“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What is Paul “straining forward” toward? What is he forgetting that lies behind him? And what does an often overlooked story from the Torah have to do with this?

Let’s talk about it!

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This verse is about the burden of betrayal. But what is most challenging is that this verse talks about betrayal as something given to us by God to test us.

Let’s talk about it!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Paul’s prayer at the close of this chapter of his letter to the Ephesian Believers is simple: if God can extend His love to all humanity - Jew and Gentile alike - there is nothing His love can’t do.

Let’s talk about it!

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our God is not a god who dwells on mountain tops. He isn’t a god who requires us to build Him houses to dwell in. Our God is a god who creates a world for us to live in: a place for us to worship Him.

Let’s talk about it!

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:24‬ ESV

Are you aware that the words you speak today can literally bring physical health to those around you? Or on the other hand, they can bring physical sickness to others? Your words can bring life or death.

Let’s talk about it!

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Be honest: you’ve prayed and asked God to work in a specific situation, and nothing worked out the way you asked. Does this make Jesus a liar? In other words - what does it means when we ask and don’t receive what we asked for? When we seek and don’t find what we’re looking for? When we knock and the doors stay shut?

Let’s talk about it!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Too often, I’ve heard this verse taught as if it’s supposed to be about our faith in a God who has to obey our wishes. That isn’t even what this verse is about. It’s about trusting our Heavenly Father when He answers our prayers in ways we don’t understand.

Let’s talk about it!

And he said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you were to stand before God Almighty, and He judged your success or failure based upon this verse, what would be the outcome?

Let’s talk about it!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What does it mean to “fear God?” And why is hat the beginning of wisdom?

Let’s talk about it!

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Satan’s chief areas of attack are pride and worry. We must guard ourselves from these attacks. And this is especially true for pastors.

Let’s talk about it!