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Philippians 3:12-14 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.

FORGETTING THE PAST

THE PAST A.Don’t look back, that’s not where you are headed. B.The reason our windshield is so large and our rearview mirror is so small is because where we have been is not nearly as important as where we are going. C.Our past does not have to determine our future. The way we live today will determine our future. If we live right today our future will be great. D.We need to forget the mistakes of the past, except to determine never to repeat them. E.When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future.

THE PAST F.Learn from the past, plan for the future, but focus on the present. G.Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future. H.H.You can’t start a new chapter in your life until you stop reading the previous one. I.I.Forget past mistakes, hurts, and pains but remember the lessons you learned from them. J.What does the bible say about forgetting the past?

I. THE PAST IS A WEIGHT THAT HOLDS US BACK. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

II. PAST ATTITUDES NEED TO BE FORGOTTEN. Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. (32) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

III. DO NOT STORE UP NEGATIVE THINGS SAID IN THE PAST. Ecclesiastes 7:20-22 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. (21) Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. (22) For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.

IV. DON’T DWELL ON THE PAST. Isaiah 43:18-19 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. (19) Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

V. FORGET THE PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE. Philippians 3:12-14 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.

VI. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE OR PAST, EMPHASIZE THE PRESENT. Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (26) Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (27) Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (28) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; (29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.>>

VI. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE OR PAST, EMPHASIZE THE PRESENT. (30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (31) Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

VII. OLD THINGS ARE PAST ALL THINGS ARE NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

VIII. FOCUS ON POSITIVE THINGS NOT NEGATIVE. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

IX. LOVE THINKS NO EVIL BUT HAS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

YOUR PAST? A.Are you allowing your past to determine your future? B.Are you willing to forget your past so you can press on toward heaven? C.Are you willing to control your future by living right today? D.Right actions in the present are the best apologies for wrong actions in the past.

TONIGHT’S SERMON BEING SONS OF GOD