PHILIPPIANS 3:12-17 KEEP PRESSING ON

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

 In this great section of Scripture Paul is exhorting the Philippians to keep at it and not to quit.  He lets them know that even though he had all of these great human accomplishments they meant nothing to him now that He knows Christ.  That they are actually something that hold him down in life and are excess baggage and even as worthless as dung.  He tells them that even though he was all these things in the world’s eyes, that he is still not perfect, that he has not attained the pinnacle of Christ likeness, he still has work to do.  He does this so they won’t get discouraged and give up since none of us will ever achieve perfection in this life and we will still mess up and sin.  Finally he says we are to keep our eyes fixed on the goal of being like Christ and our prize is that one day when we get to heaven we get to finally be like Him

 What are your Goals in Life?

We should grow because:

1.     The Bible says so, it is a command from God

2Peter 3:18 grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus

2.     Glorifies God

1Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

3.     Enhances our witness to the world Matthew 5:16 Let your light

6 principles we need to know in order to pursue the prize

1.     V-12 The awareness of the need to achieve a better condition

2.     Exert Maximum effort

1Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1Corinthians 9:24 -27

3.     We need focused Concentration on the one goal

4.     Spiritual Motivation V 14 calls us to a lifelong pursuit of spirituality

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Live in the light and expectation of heaven and God's glory

5.     We need to recognize divine resources for spiritual growth

·       The Word 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:11

Desire the pure milk of the word 1 Peter 2:2

·       Prayer

·       V17 Follow an example

·       Trials

1Peter 1:6-7

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

V 15 as many as are mature

6.     Need Consistency

V 16 One more thing let us keep living by that same we have obtained

In other words whatever you are spiritually live up to it and keep moving forward

TOOLS FOR SALE
It was advertised that the devil was going to put his tools up for sale. On the date of the sale, the tools were placed for public inspection; each tool being marked with its sale price. They were a treacherous lot of implements... Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Deceit, Lying, Pride, and so on. Laid apart from the rest was a harmless looking tool, well worn and priced very high. "What is the name of this tool?" asked one of the purchasers, pointing to it. "That is discouragement," replied the devil. "Why have you priced it so high?" "Because it is more useful to me than the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's heart with that when I cannot get near him with my other tools. Once I get inside, I can make him do what I choose. It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since very few people know that it belongs to me." Is the devil beating you down trying to discourage you? The Lord has good news for you! But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly about my weaknesses, SO THAT CHRIST'S POWER MAY REST ON
ME." II Corinthians 12:9, Phil 4:11 for I have learned in whatever