THROUGH OUT THE TRASH: PT 2
Throw Out The Trash
Phil 3: 7-14
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:
Hebrews 12
The Race of Faith
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Introduction: God wants us to throw out last year’s trash, forget what is behind, put aside every weight or hindrance, and go forward into His favor and promise for 2012.
What is in your vision for 2012?
How can we have God’s favor for 2012?
What do I need to do to experience all God has for me in 2012?
Part of the solution is to throw out the trash of 2011 or past years. Some things need to be shed, laid aside, and forgotten.
Sometimes that is even victories. Now, it is good to remember the victories and good memories, but if we linger too long and hold to the past and fail to embrace what God has today, then we are missing the mark of God’s best. God has new things for each of us in 2012 that we do well to receive, believe, and strive to achieve.
Story of Victor Smith adding limburger cheese into dorm rooms at SEU.
Sometimes Satan slips stinky stuff into the rooms of our lives that make for huge misery. We need to seek it out and get rid of it.
So how do I through out the trash of 2012?
- Identify what is trash.
Story of accidentally throwing Christmas gift out with the garbage. Some things don’t need throwing out.
But if we keep garbage in our house, our hearts, our souls, then we wind up with our sour, smelly, unfulfilled life.
- Some things admittedly are bigger than you.
Sin is bigger than you.
Some hurts are bigger that you.
Sometimes anger can be bigger that you.
Sometimes we need someone who is bigger than any issue before us.
- Refuse to dwell on hurts.
Fill your mind with the good.
Change the subject.
Don’t rehearse or nurse the past.
Sing a good song.
Think on the goodness of the Lord.
Count your blessings.
Speak to your future and proclaim the blessing of the Lord.
Negative stuff leads to more negative stuff!
Don't take offenses back in.
Forgive and forget.
How?
It will take God’s love.
Pray for the offending party.
Remember God has forgiven you, so forgive others.
Unforgivness will eat your soul. Don’t hold unforgivness. You will fill better when you forgive. It will release healing into your being so you can be better.
5. Return good for evil.
If you do good, then good will come your way.
What we sow then we reap.
Sowing goodness in spite of hardship will bring blessings.
When you do good, good comes back to you.
You feel better.
You look better.
God will take care of the offending party. Trust it to Him.
Give God something to work with. Give Him seeds of goodness that when sown will reap a return of goodness.
Romans 12
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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