GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD YOUNG ADULT CELLS JULY 2005

FACING THE FUTURE CONFIDENTLY Member’s Notes

12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold
Learning Outcomes:
of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But
Understanding, Attitude
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 Objective:
called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. At the end of this lesson, you will be
Phil 3:12-14 able to:
• Understand 3 principles from the
text that is helpful for life ahead
I. Introduction • Evaluate your present state and
make plans for growth.
We all live in a fast-paced and ever-changing society. In the next few years, • Possess a greater confidence in
all of us will be transiting out young adult life to face a brave new world. I facing the future
do not know what the world will become. Could terrorism triumph and the
world becomes increasingly polarized by religious fundamentalism? Could
deadly diseases of epidemic proportion spread or natural disasters of
catastrophic magnitude strike that will put an end to the type of life as we
know it today?

Well, my intention is not to paint a bleak future for you. But the fact is that
many of us will have to face rising demands and expectations from all
sectors of society. Apart from grappling with technological changes every few
years, we will have to work much harder in order to compete in this
globalized economy. Are you prepared to face the prospects of working for
the next 40 years of your life? Can you truly say that your best years are
ahead of you? Do you face the future confidently and with great expectancy?

Answer the following questions truthfully:

What is my outlook for the future? Is it one of optimism and excitement or
one of apprehension and uncertainty? Do I know the reason/s why I have
such an outlook for the future?

I believe that we can make each year count for the Lord instead of
wandering around in the desert like the Israelites. Today, we will study
Philippians 3:12-14 and learn 3 principles from Apostle Paul on how we can
face the future confidently.

Member’s Notes
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GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD YOUNG ADULT CELLS JULY 2005

i. K
n
o
w
I keep asking that the God of our
T Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
h Father, may give you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, so that you
a may know him better.
t Eph 1:17

Y ‘‘So then, King Agrippa, I was not

o disobedient to the vision from
heaven. First to those in Damascus,
u then to those in Jerusalem and in all
H Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I
preached that they should repent
a and turn to God and prove their
v repentance by their deeds.
Acts 26:19-20
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B. Paul has a life purpose in Christ.

i) What is the “this” and “that” (in verse 12) and the “goal” (in
verse 14) that Paul was talking about?

ii) Read Eph 1:17. What was Paul’s one consuming purpose in
this prayer?

iii) Read Acts 26:19-20. What is the vision that Paul was referring
to? What was his one consuming purpose in these verses?

iv) Paul’s life purpose can be summed up in one sentence: Member’s Notes
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GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD YOUNG ADULT CELLS JULY 2005

C. What are my life purposes?

i) What are some ways in which God reveal himself?

ii) How can we know God’s will for our lives?

i. E
I know what it is to be in need, and I
v know what it is to have plenty. I
a have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation,
l whether well fed or hungry, whether
u living in plenty or in want.
Phi 4:12
a
t SOME HELPING QUESTIONS:
e Am I satisfied with my life now? Am
I moving forward to achieve my
Y goals in life? Am I growing
o spiritually? Is there anything that I
can do better? Have I seek God
u wholeheartedly and let Him rule and
r reign in my life? Am I a better
person this year compared to last
P year? Do people see me and say that
r I have been a blessing to them? Am I
being transformed by the Word of
e God daily? Is my service to Him
s equivalent to the gifts and abilities
that He has given me? Do I know of
e some needs that I can meet yet did
n not meet?
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D. Paul has a healthy dissatisfaction about his spiritual
Member’s Notes
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GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD YOUNG ADULT CELLS JULY 2005

attainment.
i) Read Phi 4:12. What does this tell us about Paul’s perspectives to
things in life?

ii) In Phi 3:12a and 13a, Paul gives us his evaluation of his own
spiritual attainment. What do you think were the reasons that
Paul was dissatisfied with his spiritual attainment?

E. What is my present state?

i) In order for us to be able to move forward, we need to
constantly take stock of our life.

ii) In evaluating our present state, we need to be ruthlessly

honest with ourselves. Humans have a tendency to be lenient
with ourselves and tough on others.

Member’s Notes
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GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD YOUNG ADULT CELLS JULY 2005

i. D
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F. Paul did not let his past hinder him from moving forward.
i) Forgetting the past does not mean amnesia or white-
washing.

ii) Paul has quite a terrible past. Why do you think Paul
describes himself as the chief of sinners in passages such as 1
Tim 1:16?

iii) Paul could have walked around all his life with a tremendous
burden of guilt but he didn’t.

G. What about our past?

i) Our past can cripple us from fulfilling our potential and goals
in life.

ii) The good can also become the enemy of the best.

ACTION TIME!! i. C
Write on the spaces on the right, your reflections on the following: o
1) What is/are the purpose/s for my life? n
2) What is my present state? Am I moving forward to accomplish
those purposes or do I feel like running in circles? What are somec
of the things that I must do in order to better prepare for thel Member’s Notes
future? page 5 of 6
3) Is there anything in the past that is hindering me from moving
forward?

Share these thoughts with one or two friends and pray for each other.
GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD YOUNG ADULT CELLS JULY 2005

Member’s Notes
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