Let It Go, And Move On!

Introduction

There are some things I like holding on to…there are some shoes I don’t want to get rid of…there are some suits I want to keep in my closet. When you look in the study at home, there are many, many books I want to possess. There are many things you may want to keep and not discard. However, there are some things you and I need to let go of. There are some habits we need to let go, and move on. There are some friends we need to let go and move on. There are some relationships we need to let go and move on.

I. We Gotta admit that God is still working on me! And, I’m still learning! (12-13a)

· (12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13a Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.[1])

· 12. Translate, “Not that I,” &c. (I do not wish to be understood as saying that, &c.).

· attained—“obtained,” namely, a perfect knowledge of Christ, and of the power of His death, and fellowship of His sufferings, and a conformity to His death.

· either were already perfect—“or am already perfected,” that is, crowned with the garland of victory, my course completed, and perfection absolutely reached. The image is that of a race course throughout.

o “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.” (); at the same time, each must aim at perfection, to be a Christian at all (, “Therefore you SHALL be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”).

· I have not arrived yet…I have to have a humble attitude to admit this type of thing! We have to take of these masks that we are perfect…it takes humility to admit some things.

· Fact of the matter is, God is not through working on me…I’m a work in progress…The real deal is, in some areas of my life, I still have some spiritual training wheels on…

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), .

II. We Gotta let SOME things go! (13b)

· (13b But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,[1])

· St. Paul concentrates all his thoughts and all his energies on the one great end of life, the one thing needful. He forgets those things which are behind; that is, not, as some explain, his Jewish privileges and distinctions, but that part of his Christian race already past.[2]

o Looking back is sure to end in going back (): So Lot’s wife (). If in stemming a current we cease pulling the oar against it, we are carried back. God’s word to us is as it was to Israel, “Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward” (). The Bible is our landmark to show us whether we are progressing or retrograding.

o The Hebrew author said, “…let us lay aside every weight and the sin, which doth so easily beset us…” We have to lay some things aside!

o Don’t allow the past to handcuff you to the point that you can’t experience the future God has for you.

o You gotta say good-bye to some things and some people! (Good bye, So long, Adios, A-ree-va-durchee, Later, Peace, Deuces, I’m outa here!)

· Reaching forth/Straining forward. The Greek word (ἐπεκτεινόμενος) is singularly emphatic: it means that the athlete throws himself forward in the race with all his energies strained to the very utmost.[3]

o reaching forth—with hand and foot, like a runner in a race, and the body bent forward. The Christian is always humbled by the contrast between what he is and what he desires to be. The eye reaches before and draws on the hand, the hand reaches before and draws on the foot [Bengel].

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), .

[2] Philippians, ed. H. D. M. Spence-Jones, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 114.

[3] Philippians, ed. H. D. M. Spence-Jones, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 114.

III. We Gotta Keep Pressing On! (14ff)

· (14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.[1])

· I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; rather, with the best manuscript, unto the prize.

o Press…I’m striving…I’m in hot pursuit…I have a goal in mind…

o The first preposition, “towards,” expresses the aim;

o The second preposition, “unto,” the end of the race.

o The high calling; the upward, heavenward calling. God is calling us all upward, heavenward, by the voice of the Lord Jesus, who is the Word of God. Comp. , “Partakers of the heavenly calling.” The words, “in Christ Jesus,” are to be taken with “the high calling.” It is God who calls: he calls us in the person of Christ, by the voice of Christ, “Come unto me.” “It was his will that thou shouldst run the race below; he gives the crown above. Seest thou not that even here they crown the most honoured of the athletes, not on the racecourse below but the king calls them up, and crowns them there” (Chrysostom).[2]

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), .

[2] Philippians, ed. H. D. M. Spence-Jones, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 114-15.

Conclusion

I have bigger plans! I have better plans! I can’t reach the goal holding on to unessential things and people…I gotta let the extra/un-needed baggage GO! (Anger, Bitterness, Contentions, Division, Evil Ways, Fake Friends, Get Over’s, Hatred, Idolatry, Jealousy, K…, Lying, Malice, Negativity, Oppression, Pride, Quick Tempers, Revenge, Sexual Sins, T…, Unforgiveness, Vindictive people, Worry, X…,Your haters, Zeros

· To Achieve Your Dreams Remember Your ABCs

o Avoid negative sources, people, places, things, and habits

o Believe in yourself

o Consider things from every angle

o Don’t give up and don’t give in

o Enjoy life today; yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come

o Family and friends are hidden treasures; seek them and enjoy their riches

o Give more than you planned to

o Hang on to your dreams

o Ignore those who discourage you

o Just do it

o Keep trying; no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier

o Love yourself first and most

o Make it happen

o Never lie, cheat or steal; always strike a fair deal

o Open your eyes and see things as they really are

o Practice makes perfect

o Quitters never win and winners never quit

o Read, study and learn about everything important in your life

o Stop procrastinating, start doing

o Take control of your own destiny

o Understand yourself in order to better understand others

o Visualize it

o Want it more than anything

o Xcelerate your efforts

o You are unique of all God’s creations

o Zero in on your target and go for it