Subject: How to Move Forward in 2018
Rick Welborne
Philippians 3:1-14 (NKJV)
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 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
9 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;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 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.
13 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,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 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
9 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;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 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.
13 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,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
--All of us go through times or even years that we are glad to get those things behind us. Sometimes life stinks or life hurts and we just need a new beginning…a new mind and heart set.
--Maybe you lost a loved one or relationships went south…whatever it was, it hurt and now we have to make a choice…do we live back there or do we move forward.
--Some people say the Christian things that they know they are supposed to say but their hearts are still stuck in the mire of the mess of days gone by.
--Maybe you are saying you have forgiven someone but you know…you know that you have not let it go and secretly (or at least you think) you are carrying the grudge or the bitterness. It shows more than you know!
--I am here tonight to see you get free so that 2018 can be everything God wants it to be for you and really everything you want but can’t see it because of the pain or anger. Time to grow so let it go!
1. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because nothing will be more important than knowing Christ.
--Let’s face it…no one else hung on a tree for you and died for you…only Jesus did that for you!
--My relationship with Him…me getting to know Him will determine my destiny and my future…doesn’t it make sense that if I will discover His plan for my life, I must know Him intimately.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
--My son Jeremy texted me while I was reading this scripture…He wanted prayer about a job interview…I told him it was not a coincidence!
--We all know pain, disappointment, hurt, struggles, broken hearts…If we leave all this stuff behind it will be because we know Christ.
Philippians 3:8 (NIV)
8 What is more, I consider everything a 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.
8 What is more, I consider everything a 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.
2. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we put on His righteousness and not ours.
--Can we get something straight once and for all, anything that comes out of our lives that is good is because of Jesus in us, not us. Stop thinking you are all that. Without Jesus you are ugly!
--We always want to prove how we are right…If we are right it is because of the righteous God Who dwells inside of us…not ourselves.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
--This scriptures shouts to us to stop being arrogant Pharisees and start being humble servants…thankful that we are forgiven and thankful that we are right with God because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!
Philippians 3:9 (NKJV)
9 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;
9 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;
3. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we are filled with God’s resurrection power…baptized in His Holy Spirit.
--Charles Finney in his own testimony of his conversion tells of how Holy Spirit came upon him transforming his life. Life Church, if we lose this…we lose our true identity and destiny.
--A Chinese pastor visiting the United States made this comment about our American churches: It is really amazing how much your churches can get done without the power of Holy Spirit.
--Sadly we have learned here in America to relegate Holy Spirit to a back room somewhere or not to invite Him at all…Here at Life Church I want us to learn to depend on Him more and more.
Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
4. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we understand that the suffering and death of 2017 were only part of the process of experiencing His resurrection power.
Philippians 3:10-11 (NKJV)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
--Either everything we have been thru can just be horrible memories or it can be a working of God’s grace and power in our lives to make us trust Jesus more…We choose the latter.
--It is impossible to have a resurrection without experiencing death.
Ezekiel 37:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.' "
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.' "
--If you have been experiencing death in whatever way it came at you in 2017…maybe walking thru the valley of the shadow of death…get ready to experience the resurrection power of Holy Spirit.
Psalm 23:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
5. If you will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we have determined to lay hold of that which Christ has laid hold of us.
Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)
12 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.
12 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.
--How many of you are glad that Jesus laid hold of you…say what? He saved you!!
--He passionately and aggressively saved you…He gave His life! We must lay hold of Him because of how He saved us…if we will start a new campus and grow to over 1000 we must aggressively take hold of the lost.
--When we are truly glad for what Jesus has done for us, it will motivate us to seek Him with all of our hearts. This causes us to passionately go after the lost. Skating rink in Louisiana.
6. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we forget those things which are behind us and start reaching forward for the new life Christ has for us.
Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)
13 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,
13 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,
--2017 has been a lot of hurting, sickness, pain, trials, setbacks, frustrations, deaths, challenges, attacks of the enemy from without and within, and disappointments…okay!
--We can wallow in it like a pig wallowing in his mud hole or we can say, Thank God we have come through and now we are excited about what God has for 2018.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
--We have to believe that God is working all things together for our good. Looking back causes crashes…set your face like a flint on the prize…Jesus!
7. If we will leave it all behind in 2018 and press forward it will be because we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!
Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
--God help me to press…to strain…to resist the enemy…to fight to get the prize! Resistance in our natural bodies is what makes us physically strong.
--It is also true in the spiritual realm…all the mess is only to make us stronger. The crushing is not to kill us but to produce the oil of the Holy Spirit flowing out of us.
Acts 20:22-24 (NKJV)
22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
--We need to press forward and we need to finish…to finish strong!
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