Letting Go of the Past and Taking Hold of the New Life

Spiritual Goals for 2023

I. Review spiritual DNA - 4 things:

Justification by Faith

Sanctification

Resurrection Power

The Prize in Jesus Christ

Philippians 3:7–14 NKJV

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I. No Confidence in the flesh.

vs 4 / vs 5 Paul’s Jewish Heritage

All personal gain counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Value is knowing Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

A. Paul had suffered the loss of all things for Jesus sake.

1. Human accomplishments - things of the world

Saul/Paul had been persecuting the church - working against God by working righteousness in the law. (see vs 9)

2. Righteousness is by Faith in Jesus Christ - Believers are Justified by their Faith in Christ.

3. Traded or swapped “rubbish” to gain Christ.

B. Watch out for satan - evil doers (vs2)

Consider what Satan has stolen from you in the past.

Time, money, family, health: physical/mental well-being.

Relationships: Friends, Church members

Satan steals joy, love, peace.

1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

II. Set a Spiritual Goal(s) in the new year

A. Press towards the Spiritual things:

Maturity is awareness that you have to keep running the race.

Paul had set his Focus on Christ.

see vs 10 to know the power of His Resurrection

Victory over Death, Sin was defeated on the Cross.

Cannot look back - forgetting the past memories when others hurt you.

Paul had to forget the pain of persecuting the church, pain of prison,

vs 10 Paul needed to know the Fellowship of His Suffering.

suffering physical punishment, the frustration of others in the church.

III. Knowing our Future Hope

vs 11-14 Paul was looking forward to his death and resurrection.

Believers in the Church our citizenship is in Heaven

Know that Jesus will return

Participate in Kingdom activities, not worldly.

Know that we are under God’s authority. control of H.S.

Conclusion: Faith which is our eternal Christ leads us to press forward to going into our eternal home in heaven.