Forgetting The Past With A Heart For The Future

2020-12-27  

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Philippians 3:7-14 (CSB) But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ —the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 

1. The things I thought mattered don’t matter at all 

Vs 7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 

• This is not to say the things or accomplishments of this world have no value, just that we must see them as they really are
• The value of earthy possessions and accomplishments is found in how we use them for the Kingdom 

2. Our ultimate goal is to know Him 

Vs 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ 

• The purpose of our lives must be focused on Christ and His daily impact in our lives
• So often, we allow everything else to take priority in our lives rather than our devotion to Him 

Vs 10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death 

3. Knowing Him requires commitment 

Vs 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 

• This is a daily commitment and takes work
• Because of Christ’s gift from the cross, we should make it our heart’s desire to grow in our faith
• Becoming spiritually mature never happens by accident 

4. Letting go of yesterday, focusing on tomorrow 

Vs 13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 

• There’s never been a more important statement for the church
• We must let go of yesterday regardless of what’s there
• One of the greatest threats to the success of the church is allowing the pain and failures of yesterday to determine the level of commitment for tomorrow
• What’s your daily pursuit?