Philippians 08 - Eyes on the Prize

Reading: Philippians 3:12-16

 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:12 (NIV)

I.   Not there Yet

     A.  I’m not the Christian I Want to be

           1.  Not that I have already obtained all this... (12)

                 a.  I’m not yet living up who I want to be.

                 b.  This is not something to admit reluctantly, but to celebrate!

                 c.  I’ve already gotten somewhere, but there’s even more!

           2.  There is still more to room to grow.

                 a.  The biggest room in the Church is the room for improvement!

                 b.  The Church is a big room for improvement!

                 c.  This is a place to grow, not show off.

           3.  A hypocrite is someone who believes he/she is mature, when they aren’t.

                 a.  When you and I acknowledge that we aren’t what we want, we aren’t being hypocrites, but exactly the opposite!

     B.  Nobody’s Perfect

           1.  Perfect translated “mature” in v.15.

                 a.  Perfect does not mean ‘sinless’ as much as ‘complete.’

                 b.  Paul hasn’t “arrived” yet.

           2.  Paul recognizes that he has not yet completely grown up in the Lord.

                 a.  That is he is still immature.

                 b.  Most of those who have been most rigorous in their devotion are quick to admit that they have still only made a small beginning.

           3.  He’s not all the way grown up.

                 a.  He walks funny.

                 b.  He doesn’t run in a straight line.

II.  Straining toward the Tape

     A.  In hot Pursuit

           1.  Paul doesn’t try to get mature before running for the prize.

                 a.  Recognizing his imperfection, he only wants to move ahead.

                 b.  Though he’s imperfect, he’s moving full speed ahead to a perfect God.

           2.  He’s straining toward the tape.

                 a.  He’s going to grab onto that “for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

                 b.  What’s that? (v.9) A righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

                 c.  What’s that? It’s love: God’s for us, and ours for God and each other.

           3.  What if you’re not sure which way is forward?

                 a.  Sometimes life gets confusing. We’re not sure if God wants us to do A or X.

                 b.  (v.15) Make your best guess and trust God to make it clear if you goof!

                 c.  Even (especially?) our mistakes make us into better runners — in the long run.

     B.  Forgetting what is behind

           1.  This is easier to say than to do!

                 a.  Not that Paul has better mental discipline about his sins.

                 b.  He’s just able to leave them in the past as forgiven.

           2.  What’s behind?

                 a.  Immaturity is behind.

                 b.  Slavery to sins.

                 c.  Trying to do it myself.

     C.  Straining Forward

           1.  Paul is thinking about what God has waiting for him at the finish line.

                 a.  Instead of thinking about how terrible a person he has been

                 b.  He only wants to think about that finish line.

           2.  The important thing isn’t how hard you strain, but how efficiently you move.

                 a.  A good runner relaxes every muscle that he/she doesn’t need for running.

III. Who are the Mature?

     A.  They are Moving forward

           1.  They take the view that the important thing is to keep moving forward.

                 a.  Even if they can’t run but walk, or can’t walk but crawl, or can’t crawl but inch.

           2.  Forward is toward God.

                 a.  In many ways a race track is easier than this!

           3.  How do we move toward God?

                 a.  Submission to His will

                 b.  Prayer; Bible Study; personal devotions.

                 c.  When we give and receive love.

     B.  They are Patient with those less mature

           1.  If on some point you think differently. . . (15)

                 a.  This does not seem to bother Paul.

                 b.  Even if they just don’t get what the Christian life is about.

           2.  God will make it clear to you

                 a.  Paul has confidence in God’s ability to get through to people.

                 b.  Paul is able to leave people in God’s hands.

           3.  Paul does not feel threatened or impatient when people disagree with him.

                 a.  Neither is he arrogant or superior.

     C.  They are Honest with themselves

           1.  We see this in Paul too.

                 a.  He doesn’t claim to be mature yet.

                 b.  He isn’t all he wants to be.

                 c.  He knows he’s still moving forward.

           2.  Let us live up to what we have already attained (16)

                 a.  That means knowing what you have attained (and what you haven’t!).

                 b.  Is it Ok to acknowledge that God has already done something in you?

           3.  Instead of pointing out how some people run funny, Paul cheers everyone on.

                 a.  Run toward God in the best way you know how.

                 b.  It’s not about agreeing with stuff as much as it’s about moving toward Him

                 c.  Even if we disagree, keep running, God will clear it up in the long run.

The Bottom Line:

(HoR: GHoF #334 Be Thou My Vision vv.3-4)