PRESSING
TOWARD THE GOAL
A
New Year's Message
As
we face a new year, we remember our past - and look ahead to a new
year.
Phil.
3:13-14 Text = "Forgetting the past - Reaching for the future."
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A
LOOK AT ATTITUDE
about self
Phil.
1:12-18 Paul writes from a Roman prison.
The
providence of God is recognized
Phil.
1:19-21 Paul intends to glorify God whether in life or in death. Making
the best of a bad situation - Looking with hope.
Christians
do not live for themselves - but for God.
Rom.
14:7-8 "For
none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. (8) For
if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the
Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the
Lord's."
Paul
demonstrated this:
Gal.
2:20 "I
have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself for me."
We
belong to Him - because we have died
with Him:
Rom.
6:3-4 "Or
do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (4) Therefore
we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life."
A
LOOK AT TRUST
in God
Phil.
3:3 We are those who
should
have
no confidence in the flesh
Phil.
3:4-7 Paul could have boasted of confidence in the flesh
Things
that many consider important:
Nationality
- Education
- Accomplishments
Example
- Israel entered Canaan with a warning not to trust in the flesh:
Deut.
8:7-18 Grace received from God leaves nothing for us to boast of.
LOOKING
BACK
- Paul gave up confidence in the flesh
Phil.
3:8-11 Exchanging physical
things for spiritual
things
What
will we give in exchange for our confidence in physical things?
Mt.
16:26 "For
what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange
for his soul?"
What
stands between us and Heaven? Pride? Wealth? Pleasure? Time?
LOOKING
AT THE PRESENT
Phil.
3:12 We haven't arrived yet - This is not the time to rest on
laurels There
is danger in becoming satisfied
in our accomplishments
Lk.
12:16-21 The
rich fool rested too soon.
We
need vision
to see that souls need to hear the gospel today
Jn.
4:34-35 "Jesus
said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent
Me, and to finish His work. (35) Do you not say, 'There
are still four months and then comes the harvest?'
Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the
fields, for they are already white for harvest!' "
LOOKING
TO THE FUTURE
Phil.
3:13-14 Don't look back - It's counter-productive
You
can't change the past - You can only reach to the future.
Example
- The Israelites after leaving Mt. Sinai - looked back at Egypt:
Num.
11:4-6 "Now
the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to
intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept
again and said: 'Who will give us meat to eat? (5) We
remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the
cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the
garlic; (6) but now our whole being is dried up; there is
nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!' "
The
Lord sent quail - they were gluttonous & suffered a great plague.
Example
- The Israelites go from Mt. Hor, past Edom -They
complained
Num.
21:4-6 "Then
they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea,
to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the
people became very discouraged on the way. (5) And the
people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have
you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes
this worthless bread.' (6) So the Lord sent fiery
serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and
many of the of Israel died."
2
Pet. 2:20-ff Better to not know - than to know & turn back.
Those
who set their mind on earthly things v/s
Our heavenly citizenship:
Phil.
3:17-4:1 We eagerly wait - Therefore we stand fast.
How
we endure to reach the goal that we press toward:
Phil.
4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing - and His peace will guard our hearts.
Phil.
4:8 Meditate on good things - instead of negative things.
Phil.
4:11-12 Learn to be content under every circumstance.
Our
confidence is not in the flesh but in Christ, Therefore:
Phil.
4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Jn.
15:4-5 "Abide
in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in Me. (5) I am the vine, you are the
branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much
fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
