Fresh Start

Philippians 3:7–16 NIV84

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 3:7-16

1. Looking back hinders forward progress

Remember Lot’s wife

Looking back may depress you

Looking back may defeat you

Don’t look back at the sins that have been forgiven

Don’t look back at the sins that have been forgiven

1 John 1:7–9 NIV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7–9 NIV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

You have a guaranteed forgiveness

God has really forgiven you

Don’t look back at failures that depress you

III. Do not look back at failures that depress you

Don’t look back at failures that depress you

Do not look back at failures that depress you

Everyone has failures in their past

a. Everyone has failures in their past

b. Only those who never risk never fail

Only those who never risk never fail

Only those who never risk never fail

Do not let past failures make you a future failure

c. Do not let past failures make you a future failure

Do not let past failures make you a future failure

2. Looking back may deceive you

Numbers 11:18 NIV

18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it.

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Do not think that the past is better than your future

Our memories are usually better than reality

Your future is better than your best past

Do not look back at situations that make you bitter

1 Peter 2:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

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If you think of yesterday’s conflict it will upset you today

Do not look back at victories that make you complacent

VI. Do not look back at victories that make you complacent

3. Learn to trust God’s direction

Learn from the past and get to your future

God is doing something new in your life

God is making a way where there seemed to be no way

God can do more than we ask

God can do more than we can think

God can do more than we can imagine

God can do more than we can dream

4. Dream big dreams

If you can reach your goal, it wasn’t high enough

Paul says in verse 12, "Not as though I had already attained. . . ."

Forget your failures

Forget your successes

Focus on the ever-changing goal of being a Christian

You have a clean canvas

You are the biggest obstacles in your dreams

5. Live your life on purpose

Strain for your future

Fight for your future

Don’t settle for less than the plan of God

Purpose is to win the prize

Purpose is reach Heaven not slide into Heaven

Christians must pursue God-given gifts with purpose and perseverance.

The Best is Yet to ComeI.