Don't Look Back 2022

Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

To begin with brothers and sisters Congregational Constitutes, and Saints of God today I’d like to share a potent, powerful, and promising revelation with this Great Great Pilgrim BC.

The Lord said visit Philippians 3:13 And when you come to the part that says forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before you.... Tell the folk in the church to step into their new future. We the favor of God upon us so let’s have faith and to listen to God as He funnels this Church into a fabulous future. Things look better already. Tell your neighbor : Things look better already.

And so as we glint, gleam, and gaze at this glorious text the Apostle Paul says some powerful things: You got a minute ?

1. Paul says Brethren I don’t think that I’m all that, And for me, That’s a sobering moment . Some of us just need to realize that we ain’t all that and a bag of chip a pickle and a cold drink.

2. Paul says in verse 13 after the colon: I recognize what I have to do. “Recognizing what course of action is very important”..

Church we have to be focused on our future.

3. Paul says I see now that I have to let things in the past go. Tell your neighbor: Just let it go

4.Paul says I have to reach for the Blessings that God have a head for me.

5 Paul says in verse 14. I have to work at being a winner because I’m working for my prize and it’s an Imperishable Crown

Church, Anything is Possible. Never doubt your potential. Never lose your motivation. Never give up your objectives. Never hide in hesitation. Never allow negative people to pull you down. Never go in the wrong direction on purpose.

I vowed not to go in the wrong direction if it’s against God’s Church and God’s people. So Don’t Look Back Step into your new future.

If you are going in the same direction with me, whether I like you or not it doesn’t bother me. And that shouldn’t bother you either.

I said that to say this, it bothered Jesus’ disciples that somebody was going in their direction but wasn’t on their team, but it didn’t bother Jesus.In Mark 9:38-50 Jesus in a long discourse in essence Replies to His disciples and said “Leave the brother alone” Just because he’s not in your clicke doesn’t mean he not doing good for the kingdom.Personally If you’re going in the same direction I’m going, in I don’t see no reason not to work together. And Jesus said to His disciples y’all stop that division because “He who is not against us is for us.”

Philippians 3:13 Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended....Paul says I don’t think I have it all. And listen folk Life is full of reasons to quit, to throw in the towel, to give up the fight, but saints of God don’t ever let anyone stop you from achieving your goals. Especially when you’re trying to make something decent out of yourself. Listen to me you have to “Focus on positive things and be inspired by your dreams and pursue them, and you have to endeavor to beat the odds”. You have to dare to be a winner even when folk laugh in your face and try to say that you can’t rise above your station in life.

Tell them you don’t know what I can do Because the bible says “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” Hallelujah!

Listen to me Just Keep God first and everything will be alright. Can I share something with us. None of us are all we’re supposed to be. Paul recognizes that he wasn’t all he was supposed to be. Paul said in the text Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended. I see several things in the text.

1. Humble Submission Leads to promotion. The bible says Humble yourselves under the mighty Hand of God and He will exalt you in due season. If you’re too high God can’t use you! And let me say parenthetically that if God does the elevating then that means that God can raise me up above my enemies.. And God will let them see me get blessed. Because the 23rd Psalms say Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Glory to God

2. Acknowledgement of our sins leads to vindication. The bible says in Luke 18:10 that a Jesus Justified a Publican over a Pharisee because the Publican pray at church “oh God be merciful to me a sinner” and the Pharisee said look at him. And said Yeah look at him at least he’s being honest about his sin. Sometimes we act like we were super saints all our lives but some of us use to be a little Lucy goosy, tipsy whipsy rough and ready and you use to act like you had gone stone crazy. Somebody gave you a chance, so you’ve got to give somebody else a chance too. Because Jesus said the Publican goes down more justified than the religious Pharisee.

3. The Antidote that Produces a favorable out come Romans 5:1 NLT says Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord had done for us. The antidote is the cure for the sickness inside of us. The word of God produces the proper antidote, What Jesus did on the cross produces the proper antidote, and living a holy life is what produce the proper antidote to the problems we are facing.

Paul says in our theme passage in Philippians 3:13 in the c Clause of the verse “forgetting those things which are behind”. It’s hard driving your car forward while looking backward in your rear view mirror. You’re going to get into a wreck like that!!!In other words

“You can’t hold on to past problems and conquer future challenges”… Because the past is going to trip you up every time, you must try to go forward. Somebody ask me why? Because misery loves company.

And so Paul gave us a solution “In Life there comes a point and time when we recognize what we have to do. We have to make some changes. And the tension in the text suggest that Paul knew that he had to make some positive changes.

1. Some of us got to let some people go because they are toxic and they are hurting you they are pulling you down. Forgetting those things which are behind

2. Some of us have give up some places I just don’t go no mo.

3. Some of us have to give up some things. Once we truly commit to living for the Lord we’ll find out that can live without a lot of things. and I’ve learned now that Life is hard but the yard but its a cinch by the inch. You’ll be happier if you just let go and let God.Let yourself laugh some times. When was the last time you let yourself laugh and be happy? The bible says in Proverbs 17:22 says A cheerful Heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Make it a point to to be happy sometimes.Don’t take your self so serious and For God’s sake don’t stop other people from being happy and praying and praising God and shouting and singing and laughing and having a good time in the Lord. Church ought to be a place you feel good about attending.

Paul says Verse 14 says I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Jesus Christ is calling us. Here are 5 things that will help us

1. Act on the Important things and leave the petty stuff alone.

2. Go for the Gusto and reach the Extraordinary and do something great. I want God’s church to know that I stand for something of renown.I believe in Pilgrim

3. Plan ahead of time. A man who fails to plan, plans to fail. Let’s make preparation for Pilgrim’s success.

4. Time is filled with swift transitions, so keep up with Modern Times Get with it and refuse to get left behind

5 Stay filled with the Holy Spirit. And we stay filled with the Holy Spirit by Trusting God, Put it all in His Hands, Read God’s word, Meditate on what you have read in God’s word. Pray to God about it, and leave in the hands of the Good Lord and when life get’s too hard for you God will Rock you in the wearied land..

We’ve got to make every effort to get the blessing that God has for us. Philippians 3:14 says I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Last thing there’s a blessing in your pressing. Brothers and sisters Find a goal that you can seize with energy and start pursuing it. Draw your inspiration from the Lord Jesus Christ. This same Paul said in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

Some times people are going to say hurtful things about you but press on anyhow.

Some times they are going to call you everything but a child of God but press on anyhow.

Some times people are going to wear two faces and tell you one thing and tell other people something else but you press on anyhow... But just remember that they talked about Jesus too.

And when things get rough just remember that the bible says in Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them who are called according to His purpose. press on anyhow

And sometimes we get afraid of life’s trials and tribulations but just remember that the Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. press on anyhow

And so we’ve got to press on and be strong because the bible says in Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren , be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. I’ve got to close but tah

Church the devil is busy and there’s a story that comes to my mind um um In Genesis 18 The bible says that God the Father The Son and the Holy Spirit lowered down their voltage and came down to planet earth and visited Abraham. Yes

And the Lord said Abraham I’m going to send two angels down to Sodom and Gomorrah and I’m going to destroy those sinful cities. Oh Lord

And I heard Abraham saying well Lord my nephew Lot is down there and Lord if you find 50 righteous will you save the city. um um um Please sir to have mercy Oh Lord

And the Lord said Abraham if I can find 50 righteous I’ll save the city.. Um Um And Abraham thought about how they lie and refuse to tell the truth and I heard Abraham saying

Lord I don’t mean to bother you Lord but what if you can find 45 righteous then will you spare the city, The Lord said yes if I find 45 I’ll save the city..

And Abraham thought about how they gamble down there and wait a minute Lord How about 40 if you find 40 righteous will you save the city…

The Lord said yes I’ll save the city But Abraham thought about how the people rob and steal and kill down there and said well now Lord how about 30 instead of 40 and the Lord said yes If I find 30 I’ll save the city Please sir to have mercy.

Oh Lord and Abraham thought about how the people drink and do dope and cut up and carry on and said well now Lord what about 20 instead of 30

And the Lord said yeah I’ll save the city if I find 20 righteous and Abraham was just about to let the Lord go but he thought about how the people had men sleeping with men and women sleeping with women and Abraham said Please Lord if you can just find 10 righteous will you spare the city. And to his surprise the Lord said yes

And when they got t the city nobody wasn’t doing right and the angel told Lot get your wife and children and get out of town. Oh Lord and Lot got his wife and children along with their wives

yes And they got out of town just in time. Please sir to have mercy and fire rain down from heaven oh yes it did and angels said Lot and his family “Don’t look back!” keep on pressing your way out of this place. Don’t look back because there’s nothing behind you.

And Lot’s wife said let me see this grand city one more time before it’s all gone. And the bible says when she looked back, She turned to a pillar of salt and was destroyed with the sinners.

I’m pressing on Because I know! that there’s nothing behind us. We’ve got to move toward our heavenly goal. “Don’t look back”

Keep on Pushing Keep on Plowing and keep on Pressing.

I Press for the Prize of the High calling of God through Jesus Christ our Lord Oh Yes I do.

Because One Day when it’s His to call and mine to answer I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.. yes I want to hear the Lord says Servant!

5th Servant 7th Servant 8 Servant Well Done!!!