Take Hold Of Jesus

1. Paul went to Philippi on his 2nd missionary journey and during his brief time there he helped pioneer a church.

2. While in Philippi Paul ministered powerfully ... which led to great suffering ... and further powerful ministry.

a. (Acts 16:23-24, NIV) After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

3. Paul visited Philippi again on his 3rd missionary journey.

4. Paul’s references to the imperial guard and Caesar’s household suggest that he wrote Philippians around 62 AD during his first imprisonment in Rome.

5. Paul shared his personal goal in life in Philippians 3:12, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

6. To understand this, we must first understand why Christ Jesus takes hold of those who put their trust in Him. So that we may:

a. Know Him / Become like Him / Fulfill our Kingdom purpose for Him

7. The purpose for which Christ Jesus took hold of Paul became the prize which Paul spent the rest of his life pursuing!

a. To know Christ Jesus / To become like Christ Jesus / To fulfill his Kingdom purpose for Christ Jesus

8. Paul knew that Jesus had taken hold of him; but he also knew that if he wanted to grow in Christ, become like Christ, and fulfill his purpose in God’s Kingdom that he would have to take personal responsibility and start pursuing Christ Jesus!

(Philippians 3:12–14, NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I. Who Are You Holding On To?

A. People Are Finding Out That Much Of What They Were Holding On To Isn’t Reliable

1. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken!

2. (Hebrews 12:26–27, NIV) At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

B. Paul Spent The First Part Of His Life Trying To Take Hold Of God By His Own Personal Merit And Ability

1. (Philippians 3:4–6, NIV) ... If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

2. When Jesus revealed Himself to Paul everything changed!

a. (Philippians 3:7, GW) These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ.

3. Those who try to prove themselves worthy will be condemned as sinners; those who put their faith in Jesus will be saved!

a. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

C. Paul Isn’t Speaking About Earning His Salvation But He Is Speaking About That Which Would Earn Him Eternal Reward

1. Paul isn’t speaking about earning his salvation; in 3:9 he wrote, “the righteousness from God that depends on faith”

2. However, he is speaking about the eternal reward Christ will give to all who serve Him faithfully.

a. (Revelation 22:12, NIV) “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

3. In 3:14 Paul said that he was running after a prize; this was the Greek word which referred to an award given in contests.

a. Although this was a common Greek word it was only used in the NT in Philippians 3:14 and 1 Corinthians 9:24

(1) (Philippians 3:14, ESV) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

(2) (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

b. In both these verses it is used in the classical Greek sense speaking of an award given for an achievement.

4. The goal and the prize in 3:4 are identical; when Paul reached his goal (i.e. “it is finished”), the prize would be fully his!

a. Paul wanted Jesus to be able to say to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

II. Taking Hold Of Jesus (καταλαμβάνω) Involves Divine Revelation And Personal Responsibility

A. Καταλαμβάνω Is Used Throughout The NT In Various Ways And Emphasizes Different Things:

1. Divine Revelation (Acts 10:34, ESV) So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

2. Man’s Responsibility (Philippians 3:12, NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

B. Paul Was Doing All That He Could To Take Hold Of The Ultimate Prize:

1. Paul was doing all that he could to know and experience Christ Jesus fully (know = γνω̂σις, knowledge through experience)

a. (Philippians 3:10, NIV) I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

b. When Paul spoke of “becoming like him in his death” he was speaking of the crucified life, not physical death.

2. Paul was doing all that he could to become more like Christ Jesus in his life and ministry

a. Paul embraced the crucified life because he knew that was the only way he could become more like Jesus.

b. (Galatians 2:20, NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. ...

3. Paul was doing all that he could to fulfill his Kingdom purpose for Christ Jesus

C. It Is Clear That Paul Was Putting All His Effort Into Pursuing Christ, Yet He Wasn’t Doing It In His Own Strength!

1. He submitted himself to the Spirit who enabled him to seek Jesus!

2. It is the Spirit’s power that enables us to take hold of and fully possess that which we have been given in Christ.

a. (Philippians 3:3, TPT) ... we worship God in the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit, not in laws and religious duties. We are those who boast in what Jesus Christ has done, and not in what we can accomplish in our own strength.

D. How Do You Start Pursuing And Taking Hold Of Jesus?

1. (Philippians 3:3, ESV) ... worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

a. Worship by the Spirit

(1) It is important to note that Paul put worship at the very top of the list of those things which the Holy Spirit enabled him to do in his quest to know Christ more.

b. Give Jesus all the glory

c. Beware pride! (“put no confidence in the flesh”)

III. Paul Revealed That It Isn’t Always Easy To Pursue Jesus

A. (Philippians 3:14, ESV) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1. “press” = διώκω (diōkō), chase; hunt; pursue.

a. In Philippians 3:12, 14 διώκω is in the Present Tense (i.e. continuous action)

2. If we want to take hold of Christ we must press on through whatever circumstances Jesus is leading us through.

a. Whether Jesus is leading us through green pastures or valleys shadowed by darkness and death, we must press on!

B. In The NT διώκω Is Usually Used In Reference To Persecution And Only Secondly Does It Refer To Pursuing Jesus

1. Why is the same word used in such different ways? What is the connection?

a. Just as a persecutor is zealous to persecute those he hates, a Christian who wants to grow in Jesus is zealous to seek after Him!

b. Zeal and devotion are the common factors in the two main uses of this word.

c. It’s interesting Paul used this word to describe his experience; he had experienced the zeal of a persecutor; now he was experiencing the zeal of a Jesus seeker!

2. Paul became a διώκω disciple who sought Jesus with zeal! That’s why he was able to change the world!

C. Paul Even Said That He Was “Straining Toward What Is Ahead”

1. ἐπεκτείνομαι (Present Tense): to reach out/stretch out towards a goal; suggests intense effort as well as a firm purpose.

2. Paul knew that Jesus was within his reach; but that at times he would have to strain and press through to reach Him!

3. Why would Jesus lead Paul through such difficulty? Because it is in difficulty that we are transformed into His image!

a. (Hebrews 12:10, NIV) ... God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

Conclusion:

· Since Christ has taken hold of you so that you can get to know Him better, you can if you choose to!

· Since Christ has taken hold of you so that you can become like Him more, you can if you choose to!

· Since Christ has taken hold of you so that you can fulfill your purpose in His Kingdom, you can if you choose to!