Philippians 3:12-4:1 Strain Towards the Goal

Chuck Musselwhite

Philippians • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

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Intro

Last week Mike spoke on surpassing worth of knowing Christ

Paul had suffered the loss of everything

Paul wanted to know the Jesus and the power of His resurrection

Today we see him continue in his letter to the Philippians by telling them to strain towards the goal

What is that goal? Spiritual maturity

There will be challenges and obstacles, even people who are enemies of that goal, but we must strain towards that

I think the biggest challenge is being satisfied with just a little of Jesus

Let me illustrate

I did a lot of driving on the 101 this last week

I drove all the way up to the bay area

For most of the 101 its a two lane highway with a lot of semi trucks using it

People get freaked out by semi’s

There are people who don’t like passing them because of how frequently they just suddenly fall over on cars

I’m joking

When these cars are hesitant to pass there becomes a long line of drivers behind

There is clear sailing ahead of the semi but a traffic jam behind

People will go slow behind a semi out of fear of passing than drive in free flowing traffic ahead

Christians act the same way

The promises and blessings of following Jesus are just ahead, but some challenge or obstacle is holding them back

Read Philippians 3:12-16

Transition

In his letters, Paul uses many illustrations from the world to communicate truth about the Christian life.

Four are prominent:

the military (“Put on the whole armor of God”)

architecture (“You are the temple of God”)

agriculture (“Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap”)

and athletics.

In this paragraph, it is Paul the athlete.

Bible students are not agreed as to the exact sport Paul is describing, whether the footrace or the chariot race. Either one will do, but my own preference is the chariot race.

The Greek chariot, used in the Olympic Games and other events, was really only a small platform with a wheel on each side.

The driver had very little to hold on to as he raced around the course.

He had to lean forward and strain every nerve and muscle to maintain balance and control the horses.

The verb “straining forward” in Philippians 3:13 literally means “stretching as in a race.”

Each believer is on the track; each has a special lane in which to run; and each has a goal to achieve.

If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward.

If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship.

All of us want to be “winning Christians” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved.

What are the essentials for winning the race and one day receiving the reward that is promised?

Keep Your Eye on the Prize vs. 12-16

In straining towards the goal, keep your eye on the prize

If you watch olympic runners before the start of the race they are often visualizing

What is that Prize? A Mature faith

Paul uses the word perfect in vs. 12 but the word mature in vs. 15

It is the same exact word in the Greek

The Goal of every Christian is to become mature

One mark of maturity is knowing that you’re not perfect

Did you know it takes six months for mice to reproduce, 18-24 months for dogs, 10 years for Apes and Chimps, Humans take the longest before they mature

It takes time for Christians to mature so they must press on

First, you are born again

Then you a babe in Christ

You have to keep growing

Paul tells us that if we are going to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection we must remained focused on it

Getting distracted and tripped up by the past can prevent us from growing in our faith

vs. 12 Press On

Paul realizes that even though he is the most mature saint on the planet he hasn’t arrived

He hasn’t achieved the goal of being like him in death

Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their “running” with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress.

Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit.

But Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself with himself and with Jesus Christ!

He has not arrived yet at perfection, but he is “perfect” [mature]

The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself and strives to do better.

vs. 13 Forget the Past

The believer should be future-oriented, “forgetting those things which are behind.”

Please keep in mind that in Bible terminology, “to forget” does not mean “to fail to remember.”

Apart from senility, hypnosis, or a brain malfunction, no mature person can forget what has happened in the past.

We may wish that we could erase certain bad memories, but we cannot.

“To forget” in the Bible means “no longer to be influenced by or affected by.”

It simply means that we break the power of the past by living for the future.

We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past.

There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back (1 Tim. 1:12–17), but they became inspirations to speed him ahead.

The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed

Too many Christians are shackled by regrets of the past.

They are trying to run the race by looking backward!

No wonder they stumble and fall and get in the way of other Christians!

Some Christian runners are being distracted by the successes of the past, not the failures; and this is just as bad.

“The things which are behind” must be set aside and “the things which are before” must take their place

vs. 15 Mature Thinking

The believer must devote himself to “running the Christian race.”

No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 ESV

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

vs. 16 Hold True

Bible history is filled with people who began the race with great success but failed at the end because they disregarded God’s rules.

They did not lose their salvation, but they did lose their rewards

1 Corinthians 3:15 ESV

If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

It happened to Lot, Samson, Saul, and Ananias and Sapphira.

And it can happen to us!

It is an exciting experience to run the race daily, “looking unto Jesus”

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

It will be even more exciting when we experience that “upward calling” and Jesus returns to take us to heaven!

Then we will stand before the bema to receive our rewards!

It was this future prospect that motivated Paul, and it can also motivate us.

Beware of Your Enemies vs. 17-19

In straining towards the goal we need to be aware of our enemies

One thing that surprises many Christians is the opposition to their maturity

If Satan can’t prevent you from being a Christian he is going to do everything he can to prevent your growth

But it’s not only Satan that doesn’t want you to grow, It’s others around you

Your maturity in Christ is a threat to milk-toast Christians and to unbelievers

The brighter your light shines the more it threatens to expose

And that is people’s biggest fear

vs. 17 Stay Focused

Paul tells us that we need to stay focused

Keep your eyes in the right place

First he tells us to imitate him

If you need an example to follow there is no better model outside of Jesus than Paul

The Philippians weren’t the only one Paul told this to

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Paul also says to look to other mature Christians

I can say without reservation that the Elders of this church are men you can look to for a Godly example

Focusing is more than watching, it is also asking

You need this example because there is opposition

vs. 18 Enemies of the Cross

With great sadness, Paul realizes that there are many who walk in a manner contrary to what he teaches.

He regards these people as enemies of the cross of Christ.

The enemies of the cross were really the opposite of the legalists, who celebrated their supposed liberty in Christ to the indulgence of their flesh.

When we say that they are enemies of the cross we mean that they are enemies of the Biblical truth of the atonement Jesus made for us on the cross and its ongoing power and effect in our life.

vs. 19 End is Destruction

How do you recognize these enemies of the cross?

Paul gives us three indicators

1. Their god is their Belly

This describes the idolatry of these enemies.

Not necessarily focused on what they eat, but belly here has a broader reference to sensual indulgence in general.

They live for the pleasures of the body, mind, and soul.

When people over-indulge in something that isn’t spiritually beneficial it becomes dangerous

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

2. Glory is their Shame

These are people who seek glory and fame for the attention

Furries at Utah schools

They are seeking glory in something they should be ashamed about

3. Mind set on Earthly things

The final group are those whose mind is set on earthly things

This describes the focus of their life.

It was not to please and worship God, but to get along in this world.

Some people are so consumed with being successful or not making waves that they have become enemies of the cross

If you are constantly thinking of what will make people happy or have them like you more this is a warning sign

Their end is destruction

All of these will end up destroying your life

Wait for Your Transformation vs. 20-1

The Goal we are straining toward is Jesus

vs. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven

vs. 21 He will transform you

vs 1 Stand firm in the Lord

You must be born again

You must feed yourself a steady diet of the Word of God

You must give it time

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