A Fresh Start
Every year we celebrate New Year’s Eve with a countdown and firework commemorating all our accomplishments and joys of yet another year that has passed. Unfortunately, there are other not so happy memories that we want to brush under the carpet and put behind us. They may include the loss of a loved one, a financial set back, a broken relationship, or mistakes made.
The month of January is named after the Roman god Janus, who was pictured as a man with two faces, one looking backward and the other forward. New Years Day provides a valuable time to ponder the past while anticipating the future.
What makes New Year’s Day so special is that it’s like starting all over. You can thank God for a great year, ask forgiveness for all of your mishaps, and start fresh with 365 days of possibilities ahead of you.
The Apostle Paul was a man who understood first hand what it was like to have a fresh start. In the first part of his life, Paul was called Saul. He comes on the scene in Acts 8 "giving approval to his death" as Stephen was stoned to death for his faith in Christ. Then in chapter 9 it says that "Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples." He was a public figure, a man of power, and a man to be feared.
Thankfully, God knocked him off his high horse - literally! Saul had a dramatic encounter with a gracious God, and although he deserved death, he was given a fresh start - a second chance. He embraced that opportunity and we know him today as the Apostle Paul, a missionary, evangelist, a church planter, a pastor, the author of most of the New Testament, and a martyr.
I’m sure that his fresh start was on his mind when he penned the words of Philippians 3:13-14.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
So this morning I want to talk to you about having a FRESH START. I want us to view 2007 as a year of possibilities and potential blessings. I want to encourage you to forget what’s behind in 2006 and strain toward is ahead.
Let’s pray…
1. Focus: Keeping things in perspective
Of course we all realize that our focus should be on God and not ourselves, but I think we would all admit that’s easier said than done. Let’s be honest, even when we are attempting to do the right things, and when we are striving to be used in ministry, we have a tendency to rely on our own strengths, abilities, and experiences. We are flesh and blood and have a tendency to lean on our flesh.
As many of us do this time of year, we self-evaluate our present condition compared to last year and determine some resolutions for the new year. Those resolutions, however, usually focus on things that can be considered "of the flesh". We want to loose 20 pounds, we aim at that promotion at work, we want to put more money away for retirement, we want to get married or have another child, buy a new house or car, advance in our education, start a new business…the list goes on. Hey those things are great and I encourage you, shoot for the stars! Dream big and ask for God’s blessings in 2007.
However, I think that Paul is showing us two important life principles that we need to consider in our FOCUS for 2007.
A. Avoid being CONFIDENT in your flesh.
"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless" (Phil. 3:4b-6).
Paul had a lot of things that he could be confident in, or even proud.
What is Paul’s response to these confidences?
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything 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 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" (v7-9).
Paul understood better than anyone that all the prestige, power and prominence in the world couldn’t bring him closer to God. Those things can’t bring salvation, righteousness, or sanctification. He shared this same message with the church in Ephesus when he said; "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).
A FRESH START begins with realizing that we have no confidence in our flesh.
B. Divine DISSATISFACTION brings progress.
"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" (v12).
Here Paul again is avoiding false confidence or pride by showing that even though he does have a deep relationship with Christ, there is still room to grow. He has what Warren Wiersbe calls a "divine dissatisfaction".
Many times Christians are self-satisfied or content in their Christianity because they compare themselves with other Christians - usually those who are not making much progress.
Paul wrote the Corinthian church about this as well. He said, "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Cor. 10:12).
The dangers of comparing ourselves to others:
- self-confidence & pride
- lack of personal challenge & growth
- discouragement
Paul repeatedly tells his readers to follow his example but never to compare themselves to him. He told the Corinthian church, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).
The value in evaluating our spiritual progress is not seen in how we look when compared to other Christians, but rather in how we look compared to Christ. Peter is quoting the words of God from the book of Leviticus when he tells his readers to, "Be holy because I am holy."
That very evaluation should challenge us to "press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me" (v12b). The evaluation of God’s holiness should bring us to a divine dissatisfaction of our holiness, and should awaken in us a desire for a FRESH START in the pursuit of the deeper things of God.
If we truly want a fresh start in 2007 we need to be FOUCED and keep things in perspective.
2. Forgetting
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead," (v13b)
Some of us have had experiences over the past year that we would rather not look back on. We’ve experienced pain, heartache, disappointment, and loss. We want to just forget about those experiences and move on. We don’t want to remember, we don’t want to look back, we don’t want to
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, "Where is Bannister?" As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, "If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!"
In Biblical terminology, "to forget" doesn’t mean "to fail to remember". We can’t possibly forget the passing of a loved one, a broken relationship, or a painful mistake that we’ve made. "To forget" in the Biblical sense, means to "no longer be influenced by or affected by." It means that we break the power of the past by living for the future (Wiersbe).
Some things should be forgotten. Joseph could have wasted his life dwelling on the injustices he suffered. As a youth, his brothers sold him into slavery, and he was forced to live in a hostile land. He had to spend his teenage and adult years away from his beloved father. Joseph even spent time in prison. In spite of all he endured, he harbored no resentment.
"And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget." Genesis 41:51
His ability to forget what was behind - to not be influenced by his past - gave him the power to succeed and have a prosperous future.
My past…
- my mother’s death
- our children’s suffering
- our past church
Do those memories hurt? Sure they do.
Some of you have had even more traumatic experiences.
Am I allowing my past to influence my future? No way!
I’m not about to look back and allow Roger Bannister to beat me.
What are holding onto as you enter this New Year? Are there things you need to forget and let go of?
Forgetting starts with forgiveness and leads to victory.
The power of a fresh start is realized when we forget what is behind and press on to what God has called us to.
As we prepare to receive communion this morning, it’s important for us to understand the these two life principles of a Fresh Start: FOCUS & FORGETTING
Focus not on our flesh but on our spirit - salvation and a divine dissatisfaction
Forgetting what is behind - allowing forgiveness to lead us to victory
Salvation call…?
3. Forward Momentum: maintaining your fresh start
To "press on" means to "follow after". The Greeks used this terminology to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey.
Refer back to the race and what Landy latter accomplished. He wasn’t looking back anymore!
1956 National Championship in Melbourne…in the third lap, Ron Clarke (Australian and World Junior Mile record holder) and John Landy moved forward at a strong pace. They were shooting for a new world record! Then Alec Henderson tried to squeeze between the two runners and the inside edge of the curb and in so doing, clipped the heel of Ron Clarke with his spikes. Clarke stumbled forward onto the cinder track while Henderson was knocked onto the side arena. Landy then tried to leap over the falling body of Clarke but ended up stepping right on Clarke’s shoulder with his spikes. Everyone else either jumped over Clarke or ran around him as he lay there on the ground.
Just then, Landy stunned the sporting world with his incredible selfless act of kindness. Forgetting about the world record and the approaching Olympics, he stopped and ran back to help the fallen Ron Clarke. He got him back on his feet, brushed the cinders off, checked his bleeding shoulder and said “Sorry”. Clarke was ok and told Landy, “Keep going, I’m alright. Run! Run!”
Together Landy and Clarke set off to catch the other runners who were at this time over 60 yards ahead. As they pressed on they began passing the field of runners one by one. On the home stretch, Landy sprinted leaving Clarke behind with the most powerful finish ever. In the last ten yards, Landy passed the leading Henderson and Lincoln to win the Australian Championship in four minutes, four seconds.
As you look to fulfill your new year’s resolutions or pursue your fresh start for 2007, let me leave you with these quick challenges.
- Live up to your potential
"Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (v16)
You have incredible potential to do awesome things for God in 2007. The very Spirit of God lives in. Read the next chapter of Philippians! Paul reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (v13), and that He will supply all our needs (v19)!
- Be mentored
"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." (v17)
Closing Prayer
