“Eyes on the Prize”
Text: Philippians 3:13, 14: “…but this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in God in Christ Jesus.” (Written by the Apostle Paul from a jail in Rome)
Introduction:
The Apostle wrote this letter from prison knowing that his head was almost certainly going to end up on Nero’s chopping block, yet he still says: “I have more to look forward to.” He is saying, “All those things that have happened to me in the past are gone – they’re over and done with; I’m about looking forward to what’s ahead.” The Lord Jesus had set him on a great adventure, and it wasn’t over yet, and he was looking forward, not backward. He remembered that Jesus said, “He who puts his hand to the plow, and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of heaven.”
He was making the point that Christianity is about activity and it’s forward-looking. Look at the words he uses: “reaching forth; I press toward.” He is reminding us that Christianity is a pressing way.
Paul also often used sports analogies in his writings: such as, wrestling (we wrestle not against flesh and blood; in Ephesians); boxing (I have fought a good fight; in Timothy) and running (run with patience the race set before us; in Hebrews). In our text he was writing to the church that he founded in Philippi, which was in Greece. He says he is pressing toward the mark for the prize that comes for victory. That word “press” is from the Greek: “dioko” and means “to pursue; to follow after.” The prize he is pursuing is “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul, being well-versed in history and obviously a sports fan, knew this sports metaphor would be familiar to these Greek Church members. The following illustration is from the website: Olympic Legacy.com.
“It is impossible to overstate the glory of being an Olympic victor in antiquity. An Olympic victory was the highest honor for a mortal to attain and Olympic victors shared in the divine splendor and immortal fame of the first mythical heroes. The winner’s crown was made from an olive branch. This crown was a symbolic and sacred honor and was believed to transfer mystical powers to the athlete.
The crowns were displayed on a gold and ivory table, and the senior judge crowned each victor while the onlookers tossed petals. Then the winners would be celebrated at a grand feast. With this reminder of the earthly glory attained by the winner at an Olympic Game, Paul was saying, that the Christian’s prize is much greater than anything this world might afford. Our prize is union with Christ, and being seated with Him and in Him at the right hand of God the Father.
Paul said that even though he was under house arrest, waiting on a trial, it was all in the Lord’s will. He said in Chapter 1, verses 12, 13: “I want you to understand brethren that the things which have happened to me, have only served to advance the gospel; so that it has become known throughout the whole Imperial Guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” From the outward appearance, things didn’t look good for Paul; in fact, from a natural standpoint, everything looked pretty bleak.
But Paul had a clear understanding of the truth God had given him for the Church at Rome, that “All things work together for the good, for those that love God, for the called according to His purpose,” (Rom. 8:28), and this too, he believed, God would work for his good and God’s glory. And it did. Tradition tells us that Paul did end up on Nero’s chopping block and had his head cut off, but as a result of his life and the letters God inspired him to write, untold multitudes of people down through the ages have been blessed, instructed, edified, strengthened and encouraged through his blessed and famous words.
What God was saying through him was that this life and the material things it offers are not the prize – Jesus is the prize. He was saying: keep your eyes on the prize. He was saying, that even with all the obstacles life throws at us, we must always remember what it is that keeps us motivated, and what our final outcome is to be. And always remember that NOTHING happens to a Christian unless God ordains it or permits it. Our Lord is directing the affairs of our life. We ARE NOT the victims of happenstance and chance. We ARE NEVER victims of cruel, blind fate. Our loving heavenly Father is directing all the affairs of our life.
We memorize that verse: Romans 8: 28: “For we KNOW that ALL things work together for good to them who love God; to them who are the called according to His purpose,” but we forget WHY He is working all things together for our good. The next verse tells us: “For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8: 29). I love the Amplified Bible as a study source. Its purpose is to reveal any other clarifying shades of meaning that may be concealed by the traditional word-for-word method of translating.” Here is that 29th verse of Romans from the Amplified: “For those whom He foreknew – He also destined from the beginning (foreordaining them) to be molded into the image of His Son {and share inwardly His likeness}, that He might become the first-born among many brethren.” God’s purpose in everything He either ordains or permits to happen to us is for THIS PURPOSE: To make us more like Christ!!
But having the victory doesn’t mean we won’t ever get sick, or go broke, or experience hardships. It doesn’t mean that everything will always go our way. It doesn’t mean we will never cry tears of heartbreak. What it does mean, is that although we may lose some battles, we will always win the war. In fact, we have already won it, in Christ Jesus.
I. We Are Bruised but Still Bold
A. After Christ had ascended back into heaven, the Lord’s disciples began to preach that their Master, had indeed, risen from the dead.
B. When the High Priest heard of this, we’re told in Acts 5:18 that he had the Apostles arrested and thrown in prison. They were definitely bruised from the world’s perspective. But the angel of the Lord came in the night and opened the prison doors and let them out, and told them, “Go and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (verse 19, 20).
C. They brought the apostles again before the High Priest, and he said, “Did we not command you not to teach in the name of Jesus. Then Peter and the apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than man” (verse 20), then he preached Jesus to them.
D. We are told at the end of this chapter that “when they had called the apostles, and beaten them…and let them go. They were bruised, but still bold!
E. And what do we read next: “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
F. Just like them, sometimes we’re bruised, but we are still to be bold for the Lord!
II. We Are Besieged but Not Beaten
A. The word “besieged” mean “to be under attack; to hem in with armed forces; to overwhelm, harass or beset”
B. In WWII, during The Battle of the Bulge, Hitler was making his last stand, to try and keep the Allies out of Germany. One of the great encounters in the Battle of the Bulge was in the Belgian city of Bastogne. It became known as “The siege of Bastogne.
C. Hitler’s General, Von Luttwitz, knew that the city had to be captured before his corps could venture too far westward. Therefore, he ordered a Tank Division to push forward to Bastogne.
D. The troops of the 101st “Airborne Division were ordered to hold Bastogne, but were outnumbered 5-1. They were lacking in cold-weather gear, ammunition, food, medical supplies, and senior leadership. The Germans eventually entirely surrounded the city and Von Luttwitz sent his ultimatum to surrender. He wrote, “There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.”
E. Commanding the 101st was Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe. His famous answer to the order to surrender was one word: “Nuts!” They were “besieged but not beaten.” They held on, and General George Patton’s Third Army was eventually able to break through to Bastogne and relieve the 101st.
F. Like the 101st, we Christians are always besieged -- under attack by the “enemy of our souls,” the devel. He is a tool in the hand of our Lord, and God uses him to test and try us so that our faith may be strengthened. But James tells us in his book: “Draw near to God and God will draw near to you. Resist the devel and he will flee from you.”
G. Like the battling 101st at Bastogne we may be besieged by the devel, but we are never beaten, and we trust what Jesus told us. He said, “Behold, I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and all power over the enemy, and nothing shall be any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). Truly, there are times, indeed many times that we may be besieged, but we are never, ever beaten.
III. We are Bleeding but Still Blessed
A. We read in Acts 14 about Paul the Apostle and his band of missionaries. They were in Lystra and Paul had healed a crippled man who had been lame since birth. Seeing this miracle, the people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as the gods (so-called) Hermes and Zeus.
B. The missionaries were much distressed at this, and begged the people not to worship them and offer sacrifices to them. Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes in the Jewish example of grief, and said, “Sirs, why do you do these things. We are men just like you are.”
C. Then, par for the course, Jews who were jealous of the success and popularity of the Christians came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people of Lystra that Paul was a troublemaker and a charlatan. Then they stoned him, and actually left him for dead.
D. Then we read: “However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derba.”
E. Paul was most bleeding, but he was STILL BLESSED! The disciples saw that pile of stones begin to move, saw a hand reach out, and heard a voice say, “They may have made me bleed and left me for dead, but I feel like preaching.” We read, “…they confirmed the souls of the disciples, and exhorted them to continue in the faith and that we must through MUCH TRIBULATION enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). He was bleeding but still blessed!
F. Stephen was made to bleed at the hands of the Sanhedrin, the religious “professionals.” His preaching got them so mad, the Bible says, “They gnashed at him with their teeth.” They were actually biting him! Then Stephen said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7: 36). Then they stoned him.
G. He was bleeding, but even at the point of death, he was STILL BLESSED, as he knelt down and cried, “Lord, no not charge them with this sin.” And then he died, bleeding but still blessed!
H. Many times, the world-lings and the devel may devise plans against us that leave us bleeding, not just physically, but spiritually – our souls seem dried up within us, and death many times may seem to be at our very door. We may be bloodied, but we can rise up with Paul and Stephen and say, “I have to move on. I have work to do for the Lord.” We can see with spiritual eyes that Jesus is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. We may be bleeding, but still we are blessed!
IV. We Are Broken but Still Bountiful
A. We see throughout the Bible that many times things, as well as people, must first be broken before they can be bountiful
B. Take the example of the alabaster box. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the incident of the woman who came to Jesus with an alabaster box full of a very precious and fragrant ointment made from the spikenard plant.
C. Putting their accounts together, we see that while crying, she broke the box open and poured its contents on the head of Jesus, then put some of it on His feet, and also wet His feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair.
D. The alabaster box had to be broken for its contents to be used. Just like the alabaster box the Lord sometimes must break us, so that the fragrance of the love He has put in our hearts may be shed abroad, so that we can be bountiful in the work of the Lord.
E. Another example brought to mind is in the miracles recorded in the Gospels of Jesus feeding the five thousand and the four thousand with just a few fish and loaves of bread. Notice that it wasn’t until Jesus blessed the bread and BROKE the bread that is was multiplied and made bountiful.
F. The ultimate example of brokenness that caused great bounty is of the Lord Jesus Himself. He took the Passover loaf at the last supper and BROKE IT. In Matthew, Mark and Luke we read, “He took the bread and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, and said, ‘This is My body.’”
G. Then in His Passion and crucifixion, His body was literally broken. Not His bones, but His blessed side was broken open, so that His holy, saving blood might flow out to pay the price for mankind’s sins
H. Just so, sometimes the Lord must break us down, so that we might be built up in Him and be bountiful in His work. The Apostle Paul reminds us that, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side…persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (II Cor. 4:7-10).
I. He says in verse 16, “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though the outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day…we do not look at those things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” Let’s remember the broken things, the box and the bread, and also the body of our Lord, that sometimes, no, indeed, many times, the Lord must break us too, so we can then be remade in His image. We are facing troubling times in America. Our freedoms are being encroached upon daily. The God-haters, and god-less politicians are allowing it. The 4 and sometimes 5 liberal, black-robed judges, so-called are about to vote on whether homosexual marriage is a constitutional right. If that vote is “yes,” then the homosexuals will be coming after the churches, and any pastor or church who won’t marry or won’t allow homosexual marriages in their church will be targeted for extinction. The Director of the FBI says there are ISIS cells in every state, and there is an ISIS camp 8 miles from the U.S. Mexico border. These are indeed perilous times.
Closing:
Truly, the last days are upon us, but remember:
We’re Bruised but still Bold
We’re Besieged but not Beaten
We’re Bleeding but still Blessed
We’re Broken but still Bountiful
Our work isn’t over until Jesus calls us home. In the meantime, let’s take to heart the words that Paul wrote to the church at Colossae: “If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your affections on things which are above, not the things of this earth” (Colossians 3: 1, 2)
