Forgetting the past


Fidel dies and goes to heaven. When he gets there, St. Peter tells him that he is not on the list and that no way, no how, does he belong in heaven. Fidel must go to hell.
So Fidel goes to hell where Satan gives him a hearty welcome and tells him to make himself at home. Then Fidel notices that he left his luggage in heaven and tells Satan, who says, "No hay problema, I'll send a couple of little devils to get your stuff."
When the little devils get to heaven they find the gates are locked - St.Peter is having lunch - and they start debating what to do. Finally, one comes up with the idea that they should go over the wall and get the luggage.
As they are climbing the wall, two little angels see them, and one angel says to the other, "My goodness! Fidel has been in hell no more than ten minutes and we're already getting refugees!"


*Philippians 3:13-14

New Living Translation) " No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

(The Contemporary English Version) :"My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done"


There's a well-worn story of a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, "What are you doing." The laborer said, "Can't you see I'm laying bricks?"
The man then walked over to another bricklayer and asked, "What are you doing." And the workmen answered with pride, "I'm building a cathedral."
Both were physically doing the same thing. But the first laborer was occupied with the present task, and the other was concerned with the ultimate goal.


#1) The apostle Paul writes, "I press on toward the goal "

 "I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 1 I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven."
 The goal is Jesus Christ Himself. Knowing Him more intimately and becoming more like Jesus (taking on more of His character should be every ones goal)

. Paul says; "I do not regard myself as. Having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do. ( He was a man of single purpose,) (He had one aim and ambition. Pressing forward is a two step process)(#1.) forgetting what lies behind and (#2). reaching #2) forward to what lies ahead, (He says;)" I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."


(1) What does success look like to you? Have you arrived at that definition?

(2) Has the Bible influenced your vision of a successful life?
What role, if any, has God's perspectives and purposes been given in your definition?

(3) What have you given up or sacrificed in order to pursue success?

(4) What have you determined to be worth your investment of time, energy, and/or money?

(5) How have your priorities and loyalty changed since you given your life to Jesus?

(6) Are you in any way reaching forward for the higher calling?
. Our present circumstances should motivate and inspire us to do more;
. Dissatisfaction should encourage us to press on (push on, force ourselves a bit more to pursue more righteousness, more Godliness, more wisdom, etc.)


 Some are still trapped in the past, overwhelmed or troubled with what has happened, and thus they remain in bondage.

 The instruction is to press on toward the goal, you have to forget the past. There comes a time when you must break with the past, when you must forget it.


#3) Forgetting past accomplishments ("Forgetting" cannot be loss of memory because Paul looks back at his own earlier life (vv. 4-11); instead, it means removing the obstacles of the past (vv. 4-6) that might prevent the believer from running the race of the Christian life (vv. 13-14).

 "Forgetting what lies behind" refers to;
Past power secured, past prestige experienced, past position enjoyed, etc.

 The apostle Paul, in effect, affirmed, "What was gain for me I counted all loss for Christ". I have left it all behind.
. It no longer means anything to me;
. it no longer affects my life.
. It does not matter what level I attained socially, religiously, or politically; I have left all that behind in order to press on.

 what we are basically considering here is forgetting the self-life, that which pertains to our comfort and ease, that which relates to status and recognition, that which brings attention and applause. We need to spiritually forget (i.e., no longer be controlled, influenced, or shaped by the past)

 not to be preoccupied with earthly glory;
 not to be concerned about whether someone thinks we are important; not to put self-centred stock in our training, education, and degrees, as if these things define us and determine what we are;
 Although these are nice things to accomplish. They don't determine who we are in Christ

#4) Forgetting our past lifestyle and practices

 Past Relationships that were not Godly.

 If the old habits and practices are still evident, you need to examine yourself. The Word of God says, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17).

 Christ has given us His Holy Spirit to overcome our past lifestyle and practices.

 Forgetting sins that God has already forgiven you for and forgiving others that have hurt you in the past.
Some are seriously haunted by their past sins.

 Sins that Satan may continue to mercilessly use to discourage you, to make you feel guilty and ashamed, to drive you to condemn yourself, to make you question your salvation, to make you feel utterly unworthy of Christ. You are to forget these past sins, for Christ's blood has atoned for them; and you were freed from them when you became a Christian.

 You cant move on if you are trapped in the past


#4) Reaching forth with hope

 With forgetting, you need to reach forward--"reaching forward to what lies ahead."

 not simply to advance, but to win--unrestricted effort.

 show that kind of spiritual commitment to win the race . Howard Davis 1976 olympics.
follow hard after Christ, the prize, not casually, saying, "I went to church this morning and punched my spiritual clock" . use all your spiritual energy, to reach the goal

 Develop a desire to win.. (Christ has given you the power to conquer and be victorious)
. If an athlete does not have the desire to win, he wont condition himself, train or exercise regularly and he will loose.

 Second, not only do we need a desire to win, we must minimize distractions.
. Don't allow distractions (let God be first in everything



 Call of God
The call of God is His summons upon our lives. God's call has a threefold emphasis.
 First, He calls all men everywhere to repentance, that is, the call to salvation (Acts 17:30).
 Second, all Christians are called to complete dedication (1 Cor. 1:9).
 Third, God calls to a specific sphere of service or ministry, or a "holy calling" (2 Tim. 1:9). Illustration: The Gospels record three "calls" of Christ to His disciples, each illustrating some aspect of the call of God (cf. John 1:35-51; Luke 5:1-11; Matt. 10:1-5). At times God calls one to be a Christian (Rom. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:9), at times God calls to sanctification (1 Cor. 3:4), and at other times God calls His servants to special service (Acts 13:2). Application: When a Christian senses the call of God in some area of his life, he should quickly respond. (First Reference, Gen. 12:1; Primary Reference, Phil. 3:14; cf. Matt. 28:19.)
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