back together to a reading in Philippians chapter 3. We're going to look at verse 12 to verse 16.
Just to get it in context we can read again at verse 10.
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings
becoming like him in his death that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the
dead. Not that I have already obtained this or I'm already perfect but I press on to make it my own
because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers I do not consider that I have made it my own
but one thing I do forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us who are mature think this way and if in anything you think otherwise God will
reveal that also to you. Only let us hold through to what we have attained.
As we look at these verses what we find is Paul in many ways examining himself and looking at his life
and where he is, what he had, what it was worth and what he needed in his life.
As you read from the beginning of the chapter you see he's going through what he once was.
We've looked at this in the past, the start of chapter 3.
How he thought he was on the right track, how he thought he was doing everything right
to please God in his own eyes and yet all the time he was on the wrong path entirely,
heading in completely the wrong way.
But what changed for him?
What great change happened in his life?
Well he tells us in these verses that we've read in verse 12.
Because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Another version of that word translation would be Christ Jesus has taken hold of me.
So this is the great change that has happened in his life.
Everything that he saw as righteousness by himself, he now sees as just filthy rags, rubbish,
compared to the righteousness that there is in Christ through faith.
And so this is what has changed in him.
And as we look at ourselves, as we think of ourselves, here we are, the last Wednesday meeting of this year.
As we think looking back over the year that's gone and God willing looking ahead to the year that's about to come our way.
It's often a time when we reflect and look on ourselves.
And wonder just where we are.
And any examination of ourselves probably always leave us, maybe should always leave us,
feeling that there's always room for improvement.
We are not perfect.
None of us.
And that's what Paul says here in verse 12.
Not that I have already obtained this, or I'm already perfect.
He doesn't see him as the perfect Christian in any way, shape or form.
But what he says is, I press on.
I press on.
And so that's what we are to do as well.
We as a people are to be a people who recognise we're not perfect,
recognise how often we fall short in so many ways,
but to take heart through these words too and to press on.
So whether we're looking back as to what has gone,
looking at where we are in the present situation,
or whether we're looking ahead, God willing, to what lies ahead of us,
that we take this from Paul himself to us.
We press on.
We may often say this time of year,
well, things are going to be different.
I'm going to change my life.
Starting the 1st of January,
I'm going to start doing things differently.
We can all have our great plans,
but how many of them last?
January is often the time of year when most people join a gym.
They think we're going to start the year in a new way.
Join a gym, get healthy, get fit.
By the end of January,
50% of those who have joined a gym
will have cancelled their membership.
They don't keep going.
They don't press on.
They can't get into it.
They almost can't be bothered with it.
It's too much like hard work.
But here, Paul is speaking about the Christian
in this sense of our physical strength as well.
He's talking about this in the way of being an athlete.
Pressing on towards the goal.
Pressing on towards the prize that is before us.
Like someone who is running a race.
And when we think of our lives
and the things that we would long to change,
what is it that we would want to change most about ourselves?
If you look at Paul and the way his life has changed,
what is it that he is pressing on towards?
To be more like Christ.
And to recognise in all of his shortcomings,
he's not obtained it,
he's not already perfect,
but this is what he is pressing on towards.
And for ourselves,
as we examine our lives just now,
as we, God willing,
go into a new season in our lives,
our attitude could be one of so easily
just to be like those who join a gym,
but less than a month later,
they've given up.
We could have that kind of attitude as well.
But instead,
we are to have this attitude of Paul.
And to live in this race.
This race that the Lord has set out before each of us.
Going it individually,
going it collectively,
but running this race,
pressing on towards the goal.
There are several places in the New Testament
where the Christian life is looked at in this way.
Very often,
it's Paul himself who's looking at it,
whether it's in Corinthians,
Timothy,
Hebrews.
You find this illustration of
running the race with patience,
pressing on,
straining towards the goal.
And so here,
he is again in Philippians,
writing to them here,
this letter of joy as it's described.
He's writing to them
to press on,
to strain towards the goal,
the joy that there is in Christ,
and seeking to be more like him.
And in so doing,
he gives us some principles,
if you like,
for spiritual growth.
things that we can put into our practice
in our own lives.
Using the athletic analogy,
he's going to speak about
how to get in shape spiritually,
how to keep ourselves fit
in the Christian life,
and pressing on towards that goal,
and pressing on in the race set before us.
And the first principle is this,
be in the race.
Be in the race.
If you think of the analogy
of a race,
a sporting event,
there's a slogan
that's often spoken of
and true for every competitor.
You have to be in it
to win it.
And here,
Paul is reminding the church
at Philippi
of the race that they are to be in.
Not to get sidelined
into something else,
but to be in the race
that the Lord has set before them.
Because even if you just look
at Paul's own life,
what race was Paul in?
He wasn't just running this race
to find forgiveness
for his past.
He wasn't keeping running this race
just because of all
that he had done wrong
in the past.
He wasn't running this race
to make himself look good
towards others,
to please others.
He is running this race
for a real purpose.
The purpose that we read of
in verse 10 and 11.
That I may know him
and the power of his resurrection
and may share his sufferings
becoming like him in his death
that by any means possible
I may attain the resurrection
from the dead.
This is the race that he is in.
Striving to be more Christ-like.
How do you know
if you are growing in grace?
How do you look at yourself
and think,
maybe many of us probably
don't think it,
but how would you recognise
if you are growing in grace?
Well, it's maybe easier to answer
to recognise
how you're not growing in grace.
If you think you've arrived,
if you think you've made it,
if you think you have everything
you need now
and you will cease to grow
in the Lord.
You're not pressing on
towards the goal
to be more like him.
If you ever come to that point
where you think that's it,
well, you're no longer
growing in grace.
And so by the same token,
when you're willing to admit
that you need to humble yourself
before God,
when you're willing to admit
that there are things
that could be better in your life,
areas that you need to grow,
that is a sign
that you're still pressing on.
Pressing on towards the goal,
just as Paul is saying here.
Not that I've already obtained it,
not that I'm already perfect,
but I press on.
I press on.
I keep going.
I recognise the race
that the Lord has set before me
and I will run it with him.
I will run this race with patience,
with my eyes fixed on Jesus.
We are to be in this race,
not to become complacent
or forgetful
or to think
I cannot get any better,
I cannot improve.
There's always areas
where we can be better.
There's a car bumper sticker.
I've not seen it
in any cars here,
but I've seen it advertised.
And it says this,
Christians aren't perfect,
just forgiven.
Now there's elements of truth in that,
of course there is.
But there's a danger in it as well.
You have that in your car
and you're going flying past
other motorists
or cutting in on them
and they're seeing that on your car.
What kind of Christian is that?
And this is some kind of excuse
that you can maybe give.
Well, Christians aren't perfect,
but we're forgiven.
That's not the way it is at all.
That would be the danger
of just becoming complacent
in our lives
and thinking,
well, I'm not perfect,
but at least I'm forgiven.
And the danger is
we just do as we please,
knowing,
well, the Lord's going
to forgive me anyway.
Instead of being convicted in sin,
we just carry on in sin.
And that's the danger
that Paul is addressing
here in Philippi
and in other churches
throughout his day as well.
He was addressing this danger
that people just start
slipping back
into their old ways.
They forget that the race
that the Lord has set before them
and they just go and live
for themselves.
So instead of placing on
to be more Christ-like,
we can just say,
well, I'm not going to be
perfect anyway.
So let's just leave it
at that.
But by having that kind of attitude,
we're forgetting
the very reason
why Christ came.
We're now in playing
what the Lord Jesus
has done for us.
Because as he says here,
I press on to make it my own,
because Christ Jesus
has made me his own.
Having this mind,
he recognizes
what Christ has done
for him.
And so,
he's encouraging us
to be a people
like this as well.
There are a lot of people
trying to run the race
for themselves
instead of running
for the Lord.
And just look at
how Paul thought
he was doing
everything right.
Verse 4 to verse 6
of this chapter
which we read,
he says,
I have every reason
for confidence
in the flesh also.
If anyone else thinks
he has reason
for confidence,
I have more.
Circumcised on the
eighth day
of the people of Israel.
And so he goes on.
He had all of these
things going for him.
All of these things
that he thought,
this is me running
the race.
He was sincere.
He was dedicated.
He was zealous
in so many ways.
But there was
one major problem.
He was not running
for Christ.
He was not running
looking to him.
He was running
for himself.
To be seen
by others
and the greatness
of all of these
things,
of the people of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of Hebrews,
all of these things
but not running
for Christ.
But now he says,
I press on
to make it my own.
Why?
Because Christ Jesus
has made me
his own.
And we have to just
understand
what these words
mean.
Have you ever been
arrested?
Well, if you are
a Christian,
you have been.
Not in the sense
of the police
laying their hands
on you
and putting you
in cuffs.
But that's what
Paul describes
here of what
Christ Jesus
has done
for him.
Christ Jesus
has taken
hold
of me
is another
translation.
Others say
he has
apprehended
me.
It's a very
word
for being
arrested.
Taken hold
of
by Christ.
That's what's
changed
in Paul's
life.
This is what
has brought
him into the
right race.
This is what
is keeping
him going.
This is what
is making
him focus
on what
lies ahead.
Pressing on
towards
this goal.
It is because
Christ Jesus
has arrested
me.
Too many
Christians today
are resisting
arrest.
Resisting
Christ taking
hold of them
because of
what it means.
Because of
all it entails.
Christ Jesus
being all
in all
for us.
But Paul
is reminding
us here
to press
on
towards
that goal.
Not
resisting
but allowing
Christ to
transform us
fully.
This means
as we are
arrested by
Christ we are
no longer
our own.
We belong
to Christ.
He has
bought us
with a
price.
And so
our aim
is to
please
him.
So
the first
thing is
to be
in the
right race.
To be
running
for Christ.
Taking
hold of
by him
and going
forward
for him.
The second
principle we
see here is
don't be
distracted.
he says
there in
verse 13
brothers I
do not
consider that
I have
made it
my own
but one
thing I
do.
Forgetting
what lies
behind and
straining
forward to
what lies
ahead I
press on
towards the
goal for
the prize of
the upward
call of
God in
Christ Jesus.
Paul could
so easily
have been
distracted in
this race.
He could
so easily
have felt
that he
didn't even
deserve to
be in the
race.
And there's
two ways
that he
describes the
distractions
that he
has here.
He speaks
about the
past.
Forgetting
what lies
behind.
We have
all failed
in the
past.
We've all
fallen short
of God's
goals in
our lives.
But Paul
looking at
his own
life he
sees himself
as failing
in so many
ways in
his past.
But what
he doesn't
let happen
is that
past to
distract
him.
He says
I'm not
going to
be constantly
affected by
it.
I'm not
going to
be constantly
held back
or held
down by
my past.
What he
says is
the pressing
on is
not being
distracted by
that but
going forward
forgetting
what is
behind.
Not in
the sense
where it's
all completely
gone.
He knows
it's there.
But he
doesn't allow
it to take
his focus
away.
Just like
an athlete
in a race.
If an
athlete in a
race is
distracted by
what's behind,
if there's
other athletes
and the
athlete's
wondering how
close are
they behind
me, if
they start
to look
behind,
they're going
to fall
away.
They're going
to lose
their focus.
And so
Paul is
saying here
you fix
your eyes
forward.
You realise
what's behind
you but
you press
on.
And the
same is
true for
ourselves as
well.
We are to
press forward.
Yes we know
we all have
things in our
past.
Maybe even
in this past
year we look
at things and
we regret and
we wish we
hadn't done or
we wish we
had done.
But we
don't let
that hold
us back.
We don't
let that make
us feel
we're unworthy
to go on
in this race.
But we
press forward.
We press
on to
know Christ
Jesus and
to serve
him more.
It's like
someone once
said if you
always drive
the car
looking in
the rear view
mirror you're
always going
to end up in
the ditch at
some point.
You've got to
look at what
lies ahead.
sometimes we
have to just
let the past
go.
Not in the
sense of
forgetting it
completely but
not letting it
hold us
back.
There's another
way he warns
of not being
distracted either.
It's not to
think that we've
made it.
Brothers I do
not consider
that I've made
it my own.
He hasn't done
it for himself.
He could say
maybe he's
been a
Christian for
a long time.
20, 25,
30 years a
Christian.
Maybe even
more you could
think well
that's it.
I've made it.
I've given
my part.
I've done
my bit.
It's time to
maybe just sit
back and take
it easy for a
while.
But he says
no.
He's pressing
on.
He says
press on.
Keep going.
Don't think
you've arrived.
Just press
on with your
eyes fixed
on Jesus.
What he
says then is
crucial in
this as well.
He says
I press on
towards the
goal.
The one
thing I do.
One thing
I do.
Forgetting
what lies
behind and
straining
towards what
lies ahead.
I press
on.
The one
thing I
do.
Again
it's like
Paul has
this athlete
in mind
where their
focus is on
the race.
Nothing
else.
This one
thing.
Paul was
of this
mind
himself.
For me
to live
is Christ.
That's what
he says
says earlier
in
Philippines.
For me
to live
is Christ.
He has
this mind
in him.
This one
thing I
do.
One of the
problems of
the modern
Christian life
indeed all
life just
now is
there's so
many things
for us.
No one
can say
this one
thing I
do.
Because we're
all trying
to do so
much.
We're pulled
in different
directions all
the time.
But Paul
is saying
refocus.
Refocus.
And this
one thing
is what is
needful.
To press
on towards
this prize.
This high
goal.
This prize
of the upward
call of God
in Christ
Jesus.
So whatever
we do,
we do as
to the
Lord.
As it says,
Jesus taught
himself,
seek first
the kingdom
of God.
Seek first
this one
thing.
Have this
mind,
he says.
Have this
aim in
your life.
Press on
towards
this mark.
You could
say,
we don't
do things
to please
others.
Don't do
things to
please
myself.
I seek
to please
God.
And Paul
himself could
say later
on in his
life, as he
was an
older man,
as he came
to reach
this goal
in his
life, he
says in
2 Timothy 4
verse 6
and 7,
for I
am already
being poured
out as
a drink
offering and
the time
of my
departure
has come.
I have
fought the
good fight.
I have
finished the
race.
I have
kept the
faith.
And that
is a
wonderful
testimony
for any
Christian
to have.
I have
fought the
good fight.
I have
finished the
race.
I have
kept the
faith.
That is
what Paul
is encouraging
us to
hear in
these words
to the
Philippians.
That we
press on
towards the
goal.
Fight the
good fight.
Keep the
faith.
The third
and final
thing is,
the third
principle,
have the
right attitude.
Let those
of us in
verse 15
who are
mature think
this way.
And if
anything you
think otherwise,
God will
reveal that
also to
you.
Only let
us hold
true to
what we
have
attained.
When we
think of
athletes and
sports people,
we so often
think of the
difference that
the right
attitude makes.
The attitude
makes a
difference between
defeat and
victory,
success and
failure.
So often
you see maybe
an athlete or
even teams
who lack
the same
talent as
others,
but because
of the
right mindset,
because of
the right
attitude going
into it,
they come
out on top.
Attitude is
crucial in
sport and
Paul is saying
it's crucial in
our lives too.
In the life of
the Christian,
our attitude
is crucial.
He speaks
here so often
in this letter
of having
this right
mind.
Verse 15,
let those of
us who are
mature think
this way.
Have this
mind, he's
saying there.
He said it
already in
this letter,
for example,
chapter 2,
verse 2,
complete my
joy by being
of the same
mind.
Chapter 2,
verse 5,
have this
mind among
yourselves,
which is
yours in
Christ Jesus.
The word
for mind
is used
ten times
in
Philippines.
Nearly
half as
much as
it's used
in the
New Testament,
it's used
in this
letter,
the letter
of joy.
And so
you see
here,
linked to
joy is
having this
mind,
this attitude.
The two
go hand
in hand.
And so
Paul,
as he's
summing up
here,
would be
saying,
have this
right attitude,
have this
mind in
you,
pressing on
towards the
goal.
Not seeing
this as
something that's
just,
oh,
I've just
got to
try and
do it.
It's not
what I
really want
to be
doing it.
It's to
have this
right attitude,
the joy
of the
Lord,
knowing that
we are
doing it
for him,
knowing the
privilege that
is ours,
as was said
in the
prayers this
evening as
we sang in
Psalm 122,
I
joyed when
to the
house of
God
go up
they said
to me.
I went
there with
joy.
I went
there to
be with
God's
people.
I went
there to
be with
a praying
people,
a fellow
people,
brothers and
sisters in
Christ.
This
right
attitude.
So
whatever we're
doing,
if we're
serving the
Lord,
it's doing
it for
him.
Not doing
something because
the ministers
asked.
not doing
something to
try and
please others,
but doing
it as a
sense of
joy for
the Lord.
Let those
of us who
mature think
this way.
And if in
anything you
think otherwise,
God will
reveal that
also to
you.
He is
saying,
press on
in this
way.
Go
forward in
this strength,
in this
right attitude
of joy to
the Lord.
It was a
story told
about when
Sir
Christopher
Wren was
constructing
cathedrals in
London.
Not sure how
many of the
churches in
London he
built, but
there are
enormous amount
of them were
designed and
built by
Sir
Christopher
Wren.
And there
was people
working on
these cathedrals,
these churches,
when they were
being built.
And it was
something that
was being
spoken about
quite a lot
in the
time.
And a
journalist
thought that
he would
go and
interview some
of the
workers that
were working
on the
buildings.
And he
asked three
different people
who were
working,
what is it
that you're
doing?
The first
person he
replied to
him asked
the question,
what are you
doing?
He said,
I'm cutting
stone for
ten shillings
a day.
second person
he asked
the same
question to,
what are
you doing?
I'm putting
in ten
hours a
day on
this job.
The third
person he
asked,
what are
you doing?
He said,
I'm helping
Christopher
Wren construct
one of
London's
greatest
cathedrals.
You see
the difference
in the
attitude.
One saw
it as
working for
money.
One saw
it as
just a
hard day's
labour,
ten hours,
but one
had a
greater
vision,
a better
vision,
a vision
that encouraged
going on
and gave
them an
attitude
that was
right for
going forward.
I'm
helping
Sir
Christopher
Wren
construct
one of
London's
greatest
cathedrals.
So what's
our attitude
and service
for the
Lord?
Are we
thinking to
ourselves
just putting
in a
ten-hour
day here?
Are we
thinking to
ourselves
I'm just
putting my
money into
this and
nothing else?
Or do we
see it as
being involved
in the
kingdom of
God?
I am
serving the
Lord with
all my
heart that
his kingdom
may be built
and come in
power here.
Attitude
makes such
a difference.
So Paul
is saying
to us
here in
all of
these
principles
be in
the right
race.
See
yourselves
as running
for Christ.
Don't be
distracted
as you
go on.
Don't let
the past
or the
present
hold you
back but
press on
towards the
goal.
And then
finally just
see who
you are
doing it
for.
See
that this
is all
for Christ.
We are
part of
his
kingdom.
We are
part of
his
church.
And we
have that
promise
that his
church
will be
built.
So let's
not be
discouraged.
But let's
go forward
pressing on
encouraged
with the
right attitude
with the
right mindset
that God
can and
will
do great
things for
us as
we look
to him
and trust
in him.
May God
bless his
word to
us.
We are
going to
sing in
conclusion to
God's
praise in
Psalm
119.
It's
the
Sing
Psalms
version,
page 159,
verse 33.
Psalm
119 at
verse 33.
Teach me to
follow your
decrees,
and I will
keep them
to the
end.
Give
insight,
and I'll
keep your
law,
with all
my heart
to it
attend.
We'll sing
this section,
verse 33
to 40,
to God's
praise.
teach me to
follow your
decrees,
then I
will keep
them to
the end.
give in
sight,
and I'll
keep
your
law,
with all
my
heart
to
it
attain.
lead me
in
your
commandment
path,
for
then,
O Lord,
delight
I
find,
word high,
hypersive,
lift me
toward my
eyes,
regardless of
O turn my eyes from worthless things, give life according to your word.
To meet your servant, keep your pledge, so that you may be feared, O Lord.
Remove from me the shame, my friend.
Your laws excel in a bright red.
O how I long for your dequease.
Preserve me in your righteousness.
Amen.
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.