Keep On Pressing

Text

Php 3:12-16 “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

Introduction

This book is understood in some circles as a book of “joy”

The joy has a context though.

And the context of this joy is not in the midst of “good times”

Paul’s imprisonment

Paul’s affliction from envious preachers

Squabbles amongst brethren

Sickness of a close friend

False brethren/teachers/ideologies

Yet. . .the book seems to give a positive light. This is more than just having joy (14x), but living like Christ (37x).

This. . . I think is the main message of the book, not necessarily “joy” - of course Christ is the source of true joy 1 Pet 1:8 “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

Paul

He wants us to be clear that his eyes are fixed on something. . .someone, CHRIST.

Php 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Php 2:5 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Php 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Php 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Not only that, but he has a desire for his audience to LIVE LIKE CHRIST in view of something ahead. . .

Chapter 3

So his eyes are fixed on something. . .

THERE IS SOMETHING AHEAD

To which Paul knows. . . I must Keep Pressing On

This is made apparent as Paul compares the attainment of earthly status and possession of earthly legacy to a heavenly status and legacy.

He’s willing to give them up because they DID NOT BRING HIM TO CHRIST!

He shows that in Christ he has much to gain, so much that he’s willing to GIVE UP the earthly to possess the spiritual (Php 3:1-11)

Paul wants to attain CHRIST

Php 3:7-8 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,”

Paul was not slack in the Jewish religion, he was not idle. . .and then decided to switch to Christ. He was perfect but He saw a better way.

He saw a better ahead. . .enough for him to KEEP ON PRESSING!

Our text (ch. 3:12-16)

Vs. 11 Presents this attainment as something he hopes for, longs for or looking forward to.

Php 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

“I Press” - Who is pressing?

Notice this is personal

Paul made a commitment to Keep On Pressing. This is something He wanted to do, no one else is going to do this for Him.

Are you going to Keep On Pressing?/

Pressing, what is Paul suggesting?

It means to pursue or go after something!!! [It’s not idle]

It means to “do something with an intense effort to a goal [It’s not aimless]

Imagery [Eng-Gr Lex.]: to chase something when hunting [analogy: Tanzania hunting tribe]

PURPOSE [objective, reason for activity] - I must know what I am going after. It must be clear in my mind what I am chasing because it will determine the nature of my “press”

This wasn’t strange to Paul [he had a reason for living and dying Php 1:21]

Three times Paul says I gave up things for Christ (vs.7-8). . .Christ was his direction/goal.

APPL. Do things I plan have Christ as the goal? Does it in some way go back being like Him, serving Him? Does it have a purpose that goes toward Christ?

I have a purpose and I want to keep this in front of me all the time.

Where I go - Direction

What I go with - Protection

What I may encounter when I press - Expectation

Paul’s purpose is to attain the “upward call of God in Christ” - [Hope, resurrection, desire to know and be more like Christ]

FOCUS - I must know that I cannot distracted while pressing and that I haven’t gotten there if I’m still here!!!

Php 3:13 “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:

forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,”

APPL. It’s good to catch the prize, but you need to get up and catch more tomorrow

So I Press. . . Chirst laid hold you so that you could lay hold of Christ [When seized you, sacrificed for you, died for you, it’s so that you can do the same for Him.

So I Press. . .

DETERMINATION

The doggedness, the ability to continue the pursuit in spite off.

Php 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

The ability to stick with it until.

Pray more

Study more

Practice your faith more

Get more involved

Ask God to use you more - THIS is how I keep on Pressing!

We have an enemy who’s working to make sue we stop PRESSING.