How to Finish Well (Philippians 3:12-14)
Philippians 3:12-14, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: 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.
Introduction:
In these verses here in Philippians 3, we find the Paul taking a spiritual inventory of his life. As Paul begins to look at his life, he sees himself as one who has not yet arrived and stands in need of improvement. I believe that not a single one of us is completely content with where we are before the Lord. We too need improvement that is, we should want to become more like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). When we get satisfied, we get complacent and when we get complacent, we cease to grow as a believer.
1.Remembering. Philippians 3:13b, forgetting those things which are behind,
We would all admit: We have failed in the past. That is, we have fallen short of God's goal for our lives. But praise the LORD, He remembers to forget (Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:18-18; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). Don't look back at your failures; keep your eyes on the prize (LORD JESUS CHRIST) at the finish line. It's not the mistakes I make in life that I regret the most; but it's the golden opportunities to do great things for the LORD that I let pass by. Don't look back at your failures; keep your eyes on the prize (LORD JESUS CHRIST) at the finish line.
2.Reaching. Philippians 3:13c, reaching forth …,
We would all admit: We are dissatisfied with our present spiritual state. The words “reaching forth” means to stretch, or to lean forward; strain for the goal. It is a word that indicates a 100% effort. This word is used to describe a runner nears the finish line going hard tape with muscles stretched to the limit to win. Paul tells us that he is "reaching out with all he has" to be sure that he wins his race! Paul shows his intensity to reach his goal for Christ. Paul was trying to reach his fullest potential for the glory of God. What a lesson for us! Can we honestly say that we are straining to reach the goal?
3.Resolved. Philippians 3:14a, I press toward the mark
The word “press” means “to intently, earnestly seek or pursue.” It indicates a continuous effort. We come now to the secret of Paul’s great success as a Christian. Paul had a passion to reach the goal as quickly as possible, letting nothing DISTRACT his attention from the goal.
The word mark refers to the "goal that one has in view." In other words, Paul was not distracted by his surroundings, he was just heading for the goal. Notice that when he did reach the end of his life, he was able to leave behind the testimony that he had indeed run well and finished well. "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" II Timothy 4:6-7.
You must avoid the trap of becoming distracted by the events of this life. There is a mark, there is a goal and we should be striving for that goal in our lives! God help us to keep our eyes on the goal. Too many come out of the blocks primed and pumped to run the race, but after a few short months or years, they have become distracted and fallen out of the race. Don’t think you have to sprint; just keep a steady pace. They are not living for the moment, but they run with eternity in view at all times. They realize that God is honored by a race well run and a life well lived.
This does not mean one has not made great strides in their walk or devotion; but they choose not to be satisfied until they reach perfection. One of the greatest threats to our growth as Christians is the notion that we have arrived at a pretty good place and no longer need to develop our Christian walk and become more like Jesus. If the Apostle Paul did not feel like he had reached the peak but still needed to improve, there are certainly areas where we still need work as well.
A. Some Things You Can Count On Next Year:
1. God Will Still Be God and He Will Never Change (Hebrews 13:8)
2. The Bible Will Still Be Right (Proverbs 30:5)
3. Satan Will Still Be Active (I Peter 5:8)
B. This Coming Year Satan Will:
1. Try to Discourage Us
2. Try to Distract Us
3. Try to Defile Us
4. Try to Divide Us
5. Try to Destroy Us
6. Try to Deceive Us
C. What We Need To Resolve:
1. We Need to Resolve to Be Faithful
2. We Need to Resolve to Be Holy
3. We Need to Resolve to Be Unified
4. We Need to Resolve to Be Watching for our Lord’s Return
5. We Need to Resolve to Be Trusting in Him
If we are to succeed in the Christian life and honor God by the lives we live, then we are going to have to run the race His way. We will have to run with our eyes upon Him (Hebrews 12:1-2). We will have to learn to turn a blind eye to the allurements of the world and a deaf ear to compromise. If we will attain the prize of Christlikeness, then we will have to pay the price of dedication and struggle. It will be a hard-fought victory, but in the end, when we see His face, it will be worth it all!
Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Conclusion:
As we consider these truths today, where do you find yourself?
Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour?
Are you living for the Lord, as you should?
Are you living for the future, or are you stuck somewhere in the past?
Are you pressing for the mark and reaching for the prize?
Are you on track?
Are you effectively doing the Lord’s work and will?
As you take a look at where you are before the Lord, how would you describe your Christian life?
Is it pleasing to the Lord?
Is there something lacking?
Is there sin, or other things that need to be dealt with?
How would you honestly sum up your life?
If there are problems at any level, God offers us a way to make them right today.
Let us face this New Year with a decision in our hearts to make it the most productive year that we have ever had!
Let us face this New Year with excitement and hope in our hearts!
May the Lord bless each and every one of you in 2021.
Prayer: Father, I dedicate myself to You anew. Cleanse me and strengthen me. Guide me, guard me, and give me wisdom to navigate the challenges that will arise. Fill me with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Bear fruit that remains through me and our church family. Help me to trust You in, for all things. Help me to rightly steward my mind, my marriage, my money, and my ministry in view of standing before You and giving an account one day soon. In Jesus name, Amen.
If this post in any way, has blessed you,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
Philippians 3:12-14, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: 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.
Introduction:
In these verses here in Philippians 3, we find the Paul taking a spiritual inventory of his life. As Paul begins to look at his life, he sees himself as one who has not yet arrived and stands in need of improvement. I believe that not a single one of us is completely content with where we are before the Lord. We too need improvement that is, we should want to become more like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). When we get satisfied, we get complacent and when we get complacent, we cease to grow as a believer.
1.Remembering. Philippians 3:13b, forgetting those things which are behind,
We would all admit: We have failed in the past. That is, we have fallen short of God's goal for our lives. But praise the LORD, He remembers to forget (Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:18-18; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). Don't look back at your failures; keep your eyes on the prize (LORD JESUS CHRIST) at the finish line. It's not the mistakes I make in life that I regret the most; but it's the golden opportunities to do great things for the LORD that I let pass by. Don't look back at your failures; keep your eyes on the prize (LORD JESUS CHRIST) at the finish line.
2.Reaching. Philippians 3:13c, reaching forth …,
We would all admit: We are dissatisfied with our present spiritual state. The words “reaching forth” means to stretch, or to lean forward; strain for the goal. It is a word that indicates a 100% effort. This word is used to describe a runner nears the finish line going hard tape with muscles stretched to the limit to win. Paul tells us that he is "reaching out with all he has" to be sure that he wins his race! Paul shows his intensity to reach his goal for Christ. Paul was trying to reach his fullest potential for the glory of God. What a lesson for us! Can we honestly say that we are straining to reach the goal?
3.Resolved. Philippians 3:14a, I press toward the mark
The word “press” means “to intently, earnestly seek or pursue.” It indicates a continuous effort. We come now to the secret of Paul’s great success as a Christian. Paul had a passion to reach the goal as quickly as possible, letting nothing DISTRACT his attention from the goal.
The word mark refers to the "goal that one has in view." In other words, Paul was not distracted by his surroundings, he was just heading for the goal. Notice that when he did reach the end of his life, he was able to leave behind the testimony that he had indeed run well and finished well. "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" II Timothy 4:6-7.
You must avoid the trap of becoming distracted by the events of this life. There is a mark, there is a goal and we should be striving for that goal in our lives! God help us to keep our eyes on the goal. Too many come out of the blocks primed and pumped to run the race, but after a few short months or years, they have become distracted and fallen out of the race. Don’t think you have to sprint; just keep a steady pace. They are not living for the moment, but they run with eternity in view at all times. They realize that God is honored by a race well run and a life well lived.
This does not mean one has not made great strides in their walk or devotion; but they choose not to be satisfied until they reach perfection. One of the greatest threats to our growth as Christians is the notion that we have arrived at a pretty good place and no longer need to develop our Christian walk and become more like Jesus. If the Apostle Paul did not feel like he had reached the peak but still needed to improve, there are certainly areas where we still need work as well.
A. Some Things You Can Count On Next Year:
1. God Will Still Be God and He Will Never Change (Hebrews 13:8)
2. The Bible Will Still Be Right (Proverbs 30:5)
3. Satan Will Still Be Active (I Peter 5:8)
B. This Coming Year Satan Will:
1. Try to Discourage Us
2. Try to Distract Us
3. Try to Defile Us
4. Try to Divide Us
5. Try to Destroy Us
6. Try to Deceive Us
C. What We Need To Resolve:
1. We Need to Resolve to Be Faithful
2. We Need to Resolve to Be Holy
3. We Need to Resolve to Be Unified
4. We Need to Resolve to Be Watching for our Lord’s Return
5. We Need to Resolve to Be Trusting in Him
If we are to succeed in the Christian life and honor God by the lives we live, then we are going to have to run the race His way. We will have to run with our eyes upon Him (Hebrews 12:1-2). We will have to learn to turn a blind eye to the allurements of the world and a deaf ear to compromise. If we will attain the prize of Christlikeness, then we will have to pay the price of dedication and struggle. It will be a hard-fought victory, but in the end, when we see His face, it will be worth it all!
Questions to Consider:
- What is it that you need to move on from?
- Is there anything that is hindering you from being faithful to the Lord Jesus and His work?
- Do you have the right priorities?
- Have you been distracted and discouraged?
- Have you lost focus and faithfulness?
Points to Ponder:
- Forget the mistakes and failures of your past and look ahead to the future.
- Use this New Day as the starting point of a lifetime of service for Christ.
- This year, your resolutions may actually be fulfilled.
- Consider using the website as your source for daily devotions.
Conclusion:
As we consider these truths today, where do you find yourself?
Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour?
Are you living for the Lord, as you should?
Are you living for the future, or are you stuck somewhere in the past?
Are you pressing for the mark and reaching for the prize?
Are you on track?
Are you effectively doing the Lord’s work and will?
As you take a look at where you are before the Lord, how would you describe your Christian life?
Is it pleasing to the Lord?
Is there something lacking?
Is there sin, or other things that need to be dealt with?
How would you honestly sum up your life?
If there are problems at any level, God offers us a way to make them right today.
Let us face this New Year with a decision in our hearts to make it the most productive year that we have ever had!
Let us face this New Year with excitement and hope in our hearts!
May the Lord bless each and every one of you in 2021.
Prayer: Father, I dedicate myself to You anew. Cleanse me and strengthen me. Guide me, guard me, and give me wisdom to navigate the challenges that will arise. Fill me with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Bear fruit that remains through me and our church family. Help me to trust You in, for all things. Help me to rightly steward my mind, my marriage, my money, and my ministry in view of standing before You and giving an account one day soon. In Jesus name, Amen.
If this post in any way, has blessed you,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com