Eyes On The Prize

EYES ON THE PRIZE

Preached by Rev. Kelvin L. Parks

Maine Street Baptist Church

Brunswick, Maine 04011

11 June 2006

 Prayer

 Thanksgiving

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

[v.13] 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,

[v.14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Alternate translation from “The Message”

[v.13] I am not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, do not get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I have my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward -- to Jesus. I am off and running and I am not turning back.

[v.14] So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision -- you will see it yet! Now that we are on the right track, let us stay on it.

Subject: Eyes on the Prize

This morning, we are going to see from the Scriptures that life is a race to be run. Now, I realize that you may not feel much like running, this early on a Sunday morning. In fact, someone of you are like me and you may not ever feel like running again.

But ... the type of running that we are going to talk about this morning does not involve a cardiovascular workout, nor does it give you blisters on your already sore feet. Instead, it gets us from where we are spiritually to where God intends for u to be.

Speaking of exercise ... I am reminded here of a story of a retired couple who decided that they should walk two miles a day to stay in shape. They chose to walk a mile out on a lonely country road so they would have no choice but to walk back.

At the one-mile mark on their first venture, the man asked his wife, “Do you think you can make it back all right, or are you too tired?” “Oh no,” she said. I’m not tired. I can make it just fine. He said good ... I will wait here. You go back, get the car, and come get me.”

Let us look again at our text ...

Walk with me ...

[v.13] 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,

[v.14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Bear with me for a moment as I set the context of what is taking place in this letter to the Church at Philippi.

We see here in Philippians 3, Paul giving us his spiritual biography. If we look back, we see Paul describing his past in [v.1-11], his present, which we will examine more closely in our text [v.12–16], and his future [v.17–21].

Now ... I need to make sure ya’ll get this. You see ... although Paul was a spiritual giant in the eyes of the Philippians saints, he wanted them to know that he had not yet attained the goals stated in verses 10-12.

Well ... lets back up real quickly take a took at this goals ...

Goal #1

[v.10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Goal #2

[v.11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Goal #3

[v.12] 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.

This leads us to our text...

[v.13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended ...

We see here... that Paul was still actively pressing on toward the prize of his high calling.

With all that he had accomplished ... he was not ready to sit back, kick his feet up, and chill for the remainder of his life

He knew that he still had some running to do ... he knew that he had not by no means reached the finish line. He know that if he wanted to make that he had to keep his eyes on the finish line.

Now ... let us put a pen right here and deal with this for a minute.