A Fresh Start 2016

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it YET but ONE THING I do FORGETTING what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead I PRESS ON toward the GOAL for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

YET = we have not arrived spiritually yet BUT:

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

ONE THING = specialize in and be single minded about running the race

FORGETTING what lies behind = no longer be affected by or influenced by the past

We should not live in the past even if it was good

PRESS ON = Stretch toward the finish line we are to look forward to the future

Jeremiah 29:11 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 a hope and a future

GOAL and PRIZE of the Christian = the finish line is the goal and heaven is our prize

You can’t change the past but you can invent a new future with Jesus

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are CALLED by my name will HUMBLE THEMSELVES and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN from their wicked ways then WILL I HEAR from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land

Four things that will propel you forward in 16

Realize that you are CALLED to: salvation & to fulfill His purpose for your life. To Fulfill His purpose for your life you must start to serve. If you are not serving start 1-1-16

HUMBLE YOURSELF = admit you need a savior and make Him Lord & yield

SEEK MY FACE & Pray = James 4:8 draw near to God and he will draw near to you

TURN = repent from self-centeredness and live a lifestyle of holiness

Four things that can keep us from moving forward in our lives

Lack of Faith. A lack of faith comes from a lack of serving it is the result of loose association with God

Not forgiving yourself for past failures. God brings conviction not condemnation.

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

Not forgiving others

Forgive friends & family that may have wronged you

Forgive church people that may have wronged you

Forgiveness releases you from your responsibility before God and allows healing to take place within you and enables you to move on

The opposite of forgiveness is hatred and bitterness. You can get better or you can get bitter

A lack of education in God’s word

We need to be open to what God is doing in our lives allowing Him to bring teaching correction and healing to in our lives

God will often use a person to teach us about our weaknesses

No Turning Back

During Times of pressure we are tempted to return to familiar settings

The cross before me the world behind me no turning back