Press Forward

1 January 2012

1. Introduction

• Last year is over – it will never come again.
• We need to lift our eyes and let the Lord show us what He has planned for the New Year.
• Jer.29:11 “I know the thoughts I think towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil to give you a future and a hope”.
• The Lord has prepared new things, tasks, people, opportunities, relationships, challenges.
• Phil.3:12-15 “I press on …”

2. Let go of the Things of the Past

• V.13 “Forgetting those things which are behind”.
• Jesus wants us to live in faith and expectation of future things.
• What will I need to let go of?

i) Successes and Achievements

· Celebrate them, thank God for them but don’t live on past successes.

ii) Mistakes and Failures

· These can be a source of guilt, shame, regret.

· These can cause erosion of confidence, boldness.

· Face them and bring them to the Cross and the Blood for forgiveness.

· Ps.27:23 “Steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholds him with his hand”.

iii) Sorrows and disappointments

· Sorrowful experiences can cling to and erode motivation.

· Spirit of grief attaches to them and drains energy and life.

· Gen. 11:27-37 Terah set out for Canaan but stopped halfway. Terah stopped at the place of memory of past grief.

· Luke 24:13-17 Disciples on the road to Emmaus.

· Face sorrows and disappointments grieve over loss and receive comfort from the Holy Spirit.

· 2 Cor. 1:4 comforts us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

3. Refocus Your Vision

• vs13 “Reaching forward to those things that are before”
• God’s Kingdom is always advancing, always moving forward.
• There are new challenges, battles to fight, opposition to overcome.
• Clarify your vision: what are you wanting? asking God for?
• Jn.4:35 “Don’t say there are 4 months and then harvest, I say lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest”.
• Don’t procrastinate, or make excuses – lift eyes and focus on opportunity.
• Call to win souls, build church, advance Kingdom.
• Clarify what want to accomplish – nothing changes until specific
• Personal life – character – walk with God – faith
• Finances
• Family
• Kingdom – what is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about?

4. Determine to Stretch

• V13-14 “I press towards the goal for the prize”.
• ‘Reach’ = NT1901 = To stretch, to extend yourself.
• ‘Press’ = NT1377 = To pursue, run swiftly in order to obtain a prize.
• All growth is found in the stretch – beyond the comfort zone.
• E.g. Mark 3:3 Man with withered hand : Arise – stretch out your hand.

The miracle happened when he stretched – attempted to go beyond himself. Impossible to stretch without power of the Holy Spirit.

• What will you do that requires the Holy Spirit – impossible without Him?

• There is a Prize to be Won!

(a) Short term – breakthroughs in areas of life.

(b) Long term – rewards in the Kingdom and millennial reign.

                        - Today is the day of apprenticeship.

                        - Prize = NT1017 = crown given to victor in games.