Pressing On

back together to a reading in Philippians chapter 3. We're going to look at verse 12 to verse 16.

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

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

2 Timothy 4:6

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.

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

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.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.