THE ASCENSION STRATEGY: 2026

FORGET AND PRESS FORWARD: THE ARCHITECTURE OF HIGHER GROUND

MESSAGE BY: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DEUTERONOMY 26–27

FIRE SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 50:15–21

MEMORY VERSE: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” — (PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14)

I. THE PARADOX OF MEMORY: WHAT TO HOLD AND WHAT TO RELEASE

As we step into this second day of March 2026, we must understand that the human mind is a battlefield of memories. Scripture gives us a dual mandate regarding our past. On one hand, we are commanded to “Remember.” Moses warned in Deuteronomy 8:11 not to forget the Lord; the Psalmist in Psalm 103:2 urged us to forget not His benefits, and Psalm 78:7 cautioned against forgetting His works. These are the anchors of our faith—the “Ebenezers” that remind us of God’s faithfulness.

However, there is a flip side to this spiritual coin. While we must remember God’s works, we are instructed to “Forget” our personal history—both the trophies and the tragedies—so that they do not become anchors that hold us back in shallow waters.

The Danger of Spiritual Nostalgia:

Many believers are paralyzed by “The Good Old Days.” They speak endlessly about how God used them in 1990, the miracles they witnessed a decade ago, or the zeal they once possessed. Yet, in 2026, their lives are stagnant. They have substituted current intimacy with God for historical anecdotes. If your yesterday is brighter than your today, you are facing the wrong direction.

II. THE PHILIPPIAN PROTOCOL: FORGETTING AS A WORK OF ART

The Apostle Paul, writing from a prison cell, revealed his secret to endurance: “This one thing I do…” Paul was a man with a heavy past. He had a resume of religious excellence as a Pharisee, but he also had a record of persecuting the Church. He had to “forget” his guilt to avoid despair, and he had to “forget” his pedigree to avoid pride.

1. Forgetting Past Achievements:

If you keep staring at the trophies on your shelf, you will lose the strength to run the race ahead. Past exploits cannot generate a fresh anointing. God’s mercies are not recycled; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). To experience the “Increasing Glory” of 2026, you must clear the mental space occupied by yesterday’s victories.

2. Forgetting Past Negative Experiences:

Unforgiveness and bitterness are heavy weights. In our Bible reading, we see Joseph’s brothers terrified that he would seek revenge after their father died. Joseph had every “legal” right to be bitter, but he chose the path of divine perspective. He realized that if he held onto the hurt of the pit and the prison, he would never enjoy the peace of the palace. He told them, “You thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”

III. A PERSONAL TESTIMONY AT 84

Today, March 2nd, marks a significant milestone in my life. By the special grace of God, I turn 84 today. People often ask me how I continue to travel, preach, and engage in the work of the Kingdom at this age. The secret is embedded in today’s topic: I refuse to hang on to the past.

I do not live on the miracles of the 80s or the growth of the 90s. I wake up every morning thirsting for a fresh encounter. I rely on the fact that God is still “The I Am”—present tense. Whether you are 18 or 84, the moment you stop pressing forward, you begin to stagnate. My birthday prayer today is not just for longevity, but for the “Higher Ground” that Paul spoke of.

IV. COMPREHENSIVE Q&A: NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION

Q1: How can I “forget” something that caused me deep trauma?

Answer: Biblical “forgetting” isn’t amnesia; it is dispowering the memory. It means the memory no longer dictates your emotions or your future. Like Joseph, you reframe the memory through the lens of God’s sovereignty. You acknowledge it happened, but you refuse to let it sit in the driver’s seat of your life.

Q2: Is it wrong to share testimonies of what God did years ago?

Answer: Testimonies are powerful for encouraging others, but they should be the “base,” not the “ceiling.” Your life should be a continuous stream of God’s current work. If you have to dig through 10 years of history to find a reason to praise God, your spiritual altar needs a fresh fire.

Q3: What are the practical steps to “Pressing Forward”?

Answer: It begins with “Reaching Forth.” This implies an active stretch.

1. Identify the Anchor: Ask God to show you what past event (victory or failure) you are currently obsessed with.

2. Sever the Link: Consciously hand that event over to God.

3. Set the Mark: Focus on the “High Calling.” What is God asking of you today?

V. REFLECTION & PRAYER SUITE

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You cannot climb the mountain of 2026 while carrying the boulders of 2025.

REFLECTION: Is there a resentment you are nursing? Is there a past success that has made you complacent? Ask the Lord for the “Joseph-anointing” to see God’s hand in your history so you can let it go.

PRAYER POINTS:

The Birthday Petition: Father, we thank You for the life of Your servant, Pastor E.A. Adeboye. We pray that as he turns 84, You take him to even greater heights. Renew his strength like the eagle’s!

The Release Decree: Lord, I receive the strength to let go of every bitterness, anger, and jealousy rooted in my past. I refuse to be a prisoner of my history.

The Fresh Anointing: Father, I am tired of “stale manna.” Give me a fresh word and a fresh fire for today. I thirst for a new level of Your power.

Higher Ground: Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. Let my path shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

The Joseph Perspective: Every evil meant against me in the past, Father, turn it into a testimony for the saving of many lives in Jesus’ name.

HYMNAL FOCUS: I’m pressing on the upward way… Lord, lead me on to higher ground.