I’m Pressing In for the Prize…
HHM Nov. 3, 2002 Pastor Jim Parisi
Did you ever feel like that there is more in God then you are experiencing?
Do you ever feel like sometimes you are on the edge of a break through and it just all fades away? Gets lost in the trials of life
We know that there are seasons when the Lord is trying to get our attention. And we are just distracted or not interested. We hear when he is calling and we don’t answer just like Adam we hide
Come fellowship with me He says.. Read my word. Build a friendship and relationship with Me He says
We have become so consumed with the day to day things we experience that by the end of the day we forget or are too tired to fellowship with the Lord. We are too busy and just plainly don’t put Him first...
I know I can personally be over come, let alone over whelmed with all the situations that can arise in a day… if I don’t keep them in their proper order.
Life can frazzle you to the point of sheer exhaustion.
How are we to minister to others if we barely have enough strength for ourselves to keep going?
We deplete our recourses to the point that there is nothing left to give back to others. And we fade away and die off from our callings and blessings.
We start to live out lives out of past growth and experiences because this is an easy way to hang on. That’s right sometimes we are hanging on for our lives by a string too.
It doesn’t cost us much now while we are on the treadmill of life, perpetually running.
We are being driven to a point of exhaustion
But someday we will have to pay the tab for the way we live our lives today.
The bill will be due sooner then later
Church this is not the kind of life that the Lord wants us to have.
HE doesn’t want us to live like this….. even when we try and fail he wants us to succeed letting us be tried and tested so in the end we lack nothing.
James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
It comes down to the priorities of our lives.. What is most important in our lives and what order do we put them in. Also how we live through the trials and situations of our life too.
Do we joyfully grip and hold fast to the Cross in a trial,…. knowing we are growing in the faith…. or are we kicking and screaming for this trial and its pain to end.
Are we patient to wait for Him to Move or speak on our behalf…. or do we influence a situation moving out in our own personal power instead of His to gain a position or a place in our lives?
Getting our hands in there …
I awoke the other morning seeking the face of God. Knowing there was more for me in my life, my ministry and my commitment to Him…. Seeking a great hunger to know Him
This because all that I have all that I am is worth nothing if I don’t please Him. I am nothing with out His love or guidance.
Philippians 3: 7-11 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. …..
For all I have had and seen is counted for loss if I don’t know Him personally.
Giving up all of what my life was is nothing compared to having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Are you saying all…YES I AM
Paul is writhing that all things that he has lost are considered rubbish to the relationship that he may gain with the Lord.
Not in his righteousness… not his own abilities … but through the righteousness which is from God by faith through Christ
He is willing to forget what was behind him to press on to a deeper faith
Paul says” in vs. 14 …… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He calls it a prize
It’s about pressing upward and pressing in. finding a deeper relationship with Him.
Ask yourself …What good are all my natural earthly relationships if I don’t have a proper one with the Lord.
I say nothing… without the lord there is no tomorrow or let alone later today,
How do I do this how do I get there.. To a better relationship with Him ?
One word.. Covenant defines as Commitment or Pledge or Promise
Learn that word it is a godly word with a spiritual definition
It’s yes Lord I am going to do it ……. you can count on me….
We are to make covenant with Him first and then the ones we serve with in Ministry to be co labors for the will of God
Joining our hearts first to Him… then to the ones we serve with.
Always pressing into a deeper understanding that is Christ Jesus
Building Godly relationships… to move us as a unified army for the Lord
It takes commitment to get up early and press into the Spirit praying and seeking His face when those around you are sleeping
It isn’t easy to read your bible when there is so much to do and all the whatever’[s are calling you by the minute
One thing though. .that’s the time most to seek His will … when you become overwhelmed that’s the time to stop and seek His Face
It takes character to say no to ones own will ….. And lay your life down at the Cross at Calvary…..
To be used for the will of GOD
It is so much easier to serve in this life as a Non Christian, going on you’re your agenda enjoying Life as they say
What greater Joy is there then to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
What greater Joy is there then to serve Jesus Christ? Vs 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
Pressing towards the Prize…..
What greater sacrifice Then it is to lay your life down for your fellow man
If Things aren’t right in your Life … my first question would be to you today … How is your personal relationship with Him...?
You have been given the power if you can stand fast..
Gal.5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
It also says not to be entangled again…
There is also a Liberty and freedom in Christ. Take advantage of what Jesus did for you on the cross at Calvary…
This is communion Sunday…… look into your heart is it time to make a greater commitment to Him?
Amen
Communion Sunday
