Joy In Running the Race

How many of you love running?

When I first started running...

Start slow…run as long as I could then walked

Ran until I could do one lap with out stopping

Ran and walked the second lap until I could do two without stopping

Ended up Running 3 miles a day, 5 days a week for 9 months straight.

Things I discovered along the way!

I needed different shoes

I needed arch supports

I could go from 0 to 3 miles a day all at once.

It sucked at first

I needed good music with a steady beat

I needed to go some where, not on a treadmill

I missed it when I quit running

I quit running because something else distracted

What is THIS/IT?

Philippians 3:12–16 (ESV)

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own (to apprehend it),

Wuest

When Paul said, “to make it my own,” he used strong language. “The word ‘apprehend’ is from the same Greek word translated ‘attained,’ but with a preposition prefixed which means in its local force ‘down.’ He wants to catch hold of it and pull it down, like a football player who not only wants to catch his man, but wants to pull him down and make him his own.”

because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

“Why did Jesus lay hold of Paul?”

Jesus laid hold of Paul to make him a new man (Romans 6:4) — so Paul would lay hold of that and wanted to see the converting work of Jesus completely carried out in himself.

Romans 6:4 ESV

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to conform him into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29) — so Paul would lay hold of that and wanted to see the nature of Jesus within himself.

Romans 8:29 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to make him a witness (Acts 9:15) — so Paul would lay hold of both the experience of Jesus and to testify of that experience.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to make him an instrument in the conversion of others (Acts 9:15) — so Paul would lay hold of the work of bringing others to Jesus.

Acts 9:15 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to bring him into suffering (Acts 9:16) — so Paul would lay hold of even that work of God in his life, wanting to know Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings.

Acts 9:16 ESV

For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Jesus laid hold of Paul so that the Apostle might attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11) — so Paul would lay hold of that heavenly hope.

Philippians 3:11 ESV

that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

Spurgeon

When Running, Forget What Is Behind YouPreaching Themes: PerseveranceWhen a man ran in the Grecian games, if he had run halfway, and passed most of his fellows, and had then turned to look round and to rejoice over the distance which he had already covered, he would have lost the race. Suppose he had commenced singing his own praises, and said, “I have come down the hill, along the valley, and up the rising ground on this side. See, there are one, two, three, four, five, six runners far behind me.” While thus praising himself he would lose the race. The only hope for the racer was to forget all that was behind, and occupy his entire thoughts with the piece of ground which lay in front.

Never mind though you have run so far, you must let the space which lies between you and the goal engross all your thoughts and command all your powers. It must be so with regard to all the sins which we have overcome. Perhaps at this moment you might honestly say, “I have overcome a very fierce temper,” or, “I have bestirred my naturally indolent spirit.” Thank God for that. Stop long enough to say, “Thank God for that,” but do not pause to congratulate yourselves as though some great thing had been done, for then it may soon be undone. It is a great thing to overcome any sinful habit, but it is needful to guard against it still, for you have not conquered it so long as you congratulate yourself upon the conquest.

14 I press on toward (follow with haste, to do something with intense effort) the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (to be made in Christ’s likeness)

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Spurgeon

Philippians (Exposition)

There are some points upon which we are all agreed. There is some standing ground where the babe in grace may meet with the man in Christ Jesus. Well, as far as we do see eye to eye, let us cooperate with one another, let us have our hearts knit together in a holy unanimity. There are some people who are always looking out for points of difference; their motto seems to be, “Wherever we differ, let us split away from one another.” Their great idea is that by dividing we shall conquer. The fact is that, by separating ourselves from one another, we shall miss all hope of strength, and play into the hands of the adversaries.

Imitate Me

Philippians 3:17–21 (ESV)

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Yes we should be able to follow our leaders. I should live a life that is worth following, but above all else don’t be so concerned about finding a man to imitate, become a man or woman you’d wants someone imitating. You do that by following Jesus Christ and patterning your life after his life of obedience.

18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Listen to Paul’s words here. He’s not reminding them of those who are enemies of Christ in anger. Not in malice, but with tears in his eyes. He’s pleading with those faithful saints not to stray away from the truth but to be all the more committed to it. To keep their eye on the goal ad hold true to what they had attained. To see brothers and sisters veering off course brought tears to his eyes.

To veer off course isn’t to miss the mark slightly. To veer off is to waver form the truth. When you depart from the truth you end up following a lie, therefore your efforts aren’t just unfortunate, they are in direct opposition to the kingdom of God.

19 Their end is destruction,

Spurgeon

There will be a total destruction of their profession. There will be a destruction of all their hopes. There will be a destruction of all their happiness. There will be a destruction of themselves; and they shall stand for ever as destroyed and ruined things, ghastly exhibitions of what sin can do, and what must follow upon a false profession, or any other form of enmity to the cross of Christ.

their god is their belly,

That surely means self-indulgence, and applies to professing Christians who never restrain their appetites, or their desires, or their passions—who are sensual while they boast of being spiritual, who are altogether given up to self-indulgence, and yet claim to be followers of the Man of Sorrows who gave up everything for the good of others.

and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

they boast of things of which they ought to be ashamed.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

This statement harkens back to Paul’s previous realization in verse 12. Jesus has made me his own! We belong to Jesus and our citizenship is no longer here on earth. We are aliens here, therefore set your minds on pursuing Jesus and embrace your new citizenship! Eagerly awaiting our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!

21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body,

When we are resurrected, we will have the same type of body that Jesus Himself had when he was resurrected.

Jesus was not merely resuscitated from the dead in the same body. He was resurrected in a new body, patterned after the old yet equipped and fitted for heaven.

by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Jesus really can subdue all things. “There may be sins within your heart that have long resisted control. Do with them as you will, they still defy you… But if you will hand over the conflict to Jesus, He will subdue them; He will bring them under his strong, subjecting hand. Be of good cheer. What you cannot do, He can.” (Meyer)