WALKING FREE.(2)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*WALKING FREE. (2)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

2 Cor 5:17

*Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new*

*Insight and Highlight.*

The past may still influence the thoughts of the believer, but must not subdue it.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Yesterday we looked at the flesh.

Today we will look at our pasts.

Paul tells us that at conversion that all things are new. New image, new nature, new man, new life: sanctified, pure and holy, but how free are we from the our past and does it affect walking free with God?

How free are we from the past?

Do our pasts have a voice?

Do our pasts still speak?

Do our pasts influence our thoughts and how do they militate, contend with our new nature in Christ?

We will look at Paul's statement of the Christian's new birth. How free does the Christian walk after salvation, or does he really walk free from his past after salvation?

There are two sides of Paul in his discussion of his past.

First was his ability to let go his past, his esteemed accomplishments and leaving them behind to move forward.

Second was his past as a powerful testimony to the transforming power of God's grace.

Today, we will discuss the first.

Paul wrote about the past.

Phillipians 3:13-14 *".......but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.*

*I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.*

In Phillipians 3:8, he wrote *".....l count things as loss....."* to emphasize that all his former accomplishments, status, and advantages are worthless to him now because they cannot compare to his relationship with Jesus. 

Paul, who once, exhibited great pride in his accomplishments (Acts 22:4, 2 Cor 12:9b-11, Phillipians 3:4-6, Heb 11:1) later, reevaluated his past achievements rubbishing them as "loss" compared to the value of knowing Christ.

While he did not dwell on his past sins, failures and accomplishments, he would not allow them to be a hinderance. He was willing to leave them behind to move forward. 

He would not allow his failures to be a hindrance to achieving his final goal.

The pasts of Paul still had a voice but he was able to master them and put them under control so as not to influence his present.

The phrase "*...forgetting those things which are behind...."* (Phillipians 3:13) is not about erasing memories, but about not letting the past—either failures or accomplishments—be a hindrance. 

We must remember that nothing (that is: old covenant with sin), power of the flesh should dominate your present or destroy God's plan when God is in it or is in you.

However the past often comes to mind, may threaten and oppress our minds teaching us that the past is not totally erased.

The past can still "speak" but we must not make its voice dominant.

The past serves as a constant reminder of certain consequences of the past that we must wage war against or fight against so that the Spirit may help us to walk free with God in the present.

Do you want to walk free with Jesus?

Resist the past as you would resist Satan and you will walk free with Jesus.

*Remorse corner.*

The past is a constant reminder of battles to face but must not be dominant.

*Call to Word action.*

You have to leave the past behind in order to move forward

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Your past is neither a disease nor an affliction that can not be brought under control. It can be cured as a disease and can be resisted as an affliction from arising a second time.

*Prayer.*

Lord, let not my past influence my freedom with Christ. Help me to walk free with Jesus in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.