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new years eve 2016
New years Eve
As we begin this message and this New Year, carefully read the following scriptures…
2 Corinthians 11:23-2823 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
And…
Philippians 3:12-1412 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Every day the sun goes down and a new day ends or is it every day the sun comes up, a new day begins? Every year we are getting older and closer to death or is it every year is another year of experience and wisdom. I say an apple lies rotting on the ground, you say an apple seed is about to be planted. You say good morning Lord, others say good lord its morning.
You see, for every outlook there is an equal and contrasting outlook. Face it, some people would stand at the border of the land of milk and honey and see only calories and cholesterol.
As the New Year approaches there are two ways I can address this message;
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
======================================================
These verses lay out an ancient Biblical secret from an ancient biblical guy. It can be labeled…The Secret of spiritual growth. Three “tools” if you will…
Someone might say, Jesus told us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48. Yes He did, but are you? Will you ever be? No! Paul says (pardon slang paraphrase) Chill out, chillax, don’t worry be happy. RELAX!!
Let me throw a word at you; Sanctification
1 Thessalonians 4:3,
It is God's will that you should be sanctified…
You see that? Sanctification is a known will of God. This is the process the Holy Spirit uses to transform us into the image of Jesus. The “press on” part of verse 12 indicates conformity, and conformity is not easy. This walk is not easy!
Mark twain said, “It is not the passages of scripture I don’t understand that bother me; It is the ones that I do understand that bother me.” The problem with a “living sacrifice” is that it keeps crawling off the alter. So, RELAX!!
Becoming Christ like, that is, being sanctified, is not something we decide to do. New years resolutions are volitional choices. {I remember telling Vicki that I was going to start my diet on Monday. She replied “You’re only going to diet on Monday’s”} She thinks she’s so funny.
As for sanctification, you decided already when you said yes to Jesus. It is happening right now to you. You can hinder it, but can’t stop it.
Someone might say, “I don’t feel more Christ like”. That’s because many Christians are missing a vital part of what it takes for spiritual growth; the ability to learn from their past. I say again, RELAX!!
Instead we, in an effort to correct our past or make up for it, pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We promise God we will do better. We set out to be a better Christian. We eat Christian cookies and we wear Christian socks and say Christian things. Good luck with that!
Anyone who tries to become more Christ-like by human effort will fail every time. The reason: Your focus will be on self.
Zechariah 4:66
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
“Not by might, not by strength…” RELAX!!
Again new years resolutions fail. Our might will fail. Our will, strength, resolve, determination and fortitude will fail. So how do we press forward in this walk? I’m glad you asked.
======================================================
Back to Phillipians.
V.13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
The second secret for spiritual growth is to…
2. Let the past be your future present. (don’t worry ill explain)
Verse 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you.
The past can be a weapon in the hands of the enemy or a springboard in the hands of God. This becomes your choice.
One man said to his friend: “Say, you look depressed. What are you thinking about?”
“My future,” was the quick answer.
“What makes it look so hopeless?”
“My past.”
Consider this true story…
Many of you are aware that the US Supreme Court ruled that the state of Missouri cannot discriminate against the Ku Klux Klan when it comes to groups that want to participate in the adopt-a-highway program.
While seeing the name of the Klan on a highway sign is aesthetically disgusting, most realized that this decision was victory for free speech and equal protection under the law.
Well, the Department of Transportation in Missouri has gotten its legal revenge, and boy is it sweet. True, they can't remove the KKK's
adopt-a-highway sign, but no one would dispute the state's right to name the highway itself.
The KKK is now regularly cleaning up a stretch of the newly christened Rosa Parks Freeway!
AND YOU THOUGHT GOD DID NOT HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR
It is the very past that Paul is trying to forget that enables him to move forward. At my Grandparents old house I always would bang my head on low ceiling going down the stairs to the basement. Over time, I, without thought, began to arch my head to avoid this. I learned and reacted to past experience.
Time and time again you go down your “stairs” in life. You now avoid it and perhaps have “forgotten what was behind” that is, forgotten you ever even banged your head. That is what it means to Let the past be your future present.
Whether you realize it or not, it is our past that springboards our future. It was last weeks lessons in class that helped you pass this weeks test--yesterday’s workout that made you stronger today. It was the years of training and practice that made those athletes pros. And when one of those pro athletes makes a catch for a game winning touchdown, he is thinking about the end of the game, the goal, the final score. He is not thinking about the learned fundamentals of varsity football. Let the past be your future present.
So maybe your thinking, “but my past…oh my past…you don’t know what I’ve done…” You might think referencing the great apostle Paul, a man who actually saw Jesus, who had a definite call, a holy biblical character, is not a fair comparison. Well, if you think Paul’s past was easy to forget because he was some kind of premier Bible character, think again…Read this scripture again…
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
And that was after his conversion…
He had this to say about his pre-conversion experience…
1 Timothy 1:13, 16
“I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…the worst of sinners.
Don’t let your past hinder your future. Your past is the greatest gift or “present” that your future could ever receive. Let the past be your future present.
Which leads us to the final point…
3. Onward Christian soldier.
Verse 14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Press on! Verse 13 ended with “straining towards what is ahead”. Paul says to have a vision, have a direction, know where you are going or at least know where you want to go.
When I see the words straining towards and press on I envision a person in the desert struggling and crawling. And just when he can’ go on he catches a glimpse of on oasis.
God gives us little glimpses of heaven which help us along. A kind gesture, a favor granted, great fellowship, exalted worship, incredible writing to read, Amen?…(cough, cough)
Let’s face it, this walk is not easy but like I said before the Holy Spirit helps us. Many times he uses our past to springboard us towards our future. Onward Christian soldier.
Today maybe your stuck in the mire of past guilt, fear, anger or shame. Maybe you feel the past is keeping you from the future or the damage is too great to forget. God can remove those feelings, have you ever earnestly given them to Him? Have you ever prayed through the night, fasted for 3 days or sought him above all things?
At the beginning I said we will learn an ancient biblical secret from and ancient biblical guy. We’ll close this writing with that secret. It is the secret of contentment…
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
You do not learn the secret of contentment unless you encounter discontent. You do not learn the secret of contentment unless you encounter discontent. (That was not a mistake, I put it there twice on purpose)
Money does not bring contentment…In fact, here is 4 things money can’t buy…contentment, health, happiness, or what it did last year.
Embrace your trials, accept your past, learn from them. It is through the years of past discontent that we learn the secret of being content today.
This New Years Eve don’t make a resolution, make an evolution. Evolve into what Jesus desires you to become…as Paul puts it…take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
So…Relax…Let the past be your future present…and press Onward Christian soldier.
Remember the scalpel in the hands of deranged maniac is deadly, but in the hands of a skilled surgeon it could save your life. Your past is done. Don’t look back at last year look ahead to 2017. Take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Be Blessed.
As we begin this message and this New Year, carefully read the following scriptures…
2 Corinthians 11:23-2823 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
And…
Philippians 3:12-1412 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Every day the sun goes down and a new day ends or is it every day the sun comes up, a new day begins? Every year we are getting older and closer to death or is it every year is another year of experience and wisdom. I say an apple lies rotting on the ground, you say an apple seed is about to be planted. You say good morning Lord, others say good lord its morning.
You see, for every outlook there is an equal and contrasting outlook. Face it, some people would stand at the border of the land of milk and honey and see only calories and cholesterol.
As the New Year approaches there are two ways I can address this message;
- Reflections of the past year (Did you grow? Did you give? Did you read the Bible or pray or this or that) or
- We can set out eyes on things ahead and use the past as only a reference not a starting point. Consider these verses again…
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
======================================================
These verses lay out an ancient Biblical secret from an ancient biblical guy. It can be labeled…The Secret of spiritual growth. Three “tools” if you will…
- RELAX!! V.12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Paul says he is not perfect; I am not perfect (really it’s true, just ask my wife Vicki). And you’re not even close. But this should not be taken as a criticism, but as a tool.
Someone might say, Jesus told us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48. Yes He did, but are you? Will you ever be? No! Paul says (pardon slang paraphrase) Chill out, chillax, don’t worry be happy. RELAX!!
Let me throw a word at you; Sanctification
1 Thessalonians 4:3,
It is God's will that you should be sanctified…
You see that? Sanctification is a known will of God. This is the process the Holy Spirit uses to transform us into the image of Jesus. The “press on” part of verse 12 indicates conformity, and conformity is not easy. This walk is not easy!
Mark twain said, “It is not the passages of scripture I don’t understand that bother me; It is the ones that I do understand that bother me.” The problem with a “living sacrifice” is that it keeps crawling off the alter. So, RELAX!!
Becoming Christ like, that is, being sanctified, is not something we decide to do. New years resolutions are volitional choices. {I remember telling Vicki that I was going to start my diet on Monday. She replied “You’re only going to diet on Monday’s”} She thinks she’s so funny.
As for sanctification, you decided already when you said yes to Jesus. It is happening right now to you. You can hinder it, but can’t stop it.
Someone might say, “I don’t feel more Christ like”. That’s because many Christians are missing a vital part of what it takes for spiritual growth; the ability to learn from their past. I say again, RELAX!!
Instead we, in an effort to correct our past or make up for it, pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We promise God we will do better. We set out to be a better Christian. We eat Christian cookies and we wear Christian socks and say Christian things. Good luck with that!
Anyone who tries to become more Christ-like by human effort will fail every time. The reason: Your focus will be on self.
Zechariah 4:66
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
“Not by might, not by strength…” RELAX!!
Again new years resolutions fail. Our might will fail. Our will, strength, resolve, determination and fortitude will fail. So how do we press forward in this walk? I’m glad you asked.
======================================================
Back to Phillipians.
V.13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
The second secret for spiritual growth is to…
2. Let the past be your future present. (don’t worry ill explain)
Verse 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you.
The past can be a weapon in the hands of the enemy or a springboard in the hands of God. This becomes your choice.
One man said to his friend: “Say, you look depressed. What are you thinking about?”
“My future,” was the quick answer.
“What makes it look so hopeless?”
“My past.”
Consider this true story…
Many of you are aware that the US Supreme Court ruled that the state of Missouri cannot discriminate against the Ku Klux Klan when it comes to groups that want to participate in the adopt-a-highway program.
While seeing the name of the Klan on a highway sign is aesthetically disgusting, most realized that this decision was victory for free speech and equal protection under the law.
Well, the Department of Transportation in Missouri has gotten its legal revenge, and boy is it sweet. True, they can't remove the KKK's
adopt-a-highway sign, but no one would dispute the state's right to name the highway itself.
The KKK is now regularly cleaning up a stretch of the newly christened Rosa Parks Freeway!
AND YOU THOUGHT GOD DID NOT HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR
It is the very past that Paul is trying to forget that enables him to move forward. At my Grandparents old house I always would bang my head on low ceiling going down the stairs to the basement. Over time, I, without thought, began to arch my head to avoid this. I learned and reacted to past experience.
Time and time again you go down your “stairs” in life. You now avoid it and perhaps have “forgotten what was behind” that is, forgotten you ever even banged your head. That is what it means to Let the past be your future present.
Whether you realize it or not, it is our past that springboards our future. It was last weeks lessons in class that helped you pass this weeks test--yesterday’s workout that made you stronger today. It was the years of training and practice that made those athletes pros. And when one of those pro athletes makes a catch for a game winning touchdown, he is thinking about the end of the game, the goal, the final score. He is not thinking about the learned fundamentals of varsity football. Let the past be your future present.
So maybe your thinking, “but my past…oh my past…you don’t know what I’ve done…” You might think referencing the great apostle Paul, a man who actually saw Jesus, who had a definite call, a holy biblical character, is not a fair comparison. Well, if you think Paul’s past was easy to forget because he was some kind of premier Bible character, think again…Read this scripture again…
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
And that was after his conversion…
He had this to say about his pre-conversion experience…
1 Timothy 1:13, 16
“I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…the worst of sinners.
Don’t let your past hinder your future. Your past is the greatest gift or “present” that your future could ever receive. Let the past be your future present.
Which leads us to the final point…
3. Onward Christian soldier.
Verse 14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Press on! Verse 13 ended with “straining towards what is ahead”. Paul says to have a vision, have a direction, know where you are going or at least know where you want to go.
When I see the words straining towards and press on I envision a person in the desert struggling and crawling. And just when he can’ go on he catches a glimpse of on oasis.
God gives us little glimpses of heaven which help us along. A kind gesture, a favor granted, great fellowship, exalted worship, incredible writing to read, Amen?…(cough, cough)
Let’s face it, this walk is not easy but like I said before the Holy Spirit helps us. Many times he uses our past to springboard us towards our future. Onward Christian soldier.
Today maybe your stuck in the mire of past guilt, fear, anger or shame. Maybe you feel the past is keeping you from the future or the damage is too great to forget. God can remove those feelings, have you ever earnestly given them to Him? Have you ever prayed through the night, fasted for 3 days or sought him above all things?
At the beginning I said we will learn an ancient biblical secret from and ancient biblical guy. We’ll close this writing with that secret. It is the secret of contentment…
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
You do not learn the secret of contentment unless you encounter discontent. You do not learn the secret of contentment unless you encounter discontent. (That was not a mistake, I put it there twice on purpose)
Money does not bring contentment…In fact, here is 4 things money can’t buy…contentment, health, happiness, or what it did last year.
Embrace your trials, accept your past, learn from them. It is through the years of past discontent that we learn the secret of being content today.
This New Years Eve don’t make a resolution, make an evolution. Evolve into what Jesus desires you to become…as Paul puts it…take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
So…Relax…Let the past be your future present…and press Onward Christian soldier.
Remember the scalpel in the hands of deranged maniac is deadly, but in the hands of a skilled surgeon it could save your life. Your past is done. Don’t look back at last year look ahead to 2017. Take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Be Blessed.
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