Pressing Toward The Prize Series

Pressing On Toward the Prize

Philippians 3:1-16

Introduction

Our lives are going someplace - and it’s a good thing to keep our eyes on the destination so we stay on track. Yogi Berra “You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.”

Philippians 3:14 NLT “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

The idea of pressing on reflects “the intensity of an athlete running a desperate race to the finish line, eager to win first prize.” (Swindoll) But there were two obstacles he pointed to.

Obstacles to the Prize:

-The influence of others.

Philippians 3:2-3 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh...

Paul warned the Philippians about some who would seek to interject their own beliefs into the lives of the Christians. This was particularly of interest to Paul because of their Jewish influence - he has strong language for them. He reminds the Philippians that what the Judaizers offer is far less than what they have now. We probably haven’t had anyone pressuring us to be circumcised for greater holiness lately … but we may feel pressure from others to abandon what we know and have assurance about - we worship by the Spirit, glory in Christ, and put no confidence in the flesh. (3)

-The accomplishments of the past.

Philippians 3:4-6 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 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.

Paul had great accomplishments for the Lord in his life. Craddock: “Were he so minded he could preach the Judaizers’ sermon better than they.” It’s easy to point to our past and what we have done and just be satisfied with that. There’s nothing about Paul that suggests he was ready to live a retired Christianity that didn’t make any effort any longer. Even from prison, he continued to reach out. We can’t let the influence of others nor our own past accomplishments keep us from pressing on to the prize.

What is the path to the Prize?

1. KNOW JESUS

Philippians 3:7-8 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ...

What were Paul’s losses? As he became a Christian he lost his reputation, his mission, his family (?), his people, his life. When he embraced the Jesus way, everything changed. All of his losses were worth losing, in order to know Christ. Knowing Christ as Lord was so valuable to him that the things he lost he now considers “rubbish” (NIV). CEB "sewer trash". Swindoll “The term literally means ‘dung, excrement, manure.’” This is the strongest possible contrast he could make.

When we begin to view knowing Christ as the highest of all possible gains, and we race toward it, then whatever losses we have along the way are of no worth to us.

McGrath “The Christ who knows us so well longs for us to know him in turn.” McGrath goes on to say that we know Christ in our minds, imaginations, hearts, and memories. In our minds, as we study the Scriptures. Imaginations, placing ourselves in the stories and scenes of Jesus in the Bible, opening up windows that affect our mind and heart. Hearts, allowing ourselves to feel and experience the love, forgiveness, and touch of Christ.

Memories, remembering what Christ has done for us, allowing that to spur our hopes of what He has promised to do.

Philippians 3:8 NLT “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”

2. TRUST JESUS

Philippians 3:9-11 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.