I am not where I should be?
By Wade martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Philipians 3: 13 (KJV) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward unto those things which are before.
Philippians 3 :13 (LB) No, dear brothers, I am not where I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing. Forgetting the past, and looking forward to what lies ahead.
Luke 9:23 And Jesus said to them all:
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(NOTICE THE WORD DAILY?)
Psa.27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His Temple.
In Mark 10: 21 Jesus meets a man with much potential, yet ONE THING HE LACKED?
I ponder, the past with all her problems is long gone, today is before us. Just because yesterday we failed, we have a new day to get up and try again.
There are many regrets from yesterday, but today should be full of new hopes and new dreams. How many times does a baby fall while learning to walk? It takes time to build people.
Luke 9:23 And Jesus said to them all:
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(NOTICE THE WORD DAILY?)
In God’s great wisdom, He choose not to make time in 100 year days, but rather 24 hours days.
By doing this God knew we would mess up sometimes,
so He create 24 hour days. If you mess a day up,
you will have a new day --- so TRY AGAIN!
If you mess up a week try again!
You will have a new week.
God loves us so much that He knew we would mess up.
So He ask us to TRY AGAIN.
Messes make messages.
Test testimonies.
Get up and TRY AGAIN if you have a mess!
With this in mind, we need to evaluate our past.
Where did I not reach my potential?
What, on the course adjustments, need I to make?
If there is no honest evaluation there will be
little to no correction.
Let us ponder the writings of an old man, Paul, nearing the end of his journey. Perhaps, near the end of a day, Paul watches the sunset. Paul reflects on the past and looks ahead to the future?
Philipians 3: 13 (KJV) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward unto those things which are before.
Philippians 3 :13 (LB) No, dear brothers, I am not where I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing. Forgetting the past, and looking forward to what lies ahead.
#1. I AM NOT WHERE I SHOULD BE...
A. No sadder words of pen or tongue:
than the words WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? ???
B. Potential vs. Kinetic ...
Potential means there exist possibilities, capable
of development, the battery in a car has a 1000
mile potential?
Kinetic means there is action, motion, change.
Faith has potential but if faith is not in action
it is dead.
C. Could you read the Bible more?
Pray more?
Battle bad attitudes better?
Could you give a little more?
How faithful have you been to the church?
Can the pastor count on you?
D. Recognize I have growing room, dig, fertilize,
plow, plant, invest.
#2 ONE THING -- FOCUS...
A. Too many cooks ruin the meal?
Trying to do to many things at once will cause
things to not be done properly.
Psa.27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord,
that will I seek after: That I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His
Temple.
B. FOCUS, center, hub, to see clearly, pay close
attention, come together.
What you love you will find time to do?
What is important to you, are you focused?
C. OFTEN WE MISFOCUS.
In Mark 10: 21 Jesus meets a man with much
potential, yet ONE THING HE LACKED?
His focus was on things, sell and buy treasures
for heaven? Take the cross?
No, the man was focused on material things, he
would walk away sad?
D. MISPLACED PRIORITIES.
Martha thought a clean house was more important
than a close relationship with Jesus.
Luke 10:42, After Martha tattletaled on Mary:
Jesus warned Martha:
Mary chose the good part. What are we choosing?
E. THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE
MAIN THING.
By the way what is the main thing? Many never set
priorities?
#3 FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND ...
A. Many can tell how good it used to be.
Tell it like it was?
We need a current relationship ever growing.
B. Others love to throw up the past,
I call this spiritual vomit.
C. To live in the past is often a BLAME game,
and not taking responsibility for self?
D. Bury the past or it will bury you!
E. No one is so smart as to UNDO the past.
F. It is good to visit Memory Lane, but don’t move
there.
G. It is sheer insanity to continue on with the
same attitudes and expect change?
H. If you don’t like what you are getting,
you must change what you are giving.
You know this, but we must arise and bring about
change.
I. Hell will be full of people recalling the past,
bitter from failures and disappointed watching
others.
J. The water wheel cannot grind with water already
down stream.
#4. REACH FORWARD...
A. This is an imagery of a runner in a race, the
runner must stay on course, focused on the goal,
straining every muscle, stretching out to reach to
the goal.
B. FOCUS on the goal.
Many throw up their hands and quit in frustration
because they lose sight of the goal.
Every sport has a goal, so must each Christian and
each family.
What are your goals?
Why drift aimlessly?
Why allow gradualness to control your spirit?
C. Every good ship has an anchor, if you can’t go
forward, drop anchor and wait for the storm to pass.
Climb high, climb far, set your goal toward the
sky. Aim for the stars, if you hit the moon,
tis better than landing in a mud puddle all the
time.
D. Eph. 6:13 Having done all stand!
Don’t give up on the brink of a miracle!
E. Many develop a turtle mentality, or us
four and no more mentality. Reach out. Press on.
5. I AM A PILGRIM, WE ARE ON A PILGRIMAGE.
A. Read Heb. 11:13, These all died in the faith,
not having received the promise, saw them afar
off, and were persuaded, and embraced them, they
were strangers and PILGRIMS on this earth.
B. Pilgrim, one on a journey, alien alongside a
resident, foreigner.
C. This world is not my home, I am just passing
through.
At best life is temporary.
Don’t get too comfortable and live for the senses.
D. Heaven is real. Heaven would be cheap at any
cost.
Meet me at Jesus’ feet.
I AM NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE.
I DREAM OF MUCH MORE THAN THIS.
THERE HAS TO BE MORE.
I HAVE A LONGING IN MY HEART FOR JESUS.
I MUST HAVE MUCH FRUIT TO LAY AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
ARE WE WILLING TO FOCUS ON ONE THING, FORGET THE PAST, AND PRESS ON? ???
We have a new day, let us do more!
Let us reach beyond where were yesterday, and make tomorrow the best day of our service.
There is a three fold exercise of faith.
Luke 9:23 And Jesus said to them all:
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
1. DENY SELF
2. TAKE UP CROSS DAILY
3. FOLLOW ME
Yesterday is gone!
Tomorrow may never be,
But you have today --- SO TRY AGAIN
You can get up if you want to ...
Do you want to?
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Enlarge my hands? You could invest and tell someone else and help me reach more? Help pass this on?
