Host writer: Ben Ward – Assoc.
Pastor
Fellowship Baptist
Church – Roanoke, VA Send question or comments
“From Owasso To The World”
Sponsored by: Gospel
Light Baptist Church
Philip. 3:10-14
That
I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not as though I had already attained, either were
already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which
also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
"FORGETTING"
Would it be safe to drive
forward, while looking in the rear view mirror?
Not at all, but so many Christians
try to go forward in their lives, always looking back to the past.
Some things in life are hard to deal with.
Some think the future is most difficult to get out of our mind, but for most of
us the past is most difficult. We have faith for the future and we can
have forgiveness for our past.
Paul had single-mindedness - (vs. 13 “ . . .this one
thing I do. . .”) He didn't say this one thing of many things I do.
We run about doing many things, yet can we say "this one thing I
do?" We say these things I’m trying to do.
Psalm 27:4 One thing
have I desired of the Lord, that
will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life, to behold
the beauty of the Lord, and to
enquire in his temple.
Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha,
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath
chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
We are to leave the Past,
live in the present, and look to the future.
Some things to remember:
God sought us by His Holy
Spirit - He came to Adam and Eve in the garden.
When they couldn't and
wouldn't come to Him, He came to them.
God saved us - by His Word
we know we're saved. I am just as sure of Heaven as if were already
there.
God sustains us - no need He
can't supply God sealed us - to the day of redemption, His work is
finished!
What
are we to forget?
I. Forget
our Sins
Why? Because Jesus
has. Don’t live in guilt from the past!
God chooses to forget our
sins. He also forgets the sins of others.
How many chances have we
had? More than we deserve!
And more than we can number!
His mercies are new every morning, and without them we are consumed.
How long are we going to
punish people and hold their sins over their head?
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and
iniquities will I remember no more.
Paul never forgot Stephen,
but he didn't live in guilt from his past sins.
Who,
more than Paul could've let his past sins sidetrack him? Paul killed
Christians, persecuted them, put them in jail. Yet, he didn't live in
guilt from past sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin!!
II. Forget our Successes
Our past successes can cause
future failure. We can't live today on yesterday's faith
We can rejoice in the
victories of the past, but not rest in them.
We need new victories, day
by day. There is no success apart from the Will of God.
A Christian’s work is never
done.
III. Forget our
Sorrows
We can turn into good
whiners. Always telling people of our sorrows.
Paul had sorrows, but he
didn't live in pity.
How did God use the Sorrow
in our life to bring us closer to Him?
Even when David's baby died,
he got up, washed himself and got on with his life.
There is a time to stop
crying and start living again.
Boaz' mother was Rahab the
harlot - got over her past and on with her life.
Paul would mention to
encourage, not meditate on them to discourage!!
Writer: Ben Ward 11/5/2003 Send question or comments