PRESS FOR PRIZE

Philippians 3:12–14 NKJV

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

There is no higher call than the gospel call. There is no higher prize than the gospel call prize.

Paul’s text is weighty with speks of gospel call.

1.Primacy of the call- The upward call of God-v.14

The call is from an elevated position. it comes from a higher ground than other calls. It is a “celestial,” at once in origin, operation. it is of God. It is God calling.

Galatians 1:15 “15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace.”

2 Timothy 1:9 “9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”

God has called us to great and noble efforts; to a career of true honor and glory; to the obtainment of a bright and imperishable crown

2. Purpose for the call-attain perfection. Be like God. perfect His character in us. By redemption we are now citizens of heaven. we need to perfect the heaven character so us to ushered into heaven

Matthew 5:48 “48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Ephesians 4:13 “13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

But the struggle is real. we must be alert and pressing on.

Romans 7:18-19 “18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

3. Practice- Vs. 13

“but one thing I do, vforgetting those things which are behind and wreaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

Move from willing to practice. move from willing to live a christian life and practicing christian living. in other words be deliberate in actions and behavior that promotes godliness.

Life for us now consists of discarding wrong attitudes and habits accumulated in the past. For us, the past is dead, buried in the waters of baptism. With that behind us, we must diligently make unwavering progress in putting out the leaven of sin, growing in God’s love, producing the fruit of God’s Spirit, moving toward the Kingdom of God, and putting on Christ’s perfection, His image in us.

Hebrews 12:1 “1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Two quick exhortations are given: get rid of all excess weight and clinging entanglements and run and run and keep on running—enduring to the end.

The words “lay aside” (apothemenoi) mean to take off, strip off and to remove as in taking off clothes.

The Christian runner must strip off “every weight” (ogkon panta). This means any excess weight and bulk of body. All serious athletes train and strain to remove all excess weight.

These things may not be bad of nature by they hinder anyway. they must be removed to win the prize.

Seeking entertainment instead of fellowshipping and communing with God—instead of praying and reading our Bibles—instead of worshipping and witnessing.

Friends, technology, Music, ponography, work, politics, name them. you must strip yourself off unnecessay weight that hinders this journey.

Matthew 5:30 “30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

The Greek word euperistaton translated “entangle” or “ensare” mean the sin which clings, distracts, entangles, and trips up the Christian runner.

It is the picture of clothing flapping around a person while he is running: it entangles and trips him and he falls. Such a cloth must be removed to win te prize.

Job 11:14 “14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;”

Isaiah 55:7 “7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

Romans 6:12 “12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”

some of these things may be your past experiences. your past pains, your past frustrations, your past way of life, your past aquitances you keep checking on them and they drag you back. Paul says, forgeting the past am pressing on to the prize.

forget the past and press on the prize! The eprize is priceless. it an incorruptible (1 Cor 9:25).

1 Corinthians 2:9 “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.””

Run your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. Press for Prize!