Forgetting

Forgetting

 

“Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by GOD’s upward calling in the MESSIAH YESHUA.” Philippians 3:13-14 CJB Study Philippians 3.

 

Forgetting the past is a hard thing to do, almost impossible. That is not what Paul is talking about, there is no clearing the mind of bad memories and keeping only the good. Paul recalls his past sometimes with shame and sometimes with pride, but never with boosting of himself only boosting of GOD and JESUS CHRIST.

 

So how do we get over those things that distract us in our daily life; those events that are so hurtful, degrading or glorious? As JESUS and His disciples did – they only did what The Father gave them to do.

 

JESUS: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve – and to give His live as a ransom for many. Therefore, YESHUA said to them, ‘Yes, Indeed! I tell you that The Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees The Father doing; whatever The Father does, The Son does too. I can’t do a thing on My own. As I hear; I judge; and My judgment is right because I don’t seek My own desire, but the desire of The One who sent Me. For I have come down from Heaven to do not My own will but the will of The One who sent Me.’ So YESHUA said, ‘You will lift up The Son of Man; then you will know that I AM (who I say I Am), and that of Myself I do nothing, but say only what The Father has taught Me. For I have not spoken on My own initiative, but The Father who sent Me has given Me a command, namely, what to say and how to say it. And I know that His command is eternal life. So what I say is simply what The Father has told Me to say. Don’t you believe that I Am united with The Father, and The Father united with Me? What I Am telling you, I Am not saying on My own initiative; The Father living in Me is doing His own works. Trust Me, that I Am united with The Father, and The Father united with Me. But if you can’t, then trust because of the works themselves.’ He went about a stone’s throw away from them, kneeled down and prayed, ‘Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me; still, let not My will but Yours be done,’ and in great anguish He prayed more intensely, so that His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Matthew 20:28; John 5:19, 30, 6:38, 8:28, 12:49-50, 14:10-11; Luke 22:41-44 CJB

 

The Apostles: They all called themselves servants or slaves of GOD and JESUS knowing that by doing Their will they were only fulfilling their obligation. “Paul, a bondservant of JESUS CHRIST, called to be an Apostle, separated to the Gospel of GOD.” “James, a bondservant of GOD and of The LORD JESUS CHRIST. To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.” “Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of JESUS CHRIST. To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our GOD and Savior JESUS CHRIST.” “Jude, a bondservant of JESUS CHRIST, and brother of James. To those who are called, sanctified by GOD The Father, and preserved in JESUS CHRIST.” “The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, which GOD gave Him to show His servants–things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His Servant John, who bore witness to the Word of GOD; and to the Testimony of JESUS CHRIST, to all things that he saw.” Romans 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1-2 NKJV

 

The Heavenly Host are Their servants: “Then the adversary let Him alone, and angels came and took care of Him.” “Immediately The SPIRIT drove Him out into the wilderness, and He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by the adversary. He was with the wild animals and the angels took care of Him.” “Z’kharyah said to the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, my wife too is well on in years.’ ‘I am Gavri’el,’ the angel answered him, ‘and I stand in the presence of GOD, I was sent to speak to you, to give you this good news.’” “In the sixth month, the angel, Gavri’el was sent by GOD to a city in the Galil called Natzeret, to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Miryam.” “’Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me; still, let not My will but Yours be done.’ There appeared to Him an angel from Heaven giving Him strength, and in great anguish He prayed more intensely, so that His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

“Moreover, to which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet!’? Aren’t they all merely spirits who serve, sent out to help those whom GOD will deliver?” “Then I, Yochanan, the one hearing and seeing these things, when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel showing them to me. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am only a fellow-servant with you and your brothers, the prophets and the people who obey the Word of this Book. Worship GOD!” Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 1:19, 26-27, 22:42-44; Hebrews 1:13-14; Revelation 22:8-9 CJB

 

US: “Then to everyone He said, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, let him say, “No” to himself, take up his execution-stake daily and keep following Me. For whoever tries to save his own life will destroy it, but whoever destroys his life on My account will save it. What will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but destroys or forfeits his own life?’” “So, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed when I was with you, it is even more important now that you obey even when I am away from you: keep working out your deliverance with fear and trembling, for GOD is The One working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases Him. Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” Luke 9:23-25; Philippians 2:12-14 CJB

Study Matthew 10:34-39, 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-27, 17:7-10; John 8:31, 12:26, 14:12-16, 15:18-20; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 6:5-8; Philippians 2:1-15; Colossians 2:8-10, 3:1-4:6; 2 Timothy 1:7-10, 3:10-17; James 1, 2:14-26;

 

Another key factor in not carrying the burden of yesterday with us is forgiveness! “So if you are offering your gift at the Temple altar and you remember there that your brother has something against you, leave your gift where it is by the altar, and go, make peace with your brother. Then come back and offer your gift. For if you forgive others, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your Heavenly Father will not forgive yours.” “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah GOD has forgiven you.” Matthew 5:23-24, 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:31-32 CJB

 

Submitting our mind: “Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with The Messiah YESHUA:” “For GOD gave us a SPIRIT who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline.” Philippians 2:5; 2 Timothy 1:7 CJB In Philippians 2:5 many translations use the word mind instead of attitude and in 2 Timothy self-discipline is rendered sound mind in many translations.

 

Our mind reflects our attitude based on our beliefs and they are expressed through what we say and how we live. Surrendering our will and self-discipline are the keys to obedient service to our GOD and our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

Then only today will be in our thoughts for tomorrow is not promised except through direct revelation. “There was in Yerushalayim a man names Shim’on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for GOD to comfort Isra’el, and The Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. It had been revealed to him by The Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of ADONAI.” “Come to Me, all you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I Am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” “Then to the people He said, ‘Be careful to guard against all forms of greed, because even if someone is rich, his life does not consist in what he owns.’ And He gave them this illustration: ‘There was a man whose land was very productive. He debated with himself, “What should I do?...Your a lucky man!…Start taking it easy! Eat! Drink! Enjoy yourself!”...But GOD said to him, “You fool! This very night you will die! And the things you prepared – whose will they be?”’” “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit’! You don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If ADONAI wants it to happen, we will live, to do this or that. But as it is, in your arrogance you boost. All such boasting is evil. So then anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing sin.” Luke 2:25-26; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 12:15-21; James 4:13-17 CJB

Study Matthew 1&2, 6; Luke 1&2, 12; John 1:16-51; James 4