Pressing Forward: The Power of Your Testimony
Summary
### Summary
In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul emphasizes the importance of pressing forward and not looking back. This passage serves as a foundation for understanding the significance of sharing our personal testimonies. Each of us has a unique and valuable story that God can use for His kingdom if we surrender it to Him. Our past, no matter how flawed, does not define us. Instead, we are called to forget what lies behind and strain forward toward the goal of Christ Jesus.
The enemy often tries to remind us of our past sins to render us ineffective. However, biblical forgetting means not allowing our past to influence or affect our present and future. By focusing on Jesus, we break the power of our past mistakes. This focus enables us to live a life of peace, freedom, victory, and joy. Our ultimate prize is Jesus, both in this life and for all eternity.
We are encouraged to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives as we await the return of Jesus. Our hope is in Him, and He is coming back. This anticipation should motivate us to use our stories and lives for His glory. A testimony shared about a former student who returned to faith after years of struggle illustrates the power of God's redemption and the importance of sharing our stories.
### Key Takeaways
1. Your Testimony is Unique and Valuable: Every believer has a unique story of how they came to Christ. Whether dramatic or seemingly ordinary, your testimony is valuable to the kingdom of God. Surrender your story to Him, and He will use it to impact others. [01:04]
2. Stop Looking Back: Dwelling on past sins and mistakes can render you ineffective. Biblical forgetting means not allowing your past to influence your present and future. Focus on Jesus and let Him break the power of your past mistakes. [02:48]
3. Strain Forward Toward the Goal: Like an athlete straining to reach the finish line, we must press on toward the goal of Christ Jesus. This involves living a life of peace, freedom, victory, and joy, and looking forward to our eternal life with God. [08:07]
4. Our Hope is in Jesus: Jesus is our ultimate prize, both in this life and for all eternity. When we live with Jesus as our focus, everything else, including our past, fades away. This hope should motivate us to live godly lives and share our stories. [10:14]
5. God Redeems Our Past: No matter what we've been through, God can redeem our past and use it for His glory. A testimony of a former student who returned to faith after years of struggle shows the power of God's redemption. Use your story to tell others about Jesus. [14:42]
### Youtube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:04] - The Value of Your Testimony
3. [02:09] - Stop Looking Back
4. [02:48] - The Dangers of Dwelling on the Past
5. [03:28] - Decline the Enemy's Reminders
6. [04:12] - Biblical Forgetting
7. [05:44] - Letting God Use Your Past
8. [06:21] - Personal Struggles and Redemption
9. [07:28] - Strain to Look Forward
10. [08:07] - The Athlete's Strain
11. [09:20] - Earthly and Eternal Rewards
12. [10:14] - Our Hope in Jesus
13. [10:52] - The Return of Jesus
14. [12:15] - Are You Ready?
15. [12:40] - A Testimony of Redemption
16. [14:42] - Encouragement to Share Your Story
17. [15:31] - Final Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 3:12-14: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
2. Titus 2:11-14: "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says he is "forgetting what lies behind" in Philippians 3:13? [02:09]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of sharing our personal testimonies? [01:04]
3. How does the concept of "biblical forgetting" differ from our usual understanding of forgetting? [04:12]
4. What are the characteristics of the life we are called to live as we await Jesus' return, according to Titus 2:11-14? [10:52]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for believers to stop looking back at their past sins and mistakes? How does this affect their present and future? [02:48]
2. How can focusing on Jesus help break the power of past mistakes in a believer's life? [04:51]
3. What does it mean to "strain forward toward the goal" in the context of Philippians 3:14? How does this apply to our daily lives? [08:07]
4. How does the anticipation of Jesus' return motivate believers to live godly lives and share their stories? [10:14]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own testimony. How can you share your unique and valuable story to impact others for God's kingdom? [01:04]
2. Are there past sins or mistakes that you find yourself dwelling on? How can you practice "biblical forgetting" to not let them influence your present and future? [02:48]
3. What are some practical ways you can focus more on Jesus in your daily life to break the power of past mistakes? [04:51]
4. Think of a specific goal related to your faith that you want to press toward. What steps can you take this week to strain forward toward that goal? [08:07]
5. How does the hope of Jesus' return influence your daily decisions and actions? Are there areas in your life where you need to align more closely with this hope? [10:14]
6. Share a time when God redeemed a difficult part of your past. How can you use this testimony to encourage someone else who might be struggling? [14:42]
7. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from hearing your testimony. How can you initiate a conversation with them this week to share your story? [15:31]
Devotional
Day 1: The Value of Your Testimony
Each believer's journey to Christ is unique and valuable. Whether your story is dramatic or seemingly ordinary, it holds immense worth in the kingdom of God. By surrendering your testimony to Him, you allow God to use it to impact others. Your experiences, struggles, and victories can serve as a beacon of hope and encouragement to those who may be facing similar challenges. Remember, your story is a testament to God's grace and power in your life. [01:04]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Think of a specific moment in your life where you saw God's hand at work. How can you share this experience with someone who might need encouragement today?
Day 2: Stop Looking Back
Dwelling on past sins and mistakes can render you ineffective in your walk with Christ. Biblical forgetting means not allowing your past to influence your present and future. By focusing on Jesus, you can break the power of your past mistakes and live a life of peace, freedom, victory, and joy. This shift in focus helps you to move forward and embrace the new life that God has for you. [02:48]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Identify one past mistake that you find yourself dwelling on. How can you shift your focus to Jesus and let go of this burden today?
Day 3: Strain Forward Toward the Goal
Like an athlete straining to reach the finish line, we must press on toward the goal of Christ Jesus. This involves living a life of peace, freedom, victory, and joy, and looking forward to our eternal life with God. The effort and discipline required to pursue this goal are worth it, as our ultimate prize is Jesus Himself. By keeping our eyes on Him, we can navigate the challenges of life with hope and perseverance. [08:07]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one specific goal you can set this week to help you grow closer to Jesus? How can you take the first step toward achieving it today?
Day 4: Our Hope is in Jesus
Jesus is our ultimate prize, both in this life and for all eternity. When we live with Jesus as our focus, everything else, including our past, fades away. This hope should motivate us to live godly lives and share our stories. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can experience the fullness of life that He offers and look forward to the eternal joy of being with Him forever. [10:14]
Titus 2:11-13 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How does the hope of Jesus' return influence your daily life? What changes can you make to live more intentionally with this hope in mind?
Day 5: God Redeems Our Past
No matter what we've been through, God can redeem our past and use it for His glory. A testimony of a former student who returned to faith after years of struggle shows the power of God's redemption. By sharing your story, you can tell others about Jesus and the transformative power of His love. Your past, no matter how flawed, can become a powerful tool in God's hands to bring hope and healing to others. [14:42]
Joel 2:25-26 (ESV): "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's redemption in your life. How can you share this story with someone who might need to hear about God's redeeming power today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "My goal, my calling, my desire is for you to grow in your walk with Christ and be productive for the kingdom of God and to use your life, your story, what God has done in your life to witness, to share Christ, to be an example out there for other people to see Jesus." [01:04] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Looking back at your past life, your past sin, your past issues, your struggles, that'll render you ineffective. And raise your hand if you're a sinner, okay? Raise your hand if you've done some dumb things, okay? Raise your hand if you're embarrassed of them, right? We all, everyone in here, we've all messed up, but that doesn't identify you." [02:48] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You've been forgiven. You've been redeemed. You've been transformed by the blood of Jesus. And that's his advice. But listen, you cannot forget or have a memory of your past. It's physically, mentally, spiritually impossible to completely forget 100%. Now, because the biblical forgetting means to no longer be influenced or affected by your past." [04:12] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Children of God, listen, you have much, much to look forward to. Paul talks and challenges these guys in the Bible here to press on, he means to strain. Everybody say strain. Okay, and when you think of straining, what do you think of? Anybody watch the Olympics?" [08:07] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you live, when you breathe, when you move, when you act, when you exist for Jesus and with Jesus as our prize, all else, including our past, okay, it just fades away. It's not as relevant. It's not as important because you know he's your prize." [10:14] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "A huge part of you growing and being a disciple of Christ is sharing your personal testimony. Testimony. That is what you were like before Christ, you encountering and inviting Christ into your life and to save you by faith and what he's done since then. That's your testimony." [01:04] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The biblical concept of forgetting is not, it's never going to enter your mind again. And it's deleted like a picture on your phone or deleted like a document on your computer. It means you're not allowing that past, by forgetting it and giving it to the Lord, you're not allowing it to impact or affect the way you live your life or the influence you have on your life." [04:51] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God has redeemed my issues. This past weekend, I spoke at another church at First Baptist Calvary Heights. It was a great time. But there's some things that I shared with them about my issues, my past, and the things God's done in my life because he's freed me of those things. And he's allowed those things to be a part of my life." [06:53] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Are you, using whatever you got for his glory? Are you allowing him to use your story, your life, for that day to come? I'm going to tell you the story. We're going to finish on this." [12:40] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "No matter what you've been through, don't back at your, your messed up life. I kept telling him, man, it's gone, brother. It's under the blood. Keep pressing on. Keep looking forward because God, it's gone. That's big plans for you. Just use your testimony. Tell people about Jesus." [15:31] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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