“Pressing On Toward The Goal”

{Let’s Pray}
Father God, give me the words to speak and let this message touch someone’s heart today. I thank You and praise You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
“Pressing On Toward The Goal”
In Philippians 3:12-21 takes up where Paul left off in verse 11. Our text has two main paragraphs, verses 12-16 and verses 17-21. In general terms, verses 12-16 explain Paul’s perspective on the past, the present, and the future. The Christian does not live in the past, but with an eye to the future. Verses 17-21 contrast Paul’s perspective on the past, the present, and the future with that of the enemies of the cross. They pride themselves in their past accomplishments and live for the present, ignoring the future. Paul does not take the saints who erred in verse 15 nearly as seriously as he does these unbelievers in verses 18-19. Together, these two paragraphs sharpen our focus on the goal toward which every Christian should be striving. Let us carefully listen and learn from these divinely inspired words, which are as applicable to us today as they were to the Philippians centuries ago. Let’s consider the things of our pre-Christian past. When Paul came to faith in Jesus Christ, he realized that all the things in which he had boasted were really “dung.” He also realized that in persecuting the saints he had been opposing his Lord. Paul would certainly not wish to cling to the past in terms of these “accomplishments,” because they were not accomplishments at all, spiritually speaking. But he also needed to accept the fact that when he came to faith in Christ, he became “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and that the guilt of his past had been washed away by the blood of Christ. There was no great profit to his agonizing over his past. Paul was deeply committed to the doctrine of sovereignty, and thus he must trust that God had used even his wicked deeds against the saints for their good, and for God’s glory (Romans 8:28).
We get so down on ourselves from past sufferings, hurts, hang-ups, divorced of a spouse, disappointed your children, or rebelled against God’s Word. I could go into many more but choose not to. It is easy to beat yourself up over issues, shame, or guilt from your past and assume that God can’t possibly use you. This is a lie from Satan which only results in discouragement. You need to know that all of your past is forgiven, forgotten, forever. If the Apostle Paul has not arrived spiritually, then certainly no one else has either. The consequence of this fact is that no one is free to sit back, resting upon their laurels, as though all they must do is to wait for our Lord’s return. (“To rest on one’s laurels means to be satisfied with one’s past accomplishments and not put forth any further efforts. In ancient Greece, the laurel was a plant that was sacred to the god Apollo , which grew into a {Laurel Tree is a Bay-leaf tree}. Laurel wreaths were awarded to the winning athletes in the Pythian games, held in honor of the god Apollo every four years. Commonsense: If someone does not rest on their laurels, they continue working hard to make sure that they continue to be successful rather than relying on the success they have already had.”)The Christian is not to be content with the status quo but must press on toward the goal that has been set before him. And that is precisely what Paul does, while challenging us to follow his example. The goal is two-fold; it is both general and specific. The general goal toward which every Christian is to strive is that of the “upward call “either the day of our death, or the day when our Lord returns for His saints, to snatch them up from this world to be with Him forever. In one sense, this is an event in the future, which draws nearer by the passing of time. In another sense, it is a future event which we are to pursue, and to seek to hasten. I can tell you that I am not perfect, and I have to keep learning for in learning, as God fills in the past of my mistakes, whether it be teaching my children what I failed to teach them, restoring what I destroyed, rebuilding what I have torn down or others have torn down in me, restoring a broken heart or body back to new, redeeming what was stolen.
Hence forth, it’s never too late to press on in Christ and be who He wants you to be. God can make a great finish out of a slow start. Ultimately, there is no past defeat so devastating as to exclude us from going forward in the present; there is no past success so great as to exempt us from going forward to more victory. So, we must consciously refuse to dwell on the things which lie behind us. Past failures will keep you depressed, discouraged, and leave you going nowhere. To learn from your past and move on to bigger and better plans God has for you. Where I see myself as a disappointment, God sees me and you as a winner, His unique child. God don’t see us as a loser, He sees us as His children that are uniquely gifted with something of use as His kingdom work. At least when we look for the Lord Jesus, He is right here with us. Amen! It reads in 2 Corinthians 5:17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! What a difference there is between the sinner and the saint. It is especially evident in our attitude and actions regarding the past, the present, and the future. The Christian does not live in the past; he does not dwell on the things of the past but presses on toward the “upward call” of our Lord. The certainty of His return, of our resurrection and transformation, and of out eternal bliss is such that it motivates us to “take up our cross” in this life, knowing that our eternal rewards await us in the next. The sinner sees things in exactly the opposite way. They tend to dwell on the past and their perceived accomplishments. They ignore or deny the future, the coming of our Lord, and particularly His judgment. Instead of living for tomorrow, they live only for today, indulging themselves in every conceivable pleasure. Paul is deeply aware of the incredible transformation that Christ has brought about in his life, as he came to faith in Jesus as his Savior. But he is also deeply aware that he was called for a purpose. He knows very well that he has not arrived, and that the road of sanctification lies before him, requiring discipline and endurance and sacrifice. Paul calls upon you and me to follow him in the path of discipleship, pressing on until the time of our “upward call.” He warns us to watch out for those who live for today, and who are enemies of the cross of Christ, living in self-indulgence an shame.
Philippians – Chapter 3:12-21
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also, I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You that You have established the path that You want me to take. I believe that in the power of the Holy Spirit I may press on to the goal of my calling and lay hold of all that You have purposed for me to do. I thank You and praise You for Your many precious promises of God, and that one day, all who believe on Christ, will have our lowly bodies changed into the image and likeness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You that You have promised to transform the bodies of Your blood-bought children, into a body that will be like His resurrected, body in glory. I believe for all those who don’t know You will see Your goodness today and want to know more about You Lord Jesus, I thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Your Precious Name Amen.

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