Reaching for the Goal
Philippians 3: 12-14
12 Not that I have already attained this -- that is, I have not already been perfected-- but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.
13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,
14 with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Setting the Context
-- Letter of Friendship
-- Paul was in prison
-- Joy + Poverty = Generosity
-- There was internal division
---- Stand firm
---- Have the same mindset
1. Be single-minded.
-- Don’t be double-minded.
-- Unstable in all he does (James 1:8)
-- City Slickers: The “1” thing
-- The Goal is Christ (v.10)
---- Knowing Christ
---- The Power of His Resurrection
---- The Fellowship of Sharing His Suffering
-- What is your “1 thing”?
2. Forget the past.
-- Forget your past failures.
-- Don’t be a victim of your past failures.
-- Christ has already died for your failures (Rom. 5)
----You just have to accept His unconditional love.
-- Forget your past successes.
---- You are not what you do.
---- You are created in God’s image.
------ You have the capacity to have a vibrant relationship with the God of the universe.
3. Keep going forward.
-- Straining forward
-- Like a runner
-- Every muscles, every efforts
-- 1 of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
---- Defining your “End Game”
---- Every steps should contribute to the “End Game”.
---- What is your “End Game” ?
---- Hebrews 9:27 – Judgment after death
