Final Sermon for Vinton on 7/21/2002
Philippians 3:12-16
Never give up!
Introduction:
I read that it took Winston Churchill three years to get through the eighth grade because he had trouble learning English. In kind of an ironic twist, years later in the midst of World War II Oxford University asked then Prime Minister Churchill to address its commencement exercises. Dressed in his finest suit, he arrived at the auditorium where the service was to be held with his usual props, a cigar, a cane and a top hat. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause. Standing there looking very dignified, he settled the crowd down and asked them to be seated.
Standing confidently before this crowd of great admirers, he removed his cigar and placed his top hat on the podium. Then Churchill gazed at his waiting audience that included some of the most noted scholars in the world. With an authoritative tone in his voice he began with three words: “Never give up!” Several seconds passed without him saying another word. Finally he repeated those same three words again, “Never give up!” There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane and left the platform. His commencement address was finished.
WBTU:
A. This section of Scripture can be summed up by, Never Give Up!
B. We are not perfect; we need to strive toward that goal of being more like Christ.
C. Is our spiritual life all that we want it to be?
D. Is our family life all that we want it to be?
E. Is our workplace all that we want it to be?
F. Is our church all that we want it to be?
G. Is our community all that we want it to be?
H. Is our nation all that we want it to be?
I. Even if we consider something as going well, there is always room for improvement.
J. Nothing is perfect in this world, so why try? It’s impossible.
K. Plato thought that there was another world, the world he called Forms that was a perfect world.
L. We have a perfect world and that world is heaven. As Christian people we are going there, so why try? Why try to make the world better?
M. Why not try? Why were we put on this world?
N. If God has laid hold of us, we need to press on. What would God have us to do?
O. This text is a great passage for self-inventory. Are we moving up and are we getting better and are we helping to make this world a better place?
P. WE know how telephone conversations are; we usually hear only one side of the conversation. A young boy was talking and his father was listening, "Hello, sir, I was calling you to see if you could use a lawn boy to do your yard work!" "Oh, I see you already have one!" "Well, is he doing your work to your satisfaction?" "He is! Thank you, sir, I was just checking," then the young boy hung up the phone. The father looked at his son and said, "Sorry son, you didn’t get the job!" "Oh, no sir," said the boy. "I’ve already got that job. I was just calling to check up on myself!"
Q. May this passage this morning help us to check up on ourselves?
Thesis: This morning we are going to look at Philippians 3:12-16 and see how we can press on toward perfection.
For instances:
I. Forget what is behind (13)
A. We are not in heaven yet. The race is still going on. When the race is over then we can look back.
B. Luke 9:62- No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven.
C. Those who look back do not make good rows; those who look back do not do well in the race. Slacken the pace, start to drop out.
D. Do not dwell on the past.
1. Mistakes- learn from them.
2. Sins- guilt.
3. Successes- some successes here. Grown from 100 to about 170.
E. Paul did not do this. He had a lot of success. He had a lot of sins. He had a lot of mistakes.
F. We will make a mistake.
G. We will never compare to that time…?
H. We need to continue to strive for excellence in the present.
I. Older Christians have a problem with this. Hinder progress. Need to learn but we do not need to dwell in the past. The past is the past; we live in the present. Seize the day!
J. WE are not completed. Much more of life.
K. Need to forget the past. Not in this way. Tell of man trying to remember restaurant name and asks about a rose?
L. Need not let the good or the bad of the past hold us back. Need not be paralyzed because of past failure. Need not shift into neutral because of past successes.
M. When we feel like we have made it, we quit trying to grow.
II. Reaching forward (straining toward) to what is ahead. (13)
A. There is always more forward. There will be until the Lord comes.
1. Growing.
2. Maturing.
3. Learning.
4. Winning over sin.
5. Victories in the Lord.
6. More souls won.
B. Reaching, straining- Talking about the strong exertions made in the race; every muscle and nerve is exerted, and this person puts forth every particle of his strength toward the goal.
C. Runner with his body bent over, hand outstretched, eyes fastened on the goal, never giving a backward glance.
D. What happens to a team that in the middle of the season thinks they have it wrapped up and quit reaching forward? They do not win the prize.
E. Press, walk, strain- effort there.
F. Set some goals and strain ahead. Four questions:
1. Will this goal glorify God?
2. Will this goal make me more like Jesus?
3. Will this goal make a positive contribution to the world?
4. Will this goal enhance my ability to witness?
G. We should not reach our goals to make ourselves look better. No, we reach our goals to know more of Christ, to know more of his fellowship, to know more of his power. People will see Jesus in us. Not to glorify self. God wants to use more of us for His kingdom.
G. The heavenly is more important than any worldly goal.
H. Isaiah 40:31- Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
I. Are we mounting up on wings like eagles? Eagle is a majestic bird.
J. Or are we strutting around like an ostrich. When things get bad or frustrating or hard we bury our head in the sand.
III. Live up to where you are in Christ (16)
A. Need to find our gift and use it. Exercise- Participate in the body.
B. Mature more and learn more so that we can serve more.
C. Keep mind fed. Nourishment.
D. We must continually renew ourselves by the transforming of our minds.
E. Let us grow up and stand on own two feet.
F. People are more important than things.
G. Many people fade away. Let’s not do that. Let’s not retreat or get stagnant.
H. Old soldiers don’t die, they simply fade away. May that never be said of us?
I. Many people in the Bible did not finish well; they did not live up to where they had been. Gideon, Solomon. We need to be more like Caleb or John the Apostle.
J. Many people do not press on. Take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. Think about that time when you were closest to the Lord, we should have advanced beyond that by now.
Conclusion:
A. Many churches take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. We need to be moving forward. But the past, who cares about the past. Live up to what you have already attained.
1. Youth programs. Go beyond in adult support and in recognition, youth committee, VBS, Mission trip, Christmas Play
2. Sunday school- Electives, great, but keep improving, don’t go back, Education committee, Library, Guest speakers, Junior Church
3. Morning worship- Praise team, two services, don’t retreat, keep going forward
4. Sunday evening-
5. Bible studies, fellowships, shepherding
6. Community, Yokefellow Cooperative Ministry
7. Men’s meetings, women’s meetings.
8. Guests- Make sure they are followed up with, get them to sign cards, evangelism, invite.
9. Elders, leadership- We have 4 elders and 10 deacons.
10. Money- Finance committee, stewardship mediations
11. Building and grounds committee, plans to build, don’t retreat from that goal
12. Prayer
B. Build on these things for the future. Forget those things that are behind and strain toward those things ahead. Never retreat.
B. Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
C. Where are we in the race? Are we running vigorously, slowing down, or stopped?
D. Are we giving it our all? Forget about the crowds, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms, and remember what got you here, focus on the fundamentals we have gone over time and time again, and most importantly don’t get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game. If you put your efforts and concentration on playing to your potential, being the best you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we’re going to be winners.
E. Vs. 14- What is the goal? Vs. 10
F. What is the prize? 2 Timothy 4:7
G. I hope and pray that I can say that when my days on earth are completed!
H. We run after salvation and before death. God helps us as we run but we must put forth some effort.
I. Paul wanted to strive for excellence. Should we do anything less? It is a wretched state to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us.
J. Why should we strive for excellence? Many are going to hell. The kingdom of darkness still thrives. People are hurting and being beaten and Satan has taken them and chewed them up and spit them back out. They have no help.
K. Who is watching? What is our motivation, our focus? Jesus Christ. Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
L. Aim for perfection. Never give up.
M. Invitation.
