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Message

Pursuing The Prize ( Philippians 3:12-16 )

Paul says although he would have more reasons than anyone else to have confidence in the flesh, he will not and cannot because everything outside Christ is dung or rubbish!

His overwhelming desire is to be found in Christ. He seeks righteousness in Christ through faith. Paul seeks this and exhorts all to do the same. This brings us to our text. Paul says that he has not yet received what he longs to experience, does not completely know Christ in this fashion and he has not yet received the resurrection from the dead. Therefore, he chooses three things:

I. Following the purpose

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

Paul has a goal. He has determined to satisfy this ambition. His goal is not physical. His goal is not health and wealth. His goal is not materialistic. His goal is neither political nor occupational.. His goal was not early retirement. His goal was not a PhD. His goal was not a perfect family. He was not after fame or fortune. He refused to major on the minors and minor on the majors. Paul's desire was an echo of Christ, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt 6:33).

Following the purpose requires the proper mentality. You can't allow worldly wisdom to shape your mentality. Like Paul, we must be open to the reality of our own imperfections. He says, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected.' In other words, Paul did not yet possess his purpose and he was not complete. The consummation of his character was incomplete. God was still working in him. However, Paul was not down on himself. Paul did not kick himself because he was not perfect. Paul did not suffer from neurotic guilt. Paul's imperfection served as his motivation. Paul was not perfect but he lived as if he would be perfect one day.

Like Paul, we need to press on! He was motivated and dedicated to his pursuit of the purpose. Paul is like a long distance runner. He is constantly moving forward. He follows Christ with an unquenchable desire. He wants Christ for himself. This goal was given to him by the Lord. Paul says, 'that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me!'

II. Forgetting the past

Philippians 3:13 “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.”

Paul boils it down to a singular pursuit. He says, 'but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.' He does not have divided loyalties. He only had one thing! Satan knows he can defeat us, if he is able to divide us! No man can serve two masters (Luke 16:13). Paul could not remain loyal to Judaism and Christianity. Paul could not serve the Law of Moses and Grace of Christ. Jesus also said, you don't put new wine into old wine skins! Paul was forgetting those things, which were behind! It does not mean cauterizing the memory. It means the passionate and relentless effort to focus all of the energies on present progress rather than on the past. If we are going to pursue the prize in 2009 we must forget 2008!

III. Focusing on the prize

Philippians 4:14-16 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”

Like a runner with a singular vision, Paul had his eye on the prize. His focus was on the prize. Paul desperately wanted the transformation of his physical body. He spoke of the Lord saying, 'who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself' (3:21). Furthermore, Paul's hope was verified by his words to the Romans, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Paul aspired something 'undefiled and incorruptible.' Paul wanted something eternal. Paul desied to be with Christ. Paul craved to be delivered from the body of this death. He longed for a place of no sin. He wished to be rid of that sinful, fleshly disposition. He longed to be in a place where there where no thorns in the flesh and no messengers from Satan. He wanted to be in a place where there would be no shipwrecks, no prison cells, and no perils. We are urged to share this focus. If we don't see it now, God will reveal it to us. However, we should serve Him now according to the degree we have already attained. God's children are now being sanctified. We are on our way to glory. We just need to pursue the prize!

Closing

Like Paul we must follow the purpose, forget the past, and focus on the prize!