Moving Forward and Grabbing Hold

Philippians 3:13 & 14 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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

In order to move forward and grab hold we must, as the Apostle Paul says: forgetting those things which are past or behind us. What things?"Those things" ... those things which hinder us or our church from moving ahead with God. Those things which kill our growth, darken our hearts, diminish our faith as an individual or as a church family. Those things which keep us going in circles, which keep us tied to the past and which steal our future. They can be history - things which happened to us long ago - people conflict or misunderstanding. They can also be a person with which we attempt to get close but they refuse for whatever reason or our feeling like certain people should give us more attention or time by virtue of some place or position we hold or some expectation we have of others. Maybe it was a misunderstanding which took place long ago or someone who is just out to get us or get their way. Or, it might be an agenda we have or an attitude or sin that we must release.
In the churches case: It might be an inability to change or add or move towards something different. I read about a church in the mid-west in which the pastor and staff painted the fellowship halls a new color and added some new furniture. They did this out of their own money and on their own time, only to be met by some of the self proclaimed "power brokers" of the church who were upset they were not consulted on the changes and that the congregation needed to vote on such an expenditure. I have three words of advise in this matter: Get Over It. The Apostle Paul would share my advise. "Those things", if we ever get rid of them will allow us to more forward, grab hold and win the prize.In verses 5 & 6, preceding our text, Paul tells us what those things are for him. He speaks about his spiritual past and his being a Hebrew of Hebrews, his parents were fluent in Hebrew/Aramaic language. He was so full of himself and his history that it was something that he needed to let go of. At one time, these things were very important to Paul. These were the very things by which he identified himself and measured his success. We can do that personally or corporately. We rest on our laurels or upon an old touch from God from the past. Or maybe our success in something we did long ago - trophies and photo albums - but Paul is moving on. You see, when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, everything changed. Now Paul counted those things but loss, as waste, as refuse, that he might gain Christ. The cry of the heart of Paul was, "Oh that I may know Him in the power of His resurrection, in the fellowship of His suffering, being made comfortable even unto death." Anything that keeps us from knowing Him, serving Him and giving Him glory is the "One Thing" in our life that we must let go.
1. ONE THING
Paul admits that he has not attained, he has not arrived. He is in process and so are we. As a child of God and a leader, I am always having to grow and adapt and be ready to change. I am having to deal with the past issues in my life that may want to slow me down or get me off track from where I am to go and who I am to be. How about you? Be honest now! Paul admits that he must press ahead; he must lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of him. He must move forward and grab hold. As a church, we face many challenges in our growth. He tells us, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: But one thing I do. This is an important part of what follows. Paul has taken time to examine his life. He has reviewed his accomplishments, his honors and his crimes against the church. Now he sums up all his passions, his dreams and desires, by saying "but one thing I do."By summing it up as "one thing," Paul is telling us he now knows what his focus is, what his goal is and what his No. 1 priority is. He is putting the past and the pettiness in one container and marking it history.
Paul has a new focus and approach to life and future. Paul knows that there are many things which can hold us back, but only one thing which will allow God to have His way in and through our lives and through the church. We cannot run two races at the same time. We cannot serve two masters at the same time. On the list of the priorities of our life, only one thing can stand at the top, and it is that one thing which determines how we live here and now, and where we will live then and there. It all begins with "those things." The "one thing" is letting go and moving forward, grabbing hold of why God has grabbed hold of us and our church. Why He has blessed us in so many areas.The "one thing" is so big, so important, so vital to our spiritual life that this "one thing" will release us from "those things" so that we may gain the prize.
2. FORGET THOSE THINGS BEHIND
Paul says, "... forgetting those things which are behind..."What are those things? In Paul's list of things which were once important to him, he lists race, religion, nationality, traditions, culture, past glories and past sins. Paul is saying "I refuse to let those things keep me chained to the past. I am letting those things go. I am leaving those things behind." I am willing to embrace the changes ahead. Paul was all too aware of the examples from Jewish history and from Jesus' ministry of those who refused to forget "those things" and who now speak of failure. The Israelites coming out of Egypt - could not forget those things behind and died in the wilderness. The rich young ruler and his riches - lacked "one thing" and could not leave those material things behind and follow Christ. The Pharisees and their religion - could not leave their religious traditions behind and could not recognize the Messiah in their midst.
We need to be aware of modern-day examples:
1. Dying churches - those who can not leave behind archaic methods of sharing the Gospel and would not let God's Spirit move in such a way that He brings freshness and newness to the believers. It pains me to watch churches dry up and to see some close their doors for the last time. It causes God's heart to weep.
2. Dead, dry, negative, critical and petty Christians - who cannot leave personal preferences and or expectations to experience a the new thing that God wants to do in them and through them. What attitude or past viewpoint keeps you from running forward? What area of selfishness keeps you from serving another? God's promise was, "I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isa. 43:19.
We will not experience the "new thing" until we make up our minds to do "one thing" - forget "those things." It may sound confusing but in actuality it is the simple daily or seasonal step that forces us to move forward in order to grow. Go ahead and let go and grab your tomorrows in Christ.