1. Reaching Forward
Philippians 3:1-16

2. Setting the “Racing Grounds”
Philippians 3:1-11

3. “1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord
“1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Compare to 2 Peter 1:12-14

4. “4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh
“4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
Please turn to Acts 7:54-8:3

5. “God understands my good intentions.”
Pre-Salvation
“God understands my good intentions.”
“God respects all of my great works.”
Post-Salvation

6. Please turn to Isaiah 64:6-7
“7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
Please turn to Isaiah 64:6-7

7. The “why” and what in return.
“10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
The “why” and what in return.

8. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Looking forward to that “absent from the body but present with the Lord” state of being in the near future.

9. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
Verse 12

10. Apprehend: “take” or “take hold of”

11. Giving the “Race Strategy”
Philippians 3:12-16

12. We are confronted with a decision to follow or not.
“But I follow after…”
We are confronted with a decision to follow or not.
Will we commit to the race?

13. “…I am apprehended of Christ Jesus…”
We must recognize that we are apprehended by and placed in Christ.
Will we believe it and live like it?

14. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
“in Christ”

15. “…if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended...”
We are given a purpose and job in the Kingdom of God.
Will we neglect it or embrace it?

16. “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,”
Verse 13

17. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Verse 14

18. As our church is in a great transition, we must adopt this same strategy and mentality as a body and as individuals.

19. “15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
Verses 15-16

20. Are you reaching forward?