Putting the Past in the Past
Philippians 3:13,14
Refused to be locked in the
past
SINS—LEFT IN THE PAST• Leave past sins in the past
“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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 3:13,14
REACTING TO THE PAST• How do I react to past joys and
sorrows?–WISE: patient and trusting in God.– FOOL: impatient, angry, cynical; wants to
control life’s events. Cannot trust God or men.
• Lessons necessary for godly, balanced, productive, fulfilling lives.
PUTTING THE PAST IN THE PAST APPLIES TO:
• Prosperity and adversity• Family relationships• Seeking and offering
forgiveness
PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY
• Trust God to guide the unfolding of life’s events
“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient
in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your
spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, "Why were the former
days better than these?" For you do not inquire wisely concerning
this.”Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
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Cattleyea Orchid
THE END OF A THING IS BETTER… • Prosperity and adversity.– Trust God to guide the unfolding of
life’s events—from bud to bloom.
tight bud bud swell cabbagehead bud break
bud elongation
roughneck hook bloom
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences & Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Inc.
FROM BUD TO BLOOM: CRANBERRIES
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Caterpillar—Cocoon—Monarch Butterfly
THE END OF A THING IS BETTER… • Prosperity and adversity.– Trust God to guide the unfolding of
life’s events—from worm to butterfly.
PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY
• “God has appointed the one as well as the other.”
“Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the
day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will
come after him.”Ecclesiastes 7:13,14
• How do we react to adversity?• Abraham grew tired of waiting. He
came up with his own solutions, then faced the consequences.–Genesis 15:2-4—offered Eliezer as heir–Genesis 16:1-3—offered Ishmael as heir–Genesis 21:1-3—God worked His plan in
His own time!
Prosperity and Adversity
PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY
• Moses and Israel waited on God
“And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the
LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you
shall hold your peace.”Exodus 14:13-14
PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY• Paul prayed, and God gave him
strength to endure his trials“... And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength
is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather
boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for
Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ”2 Corinthians 12:7-10
• How do we react to adversity?–Leave the past and future in
God’s hands.–Concern yourself with today.• “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
Prosperity and Adversity
• How do we react to prosperity?– James 1:17—rejoice and give
thanks to God.– Job 1:21—Use your prosperity in
service to God; when it is past, thank Him and move on.–Leave the past and the future in
God’s hands.
Prosperity and Adversity