Forget the Past! by Pastor Chris.

GOSPEL:Forget the Past!

Saul, who was later known as Paul; one of the greatest Apostles ever, was a bitter persecutor of the Church. Acts 8:3 says, “As for Saul, he made havoc of the Church, entering into every house, and hailing men and women, committed them to prison.” This was the extent of Saul’s desperation to execute the Christians; but when he encountered Jesus, his life took on a new course.

After that, he completely let go of the past and never ever berated himself for persecuting the Church. He had the revelation of the new creation and as such knew that old things were passed away and all things had become new (2Corinthians5:17). Addressing the Philippians, in Philippians 3:13 (TLB), he said to them, “…forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

All through his ministry year, he talked about the Lord Jesus Christ as though he walked and dined with Him. Everything he knew about Christ was not after the flesh, rather it was by revelation, and that’s why he could preach the gospel with all his being. And this may not have been achieved if he still held on to his past as a persecutor of the Church. He had the will to lay aside every negative weight of the past that threatened to hinder his ministry, and forged ahead with his new life in Christ.

Just like this great apostle of Jesus Christ, let the new life occupy your thoughts and fill your mouth. Demonstrate the Lord’s will and His Word as you walk in the Spirit. Do not dwell on old things because once you come into Christ, they cease to exist. This is a new creation reality: that you have received the gift of righteousness; therefore, forget the past and forge ahead to your glorious future. www.pastorchrisonline.org