Reaching Forward

Philippians 3:13,14 . . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. New King James Version

Review What life in Christ is primarily about Forgetting what is behind Reaching forward to what is ahead The mind of the mature Christian

The Prize of the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus Reaching Forward – 5 The Prize of the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus

Hebrews 11:6 What is the reward? But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him What is the reward?

Prize of the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:14 Other Descriptions Being with Christ, where He is John 14:3 Being like Christ 1 John 3:2 Knowing God John 17:3 Beholding the face of God Revelation 22:3-5 Look at same thing from different angles

Our Citizenship Is In Heaven Philippians 3:20,21 How fervently do we long to go home? Dominicans longing to go home!

Two Things Obvious It’s much DIFFERENT than we expected We won’t have been in heaven five minutes before two things are obvious It’s much DIFFERENT than we expected It’s much BETTER than we expected

Faith, Hope, Love Faith – 2 Tim. 1:12 Hope – Tit. 1:2 We can live with questions Hope – Tit. 1:2 We can live with difficulty Love – 2 Tim. 4:8 We can live with unhappiness

God Is Why We Reach Forward Reason We reach forward because He has put “eternity in our hearts” – Ecclesiastes 3:11 Motive Deep down, we want to be whatever He wants us to be Goal He Himself is what we’re reaching for

Is It Really God We Desire? . . . or a particular path to Him

Clearer Vision Greater Desires – Higher Aim Ephesians 1:18 . . . the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints Ephesians 1:18

Reaching Forward