Reaching For The Goal

Reaching for the Goal

Philippians 3: 12-14

12 Not that I have already attained this -- that is, I have not already been perfected-- but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

14 with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Setting the Context

-- Letter of Friendship

-- Paul was in prison

-- Joy + Poverty = Generosity

-- There was internal division

---- Stand firm

---- Have the same mindset

1. Be single-minded.

-- Don’t be double-minded.

-- Unstable in all he does (James 1:8)

-- City Slickers: The “1” thing

-- The Goal is Christ (v.10)

---- Knowing Christ

---- The Power of His Resurrection

---- The Fellowship of Sharing His Suffering

-- What is your “1 thing”?

2. Forget the past.

-- Forget your past failures.

-- Don’t be a victim of your past failures.

-- Christ has already died for your failures (Rom. 5)

----You just have to accept His unconditional love.

-- Forget your past successes.

---- You are not what you do.

---- You are created in God’s image.

------ You have the capacity to have a vibrant relationship with the God of the universe.

3. Keep going forward.

-- Straining forward

-- Like a runner

-- Every muscles, every efforts

-- 1 of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

---- Defining your “End Game”

---- Every steps should contribute to the “End Game”.

---- What is your “End Game” ?

---- Hebrews 9:27 – Judgment after death