Introduction: Have you ever won a prize? Maybe it was at a county fair or a sweepstakes. Maybe it was a door prize at a party, maybe it was a prize from McDonald’s monopoly or maybe you found a discarded lottery ticket – because after all Christians trust God not the Powerball!
There is a thrill when you when the prize – A few years ago I had the opportunity to win a prize. I went to the Clay County fair in North Florida and I went straight to the midway, the place of games and rides.
That was my first mistake – Soon I began to hear those familiar words. “A winner every time” Three throws for $1. Pop a balloon win a prize. Step right up; let me guess your weight or age - but there is also a let down when we lose the prize “A winner every time”
I began to size up the booths to see which one would give me the best chance to win a prize. There it was the booth that looked like an easy win; a simple game of tossing softballs into wooden baskets that were leaning at a 45 degree angle. You had had two chances to make it, and the cost was only $1 for two tosses.
I placed my money on the table, the man gave me two softballs. I tossed the first one; It bounced out. No problem I had another chance. Gain I tossed the ball, and again the same result.
I must have stood at the booth for 10 minutes – tossing balls at a basket with the same results.
Finally I walked away $15 poorer, but the saddest thing is I never won the prize.
The prize was there before me, I could see it, I was told I could win it and I greatly desired it, however I was never able to obtain it.
Sounds like many people I know today. Some one has told many of us there is a prize out there, and if we work hard enough, deny ourselves long enough, discipline our habits, save for a rainy day, then one day we will receive the prize. There is only one problem the prize keeps changing.
Success is marked by different people at different times in your life, I received an article this week stating that a person making less then $25k a year believes that success is having an income of $100k, while those making $100k believe success is having 250k income is a mark of success. Now part of the reason for this disparity is the lack of contentment we have in our culture, but another reason for this disparity is no one had defined the prize. However in the third chapter of Philippians, the apostle Paul defines the prize for each of us. As we come to the end of this series of messages regarding the New Year, I thought it would be appropriate for us to make sure we are seeking the right kind of prize in 2009.
Observations about the prize…
The prize is not determined by man’s standard of living.
The prize is not a game or a gamble but a pursuit.
Note the prize – Philippians 3:12-14,
12 I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, 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,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul say forgetting what is behind me…I press on
Have you ever wondered what Paul had to forget?
First he to forget that at one time he was a persecutor of the church
Second, he had to forget his past life in regard to salvation – Listen to Philippians 3:4-6, 4If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised 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; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. In the past, Paul’s salvation was connected to works of the flesh.
Finally he had to forget past life of following a prescribed set of rules and traditions, that lacked grace
If we are going to be focused in the New Year; let me suggest there are a few things we need to forget as well.
Let me suggest we forget our…
Regrets – I should have done this or that, I wished I would have said this or that. Life is full of regrets. Unfortunately regrets can lead to unhealthy guilt
John Greenleaf Whittier - For all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: "It might have been!" We can all admit we should have done something more, we could have done something better. To focus on regrets is to focus on the past, which is unchanging. The gospel message is about taking our regrets and making all things new.
Let us also forget when we have been offended – In the past 365 days I am sure we have all been offended by someone. Maybe it was a family member; maybe it was a church member, maybe a fellow worker or classmate offended you? How you handle those who offense you, will determine how Jesus handles your offenses with him.
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Luke 6:37
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Keeping track of offenses has no place in the believer’s life, so this year, like Paul, put those things behind you.
To remain focused we must forget our regrets as well as our offenses and turn to Christ.
Having put his past behind him, Paul now turns to the future. For the apostle Paul, it was always about the future. He anticipated his next work, his next opportunity and his next encounter for Christ. He looked forward to going to Rome; He was looking forward to the return of Christ. To him the future is what mattered most. No where is that more evident than in verse 14, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul had a goal in mind – I press on toward the goal, to Paul it was more than a goal – it was a prize to be obtained, that should change your perspective on heaven. Heaven is not simply a reward for faithfulness; it is also a prize to be awarded to those who are victorious. It is also more than a prize it is a calling from God.
Now when I understand I have a calling from God it requires me to be focused. I am afraid too often we are haphazard in our Christian walk which causes us to loose focus.
What happens when we loose focus?
We become cavalier in our attendance to worship
Attendance in worship does not save you but it does reveal your heart toward God and God’s people. If you find it easy to miss a Sunday or two you soon find it easy to find other items to focus on each week.
We become cold toward unbelievers
Evangelistic fire goes out and we forget the last words of our Lord were to “Go into the world…” 70% of people who visit a church do so at the invitation of a friend. Did you ask some one to join you last year? Have you asked some one to join you this year? I like the definition of evangelism; it is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
We become caustic toward ministry
No longer desiring to serve; rather we want others to serve us.
To help us regain our focus Paul gives us four steps to help us win the prize.
We must have a proper awareness of the prize.
Paul said in verses 12 & 13 I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. “I have not already obtained this.” We must realize the Christian journey is not over at salvation. Our salvation is secure, yet because of our love for God we continue doing his will. Paul understood this, he was chosen by God in a dramatic fashion, but he had a purpose – to reach the Gentiles. Like Paul we must realize we have a purpose. Matthew 28, We are to go into all the world – teaching baptizing and teaching again. When we as believers are aware of our purpose we will remain focused.
We must have a Maximum Effort.
Paul said “I PRESS ON” or I strive for this. It is the picture of an athlete pushing himself to the goal. In our sports vernacular we would say one must give 110%.
There is a reason it will take a maximum effort to remained focused.
We are prone to distractions. If we are not focused it is easy to get sidetracked on something that is not as important. Someone asked Satan, what is your best tool for making the church ineffective, his response if I cannot make them bad, I make them busy. We can become so focused on everything else we forget to be focused on the prize God calls each us to everyday.
Failure can become common place. It is appropriate that we preach this message at the New Year, most people now have failed in their NYR – most people fail by January 11th. Failure can be so common place that when we do fail we figure to ourselves why bother. Paul understood failure in fact in the book of Romans he wrote the things he wanted to do he DID NOT DO and the things he did not want to do he found himself doing. Yet in the book of Philippians he does not focus on his failures – HE PRESSED ON! In other words he got back up and started with a new resolve.
Paul knew that obtaining the prize was not simply awarded because of good behavior, he knew it would take effort, thus he pressed on. Let me challenge you this year to put forth maximum effort for our savior.
If you are a Bible School teacher of a small group leader, be sure to prepare for your student. Ask yourself, if this week were the last time the Lord allowed you to teach or lead your group, what would you say? How would you say it? What would you want your students to know? Prepare in that manner will require maximum effort
If you lead a ministry in our church, would you make every effort to make it the best ministry, involving people and developing avenues of service where people can be connected?
If you are a leader in the church would you consider ever decision you make in light of how Jesus would lead.
For all of us let us remember the words of Colossians 3:23,24, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward (prize).
We must have a focused concentration
Notice vs. 13, but one thing I do
It is so easy to lose focus; So many things call out for our attention. If we are not careful we will move from hot button to hot button. Always busy but never doing anything significant for God. We are prone to distractions. If we are not focused it is easy to get sidetracked on something that is not as important. Someone asked Satan, what is your best tool for making the church ineffective, his response if I cannot make them bad, I make them busy. We can become so focused on everything else we forget to be focused on the prize God calls each us to everyday.
Jesus was the perfect portrait of a man living a focused life REMEMBER HE CAME FOR ONE THING
Chose his disciples to be what fishers of men
Harvest is plenty but the laborers are few
He stated his purpose – Luke 19:10 – TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST
His commission to the disciples GO
His strategy – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth
Consider this – when Jesus left this earth, there were people who still needed to be healed, corruption was in the religious and public world, the poor were still needing to have their needs met. All of those items needed to be fixed, however, Jesus purpose to reunite man with God through the preaching of the gospel was complete – he fulfilled his mission.
I submit to you today there are a lot of items that a church can do – but the only thing we must do is reach lost people for Christ. THIS ONE THING WE DO.
We need to have the proper motivation
WHY ARE WE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING?
Why did many of you decide to putt off vacations, car purchases and other items and give the funds to the More than We can Imagine Campaign.
Why do the handymen of our church, people men like Woody Coyle, Walt Hanke, Les Queller, Gene Porter come to the church almost weekly and continue to repair and oversee our physical plant.
Why do ladies come each week and clean the nursery before the morning worship so the babies can have a clan environment.
Why do our elders after putting in a full day of work in a secular job come together to lead and serve this church.
Why have do teachers faithfully teach, small group leaders lead, small group host open their homes, Youth workers take vacation to go on trips with our students?
Paul gives the reason we press on; because we have a heavenly call. I believe every one of us is called to do something for the cause of Christ. That call has to be seen in light of reaching people for Christ. I believe people matter to God and if they matter to God they need to matter to God’s people. So our motivation is to reach people for Jesus and bring them to maturity. In a society that is quickly self-destructing, the only hope is Jesus. As God’s people we know the answer. JESUS – And not telling people about Jesus is like having a vial of the small pox vaccine and walking into a community infested with small pox and keeping the vaccine in our pocket.
I will be focused to the one who has called me, that can only happen when we have a…
A Proper Awareness
We realize it will take a maximum effort
We have a Focused concentration
And there is Proper motivation
John MacArthur shares a story of a man skilled in the sport mountain climbing, He was an excellent guide and well respected for his skill as a climber. Many would be climbers would ask for his assistance as well as urge his to join them in their climbs.
Unfortunately, the skilled guide died while attempting a climb in the Swiss Alps. In honor of this man, a plaque has been placed in the Alps, which gives his name and the following epitaph – HE DIED CLIMBING, would it not be nice if in generations to come someone placed a memorial at of our generation that simply read – PBCC they kept pressing on trying to be like Christ.
PRAYER
