One Progress (3:12-16)

One Progress: Pursuing Jesus (Philippians 3:12-16) Pray & Intro: (Doomed Relationships) How many of you have been involved in a relationship that you knew wasn’t going anywhere?  Healthy relationships are growing ones. • Paul’s ambition for his ministry is the progress of the gospel (to those who have not heard, 1:12) and progress of faith for believers (1:25). Paul’s ambition for his own heart is progress in the gospel, growth in grace, in pursuing intimacy with Jesus. – From his testimony Paul stresses the need for progress in Christian living. (through pursuing Christ, not trying to keep the law!)  A relationship with Jesus is not a stagnant thing. Growth in grace in a love relationship with Jesus is an ever-increasing adventure. (Or maybe you’re not the thrill-seeking type.) Maybe you seek peace and rest, comfort and consolation. (He is our peace, Eph. 2:14, our rest, Mt. 11:28, our comfort – 2 Cor. 1:5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.) • Not religion but a relationship! Read Passage and Discuss: I. Hot pursuit! – There is nothing of worth compared to knowing Jesus. A. Life is about pursuing Jesus and calling others to pursue Him. – For the world, life is about pursuing the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes to show it off to others (the pride of life), 1 John 2:16. For the legalist, life is about pursuing perfect adherence to the rules to show it off to others and even to God. For the disciple of Jesus, life is about pursuing perfect intimacy with Jesus and sharing Jesus with others in order to show off God. B. Paul’s Caveat – I’m not there yet. (Knowing they look up to them… he says, “I haven’t arrived. I don’t have complete intimacy with Jesus. I have room to grow in grace. I am not perfect in being like Jesus.) C. Paul’s Pursuit – Knowing Christ fully; Pursuing Intimacy with Jesus  Pursuing your spouse. [my own life] II. The [G]Race Is On! – He describes the singleness of his purpose and his intense effort through the imagery of a runner whose aim is to finish the race and win the prize.1 A. The language of passion. (of intense effort) 1. Press on = Pursue (or persecute)  to strive after; chase v. — to strive for something, conceived of as going after something with the intent to catch it. 2. Make it my own = Grasp, lay hold of  to win (acquire) v. — to acquire something through one’s efforts. (also attack, seize, overpower) 3. We must embrace theological balance between Christ’s work and our effort. (2:12-13)  We invest ourselves wholly, holding nothing back from him, but it is always the Lord who actually produces good works and spiritual fruit in us and through us. B. [Because Christ] Made me His own – This is so critical that it’s importance cannot be overstated.  The fact that Christ has laid hold of me is the key. By grace I am in a love relationship with God through Jesus. (John 1:16-17 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.) 1. By grace give chase: It’s less about how you run [technique] and more about whom you run after.  But by God’s grace, when we pursue Jesus, we are conformed to his likeness. (2 Cor. 3:18a And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.) 2. It’s not about how strong you are but how strong he is. Grace is the fuel. (2 Cor. 12:9-10 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.) C. [I haven’t achieved it, but] I’m Thirsty for more (1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.) 1. Paul’s zeal was formerly misdirected (v. 6). But not anymore! 2. Perfectly satisfied yet never satisfied.  Holy discontentment; divine dissatisfaction [when good just isn’t good enough] D. Just forget about it! – [objects in the mirror are LARGER than they appear] 1. Forget your past failures a. From your lost days b. Even your failures as a Christian (God has not failed and He is not finished.) 2. Forget your past successes 3. Forgive and forget what others have done to you. (Col. 3:13) 4. Otherwise, in the present you face Two problems: a. Paralyzed by fear (Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis.) b. Plateaued by arrival syndrome c. The gospel—that you need Jesus—is as true today as it was the day you first placed your faith in him alone for salvation. E. Strain forward – utmost energy and effort toward what lies ahead 1. The goal (finish line) = perfect knowledge, complete intimacy with Jesus. 2. The prize = receiving the outcome of the things hoped for. – the upward call of God in Christ Jesus  Col. 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. III. Grow Up! A. True maturity = a process of growing intimacy with Jesus. – The “mature” must think this way. (That’s winning.) If you think something different, God will unveil this truth for you. B. Therefore, in devotion to your Savior be disciplined in the means of His grace. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)  I would be remiss not to call you to this. C. As Paul says, let’s live up to the truth we have received, to the level of maturity that we have attained. Which means, if Christ has taken hold of you, passionately pursue intimacy with Him. (v. 12)