THOSE THINGS by Mark Hardgrove-- http://www.churchnetwork.com/suwaneecog Text: Philippians 3:1-16 Read: 3:12-16 INTRODUCTION: I want to speak to you today on the subject of "those things." What things? "Those things". . . those things which hinder a person or a church from moving ahead with God. Those things which kill our growth as an individual, or as a local body of believers. Those things which keep us going in circles, which keep us tied to the past and which steal our future. I want to preach on those things. And then I want to look at how we must learn to release "those things," if we ever hope to win the prize. In verses 5 and 6, preceding our text, Paul tells us what those things are for him. He lists seven things: 1. Circumcised the eight day, (born into the faith of Judaism, not a proselyte). 2. An Israelite, (a Roman Citizen, but of the Jewish race). 3. From the tribe of Benjamin (the tribe of King Saul). 4. A Hebrew of Hebrews (he and his parents were fluent in the Hebrew/Aramaic language). 5. A Pharisee (from a very strict religious background). 6. Persecuting the church (zealous for Judaism). 7. Adhered to the Law of Moses (no one could fault him in his observance of the law). At one time these things were very important to Paul. These were the very things by which he identified himself and measured his success. But 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. Now 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." I. ONE THING Paul admits that he has not attained, he has not arrived. Paul admits that he too must press ahead, he must lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of him. 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 number one priority is. Paul knows that there are many things which can hold us back, but only one thing which will allow us to break loose and let God move like a river 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 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. II. 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." A 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. 1. The Israelites Coming Out of Egypt--could not forget those things behind, and died in the wilderness. 2. The Rich Young Ruler and His Riches--lacked "one thing" could not leave those material things behind and follow Christ. 3. The Pharisees and Their Religion--could not leave their religious traditions behind and could not recognize the Messiah in their midst. B We need to be aware of modern day examples: 1. Dying Denominations--who could not leave behind archaic methods of sharing the Gospel and would not let the Spirit do a new thing. 2. Dead, Dry Christians--who can not leave personal preferences to experience a new move of God. 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." III. REACHING FORTH TO THOSE THINGS AHEAD Not only must we forget those things, we must keep looking ahead. We cannot live in the past. The past is gone and it will never be here again. The question for today is, "What lays ahead?" The cry of the church must be, "We will be anointed with fresh oil." Thank God for revivals back there. I remember them. Thank God, if He did it once He'll do it again. But I'm not interested in a recycled revival. I have no desire to go back to horse and buggy days, or churches without air or heat. There is nothing in me which wants to go back to the "good 'ole days." "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." God has a revival relevant to these days. He has saved the best wine for last. God has a fresh anointing prepared for every believer and every church which is willing to move beyond those things and let God lead us into the land of promise. When you pray and you lift your hands to God, reach forth! When you sing the songs, when you shout His praises, when you clap your hands, when you worship Him, reach forth to those new things which lay ahead. New methods, new symbols and forms of worship. New songs, new rhythms, new styles, new lives. . . let go and let God do a new thing in you. IV. PRESS TOWARD THE GOAL Not only must we turn loose of those things behind, and reach forth to those things ahead, we must keep our eyes on the prize. Paul said, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That word, "press," is very descriptive. It is an athletic term used to picture a runner who is straining, reaching and pressing to the ribbon. It is a term used to illustrate the man who gives his all to gain the prize. Jesus told us that "kingdom sufferth violence and the violent taketh it by force." It is not a cake walk. It is not a meandering walk through the park which Paul has in mind here. He is telling us that there will be opposition. There will be those who oppose us. There will be things trying to distract us and get our eyes off the goal. But Paul says we must "press." When the storms come, we PRESS. When faced with disappointments, we PRESS. When those things try to catch up to us and hold us back, we PRESS! I don't know about you, but I have determined to do one thing, "forgetting those things which are behind, I am reaching toward those things which are ahead and I press toward the goal." I've seen some great revivals in the past, but those things will not hold me back. I've had some disappointments, I've experienced some failures, I've been hurt and I've been lied to; but those things will not hold me back. I've got my eyes on the prize. I've got my feet on the rock and my mind's made up. I'm going to follow the vision. I'm going to walk into the future hand in hand with Him who is from everlasting to everlasting. I will be anointed with fresh oil and I will see God do a new thing. CONCLUSION What about you today? Are you having trouble with "those things"? Perhaps some things in your past are holding you back. Maybe the devil has been tormenting you with past sins and failures. If it's forgiven, it's forgotten. Or maybe, you have trouble letting go of the past and letting God do a new thing in the church. Let go, and let Jesus take over. If you have some things you need to forget, some things you need to turn loose of, then I'm going to ask you to walk to this altar and let us pray with you. And when you get up and come up here, leave those things in the pew behind you. Lay them aside and leave them alone. When you step out of the pew you are saying, "This is my day! I'm breaking free from my past and letting God do a new thing in me!"