Press On

Introduction

Have you thought about what goals you want to make for 2021?

Many people will think about what they want to achieve this next year:

Getting health (losing weight, exercising)

Developing one’s mind (reading, learning something new)

Building relationships (better marriage, family life)

Enlarging resources (financial management, organizing)

Studies show that many will establish goals, but few will actually achieve them.

Today, I want to talk about something that you will want to do this next year—and it will change your life—and impact those around you.

There is a goal found in Scripture that God wants you to make.

Scripture: Philippians 3

Text

Philippians 3:14–16 ESV

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Main Idea

Establish goals that will help you advance in your relationship with God.

Point 1

The believer’s goal centers on the fulfilment of God’s purpose in life!

An athlete, such as a runner, sets the finish line as a goal to achieve.

In order to achieve that goal, the athlete must focus—and not allow anything to distract from fulfilling that goal.

The Problem: There are many people and situations that can distract us from fulfilling God’s purpose in our life.

For many, we shared that challenges of a pandemic, economic uncertainties, racial and social conflicts, presidential elections, and routines of family and church upended.

If we are not careful, we can allow challenges to distract us from our God-given, God-glorifying purpose.

Just like a runner in a race, we need to focus on the goal in win more than anything else.

The Apostle Paul identified the goal that each believer should embrace:

Philippians 3:10–11 NIV

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

In this passage, Paul identifies an important step in keeping the goal of Christ the main thing:

Philippians 3:13 ESV

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

For Paul, and for us, this is a work in progress. But what is critical in wining this spiritual race is to keep facing forward.

If we keep focusing on what has happened (our circumstance, the past), our effort to advance in the race of life will be severely impacted (in a negative way).

When we keep our focus on the past, we tend either:

Believe that the best years were in the past and therefore life in the future is not going to measure up.

Believe that because of the bad experiences of the past, we need to play it safe, not get involved, and think that our future will be just as “bad” as our past.

Transition: But I want to propose to you a change in our thinking!

Point 2

Mature thinking centers on Christ as the center of life!

What is at the heart of mature thinking?

Philippians 3:14–15 ESV

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Mature thinking centers on a focused determination to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

It is the recognition that this is going to take work—hard work (I press on).

It is the recognition that there is a goal (a specific goal) that must be obtained (it is worth putting everything on the line).

This speaks of not just winning the race, but how we would accomplish the goal. It speaks of performance—our attitude and our actions.

Transition: So, what Paul is saying here is that each one of us are faced with a choice to make. Either we can choose to life live reacting and responding to all of the challenges and circumstances we face, or...

Point 3

The believer chooses to remain faithful to all that God gives!

Faithfulness to God needs to be rule that we live by.

Philippians 3:16 ESV

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Holing true speaks of integrity of our heart and our work.

It does not happen without effort. It is a choice—to chose to live life according to God’s Word.

What have we attained:

God has given us His Son—who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We need to hold true to Christ.

God has given us His revelation, which guides us in our faith and conduct. We need to hold true to His Word.

God has given us His church, which provides opportunity to love, learn and serve with one another. We need to hold true to the community of believers.

Conclusion

Setting goals for our life is a biblical thing.

We have a goal that God gives us to fulfil His purpose.

So, what goals are you going to work toward this coming year?

Establish goal that will help you grow and thrive in your relationship with God.

Questions for Personal Reflection and Group Discussion

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution? How did you do in keeping that resolution?

What goals should Christians make that can help them in their faith?

What are your thoughts about Philippians 3:14-16? How can these verses help shape your thinking about what should be the priority of a Christian?

How can faithfulness to God and His Word impact the way you approach life?