Pressing On Despite The Circumstances

PRESSING ON DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

INTRODUCTION:

During the week Elaine and I attended a Pastors Prayer meeting

As each one was sharing their needs we would be in prayer for those needs

When it came to our fellowship Elaine and I were sharing how many in the fellowship had been under attack during the year and we also prayed for souls and committed people to reap the harvest.

As the pastors were praying for us one came up and said he had a Word from the Lord for us.

HE SAID GOD JUST SHOWED ME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A WINTER!

THEN HE SAID WHAT COMES AFTER WINTER?

I SAID SPRING.

HE SAID AND WHAT COMES WITH SPRING?

I SAID NEW LIFE, GROWTH.

HE THEN SAID THAT IS WHAT THE LORD JUST SPOKE OVER YOUR CHURCH.

As I prayed about this God laid on me

Philip. 2:5 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

You see Jesus had to go through a winter in order to obtain Salvation for you and I

He went through death on a cross that there might be growth in the church.

The Apostle Paul gives us the method of overcoming the winters in our life a bit further on in Phillippians 3:12-16

Philip. 3:12-16 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. [13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, [14] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. [16] Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL IS THE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE RACE AND HAVE THAT SAME MIND OF JESUS CHRIST

I. THE GOAL IS OUR HEAVENLY CALLING

GETTING THERE IS HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST,

ETERNAL NOT EARTHLY

V12 "that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. "

V14 "the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

LET US LOOK AT THE MOTIVATION OF THIS LOFTY GOAL:

A. Salvation is Just a Starting Point

B. Christ Jesus Sets the Standard

Philip. 2:6-8 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, [7] but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

A time of winter does not always seem pleasant!

I am sure that Jesus was not looking forward to what He had to go through.

In fact He cried out from the cross "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

But like Jesus, God has called us for a purpose look at Rom. 8:28-29

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. [29] For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Do you see the purpose for which we have been called by God?

"to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Hear God is showing us that there is growth coming out of this winter experience "the firstborn among many brethren."

MANY BRETHREN SPEAKS TO ME OF ABUNDANT GROWTH.

C. The Prize is Worthy of the Effort

II. TO REACH THE GOAL AND OVERCOME THE WINTER EXPERIENCE

1. Like Paul we must realise that we have not yet reached that goal

Paul says

"Not that I have already attained," it

"or am already perfected;"

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;"

A. Some People Feel They Have Reached the Spiritual Mountaintop

Paul is saying wisely that he had not received yet all that God has for him.

B. Some People Feel They have Arrived.

Paul tells us that he had not been matured yet to the point where he was like Christ.

MY FRIENDS IF THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS HE HAD NOT YET REACHED IT:-

C. The Reality is That We All Have a Long Way to Go