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“Now Then”

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

“Now Then” is a phrase used for getting someone’s attention when you are starting to talk about something new. It’s a phrase used to interrupt or redirect what’s being discussed, so that you can discuss or consider what is more appropriate or important.

*Psalm 90:1-12

What you do now will determine what happens then.

Yesterday is behind you. Today is surrounding you. Your future is in front of you.

“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” Phil. 3:13

Now – is this instance.

Then – refers to time; it can refer to the past or the future.

Building a Better and Brighter Future

Learn from the past; Live in the present; Believe for the future.

You have to learn to admit you were wrong and you will need to admit that you don’t have it all figured out. But, you also have to admit what you do know and what you do have figured out…

1. Realize You will Never Have it All Figured Out. (The starting place is admission [an act of admitting : the fact or state of being admitted. the right or permission to join or enter a place, a group, etc]: admitting your need, your weakness, your sin, your addiction, or your shortcoming, is the gateway to victory and the doorway to freedom.)

⁃ I’ve not arrived.

⁃ There are things I don’t know.

⁃ There are things I could be better with, and better at.

⁃ I don’t know the answer to every question.

⁃ I don’t know the solution to very problem.

⁃ I can’t understand everything that happens.

⁃ I don’t always know the right thing to do or the right thing to say.

*Phil.3:13 (But this one thing I do) You may not have it all figured out, but you may have one thing that you do know or that you can do.

⁃Learn from the past, but forget the bad times, the sorrow and the regrets of yesterday.

⁃Learn from the past, but break the cycles and patterns of the past that created what you didn’t desire, so they don’t reappear in your future.

⁃Learn from the past, but don’t carry the burdens, sorrows or regrets of the past into the present, or into your future.

2. Remember the Past is the Past.

(Forget the things that hinder your future progress, or keep you bound to the past in a negative way; especially the things that bring disappointment and discouragement in regards to your future)

⁃Regrets (what you did or said)

⁃ What you did or didn’t do.

⁃ What you said or didn’t say.

⁃ You can’t change the past. But, if it’s been forgiven, than forget it! – trust God for your future.

⁃ Don’t allow what you can’t control; to control you!

⁃Unforgiveness (what other people have done or said)

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

⁃ It takes faith to give and receive forgiveness.

⁃ Not forgiving doesn’t cause harm to the other person, it causes harm to you.

⁃ Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the offense, it releases you from the burden of carrying the hurt.

⁃ Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the fault of the offender; it brings freedom to the offended.

⁃ Jesus said, “Father forgive them, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

⁃Not forgiving will keep you tied to the past you’re desiring to forget.

⁃Failures

⁃ Keep you tied to the past.

⁃ Keep you bound by regret.

⁃ Keep you from trying or believing again.

⁃ Keep you bound by fear. *(it can’t or won’t be any different the next time)

⁃Achievements

⁃ The reason this is so dangerous is because we measure everything by our greatest moments, not enjoying what we are achieving right now.

⁃ If you are constantly waiting to celebrate just the “big thing” you will never enjoy the small moments and victories along the way.

⁃God celebrated every time He created something. It took Him 7 days to do what He could have done in a moment, and He rested on the 7th day and every time He created something, He paused and said, “it is good.”

⁃ If you are always in search of the next “big thing” you will miss all the small blessings along the way.

⁃ Everyone else’s “highlight” reel can look incredible and can make your life seem insignificant. *social media

⁃ Thankful

⁃ Grateful

⁃ Content

⁃ Comparing and complaining will keep you from being content!

The last always looks better than it really is, the farther you move away from it. (The good old days)

⁃Live in the present and make the most of every moment.

⁃Don’t take life or yourself too serious.

⁃Always be a work in progress that is always growing and ever learning.

3. Reach for What’s Next and What’s Best.

(But don’t miss what’s beside you) – I don’t think Paul is saying he’s trying to get ahead, he’s reaching for what matters and forgetting what doesn’t.

⁃ When don’t feel like you have anything to look forward to; it’s easy to look back.

⁃ See it (you have to see it first)

⁃ Say it (say what you see)

⁃ Seize it (take hold of it)

⁃ Straining, stretching (risk and change)

⁃ Stretching will help you reach higher, and go further.

⁃ The greater the risk the greater the reward.

⁃ Nothing ever changes without change

⁃ Stretch yourself and reach higher!

⁃ Don’t get distracted with things that don’t matter!

⁃ Celebrate small victories along the way.

⁃ Enjoy life, glorify God, and love people.

⁃ Good intentions won’t get you there.

⁃ Intentions are what you intend to do.

⁃ Strategy is a clear plan on how to accomplish what you desire.

⁃ Your strategy, not your intention, determines your success.

⁃ Many people intend to spend more time with their family, to be less scattered at work, to manage their time better, to ensure their top priories get accomplished, but they haven’t found a strategy to get them to that place.

⁃Set goals and prioritize what truly matters.

⁃Stretch yourself and dream big.

⁃Be open minded, but, stay focused on what truly matters.

1. Learn from the past – but forget the bad times, sorrow and regrets – You can’t change what has happened up to now, but you can determine what happens from now on. *admit

2. Live in the present – Make the most of every moment, don’t take life or yourself too serious and make as many memories as you can. Always be a work in progress – always growing and ever learning. *forget

3. Believe for the Future – Reach for what’s ahead. Set goals and prioritize what truly matters. Stretch yourself, dream big, be open minded, and stay focused on what truly matters. *reach

3 Declarations to Declare:

1. I’m not what my past represents; I’m what God has promised and my future holds.

2. I’m not what I’ve done in the past; I’m what God has done in Christ Jesus for me!

3. I’m not what others have said I am; I’m who God’s word says I am in Christ!

Prayer of Declaration…

I am a living being created in the image of God. I am created for His creative purposes. I am redeemed by His Redemtive Power. I am blood bought and heaven bound. I will walk in the fullness of what God has for me! I will fulfill my purpose and reach my destiny. I am loved, I am forgiven, and I am justified! I have no reason to worry, fear, or doubt. I trust God sees all, and knows what’s best. I am a masterpiece of God’s Grace, created to walk in the good works He has prepared for me. I am a child of God! I am loved! I am forgiven! I am whole! Nothing missing. Nothing Lacking. I will learn from the past. I will live in the present. I will believe for the future. I believe the future will be better, and produce more than my past, or my present! I thank God for what He’s done, I thank God for what He’s doing, and I thank God for what He’s going to do!

Wait a Minute!

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

Sometimes the will of a God might mean waiting. I know, I don’t like it either. Nonetheless, I want to remind you, that you can’t trust the timing of God. This year, like always, in reflection of Christmas, I’m reading the accounts recorded in the gospels that tell us the stories of the birth of Christ. While reading these accounts, a few things have stuck out to me, surrounding the birth of Christ:

1. The timing of God reveals there is a “due season” that reveals the purpose of the thing God has promised.

2. When you “trust” the timing of God, it will give you peace, while the will of God is working behind the scenes, waiting to be revealed.

3. If the thing you desire to see happen doesn’t happen in your time frame, believe God knows all things and sees all things and He will bring it to pass at the exact and perfect time.

Most theologians believe it was somewhere around 400 years between the prophecy of the promised child to be born and the appearance of the Angel declaring to the Virgin Mary that she would bring forth a son that would be that promised Messiah. That’s a long wait, waiting for a promise to be fulfilled. But what this tells me is that even the arrival of God in the flesh, had a due season. In the gospel accounts that record the story of the Christ child, we see the timing of God being revealed in a sequence of events that unfold, bringing the promise to pass. It also demonstrates the trust it took for Mary and Joseph and Elizabeth and Zacharias to surrender, obey or believe that what was happening, was of God.

The appearing of the Angel declaring the promise of God. Mary had to trust the Angel of the Lord that she would miraculously conceive the promised child. The doubts the Joseph must have been experiencing when the Angel of the Lord showed up to him, declaring that that child in his fiancée’s womb was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Joseph had to trust the Angel of the Lord when declared the child in Mary was born of the Holy Spirit. There were many scenarios that required trust. Joseph had to trust Mary. Mary had to trust herself. Their friends and family had to trust them both. They all had to trust the Lord. There was also the census which led them to Bethlehem, the city of David, and the flight to Egypt which led them to Nazareth. They had to trust the timing of their journey, that had to trust that God was leading them in a timely manner to where they needed to be, when they needed to be there.

In Matthew’s gospel in regards to the birth of Christ, he starts with the genealogy of Jesus. John declares that Jesus was the word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Mark say that Jesus is that Son and John will declare his way and writes of John the declarer and Baptizer. In the gospel of Luke he addresses the beginning of his writing to Theophilus and states that he will give an accurate and detailed account of this event. He begins with the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist. They had been faithful in serving God and had prayed believing God for a child. They had waited so long that Elizabeth was now beyond child bearing years. Zacharias was in the temple when the Angel of the Lord showed up and said the Lord has heard your prayer and Elizabeth will bear a child. Zacharias and Elizabeth had to trust the angel of the Lord, and they had to trust the timing of God.

Don’t despise a divine delay. Elizabeth and Zacharias had believed God for a child for so long, their dreamed had died. In the natural, they were beyond child bearing years, but in the supernatural, God made her womb awaken and she gave birth to what they had believed for! The purpose of God will be fulfilled in God’s time. John the Baptist had a purpose. It was prophesied that He would be the forerunner of Christ and that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb. When Mary entered the house, John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb. You can trust the timing of God, because He sees what you can’t see and He knows what you don’t know. If Elizabeth and Zacharias would have had John the Baptist when they wanted a child, he would have been born out of season. He would have been an adult when Jesus was born. Instead, he was a baby in the womb of Elizabeth and leaped while being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The story of Mary and Joseph and Zacharias and Elizabeth are encouraging because they remind us that while we are waiting, God is working! As a matter of fact, it was when the angel of the Lord revealed to Mary that her relative Elizabeth was with child, that it encouraged Mary to trust the Lord and say, “nevertheless Lord at your word may it be so.” Here’s the passage that shows us with God all things are possible and that we too, can trust the timing of God.

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” -Luke‬ ‭1:26-38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What does this tell us…

– You can trust God with your future that may be uncertain, difficult, or unknown.

– You can trust God when you’re faced with an inconvenience.

– You can trust God when things don’t make sense.

– You can trust God when others don’t understand.

– You can trust God when He shows up unexpectedly and surprises you.

… What do you need to trust God with today?

A Forgetful Reach

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog, Messages

A Forgetful Reach

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. –Phil 3:13-14

Paul says, he forgets what’s behind and reaches for what’s ahead. He is saying he has not yet arrived or attained, but he is reaching upward toward the heavenly call in Christ Jesus. I call this a forgetful reach! A forgetful reach helps us forget about what we can’t change and reach for what we can do something about. The only thing we should truly remember is God’s faithfulness and grace over our lives.

A Forgetful Reach…

1. Reaches for what matters and forgets about what doesn’t matter.

2. Remembers what needs to be remembered and forgets what needs to be forgotten.

3. Let’s go of what’s behind and reaches for what’s ahead.

4. Focuses on things that will lift you up, not on things that will drag you down.

5. Doesn’t rehearse; what it’s trying to forget.

6. Releases what needs to be released, so it can receive what needs to be received.

7. Doesn’t just see things the way they are; it sees things they way they can be, different!

Consider Your Ways

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

Psalm 139:1-10
Proverbs 4:23-27
*Haggai 1:5-*7 *“Consider your ways”
Ephesians 5:15-17

Consider: to take into account or to think about carefully: a: to think of especially with regard to taking some action to change.
– take into account
– think about carefully
– to think about in regard to taking action to change

Ways: *way, *road, *distance, *journey, *passenger, manner, path, way of course or course of life, *moral character, *habits. (fig. or lit.)

– *way: way of life, way of doing things, way of thinking, way of dealing with others, way of handling issues, way of saying things, way of handling stress, way of dealing with problems.
– *road: the road you are traveling, road of life, road that gives you access: interchanges, exit ramps, detours.
– distance: how far have you come? I’ve come to far to turn back, there’s more in front of me than behind me. If your going the wrong way it doesn’t matter how far you’ve come, it’s not too late to turn around.
– journey: are you enjoying the journey? It’s not about arriving at a destination it’s about enjoying the process of the journey and learning from every moment.
– passenger: who’s with you? who’s helping you? who are you connected with? Why?
– moral character: what do you tolerate? what did you stand for?
– habits: what habits help? what habits hinder?

7 Things to Consider When Considering:

1. Is the direction I’m heading the direction I really want to go?

2. Are the choices I’m making producing the results I desire?

3. Are the people in my life hindering me or helping me?

4. Are my daily habits helping me become the person I desire to be?

5. What do I need to do differently to experience something different, that will make a difference?

6. What have I allowed to hinder me that I already have the power to overcome?

7. Am I putting God, His Word, and His way of doing things first in my life?

Forgive and Forget

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

When you read Philippians 3:13 Paul says, he forgets whats behind him and does his best to reach for what is ahead of him. In verse fourteen he goes on to say that he runs straight toward all that Christ Jesus has laid hold of for him. This is a good formula that he establishes for us. One that we could all follow: 1. Forget what’s behind you. 2. Reach for whats ahead of you and 3. Run toward what Christ has obtained for you to possess. The process of forgetting is not always easy. Nonetheless, you must forget on purpose. In other words, if you are going to forget it’s not going to happen by accident, its going to happen on purpose. If you forget where you put your phone, your wallet, or your keys, thats by accident, not on purpose. If you are going to forget a wrong, or a fault, or a hurt. You are going to have to do that on purpose and here’s how: You can forget on purpose by replacing the thoughts of the fault or the wrong with another thought. A positive thought, a scripture, or a prayer. You can also forget on purpose by not rehearsing it. Thats right! The more you talk about it, the more you will think about it. And, the more you think about it, the more you will talk about it. Stop the cycle and let it go! Jesus forgave so that we could forgive, forget, and be forgiven. *(Lk 24) Some of last few words He spoke were words of forgiveness: He forgave the thief on the cross… “this day you will be with me in paradise.” He said, “Father forgive them do they know not what they are doing.” This statement is interesting because there are many times when people are probably vindictive and purposeful with their actions or deeds of hurt and hate. But not always. I believe there are many times when people don’t even realize that what they are doing or saying is hurtful. Jesus covers that when He says, “forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” I believe the next statement of Christ explains how He felt and that He was experiencing. Remember, Jesus wasn’t dying to be forgiven of His sins, He was dying so that we might be forgiven of our sins. Nevertheless in His next statement He said this, “Into thy hands I commit my *spirit” *(pneuma: deep part of one’s being). In other words, publicly, He committed Himself into the hands and care of His Father who cared for Him. I believe Jesus made was difficult, awkward, and private, a public matter. He did this so that we might be empowered. Remember, “Forgiveness doesn’t minimize the fault of the offender, it brings freedom to the offended.” It’s difficult to forgive when you can’t forget. And, it’s difficult to forget, when you can’t forgive. These two crucibles are linked to one another. If you want to freedom you must learn the art of forgiving and forgetting. Forget about what’s behind you and reach for whats ahead of you. Run towards everything that Christ has laid hold of for you:  Salvation, healing, peace, joy, strength, hope, and forgiveness. Forgive those that don’t deserve it. Forgive those that do. Forgive and forget! It’s easy, but it is worth it! Why is it so difficult to forgive and forget?

5 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Forgive and Forget:

1. You feel like you are letting the person off the hook or minimizing the fault.

2. You want to rehearse and nurse the fault, instead of releasing it while being empowered, liberated, and healed.

3. You want to talk about it; therefore you can’t forget about it, and, no one else can either.

4. You verbalize it because you want others to know what you’ve experienced and how you feel.

5. You want to get back at or at least allow the offender to feel what you have felt and are dealing with internally.

Here are 5 Ways to Forgive and Forget: 

  1. “Confess forgiveness not the fault.”
  2. “Release it, don’t rehearse it.”
  3. “Don’t take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and He will make it right.” (Proverbs‬ ‭20:22‬ ‭GNT‬‬)
  4. “Take it out of your hands and put it in God’s hands.”
  5. “Deal with conviction and rebuke condemnation.”

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ.”

*Christ was convicted and condemned by man. But, He was accepted by God.
(He was convicted and condemned undeservingly. So we wouldn’t receive the condemnation we deserved. We are accepted by God through Christ). He forgave and forgot so that we could be redeemed by grace through faith. He is our example and we must do the same; we must forgive and forget.

It’s hard to forget when you are feeling condemnation or conviction. It’s difficult to forgive when you can’t forget. That’s why: Conviction has to be resolved and Condemnation has to be rebuked.

The cross says there is now no Condemnation for those who belong to Christ.

  • Conviction comes from God through the Holy Spirit.
  • Condemnation comes from the devil, self, and other people.

 

  • Conviction corrects something that’s not right in your life.
  • Condemnation puts you down and makes you feel guilty, miserable and ashamed.

 

  • Conviction is from God’s love for you and His desire to help you be better.
  • Condemnation is from Satan’s hatred and his desire to make you miserable.

 

  • Conviction is specific.
  • Condemnation is general.

 

  • Conviction has a solution from it’s source.
  • Condemnation has no end from it’s source. (It’s only end is found in Christ)

The cross empowers us to conquer our convictions and cast down our condemnations. It Give us the power to forgive and forget.

 

The God who knows everything chooses to forget. “I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs.” (Hebrews 8:12) #forgetit #2018

Ask God for the power and grace to forgive and forget! Conviction comes from God to help you. Condemnation is not from God. It comes from satan, self, and from others. You are not to condemn or live under condemnation. Forgive and forget and live at peace with God, your self, and others. Forgive them and Forget it!