4 points in a Baptist sermon...oh my!

I wanted to share with you, as we enter into the year 2010 (twenty-ten), what I learned today...well, what I've been learning in the past 6 months especially...as the pastor at MBC summed it up exactly in his 30 minutes at the pulpit. The pastor used 3 verses from a letter written by Paul the Apostle, used as encouraging words, to close out the year of 2009....

Philippians 3:12-14 says:
"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. 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."

There are 4 (yes, four - quite the joke this morning when the pastor said he was going over the normal 3 point sermon in a Baptist Church - he reassured us we were still sitting in a Baptist Church ... maybe you had to be there for it to be funny...) points that Paul is trying to teach us in these 3 verses:

1. Acknowledge that you are a work in progress - This is something that has been especially important in my life to acknowledge - as for many years I thought I was "above" the need for God in my life, but now I know how low I actually was during those times, and that I need him throughout the good and the bad. Also, the pastor stressed the importance of not getting down on yourself if you don't see a big improvement in your faith in a certain time period, as it is a stepping stone, and there may be some times where you grow quickly, and others where you grow slowly...but surely!

2. God has a plan for your life, one special and unique to yourself - All of Christ's body fit together, but we are all unique and have a different relationship with Christ...but we are all in it together. (So be good to your brothers and sisters in Christ!)

3. Don't focus on the past, but look to what is to come - this is probably the biggest lesson I had to learn to deal with in order to move past my old ways, and be able to move forward in my relationship with Christ. It's not that easy, especially when there are people in your life that judge you for your old ways, even though you don't participate in those ways anymore [...even though it was (and is, sometimes) hard, those people are not helpful in your life, as they won't help you move on.] The pastor used driving a car as an analogy, where we're supposed to be looking at the road, but every 15 seconds or so you need to check the rearview mirror. So for 14 seconds we should be looking forward, and for 1 second you need to look back. Therefore, he emphasized that we can't dwell on the past, but we have to look to it and remember it, in order to move forward (and perhaps learn from the mistakes you did in the past and not repeat them). I used to dwell on the fact that I had not lived up to God's expectations in my life...although, to most of my friends, I was still being a "goody-two-shoes", I have since learned that even those "small" ways of being disobedient to God's Word, are enough to taint your relationship with Christ and will stop you from having a clear conscience with Christ. I have repented for those sins, and have moved forward, but sometimes I find it hard not to dwell on them and think I am not worthy of being the object of God's affection. However, I reassure myself that I am on a better road, one heading towards Christ now, and that I do not need to dwell on those times I'm not always so proud of - but I do know they have been learning experiences for me, and I am who I am today because of those lessons.

4. Be intentional about being committed to Christ - This was his last point, and there were the 3 D's the pastor used during his sermon that I think fit best in this section (even though he used it throughout). Determination, Dedication, and Discipline were the three words the pastor used as a way to help us in living an intentional and committed life in Christ. Those 3 D's are very intense words, and mean a lot, but are definitely what I am striving for in my life and journey with Christ. He compared two types of Christians, and I can only remember the Committed Christian, but cannot remember the other name he used...but sometimes I wish I could go inside the head of a Christian who isn't necessarily committed to living out Christ's will in their life to know what they are thinking, especially when it comes to today's sermon, which was very impactful for me, who I consider myself to be a committed Christian.

I'm not quite doing justice to what the pastor said, but it was interesting that he basically summed up what I've been learning, in exactly the words that I needed to hear, in order to fully understand what God has been teaching me.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the words that you gave to the pastor today. Thank you for speaking through him in order for me to understand what I have been learning and striving to live like over the past months. I pray that I will live my life, from this day forward, committed to you. I will do this by: being determined to live my life for you through my actions, thoughts, and words; by being dedicated to seeking your Will through prayer, study, and worship; and by being disciplined to take time to spend with you on a daily basis, as you are much more important than all of the busyness of today's world. I pray that you will help me with this, and walk alongside me, and help me to succeed in this for the year 2010, as well as years to come. I pray these things in your holy and precious name, Amen.