Hot on The Press

“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. 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, 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

The past holds many of God’s people hostage. It also keeps many people from receiving the free gift of the grace of God that was provided to us through what Jesus did on the cross. The devil uses one’s past to imprison, to condemn and to confuse, and to make silent and ineffective. He knows that if he can get us to focus on the past, we will never be able to be present in the present and press on towards the future. The good news is that God has already forgiven our sins. He has already done the work, and all we need to do is believe it and receive it. If we can begin to focus on God and that finished work, we can press on to be all He’s called us to be. Living life and life more abundantly starts when we understand that our chains have been broken. Christ Jesus has done it all, and in Him, all things are possible to us who believe.

We must forget to be able to press.

“And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Remember here in the Greek is mnaomai which means to be recalled or to return to one's mind, to remind one's self of, to remember, be mindful of.

God never again remembers our sins.

How do we forget? How do we put the past out of our minds so that it does not keep us from moving forward?

- Realize you already have it (the mind of Christ) in your born again spirit.

“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:13-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

- Realize our minds must be renewed in the natural (our souls).

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What are we pressing on for when we press on? What is the destination?

1. To reach the end. Don’t stop won’t stop can’t stop.

“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:36-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In order to endure, we must make sure we are pressing on in God’s strength. All things are possible to him who believes and through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. We cannot rely on our own strength, our own pride or our own understanding. Paul realized that in his weakness, God’s strength is made perfect. At the end of us is Him…and in Him we can endure in strength and power to the end.

2. To receive the Heavenly prize.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:10-12‬ ‭NKJV

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“and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:4‬ ‭NKJV

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Crown in the Greek here is stephanos which means a mark of royal or (in general) exalted rank, metaphorically the eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize to the genuine servants of God and Christ, the crown (wreath) which is the reward of the righteousness.

Go Boldly,

Joshua David Brawner

The Word, The Pen, and The Mic