Living With Purpose: Philippians 3:12-4:1
Sermon Seed #6 in the Series “This Is Living!” – Philippians 3:12-4:1
Text: In the first half of Philippians 3, Paul defines the goal of his life: to know Christ. In this second part, he discusses his active pursuit of this goal, and invites the Philippians to join him.
Two major aspects of his pursuit stand out. First, there is humility about the past — not just in his pre-Christian days, but his previous Christian walk. He emphasizes that no matter how far he has come, he has not yet reached his destination. In fact, he “forgets” what is behind. He doesn’t rest on his laurels or bask in past triumphs.
The second major aspect of his quest follows logically: while he is forgetting what is behind, he presses on toward what is ahead. He is diligent towards the future. In fact, he seems to be looking forward, not just to some earthly attainment of spiritual maturity or knowledge, but to the moment when God will call him heavenward. He will reach the destination only on the day when he receives his final prize.
He emphasizes that everyone who is mature should have the same attitude. In other words, anyone who thinks they are mature, or that they have arrived at their destination, is actually fooling themselves!
In the background of the whole chapter of Philippians 3 are those who are “enemies of the cross,” whose pattern of life is completely opposite that of Paul. They would glory in their past accomplishments, and assume that they had already arrived at their destination, with no need to “press on.” As we saw in the first half of this chapter, these people and their attitudes and teaching pose the greatest threat to the unity of the Body of Christ. These individuals can be a major distraction, but Paul urges believers to fix their attention on the right examples, and the right prize.
Big Idea: Maturity is not a destination but a journey. Life today is meaningful because of where we are headed tomorrow.
Gospel Focus: Eternal life is qualitative, not just quantitative, and it is experienced now! Our final resurrection is central to our daily lives. Our destination (heaven) defines our journey. How you travel has everything to do with where you are going.
Bullets:
If resurrection is where we are going, how will we travel?
Moving Forward … Forgetting what is behind … not dwelling on the past.
Towards a God-defined Goal … Pressing on toward the prize … God-defined momentum.
With a God-shaped Heart…for the world…Weep over those who don’t get it … enemies of the cross … (he says Philippians 3:19 with a broken heart)
By a God-empowered Strength… Living in what we have already attained…build on what he has done in you.
In a God-sized Hope… Eagerly awaiting the savior…living in anticipation of the resurrection … active waiting … not just preoccupation with the future.
With a God-focused confidence… Standing firm… The foundation of steadfastness is a proper view of the future we have in Christ.
