Moving Forward

 The longer you hold on to the past, the farther the future of your dream. The past and the future are separated by the present.

Start looking forward to whatever you desire. The desire you deserve comes at the moment you are ready to let go the past disappointments. The Lord said to Samuel, “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1

Looking forward, moving forward; You will reach your goal in Jesus name.

GO FOR GOALS

Reverend G. S. Adeyemo 

Determine and pay the price of attaining Jesus’ standard of reaching your goal. Determination through the power of the Holy Spirit makes a believer stronger and better till he reaches the perfection Jesus set for us.

“12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

INTRODUCTION

The Super Eagles began their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a shaky note with a lone goal victory over Burundi.  Considering how crucial the next game was to qualifying for the next round, the Nigerian Coach knowing the passion of Nigerians charged the team to “Go for goals” in their next matches. 

Christians must do everything needed to go for their God-given goals in the journey of life.   Everyone here on earth has one set target or the other.  The ultimate goal is attaining the full stature of Christ Jesus. To reach this goal, you need to observe the following principles: 

1. Desire to Know More: Paul did not consider himself as one who had attained complete spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ. He desires to know more. Prov. 15:14, 18:15; 2 Pet. 3:18; Eccl. 7:12; Prov. 4:5; 2 Pet. 1: 5

2. Develop Your Spirit-man: This is an area many of us battles with several things in our life. It is so frustrating to know what is right and still not be able to manage to do it.  Romans 7:18; Prov. 25:27-28; 1 Tim. 3:2-3; Titus 2:11-12

 3. Determine to Reach the Goal:  Determination is the strength that carries you through the path of success in the midst of obstacles. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3: 13b-14

George Lorimer says "You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction."  Determination is the ability to make difficult decisions and accomplish God's goals based on the truths of God's word. 

 When you are determined to succeed, you develop and progress, even if the result is not what was expected. Our determination needs to be governed by righteous desire, commitment, and dedication to God's principles. Be determined to succeed.  Determination is the strength Romans 15:4; Ruth 1:16-18; Phil. 3:12-14; Daniel 1:8 that carries you through the path of success in the midst of obstacles.  With determination, you remain focused on your goals and are resilient under problems, obstacles, distractions, oppositions, persecutions with conviction.  This is a resolve to reaching or achieving your heart desire no matter what may be the price. 

Looking at Paul’s statements in the passage, he said, “But one thing I do: Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead...” v 13b. Forgetting means to neglect, to put behind, not to consider as necessary for the sake of where you are going or what you are aiming at getting. If you don't forget the offense of that man or woman against you, you cannot achieve your desired goal. Many prayers are not answered because you are holding on to the past. You are depreciating because you are tied to the past. I challenge you to forget that past so you can move forward. No one holds on to the past and ever progress in life. Isaiah 43: 18. Living in the past is a devil’s weapon of tying down destiny. 

Fixing your mind means you strain, stretch, strive, squeeze your worldly comfort and freedom so you can get there. Determine and pay the price of attaining Jesus’ standard of reaching your goal. Determination through the power of the Holy Spirit makes a believer stronger and better till he reaches the perfection Jesus set for us.

Conclusion: Trials may come, temptations may surround you but the Lord will give you all it takes to reach your goals in Jesus name

I pray that the Lord will hold you and lead you through your hurdles till you get to the level God set before you in Jesus name

THE ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOUR

 Christ is all-sufficient for every believer who truly trust in Him and ready to serve Him faithfully. When the Gospel is sincerely preached, Jesus Christ glorify Himself in the life of the preacher and the hearers.

 Revd G. S. Adeyemo

An Introduction to the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians

Theme Text: Colossians 2: 9, 10
Author: The author introduces himself as Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ. Apostle, is a compound Greek word "apo" and "stello," meaning "from" and "to send," In other words, a messenger with a specific assignment or task.  He is conferred with the authority of the one who send him rather than the use of this word as a title with unquestionable control over other believers. The author of the Book of Hebrews uses this term in Hebrews 3: 1 and 2 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” This passage is in reference to the function of Jesus Christ as God’s special Messenger. Titus is referred to as messenger in 1 Corinthians 8: 23 “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ”  Some other references in the New Testament are Matt 10:2 Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2; Philippians 2: 25.
Apostle Paul referring to himself as an Apostle is a way of introducing his humble assignment as a messenger instead of lording himself on the people of God in Colosse. “Paul sought to develop personal connections with the people he hoped to teach and serve, rather than just going around from city to city asserting his apostolic authority.” - Chuck Swindoll.
Today, many leaders are disconnected from their followers because of overblown ego. Position of authority is an opportunity to serve the less privileged instead of exploiting them. If you will succeed in that position where God has put you, be ready to serve others. Jesus said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:” Matthew 20: 25-27; Mark 10: 42- 44
Audience: -The message from Apostle Paul was sent to the saints and faithful brethren in Colosse. Colosse was a small village where those believers in Christ gathered to worship. Paul’s decision to identify with this small congregation was borne out of the love he has for the souls that he was sent to save and his desire to obey the voice of God who sent him.
Purpose: -Bible scholars believe that by the first century A.D. Colosse was diminished to a second-rate market town, which had been surpassed long before in power and importance by the neighbouring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis. Epaphras had been converted and had carried the gospel to Colosse Col. 1:7-8; Acts 19:10. The young growing church became a target for the false teachers. Members were given strange teachings that were already taking them away from the truth. Typical among them was Gnosticism. They claimed to have special knowledge.
They felt that they were the people with superior understanding and deeper mysteries about God than the apostles. They taught people that except you accept their own wisdom or belong to their sect, you are inferior.  These teachers discredited God’s direct creation acts. Another aspect of their false teachings is asceticism and unrestrained licentiousness. Therefore Epaphras needed the intervention of Paul in combating those false teachings by the false teachers. Paul therefore exalts Christ as the very image of God Col. 1:15, the Creator Col. 1:16, the pre-existent sustainer of all things Col. 1:17, the head of the Church Col. 1:18, the first to be resurrected Col. 1:18, the fullness of deity in bodily form Col. 1:19; 2:9 and the reconciler Col. 1:20-22 Thus Christ is completely adequate. We "have been given fullness of life in Christ" Col. 2:10.
Lessons for today 
1. Paul is mindful of the mandate he has as delegated by the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Colossian Christians caught the attention of Paul out of his love for the kingdom business rather than personal comfort.
3. Christ is all-sufficient for very believer who truly trust in Him and ready to serve Him faithfully. When the Gospel is sincerely preached, Jesus Christ glorify Himself in the life of the preacher and the hearers.