1. Reaching Forward

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. Reaching Forward