“Leaving what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead. I press on.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
What a joyous word to hold onto as we race through the portal of new beginnings. Our God is saying to leave the past behind. We don’t necessarily forget the past, but we can leave all the pain, mistakes and regret of the past.
Many times in our walk with God we tend to hold onto old ideas and old patterns of doing things. Different situations call for different strategies. What worked in one battle may not necessarily work in another.
As we start to approach a new year, our King is giving us new strength, new battle tactics and new ways to bind the strongman, evict the enemy and take back what Jesus has already purchased for us on the cross.
One of the things that the Lord is putting on His peoples hearts is to get back to the cross. The finished work of the cross and all that it has done for us can be understood deeper when we walk in obedience to Him. Many want the power of the Resurrection without partaking in death first. In order to live fully in what God has done for us, we must first totally die to our will, our ways and rid ourselves of the sin that so easily besets us.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,” or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral or idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who have sex with the same sex, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will enter into the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
This word was given to the Christian community in Corinth. It was written to Christians. God is shouting out to walk in holiness. That does not mean we are perfect, it means we strive to be holy. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have the power to flee all youthful lusts and not remain in sin.
This coming year will be a year of challenges and we will need to hear from God more than ever before. We can not hear clearly when we have the devil sitting by our ears speaking into our minds. How he has the right to do that to us so intimately is when we become intimate with him through living in sin. Remember, such were some of you. The people were changed after they decided to follow Jesus. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes people!
Look forward to what God has in store for us this coming year. As we walk through this holiday season, remember that we are power houses for God and He wants to use all mightily as we advance His kingdom to take the world for Christ.
The walk we have with Jesus is not about us being perfect, it is about us progressing to perfection in Him. We will all fail, we will all fall, we will all sin. The key is getting back up, acknowledging the sin, hating it, loving God and applying the blood of Jesus to whatever area in your life that needs transformation.
Leave what is behind and press on!
The Teaching Ministry of Michael Cannatello
TMMC
