INTRODUCTION: We, as a church, are at a new phase of our ministry. We NEED to
go to the NEXT phase of ministry. We NEED to reach out to the community, love on
them, and show them the love of Christ. We need to move in God’s Vision for the
church.
How we live, as a church and as individuals, is determined mostly by when are living.
This may sound a little confusing, but I will explain. We look at the Israelites in this
passage and we see them complaining - not satisfied with the way things are, OR the
way things are supposed to be. It didn’t matter what great things were ahead of them.
I. THE PAST
A. Living the Past
Ex. Israelites during the exodus - here in chapter 14 & several times
during their travels in the wilderness & even in Egypt before the exodus
King Saul - living in all of his failings with God - I Samuel 31
***Living in the past - letting the past control you and NOT having a victorious life in
Christ
Living in the Past holds us back from getting the Victory in Jesus we need to live a life
worthy of being a Christian.
- tonite I will be speaking on FREEDOM (having a victorious life)
- Sunday nites will then be focusing things we need freedom from
- I urge everyone, who can, to come tonite - expecting God to move in our
lives/in this church
B. Remembering The Past
Ex. King David - Psalm 51
Jesus - remembering the patriachs and prophets throughout his ministry
here on earth
***We should remember the past - our failings (sin) and victories, our mountain-tops
and valleys
II. THE FUTURE
A. Looking to the Future with God/Christ
Ex. Joshua - verses 7 & 8
John the Baptist - his sole ministry on this earth was to point to Christ
and things that were going to accomplished by God
B. Looking to the Future without God/Christ (on our own)
Ex. Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-11
Israelites during the Exodus
King Saul - I Samuel 31
III. THE PRESENT
A. Living with Christ
Philippians 2:5 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
John 3:30 - He must become greater, I must become less.
Galatians 5:16-18 & 22-25
B. Living without Christ Galatians 5:19-21 - sinful nature...
II Timothy 3:2:2-5 - People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous,
rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of
godliness but denying its power.
CONCLUSION:
REMEMBERING THE PAST helps us build upon our victories and failures to grow in
our relationship with God/Christ.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE WITH CHRIST/GOD
Phillippians 3:13b,14 - But one thing I do: 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.
For us, as a church and as individuals, to grow in Christ successfully, we CAN NOT let
the past control us - this is what Paul meant when he said “Forgetting what is
behind”
- things which we hold on to in our past: past sins, abuse done to you, failed
relationships with others (esp. Christians)
Next we look to the future in Christ “pressing on toward the goal...”
If we are not letting the past control us, and we are Looking to the future with
Christ/God, then should be moving along with God with great leaps and bounds. Our
Present Life in Him should be FULL of the fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22,23
When we are living is how we are living!!
PRAYER/COMMITMENT - Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever
If you are here and you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior - today you
can have a relationship with Him so real - it doesn’t matter what you have done in
the past, what matters in NOW
If you are here and you are dealing with past issues in your life - God wants to
free you from it today!
