]

• Colossians 3:13 is presented as the key: “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
• The power to forgive comes from remembering Christ’s forgiveness, not merely an act of will.
  • Quote: “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. I can’t forgive unless I know that I’ve been forgiven.” (A, 57:05)
• Difference between Old Covenant (“eye for an eye”) and New Covenant ("forgive because you have been forgiven").

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Never let a thing matter more than a soul.” (A, 01:04)
• “See, you know you're free when you can pray for the person who wronged you.” (A, 04:37)
• “Forgiving or not forgiving, it does nothing about the past. But your choice to forgive or not to forgive will radically impact your future.” (A, 08:53)
• “The love of God in me says, I want to forgive, but it’s faith in God that gives me the power to overcome.” (A, 17:12)
• “I only know who I am, not by who God has told me I am. Instead of ‘I am who God says I am,’ it’s ‘I’m not like them.’ That’s a wound.” (A, 32:15)
• “When you go to bed with unforgiveness, it’s not that you get demon possessed, it’s that you open your ear to his opinion about humanity.” (A, 41:12)
• “To forgive is to set a prisoner free, only to discover that prisoner was me.” (A, 47:47)
• “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. I can’t forgive unless I know that I’ve been forgiven.” (A, 57:05)

Memorable Humor:

• Jabin’s stories about lending money, “Stanley Cup demons,” and his obsession with paper towels added levity while revealing deeper truths about wounds and control.

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – 05:36 Abraham and Lot; relational freedom over conflict
• 05:37 – 15:16 Why we hold onto offense; “traps” of unforgiveness
• 15:17 – 20:40 Supernatural need for forgiveness; defining what forgiveness is and isn’t
• 20:41 – 36:00 Childhood roots of bitterness; stories and self-reflection on control and wounds
• 36:01 – 47:02 Forgiveness as a door-closer; bitterness as a poison
• 47:03 – 55:40 Forgiveness process: Pray, bless, treat others well; freedom for the forgiver
• 55:41 – End Power to forgive rooted in Christ’s forgiveness; Old vs. New Covenant

Takeaway Principles

• Forgiveness is not an event but a process—rooted in supernatural faith and remembering Christ’s love.
• Letting go does not always mean restoration of relationship, but always leads to personal freedom.
• True freedom means you can pray for the person who hurt you.
• Unforgiveness keeps you in the past and poisons your perception of God’s blessings.
• You forgive because you are forgiven, not to earn forgiveness.

For those seeking to move forward from a past offense or lingering bitterness, this message offers both spiritual encouragement and practical steps for healing and freedom.