Living the Upward Life

I. An honest assessment of your spiritual Life. 12

A. Current Spiritual Condition

1. Tendency to think of ourselves as more than we are.

confidence in our own goodness

The Problem: Puts us on the pedestal instead of Christ

2. Tendency to think of ourselves as less than we are.

Shame over past sin.

The Problem: Cheapens the Sacrifice Christ Made

B. Future Spiritual Goal

1. I press on - pursue with intensity, to follow with hast

What is he pursuing...resurrection from the dead, and perfection

2. obtaining Christ is not a passive activity

One of the great tragedies of western Christianity is easy believism

C. Overwhelming Spiritual Motivation

1. Christ Jesus has made me his own...

2. Think of this in the context of Paul’s conversion...4b-6

3. This is the man that everyone in the church ran from and Christ ran toward.

II. A singular focus on God’s Upward Call.

A. One thing that Paul is doing...13

This one thing has two aspects...they are inseparable.

1. Forgetting

2. Straining

Living in the past will prevent you from moving forward.

B. Calling is... 14

1. A Prize- worth the pursuit

2. Upward- the things of this world pull you down.

III. A Mature and Teachable way of Thinking.

A. The Mature in Christ should be setting the example of Upward Living. 15a

B. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual life, be read and willing to learn. 15b

C. Hold true what you have obtained. 16