 Matthew 5:48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.  Perfect teleios; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.  Matthew 5:48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.  Perfect teleios; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.

Press to Possess Perfection Completion Project

I. His Possession  Philippians 3:12-14 ●Not yet achieved these things ●Jesus’ possession – laid hold of us to bring us to perfection ●I press on to possess that perfection  Philippians 3:12-14 ●Not yet achieved these things ●Jesus’ possession – laid hold of us to bring us to perfection ●I press on to possess that perfection

●Singleness of focus – this one thing ▪Forgetting the past ▪Looking forward ▪Attain the heavenly prize at the end of the race ●Singleness of focus – this one thing ▪Forgetting the past ▪Looking forward ▪Attain the heavenly prize at the end of the race

II. Forgetting the Past  Philippians 3:3-11 ●Forgetting – processed those things in such a way that they are no longer strongholds ●Achievements and Failures ●No confidence in human effort  Philippians 3:3-11 ●Forgetting – processed those things in such a way that they are no longer strongholds ●Achievements and Failures ●No confidence in human effort

 Our own achievements ●Wealth ●Education ●Prestige ●Independence that prevents you from growing with God  Our own achievements ●Wealth ●Education ●Prestige ●Independence that prevents you from growing with God

 1 Corinthians 1: Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

 Our own failures ●Sin ●Omission ●Prodigal period ●Revelation of forgiveness from God and therefore forgiveness of self  Our own failures ●Sin ●Omission ●Prodigal period ●Revelation of forgiveness from God and therefore forgiveness of self

●Saul/Paul - Persecutor of the church - Acts 7:57-8:1; 9:1-5 ●David – 2 Samuel 12:13-23 – the death of his son ●Saul/Paul - Persecutor of the church - Acts 7:57-8:1; 9:1-5 ●David – 2 Samuel 12:13-23 – the death of his son

 Other examples of great people with past failures ●Abraham – liar  Other examples of great people with past failures ●Abraham – liar

●Moses – murderer

●Rahab – prostitute

●Peter - denial

 The failures of others against us ●Wounds ▪Physical/sexual ▪Emotional ▪Neglect  Healing encounters with the Lord  The failures of others against us ●Wounds ▪Physical/sexual ▪Emotional ▪Neglect  Healing encounters with the Lord

 Isaiah 53:4 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried;”  Psalms 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted, And binds up their wounds.“  We are products of the past, but we are not prisoners of the past  Isaiah 53:4 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried;”  Psalms 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted, And binds up their wounds.“  We are products of the past, but we are not prisoners of the past

III. Pressing to Possess  Philippians 3:7-11 ●Everything else is worthless ●Compared to the infinite value of knowing Jesus as Lord ●Become one with Him ●God making us right with himself through faith  Philippians 3:7-11 ●Everything else is worthless ●Compared to the infinite value of knowing Jesus as Lord ●Become one with Him ●God making us right with himself through faith

 I want to know Christ… Philippians 3:10 – [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him, [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] ●This is that high calling – the prize  I want to know Christ… Philippians 3:10 – [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him, [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] ●This is that high calling – the prize

IV. The View of the Mature  Philippians 3:15-16 ●All who are spiritually mature agree on these things ▪We’ve not become completed yet ▪But we press on ▪We must hold to the progress we’ve made – no backsliding allowed ●God will make clear to you – where your pride thinks you have already arrived in particular areas  Philippians 3:15-16 ●All who are spiritually mature agree on these things ▪We’ve not become completed yet ▪But we press on ▪We must hold to the progress we’ve made – no backsliding allowed ●God will make clear to you – where your pride thinks you have already arrived in particular areas

Reflection Time  What things from your past are hindering you from becoming Complete? What achievements? What sins? What wounds?  How are you pressing on to possess perfection, or completion and maturity?  Take Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible and reflect on it each day this week. Do you want to become more intimately acquainted with the wonders of his person?  What things from your past are hindering you from becoming Complete? What achievements? What sins? What wounds?  How are you pressing on to possess perfection, or completion and maturity?  Take Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible and reflect on it each day this week. Do you want to become more intimately acquainted with the wonders of his person?