Pressin' Forward

Philippians 3:12-15

Looking Back to 2020.

Brothers and sisters, it looks like we are days away from closing out this year, yet again. Some people we know made it and some did not. Some of us, perhaps started off this year with 2020 vision. With resolutions and goals you strived to complete.

You maybe said to yourself, “This is the year, were I’ll get everything straightened out.” And even in the churches, I’m sure most planned to expand, to outreach, to strengthen the saints with more unity. I’m sure many had programs ready for the year, 2020. While all the people around the world were busy doing their own thing and the church as well, it became known unto us in March…that things were going to be different.

As many already know, disaster struck. And not just in the world but in the church also. it’s one thing for something to affect the world but when it also affects us, then we’re wondering, “Lord, what is going on here?”

But as the Word of God says, “His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.”

And as believers, as those who have faith in the true God, all we can do is have trust in Him.

And even now, brothers and sisters, unto this day, we’re trusting in Him whole heartily and completely.

Your faithful presence this half year, last month, last week; today...has shown me that the church of Christ, is essential.

As it is written, “[let us] not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Heb 10:25

But whatever comes our way, let us make sure we pray.

Though this year may have caught you all by surprise, going forward, let us be wise.

And I want you to take a moment today to reflect on God’s goodness: for His lovingkindness, His tender mercies, and His everlasting love. Because let me tell you something, you didn’t keep yourself this past year, it was the Lord who kept you.

It was His mighty hand and outstretched arm, that saved some of you from the pit, it was He that brought you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. It is He who protected you from this virus and even if you got it, it was He who made sure you lived another day.

For all who are here, God has a purpose for each and every one of you. I don’t believe in coincidences. Everything has a purpose, your pain and setbacks themselves have a purpose.

So everything you went through this year, consider it done and over with. And if you’re still holding on to some things, it’s getting to be that time to let go. As they say, “Let go…and let God.”

This brings me to the scripture we’ll be reading today.:

Philippians 3:12–15 ESV

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Context

Let me set this text in context, to give you the wide picture and show the applicability in our lives. Paul is writing to the church at Philipi and he is doing this while in a Roman prison. He’s in chains, in a dark room, hungry, and ill treated.

But, surrounding his circumstances, he has hope. It’s importance for you and I to have hope.

But if even today you don’t feel hopeful, just know that hope is the end of a process. As it is written: Romans 5:2-5

Suffering - Endurance - Character - Hope.

Our 3 Main Points:

+ Forget the Past - forgive/let go

+Press Forward - have a vision, see the destination in view

+The Prize - in Christ, in God there’s no greater reward for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.

Philippians 3:12–13 (ESV)

Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 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,

As a pilgrim on this earth, I’m in between two heavens - yet, while I walk under one, I have citizenship on the higher.

Jesus has made me His own - those that give their life to Christ receive a revelation from the Master Himself. In that, He paid for your life with His life’s blood and as such, He’s worthy to follow.

Forgetting the Past

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,

In Phil 3:4-8, he lists his credentials and tosses them aside as if nothing, that he may gain Christ.

Forgetting what lies behind- removing the weight, anger, burden, resentment or unforgiveness.

You must also forgive others as God has also forgiven you.

The relationship you have with people reflect how you view Lord.

1 John 4:20 ESV

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

When you’re forward, that means something else lies ahead.

You have to look forward to something.

As it is written, “without a vision the people perish.”

Pressin’ Forward

Philippians 3:14 ESV

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Pressing on towards the goal.

For the prize.

The upward call of God in Christ Jesus

our calling / vocational / ministry.

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

the gifts:

9 Manifestations of the Holy Spirit

A message of wisdom

A message of knowledge

Faith

Gifts of healing 

Miraculous powers

Prophecy

Distinguishing between spirits

Speaking in different kinds of tongues

The interpretation of tongues

overall point: the resurrection

the church at Philipi only though that the new birth was all there was.

But being new creatures in Christ, is just a foretaste of what’s to come.