Forget those things that are behind

By Pastor Peter Linnecar
It doesn't matter what anyone says, we focus on Jesus Christ. We need to forget those things behind and press towards the mark of the high calling in Jesus and we don't go back.
As we go forward, and as we lift up his name, and as we get used to the openness of sharing our faith that God has given us, so it will be that others will discover the life of Jesus Christ and who he is, for themselves.
Without God, without his life inside by the power of his holy sprit, there's nothing. There's an attempt to get the answer for Christ. There's an attempt to fill up that emptiness inside but you haven't. Inside it is only Jesus inside, that sets them free.
Acts 3:1-11 (show/hide)

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

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It dawned on Peter that the holy spirit, the spirit of truth and power, to be a witness was inside him. And God in the way he worked things out, caused that man to be a living testimony.
Acts 4:13 (show/hide)

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

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Acts 4:14-22 (show/hide)

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

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If you're a Christian here tonight, we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Acts 5:17-18 (show/hide)

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

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They had to act. There was no way they could shut these people up. And they thought right we'll put them in prison'. Don't think that only happened then. Jesus Christ is alive today; he's a miracle working God. It's the same God, the same father, the same holy spirit.
And they put them in prison.
Acts 5:19-20 (show/hide)

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

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"All the words of this life". What are we talking about here? We're talking about the difference between life and death. "Tell them all the words of this life". In your life, what God is going to be doing more than you've ever seen before, is create those opportunities where you will share with someone or other, or someone will come to your mind. Why? Because God's alive. Because he's building his church because that's why he died and rose again. He died for the sin of the whole world.
The angel was definitive: "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
Acts 5:21-33 (show/hide)

21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

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Acts 3:14-15 (show/hide)

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

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The Jesus Christ who is inside you and caught your attention and made you stop going this way; he's shown you his salvation, and you're walking the other way; it's chalk and cheese. I think we sometimes underestimate what is going on in our lives.
Acts 5:33-39 (show/hide)

33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

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You can't overthrow what God does. You can't stand in the way of his purposes. You can't overthrow something which God has initiated. The work that God has started in your life, he's going to complete. He doesn't take you on and then just leave you. Not at all! That which he starts, he finishes. His whole life, 30 years, and then the 3 years, when he gave up his life on the cross, it was as if that was it; failure! Ah, but his mission was complete. And yet, when he rose from the dead, he conquered death and sin in your life, he conquered the power of death and by his holy spirit, the prince of life is alive, right here, tonight. And that which he begins he completes. If it be of God, Gamaliel said, you can't overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:40 (show/hide)

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

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Don't think "I've done my bit for God." Not at all.
Acts 5:41-42 (show/hide)

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

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Who is it God is bringing across your path? God has given you the faith to give to others, anyone that God draws across your path. No way did they sit down and think "that's it". They didn't pray for the opposition to be silenced, they prayed for more boldness! What is that foundation? It's Him. Wow, so if he's my foundation, he has purposes for me to walk into. He has good things for me to walk into and I want to do what he wants in my life. And I want to be committed to his word.
They rejoiced, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
No greater love hath no man than he who lays down his life for his friends.
He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He intercedes for us at the right hand of God and he always will do. There is coming a time that Jesus is coming for his people and his church.
What God has started in your life he is going to complete. And what God has placed in your life, life itself, he is going to use you to be the channel to reach out to others. Don't ever think "Well, he can't be saved." No! When he hung on the cross, he thought "You weren't too bad or an impossibility for him to reach to." He took into himself everything that would oppose your going forward in life. He took away everything that would thwart you from being a person that would outwork his purposes in his life.

The Lord is Your Helper

Hebrews 12:1-2

Deuteronomy 9:1-2

It was a known proverb. Who can stand against the children of Anak? And that proverb often took root in the minds and hearts of the children of Israel, just questioning, how on earth are we going to overcome these people!? Who can stand against the children of Anak? And sometimes in our lives we get to the situation where it’s possible that fear might grip your heart because you’re facing a situation or it’s something you’re facing and the enemy of your soul wants you to be gripped by fear.

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Caleb heard this proverb. It was widely known. And when you hear something, what the enemy of your heart wants to do is to grip it with fear. It’s as if you become paralyzed in the headlights; you can’t move. Perfect love casts out fear.

You and I have to remain focused. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. And the opposite of fear is perfect love and Jesus dispels fear.

Not just this week, but for our whole life, my heart is not going to be afraid because of who God is and what he is going to complete in my life.

There was a promise made to Caleb.

Deuteronomy 31:4-7

I’m going to keep my focus on the Lord God. Caleb had a different spirit.

Numbers 32:12

You and I have the choice in our life to go forwards in the right way or not. We are free to make that choice. Before we are a Christian, the default of your life is sin. As a Christian, we have the option and the glorious power and strength of God so that we can go forwards and fulfil his will in our lives.

Joshua 14:6-10

Forty five years he’d been waiting for the fulfilment of the promise for the land he would have. During that time he didn’t doubt God. More importantly he didn’t become resentful that this thing wasn’t happening for him. He didn’t feel bitter that God had somehow forgotten him, as it were. But he wholly followed the Lord.

Joshua 14:11-12

His strength was undiminished. What I want to highlight to you this morning that the key thing was that his focus hadn’t altered. He wholly followed the Lord. Don’t discount this because it was in the Old Testament. We’re talking about a man’s relationship with God. But I’m emphasising to you that when we read about someone like Caleb who is a witness of how God interacts with an individual., how he takes an individual so carefully and nurses that life and that life in Caleb’s terms was one where he stayed focused, week in week out, and when others might have got blessed or there was something he heard about, as far as he was concerned, wholly he stayed focused. And in forty five years he still knew God was going to see him through.

Is there a mountain in your mind that you’ve been facing this week. Something that the enemy has said “you see that won’t work out” or “God will never provide for you in the way you thought he would” or “you’re never going to get blessed”. And the enemy will use anything he can to cause our hearts to be gripped by fear.

But God is faithful and he will complete the work he started in your life and this morning, the faith that is being communicated to you, as with Caleb, now therefore Lord, let’s go for it. I want to see you glorified because I want to bring glory to your name, because I am trusting you. In everything I am trusting you and until that day when I shall see you face to face after I have fulfilled my days on earth, all I want to do is to fulfil your purposes for my life. And I want to help others to fulfil the purposes for their lives.

“Give me this mountain Joshua.” God says.

Psalms 48:14

And Jesus in the New Testament he refers to “continue in my word and the truth shall make you free”. Our call is that we should continue steadfast in God.

With Caleb it was a case of “Joshua, don’t worry about the fact that this has still got to happen. I’m still relying on God to do this.”

Joshua 14:13-15

Hebrews 13:5-6

That is true of you this morning. The Lord is your helper. The Lord is your helper. Don’t fear what man can do to you. It might be in your workplace that you’re facing something that’s gripping people with fear at the moment. The Lord is my helper. It might be concerns about your family or your children or in your marriage. I will not fear what man shall do unto me because the Lord is my helper.

He is faithful and the one who has called me. I will not fear.

So Caleb possessed the area of the Anakins.

Joshua 15:16-20

There is something about having that focus in your life. You transmit it. But the key point is for us to stay focused; I’m going God’s way, I will not fear what man will do. In any situation in my life, I’m going forward in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:1-4

Verse 2: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. That’s focused. That’s Paul saying “This is the way to live and this is how you should go forwards in your life: Looking unto Jesus” By his holy spirit he lives inside you.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. He completed the work God sent him to do.

Mr Russell

John 6:53-56

This is the most wonderful union we can have. Day by day we walk by him. He’s inside you. He’s never going to leave you. You belong to him. You’ve become one with him. That is the first thing we remember as we come.

But there is another thing. When Jesus spoke to his disciples at the last supper, it used to be a supper to commemorate the deliverance out of Egypt. But Jesus said,” From this day on, whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, do this in remembrance of me”. For hundreds of years they had celebrated it to remember the deliverance from Egypt but now Jesus said “From now on, you do this to remember what I have done for you.” It was always a celebration meal. It was never meant to be me and Jesus alone, thank you Lord. It was never meant to be that. It was a meal.

The power is in your relationship with Jesus and in him. And because he lives in you, the power is in you. The power is not in the bread and wine, it’s in you! There is no mystic power in the food and drink. It was meant to be a celebratory meal to enjoy and to share together. In the acts of the apostles “and they broke bread with joy and gladness”. It’s a joyful time because we remember what Christ has done in us but also it’s a time to celebrate our one with Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:10

We give thanks to God for our relationship with Christ and our fellowship with one another. Let me say this, until you know that oneness with him, you will never understand oneness with one another. Until we get our focus on him, we won’t have fellowship with one another. You’ll only see the problems and the negativity. When I have a difficulty with someone, I can look at that person and say “he or she loves Jesus as much as I do and he or she has a longing and desire to serve him as much as I do, and therefore, we are one together”. This was very helpful in seeing past the problems and the difficulties.

When your walk with him is right, your walk with your brethren is right. And you’ll be able to see past all the problems and the negativity and see the unity.

Hebrews 12:2

The joy was us!

[Communion]

There should never be any condemnation in Jesus Christ and we should never feel condemned by one another. But now we can rejoice in what God has done for us. We are all brothers and sisters. By focusing on him and not on the negatives, that is how we love one another.

My place in the Bride of Christ

God has set us in His church, and He has a unique place for each one of us.

Hebrews 12:2

The one focus we have had, and will continue to have, is to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. God doesn’t start something He isn’t going to finish. He knows the ends from the beginning. And His initiatives are inviolate and certain. He knows what He is doing. He is preparing the Bride of Christ, the church.

I want to talk about the church – you and me as part of the Bride of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12

Everything has been sorted. He is seated at the right hand of God. Christ, in a sense, is made up of the members of His body worldwide. We’re part of the worldwide church of God.

1 Corinthians 12:13-18

Everybody has their part to play in the church of Christ. It’s exciting to examine the blossoming of an individual as they realise their potential to fulfil their place in the body of Christ. It’s marvellous, because, for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross. He conquered death and the power of sin. The prime thing on His mind was that you would be set free to be part of the Bride of Christ, the church. And you have a unique place in the church.

We looked with the children yesterday at careers and education. But the long term thing is for you and me to be functioning members of the church, fulfilling what God wants us to do.

1 Corinthians 12:18

It’s His pleasure to get it right, to fulfil His purposes in your life. And it’s as it has pleased Him for you to fulfil the part God wants for you in the living church. I’m not talking about any specific task. Each of us has our own specific part to play. The point is that everyone is a part of the church, and each of us has a part to play. There is definitely a specific role for each of us to play as we go forward as part of the worldwide church. But it’s as it pleases Him, and I want each of us to find what it is He wants.

1 Corinthians 12:19-26

The emphasis in verse 18 is that all this happens as it pleases Him. The emphasis in verse 25 is that the members should have the same care one for another. So when it comes across my path that Claus is fighting cancer and is due to have another operation in the week is to gather together and help.
Prays for Claus.

There is no schism in the body, no division. Think of your own body. You’re not going to fight yourself.

1 Corinthians 12:26-29


Collectively the body of Christ. In particular, members. And each person here is of value in the kingdom of God because He thought of you and gave His life for you. That’s how valuable you are to Him. He didn’t just pronounce a blessing. He gave His whole life so you could become part of the Bride of Christ and a member in particular.

It’s a tremendous time we’re living in – God is building His church in His way in His time, and He knows what He’s doing. He loves you, and more will come here and be part of His church. We’re not the only church in the world – we’re part of His church worldwide.