PRESSING FORWARD I THE ONE THING TO DO PHILIPPIANS 3:13,14

PHIL. 3:13,14 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

PAUL’S 9 GOALS IN PHILIPPIANS 3:3-21 TO PRESS FORWARD TO VICTORY VS 3,4---TO PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH VS 7,8---TO WIN CHRIST VS TO BE FOUND IN CHRIST VS TO KNOW CHRIST VS 11,12-TO EXPERIENCE THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD VS 13,14-TO OBTAIN THE HIGH CALLING VS 15,16—TO OBTAIN UNITY VS 17-19—TO FOLLOW APOSTOLIC EXAMPLE VS 20,21---TO BE GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST

THE CONTEXT OF PHILIPPIANS 3 PAUL WAS A PROMINENT JEW WHO HATED CHRISTIANITY AND PERSCECUTED THEM HE HAD CONFIDENCE IN HIS SELF (FLESH) AND HAD DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE LAW AND THE JEWS LOVED HIM NOW HE HAS ACCEPTED CHRIST AND HE COUNTS ALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HIS PAST TO BE RUBBISH COMPARED TO KNOWING CHRIST NOW ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS FORGET THE PAST AND MOVE FORWARD TO BE ALL THAT GOD HAS FOR HIM TO BE AND TO DO (THE 9 GOALS)

THREE POSITIONS PEOPLE IN FEAR TEND TO LOOK BACK PEOPLE IN UNCERTAINITY TEND TO LOOK AROUND PEOPLE OF FAITH TEND TO LOOK FORWARD (YOU CAN’T GO FORWARD LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR)

PAUL’S PAUL’S ONE THING TO MOVE FORWARD (PHIL. 3:13,14) IS IN THREE PARTS 1.I FORGET THE GROUND I HAVE COVERED IN THE RACE. I CANNOT WASTE TIME OVER THE PAST 2.I REACH FORTH TO THAT WHICH IS BEFORE ME IN THE RACE. I STRAIN EVERY NERVE AND MUSCLE. MY FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT. I AM RUNNING FOR MY LIFE 3.I PRESS TOWARDS THE MARK WHICH ALL RUNNERS MUST KEEP THEIR EYES FIXED ON OR I WILL NOT CROSS THE FINISH LINE

LET’S LOOK AT A FILM CLIP OF THIS MOVIE THE COURAGE TO MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH THE TRUE STORY OF LOUIS ZAMPERINI A STORY OF SURVIVAL-RESILIENCE- REDEMPTION UNBROKEN TRAILER 2

DO YOU DESIRE TO DO THE ONE THING IN 2015 #1—STOP LOOKING BACK IN FEAR AND AROUND IN UNCERTAINITY—VS 13 -I FORGET THE GROUND I HAVE COVERED IN THE RACE. I CANNOT WASTE TIME OVER THE PAST ----I COR 9:24-27—”RUN TO WIN THE RACE” LEARN FROM THE PAST AND MOVE FORWARD IF YOU ARE STUCK IN THE PAST GET HELP ASK GOD FOR A PURPOSE BIGGER THAN YOURSELF—JER 29:11

STEP #2-VS 13 I REACH FORTH TO THAT WHICH IS BEFORE ME IN THE RACE. I STRAIN EVERY NERVE AND MUSCLE. MY FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT. I AM RUNNING FOR MY LIFE (VS 13) MOVING FORWARD IS A PROACTIVE CHOICE – YOU MUST REACH INTO THE UNKNOWN – YOU MUST REGARD THE EFFORT AS WORTH IT – YOU MUST REMAIN IN FAITH IN HIS LOVE

STEP #3—VS 14 I PRESS TOWARDS THE MARK, THAT IS, I PURSUE THE WHITE LINE IN THE STADIUM UPON WHICH ALL RUNNERS MUST KEEP THEIR EYES FIXED, LEST I BE DISQUALIFIED FOR THE PRIZE YOU MUST STAY FOCUSED AND NOT GET DISTRACTED YOU HAVE TO PUSH PAST THE WALL WHEN YOU HIT IT—AND WE ALL HIT IT YOU NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT THE PRIZE IS WORTH IT (PLEASING GOD-PRAISING GOD-PREPARING FOR ETERNITY)

WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM MOVING FORWARD? TO OBTAIN SALVATION TO GET FORGIVEN AND TO FORGIVE TO LOVE SOMEONE UNLOVABLE TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST TO FIND AND FULFILL YOUR DESTINY

THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO START MOVING FORWARD TODAY IS

READY-SET-GO START YOUR RACE THIS MORNING IT TAKES THAT 1 ST STEP OF FAITH GET UP AND START MOVING FORWARD LET THE LORD HELP YOU WIN THE RACE IT’S TIME FOR