Introduction

Good morning, beloved. I greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is always a joy to gather with you, my family in faith, as we seek to grow together in the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. Today, we are gathered here to look into the beautiful words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians.

Our Scripture reading today is from Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” A simple verse, yet filled with profound wisdom and guidance for our lives. It speaks to us about purpose, about perseverance, and about progress.

In his timeless wisdom, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark." Isn't that a beautiful reminder, dear friends? Even the smallest, seemingly insignificant creature, achieved its purpose by simply pressing on. If a snail can reach its destination, how much more can we, who are made in the image of God, reach the goal set before us?

As we stand at the start of this new day, let's take a moment to set our hearts right. Let's press on, let's persevere, let's progress. Let's not allow the pain of the past to hinder our pursuit of purpose. Let's remember that our past problems are not a prison, but a platform for growth and maturity.

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for this beautiful day, for the gift of life, and for the opportunity to come together as Your children. As we open Your Word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive the wisdom and guidance that You have for us. Help us to press on toward the goal, to persevere past pain, and to progress past our previous problems. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Transition. So, we ask ourselves, what does it mean to pursue purpose passionately? How can we persevere past pain? And how can we progress past our previous problems? These are the questions we will be addressing today, as we seek to apply the wisdom of Philippians 3:14 to our lives.

Pursuing Purpose Passionately

In the heart of the Apostle Paul's message, we find a call to action. It's a call that urges us to move forward, to strive, to reach out for something greater. This purpose isn't something vague or undefined. It's a clear, specific goal that God has set before us. It's a heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Living with purpose means living with intention. It's about knowing why we're here and what we're meant to do. It's about aligning our lives with God's plan and God's will and making choices that reflect our commitment to this purpose. It's not about drifting aimlessly through life, but about moving deliberately in a specific direction.

But how do we discover this purpose? How do we know what God's plan for our lives is? The answer lies in our relationship with God. As we draw closer to Him, as we spend time in His Word and in prayer, He reveals His plan to us. He shows us the path He wants us to walk. He equips us with the gifts and abilities we need to fulfill our purpose.

Living with purpose also means living with passion. Be fully engaged in what we're doing. Pour out our heart and soul into our pursuits. It's about being driven by a deep love for God and a desire to serve Him.

But this passion isn't something that comes naturally. It's something that needs to be cultivated. It's something that grows as we nurture our relationship with God. As we spend time in His presence, as we meditate on His Word, our passion for Him and for His purpose grows. It's like a fire that needs to be stoked and fed to keep it burning brightly.

Living with purpose and passion also means living with perseverance. It's about not giving up when the going gets tough. But this perseverance comes from God. It's a fruit of the Spirit that grows in us as we abide in Christ. It's a strength that comes from knowing that we're not alone, that God is with us every step of the way, giving us the courage and the endurance we need to keep going.

Finally, living with purpose, passion, and perseverance means living with progress. It's about not being content with where we are, but always striving to grow and improve. It's about not settling for mediocrity, but aiming for excellence.

But this progress isn't something that happens overnight. It's a process that takes time. It's a journey that involves many steps, some big and some small. But as we keep pressing on, as we keep striving for the goal, we will see progress. We will see growth. We will see change. And ultimately, we will see the fulfillment of our purpose.

Persevering Past Pain

As we navigate through the complexities of life, we often encounter obstacles that threaten to derail us from our path ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO