“Succeeding in Life” Philippians 3: /01/2009 Dr. Dane Boyles

“Succeeding in Life” –In Philippians 3 Paul writes about succeeding in life. –We learn much more about success – life – from models than we do from manuals. –Next to Jesus, the most successful Christian who ever lived would have to be Paul. –In Philippians 3 Paul writes about succeeding in life. –We learn much more about success – life – from models than we do from manuals. –Next to Jesus, the most successful Christian who ever lived would have to be Paul.

“Succeeding in Life” –In Philippians 3 we have Paul’s autobiography. 17 Join with others in following my example, and take notes of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ((Phil. 3:17) –In this passage Paul briefly explains 4 keys to successful living. –In Philippians 3 we have Paul’s autobiography. 17 Join with others in following my example, and take notes of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ((Phil. 3:17) –In this passage Paul briefly explains 4 keys to successful living.

“Succeeding in Life” EVALUATION: Face my faults. –You do an inventory of your life. –Paul himself was honest about his faults. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect. EVALUATION: Face my faults. –You do an inventory of your life. –Paul himself was honest about his faults. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect.

“Succeeding in Life” 13 I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. (Phil. 3:12-13) 12 I don’t claim that I have already succeeded or become perfect. (Phil. 3:12, Good News) 13 I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. (Phil. 3:12-13) 12 I don’t claim that I have already succeeded or become perfect. (Phil. 3:12, Good News)

“Succeeding in Life” –The point is, successful people never stop growing. –This is so contrary to people today. –The question you ought to ask yourself is, “Where do I need to change?” Take a personal inventory. –The point is, successful people never stop growing. –This is so contrary to people today. –The question you ought to ask yourself is, “Where do I need to change?” Take a personal inventory.

“Succeeding in Life” ELIMINATION: Forget the former; let go of your past. –Stop being manipulated by your memories. 13 This one thing I do, forgetting what is behind. (Phil. 3:13) ELIMINATION: Forget the former; let go of your past. –Stop being manipulated by your memories. 13 This one thing I do, forgetting what is behind. (Phil. 3:13)

“Succeeding in Life” My past is past. I let go of my guilt, grief, grudges. Success involves learning to forget. 13 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 48:13) My past is past. I let go of my guilt, grief, grudges. Success involves learning to forget. 13 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 48:13)

“Succeeding in Life” Don’t let the past control you, or have power over you, or manipulate you. Successful people learn from the past and, once they learn, they let it go and move on. Don’t let the past control you, or have power over you, or manipulate you. Successful people learn from the past and, once they learn, they let it go and move on.

“Succeeding in Life” –Two things you need to forget if you are going to follow Paul’s pattern: Your failures. Your successes. –Two things you need to forget if you are going to follow Paul’s pattern: Your failures. Your successes.

“Succeeding in Life” 62 Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62, Good News) You can’t run a race looking backwards. –The Question becomes: What memory do I need to let go of? 62 Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62, Good News) You can’t run a race looking backwards. –The Question becomes: What memory do I need to let go of?

“Succeeding in Life” CONCENTRATION: Focus on the future. –Successful people are goal-oriented. They focus on the future. 13 But this one thing I do … straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal. (Phil. 3:13) CONCENTRATION: Focus on the future. –Successful people are goal-oriented. They focus on the future. 13 But this one thing I do … straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal. (Phil. 3:13)

“Succeeding in Life” Paul has a single priority. Paul says, find out what counts. Paul says, “I have my goal clearly in mind.” Paul has a single priority. Paul says, find out what counts. Paul says, “I have my goal clearly in mind.”

“Succeeding in Life” –What was Paul’s goal? 9 So we make it our goal to please Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9) –The question we ask ourselves is, What am I living for? –What was Paul’s goal? 9 So we make it our goal to please Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9) –The question we ask ourselves is, What am I living for?

“Succeeding in Life” DETERMINATION: Fight to the finish. –The principle of determination: 12 I press on, straining toward the mark… 13 I press on to with the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12-13) DETERMINATION: Fight to the finish. –The principle of determination: 12 I press on, straining toward the mark… 13 I press on to with the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12-13)

“Succeeding in Life” 24 But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the good news of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

“Succeeding in Life” –Two promises concerning determination: 9 Let us not grow weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9) –Two promises concerning determination: 9 Let us not grow weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

“Succeeding in Life” 6 Be confident of this very thing. That He (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion unto the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) What God starts, He finishes. 6 Be confident of this very thing. That He (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion unto the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) What God starts, He finishes.

“Succeeding in Life” Conclusion –Which of these issues do you need to focus on? –Are you continuing to allow the past to control your present? –Are you trying to dabble in so many things that you can’t get anything done? Conclusion –Which of these issues do you need to focus on? –Are you continuing to allow the past to control your present? –Are you trying to dabble in so many things that you can’t get anything done?

“Succeeding in Life” –Focus on what counts. PRAY! –Focus on what counts. PRAY!

“Succeeding in Life” Philippians 3: /01/2009 Dr. Dane Boyles