LEARNING TO FORGIVE AND FORGET
Phil 3:12-14
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
TWO THINGS I WANT YOU TO NOTICE ABOUT THIS PASSAGE THAT PAUL WROTE TO THE CHURCH AT PHILLIPI:
1. forgetting those things which are behind.
2. and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
BEFORE YOU CAN GO ANY FARTHER WITH YOUR WALK WITH GOD YOU MUST FORGET ABOUT THE PAST. THINK ABOUT PAUL ONCE KNOWN AS SAUL OF TARSEUS, HE HAD TO FORGET ABOUT HIS PAST AS A PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS IN ORDER TO MINISTER EFFECTIVELY.
THINK ABOUT HOW MANY CHRISTIANS WERE OUTRAGED THAT PAUL WAS MINISTERING. WHAT ABOUT CURRENT DAY PASTORS AND EVANGELIST.
LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAID ABOUT HIMSELF IN 1 TIM 1:11-16
PAUL WAS PRESENT AT THE STONING OF STEPHEN ACTS 7:58
PAUL CONSENTED TO STEPHENS DEATH ACTS 8:1
LOOKING FARTHER IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE HE WROTE IN Acts 9:1-2 Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
BUT THANK GOD, FOR GOD GREAT MERCY REACHED PAUL!!!! THAT ONE OF THE THING HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAID FORGETTING THOES THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, I PRESS TOWARD TH MARK.
IT IS A TERRIBLE THING FOR CHRISTIANS TO CONTINUALLY DWELL ON THE PAST. THERE IS NO FUTURE IN THE PAST!!! LIKE PAUL WHO BROUGHT CONTINUAL HAVOC ON THE CHURCH BY PERSECUTING BELIEVERS.
CHURCH IF WE ARE TO EVER BE SUCSESSFUL IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE, AND MINISTERY THERE IS ONE THING WE MUST DO, AND IT IS A LESSON THAT PAUL LEARNED: WE MUST LEARN TO FORGET SAY IT WITH ME…..
CHURCH IF WE DO NOT LEARN THIS LESSON WE WILL BE HANDYCAPPED THE REST OF OUR LIVES IN LIVING FOR GOD.
REMEMBER THIS, ISIAH SAID IN 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
IF GOD DOES NOT REMEMBER IT WHY SHOULD YOU?
NOTICE WHAT GOD SAYS IN THE NEXT VERSE 43:26 Put me in remembrance
REMEMBER ME, REMEMBER MY GOODNESS, MY BLESSINGS, MY COVENANTS, MY SON JESUS, REMEMBER ALL THAT I HAVE DONE FOR YOU, BUT FORGET YOUR PAST. IN OTHER WORDS GOD IS TELLING YOU TO REMIND HIM OF WHAT HIS WORD SAYS.
I KNOW EVERY TIME I GET DOWN ON MY KNEES TO PRAY THE DEVEL IS RIGHT THERE TO TRY AND REMIND ME OF MY PAST, BUT I SAY GET THE BEHIND ME SATIN BECAUSE IT IS UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND GOD HAS CAST IT AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST. YOU SEE HE MAY KNOW MY PAST, BUT I KNOW HIS FUTURE.
GOD SAID I’VE BLOTTED IT OUT, AND IF GOD BLOTTED IT OUT IT NO LONGER EXIST.
In a dream, Martin Luther found himself being attacked by Satan. The devil unrolled a long scroll containing a list of Luther’s sins, and held it before him. On reaching the end of the scroll Luther asked the devil, "Is that all?" "No," came the reply, and a second scroll was thrust in front of him. Then, after a second came a third. But now the devil had no more. "You’ve forgotten something," Luther exclaimed triumphantly. "Quickly write on each of them, ’The blood of Jesus Christ God’s son cleanses us from all sins.’
LOOK BACK AT V25 THERE ARE SOME KEY WORDS HERE for mine own sake
HE DIDN’T SAY HE WOULD FORGET YOUR SINS AND INIQUITIES FOR YOUR SAKE, BUT GOD SAID IT WAS FOR HIS SAKE. WHY? SO HE CAN BLESS YOUL, SO HE CAN HELP YOU, SO HE COULD DEMONSTRATE HIS GREAT MERCY AND LOVE TO YOU THAT’S WHY YOU MUST FORGET THE PAST
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HURT BY SOMEONE, BUT YOU BETTER GET ON WITH LIFE, YOU BETTER FORGIVE AND FORGET.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
YOU SEE LIKE PAUL WE HAVE TO FORGET OUR PAST IN ORDER TO WALK WITH GOD IN THE FUTURE WE WILL NEVER REACH OUR FULL MINISTRY POTENTIAL IF WE DON’T.
2.) FAITH TO FORGIVE
CLOSLY ASSOCIATED WITH LEARNING TO FORGET IS LEARNING TO FORGIVE.
FORGIVNESS IS TWO FOLD: NOT ONLY MUST YOU LEARN TO FORGIVE OTHERS YOU MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE YOURSELF.
Matt 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
NOW THAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD QUESTION ISN’T IT. IS THAT PERTINENT TODAY OR DID IT ONLY APPLY TO PEOPLE LIVING BACK THEN? LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS SAYS. Matt 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
NOW LOOK AT THE 17 CHAPTER OF LUKE AND SEE WHAT JESUS IS SAYING ABOUT FORGIVNESS IN THE FOURTH VERSE. Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THIS WAS FORGIVNESS FOR A DAY, NOT A LIFE TIME.
IM SORRY BUT IF YOU SIN AGENST ME 490 TIMES A DAY WE NEED TO STOP HANGING OUT TOGATHER.
YOU SEE WE HERE A LOT ABOUT FORGIVNESS, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT FORGIVENESS, BUT SOME HOW WE DON’T PRACTICE A LOT OF FORGIVENESS.
LOOK AROUND YOU MOST PEOPLE YOU DON’T SEE HERE IN THIS CHURCH TODAY THAT WERE HERE 5, 10, 15, YEARS AGO CAN MAINLY BE TRACED BACK TO UNFORGIVENESS.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
THIS IS STILL PART OF THE FAITH MESSAGE, BECAUSE IT TAKES FAIT TO FORGIVE. IN FACT YOUR FAITH WON’T WORK UNLESS YOU DO FORGIVE.
JESUS CONNECTS PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS HAND AND HAND. Mark 11:24-26
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
MANY PEOPLE STILL HAVE SIN IN THERE LIFE BECAUSE THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FORGIVE OTHERS. MATT 18:23-35 RICH MAN WHO OWED MONEY TO THE KING ( $9,250,000) FORGIVEN BY THE KING BECAUSE OF MERCY, BUT THE SAME MAN HAD NO MERCY ON HIS SERVENT…………………………
THE KING CALLED HIM WICKED. WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS NOT WILLING TO FORGIVE. THERE IS NO USE IN DISSUSING WHAT IS WICKED, BECAUSE IF IT IS WICKED WE DON’T WANT ANY THING TO DO WITH IT. THAT IS PLAIN ENOUGH ISN’T IT. WEATHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT TO FORGIVE AND FORGET GO HAND AND HAND
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HINDER US FROM RECEIVING GOD, FROM GROWING SPIRITUALLY, AND FROM BEING WHAT GOD WANT’S US TO BE.
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never even heard of the incident. "Don’t you remember it?" her friend asked. "No," came Barton’s reply, "I distinctly remember forgetting it."
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
