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Msg #576 Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead (Philippians 3:13)
There is so much more God has for you. Did you know that? God in His mercy and grace desires to bring you into so much more than you presently know of Him, His work, His blessings and His ways. Do you really know that? It is true. I call you to the heart that Paul so wonderfully displays here.
First - Don’t be satisfied with the present!
“I do not count myself to have apprehended”
There is a great danger in the Christian life of just settling for where we are with God and His work in us. Maybe we even realize it is not “the best”, but we can grow content to live in spiritual mediocrity. You can call it laziness, lethargy, bewilderment and more…but ultimately it is accepting where you are spiritually and not seeking for me. I call you today, don’t be satisfied with where you are with God. To do this, you need to solidly realize with Paul that you do not have everything God has for you. You need to believe it, recognize it and know it is true. God has more for you!
Second - Don’t be preoccupied with the past!
“forgetting those things which are behind”
So many today, live in the past. Some live today, thinking about “the good old days”. For these, yesterday was so much better and their day today will be spent in reliving and longing for days gone by. Many others live today regretting the past. They spend their days wishing they could undo mistakes and sins of their past. These spend much time wondering and longing for what might have been. I honestly believe a large part of the regrets that consume so many are really satanic condemnations that he hurls against God’s people continually. (Rev 12:10). Paul wisely shows us that in order to press ahead with God, we need to let go of the past – whether it is filled with joys or regrets, we cannot go back. So…I encourage you to join Paul in “forgetting those things which are behind”
Third – Press ahead after what God has for you!
“reaching forward to those things which are ahead”
Pressing…the word used here can be translated “straining” or “reaching”. The idea and picture is of one who is actively, intentionally, and forcefully reaching forward to the things that God has for them. God has more for us in Him, and what we need to be doing today, is stretching out after it. Perhaps one of the keys here is “today”. For many the live hoping tomorrow or the future might be better with God, yet today they will just live content with where they are. There is such horrible lie here that causes us to not press ahead. Here is my honest question for you…are you doing this today? Are you pressing after more of what God has for you…are you honestly and purposefully seeking for more with the Lord? That is how God is calling us to live!
Fourth - This is meant to be a constant process. Honestly, all of our Christian life should be pictured by this pressing ahead after all God has for us. In this life we will not “arrive”, but always growing. We are called to never grow content which where we are, not living in the past – but pressing after all that God has for us, more than we presently know.
There is so much more that God has for you….press after it today!
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (Philippians 3:13)
Jim
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