FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

THE BLESSING IS IN THE PRESSING!
[PART I]

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:12-14 [NLT]

This letter from Paul is written to the church of Philippi but it has a personal perspective.

When reading this passage, we are met with several personal pronouns that speak to “I.”

• Paul says,
“I have not achieved…”
“I have not reached perfection…”

However, despite my lack of achievement and perfection, Paul shares with us that he continues to press. In other words, regardless of my challenges, I choose to press on! This year of 2020, we need to develop a mindset of pressing. The pressing speaks to the energy required in moving forward and not just being in motion. Problem is that many people find themselves on the treadmills of life [going through the motions] as oppose to moving forward which has us making progress.

One of the points we made in pressing is that it begins with forgetting. The forgetting Paul is speaking of is an intentional forgetting. Many times, when we forget it is accidental. When we honestly forget, it is because there is a fallacy in our humanity. Our mental capacity can’t remember everything because of the fallacy within humanity. Our forgetting is accidental but Paul is not suggesting accidental forgetfulness but this forgetting is intentional.

When it comes to forgetting, Paul wants it to be intentional regarding our past. There are things in our past that can prevent us from God’s promises because we are not intentional about forgetting. In order to press toward the mark, we need to forget those things in the past that prevents us from progress.

So, when Paul says that we need to forget those things of the past means that we CHOOSE NOT TO BRING BACK UP THOSE THINGS OF THE PAST THAT CAN POTENTIALLY PROHIBIT GOD’S PROMISES FOR OUR FUTURE. WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO BRING THE PAST BACK UP, THEN YOU WILL NEVER GET AHEAD!

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor