Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to this blessed gathering where we have come together, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment, to delve into the riches of God's word. We are here today, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the grand narrative of God's love and grace. As we gather in His name, let us remember the words of the great Charles Spurgeon who once said, "Visit many good books, but live in the Bible." Indeed, it is in the Bible that we find our life, our hope, and our purpose.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Philippians, chapter 3, verses 12 to 21, a passage that speaks to us about momentum, method, and maturity in our walk with Christ. Let us read together:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

What a powerful passage! What a profound call to press on, to strain forward, to live up to what we have already attained! Are we not all runners in this race of faith, striving for the prize that awaits us in Christ Jesus? Are we not all pilgrims on this heavenly journey, forgetting what is behind and reaching out for what is ahead?

As we prepare to unpack this passage, let's bow our heads in prayer:

"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for your love, and for your word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we study this passage today, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive your truth. Help us to not just be hearers of your word, but doers also. May your Holy Spirit guide us and teach us as we seek to understand your will and your way. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Welcome, dear friends, to this blessed time of fellowship and learning. Let's press on together, in faith and in love, towards the goal set before us.

Maintaining Momentum in our March with Christ

In our walk with Christ, there's a certain dynamism that is required. It's not a static relationship, but rather, it's one that requires us to keep moving, to keep growing, to keep pressing on. This is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in Philippians 3:12-14. He says that he hasn't yet reached his goal, but he's pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him. He's forgetting what's behind and straining toward what's ahead.

This is a powerful image of a man who is not complacent in his faith. He's not content to just sit back and rest on his laurels. He's actively pursuing Christ, actively striving to become more like Him. And this is the kind of attitude that we should have in our own walk with Christ. We should be constantly moving, constantly growing, constantly striving to become more like Christ.

Transitional questions. But how do we maintain this momentum? How do we keep moving forward in our faith, especially when the going gets tough? There are several strategies that we can employ.

Firstly, we need to keep our eyes on the prize. Paul talks about pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus. This is the ultimate goal of our faith - to be with Christ in heaven. And this should be our motivation to keep moving forward. When we keep our eyes on the prize, it helps us to persevere through the trials and tribulations that we may face in our walk with Christ.

Secondly, we need to forget what is behind. This is easier said than done, especially when we have made mistakes in our past. But Paul encourages us to forget what is behind and to strain toward what is ahead. This means letting go of our past failures and focusing on the future that God has for us.

Thirdly, we need to press on. This means not giving up, even when the going gets tough. It means persevering in our faith, even when we don't feel like it. We should be continuing to pursue Christ, even when we don't see immediate results. Pressing on requires determination, resilience, and a whole lot of faith. But it's worth it, because the prize that awaits us is far greater than anything this world can offer.

Lastly, we need to live up to what we have already attained. Paul encourages us to live up to what we have already attained in Christ. This means living out our faith in a way that is consistent with what we believe. It means being a living testimony of Christ's love and grace. It means walking the talk and not just talking the talk.

Transition. Maintaining momentum in our march with Christ requires us to keep our eyes on the prize, forget what is behind, press on, and live up to what we have already attained. It's not always easy, but it's worth it. Because the prize that awaits us is far greater than anything this world can offer. So let's keep moving, keep growing, and keep pressing on in our walk with Christ.

Mastering the Method of Moving Forward in Faith

As we continue to meditate on the words of Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-21, we are drawn to the method he employs to navigate his spiritual progression ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO