Philippians 3:13-14
The key to victory in 2021 is Philippians 3:13-14. Paul was
using the illustration of a race to describe his life. He was in the home
stretch, but he was still running the race; the race wasn’t over. He said, “I
have not apprehended it yet.” – NOT YET!
Right
behind this conjunction is one of Paul’s secrets to living. THIS ONE THING I
DO! It’s the only time this particular phrase is used in the New Testament.
Single-minded concentration on the things of God is essential to running the
race of Christianity. You cannot be dwelling on other things as an athlete and
give your best performance. Therefore, Paul says “this ONE thing I do.”
What is "This One Thing I do"?
"Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That's the key to victory in the Christian life. That's the key to victory for this time, for this day.
What do we need to forget?
Paul had learned that we have to lock the door on yesterday and throw away the key. He discovered that looking back almost always ends up going back. Let me repeat that... Looking back almost always ends up going back. In the Old Testament, we find the wandering Israelites ready to return to their old ways rather than pressing on. In the New Testament Jesus clearly taught us in Luke 9:62 that "no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God's Kingdom."
In his book "ENCOURAGE ME", Chuck Swindoll wrote a chapter titled, "The Fine Art of Blowing It". It begins like this, "It happens to every one of us. Teachers as well as students, cops as well as criminals. Bosses as well as employees. Parents as well as kids. The diligent as well as the lazy. Not even presidents are immune. Or corporation heads who earn six-figure salaries. The same is true of well-meaning architects and hard-working builders and clear-thinking engineers... not to mention pro ball players, politicians, and preachers. What? Making mistakes, that's what. Doing the wrong thing, usually with the best of motives. And it happens with remarkable regularity.
1. Learn from them2. Determine with God's help you aren't going to make the same mistake again3. Forget them.
The enemy always wants to remind you and make you feel guilty for past mistakes - but God says: "Forget them. I have"!
Life is a battlefield. On any battleground, injuries will occur and soldiers are going to get hurt. Sooner or later, someone is going to
...lie about you
...verbally or physically harm you
...misrepresent you
It's going to happen -- so what do you do?
... You don't understand
Believe me. God understands. Jesus was innocent, but they beat him, they tortured him, they mocked him, they crucified him. He didn't deserve it, but they did it anyway. On the cross He forgave them. On the cross, He provided salvation even for those who beat him, mocked him and crucified him. In order to press on in the Christian life, we, too, have to lock the door on yesterday's hurts.
3. YESTERDAY'S POSSIBILITIES
Build a bridge, and get over it!
We cannot live on yesterday's promises or yesterday's dreams. Too many people are dissatisfied with life because they've had an expectation of something that hasn't worked out. Paul is telling us - forget your past hurts, forget your past mistakes, and forget living with what might have been and finally...
4. YESTERDAY'S SINS
See this ... Paul didn't say, "I've forgotten those things which are behind. Paul said, forgetting those things. He had learned the secret. There are some things in our memory that we will never fully forget. We have to keep practicing forgetting...
It's time to:
