Pressing for the Prize in 2025 (Philippians 3:1-14)

Press - to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing. (Figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal)

The Flesh (4-8)

You can’t press for the prize if you glorify your flesh.

The Fellowship (9-10) (That I may know him)

Being Saved (righteousness of God by faith)

Being Sanctified (power of his resurrection/walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4))

Suffering (fellowship of his suffering/conformable - to render like)

We are to be crucified with Christ. The crucified life is a Christlike life!

The Fight (11-13a)

Apprehended - to catch, obtain, or grasp (as in trying to catch a thief on the run)

running isn’t easy, but it needs to be done

fighting can make you hurt, but it needs to be done!

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Paul hasn’t found it all or finished it all, so he’s fighting for it all! (12a)

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

2 Timothy 2:1–4 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

The Forgetting (13b)

we don’t care for many things, but one thing!

it’s not about this thing and Christ or that thing in Christ, but only Christ!

Love Christ and you’ll love your spouse and children.

Work for Christ, and you’ll work correctly.

Speak to Christ, and you’ll speak to others with love.

forgetting - no longer caring for

A born again child of God shouldn’t care about past things, because the past things are dead!

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The Future (13c-14)

reaching forth - straining, to stretch. Don’t reach back, reach forward!!!!

What are those things that are before?

Christ, heaven, glory, eternity!

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Colossians 3:1–2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”