1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,680 This is City Post Church. We're about three things. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,680 Build equipped and send. All under the Lordship. 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,160 Of Jesus Christ, a small church plant in Fort Worth, TX who 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,320 decided to do things a little differently. 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Adoramos Ayesu Cristo. I love city Post because of the 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,480 people. It's where I belong. 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,640 We truly preach the word. I love City Post because of the 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,000 community we've been able to build. 9 00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:28,720 To do ministry like Jesus. For light to push back darkness. 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:40,840 This is City Post podcast. So it is officially. 2020. 11 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:42,400 Six. You know it's. 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,960 Like when when the first Sunday of the new year comes, 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,600 everybody's still kind of getting adjusted. 14 00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:50,080 The second Sunday, besides everybody getting sick, it's 15 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,160 like, OK, now we're kind of getting in rhythm and one of the 16 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:55,960 things that a new year. Does is that it helps? 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:01:01,480 You to re evaluate some things. So right now, the gyms are full 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,720 of people. Right now, people are making 19 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,720 promises. They're filling their calendars, 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,400 they are lining things up. They are saying hey this. 21 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,160 Is a fresh start to the year. It's going to be different and 22 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:16,640 like the young people. Say. 23 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:19,480 I'm going to lock in. This year. 24 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,760 Use that term a lot that I'm going to lock in I'm. 25 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,800 That means that I'm going to be extremely focused in achieving. 26 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,040 The goal? That I set for myself. 27 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,160 Things are going to be different this year. 28 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,960 And Paul? Is going to show us that he 29 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:40,400 takes this. Assessment of his life. 30 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:47,600 He makes this sober assessment. Of his life and he realizes that 31 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:52,360 even after three. Decades of doing ministry, he's 32 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,120 still extremely far from where he wants to be now. 33 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,080 Paul's goal. Paul's. 34 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:03,720 Lock in is not anything as far as career advancement or weight 35 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,800 loss or getting my money right or getting my situation right. 36 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,880 Paul's lock in is. To pursue Christ. 37 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,440 I want to see Christ. I want to know more of Christ. 38 00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:19,320 I want to I want to lock in and my relationship with Jesus and 39 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,160 my. Prayer is as we walk through 40 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:27,440 this, that we have that. Same heart and mindset for 2026 41 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:31,880 something that I I told our. Leadership yesterday was as I 42 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:33,800 was. Praying, asking the Lord. 43 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,320 What? What is it that? 44 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,400 You want us to focus on like what? 45 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,680 What's the? The phrase or the word? 46 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,440 And last year we started 20/20. 5 with. 47 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,360 Jesus, we want you here. If all of our hearts. 48 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,440 Aligned with Jesus, we want you here. 49 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,920 That's going to. Change how we view things in our 50 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:53,560 church. But this year? 51 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:58,440 I thought the Lord St. men pursue Christ and we're going to 52 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,440 look at what that means and we're going to look at kind of 53 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:03,880 what Paul talks. About. 54 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,760 When we talk about pursuing. Christ, because what Paul says. 55 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:09,880 Like man, I I haven't really made it yet. 56 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,480 Like I'm still in the process. And I'll think about this. 57 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,760 This is the greatest missionary that ever lived. 58 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,400 After three decades, he still. Says I'm not even close to 59 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,640 knowing Christ. So we pray for us and then we're 60 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:26,320 going to look at 5 verses and then we'll be. 61 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,080 Out of here. So let's pray. 62 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,160 So, Father, thank you. For everything that you have 63 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,880 done for us, Lord. God, I pray that as. 64 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:39,400 We align our year father and as we think about our plans and 65 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,760 where we want to go and where we want to be. 66 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,840 That at the. Forefront of all of that? 67 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,080 Is to pursue. You. 68 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,160 Lord to chase hard after you, Father. 69 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,760 To not take, take no for an answer to go. 70 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,080 After Jesus, so Jesus be with us today be. 71 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,120 With this word and Lord help me collect my thoughts, speak 72 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,200 through me, Father, help me to remember what was studied and 73 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,080 let everything that come out of my mouth be from you and not for 74 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,360 myself. So Lord, we pray these things in 75 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:12,040 your holy and righteous name and everybody saying Amen, Awesome. 76 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,120 Let's go ahead and dig into the. Text we're going to look at. 77 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,600 Verses 1014. I'll go ahead and read that and 78 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:19,760 then we'll go. Back and just talk. 79 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,160 About it so starting in verse 10. 80 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:25,480 This is what the word of the Lord. 81 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,360 Says I want to know Christ, Yes, to know the. 82 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,680 Power. Of his resurrection and and 83 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:37,480 participation in his sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, 84 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:42,080 and so somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 85 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,840 Not that I have already obtained all this. 86 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,520 Or have already. Arrived in my goal. 87 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,440 But I press. On to take. 88 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:55,160 Hold of that which Christ. Jesus took hold of me, brothers 89 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,600 and sisters. I do not consider myself yet to 90 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:02,560 have taken hold of it, but one thing I do forgetting what is 91 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,280 behind and straining forward. What is ahead? 92 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,880 I press. On toward the goal to win the. 93 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:13,080 Prize of which God has. Called me heavenward in Christ 94 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,440 Jesus, all right. So let's walk through. 95 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,880 This thing look at verse 10 man Paul. 96 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,600 Here is is is extremely. Key in where he's going. 97 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,560 If you look at chapter 3. Paul gives this laundry list of 98 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,960 qualifications. So what Paul is? 99 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,480 Saying when he was a. Pharisee before Christ. 100 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,280 Met him on the road to Damascus and changed his name from Saul 101 00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:38,920 to Paul. Paul. 102 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,880 Was giving his accolades. Paul was like, man, I made it as 103 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,520 a Pharisee. I have reached the pinnacle. 104 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,120 In my Pharisee type, I am right with God. 105 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,880 I'm better than everybody else in the religious setting. 106 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,640 Until he met Christ. So think about this like Paul 107 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,600 had it all. He had the right name. 108 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,400 He had the right. Upbringing he had the right 109 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:01,560 zeal, the. Education. 110 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,680 The morality he even learned under the right rabbi. 111 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,000 Paul was above. Everybody when it came to. 112 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,880 This whole like religious zeal. But then he met the standard. 113 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:14,320 Which is. Jesus. 114 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:20,320 And even with all of that, when Jesus confronted him, Paul 115 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,600 realized. I've only begun. 116 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,440 I know nothing actually, Paul even states he goes, man, I am 117 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,760 the chief of sinners, regardless of my all that stuff that I've 118 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:33,200 done. All of that stuff. 119 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,960 Meant nothing when I met. Jesus so. 120 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,680 Paul in verse 10. Is giving the. 121 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,160 Statement. He goes, yes, I want to know 122 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,760 Christ, yes, to know the powers, resurrection and the 123 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:52,080 participation in his sufferings. So when Paul. 124 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,040 Is saying like I want to know Christ that means I want a? 125 00:06:54,040 --> 00:07:01,280 Deeper knowledge of Jesus. I want more intimacy with Jesus, 126 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,360 not just know him like I read something like I know. 127 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,320 Statistics. No, I. 128 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,720 Want to know. Know him, I want to know. 129 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,720 Who he's about. I want to have intimacy with 130 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,160 Christ and and then Paul goes on. 131 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,040 He's like, not me. Paul. 132 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:22,360 Not myself, but I want to know Jesus now when you're a. 133 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,600 Pharisee, It's all about yourself. 134 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:26,840 When you're a Pharisee, everything is. 135 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,320 About what I know what I can do what? 136 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,600 Other people say. Are good about me, how I look at 137 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:33,960 the temples. How I? 138 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,840 Pray how? I give and what he's. 139 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,360 Saying is like, man, when I met Christ all that stuff went out 140 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,640 the window. I don't care. 141 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,760 I want to know Jesus and how do I know him intimately and more 142 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,320 deeply? He goes man. 143 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,720 I want to know the. Power of his resurrection. 144 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,040 We so Paul knows he's like man. Christ has the power. 145 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,640 Of both physical and spiritual worlds. 146 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,560 So yes, makes sense. I want to know the powers of his 147 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,200 resurrection but. Then he says. 148 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,440 Something that doesn't make too much sense to. 149 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,400 People that read this. But I also want to know, I also 150 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,520 want to participate, not know I want to take participation in 151 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,760 his sufferings. That's kind of a weird prayer. 152 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,720 Isn't it like want to know Christ but I want to suffer like 153 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,000 him too? That's kind of harsh. 154 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:24,720 But what? We got to understand here is 155 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,720 that Paul already when he wrote this, Paul has been suffering, 156 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,200 but he also understands. That this is what Christ. 157 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,840 Came to do Christ, came to go to the. 158 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:41,159 Cross So what Paul is. Saying he goes, I want to be in 159 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,760 partnership, linked up with Jesus in his suffering. 160 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,400 Because of what Jesus came to do, Paul. 161 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,320 Is saying I want to give my life for what? 162 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:55,040 Christ came to do which is to. Reconcile all of mankind back to 163 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,560 God. The forgiveness of sins. 164 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,400 Paul is like, I want to dedicate my life. 165 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:02,920 To this. I don't want to be comfortable, 166 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:04,560 I want to. Experience what Christ 167 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:08,320 experienced because. He also knows based out of 168 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,960 Romans 817. He goes, we suffer. 169 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,760 With him that we may. Also be glorified together with 170 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:16,720 him of Jesus. There's going to be a. 171 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:21,600 Glorification that takes place in eternity for you and Paul's 172 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,960 like man, I want to know. The power of his resurrection I 173 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,400 want to be in. Partnership and participate in 174 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,840 his. Sufferings to become like him in 175 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:36,360 death and somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 176 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,400 And Paul is saying like man, I'm going to suffer for his 177 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,840 namesake. But I also know that if I'm 178 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,800 going to be with him in eternity I'm going to have to leave this 179 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,600 world soon. And Paul is kind of. 180 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,520 A little bit of AG about this because Paul's like. 181 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,400 Listen, it doesn't even matter. How I? 182 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,440 Attain it. I just want to be with him. 183 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,000 So Paul is understanding where he's at. 184 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,200 You know, there's a famous line. There's a movie that came out in 185 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:06,960 the 80s. It was like one of the first 186 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,640 Great War movies called Platoon. I love that thing, man. 187 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:12,480 I love me and Ray. I, I watch all the time, right? 188 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:16,000 Just like again now just have it playing and there's a famous 189 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,240 line where one of the. Soldiers goes to to one of like 190 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:21,880 the. Platoon leaders and he's like, 191 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,040 man, I have a bad feeling about tonight. 192 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,000 Can you? Just I've been faithful. 193 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,840 In serving in this platoon, can you just give me the night off 194 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:30,600 and everybody? And then he looks at me and 195 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:32,760 goes, listen, Red, everyone's got to die sometime. 196 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:36,840 And that's kind of what Paul is saying. 197 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,640 And he goes, man, if I want to attain the resurrection of his 198 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:45,160 power, everybody's got to die sometime. 199 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:47,280 But you see what? What, Paul? 200 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,520 Understands is that death here on. 201 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,880 Earth does not mean the end, it only means the beginning. 202 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,400 To be. Eternity to be an eternity with 203 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,000 Jesus. Remember Paul? 204 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,400 Wrote this having experienced more. 205 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,080 Suffering than probably any of us would understand. 206 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,520 Paul wrote the book of. Philippians in custody of Roman 207 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,320 soldiers as well. This merely wasn't some 208 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,400 theological. Idea for Paul, but this was a 209 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,960 lived. Out connection that he had with 210 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,360 God himself, because he understood what the suffering 211 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,760 was. Like, but what? 212 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,160 Paul is saying he's like, man, I want to get to know Jesus more, 213 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:32,000 even in my sufferings. Then look at verse. 12 Now he's 214 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,320 going to switch over. He's given the reason I want to 215 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,400 know. Christ and he talks about what 216 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,400 that looks. Like the intimacy, the deftness 217 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,600 of it, the resurrection in this suffering so that we could be 218 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,680 with him in the. Resurrection of the dead. 219 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:48,680 Are choosing an example of an athlete and we see this in the 220 00:11:48,680 --> 00:11:50,320 wording. Look at verse 12. 221 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,360 Not that I have. Already obtained all this or 222 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,760 have already arrived? At my. 223 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:57,920 Goal, but I press. On to take. 224 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,880 Hold for what? For which Jesus Christ took 225 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,120 hold. Of me he's. 226 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:10,440 Talking about the race forward. Christ likeness, and it begins. 227 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,280 With a. Dishonest. 228 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:15,120 I'm sorry it begins with an honesty and. 229 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,360 A dissatisfaction of life itself. 230 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,920 So what Paul is saying? Is like where I'm at right now 231 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,320 knowing that what I know about Jesus, I want to know more. 232 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:27,280 So what? Paul is doing in his. 233 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:30,360 Sober. Assessment of life, he finds 234 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,400 this honesty and this dissatisfaction, saying, man 235 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,960 like my life, something feels like it's missing. 236 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,720 I I feel like I need more. Of this. 237 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,000 And that more of this. Life. 238 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:46,480 That that thing that he wants to lock in on is pursuit of Christ 239 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,880 likeness. Because the more I know. 240 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,840 Jesus. The more I become like. 241 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,600 Jesus because of his Holy Spirit, we call that. 242 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,360 Sanctification and listen. We become sanctified as 243 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,480 believers until we're with him in. 244 00:12:59,560 --> 00:13:02,120 Glory. So what Paul is? 245 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,320 Saying is like, man, I have not attained this yet. 246 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,400 I have not made it yet. Everything that I've done in my 247 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,600 life thus far. Is just the. 248 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:17,040 Beginning and listen. I think for some of us, we need 249 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:21,120 to give ourselves some grace. Some of us have all. 250 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,880 These plans, some of those, all these things and we think. 251 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,680 That because we have not achieved what we believe is our. 252 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:30,120 Calling and God's. Purpose for our life. 253 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,200 That we have failed miserably. And let me tell you something, 254 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:40,680 it is only the beginning. Follow Christ, seek him, follow 255 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:43,320 his likeness. That should be the goal. 256 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:47,360 But he's like, man, I haven't even arrived at my goal yet. 257 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,200 So what do I do? I love what Paul says here. 258 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,720 He uses these two words, but I what? 259 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:57,360 Press on. Press on is a a term or a? 260 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,720 Word that you see with athletes, especially that people. 261 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:06,080 That are running press on in Greek actually means aggressive, 262 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,240 energetic. It means that there's some 263 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,400 action and what Paul is saying. Is that he is. 264 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:16,000 Pursuing sanctification with all of his might, straining every 265 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,960 spiritual muscle in order to win the prize. 266 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:23,040 He is chasing after Jesus. He is pressing on. 267 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:24,760 He's going. After Christ, watch this 268 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,480 aggressively. He is running him down, man. 269 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,680 When I when I picture this I think of Leon Lett and Don 270 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,240 Beebee. Remember the Super? 271 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,320 Bowl. Leon Lettuce is and and Dom 272 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:42,960 Beebe is running his tail down and strips him of that ball and 273 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,720 it fumbles it. And listen, that's what we 274 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:47,560 should. Look like as we press. 275 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,480 On as we run. Toward Christ we don't just. 276 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,040 It's not like a little jog. No, we are aggressively running 277 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:59,200 after him with energy and hope. We are chasing them down. 278 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,240 This is, you know, I and I understand that many of us say 279 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,680 terms like, and I want us to look at Paul's example here 280 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,360 because many of us say things like, man, I'm gonna let God. 281 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:11,560 I'm gonna let go and let God and and that, yeah, that sounds 282 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,040 great. And I understand what you're 283 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,200 saying. That's not what. 284 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,640 Paul is showing us. Paul's like, I'm going to let go 285 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,080 and I'm going to go after. God. 286 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,600 I'm going to chase after him. I'm. 287 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:26,120 Going to go after Jesus all I. Can I am committed to. 288 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,200 All I do is to pursue. Christ with all my heart and. 289 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,880 Paul saying that this is. Where all of my ambition. 290 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,840 Flows out of it is this whole idea of. 291 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,840 Charging, pressing on, chasing after. 292 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,960 Christ. I like what Luke 962 says. 293 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,280 Paul's pretty much saying that he has his hand on the plow and 294 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:54,760 he is not looking back. I'm just going forget everything 295 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,440 else. And I love that he used the 296 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,920 WordPress on because anybody that's run track or anybody's 297 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,640 run races. What the coaches tell you is 298 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,520 that you keep your. Eyes on the goal. 299 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,760 Because as you're. Running and you start looking 300 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,240 side to side, it's going to slow you down or trip you up. 301 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:20,840 Paul can't afford to slow. Down, you know, Paul. 302 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,040 Is old. Paul is at a. 303 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:24,960 Time of his life, he's in prison. 304 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:29,040 His body's pretty much broken. I've read some scholars. 305 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:33,960 Saying that because he's taken the forty -1 which is pretty 306 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,280 much a beating, getting whipped with his back over three times, 307 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,840 he has about two inches of scar tissue on his back, probably. 308 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,280 You know what that's like sleeping on a hard ground 309 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,720 without any nerve endings, I mean. 310 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,840 Paul. Is pretty much in pain right now 311 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,760 and instead of slowing down, what Paul says is I want some 312 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:01,640 more, give me some more. I actually, it's not about 313 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,160 coming toward to the end of my life, actually. 314 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,160 The closer I get to. The end of my life. 315 00:17:06,319 --> 00:17:09,800 The harder I go after Jesus. And that's what. 316 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:14,839 Paul is is saying here. The more I learn about Christ, 317 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,480 the more I realize how little I know of Jesus. 318 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,480 And the more we know of Christ, the more I want to know of. 319 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,160 Jesus, so the. More you know of him. 320 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:28,200 The. More you want to get to know 321 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,480 him. So we talked about last week 322 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,480 the. Fullness of God, but yet there's 323 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,720 still room to grow and Paul is saying that the. 324 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,760 Harder you chase. The more satisfying. 325 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,680 It is, Paul is. Saying like, man, when I press 326 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:45,480 on, it's like a runner trying to catch the person ahead of him 327 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,480 and the runner. Ahead of Paul is Jesus Christ. 328 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,600 He's doing all he can. To try to reach. 329 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,280 And to catch him and then he says. 330 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,760 A few other important. Words he goes to press on, on, 331 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,520 to hold on to that in which. Christ took hold of me. 332 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:06,280 Hold on to that So. What? 333 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,040 Why is? Why is Paul going at Christ so? 334 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,680 Hard, because that's how Jesus. Got a hold of him. 335 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,160 Jesus encountered Paul on the road to Damascus. 336 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,520 When after Paul. Paul even says in Galatians. 337 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,120 That it pleased the Lord. To reveal his son to him. 338 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,040 And what Paul is saying now that same. 339 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,240 Way that Jesus. Came at him aggressively and 340 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,800 hard is the same way now that I want to go after Jesus, myself 341 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:37,880 and many of us. I think. 342 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:39,680 Sometimes we have to. Take a step back. 343 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,080 And remember, what was my life like before I met Christ? 344 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,160 Man, I was like thinking the other day. 345 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:47,440 I was like, man, what was my life like? 346 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,280 Before. Jesus changed my heart. 347 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:55,160 How awful was it? Trying to make decisions like 348 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,880 doing things that were so. Off base. 349 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,240 And the way that he changed my life, it's like, man, I, I want 350 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,360 to now. It's my I'm going to go after 351 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:07,120 him now because he changed my heart. 352 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,920 The Bible even says we. Love him because. 353 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:15,080 He loved us first. When you experience the love of 354 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:18,200 God and the transformative. Power of the Holy Spirit. 355 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,800 And a new heart and a new life. Listen, there's action after 356 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,640 atonement. He'll just sit back now. 357 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,400 And now it's like. Let's go get it. 358 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,200 Let's go after Christ. And listen, I know that we live 359 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:38,600 in a culture where everything now is rest and Sabbath, which 360 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:40,360 is important. Don't get me wrong, it's 361 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:43,520 important, but I think that there's. 362 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,800 A little bit of AI get. The rest and Sabbath, I think 363 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,280 that needs to be more in rhythms. 364 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,960 But we need to go hard after Jesus. 365 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,200 And the things that he's calling us to, we need to run after him 366 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,840 with all of our strength. So he says. 367 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,320 I'm going to try to take. Hold for which Christ took hold. 368 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,160 Of me, the same way came after me is the same way. 369 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,200 I want to go after him and then look what he says. 370 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,280 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself. 371 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:14,400 Yet to have taken. Hold of it so even though I'm 372 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,280 running full steam ahead, I'm pressing on aggressively and 373 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,240 strong after Christ I'm running after him. 374 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,680 I want deeper intimacy, man I'm I'm I'm partnering with his 375 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,080 suffering. I want to know the powers 376 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,480 resurrection and I'm doing all these things. 377 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,840 Listen, my brothers and sisters. I still. 378 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,920 Haven't gotten a hold of it. I've been doing this for three 379 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:36,920 decades and I still haven't gotten a hold of it. 380 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:42,960 And Paul is reminding us. That this is the passion of his 381 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,840 life. He. 382 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,360 Wants to know. Christ, Jesus and. 383 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:50,920 Everything. And I think that's a great 384 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:52,960 example for us to chase him down. 385 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,800 You know, there's a phrase, Doctor Martin Luther King says 386 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,320 he goes. You don't have to see the whole. 387 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,960 Staircase just take the first step and. 388 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,520 I know some of us are probably asking like man, Rick, how do 389 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,120 you? Chase Christ, you. 390 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:09,520 Don't have to know what this looks like. 391 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:15,160 Just start running after him. Just start running after him. 392 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,840 Just start chasing him down. You don't have to know what that 393 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,360 looks like. You have to know everything. 394 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,240 You just need to make in your mind what Paul does. 395 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,520 And Paul says, listen, brothers and sisters, I don't consider 396 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:27,840 myself. To hold it yet. 397 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,200 And I think many of us need to take an assessment of our life 398 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,920 and come to the conclusion that I have not arrived yet. 399 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,760 And listen, you're never going to arrive until you're with him 400 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,400 in. Glory, take the first step. 401 00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:45,560 Now then, Paul's like how? How? 402 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:50,200 How does this look like? I'm so glad you asked, but one 403 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,480 thing I know, but the one thing I do? 404 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:59,480 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is. 405 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,560 Ahead. Man, I love. 406 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:08,280 This verse that Paul says. In scripture when you read. 407 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,400 That. Forgetting what's behind 408 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:13,480 straining What's. Ahead a theological. 409 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,480 Term is a negative denial. Creates a positive. 410 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:21,560 Assertion, something negative is actually shooting forward 411 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,320 positively and what Paul saying the way that we're going to do 412 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,560 this. The way that I do this, the way 413 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,440 that I. Press on and chase. 414 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,760 Hard after Jesus, there's two. Things I need. 415 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,960 To forget what's behind me. And I need to press. 416 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:38,400 Forward. What's in front of me? 417 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,000 I think that's a word for us, many of. 418 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,720 Us, I truly believe we. Overthink this thing. 419 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,400 The one thing, the one priority, the one master ambition, the one 420 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,440 thing I know. What Paul is saying, this is 421 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:58,280 the. One thing that I focus on is 422 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:02,560 that I must forget what's behind and I must focus what's in 423 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:07,680 front. For many of us, I think 424 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,040 sometimes because we don't forget what's behind. 425 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:18,160 It impacts the focus. Of what's in front of us, why do 426 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:22,800 we bring up what's behind? If the scripture says that we 427 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,640 have been. Forgiven and the. 428 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,360 Bible says that Jesus that. God does not bring up your sin. 429 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:31,200 It is from the depths of the ocean. 430 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:32,880 It's as far as the east is from the West. 431 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,240 If God does not bring up your sin, if God does not bring up 432 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,600 your past, then why do you do it? 433 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:41,480 And I think that's a lie from the deceiver. 434 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:46,040 And Paul is saying, like men, in order for you to run, you have 435 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,760 got to stop looking back. And you need to start looking 436 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,280 forward and looking what's in front of us and what's in front 437 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,880 Christ. Don't be. 438 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,800 Distracted by the past. Disabilities and all that stuff. 439 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:05,080 Look forward. At what's in front of you, stop 440 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,720 looking back. Paul is reaching. 441 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,480 Forward to finish. He's going to press on toward 442 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:15,560 the goal for the. Prize and the upward call of. 443 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:19,360 God in Christ Jesus. I love how people say, well 444 00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:20,920 Ricky. It's not the destination, it's 445 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:22,320 the journey. What, Paul? 446 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,000 Saying is like no, it is the destination. 447 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,640 It is Christ. And he's going to be with me in 448 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:34,000 my journey, but my focus is not on the it's on the destination. 449 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:38,600 It is with Jesus. We're going to run this. 450 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:43,960 Race we're going to reach forward so really what what I 451 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,720 just. Want to do for us thinking. 452 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:51,040 About this as we pursue Christ. I think that there's three 453 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:55,560 things that we have got to change in our perspective, in 454 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,640 our mindset, in our hearts. We have to understand what. 455 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:01,840 Jesus is. Calling us to and we have to 456 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,800 understand that if I'm going to. Pursue Christ and press. 457 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:09,920 On and be aggressive and go hard and lock in to go after Jesus. 458 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,880 There's three things that we have got to leave behind. 459 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,280 Some of this ain't going to make sense to y'all, and some of it 460 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,000 will. But just just stay. 461 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,960 With me #1 What do we got to leave behind? 462 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:26,880 You must forget your past sins. You've got to forget your past. 463 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,440 Sins Jesus forgave you. So why are you still? 464 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,000 Locked onto him and many of. Us are walking around with 465 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,000 broken chains, but you have. The cuffs on. 466 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,760 Still and what God is? Saying is like no I. 467 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,920 Freed you completely I. Freed you from your sinful 468 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,440 nature, I freed you from everything that is trying to 469 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,600 hold you back and I have give take the sin off. 470 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,000 Stop looking at what you. Used to do and start. 471 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:58,840 Looking at the one. Who gave you the? 472 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:03,240 Freedom and listen, whenever the enemy starts reminding you of 473 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,800 your sin, you're like, man, that's nice Jack, but man, I'm 474 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:11,400 going forward. Stop looking back, start looking 475 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:12,360 forward. We've. 476 00:26:12,360 --> 00:26:15,280 Got to start forgetting our past sins. 477 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:20,400 Paul in First Timothy 113 says I am the chief of sinners if y'all 478 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,880 think that what you've done in this world is so bad that 479 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,160 there's no way that God can forgive you enough and forget 480 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,680 you enough. Have are you a? 481 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:30,320 Blasphemer. Prosecutor. 482 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:32,360 Violent aggressor. Did you? 483 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:34,800 Look. Chase down Christians and and 484 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,160 kill them. Paul did all that. 485 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,760 And the. Bible says that it pleased the 486 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:42,400 Lord to reveal. His son to him. 487 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:46,760 We have. Got to understand that. 488 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,840 Jesus paid it. Full on the. 489 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:55,160 Cross, he paid for your. Sins past, present, and even the 490 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,080 stuff that you don't know what you're going to do. 491 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,840 Yet he paid for it, and he didn't just pay for it. 492 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:06,000 He imputed his righteousness on you, for God made him on you. 493 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,440 No sin to be sin. On our behalf so that way you. 494 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,960 Can become the righteousness. Of God through Jesus Christ. 495 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:14,920 God didn't just forgive. You, he restored. 496 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,200 You. He gave you righteousness. 497 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,520 Listen man, the past is submerged into the depths of 498 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:28,400 God's forgetfulness. You got to let those sins go. 499 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:31,720 And if God doesn't remember your sin, why should you? 500 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:38,440 Stop it. Grab a hold to Christ. 501 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:40,280 He's our. Freedom. 502 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,080 And listen, I'm not saying you're never going to struggle 503 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,320 in life. Trust me, it's going to get 504 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:47,600 hard. But we have the holy. 505 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,040 Spirit, now we have Christ on our side. 506 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:55,120 We have Jesus with us, the Holy. Spirit's a great reminder. 507 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:58,680 To press forward, look forward. So when things start bowing, we. 508 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,960 Started like getting these like. Negative thoughts and like 509 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,040 things are like man, you're. Checking this up. 510 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,640 And and your sin, you ask for forgiveness, you repent to the 511 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:12,000 Lord, and you keep moving. You have to forget your. 512 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,240 Past sins #2 what else? Do we got to forget? 513 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:20,240 You have to forget your past. Sufferings, you know, we see. 514 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:24,840 Here as. Paul is writing this text out of 515 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:30,280 Philippians He. Suffered a lot, but what Paul 516 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,600 does is. Paul doesn't bring up his 517 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,000 sufferings as something negative, he brings up his 518 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,200 sufferings as something. Positive because he it's tied to 519 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,800 Christ and he's like. Man, I didn't just suffer for no 520 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,520 reason. I'm in partnership with Christ's 521 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:52,240 suffering and many of us have to understand like less they're 522 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:56,000 suffering because of consequences of sin, but they're 523 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,640 suffering that takes place in our lives because we are 524 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:02,360 pursuing the Lord and there's things there's a spiritual 525 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:06,960 battle that is happening as we saw in Ephesians 6 and to be 526 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:08,800 honest. With you, Paul would have. 527 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,000 Hung it up by now if you guys. Understood how bad people 528 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,640 treated. Him and because of everything 529 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,600 that Paul went through Paul did not become the psychological 530 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:23,760 hermit crab where everything just kind of went backwards in 531 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:30,280 no Paul did not let his his past sufferings take a toll on him 532 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,520 and and some of us have to decide like I'm not going to let 533 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:41,440 my past hurt determine my. Future because Christ has 534 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,360 something. Way too big, and Jesus is too 535 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,960 big for that. We have got to. 536 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,400 Learn how to forget our past sufferings. 537 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,960 Roman says that God makes everything. 538 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:57,920 Good for those who. Love Him and that there is 539 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:01,440 restoration and that there is grace and that there is healing 540 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,080 from your past sufferings and listen. 541 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,680 And what God does is that when? He restores when he forgives you 542 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,160 of your. Sin he takes those sufferings. 543 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:18,320 And he uses that to build. You to make you more into the 544 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,680 next season that He has for you. You have to start thinking like 545 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:23,240 Jesus. Why? 546 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:29,400 But also Jesus, your sovereign. And Jesus, you know, and God, 547 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,400 I'm going to trust you and it's going to drive you and he's 548 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,120 going to use it. And also sometimes suffering 549 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:40,040 make us more dependent on. The Christ that we're searching 550 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:42,760 if it. Wasn't for suffering. 551 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:46,440 I think some of us wouldn't even pray that much if it wasn't for 552 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:47,840 suffering. Some of us wouldn't even come to 553 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:48,400 church. If. 554 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:51,560 It wasn't for suffering. Some of us went and Google the 555 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,280 Bible app suffering God uses sometimes. 556 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:57,320 To draw people closer to. Him. 557 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,360 That's a whole other sermon. Let's keep going. 558 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,680 And then the last one. #3 your past successes. 559 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,000 So listen if you're. Going to strive forward you got 560 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:14,120 to forget your sin, you got to. Forget your sufferings, but you. 561 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:17,280 Also have to forget your past successes. 562 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,520 I think sometimes in the Christian life. 563 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:23,080 We had. A We have a lot of Uncle Rico 564 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,080 Christians. Anybody seen a Napoleon 565 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:30,120 Dynamite? He has an uncle named Rico, who 566 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:34,400 was a quarterback in 1982 and. Everything he talks about was 567 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:36,960 how awesome he was as a quarterback. 568 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:39,680 In 1982, he even runs. Drills. 569 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,880 He's the biggest. Loser in the world and the 570 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:46,080 reason why we sometimes have to forget our. 571 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,480 Successes is because God is always. 572 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,040 Doing a new thing. Shout out DC Talk these. 573 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,240 Christians. Right, God is. 574 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:59,160 Always doing something new. God is always moving forward and 575 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,720 if sometimes if we latch on to our past. 576 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,080 Victories. We end up camping out. 577 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:07,920 There and we operate. Out of nostalgia instead of 578 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:10,920 trusting God and putting faith in what he's called me to do. 579 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:14,640 I was. Successful at doing this one 580 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,600 time. So I'm going to keep doing the 581 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:21,920 same exact thing because I know it works and God is saying no. 582 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:25,200 I need you to trust me. I have something deeper for you. 583 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:26,680 Something. Bigger for you? 584 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:28,200 So I need you to. Forget how you did. 585 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:33,280 It the last time and trust me again right now and this time we 586 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:35,560 can't hold on to. Our past. 587 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,960 Victories. Celebrate it, remember it. 588 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:43,640 Have some pictures in your OneDrive that pop up in 589 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:48,000 memories. That's it's not a bad thing, but 590 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,440 you can't hold on to it. Paul. 591 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:53,040 Even in all of the. Churches that he helped set. 592 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,000 Up and his missionary journeys. He. 593 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,680 Put that behind him and says I still haven't achieved where I 594 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:01,880 want to go. Paul has every right to. 595 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,960 Say I am now retired, not just from life, but from the 596 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,120 Christian life. I've done way too much. 597 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,480 But he doesn't do that. He's like, man, because of where 598 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,280 I'm at in life, I'm not just going to like settle down. 599 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:15,960 I'm going to speed that thing up. 600 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,600 I'm getting to the end. It's time to run. 601 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,400 If Paul would have held. On to his past successes. 602 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:24,440 He had. Every right to just camp out 603 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,000 there and he could just continually. 604 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,760 Just stay there if. You wanted to, but he doesn't. 605 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,080 He puts them behind it and he moves. 606 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:34,400 Forward. And you can't live in the past 607 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:38,160 and presume that it's going to replicate in the present and 608 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:42,520 drive your future. You have to keep moving forward. 609 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,960 You have to keep moving. Forward and this whole. 610 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:47,720 Idea is like man in the good old days. 611 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,480 Yes, yes, in the good old. Days keyword old. 612 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,320 God is doing a new thing in the new days. 613 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:58,480 Pay attention. Live in faith. 614 00:33:58,880 --> 00:33:59,840 Look what he's. Doing. 615 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:03,000 So we got to forget. Our past sins. 616 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:06,360 We got to forget. Our past sufferings and we got 617 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:08,639 to forget. Our past victories so that way 618 00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:10,320 we could. Press on and drive to the goal 619 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:15,440 and then #4 every. Step forward is a step closer. 620 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:17,880 To the goal. Every step you take. 621 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:21,040 Forward in your walk. With Christ is a step closer to 622 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,880 the goal so. Don't be content. 623 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,320 At where you are. Now hold on a second, Ricky, 624 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,080 isn't Paul the one that says you should be content in all things? 625 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:33,880 Don't. Take that verse out of context. 626 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:38,120 Paul's saying he's content in all things because he's with 627 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:42,280 Christ. You should never be content 628 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:46,840 where you are in chasing Christ. There's always more for you to 629 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:50,280 learn, there's always more for you to grow, and there's always 630 00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:53,719 more that God. Listen, God has so much more for 631 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:57,720 you, but you got to chase Him. You got to be. 632 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:04,920 After him in verse 14 and one with this I press on toward the 633 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,600 goal to win the prize. For which? 634 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:11,560 God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 635 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:15,680 It's that same terminology. I press on. 636 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:18,040 I'm running. I am sprinting. 637 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:23,880 I'm aggressively moving. Forward to Christ, what's the 638 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:25,920 goal? The goal? 639 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:32,160 Is knowing Jesus, it's knowing Christ, it's being with Him, and 640 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:35,200 then eventually in glory we will be with him one day. 641 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,520 Don't be content. Keep going forward. 642 00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:45,000 You know, when I when I look at this whole idea of leaving 643 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,920 things behind, I think sometimes. 644 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:52,800 We get the picture that as we leave our. 645 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,440 Sin and as we leave. Like terrible things. 646 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:56,440 That's. Happened to us and we. 647 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,520 Leave all of our stuff. I look at a landfill. 648 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,760 I think sometimes we see. A picture of our. 649 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:06,840 Lives like a landfill. It's filled with all the. 650 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:11,800 Trash and the disgusting things that we've done, that people 651 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:16,440 have done to us. And the thing with landfills is 652 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,040 that there's landfill management. 653 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:19,800 So you could. Actually go to school. 654 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,440 And get a degree in running a landfill. 655 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:26,400 There's gases involved, there's liquids, there's chemicals 656 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:30,800 there, there's a management and all the stuff that comes. 657 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:35,840 And many of us have a view of our sin and our trash and all 658 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:37,760 that stuff. And we look at it and we're 659 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:41,120 like, man, look at this, how can God forgive me? 660 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:45,800 How can God like? And you're doing everything in 661 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:51,720 your power to manage your trash. And what Jesus is saying, what 662 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:54,040 Paul's saying is you need to leave all that behind. 663 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:57,040 Stop managing it and let it. Go and we focus. 664 00:36:57,040 --> 00:37:01,200 More listen to me we focus more on how do we manage. 665 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,360 Our trash. In our sin and we look. 666 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:06,040 At things that we. Learn like. 667 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:09,000 How do I cope? With this and how do I do this 668 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:12,360 and and how do I make sure that the smell doesn't go out into 669 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:15,000 the neighborhood? And what God is saying is like 670 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:16,600 you. Don't have to manage it, give it 671 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:22,560 to me because you know what happens to landfills over time? 672 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,200 They become golf. Courses and what God does. 673 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:28,440 Is that He takes your landfill and He repurposes it to 674 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:32,360 something beautiful and something useful and something 675 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:33,800 that will bring glory to His name. 676 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:36,000 Don't manage it. Let the Lord deal with it. 677 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:38,200 Let the Lord handle it. Let the Lord manage it. 678 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:42,120 Look forward. Stop looking behind. 679 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:44,040 Stop worrying about everything behind you. 680 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:46,000 Just look. Forward, strive after Christ. 681 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:48,520 And this landfill that you've accumulated, next thing you know 682 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,120 it, it's going to be something beautiful and something useful 683 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:54,040 and something only God can do. So let's pursue him as a church 684 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:55,200 this year. Amen. 685 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:57,320 Let's pray for. Us, Jesus, we love you. 686 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:00,360 And Lord, we thank. You for all that you've done for 687 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:05,080 us, Lord I.