Philippians 3:12-21 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:12-21 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-21 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 3:12-21 17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:12-21 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Philippians 3:12-21 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

“Be Careful Or You’ll Pull Something” Continuing To Stretch Through Life

Philippians 3:12-21 12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Prevalent Mistakes Folks Make As They Get Older Try to deny & disguise the fact that we’re getting older. Act like we have “been there and done that” and are therefore relieved of all responsibility.

12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12-14)

I. Forget What Is Past Don’t dwell on your attainments – 7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. (Phil. 3:7- 8)

Let God wipe your sins away – 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (I Timothy 1:13 -15)

There is a bumper sticker that you might have seen:

There is a bumper sticker that you might have seen: WHEN SATAN REMINDS YOU OF YOUR PAST, REMIND HIM OF HIS FUTURE

II. Accept The Present v.12 says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on... Other versions put it, “I continue to stretch forth, I continue to reach for the prize that is before me.”

v. 15 - Paul says regardless of my age I continue to stretch! I’m not perfect, I still make mistakes but I keep on stretchin’!

Yesterday is the past Tomorrow is the future And today is a gift

That’s why we call it the present!

III. Pursue The Future

III. Pursue The Future Everybody needs a purpose! Something they can stretch for.

Where in the Bible does it say we retire from our service to God?

“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart.” (Josh. 14:7) “Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today.” (Josh. 14:10)

12“Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken.” 13So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. (Josh. 14:12-13)

Three Specific Directives

1. Keep On Growing “Let us live up to what we have already attained.” (v. 16)

1. Keep On Growing “Let us live up to what we have already attained.” (v. 16) NEVER go backwards!

2. Encourage Others Who Are Growing 17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

3. Live Expectantly & Optimistically 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Aren’t you afraid? We’re going to shoot you.” Jack Benson “Aren’t you afraid? We’re going to shoot you.” His reply, “Afraid of what? I’m just going to meet my God.”

E. H. Hamilton, a fellow missionary wrote these words:

Afraid of what. Afraid to feel the spirit’s glad release Afraid of what? Afraid to feel the spirit’s glad release? To pass from pain to perfect peace? The strife & strain of life to cease? Afraid of that?

Afraid of what. Afraid to see the Savior’s face Afraid of what? Afraid to see the Savior’s face? To hear His welcome & to trace The glory gleaned from wounds of grace? Afraid of that?

Afraid of what? Afraid to enter into heaven’s rest, and yet to serve the master blessed, from service good to service best? Afraid of that?

Are you afraid of what life holds for you? Don’t be afraid...

Are you afraid of what life holds for you? Don’t be afraid... Keep on stretchin’!