Title: “Press On!” Scripture: Phil. 3:12-14
Type: Expository Series Where: GNBC 7-30-23
Intro: Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team — a heartbreaking experience for any teenager. Then he became one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. According to Jordan, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Jordan has also been credited as author of a lesser-known quote that is equally powerful: “Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” I think the Apostle Paul would have approved of MJ’s determination.
Prop: In Phil. 3:12-14 we’ll see 5 actions every believer must take to successfully live for Christ.
BG: 1. Phil. 3 Paul begins to address issues brought into the church by false teachers (Judaizers) to emphasize the keeping of Mosaic law in addition to being born again.
2. When we set up any external standard of conduct we don’t use the WOG, but attempt to appeal to the pride of our own works. Remember this, false doctrine always begets false practice. God’s Word requires holiness in the life of the believer. Yet the foundation of orthopraxy is always orthodoxy. Paul encouraged the Philippians to follow his example in striving for both.
Prop: Let’s look to Phil. 3:12-14 so as to notice 5 actions every believer must take to persevere for Christ.
I. I Must Press On v. 12 a
A. Paul States that he Must “Press On” to Persevere in Christ.
1. If there ever was someone who seemed able to congratulate himself for his efforts in the Christian life, it would seem to be the Apostle Paul. After his calling on the Damascus Road, the apostle was exemplary in his faithfulness. Nothing deterred him. No one could claim that Paul wasn’t up for hard challenges. No one could accuse Paul of laxity, laziness, or complacency. No one could accuse him of ministering for his own glory or financial gain. The record of what he suffered physically in II Cor. 11, for the sake of the Gospel, appalls and embarrasses us.
2. Yet, Paul begins this passage by clearly stating that he has not yet “arrived spiritually”. We see in the first half of this verse that the apostle clearly states that he has not yet already “become perfect”. He is not yet complete. There is still more for the apostle in the Christian life. Illust: I will never forget the Diane Sawyer interview of Billy Graham nearly 30 years ago now. “Do you have any regrets?” “Yes, I regret that I didn’t study more. And I regret that I didn’t do more for the Lord.” Completely sincere. That’s the mark of someone who is persevering for the Lord. No sitting back. No resting on laurels. “Pressing on”.
B. Paul States the Initial Action We Must all Take to Successfully Persevere for Christ.
1. Every Christian must personalize Paul’s proclamation: “I press on!” These aren’t just words to read, they are a commitment to internalize! All too many Christians view their salvation experience as the end. Those who see it as an end never grow. Never progress. Paul would have seen it as the beginning. It is the introduction of the child of God into the race of faith for the believer. Every believer is in a battle with the Devil, the flesh, and the pride of life. We are attacked daily on all sides. We become weary. Sometimes we have to stand alone. The race isn’t won until the entire course is run.
2. It’s Important to Keep the Attitude of Pressing on!
a. Illust: As some of you can remember we drove a lot on family vacations when our children were young. One of our favorite destinations was driving to Maine to see the grandparents and cousins. Seven people in one vehicle can get a little cramped! Remember one of the first times, about to cross over at Port Huron, MI, to go into Canada. Had driven about 550 miles that day. “Daddy, are we there yet?” Going over a bridge, Going into a different country. Point was lost on that child we still had 750 miles to go! We were well on our way, but we had not arrived yet! Same is true for each one of us in Christ.
b. Illust: Senior believers, you are an inspiration to us all! Life has battered and bruised them. They have experienced set backs and loss. They are dealing with limitations, but they PRESS ON! Here we see the aged apostle, his body is bent, his skin is scarred, his eyesight is fading, but in his soul he is joyfully persevering! Pressing on!
C. Applic: There have always been those who have sought to portray a very different image of themselves than that which Paul conveys. They want us to believe that they have already arrived spiritually. If they could, they would have us believe that they live above the struggles, temptations, and trials of this life. They are not open and transparent about their struggles and failures in their Christian life. They have a flashy tv program or podcast where they are always correct and everyone else is always wrong. Beware!
II. I Must Lay Hold Of It v. 12b
A. Paul States that he Must “Lay hold of it” to Persevere in Christ.
1. Paul begins by stating a Foundational Fact that Will Make all the Difference in the World in your and My mindset so as to persevere!
a. Always remember that Christ “laid hold of you” first! The Apsotle says: “I lay hold of (present tense) that for which I was laid hold of (past tense) by Christ Jesus.” Paul remembers well impetuously tramping down the Damascus road intent on destroying the lives of believers in the infant Church. He was going his own way, doing his own thing. All the while assuming he was pleasing God when the weight of his entire world came crashing down on him, and he was chased down by the Hound of Heaven and arrested by Xst! Xst took hold of Paul and didn’t let loose!
b. “lay hold of” – 1 word in the Gk. It is a word of intensity! It means to seize something after a pursuit. We have either seen in real life or movies or videos…criminal commits a crime. Police officer ensues a foot chase. Officer tackles the perpetrator and immediately attempts to put cuffs on so doesn’t get away. Christian, in order to persevere, we need to realize that like Paul we were running full tilt away from God when in His kindness and grace He captured us. He “seized hold” of you and me and we are in His Kingdom’s custody!
2. Paul does call upon his readers to “follow his example,” but he does not do so claiming to have already arrived. Paul calls upon us to “follow his example” in striving toward the goal of maturity in Christ. Paul is not a super spiritual man who has arrived, who is beckoning to us to follow the trail he has already blazed; Paul is on the pathway, pressing onward toward maturity, urging us to join with him in his pursuit of maturity in Christ.
B. Why is it Important that I “Lay hold of it” so as to Persevere in Christ?
1. In order to persevere, I want you to ask yourself one very important spiritual question, dear one: “Has Christ seized hold of me or has my salvation been of my own effort?” Illust: Back in Mark 9 there is a story of demon possessed boy that Jesus delivers. In v. 18 when speaking of the demon’s activities in relation to this boy it says is would seize him and throw him to the ground. Same would that Paul uses here.
2. In verse 13, notice that “I do” is in italics, meaning that it is not in the original. The brevity of Paul’s phrase in Greek makes it more emphatic: “But one thing!” Paul’s single attitude of always moving ahead has three ramifications: Forgetting the past, reaching forward to the future, and pressing on in the present.
C. Applic: Do you rest assured in the fact that Christ took hold of you? Then you can strive to preserve by taking hold of Him!
III. I Must Not Regard Myself v. 13
A. Paul States that he must not Regard himself to Persevere in Christ.
1. Paul is stating an attitude that is important for us to NOT have in order to persevere.
a. “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet…” Think about this. Paul was one of the greatest Christians of all time. He has been a believer now about 25 yrs. However, he still has an intensity about him. Still has a fire and a passion.
b. Illust: I hate to see when a former boxing great gets lured out of retirement to face a new champion or top-level contender. The fire and passion the former champ had as a contender is now gone. Been out of the fight too long. Enjoyed the good life too long. Not as serious about training. Overweight. I remember watching M. Ali lose to Trevor Berbick in the last fight of his career. Already lost the belt to Holmes. Was overweight. Slow. Clumsy. Not in good condition. And lost. Why did he lose? Because in his mind he was always: “The greatest”. When you regard yourself as “the greatest” you don’t put in the work and the effort. Same true spiritually.
2. Let’s look back at what Paul was speaking to. v. 13 is looking back to vv. 10-11. Paul is saying that he is still learning about Christ. He is still growing in his understanding and appreciation of the resurrection. He is experiencing the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. He knew that he was still being conformed to the image of Christ. Ultimately, knew God was not finished with him yet.
B. In Order to Persevere the Believer Must Guard against an Attitude of Spiritual Pride.
1. Beware of anything that you allow into your life that can be interpreted as spiritual pride.
2. Second, realize that the Christian Faith is something for the “Long Haul”.
a. We are to discipline ourselves to godliness. Although Christ may gloriously deliver you from a besetting sin or health crisis, we must not always look for quick fixes and easy answers for difficult problems. We need to grow up and quit substituting emotional experiences for discipline. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon and living in Christ is not effortless.
b. In order to guard against spiritual pride we must learn to deal graciously with others. Christian growth is a lifelong process, is that it enables us to be gracious and patient with one another. If you view Christian growth as an instant experience where you’re delivered once and for all from all problems, then if you’ve got problems, obviously it’s because you haven’t had this experience. So, get with it! Stop having your problems! This view makes us impatient and intolerant toward people who are struggling. Illust: How do you and I treat the WalMart worker? Grocery clerk? Waiter? Your faith is on display.
C. Applic: How much emphasis are you placing on your supposed spiritual accomplishments? If you want to persevere, don’t regard yourself. Don’t brag. Don’t boast. Don’t keep score.
IV. I Must Forget What is Behind v. 13
A. Paul States that he must Forget the Past to Persevere in Christ.
1. Paul Knew the Value of Leaving Parts of His Past in the Past.
a. An attitude of moving ahead from the past: Leave it there! “Forgetting what lies behind.” Again, the picture is of a runner who does not make the mistake of looking over his shoulder. His eyes are fixed on the goal. If he made mistakes earlier in the race, he doesn’t kick himself by replaying them in his mind. If he did well, he doesn’t gloat about it. He leaves the past behind and keeps moving on toward the finish line.
b. Paul , like all of us, had parts of his past that he needed to leave in the past if he was going to progress with Christ in the future. Otherwise, it’s possible that his past could have clouded his present and derailed his future progress in Christ.
B. One of the Best Actions a Believer Can take to Persevere in Christ is to Properly Forget his/her past.
1. Many Christians today are being told that to experience healing from their difficult pasts, they need to delve into their pasts and relive the hurtful things that happened to them.
a. This method advocates the need to get into the pen of their past and wallow in its mud like a pig in his pen. This approach has come into the church from the world, not from the Word. It would be wrong to say that verse 13 is all that the Bible says about the past. (i.e.,Paul has mentioned his own past life in Judaism.) It can be helpful to reflect on what happened to us in the past in order to understand where we’re at in the present and where we need to grow. There is a biblical case for self-examination. But our text shows that there needs to be a balance. Paul means here that we should not be controlled by the past. Don’t let your past rob your joy in the present or steal your progress in the future.
b. Now, let me be very clear maybe you have deeply wounded someone before or even since coming to Christ. This verse is NOT saying that your response to that person is: “Now, Now! That is all in my past and I am not supposed to think of it and neither should you!” Rather, your authentic faith in Christ will COMPEL you and me to seek reconciliation and restoration. If you have stolen you pay restitution. Pay back debts. Of you have slandered you make it right. (Illust: At least 25% of Millennials and X/Ys are alienated from some or all family members. Can I specifically address those who identify as Christians? II Cor. 5:11ff states that Christians have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Be reconciled.)
2. Leave Your Past in the Past and Strive to Progress for Christ.
a. Christian, take no thought to your old life. Walk away, run away, don’t look back, don’t go back. Illust: how much good did it do Lot’s wife? II Cor. 5:17 – “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.”
b. Col. 3:3 “You have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Illust: Augustine, great saint of God had lived with a prostitute before his conversion. After he was wonderfully saved, he was walking down the street and this prostitute saw him. She shouted his name and he kept walking. He saw her, but kept his eyes straightforward and walked. She continued crying after him and ran after him. And finally, she said, Augustine, it is I. To which he replied, I know, but it is no longer I (Grace to You, ‘Whose fault is our temptation?‘)
C. Applic: Pastor Steven Cole (Car rear view mirror). You don’t drive by looking in the mirror. You drive by looking ahead out of the windshield. But it’s helpful to take occasional glances in your mirror and use the information to make decisions about how to drive safely in the present and future. But if you spend too much time looking in your mirror, you’ll probably crash because you’re not paying attention to the present. In the same way, we need to take periodic glances backward, but we also need to put the past (good and bad) behind us, accept God’s grace and enabling for the present, and move on with what He is calling us to do now.
V. I Must Reach for What’s Ahead & Press Towards the Goal v.14
A. Paul states that he must Reach and Press toward the Christian’s Finish Line so as to Persevere.
1. As you persevere in Christ, keep moving forward!
a. Illust: Often a race can be determined by a fraction of an inch or a fraction of a second. The runner who stays focused and can persevere to the end and throw him/herself across the line wins. I remember my daughter Mary’s senior year of HS. State Qualifier XC meet. In the women’s race 1st and 3rd place were separated by 8/10ths of a second.
b. To “reach out”, literally means to stretch out. Essentially, Paul is saying here: “I am running for the goal, I am not looking at past successes or reliving past failures, but my eye is on the goal!
2. As believers seeking to Persevere, we need to Keep our Eyes on the Goal.
a. “The upward call of God” is His call to salvation which culminates when we stand before Him to give an account and receive rewards for how we’ve run the race. Will our work stand the test and receive His “Well done” because we did it out of love for Him and for His glory? Or, will it be burned up and we be saved, but as through fire (1 Cor. 3:14-15)?
B. Keep Pressing Towards the Goal Even if You are a Mature Believer.
1. “The upward call of God” is His call to salvation which culminates when we stand before Him to give an account and receive rewards for how we’ve run the race. Will our work stand the test and receive His “Well done” because we did it out of love for Him and for His glory? Or, will it be burned up and we be saved, but as through fire (1 Cor. 3:14-15)?
2. If Paul had not “arrived” spiritually then neither have you or I. The consequence of this fact is that no one is free to sit back, resting upon their laurels. The Christian is not to be content with the status quo, but must press on toward the goal that has been set before him. And that is precisely what Paul does, while challenging us to follow his example. The goal is two-fold; it is both general and specific. The general goal toward which every Christian is to strive is that of the “upward call”—either the day of our death, or the 2nd Coming. In one sense, this is an event in the future, which draws nearer by the passing of time. In another sense, it is a future event which we are to pursue, and to seek to hasten. (Bob Deffinbaugh, Paul’s Perspective…)
C. Applic: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill. Dear one, press on!
