GO FORWARD AND DON'T BRING YOUR PAST WITH YOU!

Philippians 3:13-This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

The word of the day is:

STOP LIVING IN THE PAST AND REACH FORTH

THE APOSTLE PAUL KNEW THAT HE HAD TO LET GO OF HIS PAST LIFE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT  HINDRANCE TO HIM AS A SERVANT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  PAUL AT ONE TIME WAS A PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH OF GOD.  PAUL SAID IN 1 TIM 2:12-13 - I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has counted me faithful to be a minister of the gospel.  Paul explained that he was a blasphemer and a persecutor, and injurious, but he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief.

DESPITE PAUL’S PAST FAULTS, GOD SAW SOMETHING IN THIS MAN THAT HE COULD USE FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES. PAUL SOUGHT THE LORD FOR FORGIVENESS OF HIS PAST SINS, AND DESIRED THAT GOD WOULD USE HIM FOR HIS UTMOST GLORY.

WE TODAY MUST RID OURSELVES OF HIDDEN RESENTMENTS, ANGER, REVENGE AND ENVY THAT WE MAY FEEL TOWARDS ANOTHER, SO THAT WE MAY EXPERIENCE A RELEASE OF EMOTIONAL WEIGHT THAT WE HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO CARRYING WITH US.  

LET US LET GO AND LET GOD BRING FORTH HEALING IN OUR MINDS. LET US FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED US SO THAT WE CAN GO FORWARD IN THE POWER OF GOD AND FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT THE LORD DESIRES FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH IN OUR LIVES.

 LET US FORGET AND GO ON SO THAT WE MAY GIVE GOD A SINCERE PRAISE FROM OUR HEARTS, AND LET US LET GO AND LET GOD TAKE AWAY THE NEGATIVE PAST FROM OUR MINDS SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN TODAY AND HOPE FOR TOMORROW.  EPH 4:23-"BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS". WE DO NOT FORGET OUR PAST, BUT WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR PAST, TRY TO AVOID SITUATIONS THAT CAN REPEAT THE PAST, AND LEAVE IT WHERE IT BELONGS--IN THE BACK-NOT BEFORE US!

WE MUST NOT USE THE PAST AS A WEAPON TO HURT, HARM OR DESTROY SOMEONE ELSE.  REMEMBER THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST ON FORGIVENESS.  HOW CAN WE EXPECT CHRIST TO FORGIVE US WHEN WE ARE RELUCTANT ABOUT FORGIVING OTHERS?

PRAYER:  LORD FATHER HELP US TO LET GO OF THOSE EVENTS YESTERDAY THAT HURT AND BROUGHT ANGER, CONFUSION AND GRIEF. GRANT US THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN A NEW DAY AND PLEASE YOU FOREVERMORE.  WE THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEW MERCIES.  AMEN.

WITH MY LOVE TO YOU ALL-

Pastor Sharon T. Spencer