GOALS FOR RUNNING THE RACE Philippians 3:7-16

Philippians 3:7-16 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.

My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,

I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you also. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

The Christian’s 4 Goals

The Christian’s 4 Goals To Know Christ Intimately “My goal is to know Him” Vs. 10 To Experience Resurrection Power “And the power of His resurrection” Vs. 10 To Die to Self “And the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” Vs. 10 To Persevere to the End “Assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.” Vs. 11

Seven Keys to Achieving the Goals and to Reaching the Finish Line

1. Know Where You Are “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature” Vs. 12 “Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it.” Vs. 13 DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO WHERE YOU ARE AT IN YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. THERE IS MORE TO BE ACHIEVED. HAVE IT IN YOUR GOAL’S LIST.

Desire more! To Know Christ Intimately Paul’s goal was to know Christ deeply (vs. 10). Do you have that goal? Or is it enough just to know that Jesus is your Savior? Don’t you want to know Him more? What is your spiritual goal in life?

Desire more! To Experience Resurrection Power “Another goal Paul had was to know the power of Christ’s resurrection” Vs. 10 That goes beyond just to know Christ. Paul wanted to experience the power that raised Christ from the dead He wanted to have experiences of the power of the Holy Spirit He wanted to see the sick healed and the dead raised from the dead He was not conformed with a religious life; he wanted more

Desire more! To Experience Resurrection Power Do you also want to know more of the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you want more of His counsel, more of His peace, more of His power to overcome sin, more of His anointing, more of His spiritual gifts? Paul said: “Desire the spiritual gifts”. YOU HAVE TO WANT MORE AND HAVE THAT AS YOUR GOAL FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND PRAY AND SEEK IT.

2. Know Where It Begins Vs. 12 “I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” YOU ARE IN CHRIST NOW BECAUSE HE TOOK HOLD OF YOU; HE REACHED OUT TO YOU FIRST NOW, THAT HE HAS REACHED OUT TO YOU, YOU ALSO REACH OUT TO HIM THIS IS THE GOAL OF YOUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST!

3. Simplify Your Life Vs. 13 “But one thing I do” NLT: “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing” Heb 12:1 “…Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us” FOCUS YOUR ENERGIES ON YOUR GOALS SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE SO YOU CAN REACH THE GOALS

Get Rid of Sin & Burden  1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb. 13:1-3)

4. Forget the Past Vs. 13 “Forgetting what is behind” Leave the past behind FOR ONCE AND ALL! Paul had a difficult past:  12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 1:12-13)

4. Forget the Past Vs. 13 “Forgetting what is behind” Leave the past behind FOR ONCE AND ALL! Guilt: Being haunted by past sin Depression: Being haunted by past hurts Achievement: “Resting on my laurels” Nostalgia: Longing for the “Good ole days” DO NOT WORSHIP THE PAST! GOD IS IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE!

5. Be Forward Leaning Vs. 13, ESV “Straining forward to what lies ahead” Phillips: “With hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal” Sometimes you have to pull yourself forward to reach what the Lord has ahead for you. STRAINING IS PAINFUL BUT IT WORKS OUT!

6. Give Maximum Effort Vs. 12 “I make every effort” Vs. 14 “I pursue as my goal” THIS IS WHERE IT LIES THE STRENGHT OF THE MARATHON WINNERS. THEY DON’T MIND THE EFFORT. THEY WORK HARD TO REACH OUT THEIR GOALS THEY GIVE UP OTHER STUFF TO FOCUS ON THE GOAL THEY HAVE

To pursue aggressively 6. Give Maximum Effort Vs. 12 “I make every effort” Vs. 14 “I pursue as my goal” Vs. 12 & 14, NAS95: “I press on” To pursue aggressively

7. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Vs. 14, Weymouth: “With my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.”

7. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Vs. 14, Weymouth: “With my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.” Literally, “Bearing down on the ‘goal marker’”

7. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Vs. 14, Weymouth: “With my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.” Vs. 20-21 “But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole…” (MSG) .

7. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Vs. 14, Weymouth: “With my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.” Push on! The prize is worth of it. .

7. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize 6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:6-8) .

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