The Upward Call - Philippians 3:14

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 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,

The initial call for everyone is to be saved

This is a call to believe in Jesus, repent of sins, be baptized in order to be forgiven or to receive the Holy Spirit and the eternal life that the Spirit will raise us to after we die

The biblical terms 'be saved' or 'come follow me' or 'obey the gospel' or 'be born again'

2nd Peter 1:Five “and besides this with all diligence

Now that we are saved what is the ultimate prize?

To win this prize, you don't have to be first and you don't have to be fastest but you do have to finish the race.

Paul and others mentioned that the way to stay focused on this upward calling was to answer three other callings that God makes of us and those are the things I want to share with you this morning.

Calling #1 - The Call to be Holy

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Our life now is different from the past NOT THE SAME

YOUR PURPOSE/MINISTRY IS NOT JUST LISTENING TO SERMONS

necessary as an energy booster, call to action

Repentance is not a one time thing is ongoing

Repentance produces holiness and this holiness eventually serves to distinguish us from the unholy world that we live in.

Calling #2 - The Call to be Fruitful

John 15:1–2 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

I may find my purpose in this life as an architect but now I answer the call to be fruitful in the Kingdom of God by developing abilities to serve in the church and to use my skills and growing the Kingdom.

As Christians patterned after God’s word, we do not shut the world out and retire in monasteries and protect ourselves from temptation

Romans 12:3–4 ESV

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

God calls his Holy Ones to bear fruit, to win souls, to serve those in need, to build up the church, to sacrifice our goods our money our energy our very lives in his service.

Calling #3 - The Call to Be Ready

Paul said in his letter to the Philippians that he is ready to die.

Not regrets that for thing he has not seen.

Your whole Christian should be getting ready to die. From the moment you became a Christian