03/27/2023
Great service yesterday. Pastor Mike’s message was
“Forgetting is not Forgetting, but a Reprioritization of Focus” (Philippians 3:4-16). “
Forgetting is not Forgetting in the classical definition, neither is Forgiving is not Forgetting.
The Apostle Paul said in verse 13, “Forgetting those things which is behind, and looking forward to the things that are ahead.”
Paul never forgot he was a Jew, from the stock of Israel, tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the 8th day, blameless according to the law, learned from some who say was the third greatest Rabbi in Jewish history, Gamilel, that he persecuted the Church, gave the order, signed the papers, and was present at Stephen’s stoning, that he excelled in the Jewish religion above many of his equals being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his the fathers. From time to time, Paul would pull declare these past events in contexts of his new life in Christ.
We never forget where we’ve been in life, how we once walked according to the world and the Prince of the power of the air, who may have hurt us, what we’ve done if we’ve hurt others (and we all have at some point), If we criticized the Church ⛪️ in our past lives, or even if Church structures have hurt us from within.
“Forgetting is not Forgetting in the classical definition, neither is Forgiving is not Forgetting”,
but it is a reprioritization of focus away from the past to a telos (end goal) we are looking forward to. Paul repriortizied his life and accordingly his ministry, to declare the former things I sought after are nothing but refuse (trash), he put aside that Alexander the Coppersmith had done him much evil and out him in the hands of the Lord for repayment, he put aside Demas forsaking him, having lived this present world, he put aside, the beatings, flogging, the manner of men like beasts, also his desire to attain notoriety in this life, but he said, I’m pressing towards something else now, “the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Is it time for you to forget (and forgive), but not yet not forget, but instead reprioritize your focus and end game?