"Full Speed Ahead: Running for His Glory"

Text: Philippians 3:12-14

Introduction:

Have you ever watched a runner on the track, muscles straining, eyes fixed on the finish line? Their entire being is focused on one goal—crossing that line and claiming the prize. Life, in many ways, is like that race. It’s filled with effort, setbacks, and determination. You stumble and fall, but you rise again and keep running.

The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona gave us one of the most powerful images of perseverance when British sprinter Derek Redmond tore his hamstring midway through the 400m semifinal. Most athletes would have quit, but Derek got up and hobbled toward the finish line. His father rushed from the stands, pushing past security, to help his son finish the race.

Together, they crossed the line, not as victors in time, but as champions in spirit.

Today, we’re going to look at Philippians 3:12-14, where Paul paints a vivid picture of a race we’re all running. A Race that looks much like Deriks. A race filled with difficulties and trials, but a race worth Running.

Paul’s words are meant to challenge the church to press on with determination, to let go of what’s behind, to focus on Christ in the present, and to keep our eyes fixed on eternity.

The purpose of this sermon is simple: to help us step into 2025 ready to run this race well—personally and as a church.

In Our text this morning Paul is going to give us the winning game plan on how to be victorious in our Race as Christians.

But before we jump into the how to run, We need to look a what the prize is that we are running to obtain

We find the answer in verses 7-11.

Please turn in your Bibles with me to that text….

Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. [ Paul is saying My goal is to Know Jesus More and more, He continues on and says] For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 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— { and Here he goes again with the goal} 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Paul speaks of gaining Christ, being found in Christ, and knowing Christ intimately.

This isn’t about becoming saved: Its about the saved becoming more and more like Jesus-- Its about the Sanctification of the Beleivers life.

Your goal as a beleiver should be to know Jesus More and More- to strive for maturity in Christ and to live out God’s purpose with every fiber of your being.  

Put very simply- Our goal as believers is to be like Christ and to Know Him more and More with every part of our being,

And what Payl wantsa to communicate is that our Goal of Know Christ more and More is not an easy race to run.

Imagine standing at the starting line of a marathon. The crowd cheers as you take your first steps, adrenaline pumping, the excitement is High,- Kind of like when Someone first Comes to Jesus through Salvation,

But as the marathon continues and the miles stretch on, fatigue sets in.

By mile 20, every step feels like a battle, yet you keep moving …. Why?… because the finish line is worth it.

Friends, The Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon that requires focus, discipline, and perseverance.

and Just as an athlete prepares for the long haul, believers must embrace the mindset of endurance.

and I believe that Paul captures this idea perfectly in the next verse…. Philippians 3:12

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

12 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.

In This verse Paul reveals the three crucial truths about the beleiver’s pursuit of righteousness

We haven’t arrived yet.

He says” Not that I have already obtained this…or am already Perfect.

Just because your saved doesn't mean you are mature in Christ.

Remember who is speaking in this text?… Paul- The guy who God used to write most of the new testament books…

Friends, No matter how long we’ve been believers, there’s always room for growth.

Spiritual maturity is a lifelong pursuit of becoming more like Christ.

Trans; The second truth about our race I notice from this verse is this,,,

We’re called to press on.

Look at what Paul says,

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

12 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.

The Christian life demands perseverance.

The prize—knowing Christ fully and becoming like Him—lies ahead, not behind.

Paul is saying My mission is to know Jesus more and More!

We must keep our eyes on this eternal reward, rather than getting distracted by earthly success or past accomplishments.

The third truth I see here is this,,,

Christ has a purpose for us.

Paul acknowledges that Christ “took hold” of him for a reason.

He declares Phil 3:12

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

12 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.

He is saying I want to make Knowing Him and becoming like Him my own- Becuase He has made me a rebellious sinner His own.

Christians Our lives are not aimless; they are filled with divine purpose.

God saved you, not only to bring you into His family but also to set you apart for His work.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This means that Every step in this race has a purpose. A Purpose that He has already laid out for our lives.

Like most people, as the new year dawns upon us, we tend to take time to evaluate our lives.

We look at what is good and happy and we also look at what needs to change. ‘

As 2025 approaches, we have an opportunity to evaluate how we’re running our Christian race.

Friends, Are we coasting, satisfied with past victories hoping they will be strong enough to carry us through this next year?

Are we distracted by things that don’t matter when it comes to eternity?

Letting them lead us down a path that does not end in Christ likeness?

Or are we straining forward with determination to make Knowing Jesus more and more our own?

in the next 2 verses in our text, I believe we see Paul’s winning strategy to make This mission of Knowing Jesus more our own.

Three ways that will help us become more and More Like Jesus

Look with me at verse 13 where we find our first principle to live by.

Philippians 3:13 (ESV)

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,

Paul declares, "This one thing I do… Forgetting the past…"

1.Let Go of the Past

Paul begins with an honest admission: "Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal."

Even as a mature believer, He is saying Im still in the race- he refused to be satisfied with his spiritual victories, He refused to be held back by his spiritual defeats..

Paul had a past filled with both failures and successes.

Consider his failures:

Before Jesus stepped into his life, Paul’s passion was to persecuted Christians, dragging them from their homes and imprisoning them (Acts 8:3).

in fact Acts tells us that He stood by as Stephen was stoned, approving of his death (Acts 7:58).

in 1 Tim. 1:15 we see that Paul deeply regretted these actions, calling himself the “chief of sinners”.

Friends He had past failures that many would say were unforgivable.

Consider his successes:

He was a respected Pharisee, zealous for the law, and blameless in his adherence to religious practices (Philippians 3:5-6).

He strived to live like Jesus and for Jesus after his redemptive transformation- He proclaimed the gospel to so many different people, He was beaten and stoned and exiled for His testimony of Christ

and Yet Paul says in Philippians 3:7-8, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of knowing Christ.”

Application: We all have a past. For me, one of the hardest parts of my past was being kicked out of Faith Bible College.

At the time, I felt like a total failure—spiritually disqualified from ministry.

I wrestled with guilt and shame, but God’s grace proved greater.

He redeemed that chapter of my life and showed me my worth and calling are found in Jesus, not in my mistakes.

Even now, as our church has grown from 40 to 170 people, there’s a temptation for me to think we’ve “arrived” and i can sit back and enjoy the Christian life in our comfortable new church building.

But friends, this way of thinking is just as dangerous as letting our past failures define us.

Christian Neither your failures nor successes define you—Christ does. Our identity is Christ in Us!

When Paul says to “forget what is behind,” he’s not talking about erasing memories but breaking their power over us.

Its about understanding whose story our past really is about,

Your past is not about You -its about God’s Grace and mercy being poured out freeling despite you.

When we let our past failures and victories define us- when we refuse to let them go- We are robbing God of the praise He deserves We are diminishing His story of unconditional love that he so graciously poured out into our lives even while we were still sinning.

We must not let the past be what defines our present life. We must give it to Jesus.

Challenge: What do you need to leave behind in 2024? Is it guilt or regret from past sins? Is it pride in what God accomplished through you?

Let go of those weights and run free.

Let’s be a church that learns from the past but doesn’t get stuck in it.

Transition: Once we release the grip of the past, we’re freed to focus on what lies ahead.

This brings us to Paul’s next challenge—to lock in on Christ in the present.

Look at our text in verse 13

Philippians 3:13 (ESV)

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,

2. Lock In On Christ

(Philippians 3:13b)

”"I am actively pursuing Christlikeness. I am straining towards this goal!"

For Paul, living for Christ wasn’t just a part of life—it was his singular focus.

Every decision, every action, and every goal Paul had for his life aligned with his pursuit of becoming more and more like Jesus… Of Knowing Christ

Focus on the Present: Paul is telling the church that if you want to pursue Christlikeness, if you want to be a mature Christian, If you want to know Christ more, then you have to stay locked in on the One you want to look like.

Paul uses the idea of an athlete straining towards the prize because he knew how hard it would be to stay focused in this distracting world.

Think about it- everything around us wants to capture our attention and pull us away from knowing Jesus,

Running this race without distractions Is hard to do!

If you want to be spiritually mature, you’ve got to lock in on Jesus."

Youve got to set your mind on things above not on things of this earth!

Application:

Friends, Are you intentionally growing in your relationship with Christ?

Straining for what is ahead is about being actively engaged in our own spiritual growth.

Paul throughout the new testament constantly pleads with the church to keep their focus on Jesus to continually be growing in the walk with Him.

In 1 Corinthians 15, he exhorts the church to stay faithful to the gospel;

in 2 Timothy 3, he says to remain dependent on the Scriptures;

in Ephesians 4, he pleads with believers  to continually pursue holiness.

Challenge: Friends, Are we studying God's  Word- Letting it change our lives,

Are we fervently falling to our knees in Praying- Growing in our dependency upon Him

Are we walking in Obedience trusting that His ways are best for our lives?

Or are we getting distracted by things that do not matter or is our focus on knowing Christ and making Him known?

Truth: the Bible has a big theology word to describe our transformation as we become more and more like Jesus.

It's called Progressive Sanctification

Progressive Sanctification is our life long pursuit of becoming more and more like Jesus.

Its about reflecting Jesus more and more.

Friends the longer you have been in Christ the more you should reflect Christ in this world!

Remember what Paul proclaimed in veres 10-11?  "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Brothers and sisters that ought to be our own hearts Cry "

"I want to Know Christ, so deeply that I am willing to lay aside every distraction, endure every hardship, and surrender every part of my life to Him.

I want to know Christ so intimately that His power transforms my daily walk, His sufferings shape my perspective, and His resurrection power fills me with unshakable hope.

I want to know Him so completely that every step I take points others to the glory of who He is."

Friends this is what it means to Lock in on Jesus- To press on towards the goal of Knowing Him more and more!

Transition: As we fall more in love with Jesus I believe that we will long more and more to be with Him forever in eternity,

Paul’s ultimate motivation wasn’t just the present moment of becoming more and more like Jesus  —.

it is that moment when we will meet Jesus face to face and know him in all of His perfect holiness.

Paul was longing for and looking ahead to eternity.

3. Look Ahead to Eternity

(Phil. 3:14)

Look at Paul’s Declaration in verses 14

Philippians 3:14(ESV)

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The "upward call" represents the ultimate goal: eternal life with Jesus.

Paul; couldn't wait to be with Jesus face to face-

He is proclaiming His hearts desire … He is saying…

“I refuse to let distractions derail me or allow the challenges of this life to discourage me.

My eyes are fixed on eternity,

my steps are driven by Christ’s mission,

and my heart beats for His glory.

I will not settle for anything less than the fullness of His call, and I will run with endurance, knowing that the prize of seeing Jesus and Knowing Him in all of his perfection is worth every sacrifice."

Application: Christian, keeping our eyes on the upward call means living with a kingdom mindset.

It means knowing Jesus more is our ultimate goal in this life!

it means investing in things that will last for eternity rather than clinging to temporary treasures of this earth.

It Means living for His glory and his purpose and His Mission.

So How do we live practically with eternity in view?

Invest in redemptive relationships: - Making More Disciples

Leading the lost to Christ proclaims His redemptive work!

Serve faithfully: Equipping More Disciples

Friends one of the greatest ways You can live with eternity in view is to serve the Church of Jesus-

Using your gifts that God gave you to serve His church, reflects a life lived for His glory.

Every act of service is an investment in God’s eternal kingdom.

And most importantly we must…

Prioritize holiness: Become a better Disciples

Pursuing Christlikeness now- keeps our focus on spending an eternity with Him.

When Become more like Christ is a goal today - Eternity with Christ becomes more exciting for tomorrow!

The greatest way that we can become more and more like Jesus is to Put off the selfish things of this world and Put on Christ likeness.

To have a kingdom view you must Pursue Holiness above all else!

Challenge: Are you living with eternity in view, or are you distracted by building your own kingdom?

Are your time, resources, and energy invested in things that glorify God and make an eternal impact?

Church , Fix your eyes on Jesus, Fall in Love with Jesus and let the hope of eternity drive how you live today.

Bring It Home: Let’s Win the Race!

As we prepare to step into 2025, Paul’s message is clear: we are still in the race, and the finish line is in sight.

Are you more in love with Jesus today than you were a year ago or are you stuck?

(Dont say )Let Go of the Past:

To move forward, we must let go of what’s behind.

What are you still holding on to that you need to release?

Is it a failure you can’t forget, A sin that still needs confessed?

Is guilt or shame, or regret,?

Is it pride in your past success’s that you’re clinging to as your identity thinking you have arrived?

Friend, Jesus is calling you to lay those burdens at the cross today.

Brother and sister , Will you let God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin- set you free from that past?

Lock In on Christ:

This year, let’s pursue Jesus Lets lock in on Christ!.

Lets commit to Study His Word More faithfully,

to pray more fervently,

and walk in more obediently to His will.

Look Ahead to Eternity:

And May we Never turn our gaze away from the eternal Prize of being face to face for all eternity with Jesus -

Invest in what will last forever.

Build His kingdom, not your own.

SHARE HIS GOSPEL WITH THE LOST

Strengthen relationships with His Redeemed,

serve His church faithfully,

knowing that your labor in the Lord is never in vain.

Challenge for 2025:

Church Family- Let’s be the church that God intended His church to be!

Lets be a church that falls Deeply in love with our Savior!

As we stand on the brink of 2025, it’s time to set our focus on the mission God has given us: making and equipping more disciples of Jesus.

Next week we begin our new series through the Book of Colossians Titled Jesus over everything- its meant for us to fall deeper and deeper in Love With jesus,

and I believe that the more our love for Jesus Grows the more our lives will be in line with our mission as a church.

Let’s run with eternity in view, driven by the hope of being with Christ forever.

Let’s press on with purpose, locking in on what truly matters.

This year, let’s make 2025 a year of spiritual growth,

Leaving behind the past, focusing on Christ today, and straining toward the finish line with confidence and joy.

Brothers and sisters, the race is not over, and the prize is still ahead. It’s time to press on, to run with endurance, and to live with eternity in view.

LET’S Pray