Putting the Past in the Past

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Putting the Past in the Past

• Philippians 313,14

2
Joseph
Bill
David
Phil Ruth
Naaman
Saul of Tarsus
Mark
Peter
Steve
Conquering the Past
Refused to be locked in the past
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SinsLeft in the Past

• Leave past sins in the past

Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, I press toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.
Philippians 313,14
4
Reacting to the Past

• How do I react to past joys and sorrows?
• WISE patient and trusting in God.
• FOOL impatient, angry, cynical wants to control
  lifes events. Cannot trust God or men.
• Lessons necessary for godly, balanced,
  productive, fulfilling lives.

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Putting the Past in the Past Applies to

• Prosperity and adversity
• Family relationships
• Seeking and offering forgiveness

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Prosperity and Adversity

• Trust God to guide the unfolding of lifes events

The end of a thing is better than its beginning
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in
spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not
say, "Why were the former days better than
these?" For you do not inquire wisely concerning
this.
Ecclesiastes 78-10
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The End of a Thing Is Better

• Prosperity and adversity.
• Trust God to guide the unfolding of lifes
  eventsfrom bud to bloom.

Cattleyea Orchid
8
From Bud to Bloom Cranberries
bud swell
tight bud
cabbagehead
bud break
bud elongation
roughneck
hook
bloom
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Inc.
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The End of a Thing Is Better

• Prosperity and adversity.
• Trust God to guide the unfolding of lifes
  eventsfrom worm to butterfly.

CaterpillarCocoonMonarch Butterfly
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Prosperity and Adversity

• God has appointed the one as well as the other.

Consider the work of God For who can make
straight what He has made crooked? In the day of
prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity
consider Surely God has appointed the one as
well as the other, So that man can find out
nothing that will come after him.
Ecclesiastes 713,14
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Prosperity and Adversity

• How do we react to adversity?
• Abraham grew tired of waiting. He came up with
  his own solutions, then faced the consequences.
• Genesis 152-4offered Eliezer as heir
• Genesis 161-3offered Ishmael as heir
• Genesis 211-3God worked His plan in His own
  time!

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Prosperity and Adversity

• Moses and Israel waited on God

And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid.
Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,
which He will accomplish for you today. For the
Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again
no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and
you shall hold your peace.
Exodus 1413-14
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Prosperity and Adversity

• Paul prayed, and God gave him strength to endure
  his trials

... And He said to me, My grace is sufficient
for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather
boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in
persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 127-10
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Prosperity and Adversity

• How do we react to adversity?
• Leave the past and future in Gods hands.
• Concern yourself with today.
• Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
  tomorrow will worry about its own things.
  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
  Matthew 634

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Prosperity and Adversity

• How do we react to prosperity?
• James 117rejoice and give thanks to God.
• Job 121Use your prosperity in service to God
  when it is past, thank Him and move on.
• Leave the past and the future in Gods hands.