"Let Go of Your Past"

INTRODUCTION

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Have you ever met someone who was “living in the past.” You know the type – someone who would rather go back to the better days of the past - because for them it was better than their present life. Whenever I think of someone who “lives in the past” I think of Uncle Rico. How many of you know who “Uncle Rico” is – raise your hand. Well, it’s time to meet him.

· Video clip – “Uncle Rico” (Napoleon Dynamite)

Some people “live in the past” like Uncle Rico. Some people are paralyzed by the past – they can’t seem to move forward because something from their past hinders their progress. Some people want to escape their past – they take great pains and go to great expense to cover up their past (decisions & reputation). Our past can be celebrated – we cherish the monumental moments from the past like getting married, the birth of our children, reaching the milestones of graduating from high school or college, a special trip, or the celebration of 50 years of marriage.

Need

Our past can be a powerful thing – we can learn from our past, we can celebrate the past, we can mourn the past, and we can glamorize and memorize the past so much that we wish to go back to the “good old days.” We can carry a lot of baggage from our past. There are parts of the past that weigh us down – they are a burden to us and they keep us from enjoying the abundant life Jesus offer to us – certainly pain from our past in the number one thing weighs us down. Last week we “letting go of our pain” because the Lord is our helper (get through our pain) and our healing (deliver us from pain). There is much more than the pain of our past that weighs us down.

· Shame from the past

· Guilt from the past

· Regrets of the past

· Past grudges – unresolved strife/strain in a relationship

· Anger from the past –

· Mind consumed by dwelling on the past

· Discontentment because we want to go back to the past

Often the past can keep us from enjoying the abundant life we have in Jesus Christ – it weighs heavily on us – and we long to find some relief. Therefore we need to “let go of our past”

Preview

Today we conclude our mini sermon series entitled “LET IT GO” – again I apologize if the theme song from “Frozen” has been running through your head during the sermon each week. I will pray for you. In week one we considered “Letting go of our worry.” Last week we considered “letting go of our pain because Jesus is our helper and healer.” Today we consider “letting go of our past.” The idea of “letting go of your past” might seem a bit daunting or even questionable. Is it possible? Are there things from our past we should hold onto? What should we hold onto and what should we let go of? Today we open up God’s Word to discover what it means for us to “let go of our past” so we can experience the abundant life we have in Jesus. If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, turn to or scroll over to . In we’re going to learn from Paul’s life what it means to “let go of our past.”

LET GO OF OUR PAST (Learning from Paul’s Life)

In life it’s helpful to have a few role-models who can impart wisdom, provide counsel, and encourage us along the way. Role-models are people we look up to and we can model our lives after them. The Bible is filled with ancient role-models (examples) that we can learn from in our Christian life (). Today we’re going to glean from the life of the apostle Paul. In the NT we find Paul repeatedly calling the Christians in the first century to follow his example.

· - 16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 4:17[1]

· - 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. [2]

· - 3:17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.[3]

We see how vital it is for our role-models to be following Jesus faithfully so that when we follow their example we will ultimately be following Jesus. Today we’re going to glean from Paul’s life what it means to “Let go of our past.”

We begin with some context. Paul wrote his letter to Christians living in the city of Philippi. (MAP). Paul had a deep and affectionate relationship with these believers. Paul first visited Philippi during his second missionary journey () in A.D. 49-51. Paul had received a vision to cross over into Europe. The church in Philippi was the first one he planted in Europe and they became partners with them as they supported his ministry financially. Paul wrote to the Philippians from a Roman prison to encourage them in their faith and report his deep joy at God using his imprisonment to bring more people to faith in Jesus.

In we find a portion of Paul’s personal testimony of faith—how his life had been changed by Jesus Christ—no longer counting on his religious position & efforts in order to attain right standing with God but rather trusting in finished work on the cross to be declared righteous before God. Paul expressed his desire to “know Christ, share in His sufferings, become like Him, and one day attain resurrection from the dead” (3:11). With that as a backdrop follow along as I read where we will glean what in means to “let go of our past.” ()

In we find Paul’s earnest desire to not only make progress towards spiritual maturity, to not only cross the finish line of faith, but to actually win the race! On numerous occasions Paul uses athletic imagery as a metaphor for the Christian life (, , , ). Paul doesn’t use the word race in Philippians but as we will see its implied by the language he uses to describe his earnest desire and pursuit. Let’s walk this passage – following Paul’s example – and gleaning what it means to “let go of our past.” We begin with two primary observations.

A) Paul’s Humble Confession (3:12:13a)

We begin with “Paul’s Humble Confession” in . After declaring that he had considered his past religious position and practice as “rubbish” in order to gain the God’s righteousness by faith in Christ, he didn’t want his dear friends and fellow believers in Philippi to get the wrong idea, Paul didn’t want to portray that “he thought he was perfect” and had “attained spiritual maturity.” Thus Paul’s Humble Confession—"Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect” (3:12)—Paul admitted his own imperfection and that he hadn’t arrived at the finish line yet—Paul’s humbly confessed that he had not personally “taken hold of” (λαμβάνω) of fully knowing Christ, spiritual perfection, or the glory of resurrection which he had just written about in his letter (2:11) Paul humbly confessed I have not acquired or taken possession of perfection – implied in the language is an athletic metaphor that depicts a runner at the games. Paul was confessing “I have not yet arrived at the finish line.”

Paul emphasized the point by declaring—“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it” (3:13)—once again Paul humbly confessed that he had not considered himself to have “taken hold” of perfection or “taken possession” of perfection in Jesus. Paul humbly confessed that he did not think of himself as one who as “acquired” or “attained” perfection. Paul had not

B) Paul’s Pursuit of the Prize (3:12-14)

Secondly, we see “Paul’s Pursuit of the Prize” in . Paul has humbly confessed that he hasn’t arrived at perfection in Jesus but that’s his pursuit. We clearly see Paul’s earnest pursuit of the prize—“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (3:12)—the expression “press on” is once again athletic imagery of the runners competing in the ancient games depicting his earnest effort to “run quickly and energetically” to take hold of that for which Jesus Christ took hold of him. Paul’s pressing on to attain the goal of perfection and resurrection because Jesus Christ had taken hold of him. Ever since the day Jesus took hold of Paul on the road to Damascus Paul has been pressing on toward the goal (prize) of knowing Christ, sharing in the sufferings of Christ, union with Christ, and perfection in Christ. Paul emphasizes his strenuous and ardent pursuit of the prize--“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (3:14)—once again Paul declared that he’s earnestly and enthusiastically running toward the “goal to win the prize,” namely the heavenly calling of God. The goal is the finish line where he will receive the prize – the complete consummation of his salvation – gaining Christ fully and completely. Paul’s running to win the prize of being made perfect in Christ and enjoying bodily resurrection like Christ, achieving the fullness of salvation in Jesus, standing before Him with the company of the redeemed completely righteous. Paul’s pressing on (moving forward) to attain the goal of complete glorification in Jesus. Paul’s present pursuit has a future focus—his goal is to cross the finish line of the race to win the prize—crowned with “righteousness,” perfect, and glorified in the eternal presence of his Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul’s earnest pursuit of the finish line will require two important actions which is where we glean insight about letting go of our past.

1) Forgetting the Past (3:13b)

First, pressing on to win the prize required “forgetting the past”—Paul declared that he was “pressing on” by “forgetting what is behind” (2:13)—in order press on to win the ultimate prize of perfection in Christ he had to “forget things that lie behind” (NET). We need to clarify what this does not mean. Paul isn’t declaring that he has the power to “erase” the past from his memory bank. Paul isn’t declaring that he won’t ever remember something from his past (good or bad). Remember this is a apart of a larger athletic metaphor of “pressing on” to the finish line to obtain the prize of complete perfection in Jesus. The phrase “forgetting what is behind” refers to his conscious decision to not “dwell on” the things of the past because they would hinder him from pursuing the future prize. Paul determined to not keep “recalling” the good things or the bad things that happened in the past because he didn’t want them to hinder his pursuit of the finish line (prize).

· NAC (Richard Melick): “Forgetting what is behind” comprehensively expresses Paul’s future orientation. What was done was done! Both the nostalgia of the former life and the “good ole days” of his Christian life would paralyze him in terms of what God wanted in the future.

To press the athletic metaphor a bit further if you’ve ever run a race you know how detrimental it is to take a peak over your shoulder to see how close your nearest competitor is and if they are gaining ground on you. Just a quick glance behind you can hinder your progress towards the finish line. Paul had a lot of baggage (history)—he had persecuted Christians and sought to have them killed before he put his faith in Jesus—I suspect he had a ton of regret, guilt, and shame from the past that could weigh him down and keep him from pressing on to the finish line to obtain the prize of perfection in Jesus. Paul put behind him any attempts to justify himself or trust in his own righteousness. Paul put behind him trying to earn righteousness by obeying the Law. Paul also had a lot of amazing spiritual victories and moments of ministry as an apostle—if Paul allowed himself to recall the past for too long his heart would have been filled with pride and his progress impeded—for he would be tempted to rest in his past success instead of pressing on to obtaining the fullness of his salvation in Jesus. Therefore Paul determined to “forget the things that lie behind him” so you could remain focused the pursuit of the eternal prize. Certainly Paul had moments when he “remembered” God’s goodness and grace, a significant and joyful moment of ministry as he traveled preaching the gospel. Certainly Paul had moments when he remembered days when he failed miserably, lessons that he had learned about God’s goodness and grace, and yet he was determined to not let anything from the past hinder is progress (pursuit) of the prize (complete perfection).

2) Straining toward the future (3:13)

Secondly, the “pressing on” required “straining toward the future.” Paul was determined to “forget the things that lie behind him” (good or bad) and committed to “straining toward what is ahead” 2:13). In order to “press on” to obtain the prize of perfection Paul was strenuously “reaching out for the things that lie ahead” (NET). Paul knew the past (good or bad) could no longer be his focus. Paul lived his new life in Christ “stretching out toward” what was in front of him. Once again we have athletic imagery of the runner competing in the ancient games, what was true for competitive runners in the first century is true for runners in the 21st century, each athlete exerts intense effort and when they get close to the finish line they “lean forward” to hit the tape first. The phrase “straining toward what is ahead” is Paul “leaning into the tape” in his pursuit to win the prize.

· J.A. Motyer: “Here is a runner in the games, extended in every fibre of his being -the eye outstrips and draws on the hand, and the hand the foot – everything is at a stretch to breast the tape”

Paul exerted intense effort forgetting the past and straining toward the future finish line. Paul lived the Christian life with a future focus – he would not allow the past to hinder reaching the finish line and receiving the prize, and like a competitive athlete he was determined and disciplined to win the prize by straining towards the future finish line.

LESSONS FROM PAUL’S LIFE

We can learn a great deal from Paul’s life – he is a role-model for every believer – and we can discover countless valuable lessons from his life. I love that Paul’s life was lived with such a desire to move forward instead of being focused on the past. Paul was determined to look forward instead of behind him. Today I want you to consider following Paul’s example – modeling your life after his – Paul was determined to “press on” towards the finish line of faith where he would receive an eternal prize – his determination to “press on” depicts an athlete exerting great energy running a race to get to the end. Paul’s life beckons us to press on. May we “Run, as one who runs for a prize!” “Run, as one who runs for a prize!” Paul ran hard and fast because of the prize that he would receive at the finish line—the prize at the end makes all the difference!

· Race to the finish line vs Race to the finish line where you will receive a million dollars (guaranteed just for finishing the race).

If there is no prize at the end you might start strong but not give it your all because in the end nothing is gained other than bragging rights. If there is a million dollars at the end of the finish line you might run a harder and faster, and if you fell down you would get back up and keep running, and you wouldn’t let anything hinder you from crossing the finish line. You would give your blood, sweat, and tears straining towards the finish line.

We run for a prize greater than a million dollars! We run for the prize of heavenly glory—the fulfillment of our salvation—when we will stand face to face with our Savior—fully knowing Christ, completely righteous, and like Him in our glorified bodies! Future glory is not something we earn but rather what we are awarded at the finish line – the gospel guarantees glorification is the future prize for every believer in Jesus. declares “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” [4] - run as one who will receive the prize of heavenly glory!

I’m afraid that we’ve become complacent and comfortable in the Christian life, consumed, distracted, and attracted by so many things, so we’re content to meander our way to the finish line one day. That’s not Paul’s example – that’s not the Christian life we’re called to live – we’re called give our all running the race as one who will receive the prize of heavenly glory in Jesus.

· Are you running as one who will receive an eternal prize?

· What are you running for? - “ Happiness? – Success? – Contentment? – Good health? – A fulfilling career? – A college scholarship? – A gorgeous wife? – Respect? – A comfortable retirement?

· Are you even running at all? – Perhaps you’re simply going through the motions consumed by lesser things?

· Are you running apathetically? – You’re running but with little desire. You could care less. You’ve lost the passion you once had for Jesus.

Run as one who will receive the prize of eternal glory – pressing on with all that you’ve got – there is no other way to live the Christian life in light of what awaits us at the finish line. Paul’s life teaches us how to run(press on) as one who will receive a prize at the finish line.

1) Letting Go of Your Past

First, “running as one who will receive a prize requires “letting go of your past.” Letting God of Your Past.” You must “Let Go of Your Past.” “Let Go of Your Past” – we run as one who will receive a prize by forgetting what lies behind us. The past can hinder us from running as one who will receive an eternal prize.

All too often our hinders us from running the race as one who will receive a prize. Sadly, we can become consumed by the past. Sadly, our past weighs us down (backpack). Sadly, we can become paralyzed by the past. I suspect that each of us have something from the past that is weighing us down today. The past can distract our focus and hinder our desire to run as one who will receive an eternal prize.

· Shame of past sins? – you’re overwhelmed by the shame of what you’ve done or what someone has done to you (abuse). God is gracious -forgiveness is found in Him – and HE took your shame to the cross so you don’t have to carry it.

· The pain of past regrets? – you wish you could go back make a different and better decision

· The pain of past losses? – last week learned that we can let go of our pain because Jesus is our helper and healer.

· Past disappointments? – you’ve been disappointed or the fact that you disappointed someone is weighing you down – a job you never got, a relationship that never developed, or when you failed to keep your word.

· Past success? – weighing you down as the pressure to perform and maintaining success

The past can take your focus off of the way you’re called to run the race. We must let go of our past. Letting go of our past doesn’t mean we forget our past – our brains are incredible and there are things we will always remember – and there are things we should remember and reflect upon because they will help us grow (failures that teach us greater dependence upon Him and victories that prompt us to praise Him). Letting go of your past means you’re determined to not “dwell” on the past so much that hinders your progress towards the finish line. Letting go of the past means that you make the conscious decision to not have your thoughts “fixed on the past” (what’s behind you) but rather fixing those thoughts on what’s ahead of you. The main focus of our life should be the future finish line where we will receive our eternal prize and not the past successes and failure.

· Windshield vs review mirror – Tim Elmore has produced some great leadership resources in a series entitled “Habitudes” (combination of the words habits and attitudes). In one of one of the books Tim reveals the that life is lived with a windshield and a rearview mirror. The rearview mirror is considerable smaller and the windshield is considerably larger – highlighting the importance of glancing to what’s behind but fixing our gaze on what’s ahead. If we get that backwards, fixing our gaze in the rearview mirror and only glancing at the windshield occasionally you’re going to crash!

Letting go of our past means we won’t fix our gaze on what’s behind us – dwelling upon it and having it dominate our thinking, but rather fixing our gaze on pursuing the glorious future that awaits us in Jesus. In order to let go of your past you must stop dwelling upon the things that are hindering your pursuit of the prize of heavenly glory. reveals that we must “throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and run the race marked out for us with perseverance, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrew 12:1-2). We must cast off everything, good and bad things, including our past so they won’t hinder us from running as one who will receive the prize of eternal glory.

2) Striving Towards the Finish Line

Secondly, we run as one who will receive a prize by Striving towards the Finish Line.” “Sriving towards the finish line.” We must follow Paul’s example of “letting go of the past” and “striving toward what lies ahead” Like runners in a race, we must exert every muscle in our body and exhaust all of our energy, straining towards the prize that awaits us! We must be the runner who “leans toward the finish line” because we know we will receive the eternal prize of heavenly glory—completion, union, and perfection in Jesus.

We can’t run aimlessly or apathetically – we must run earnestly – exerting great effort as we press on to the finish line. We must be consumed by crossing the finish line – reaching out with every fiber of our being – knowing the eternal prize of heavenly glory that awaits us! Don’t run half-hearted, don’t go half-way -go all in earnestly running the race as one who will receive the prize of eternal glory. You run as one who will receive a prize by letting go of the past and striving towards the finish line.

CONCLUSION

Refresh

The past is a powerful thing – it was for “Uncle Rico” and it is for you and me. We can “live in the past,” “run from our past,” and “glamorize our past.” Our past—both the good and the bad can weigh us down—robbing us from enjoying the abundant life that we have in Jesus.

Renew –

We’re called to live the Christian life like a runner who will receive a prize.

Restate –

Let’s run as one who will receive the eternal prize of heavenly glory by letting go of our past and striving for the finish line. Let’s run the race with intensity, passion, and effort because we know we will receive the prize of perfection and completion in Jesus. And one day after the race is over, you’re going to lean forward and cross the finish line reaching for the prize of heavenly glory that is yours in Christ—imagine Jesus standing there waiting to receive you into His arms and you’re receive the eternal prize of heavenly glory—and you’ll stand there glorified and will be given a crown of righteousness. In that day you will enjoy what Paul professed before his death—“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” () [5]

Run as one who will receive the enteral prize of heavenly glory—union with Christ and perfection in Christ—by letting go of the past and striving for the finish line. This is must be the way we live the Christian life.

PRAY

[1] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), .

[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

[3] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), .

[4] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

[5] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .