Happy Fourth of July Weekend. This time of the year, we look back to remember the birth of our nation. On July 4th 1776, our nation gave us the privilege to pursue a life of liberty and freedom. Yet, we still have challenges to keep those freedoms.
God’s Prize Philippians 3:12-16.
Today in our church, we can celebrate another victory. We look back and remember Jesus’ death through participating in communion. The table represents the sacrifice Jesus made for our freedom from sin and hell, and our gift of eternal life.
I have chosen to stay in our Philippian study for our celebration of communion. Before we look at Philippians chapter 3, there is one aspect of the communion table that I want to highlight. Communion is significant to us because of our placement in God’s family. With that in mind, in chapter 3:12-16, the apostle Paul is going to challenge you and me with a great task. This great task is pursuing our high calling in Jesus Christ, which leads to significance, purpose, and joy in this life and in the life to come. Thus, Paul urges believers to set their earthly goal on living for Jesus Christ. Our focus on Christ will keep us from getting distracted by our culture and world.
Background: In chapter 3:12–16, Paul likens the Christian life to a contemporary race of his day, the Isthmian games. The goal of an Isthmian race is to win the prize (usually a wreath and social privileges). It’s important for me to note that while Paul uses this race as a metaphor, in this instance the race does not represent salvation, rather it depicts sanctification (becoming a mature believer in Jesus). Please observe that those who enter this race are already believers who are called to a live up to their high calling in Jesus. Paul’s intention is to cause believers to resist becoming so preoccupied with the tyranny of the urgent that we miss what is most important in life. It’s so easy to become victims of the latest distractions. But we have to decide what matters most.
Notice how Paul focused his life when he shares his personal experience in 3:12–14. He writes, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that [lit. “if I may even”] I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is quick to assert that he has not yet reached the goal. Twice he acknowledges this: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect” (3:12) and “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet” (3:13). Since, Paul did not feel like he had arrived, how much more is this true of you and me? Paul has a humble dissatisfaction, a holy discontentment. He doesn’t compare himself with others, other beliefs or ways; he compares himself with Jesus Christ and recognizes that he has a long-way to go!
Message: In these verses he provides three training tips which helped him stay in the race.
- Paul provided his first training tip and he says it twice, “press on” (3:12, 14). This present tense verb (Gk. dioko) is often translated “pursue” it’s an engaged pursuit. This word is a verb that is used figuratively of one who daily runs in the race to obtain the prize. What’s is the prize (3:14)? It is living out the call of God in our life. The prize results in eternal reward. Paul strives to “lay hold” (Gk. katalambano) of this great pursuit because Christ “laid hold” (Gk.katalambano) of him.
God’s goal was not just to “get us in the door of heaven.” Jesus did not merely look to “save” us and
provide “hell insurance.” The point is that God saved us, not just for heaven;
He saved us so that we would be of earthly good. God has called and redeemed us
TO something. He DOES have a plan for us. God’s set goal is for us to pursue
the prize of our high calling in Christ and an eternal reward. We are to set
our earthly goal on the prize.
- The second training advice is to choose to “forget what
lies behind.” Past successes
are just that—PAST. We also can’t get bogged down in our past failures. Perhaps
it was a poor decision at a young age, divorce, neglected children, or rebellion
against God’s Word. It is easy to beat yourself up over issues from your
past and assume that God has set you on the sidelines of the race. This is a
lie from Satan that only results in discouragement. While we will carry
consequences of our past, Paul writes so that we know that all of our past God
has forgiven and forgotten, and its forever. He encourages the believers that
it’s never too late to press on in Christ. In fact, God can make a great finish
out of a poor start. Ultimately, there is no past defeat so devastating as to
exclude us from going forward in the present. Also, there is no past success so
great as to exempt us from going forward to more victory. We must consciously refuse to dwell on the past which now lie
behind us. Past failures will keep you discouraged; past successes will keep
you apathetic or complacent. Both are
not from God.
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to
run a mile in less than four minutes. Within two months, John Landy eclipsed
the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic
race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he
would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where
is Bannister?” As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told
a Time magazine reporter, “If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!” What a great reminder to
you and me. Don’t look back unless you’re planning on going there. May we press
on in Christ and not look back, except to praise God for what He has done in
our lives.
- The third way we choose to pursue God’s prize is to reach forward to what lies ahead. The Greek word (epekteino) for “reaching forward” speaks of stretching out or straining forth, as a competitor in a race. This word pictures the body of a runner bent forward, his hand outstretched toward the goal, and his eye fastened upon it. Paul is using this athletic metaphor of where a runner would intently strain and win his race. Upon crossing the finish line, the winner would be called up to the platform to receive the prize, possibly a laurel wreath, which was the symbol of victory.
The image Paul shares is a person reaching forward and pressing on “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” It is a heavenward call of Christ Jesus and the promise of eternal rewards. Paul longs to hear Jesus say “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).
In 3:15–16, Paul transitions back to his own personal experience to apply an
exhortation to the church. He writes,
“Let us therefore, as many as are perfect [mature], have this attitude; and
if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”
The “therefore” (gk. oun) ties back into 3:10–14 and carries on with emphasizing spiritual maturity. Paul’s exhortation is: Keep living to the same standard a believer has attained from Jesus. That means apply in life now what we know about Christ and His Word. We are to persevere in our faith by being obedient with what we do know about our calling in Jesus.
As we read this letter, Paul wrote to a church of people with different levels of spiritual growth. Yet, as individuals and as a community, every believer is called to press on and pursue Christ.
In 3:15 Paul challenges any believer who may choose to ignore God and rebel against His plan for their life. This challenge is in the form of an encouragement. Because God’s love is eternal and constant, when believers’ minds are set on other pursuits and goals, God will reveal it to them. The point is that we have a great life Coach to trust in our life’s race.
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, was asked by a reporter to rank his priorities. He responded, “I believe in God, my family, and McDonald’s.” Then he added, “When I get to the office, I reverse the order.” If you are honest, perhaps you would have to acknowledge that work, family, marriage, or a hobby has become your top priority.
Here Paul encourages us to remember to pursue God’s prize—our high calling with Jesus in all things. The great news is that when we have a forward focus on Jesus, He will provide the grace for every area of our lives. It’s all about putting first things first. Set our earthly goal on heavenly gains. So, we can continue to press on for Christ.
When we celebrate communion, we have an underlining understanding that participating in communion means that you are His and you are committed to Him because – He is the LORD; – He is YOUR God; and because of what He’s done – He has set you FREE. Participating in this table reminds us that we are committed to live for Him.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Our tradition is to take a special offering following our participation in the Lord’s Supper. This offering supplies for the needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a voluntary offering and we ask that you give as you are led. We base our giving on the Scriptural text:
I John 3:17-18; 23–24 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him? …let us not love with word or with tongue, but in-deed and truth. Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the people who keep His commandments abides in Him, and He in them. And we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.