Reaching Forward Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:1-14 “ 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ”

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “ The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. ”

Life is a problem A burden to be laid down

Life is an Opportunity A growth process leading to a goal “ 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ”

Life is moving toward something well worth reaching for.

“telos” Goal, end, outcome, culmination The purpose toward which something moves. Romans 6:22 “ But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. ” Hebrews 3:6 “ but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. ” Hebrews 3:14 “ For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, ” 1 Peter 1:9 “ obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. ” 1 Peter 4:7 “ The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ” Revelation 2:26 “ He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; ” Revelation 22:13 “ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. ”

Strive to Grow, Make Progress At times our goals are inadequate. –Often our goals are not big enough We underestimate what is possible and have too little vision.

Strive to Grow, Make Progress At times our goals are inadequate. –At other times our goals are too general and vague We do not break down our goals into specific, doable actions.

Strive to Grow, Make Progress Time spent improving the quality of our goals is time well spent.

It is important that we grow in our understanding of the glory of our ultimate goal as God’s people. –Heaven is our most important goal, and it is very real: –“ the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus ” Philippians 3:14

Nothing matters if we lose heaven “ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ” Matthew 16:26

Nothing matters if we lose heaven We have no adequate idea how wonderful are the glories God has for us 1 Corinthians 2:9 “ but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him. ” 1 John 3:2 “ Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ”

Nothing matters if we lose heaven A major part of Christian growth is growth in comprehending our goal Ephesians 1:18 “ “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” ”

The goal of heaven … eternal life with God Needs to be real to us

We need to be “ reaching forward to what lies ahead ”

Direct our Focus Resourcefully Paul speaks of “forgetting” certain things and “reaching forward” to others. This means it is possible for us to choose our focus.

Direct our Focus Resourcefully We can forget those things which are behind. –Bad things – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:9,10 “ For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. ”

Direct our Focus Resourcefully We can forget those things which are behind. –Bad things – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:9,10 –Even good things – cf. Galatians 6:9 “ Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. ”

Direct our Focus Resourcefully Life requires mental self-discipline to keep our focus from hindering. –It is easy to get “bogged down” –There is an “inertia” that must be overcome.

Direct our Focus Resourcefully The imperishable crown is won only by the properly disciplined –1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. ”

We need to determine that we will keep our thinking directed toward our goal.

Reach Forward toward the Goal While our thinking is oriented toward the future, Our doing must be done today! –We must connect our goal to our daily actions. Galatians 6:9 “ Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. ”

Reach Forward toward the Goal Paul speaks of “ reaching forward ” and “ pressing toward ” the goal.

“ Reaching forward to what lies ahead ” “straining every nerve for that which lies in front”

Daily, we must be growing and working toward heaven.

2 Timothy 4:7,8 “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing. ”

Hebrews 6:1 “ Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ”

What is your vision? What is your life all about?

What is it that you are reaching for today? This week? This year?

What are you reaching for in connection with the day of your death?

Romans 8:18 “ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ”

2 Corinthians 4:17 “ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ”