Gold Metal Christianity

Big Idea: All of us want to be “Gold Metal Christians” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved. What are the essentials for winning the race and one day receiving the reward that is promised?

Not as though I had already attained, (I have not arrived ) either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend (to take hold of) that for which also I am apprehended (taken hold of Christ has me) of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:(taken hold of I am not holding the gold metal) but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,(we have taken hold of salvation) let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

People read Biographies to discover the secret to success hoping to read something they can use to get ahead to get and edge like the unique person they read about.

Paul is giving us his spiritual biography, his past ()

his present ()

and his future (). Paul “the accountant” who discovered new values when he met Jesus Christ. In this section we meet Paul “the athlete” with his spiritual vigor, pressing toward the finish line in the Christian race.

Imagine an athlete on a roman chariot every muscle strained to stay on

And he makes it clear in 15 through 17 this is how he wants us to live the Christian life.

This is not optional this is how we are supposed to live the Christian life.

Matter fact he said if you are otherwise minded God will reveal even this unto you.

But very few do

For most it is not Gold Metal Christian living. It is lackadaisical. IUt is relax God has everything covered. That is true he does as far as salvation is concerned. They live purposeless christian lives.

As if if the chief end of man was personal happiness and God saved them to go to heaven but other than that christianity has no purpose fire insurance to get a nice place to retire in heaven but Until that day leave me alone I am happy

You see God put us here he put this Church here for a purpose the purpose is clearly stated for the perfecting of the saints for the WORK of the ministry.

To give the gospel to a lost and dying world to give hope to the hopeless to help each other be overcomers soldiers and farmers and athletes in The word of God

The chief end of man is to Glorify God and bring him happiness and enjoy his presence forever.

This is not talking about salvation

It is important to note that Paul is not telling us how to be saved. If he were, it would be a picture of salvation by works or self-effort, and this would contradict what he wrote in the first eleven verses of .

In order to participate in the Greek games, the athlete had to be a citizen. He did not run the race to gain his citizenship. In , Paul reminds us that “our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven.” Because we are already the children of God through faith in Christ, we have the responsibility of “running the race” and achieving the goals God has set for us.

This is a graphic picture of : “Work out your own salvation … for it is God which worketh in you.” Each believer is on the track; each has a special lane in which to run; and each has a goal to achieve. If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward. If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship

How do we achieve Gold metal Christian Living and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved.

What are the essentials for winning the race and one day receiving the reward that is promised?

We Need a Sanctified Dissatisfaction

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I pursue, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

This is one of the greatest Christians who ever lived

I mean we are talking about the apostle Paul

He Was satisfied with Jesus but he was not satisfied with himself.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

nothing

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

HE is saying a fool is satisfied with his accomplishments

Paul is saying it is foolish to be satisfied with where you are at I have done more than you all and I glory in my infirmities I recognize my weaknesses and were I need the power of the Lord to rest upon me

 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

Are you dissatisfied with where you are in your christian life ?

your prayer life: do you have his power?

your public testimony: are you an effective witness ?

Do you want to bring it to the next level?

Are you dissatisfied with how many people are here ? because more people need Jesus

Are you dissatisfied with people getting saved and want to see them get discipled as well ?

People have a tendency to be satisfied with this world

Have you apprehended have you already made it ? are you satisfied with where you are at ?

Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their “running” with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress.

But Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself with himself and with Jesus Christ!

one mark of this maturity is the knowledge that he is not perfect!

The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself and strives to do better. Not to say I am ok but this is where we need to do better were we need to improve

n the Bible we are warned against a false estimate of our spiritual condition.

The church at Sardis had “a name that thou livest, and art dead” ().

They had reputation without reality.

The church at Laodicea boasted that it was rich, when in God’s sight it was “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” ().

the believers at Smyrna thought they were poor when they were really rich! ()

Samson thought he still had his old power, but in reality it had departed from him ().

Self-evaluation can be a dangerous thing, because we can err in two directions: (1) making ourselves better than we are, or (2) making ourselves worse than we really are.

Paul had no illusions about himself; he still had to keep “pressing forward” in order to “lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold” of him.

A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress.

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God” ().

We Need a Single Devotion

but this one thing I do

“One thing” is a phrase that is important to the Christian life.

“One thing thou lackest,” said Jesus to the self-righteous rich young ruler ().

“One thing is needful,” He explained to busy Martha when she criticized her sister ().

“One thing I know!” exclaimed the man who had received his sight by the power of Christ ().

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after!” testified the psalmist ().

Too many Christians are too involved in “many things,” when the secret of progress is to concentrate on “one thing.”

Gold medal christian living does not have time to meddle with things that don't matter

Suppose, Sir, you were to see a house on fire, and in that house you were to see a mother who had a baby in a crib, and the flames are creeping closer and closer to that crib, and you see that mother down on her hands picking up bobby pins, and hairpins, and straight pins, putting them in a little box, and you see her as she begins to take the curtains down off the wall, and the house is being engulfed in flames. You’d say, “She’s mad,” because the most precious thing there is the baby.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” ().

You’re so interested in your business, aren’t you? You’re so interested in your sports, aren’t you? You’re so interested in so many things that don’t really matter.

That women has many a brother or sister sitting right here in the congregation this morning. Many of those who are watching by television are sisters of that women

No time for God doing to many things

some of you are professionals, and some of you people with degrees, and some of you some have masters degrees, and some of you builders.

You’re so smart; you’re so wise, you’re great men and women.

You know how to do so many things; you are so wise; but yet, you have forgotten the one thing

And, when you die, you’re going to die like a fool—like a fool. And, what difference would it make then all that you knew? You did like abner as a fool

I know they won’t say that at your funeral. At your funeral, they’ll say, “Here lies interred a successful man of great enterprise and influence, and he departs mourned by the whole neighborhood. May his soul rest in peace.” But, God’s epitaph of your tombstone will be “Fool.”

Because in pursuit of many thing you forgot the one thing

The believer must devote himself to “running the Christian race.”

No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing. There are those few athletes who seem proficient in many sports, but they are the exception. The winners are those who concentrate, who keep their eyes on the goal and let nothing distract them. They are devoted entirely to their calling.

Like Nehemiah the wall-building governor, they reply to the distracting invitations, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down!” ()

“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” ().

Concentration is the secret of power.

If a river is allowed to overflow its banks, the area around it becomes a swamp. But if that river is dammed and controlled, it becomes a source of power. It is wholly a matter of values and priorities, living for that which matters most.

We Need a Set Direction

forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are before,

Paul said those things I have done good or bad they are behind me they are past

in Bible terminology, “to forget” does not mean “to fail to remember.” Apart from senility, hypnosis, or a brain malfunction, no mature person can forget what has happened in the past.

We may wish that we could erase certain bad memories, but we cannot.

“To forget” in the Bible means “no longer to be influenced by or affected by.” When God promises, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (),

He is not suggesting that He will conveniently have a bad memory! This is impossible with God. What God is saying is, “I will no longer hold their sins against them. Their sins can no longer affect their standing with Me or influence My attitude toward them.”

So, “forgetting those things which are behind” does not suggest an impossible feat of mental and psychological gymnastics by which we try to erase the sins and mistakes of the past.

It simply means that we break the power of the past by living for the future.

We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past.

There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back (

but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed.

The unsaved person is controlled by the past, but the Christian running the race looks toward the future.

Imagine what would happen on the race course if the charioteers started looking behind them! It is bad enough for a plowman to look back but for a charioteer to do so means a possible collision and serious injury.

We are accustomed to saying “past, present, future,” but we should view time as flowing from the future into the present and then into the past.

At least, the believer should be future-oriented, “forgetting those things which are behind.”

Sonic the hedgehog always goes forward, Tetris

Life throws all these blocks at you and you say man I should have put that somewhere else

I should have sent that one over there to college. I should not have marred that one. I messed up there I should not have got that dui man.

I should not have bought a house next to him. I should not have come to church today man. I sure messed up.

I am tired and he talking about gold metal christianity I not even sure I am saved.

Meanwhile the ones you can place in the right place are still coming so pay more attention to what is coming than what you can't change. Change the flow of time in your mind.

Too many Christians are shackled by regrets of the past.

They are trying to run the race by looking backward! No wonder they stumble and fall and get in the way of other Christians! Some Christian runners are being distracted by the successes of the past, not the failures; and this is just as bad. “The things which are behind” must be set aside and “the things which are before” must take their place.

It is possible to have dissatisfaction, devotion, and direction, and still lose the race

We Need a Solid Determination

I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Press means to reach forward

I am not done yet there more to be done I am looking to cross the finish line a winner

a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey.

A man does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the games.

He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win!

There is no substitute for victory. General Douglas MacArthur

No grey area either you are a victorious christian or you are not.

no substitute for victory. Oh, there is an alternative—that’s defeat; but there’s no substitute—there’s to be no backing up, no letting up—no substitute for victory

Either you get the prize or you don't . Either you you here well done thou good and faithful servant or you do not.

Are you living are you even running to obtain ?

1Co_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.

The same zeal that Paul employed when he persecuted the church (), he displayed in serving Christ.

wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christians put as much determination into their spiritual life as they do their hobbies?

Riding bikes till throw up imagine if we put that much effort into christian services for God tried that hard to get neighbors saved ?

Heb_12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

There are two extremes to avoid here: (1) “I must do it all” and (2) “God must do it all!”

both are heading for failure.

“Let go and let God!” is a clever slogan, but it does not fully describe the process of Christian living.

What quarterback would say to his team, “OK, men, just let go and let the coach do it all!”

On the other hand, no quarterback would say, “Listen to me and forget what the coach says!” Both extremes are wrong.

The Christian runner with the spiritual mind realizes that God must work in him if he is going to win the race

Some Christians are so busy “dying to self” that they never come back to life again to run the race! And others are so sure they can make it on their own that they never stop to read the Word, pray, or ask for the power of the Lord.

Let's be determined We are going to win this race. We will become the place re anyone that wants to grow can come and grow. Let's make this the place the Lord is the most pleased with here till we go there.

We Need a Steadfast Discipline  

 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye are otherwise minded, God will reveal even this to you.

 Nevertheless, to what we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

We need to think the same way

And if you do not think this way you are not hearing from God properly

Think about that why has this not been revealed to me

That I need to make a difference

That I need to live like i want to win

That I need to redeem the time for the days are evil

That I need to put down my smartphone

That I need to delegate my password to my wife for facebook.

I can't handle it not disciplined enough so I in the interest of the ministry still keep it but she manages it.

I find I look to much to the past instead of to the future checking on people that left my life not people that are coming into my life.

Nevertheless, to what we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

That Paul did or we will be disqualified

Lance armstrong

The epic downfall of cycling's star, once an idolized icon of millions around the globe, stands out in the history of professional sports.

If the athlete breaks training, he is disqualified; if he breaks the rules of the game, he is disqualified.

“No contestant in the games is crowned, unless he competes according to the rules”

Strive lawfully

The issue is not what he thinks or what the spectators think but what the judges say. One day each Christian will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (). The Greek word for “judgment seat” is bema, the very same word used to describe the place where the Olympic judges gave out the prizes! If we have disciplined ourselves to obey the rules, we shall receive a prize.

No shortcuts no fakes

Read a story about a man team running he would come out run the last lap with them take a shower. You not disciplined do not pray do not read bible do not give do not go do not do anything you supposed to do. Undisciplined in your christianity as thirty year old that lives in his parents basement playing xbox.

Dwight L. Moody, out of whose life came the Moody Bible Institute, out of whose life came the Moody broadcast, out of whose life came Moody Monthly magazine, and the Moody Missionary Fellowship, and all of the things that happen around the world, was an ordinary person. He was a shoe salesman. He was saved at the age of nineteen, and God used him in Chicago with Sunday Schools, and then God used Moody as an evangelist, and God used him moderately.

He preached in this land, and he preached in England; but on his second trip to England Dwight L. Moody heard a man preach in an open field. They didn’t even have a tent; they didn’t even have a brush: in an open field this man preached. The man’s name was Henry Varley. And this is what Henry Varley said. Henry Varley said, “The world has yet to see what God can do in, through, with, for, and by a man who is totally, completely surrendered to Him.” Moody said, “At that moment, I bowed my head and said, I’ll be that man—‘I’ll be that man. I’ll give my life totally to Him.” And from that time on there was something that happened in the life, in the ministry, of Dwight L. Moody. And his biographers and other preachers have talked about him and said it was Moody who took two continents and shook those continents toward God.

G. Campbell Morgan said, “Lukewarmness is the worst form of blasphemy.” It would be better to say there’s not a God than to say there is one, but He doesn’t excite me, and I’m not going to give all there is to Him—totally, wholly, completely following the Lord God.

Discipline is what we need

We Need a Sanctified Demonstrator  

 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them who walk so as ye have us for an example.

You know what you need you need to know it can be done and see it done.

Some of that did it so you know you can do it to

Look to paul I have fought a good fight I have finished my course

A killer from a religious background

Look to Jesus

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,

Able , enock , noah abraham , sarah ,Isaac Jacob Joseph , Moses ,Rehab

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

They did and we can to

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

I think Jesus said it best when he said follow me

Jas_5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

We have modern examples as well.

Who do you know that is a sanctified demonstrator that you can say he has a prayer life she raises her children above this world of corruption

Pastor Adrian Rogers kjv 29,000 when died 2005 people stood against compromise stood for the bible stood against modernism and stood against alcohol.

Who encourages you? Who can teach you?

YOu know what the problem is the church has become a stadium full of spectators instead of a boxing ring were people come to ttrain to fight.

It is the bleachers the colasium were there are hundreds of people that come to watch some one else be a christian and thye will cheer but they will never bein the one that gets in the chariot

Pastor one time got a email said I no longer want to be a member do not like the preachers sermons they asked why not he siad I feel like you are trying to interfear in my life. I am fine on the bleachers and I do not want to get in the chariot.

Is that you or are you running to win ?